When Orangeville Christian School opened its doors in 1979 and started operating as a faithbased private school serving the Orangeville area it had humble origins.

It began operations out of the Broadway Tabernacle Church and in its first year had 27 students, 16 in a grades 1-4 class, and 11 in a grades 5- 8 class. Bob Duggan served as principal and teacher for the senior class.

Now, 30 years later, some of the students that graduated from OCS in those early years now sit on the board and are actively involved volunteers.

In 1983, the school took a major step forward and moved to its own freestanding building on Highway 9 just east of Orangeville. The student body had grown to 56 children.

Alice Blydorp started teaching there in 1986 and is still involved in the school as a volunteer and substitute teacher. Ann Van Harten, the current Junior and Senior Kindergarten teacher, started at the school in 1990. In addition to serving as a teacher, Mrs. Van Harten once served as the principal.

In 2002, the school moved to its current facility on Veterans Way. The building houses five classrooms, a band room, a fully stocked library, a large gym, a wellequipped kitchen, and administrative offices.

"For this school year we have 76 kids enrolled and are serving 40 different families from over a dozen different churches," said Paul Marcus, the current principal and chief operating officer. "Our families come from as far south as the Caledon/ Belfountain area, as far north as Shelburne, and over to the west in Grand Valley. Our busing program enables us to service this area and further north if needed," he said.

"A lot has changed in 30 years," he added. "What hasn't changed is our commitment and desire to offer quality, caring, faith-based education at an affordable tuition to the families of Dufferin County."

And he said a recently announced tuition reduction has made it even more affordable for families to have their children attend the school.