Program Overview

Elementary Program

Daily Schedule for our Lowell Campus - Early Childhood and Elementary School Programs:

Lowell Early Childhood/Elementary School Schedule
Three year olds	8:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Four year olds	8:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.
Kindergarten (Half-day)	8:15 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Kindergarten (Full-day)	8:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Grades 1 & 2	8:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Grades 3-5	8:15 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Preschool at GCS is offered for three and four year olds at the Lowell Campus. Parents may select from a two, three, or five mornings a week program for both three and four-year-olds. An extended day program is also offered for preschoolers which gives care until 2:00 each day. After school care is not available for preschool students.

For three-year olds, students have Bible instruction and memorization; fine arts enrichment through music and art; regular show-and-tell; mastery of colors, shapes, days of the week, and months of the year. There is an emphasis on socialization and the concept of sharing.

For four-year olds, the students will have Bible instruction and memorization; an introduction to phonics and number concepts; manuscript writing; and fine arts enrichment through music, art, and poetry. There is an emphasis on socialization and the concept of sharing. Field trips are also planned to reinforce learning.

Kindergarten at GCS is offered for both half-day and full-day. Points of academic emphasis include Bible instruction and memorization; intensive phonics instruction and development of reading skills; instruction in written expression and telling time, counting, letter and number writing; and fine arts enrichment through music, art, and poetry. Field trips help to reinforce classroom learning.

First through Fifth Grades at GCS continue to build on the strong Biblical and academic foundation of kindergarten. ABeka is the primary source for curriculum. The Bob Jones University Press reading program is introduced in grade 3, and the Merrill math program is used for grade 5. Fine arts and computer instruction are also incorporated into the weekly schedule. Recorder instruction begins in 4th grade; band instruction is offered in 5th grade. Students also attend chapel, participate in educational programs, compete in a Math Olympics (grades 3-5), and a Gaston County Spelling Bee (grades 4 and 5). GCS students are encouraged to participate in various community and international service projects.

Middle School Program

The Gaston Christian School Middle School Program works in partnership with families to meet the developmental needs of more than 170 students in grades 6-8 at the Belmont Campus. Classes begin each day at 7:50 a.m. and dismiss at 3:00 p.m. GCS teachers work diligently in multi-disciplinary teams to help meet the spiritual, academic, physical, and emotional challenges of this age group. The eight-period day affords the opportunity for various academic core subjects, including English, history, Bible, science, math, computer, French, study skills, and physical education. GCS middle school students also have varied opportunities to explore electives in art, band, chorus, and general music.

A weekly chapel program brings the students together for corporate worship and spiritual teaching. Students spend three days each fall at a spiritual emphasis retreat at Windy Gap, and the school hosts a speaker for spiritual emphasis week each spring.

A full range of athletic opportunities in a 2-A private middle school conference include cross country, tennis, soccer, volleyball, basketball, cheerleading, baseball, softball, and golf.

High School Program

The Gaston Christian High School Program is designed to help meet both the spiritual and academic challenges of more than 190 students in grades 9 - 12 at the Belmont Campus. In keeping with the school's mission statement, all courses are college preparatory. In addition, a variety of Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes are available to qualifying students. Electives in computer, art, and chorus are also offered.

Since 1997, GCS seniors have posted College Board SAT scores that are substantially higher than national, state, and county averages. Over 96 percent of GCS graduates attend college. A number of these students have received substantial college scholarship offers. GCS has had two National Merit Scholars and three Commended Scholars since 1998.

A weekly chapel program offers spiritual challenges to the students. Three days each fall are reserved for a spiritual emphasis retreat at Windy Gap. In the spring the school hosts a speaker for spiritual emphasis week.

GCS high school students have many opportunities to develop athletic skills through participation in teams that compete in a 2-A conference for private schools. These options include boys and girls soccer, co-ed cross country, boys and girls tennis, girls volleyball, boys and girls basketball, girls cheerleading, boys baseball, girls softball, and co-ed golf.

In addition to athletics, GCS offers students the opportunity to participate in a fine arts program that includes chorus, an honors ensemble, art, band, and drama. The GCS high school program also offers a wide range of service-oriented clubs that focus on community and international projects. Academic groups include Mock Trial and High Q, both of which compete against private and public schools in the region.