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GCP270 - Christ Focused Education at Unity Christian Schools w/Dr. Jessica · Grow Clinton Podcast

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_01: Our juniors will be taking the PSAT soon.
• 0:02
  SPEAKER_01: That will give them the opportunity to be part of the National Merit Scholarship Program.
• 0:06
  SPEAKER_00: You're listening to the Grow Clinton Podcast.
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_00: Grow Clinton is a 501c6 nonprofit economic community development and tourism organization based in Clinton, Iowa.
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_00: For more information, visit growclinton.com.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: Again, that's growclinton.com.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_00: Now, back to the show.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: What's happening, all you beautiful people out there in Podcast Land?
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for tuning in to another episode of the One, the Only, you love it, you know where to find it, folks.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_00: Now you can find it on our app.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: And I don't know why my TV just went off.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_00: Can you grab that remote for me over there, by the way?
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: Technical difficulties all the time.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_00: Sorry, Jessica.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_02: All good.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_00: Don't worry, we will we will figure this out.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_00: I by 500 episodes, we will have this thing as a well-oiled machine.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: I'm not sure why that decided to turn off, but it's, you know, people get to see what happens in the background here of our podcast.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_01: Production.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_01: Just like what happens in education.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_01: That's right.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_01: You have to pivot.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_01: There you go.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_00: You have to pivot.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_00: I spoke at a conference this past week, and it was on Friday, and I walked up and I knew I was sitting on a panel, but I had no idea that I would be moderating such a panel.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_00: And they hand me the microphone.
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_00: It was like, okay, let's do this.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: What?
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: Let's have some fun.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, let's try this again.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_00: All right.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_00: What's happening, all you beautiful people out there in Podcast Land?
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for turning into another episode of the One, the Only, you love it, you know where to find it, folks.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_00: The Grow Clinton Podcast.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: Now available as an app, Jenny.
• 1:31
  SPEAKER_00: I just put it on my phone.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: Yep, the Grow Clinton Podcast.
• 1:34
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• 1:56
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• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, so exciting.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: 270 episodes to consume, Jenny.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_00: Wow.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_00: It's awesome.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_00: My name is Annie Sikolovich.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_00: I'm the president CEO of Grow Clinton.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_00: As always, your host for today's episode.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: That voice you heard, that's none other than the beautiful Jenny Home, who is our director of member in community relations.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_00: Jenny's kicking butt taking names.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_00: How's your week been so far?
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_00: It's Tuesday.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_02: Tuesday, it's been great.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_02: I love reaching out to our members and seeing how they're doing and checking in on them.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_02: And I, you know, done a lot of introductions lately, and I love doing that.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: You do a great job.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_00: You're very approachable, very personable, and I'm glad you're in the position you're in.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: Um, because I don't know if I could do your job.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_02: I could not do your job.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_00: Well, it comes with its challenges.
• 2:37
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  SPEAKER_00: Member F D I C.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: Agcraft Printware, they're awesome, Jenny.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_00: They're just really cool.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: They've been around since 1974.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: How's that possible?
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: Dan Sullivan, that owns the joint with his brother, they're only in their like mid 30s now.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, yeah.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: Dan's going to send me a message saying, thanks, man.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_00: Appreciate that.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_02: A B K.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: A B K.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: Over the years, Adcraft has grown from a small family-run operation now to a cutting edge corporate headquarter right here in Clinton off on 19th Avenue Northwest.
• 3:16
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• 3:20
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• 3:47
  SPEAKER_03: Oh, yeah.
• 3:47
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_00: Miles Communication, that's right.
• 3:49
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• 3:59
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• 4:04
  SPEAKER_00: More information, milestelephone.com, Lionel Bassell, closing out a turnaround.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_00: Every seven years, they bring about 1,500 contractors to the community to dismantle the whole plant, lube oil, filter, whatever they do, put it all back together.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_00: But they're just closing out that bad boy.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_00: And from what we heard from Joe Huincus, their site manager, one very, very well.
• 4:25
  SPEAKER_00: Joe seemed excited that it was over.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_02: I I wouldn't doubt that.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I believe he's retiring at the end of the year.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_00: So he's well, he is retired at the end of the year.
• 4:33
  unknown: No!
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_00: But he's not going anywhere.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: He's gonna stay here in Sea Town.
• 4:36
  SPEAKER_02: Okay, I know he's gonna be able to do that.
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_00: He's gonna live in Clinton.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: He's gonna split his time between Clinton and Thailand.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_00: We better hear from it.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_00: Which is what I plan on doing.
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_00: Oh from I'll I split my time between uh Clinton and uh Clinton.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_00: And every once in a while I go to the port of Davin.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_00: So LYB is committed to being a responsible, engaged neighbor in the community where they serve just like here in Clinton through volunteers, charitable giving, and partnerships, local organization.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_00: They aim to strengthen our community by supporting education, sustainability, and safety initiatives.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_00: Line up sell solutions for a better tomorrow.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_00: Good show today, Jennifer.
• 5:08
  SPEAKER_02: We have a success story.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_00: Success story Unity Christian Schools, Truth, Community, and Excellent with Dr.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_00: Jessica Hollowell.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_00: Did I say that correct?
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, she did.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: I didn't know if it was a long E or not.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_01: Hollowell is good.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_00: Hollowell is good.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Sokolovich, so if you get the S out of your name, like that's good.
• 5:26
  SPEAKER_00: I'll take it.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_00: You miss a couple O's, no big deal, you know?
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_00: And you were joking earlier about you know mixing up your names, maiden name, married name.
• 5:33
  SPEAKER_00: And uh I often spell my name incorrectly.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_00: No, I've had it my entire life.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_00: Well, if I'm typing fast.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm not a very good typist.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_02: Wow.
• 5:42
  SPEAKER_02: So I think I'm understandable.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_00: What I did in school, don't listen to this, students, but uh in typing class, I swapped my keyboard with a young lady next to me.
• 5:51
  SPEAKER_00: So according to my school record, I am an amazing typist.
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, but no, she actually is the one that did all the work.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_00: Uh yeah.
• 5:59
  SPEAKER_00: All right.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_00: But yes, so Dr.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_00: Hollowell, thank you so much.
• 6:02
  SPEAKER_00: Unity Christian Schools, brand new location for K 12 over here in Clinton, just very close to Agcraft.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_00: Off of 19th Avenue Northwest, just adjacent to the Lincoln Way Industrial.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_00: Well, no, that's a different one.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_00: Lions Business Technology Park.
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_00: Now you still have preschool and childcare over in Fulton.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_00: But let's talk about what's been going on in your world.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_01: It's been a whirlwind uh since we moved over um right over Christmas break last year.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_01: But we are super excited.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_01: We have 116 students in K through 12.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, we actually, Citizens First Bank is a huge supporter of Unity helping us with our banking.
• 6:46
  SPEAKER_00: Don't give Eddie Dunham any credit over there.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_00: Eddie, we just exclude him from everything.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_01: Except for Eddie.
• 6:52
  SPEAKER_00: Eddie's a good friend of mine.
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes I make fun of him.
• 6:54
  SPEAKER_00: He's like, dude, why you gotta do that in a public forum all the time?
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_01: And we just finished up uh an adcraft uh web store here to with our new branding and everything.
• 7:05
  SPEAKER_01: So um super blessed.
• 7:07
  SPEAKER_01: I'm really excited because you have some sports teams going on.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_02: So tell us about yes, you just told me what you guys were up to.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, so we are all systems go as far as sports is happening.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_01: We have our junior high girls' volleyball and our high school girls' volleyball seasons happening.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, we have our soccer for our boys, and then we do have a couple students that are also co-oping with Clinton High for golf.
• 7:36
  SPEAKER_00: Very good.
• 7:36
  SPEAKER_01: So that's what's happening right now.
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, uh, I know you always had a really good uh woolly subens that I'm aware of, the soccer program.
• 7:43
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, there's some studs that have come out of that school, some Pelees.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, they uh they're doing very well in their season.
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_01: I believe they only have two losses, yeah, if I recall correctly.
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_01: And we're getting down to the wire at the end of the conference season, so they'll be heading into a tournament in about a little over a week.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_01: And we will be hosting our volleyball conference tournament.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_00: Who's coach?
• 8:08
  SPEAKER_00: Coach Bear?
• 8:08
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_01: Nice.
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_00: She does a phenomenal job.
• 8:11
  SPEAKER_01: So um, we have a game tonight.
• 8:13
  SPEAKER_01: It's actually blackout.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so we have our JV and our varsity both playing tonight for volleyball.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_01: Who's who are they playing?
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_01: They are playing Pathway Christian from Kelowna.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_01: Oh my gosh, that's a dope.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_01: That's a way to travel.
• 8:27
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yes.
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_01: Uh we are grateful that we are centrally located for our conference.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_01: Um so that is uh kind of a normal travel for us, um kind of distance-wise.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, but uh yes, so they will um serve serve at five o'clock will be their serve.
• 8:47
  SPEAKER_01: And um now, Mrs.
• 8:49
  SPEAKER_00: Bear, her daughter, is she a junior this year?
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_01: She is.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_00: Gosh, yes.
• 8:53
  SPEAKER_00: So I my children, uh, when we lived over in Illinois, they attended Unity Christian, and uh, we have nothing but very fond memories of that.
• 9:01
  SPEAKER_00: And I remember I can't, what's her name again?
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_00: Ella.
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_00: Ella, that's right.
• 9:05
  SPEAKER_00: Yep, Ella is they were just little itty bitty peanuts.
• 9:07
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yes.
• 9:08
  SPEAKER_01: Ella and my Adeline were just little itty bitty peanuts, and now I think Hannah is is getting right up there and to their growing up.
• 9:17
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's crazy.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_00: How fast time goes.
• 9:19
  SPEAKER_00: I know my daughter, I mean, she's obviously a junior, and I blink and I feel like I just my earliest memories obviously of her when she was born, but then when she moved here, I had to stay back for about six months in the Air Force.
• 9:34
  SPEAKER_00: So that was tough.
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_02: That's rough on a dad.
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_00: Really, I flew back here for three days to watch my son be born and then left again.
• 9:40
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, yeah.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_00: Came back to uh to a newborn baby boy.
• 9:43
  SPEAKER_00: That's rough on everybody, yeah.
• 9:45
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 9:45
  SPEAKER_00: So the everybody knows the school was under construction there for a while, and then construction paused.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_00: But this is the power of kind of networking and connections.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_00: A former superintendent of Unity Christian from way back in the day.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_03: Yes.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_00: Um, very successful in his own right, uh, doing small business development.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_00: And he knew that you, as Unity Christian schools, were kind of in a little bit of a predicament where you had to find the financial uh ability to finish the school off, and this guy pops out of where community come from.
• 10:18
  SPEAKER_01: He is from Sioux Falls.
• 10:19
  SPEAKER_00: Sioux Falls, comes back out of Sioux Falls and just kind of oversees the rest of the construction at the school.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I know it goes much deeper than that, so share what you would like, but it's a very cool story.
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_02: I was talking to Jessica right before we went on air about how the first time I met Jessica, I went over there to say hi, sat down, and I actually had somebody who was interested in buying the building on this side of the river.
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_02: And I said, So uh where are your thoughts?
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_02: And she said, Oh no, we're not selling.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_02: That's gonna be a school.
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_02: And I went, Wow, okay.
• 10:49
  SPEAKER_02: And you know, it's a determination, and you guys got it done.
• 10:52
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 10:52
  SPEAKER_01: And I mean, it's not for any person, um, is definitely God's timing and and just um being patient and seeing where he's at work uh and joining his work.
• 11:03
  SPEAKER_01: But yeah, uh, we're very grateful for Terry Veldhouse.
• 11:07
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, um very nice humble dude, too.
• 11:09
  SPEAKER_01: Very humble.
• 11:10
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 11:10
  SPEAKER_01: He I just talked to him last week.
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_01: Um, maybe he's coming through town today, actually.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I maybe plugged a little bit like, hey, we have a home game on Tuesday.
• 11:20
  SPEAKER_01: It'd be great if you could stop by.
• 11:22
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, they're gonna be traveling back from Michigan, and uh, that was just how he ended up coming here.
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_01: They were on their way from their home to vacation in Michigan and they took a wrong turn.
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but it was a God turn that brought him, and they were close by to Unity.
• 11:39
  SPEAKER_01: And so they're like, we should stop by.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_01: And uh while I was giving them a tour of what we're where we're at and what was going on at that time, mentioned that uh building project.
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_01: And then he came back later and he's like, I'm gonna help you guys get it done.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_01: You need to make the decision.
• 11:55
  SPEAKER_02: You can't explain that kind of stuff, yeah, you know.
• 11:57
  SPEAKER_02: So you your radius for students, what what is it?
• 12:01
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, it's not just the area here.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, um actual mileage, I don't know.
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_01: We have students that come from Sterling, uh north up to Mount Carroll, Savannah.
• 12:11
  SPEAKER_01: Oh wow.
• 12:12
  SPEAKER_01: Uh we have students from the Quat Cities, uh and Erie, uh DeWitt, um, you know, Sebula area, just kind of kind of all over.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and that's kind of been historically what it's been like for Unity, uh, even through the multiple years.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_01: Uh even when we're in Fulton, yeah.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_01: Uh the Iowa communities were always very prevalent uh in our enrollment.
• 12:40
  SPEAKER_00: So one of the reasons that you shifted over to Iowa for your new build and your K through 12 was uh Governor Reynolds over here in Iowa introduced a thing called ESA, so education savings account.
• 12:52
  SPEAKER_00: And that allows private schools the opportunity for the parents to apply for state funding to offset the cost of tuition.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_00: Now, is this the first time you guys are qualifying for ESA?
• 13:03
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 13:04
  SPEAKER_01: So uh this building project was actually 10 years in the making.
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_01: So that was well before any of that ever came out.
• 13:11
  SPEAKER_01: So it uh was not part of the reason that why we came here, but it's uh definitely a blessing.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_01: So this is our first semester in being eligible for the ESAs.
• 13:23
  SPEAKER_01: And I don't know that a lot of people know that there's a second window this year that passed in the legislature.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_01: So October 15th through November 15th, there's a second window if anybody would want to enroll for second semester.
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_01: So we have an experience day coming up on October 19th, and that's just a time where any families that are interested in Unity, they can have their students come and experience a day at Unity.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_01: It's simply what it what it is.
• 13:50
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, compared your Fulton site, your location to what you have now here off of 19th Avenue Northwest in Clinton, man.
• 13:57
  SPEAKER_01: So different.
• 13:58
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, it is.
• 13:59
  SPEAKER_01: It is.
• 14:00
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, with the heat that we had there for a little bit, I just kept uh reminding my faculty and staff like, what a blessing to have air conditioning.
• 14:10
  SPEAKER_01: Oh my goodness.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_01: Central air conditioning.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_02: I love that gym.
• 14:15
  SPEAKER_00: The gym's beautiful, the whole school is just great, and what a perfect location again, right there over 19th Avenue Northwest.
• 14:21
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, walking distance for for many people that live in that subdivision, uh directly adjacent to the school.
• 14:28
  SPEAKER_00: Easy access off of Mill Creek, easy access across the river.
• 14:32
  SPEAKER_00: You just come across the north bridge and boom, you're there.
• 14:35
  SPEAKER_00: So very nice, very cool the air conditioning.
• 14:39
  SPEAKER_02: Very cool.
• 14:40
  SPEAKER_02: I see what you're even in the gym.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_02: And so you've been able to, because of the change in the building, you've been able to expand your preschool.
• 14:49
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 14:49
  SPEAKER_01: So our old campus uh in Fulton on 10th Street has now been renovated to be our preschool and daycare.
• 14:57
  SPEAKER_01: So that's allowed them to expand, offer an afternoon preschool option as well.
• 15:02
  SPEAKER_01: So that still has room in it.
• 15:04
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and most of the time we were always full uh because we only had the morning options.
• 15:09
  SPEAKER_01: So the morning options are full, uh, with maybe just exception of maybe like one or two seats available.
• 15:16
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but then still able to offer our after school care and our before school care for for children, and that continues to be wonderful.
• 15:24
  SPEAKER_01: But then they also have a gym there now, too, that they can utilize.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_01: And so it's just a great way to continue to steward what we were blessed with many years ago, back in the 50s, for that property, uh, and then just be able to continue kingdom work now where God has blessed us in Clinton.
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_01: So, how did that start off?
• 15:43
  SPEAKER_02: Tell us about the 1950s and how that started.
• 15:45
  SPEAKER_02: She wasn't there, Jenny.
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_02: I might have been.
• 15:47
  SPEAKER_02: I wasn't.
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_02: I might have been.
• 15:49
  SPEAKER_02: But no, tell us about that and how it started and you know what the core that is.
• 15:54
  SPEAKER_01: So actually, it goes farther back in 1921 is when the school began.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 15:59
  SPEAKER_00: Jenny, 1921, what was that like?
• 16:01
  SPEAKER_01: God, I don't know.
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_01: I've lost so much memory.
• 16:04
  SPEAKER_01: What was it like?
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_01: So um that's when it started in the basement of the first Christian Reformed church that's right off of 14th Avenue.
• 16:12
  SPEAKER_01: And from there, uh they expanded into like a four-room schoolhouse.
• 16:17
  SPEAKER_01: And then uh eventually the churches that helped start the school had this property on 10th Street.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_01: And so uh that started out by building just one section of it, and then it had been added on to um, you know, a couple different wings, and then the multi-purpose room and the bus barn.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, so that's been a major part of Unity's history for a long time.
• 16:38
  SPEAKER_00: Now, Jessica, what is your curriculum like?
• 16:41
  SPEAKER_00: For people that are not aware.
• 16:42
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, maybe they currently have children that attend public school or they are expecting what does a curriculum at Unity Christian look like?
• 16:50
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, there's a faith-based component.
• 16:52
  SPEAKER_00: Yep.
• 16:53
  SPEAKER_00: But what is the rest of it kind of how's it breakdown?
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_01: Really, uh, as far as our curriculum, we don't go with one singular publisher.
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, you know, I know some Christian schools will say we adopt 100% of Becca, uh, different things like that.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_01: We are very intentional about the curriculum that we choose, uh, about those materials.
• 17:12
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, and so we will have secular publishers and we'll have Christian publishers.
• 17:19
  SPEAKER_01: And everything is taught from a Christ in our perspective.
• 17:21
  SPEAKER_01: So, how is God revealed?
• 17:23
  SPEAKER_01: How is his creation revealed?
• 17:25
  SPEAKER_01: How is truth revealed?
• 17:26
  SPEAKER_01: And that is evident whether it's in science, English, line with writing, uh, all the way into our fine arts and band choir and art class, and then even into our extracurriculars.
• 17:39
  SPEAKER_01: No, that's kind of just a quick snapshot of the case.
• 17:41
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no, that's great.
• 17:42
  SPEAKER_00: You could explain it to me and it would go right over my head, and that was perfect.
• 17:45
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, what about scholarship opportunities for your graduates?
• 17:49
  SPEAKER_01: Uh they, I mean, we we do all of the different aspects as far as testing, the OSNAC.
• 17:55
  SPEAKER_00: What you're saying is that testing and many of your graduates do qualify for scholarships.
• 17:59
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, absolutely.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_01: So, like we are part, uh our juniors will be taking the PSAT soon.
• 18:05
  SPEAKER_01: That will give them the opportunity to be part of the National Merit Scholarship Program.
• 18:09
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, we're part of the National Honor Society, so that's just a scholarship opportunities.
• 18:14
  SPEAKER_01: But then our students are scoring very high with their ACTs uh or SATs if some take that.
• 18:21
  SPEAKER_01: And they're just a lot of opportunities that academically they're very well prepared.
• 18:26
  SPEAKER_01: Um, a lot of people believe that we don't have uh the classes that they need, but we have been finding, especially with our influx of students that have come, our students are most often a year ahead of where they have been, where their counterparts are in other students.
• 18:45
  SPEAKER_00: And you've had some homeschool students integrate into Unity.
• 18:48
  SPEAKER_02: Yep, that as well.
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_02: And the class sizes, like you said, your kindergarten class is uh in double digits, but it's very manageable.
• 18:55
  SPEAKER_01: Small yeah, 13.
• 18:56
  SPEAKER_01: 13.
• 18:57
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 18:57
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, you know, we still, even though we have room to grow, we still want to maintain that smaller atmosphere with our classes, uh, really be able to not only work with our students one-on-one, but give that ratio that allows for just that relationship building with their teacher, with their classmates, as well as fostering not only academics, but their spiritual growth.
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_02: And you said that uh Andy mentioned scholarships to seniors, but you mentioned that, you know, all the kids go off to college and there's always that confusion about I don't know how people navigate that FAFSA stuff.
• 19:35
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 19:36
  SPEAKER_02: FAFSA financial aid.
• 19:38
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 19:38
  SPEAKER_02: I but you mentioned that the Clinton schools did reach out and invited you to be a part of that.
• 19:44
  SPEAKER_02: So there would be some guidance there.
• 19:45
  SPEAKER_02: Yes.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_01: Uh Clinton, Clinton High has been wonderful, uh, giving us opportunities to offer it for our families.
• 19:52
  SPEAKER_01: And Clinton Community College has likewise, they've always been great supporters and wanting to connect with us and allowing our students to be part of many of the opportunities that they offer as well.
• 20:02
  SPEAKER_01: So we're grateful for that.
• 20:04
  SPEAKER_02: You're also, you mentioned that they're uh with the Career Academy at uh Clinton Community College.
• 20:08
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, you're connected with that as well.
• 20:10
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, we've had students uh part of that since they began.
• 20:15
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so we continue to have that offering for our seniors.
• 20:19
  SPEAKER_01: That's what fits into our current class schedule at this time.
• 20:23
  SPEAKER_01: And we've had seniors take uh the welding has been probably the most popular career academy that they've taken.
• 20:30
  SPEAKER_01: But we've had healthcare, we've had the teaching, uh, we have students in the engineering tech.
• 20:35
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, and so they are definitely looking into career avenues, you know.
• 20:40
  SPEAKER_01: So our our goal is to equip our students to have the tools that they need for whatever step um in their life is next, whether that is college or whether that is a career trade and just make sure that they have a solid foundation in which they can thrive and be successful.
• 20:57
  SPEAKER_00: Well, that's incredibly important to give students options.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_00: Because, you know, not every student wants to go off to a four-year university.
• 21:03
  SPEAKER_00: Or you mean if they want some kind of post-secondary, maybe looking for a two-year associate's degree or certificate program.
• 21:08
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 21:09
  SPEAKER_00: And, you know, I bumped into a group of fellas uh when I was in Burlington for a conference last week, and it's four guys, and they're sitting around a table, and I can see, you know, you could tell that they were definitely in the trades, specifically welding.
• 21:22
  SPEAKER_00: Most of them had burn holes somewhere in their shorts or pants.
• 21:25
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 21:26
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but I walked up to them and they're like, Yeah, we just we got into our senior year, and none of us really thought about going to college.
• 21:32
  SPEAKER_00: And we took a program here through the community college, and now we're going through an apprenticeship for welding, and they're all really close to graduating their journeyman's card.
• 21:40
  SPEAKER_00: And uh, due to the influx of certain industry that we have uh around the state, they are gainfully employed and earning a great living.
• 21:47
  SPEAKER_00: And many of them are now married or looking forward to having children.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_00: So way to set yourselves up for success because that that one strict pathway of graduate high school, go to college, graduate high school, go to college.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, that was pounded into students for decades.
• 22:02
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, yeah.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_00: And now we're starting to realize that that maybe wasn't the best idea.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_00: So whether it's military or, you know, trades or college, look at what pathway is most uh suitable for you.
• 22:12
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 22:13
  SPEAKER_02: Exactly.
• 22:13
  SPEAKER_02: And it's nice to have that guidance too.
• 22:15
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 22:15
  SPEAKER_02: Through the, you know, the school you go to, you know, to have that smaller atmosphere where, you know, everybody probably knows who you are and can help you out.
• 22:23
  SPEAKER_02: That's all right, though.
• 22:24
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 22:24
  SPEAKER_00: For those that are watching the broadcast on YouTube or live stream via our social media platforms, you can click on that, or excuse me, scan the QR code in the top left corner of your screen, and then I'll take you to Unity Christian School's website.
• 22:37
  SPEAKER_00: Where beautiful website, by the way.
• 22:39
  SPEAKER_00: I really enjoy it where you can get all the information you need.
• 22:42
  SPEAKER_00: Do you still have a partnership with Bag and Bonanza?
• 22:44
  SPEAKER_01: We do.
• 22:45
  SPEAKER_01: That is still our entity.
• 22:46
  SPEAKER_01: So Unity Christian owns that entity.
• 22:48
  SPEAKER_00: Parents still volunteer.
• 22:49
  SPEAKER_01: Yep.
• 22:50
  SPEAKER_01: We have many parents and family members and just community members that like to volunteer there and support.
• 22:57
  SPEAKER_02: I cannot believe how busy that is.
• 22:59
  SPEAKER_02: Are you ever going to open all week?
• 23:01
  SPEAKER_01: It's I don't know.
• 23:02
  SPEAKER_01: It's too much to do.
• 23:03
  SPEAKER_01: I don't get much say, you know, I don't really have a say over that, but um, it's I know they they just always are looking for volunteers that can help.
• 23:12
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah.
• 23:13
  SPEAKER_01: The bulk of the the problem with the hours is just having enough manpower.
• 23:18
  SPEAKER_01: Can you believe how many people are there on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday?
• 23:22
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, yes.
• 23:23
  SPEAKER_00: You just see the donations actually.
• 23:25
  SPEAKER_00: That's the hard part is going through and categorizing everything and tagging it and putting it out available for purchase.
• 23:31
  SPEAKER_00: It just never stops, just keeps coming and coming and coming, whether it's furniture or clothes or shoes or art or books or whatever.
• 23:38
  SPEAKER_00: So much stuff.
• 23:39
  SPEAKER_02: And it's so easy to do, too.
• 23:40
  SPEAKER_02: I moved about a year ago and I took a bunch of stuff there, and it was just easy.
• 23:44
  SPEAKER_02: It was, you know, they made it really pleasant, and I know that it'll go to a nice place.
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_02: And yeah, I'm a huge fan.
• 23:49
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 23:49
  SPEAKER_00: Jenny knows I have a little bit of a book collection problem.
• 23:52
  SPEAKER_02: There you go.
• 23:53
  SPEAKER_02: Problem.
• 23:54
  SPEAKER_00: Way too many books.
• 23:55
  SPEAKER_02: Books are good to collect.
• 23:56
  SPEAKER_00: Uh well, yeah, it could be worse.
• 23:57
  SPEAKER_02: But it's a main no, it couldn't.
• 23:59
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's it's it's uh it's bad.
• 24:02
  SPEAKER_00: And it all started because of Barker Bananas.
• 24:04
  SPEAKER_02: Really, really.
• 24:05
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I had very few books, and then I went into the BB and I cruised through the book collection, and I know I leave with two and then three, and now I have, and I'm not even joking, thousands.
• 24:18
  SPEAKER_01: He does.
• 24:19
  SPEAKER_01: It's not a bad thing.
• 24:20
  SPEAKER_00: I am pretty sure you could label my collection as a library.
• 24:23
  SPEAKER_01: That's awesome.
• 24:24
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know exactly how many books you have to have, but I should pin back the Dewey Decimal system because it worked very well.
• 24:30
  SPEAKER_02: You should do a lending program.
• 24:32
  SPEAKER_00: Well, you know what's really cool is I went to this festival in Geneseo this past Sunday.
• 24:37
  SPEAKER_00: It was called the Red Barn Festival.
• 24:39
  SPEAKER_00: And there was a lovely woman there who had a trailer that she converted into a bookstore.
• 24:44
  SPEAKER_02: Really?
• 24:45
  SPEAKER_00: And she buys all these books gently used, very simple uh pricing system.
• 24:50
  SPEAKER_00: She just puts little colored stickers on the side.
• 24:52
  SPEAKER_00: And greens, what?
• 24:53
  SPEAKER_00: You know, orange is this, yellow's that.
• 24:55
  SPEAKER_00: And people are just walking through this trailer, like just plucking.
• 24:57
  SPEAKER_00: She's got it all set up, you know, fiction, nonfiction, sci-fi.
• 25:01
  SPEAKER_00: But you know, my wife looked at me and she's like, You should do that.
• 25:04
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, Yeah, but that means I'd have to get rid of some of my books.
• 25:06
  SPEAKER_00: And she's like, Which ones do you read?
• 25:08
  SPEAKER_00: I'm like, Well, none of them now, I've read all of them.
• 25:10
  SPEAKER_00: So I I mean, I have not read all of them, but I've I've consumed quite a few.
• 25:14
  SPEAKER_00: And I always say I got my degree from Bargain Bonanza, Amazon, Goodwill, because that's where I get all my books.
• 25:20
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, you have you use them as tools.
• 25:22
  SPEAKER_02: So, but and that is a very active spot.
• 25:24
  SPEAKER_02: And like you said, how okay, so if somebody wanted to in the community uh volunteer at Bargain Bonanza to keep it open Monday and Tuesday, what would you do?
• 25:34
  SPEAKER_02: Who would you get a hold of?
• 25:35
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, if you just stop in the store, actually, and they the manager that would be on that day would be able to answer some questions and you just drop the word volunteer.
• 25:45
  SPEAKER_01: Volunteer, yes, reel you in.
• 25:47
  SPEAKER_02: They always have great Christmas trees.
• 25:49
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 25:49
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 25:49
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, that's the new part of Christmas decor, stuff like that.
• 25:52
  SPEAKER_00: Halloween costumes, too, depending on what you're dressing up as and the whole thing.
• 25:56
  SPEAKER_00: You can put it all together in there and walk out 20 bucks and you're set popping tags.
• 26:00
  SPEAKER_02: And it goes to a great cause.
• 26:01
  SPEAKER_00: It does.
• 26:02
  SPEAKER_00: It does.
• 26:03
  SPEAKER_00: Jessica, what do you want us to know before we close out this broadcast?
• 26:06
  SPEAKER_01: You know, honestly, just um, we would be more than happy for people to come visit us and see what Christ Centered Education is like.
• 26:14
  SPEAKER_00: So your experience day is again October what?
• 26:17
  SPEAKER_01: October 19th.
• 26:18
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 26:18
  SPEAKER_01: That is on our Facebook page.
• 26:20
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, I'm not sure that's gotten on the website yet, but um, even just submitting an inquiry form, you can do that on our website uh where it says start, and we set up tours from there and just to get to share what it uh what the Unity experience is like and what Christ Centered Education is like.
• 26:38
  SPEAKER_01: Experience it.
• 26:39
  SPEAKER_02: Can you just pop in or do they you want to know they're coming?
• 26:41
  SPEAKER_01: We do need a registration because uh our last one was very successful and we need to make sure we have enough room.
• 26:47
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, gosh.
• 26:48
  SPEAKER_01: So uh we do need a registration for that.
• 26:51
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, but uh especially if you're interested in a second semester enrollment, uh taking advantage of that second ESA window, we would love to have you visit.
• 27:02
  SPEAKER_02: Okay, so you'd have to go to your website to register event page.
• 27:07
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I just posted your Facebook URL uh to the chat here for the live broadcast, so it'll be available for the replay as well.
• 27:14
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and then the ESA application is very straightforward.
• 27:18
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, very simple, a little bit simpler than FASFA, um, which I think they need a blood sample and all sorts of things.
• 27:26
  SPEAKER_03: Gosh, yeah.
• 27:26
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no, very cool.
• 27:27
  SPEAKER_00: I'm so proud of you guys.
• 27:28
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I was at the groundbreaking when we did it on the what was it, the south side of 13th Avenue.
• 27:35
  SPEAKER_01: Yep.
• 27:35
  SPEAKER_00: Um, right.
• 27:36
  SPEAKER_01: I think that was in an October.
• 27:37
  SPEAKER_00: Right along the the yeah, I was right along uh 13th Avenue.
• 27:41
  SPEAKER_03: Yep, yep.
• 27:41
  SPEAKER_00: And then it was like, boom, we're doing all this, we're doing all this.
• 27:45
  SPEAKER_00: And then, you know, there was some logistics stuff that came up that you guys navigated, and patience is a virtue.
• 27:51
  SPEAKER_00: And look what happened.
• 27:52
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 27:52
  SPEAKER_00: You got this guy that cruises in, and what he he uh made some money from car washes?
• 27:58
  SPEAKER_01: Is that what he he went into car washes after he left Unity and before he had his construction company.
• 28:04
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, very cool, just very humble guy, obviously incredibly philanthropic, yeah, and just an all-around great dude.
• 28:10
  SPEAKER_00: So kudos to him.
• 28:11
  SPEAKER_00: Hopefully, he's able to show up tonight for the blackout game for volleyball.
• 28:13
  SPEAKER_02: Yes.
• 28:14
  SPEAKER_02: It just shows you how one person can, you know, because this reminds me of the troll thing.
• 28:18
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, you know, where it's just one person who wants to give back, and we're so lucky to have those people in the community.
• 28:23
  SPEAKER_02: Very good.
• 28:24
  SPEAKER_02: And just, I mean, he could have gone to Sioux Falls and just said later, yeah, you know, absolutely, you know, came and helped you out, and that's awesome.
• 28:31
  SPEAKER_00: That's why I say don't burn bridges.
• 28:33
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 28:34
  SPEAKER_00: Because you just never know at some point down the road, right?
• 28:38
  SPEAKER_00: You're gonna be in need, and somebody's gonna have you know the uh the square peg that fits a square holes.
• 28:44
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 28:44
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and it's this is it's a great concept, and just never be mean to people, folks.
• 28:49
  SPEAKER_02: Well, and you never know what impression you make on somebody for the rest of their lives.
• 28:52
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, you know, that that they want to support you after that.
• 28:55
  SPEAKER_02: And he must have had a wonderful experience, believed in your Christ-based education, and really, you know, believed in your educational system.
• 29:03
  SPEAKER_02: So that's awesome.
• 29:03
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
• 29:04
  SPEAKER_00: Well, congratulations on all you do.
• 29:06
  SPEAKER_00: Congrats to the entire Unity Christian team.
• 29:08
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, go to nights tonight for the blackouts.
• 29:11
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 29:11
  SPEAKER_00: You said it's JV and varsity.
• 29:13
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 29:13
  SPEAKER_00: Very cool.
• 29:14
  SPEAKER_00: Nice.
• 29:15
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 29:15
  SPEAKER_00: Be sure to check out the school, folks.
• 29:17
  SPEAKER_00: October 19th.
• 29:18
  SPEAKER_00: Again, their Facebook page link is in the chat to check that out for the experience night.
• 29:23
  SPEAKER_00: And go over, and just if you're curious, even if you're a grandparent, you want to know more for your grandkids, go over there and check it out, see what all they have to offer at Unity Christian Schools, located pre-K through no, it's what is it, preschool and child care in Fulton, K through 12 here in Clinton.
• 29:39
  SPEAKER_00: Jenny, yes, busy rest of your week.
• 29:42
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, busy rest of the week.
• 29:43
  SPEAKER_02: And what I'm doing right now is trying to schedule our local candidates for podcasts because we want to see what they're all about, and that's exciting.
• 29:50
  SPEAKER_00: State Senate, uh, state house.
• 29:52
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 29:52
  SPEAKER_00: We're having those candidates come on the podcast asking, you know, not simple questions, but looking for uh a more complex answer.
• 30:00
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 30:00
  SPEAKER_00: You know, we want to know what your plan is.
• 30:02
  SPEAKER_02: What are you about?
• 30:03
  SPEAKER_00: Specifically on economic development and the growth of the state of Iowa.
• 30:06
  SPEAKER_00: So it's gonna be very cool.
• 30:08
  SPEAKER_00: All right, everybody, again, be sure to check out our app available in the iTunes App Store as well as Google Play.
• 30:13
  SPEAKER_00: Just search Grow Clinton Podcast, download it, never miss an episode again.
• 30:18
  SPEAKER_00: Be sure to tell your friends that's where all the cool kids hang out, the Grow Clinton Podcast app.
• 30:22
  SPEAKER_00: Again, my name is Andy Sikolovich.
• 30:24
  SPEAKER_00: Until we speak again, stay classy, folks.
• 30:25
  SPEAKER_00: See ya.
• 30:26
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for listening to the Grow Clinton Podcast.
• 30:29
  SPEAKER_00: Be sure to subscribe and follow us on all your socials.
• 30:32
  SPEAKER_00: Until next time, see ya.