Columbia Ridge Baptist Academy

9914 SE 6th Street, Vancouver, WA 98664

Phone: 360-892-0454

Email: Principal@ColumbiaRidgeBaptist.org

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil." Ephesians 6:11 (HCSB)

History and Purpose

Columbia Ridge Baptist Academy (CRBA) was established in 1976 as a ministry of Columbia Ridge Baptist Church – a fundamental, independent Baptist church striving to build families according to the principles of God's Word. In its thirty years of existence CRBA has graduated many students who have gone on into all walks of life and ministry.

Columbia Ridge Baptist Church seeks to be a caring family of believers who edify one another in the faith and who reach their community and the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In seeking to fulfill this purpose, we see the spiritual training of our young people to be a top priority next to their faith in Christ. In the formative years, patterns are established and commitments made that often determine the course of a lifetime.

The primary responsibility for laying this godly foundation lies with the parents (Deut. 6:4-9, Eph. 6:4). We, as a church, stand by ready to help parents fulfill this vital responsibility. We are not a substitute for godly parents instilling godly principles within their children. We are not doing your job for you. We are not ultimately responsible for the rearing of your children. But we do stand alongside to help you.

Philosophy and Objectives

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline” (Proverbs 1:7). “In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). “For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6).

God is the Creator, not only of life, but of everything in the universe. In order to understand our physical world, we must know the Creator. A knowledge of God is essential to understanding the many elements of His creation. Such knowledge is evident through both general revelation and special revelation. Through observing order and beauty in the universe one can come to know something of God’s character. With special revelation, through the Bible, one learns more fully about God’s character and His plan for man. By knowing Jesus Christ, the revelation of God in physical form, one can come to know God. That which can be known about God’s world can be known objectively because He created real objects. Truth is objective and absolute and reflects God’s character. Truth is not subjective, relative or determined by human feelings.

God has also designed certain laws and principles which govern the universe. It is our task to understand those laws and principles and live in harmony with them. He has not only established physical laws but also moral laws. By understanding and following God’s moral laws, we can establish proper social and governmental relationships.

Education must be God-centered. It is only through a Christian world-view that we can truly understand science, history, English, mathematics and other subjects. What is taught in each discipline must be consistent with Scripture. Education must also include moral training. It is important to understand the attitudes, behavior and character that God desires of each person.

In the educational process, parents have the primary role. The church and the school should complement the home in promoting the student’s spiritual, academic, social and physical growth. Parents delegate the authority and responsibility for instruction to the teacher while the student is participating in school programs.

We desire to promote high academic standards while helping the students achieve skills in creative and critical thinking using the best integrated curriculum available. The objective of our instructional program is to enable the student to pursue a Christ-centered life, equipped to serve God, prepared for post-secondary education of his/her choosing, whether in college, university or in vocational training.

CRBA exists with a distinctively Christian philosophy. We are not merely a private school offering an alternative to government education. We are not a Christian school merely because our teachers are Christians. We are a Christian school because of a Christ-centered philosophy that believes that Christ is Lord and that in Him “...are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

CRBA is a non-profit educational ministry of Columbia Ridge Baptist Church to provide high academic standards, affirm the sanctity of the home, the development of the whole man, Biblical morality, Christian Missions, American Patriotism; and holding God's Word, the Bible, the ultimate authority in all matters.

Back to top

Curriculum

Columbia Ridge Baptist Academy utilizes Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) curriculum and it is supplemented as needed with Alpha-Omega's computerized curriculum, Switched-On Schoolhouse (SOS).

Our curriculum is built upon these five basic laws of learning:

Students must be at levels where they can perform.
Reasonable goals must be set.
Students must be controlled and motivated.
Learning must be measurable.
Learning must be rewarded.

CRBA holds to these goals:

A solid back-to-the-basics educational program
A course of study individualized to meet a child's specific needs and learning capabilities
A program incorporating goal setting, character building, and wisdom principles
A curriculum using available advanced computer technology to help ensure the finest education possible in today's high-tech climate.

One significant result from adhering to these goals is that students score higher than their counterparts in conventional programs using the same standardized achievement tests. Whether the student is a high achiever or a moderately paced learner, our educational process proceeds at the exact level determined by the child's ability.

Individualization makes it possible for each student to master the subject before moving on. Such mastery is the foundation upon which all future learning is built. Individualization produces academic excellence. Students take responsibility for their own learning.

Biblical character training received as part of this learning experience prepares students to welcome and accept challenges and future opportunities that come their way. Biblical values and concepts considered foundational to relationships and productive living are conveyed throughout the curriculum in such a way as to become life-shaping influences.

Back to top

General Information

Our school is located near I-205 and SE Mill Plain Blvd. in East Vancouver. We are currently enrolling 1^st to 8^th grades. High School enrollment is restricted to our current students or those transferring from similar Christian schools. All applications are considered on an individual basis. The school maintains a uniform dress code, with Lands' End School Uniforms being our sole uniform provider.

School hours are from 8:00 to 2:30 on Monday through Thursday. Sack lunches are the norm. However, the school provides microwaves and a refrigerator for student use. We sell bottled water for 20 cents, cup-of-noodle soup for 40 cents and pizza pockets for $1.

Back to top

Last updated: 8/21/2007