Joanne Williams
Editor

(Joanne Williams/TCJ – The kindergartners at Good Soil Academy had the honor of cutting the green ribbon to their new school building at an opening ceremony at the Sunfield Christian school on Sept. 8.)

The first day of a school year is exciting in it itself – but to start a “new” school in a new building, it’s just beyond giggles.

There were plenty of giggles and smiles and friends hugging friends at the Sept. 8 ribbon-cutting at the first day of Good Soil Academy in Sunfield.

The school, which began less than a year ago in Kilpatrick United Brethren Church in Woodland, now has a home in the former Sunfield Elementary School, where kindergarten through eighth-grade classrooms reside.

The private Christian school welcomed 46 students on the first day, and inquiries are still coming in. Enrollment practically doubled over the summer.

The ribbon-cutting, performed by the school’s kindergarten class on a sunny but slightly chilly day, began with a welcome from Principal and Superintendent Teresa Foltz who thanked “so many of you who have made this happen.”

Pastor Roxton “Rocky” Spear, mentioned the excitement as well as thanks for the faculty and the facility in an opening prayer.

After a flag-raising and Pledge of Allegiance, Pastor Neil Estep read a verse from the Bible, in the Book of Matthew, telling the parable of the good soil. “We are firmly rooted in the life-changing…soil,” he said.

Green, white and gold balloons and a welcome to the first day sign greeted children and families, and each class lined up for photos, the first and second grade containing the largest cohort.

As students were dismissed to find their classrooms, the kindergarten class of a half-dozen or so gathered with their families in the lunchroom for a “BooHoo” breakfast.

Lorraine Benedict, a volunteer at the school explained the tradition, which her son learned about while teaching in Korea. Families eat breakfast together to ease the release of their little ones to the classroom.

“It’s a nice transition, a gentle way” she said, for the often tear-driven process, for adults and children.

Cora Stansell and her family were there to see Rosie off on her first day of school.

“I am so excited for this,” Stansell said. “I went to school here for six years, so it is wonderful to have my daughter here.”

The school building, which is being leased by Good Soil, offers multipurpose gym, cafeteria, library, and other areas, including a fenced in playground and Sunfield’s Foltz Field right next door.

Foltz’s husband, Gary D. Foltz, is administrative support at the school. The adjacent ball field was named after Gary’s uncle Ted, who was well known for his pitching and was inducted into the Michigan Fast Pitch Softball Hall of Fame.

Early plans had the school building being turned into apartments, said Principal Foltz, but instead, it had held a day care/preschool. Another daycare plans to open there once again.

Foltz was principal for three years at Barry County Christian Schools before coming to this position. In public education for 17 years prior, she was a teacher and administrative support person.

At Good Soil Academy, Foltz said she enjoys “the smaller class sizes” the school can offer, as well as its mission. “We want the children to know what they believe and why they believe it” as they are educated,” she said.