Steinbach Christian School raises nearly $100,000 for classroom renovations

Steinbach Christian School recently held a “Not-Golf” tournament fundraiser, which ended up being quite successful, raising nearly $100,000.

Principal, Thor Barkman explains the event. “We often do a fundraiser in spring. A sort of a playful rendition of a raffle, minus the golf tournament part, which a lot of people are already doing. The goal of this fundraiser was to raise money so we can build classrooms.”

When asked how much money was raised, Barkman responds with, “I can tell you that the cost of this initial renovation is going to be just over $100,000 and we got very close to that number. So, we are well on the way to paying for the renovations. It is certainly a positive endorsement that we're moving in the right direction.”

Barkman says they need to add more classroom space because of the rising rate of applications for students wishing to attend SCS, which means the need for classroom space also goes up.

He says the classroom renovation project will begin this summer. Barkman says they intend to renovate three or four classroom spaces in their facility, and monies from the fundraiser will help make that possible.

Barkman says they will create new classrooms inside the current SCS space using space from some small music rooms and a computer lab. “This year, the goal is to get four classrooms, and then five classrooms the following year. We are also looking at adding a second gym and additional classrooms.”

Barkman continues, “We are simply responding to what we see as far as applications and interest in the programs that we're offering, and the fundraiser was just the first step to getting those projects paid for.”

He talks about where the nearly $100,000 in donations came from the ‘Not Golf Tournament”.

“So, we received monies from people well beyond our school community. And then there were also people who heard about what we were doing saying, ‘we are starting to understand who signed that Christian School is and we want to be involved with you. If you're building classrooms, we want to partner with you on that.’”

Barkman adds that some of the monies that came in was given was directed specifically to a specific “hole”. He explains that in the “Not Golf tournament” there were still eighteen holes, in the form of 18 prizes worth $1000 or more that people could make a bid on.

“It was great to see the participation, regardless of people’s connection to the school.”

Barkman is glad to know that people want the school to continue to expand and provide Christian education to the communities in the area.

When it comes to the start of construction, he notes that the extra classrooms will be worked on over the summer, with the hope of opening four in the 2024-2025 school year. Barkman notes that some of renovations are modest while others are complete reconstructs, which may take a bit more time. Then during the summer months of 2025, he says they will build another five classrooms.

When it comes to needing additional space, Barkman confirms there have been conversations with Steinbach Bible College, with whom SCS share space with, but at this time there is nothing to report.

Steinbach Christian School students enjoying a carnival ride (photo submitted)

Barkman adds that to celebrate the success of the fundraiser there was an after-school carnival on Friday, May 31.

“And we celebrated that as a community. But we weren't using the carnival to make money. We were giving away popcorn, and all the activities were free for kids and the cotton candy and slushies were done at or below cost for the most part. So, it was just to kind of create a fun atmosphere that echoed kind of that playful spirit of the fundraiser.”

Barkman says their intention was to create a playful carnival atmosphere for everyone. His favorite activity was the hole-in-one challenge. “Where kids could throw a ball, hit a ball with a tennis racket, throw a rubber pig and try to get it into the hula hoop. And if it stayed inside the hula hoop, then they won a prize, and I'm sure some kids threw their arm out, just doing that over and over and over.”

He adds there was also a dunk tank which ended up being a fun way for kids to engage with their teachers, and wagon rides, bouncy castles and prizes.

Barkman notes another reason for the carnival was to invite anyone who had been accepted into Steinbach Christian School for the next school and let them enjoy themselves, but also, "to give those kids a chance to experience the community and to meet people. And so, we had a lot of families coming out, just seeing who we are, and making a few friends that may they be in class with next year.”