TCA opens new school year at new location

SIKESTON -- Students and staff in all grades at The Christian Academy filed in together under one roof for the first time in several years as their new school year began Thursday.

The Sikeston Christian-based school relocated to a new location, 103 E. Kathleen St. in Sikeston, which housed Three Rivers College before it moved to its new campus on South Main Street a year ago.

Administrator Kevin Self and staff moved the school from it's prior location at 210 S. Kingshighway in Sikeston over the summer break.

"Everyone is excited," Self said on Thursday.

Before this school year, grades prekindergarten through fifth were housed at the South Kingshighway location and grades 6-12 were located at Tanner Street Church of God's multipurpose building.

On Thursday, the entire school came together on one campus. Traffic flow, which had been discussed Saturday during the school's open house, was a nonissue Thursday morning, Self said.

"We had talked about the traffic flow with pick up and drop off of students, and everyone did great with that this morning," Self said, adding pick up and drop off takes place in the the school parking lot with parents following the same direction around the building.

Self said the lower level houses classrooms for first through sixth grades, a teacher's workroom, storage, library and a classroom for special subjects like art, chapel and Spanish.

The second level is comprised of the administrative offices, cafeteria and classrooms for prekindergarten, kindergarten and seventh through 12th grades. Both levels have multiple restrooms, and all classrooms feature windows, Self said.

"It's important that natural light can be let in each classroom," Self said.

The school's new site, which was donated to the school by Jim and Judy Lincoln, which was donated by increased school space about 30 percent. The facility at East Kathleen Street is just over 15,000 square feet compared to 11,000 square feet at the North Kingshighway building.

TCA will continue to use the gym at Tanner Street Church of God for its athletic teams, which include volleyball, basketball and cheerleading, Self said.

In addition to more classroom space, the new location provides better technological capabilities, Self said. Interactive white boards were added in the classrooms, too. Every class with the exception of prekindergarten, which uses tables, received new desks, he said.

For the complete story, see the Friday edition of the Standard Democrat.