OUR STORY | 30 YEARS OF GRACE
Rooted in Faith.
Growing in Grace.
Thirty years of God’s faithfulness. Generations of lives shaped for His glory.
What began as a small vision for Christ-centered education has grown into a thriving school community, united by faith, strengthened through God’s provision, and committed to preparing young people for lives of purpose.
From our earliest classrooms to the generations of students who now call Grace home, every chapter of our story reflects the goodness of God and the faithfulness of those who answered His call.
Discover Our History →
Rooted for 30 Years
1995 – 2025 | A LEGACY OF FAITH
THE EARLY YEARS
Small Beginnings.
Extraordinary Provision.
Every great story begins somewhere. Grace Christian School’s began with a vision for Christ-centered education, a handful of students, and people willing to trust God for what they could not yet see.
1995
A Vision Takes Root
Grace Christian School was founded with a vision to provide families in southwestern Vermont with an education grounded in biblical truth, academic excellence, and Christian character.
FALL 1997
The First Classrooms
With just 35 students in Kindergarten through fifth grade, Grace opened its doors at the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Bennington. What began in borrowed classrooms would become a lasting ministry to generations of families.
THE FIRST MOVE
Room to Grow
As the school community grew, Grace moved to Green Mountain Christian Center. This new location provided additional space and marked another step forward in the unfolding vision for the school.
AN EXTRAORDINARY GIFT
A Door Only God Could Open
Through the generosity of a supporter who believed deeply in Grace’s mission, the former hotel on Kocher Drive was purchased and extensively renovated for the school. What had once been a place for travelers to stay would become a permanent home for students to learn, grow, and build a foundation for life.
OCTOBER 18, 1999
A Permanent Home
Grace Christian School officially settled into its permanent campus in the renovated former hotel. It was a defining milestone in the school’s history and a remarkable testimony to God’s provision.
What once welcomed travelers for a night became a place where generations would find a foundation for life.
A BUILDING TRANSFORMED. A VISION FULFILLED.
Grace’s permanent campus began as a former hotel, creatively transformed into a place of learning and Christian community.
A CAMPUS TRANSFORMED
From Hotel to Home.
A Place to Grow.
The former Ramada Inn was more than a new address for Grace Christian School. Through an extraordinary transformation, spaces once designed for hospitality were reimagined for education. What had been a hotel became a campus filled with classrooms, discovery, worship, friendships, and possibility.
THEN & NOW | ATHLETICS
From Swimming Pool
to Gymnasium
What was once an indoor hotel swimming pool became a gymnasium where generations of Grace students would compete, celebrate, build friendships, and discover the value of teamwork. It is one of the most memorable examples of how the school’s original spaces were transformed to serve a greater purpose.
THEN & NOW | ACADEMICS
From Hotel Bar
to Science Lab
Another remarkable transformation took place when the former hotel bar became a science laboratory. A space once intended for recreation became a place for investigation, experimentation, and discovery—reflecting Grace’s commitment to providing meaningful academic opportunities for students.
The building was changing.
But something even greater was growing within its walls.
2005
A DEFINING MILESTONE
FROM KINDERGARTEN TO GRADUATION
Our First Graduating Class
Grace Christian School began by serving students in Kindergarten through fifth grade. As those students grew, so did the vision. Additional grade levels were introduced, allowing families to continue choosing Christ-centered education throughout their children’s school years.
In June 2005, Grace celebrated its first graduating class. What began with just 35 elementary students had become a school serving students through twelfth grade—a milestone that reflected years of prayer, perseverance, and God’s continuing provision.
A place once built for temporary stays became a home for lasting impact.
THE HEART OF GRACE
More Than a School.
A Place to Belong.
Buildings provide a place to learn, but people create a community. For generations, Grace Christian School has been a place where faith is nurtured, gifts are discovered, friendships are formed, and students are encouraged to live for something greater than themselves.
FAITH AT THE CENTER
Rooted in God’s Word
From its earliest days, Grace has begun each school day with devotions and prayer. Weekly chapel gatherings have brought students and teachers together in worship, Scripture, and encouragement. Through changing generations, our commitment to keeping Christ at the center of school life has remained steadfast.
CREATIVITY & EXPRESSION
Discovering God-Given Gifts
Music, theater, and the visual arts have long been part of the Grace experience. From classroom creativity to beloved stage productions such as The Little Mermaid, The Wizard of Oz, and The Lion King, students have discovered the joy of developing their talents and using them for God’s glory.
CHARACTER THROUGH COMPETITION
Growing Stronger Together
From practices and competitions to schoolwide celebrations, athletics have given Grace students opportunities to grow in perseverance, teamwork, leadership, and sportsmanship. Through victories and challenges alike, generations of Lions have learned to compete with character and encourage one another.
FAITH IN ACTION
Loving with the Hands of Jesus
Service has always been woven into Grace’s story. From local outreach and everyday acts of kindness to mission opportunities in Guatemala, Uganda, and Puerto Rico, students have been challenged to look beyond themselves and put their faith into action through joyful, meaningful service.
Some of the most important things learned at Grace were never written in a textbook.
They were learned through friendships that lasted beyond graduation, teachers who invested in their students, classmates from around the world who became part of the Grace family, and a community that continually pointed one another toward Christ.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE STORY
Faithful Hands.
Lasting Legacy.
The story of Grace Christian School cannot be told through buildings and milestones alone. It lives in the faithfulness of those who prayed, gave, taught, served, and believed that investing in the next generation was worth every sacrifice.
HONORING OUR FIRST PRINCIPAL
Joyce Lloyd
Helping lay the foundation for generations to come.
As Grace Christian School’s first principal, Joyce Lloyd played an important role in the school’s earliest chapter. Her service is part of the foundation upon which the Grace community continues to build.
Today, the outdoor classroom bearing her name offers students a place to learn and explore God’s creation. Furnished through an Eagle Scout project completed by Liam Lynch, the space reflects the continuing impact of individuals who have invested in Grace.
THE JOYCE LLOYD OUTDOOR CLASSROOM
FACES FROM OUR HISTORY
People Who Are Part of Grace’s Story
Across the years, individuals and families have contributed to the life of Grace Christian School in countless ways. These photographs preserve a few of the faces and memories that belong to our shared history.
A LASTING CONTRIBUTION
Bob Lebert
Bob Lebert’s connection to Grace continues to be remembered through the cafeteria that bears his name—a lasting part of the school’s everyday life.
REMEMBERED WITH GRATITUDE
Terry Rousseau
Terry Rousseau is honored through the chapel that bears his name, a space where Grace students continue to gather for worship, prayer, and the teaching of God’s Word.
FROM THE GRACE ARCHIVES
Joh Benson & Micki Perry
Joh Benson (left) and Micki Perry (right), pictured in a moment preserved from Grace Christian School’s history.
THEIR LEGACY LIVES ON
Names Woven Into Our Campus
Throughout Grace’s campus, familiar spaces carry the names of people whose lives and contributions remain part of the school’s story.
Peter Grimes
THE PETER GRIMES GYMNASIUM
The gymnasium honors Peter Grimes and remains a gathering place for athletics, teamwork, school events, and shared memories.
Liam Lynch
AN EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT
Liam Lynch helped furnish the Joyce Lloyd Outdoor Classroom through his Eagle Scout project, contributing to a space that continues to benefit Grace students.
We stand on a foundation built by faithful people, strengthened by God’s provision, and entrusted to the generations still to come.
ROOTED IN GRATITUDE. GROWING FOR THE FUTURE.
A NEW GENERATION TAKES ROOT
Still Growing.
Still Rooted.
2025
A NEW CHAPTER IN EARLY EDUCATION
In 2025, Grace Christian School opened its childcare program, extending its ministry to even younger children and families. What began with just 35 elementary students has grown into a school community serving children from their earliest years through high school graduation.
As Grace celebrates its 30th anniversary, our calling remains unchanged: to provide an education grounded in God’s Word, marked by academic excellence, and shaped by a genuine love for students and families.
ROOTED FOR 30 YEARS
Our History
Is His Story.
Our Future Is
in His Hands.
For 30 years, God has been faithful to Grace Christian School. Through humble beginnings, extraordinary provision, and generations of students and families, He has guided every chapter of our story.
And the story isn’t finished. We look forward with gratitude and a renewed commitment to helping the next generation grow deep roots of faith, strong character, and a lifelong love of learning.
Yesterday’s faithfulness. Today’s opportunity. Tomorrow’s promise.
GRACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL • ROOTED FOR 30 YEARS