---

Celebrating its 30th year providing Christ-centered education, Valley Christian School is ready for its upcoming academic year in a new location. VCS relocated from St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin Alliance Church of the Valley, to the First Baptist Church, West Street, in Taylors Falls.

School Administrator Ron Brace said the school was given about an 18-month notice that Alliance Church needed the space for expanded congregational needs, and the search was on for a new location.

The Baptist church, and new VCS site, is directly across the street from Taylors Falls Elementary School. The church has been used to house overflow T.F. students in the past, so as a facility it is laid out well for classroom uses. Parking is right next to the ground floor access at the rear of the church.

Brace has been administrator for 11 years, and prior to that he taught for three years. He said there's about six staff members, depending on enrollment numbers. The school lost a few students due to the relocation-- it's at 25 but Brace expects 40 for this year. VCS welcomes enrollment at any time, the start of school is August 20. The VCS website calendar says the last day is May 21.

Valley Christian began in 1979 and in 2000 was "released" by Alliance Church and incorporated and is parent-owned. It is non-denominational and its education philosophy is to prepare each student for a life of service to God and mankind. Brace said students also benefit from the "one-to-one" educational interaction made possible by small class sizes.

The school offers sports in basketball, soccer, and volleyball. The school competes in the Christian Athletic League.

Bag lunches are brought by students, as there's no commercial kitchen at the new location.

For additional information or to meet with Brace contact 651-465-3333 or the website is at www.val ley-christian.org if you'd like to print application forms, etc.

---