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OBS
History
Orcutt Baptist School was established by the congregation of Orcutt
Baptist Church in December of 1969. Originally called Orcutt Baptist Day
School, its first class was held in September of 1970 with fifteen five
year old kindergarten children and one teacher.
The 1971-1972 academic year was one of miraculous growth and expansion for
the school. A second kindergarten class for five year olds and one class
for four year old children were added. The elementary school was also begun
with the addition of two classes of sixth and two classes of seventh
grade. The teaching staff grew from one to nine teachers, and a headmaster,
secretary, and bookkeeper were employed.
The school year 1972-1973 saw continued growth as the first, second, and
third grades were added, and the total number of students grew to one
hundred seventy. New school buses were purchased and transportation was
made available to students who needed a ride to and from school.
The addition of grade four in 1973 and grade five in 1974 completed the
progression of elementary grades from first through seventh. One section
of eighth grade was added in 1979 another in 1981, enabling grades 6-8 to
function as a middle school. By that time all available classrooms were
filled.
In 1980, enthusiastic parents, teachers, students, and church members
worked together to develop the playing field so that it could be used
for physical education as well as soccer, track, and softball
teams. This is still one of the finest play areas for elementary students
in the private sector on the Peninsula.
With the addition of a part-time librarian to the faculty in 1980, the
library began to grow and circulation soared. Once again parents, teachers,
students, and church members worked together so that a professional section
and over 1,300 library books were added in less than three years. Today the
OBS library houses over 7,000 books as well as periodicals and audio visual
equipment, video tapes, book & cassette tape sets, and biblical flannel
graph pieces. The library continues to expand through donations of books
given in the Library Birthday Club.
After 1980, OBS continued its strong, traditional academic program and
Christian outreach for students in Kindergarten - Grade eight. In
September of 1988, OBS opened a Before/After School program (also known as
Extended Care) to care for students of working or busy parents. In the fall
of 1991, OBS added a Pre K-3 program for the first time. By 2004, OBS was
restructured to include Pre K-3 through Grade 5. Over the years, OBS grade
structure has been flexible in accommodating the Christian elementary
educational needs of our community.
Orcutt Baptist School began and is still established on the belief that
education in its highest form teaches the realities of Jesus Christ. The
school program was designed to afford young boys and girls an experience
that will lead them to a deeper understanding of the realities of God,
His love for them, and His plan for their lives.
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