Town of Wayne — Families poured into the newly opened Community Christian Academy in the Town of Wayne this week, gathering for tours, prayer, and fellowship ahead of the first day of school. With 38 students enrolled from K4 through 12th grade, the Academy has begun its inaugural year with excitement and purpose, rooted in Christian values and a rigorous academic approach.
Community Christian Academy is an extension of Community Church, where leaders and families had long prayed about creating a place for children to learn and grow in both faith and knowledge.
Built in 1964, the facility was once home to Wayne Elementary School and later i4Learning Community School. Increasing maintenance costs prompted the Kewaskum School Board to vote in 2022 to close the school at 576 Mohawk Road. Soon thereafter the district sold the building.
Senior Pastor Adam Baker said the journey to opening the new school has been filled with answered prayers.
“This is our first school year. There’s a lot that we’re still learning, but we are very excited about what God has done so far in pulling this together,” Baker said. “Whether it’s the teaching staff, the support, or the curriculum team, He has filled every gap. Our goal is that we don’t just operate as an isolated unit. We’re raising young men and women to be future leaders of our community — people of virtue, values, and service.”
Pastor Vince Cardarelle explained how the idea of a school began when Community Church purchased its building four years ago.
“We thought, ‘We’re in a school setting now, so God must be wanting us to do something with it,’” Cardarelle said. “We’ve been praying about it for a while, and over this last year, God called us to launch a school. This is really about teaching the kids to see Christ in every subject, to grow in love for Christ, and to live faithfully for Him.”
The Academy follows a classical education model, blending academic rigor with biblical principles. Cardarelle said, “We want our boys to learn how to honor women, our young women to relate in a biblical way, and our students to carry Christlike mannerisms. History is the spine of classical education, and from there we help students learn to think deeply about every subject.”
For teachers, the vision is coming to life in the classroom. Cararissa Garretts, who leads the third through fifth grade classroom, values both the teaching approach and the small class sizes.
“It’s a lot of memory work, but also hands-on and movement. We’re not just sitting in front of a whiteboard — we’re helping kids find answers for themselves,” Garretts said. “With a lower student-to-teacher ratio, I can really challenge students and give them the one-on-one time they need.”
Parents say the sense of community and intentional teaching drew them to enroll their children. Tim Schneider, who has three kids attending, said the school reflects his family’s values.
“What I like about the school is the community aspect,” Schneider said. “Our kids get to attend school with the same kids they see at church, and that’s meaningful to us. It’s really a marriage of Christian education and community life.”
Schneider also appreciates the hands-on involvement families have had in shaping the school’s beginnings.
“It’s a new school, so there’s work to be done and challenges ahead. But we knew that when we signed up. We’re pioneers here, and that’s exciting.”
Parent Keanu Anderson of Lomira, has one child enrolled. He said the decision to join Community Christian Academy came after much prayer.
“We had been homeschooling and talked about sending him to a traditional school, but this was weighing on our hearts,” Anderson said. “Here, the teachers aren’t just teachers — they’re our friends, our family, our neighbors. We go to church with them. I think the biggest benefit will be the one-on-one time with teachers and the trust that comes from knowing who is shaping our children.”
As families settled into classrooms during opening night, excitement filled the halls. Uniforms were ready, books were shelved, and prayers were lifted for the year ahead.
Baker said the mission goes beyond academics.
“Our responsibility is to prepare students to meet the needs of their community, to serve, to lead, and to continue living out their faith as adults,” he said. “This is just the beginning.”
With faith as its foundation and a dedicated community behind it, Community Christian Academy is opening its doors to a new generation of students — growing in Christ, in knowledge, and in purpose.
The first day of school is September 2, 2025.
