On Saturday, April 23, 2022, over 200 invited guests were treated to a moving version of The Star-Spangled Banner performed by the school’s chorus to open the ceremony. Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Loudoun County Post 1177 presented the colors at the ceremony.
Evergreen Christian School (ECS) is a new independent Christian high school that opened last fall in its newly renovated facility on Evergreen Mills Road in Leesburg, Virginia.
Mr. Michael Dewey, Founding Head of School, welcomed everyone saying, “We are honored to be able to offer Loudoun County parents this new opportunity for an academically rigorous Christian high school education. Our focus is on developing the next generation of Christian leaders, who not only know what they believe and why they believe, they also are able to defend it and apply it to the important issues facing our world today.”
First Lady of Virginia Suzanne Youngkin commended the school’s faith-based approach and spoke about Governor Youngkin’s policy focus areas in education. She was enthusiastic in her support of parents’ participation in the educational process and said, “Education is the ultimate path to opportunity for all of Virginia’s children. Evergreen Christian School’s commitment to transforming high school students spiritually, academically, and culturally will surely change lives.”
Marwan Rifka, Executive Pastor of Cornerstone Chapel, delivered the opening prayer and noted the shared purpose of both the school and the church in providing a Biblical context for all education.
Lou Giuliano, Chair of the ECS Board of Directors, thanked all the many constituents who worked together to bring the new school to fruition. He acknowledged all those who had to “step out by faith” to get the school started. ECS Head of School, Board of Directors, donors, and faculty, all played an important part, but it was parents who made the most critical decision by sending their 9th and 10th graders to a startup school.
Mrs. Amy Rogers spoke about what it took for her and her husband to make the decision to send their son to ECS and what a transforming experience it has been for their family. She said, “We moved here for Loudoun County Public Schools, and then it went off the rails. I guess I can thank LCPS and their school board for pushing us to take a huge leap of faith and make the better choice to send our son to Evergreen Christian School. Instead of getting all A [grades] in the public school with no substance, our son is learning so much more at Evergreen with critical thinking and having a closer relationship to God.”
Supervisor Caleb Kershner welcomed the school as an important addition to school choice for Loudoun County and provided a plaque recognizing its contribution to positive development in the county.
Pastor Mike Minter, Pastor Emeritus from Reston Bible Church, offered the dedication blessing, a moving prayer dedicating ECS to the service of the Lord for generations to come.