In the last five years, TCA almost doubled in student enrollment (190 in 2014 and 350 in 2019). Such quick growth necessitated significant effort on the part of all TCA stakeholders to stick firmly to the mission and goals of the school. We went from having several certified classroom teachers to a team of over 40 employees, 80% of which are certified either by state or by the ACSI. Moreover, all of our teachers and support staff are fully committed to the TCA main purpose: educating the whole of each child – his or her mind and heart – to serve others and glorify God.
Our challenge is to help our Slavic students to remember their unique background while preparing for life in the US, and our American students get the opportunity to expand their horizons, both in terms of traditions and language. Thus, school board members, principal and other professionals continuously look for opportunities to support and expand the ministry and impact of Tacoma Christian Academy.
The purpose of Tacoma Christian Academy is to provide educational services in grades K-12 and educate young hearts and minds to serve others and glorify God.
Tacoma Christian Academy partners with families and church to educate students in Bible knowledge and in a Christian worldview, to develop an understanding of evangelical Christian values and principles, train students in moral character, and provide quality academic education in knowledge and understanding, and promote service to God and others.
Therefore, the role of TCA is to assist the family in their responsibility to raise godly young people, while satisfying government requirements for education as long as these requirements don’t conflict with God’s commands.
Our shared values include: glorifying God in everything we do; teaching students to fear the Lord and receive his saving grace; creating a well-ordered and nurturing environment; pursuing academic excellence; and preserving Slavic cultural and spiritual heritage.
Our teachers commit to continuous training in the areas of instruction, assessment, and spiritual development to assure unity in our beliefs and dedication to the TCA purpose and goals.
TCA embodies its purpose through various programs and high expectations for students, families, and staff. Besides offering five core subjects (Bible, Mathematics, Language Arts, History, and Science), the school requires all students to take Russian language, art, music, and physical education. We have high, yet attainable, expectations for our students. Each one of them has an assigned adult advocate to take care of his or her needs in the areas of academic achievement, social development, and spiritual growth.
TCA students actively participate in extracurricular events. Secondary students attend Olympic events at least three times a year. Elementary and middle school students participate in ACSI-organized events such as Student Leadership Conferences and Spelling Bee, Math, and Art competitions. TCA junior high school students benefit from Merritt Scholars & National Honor Society.
Our school started with eighteen students and three enthusiastic teachers about fifteen years ago. It was only due to a big vision of the School Board members and support of the local church pastors that TCA was able to survive the first two years. In 2007, a new energetic principal, Mr. Slobodyanik, began building a team of passionate and godly educators. In eight years the student’s enrollment increased ten times over. Most importantly, the community support grew so much that the school administration began thinking about finding additional space for the students on the waiting list. School parents and community members contributed countless hours to raise the necessary funds and begin new building construction.
For about three years (2016-2019), the school was split into two campuses. In October of 2019, our dream came true when the Education Center has been completed. Students from both south and central campuses have been reunited at the main campus. The additional space hosted twelve additional classrooms, including a library and computer lab. Special thanks to Parent-Teacher Fellowship (PTF). This group of a dozen most active parents, led by Alexey Guyvoronskiy, was crucial to the success of the project. Their unity and sacrificial attitude inspired many schools, church, and community members to donate their time and money for the construction of the education center.
Our school offers a unique intellectual atmosphere because of our Slavic cultural and religious heritage. We work to preserve the rigor of traditional Eastern European education, but we also affirm an American sense of individuality. Our faculty is comprised of both American and Slavic instructors who expertly maneuver the nuances of our multicultural, bilingual setting. To ensure the excellence and quality of the instruction we provide to our students, we continually review and reform our curricula, teaching methods, and classroom procedures according to research-based best practices. This fusion of proven Eastern and Western European educational traditions serves as a framework for informed and innovative instruction.
Our students accomplished so much during the last few years: we successfully participated and won first places in regional mathematics and art competitions. Our soccer and other sports teams have been bringing trophies for many years. High school students continuously demonstrate exceptional leadership skills serving TCA during such events as Annual School Auction, ACSI regional Spelling Bee, family field days, and weekly snack bars.
Most of all, our school stands out with our strong emphasis on partnership between parents and TCA staff. The family-friendly environment, actively promoted by all stakeholders, contributes to the students’ success and accomplishment in all grades and subjects. We are committed to preserving this learning-conducive atmosphere for as long as we are able to serve TCA students and their families.
We believe that there will be even more demand for a quality whole-child education in a safe Christian environment. We invite you to join us in an effort to serve as many families as we can. Pray for us, become our partners, and contribute to the future of our children.
