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On Saturday, May 21st, the Smithtown Christian School held its annual fundraiser on its expansive grounds behind the school and church. It was the 13th time the school has held this event to raise funds to support the school’s mission and curriculum.
Smithtown Christian School operates as a ministry of the Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle. The Pastor is Gary Zarlengo, who was in attendance and offered an opening prayer for the event.
According to the school’s superintendent, Rev. Joel Maus, “the event is called Accelerate to support new and creative initiatives and programs for the school.” Approximately 280 people attended the event. The school has about 300 students in grades k through 12.
Speaking at the event were Lisa Eichenlaub, Director of Admissions and Advancement, as well as Rev. Maus and several teachers. Past speakers at this event have included Dr. Ben Carson, Oliver North and former Governor Mike Huckabee.
According to the school’s website, students are educated to think Biblically, serve effectively, and lead Christ-centered lives through academic excellence and spiritual growth. “Graduates are expected to effectively glorify God and minister to others,” says Pastor Gary. The school has been in existence for 40 years.
Activities at the event included a petting zoo, a butterfly tent, and a caricaturist. A gourmet bar-b-Que lunch was served. Pursuing JC, a Long Island based Christian worship band, provided the entertainment with their spirit-lifting music and vocals.
When asked how the school fared during the Covid-19 pandemic, Rev. Maus explained they had to adapt to virtual learning in March 2020. While they did initially lose 25 students, by September they were back to in-person learning and most students had returned and new ones enrolled as well. Some students elected to continue with remote learning. Rev. Maus was happy to report “all students are currently at or near grade level.” The school made use of Federal Covid relief funds, which was greatly appreciated.
Smithtown Christian School recently sponsored a mission to Kenya. It was organized by Nancy Bambino, a global history teacher at the school for the past 17 years. Nancy led a contingent of juniors and seniors to Kenya where they provided food for 275 children per day. Costs were managed through fundraising, some of which provided school uniforms for students in Kenya, where they are required to attend school. Another trip to Africa, as well as other missions, are already in the planning stages for next year.
On SCS’s website, www.learnwithscs.org, you can learn about the school’s mission and programs. There are also tabs for STEM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and information on admissions, events and tuition.
