aStory

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years ago we asked ourselves the question, “What if a school could really reflect the Kingdom of Heaven?” it would be loving. it would be warm. it would represent diverse perspectives and backgrounds, different ethnicities and nationalities.

it would exude excellence and impart life.

it would transform individuals and families, churches and neighborhoods. its impact would reach not only its city but the entire world.

thanks to the grace of God, the hard work of parents, students and teachers, and the generous support of seven partnering churches, Tree of Life is becoming that school.

our lifeStory

WHat if a SCHool CoulD really refleCt tHe KiNGDoM of HeaVeN?

OU

R LI

FE S

TORY

Life Story

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What a culture of life you breathe at Tree! Faces,

races, rich, poor, Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria,

playground equipment, service projects… what

goodness. It’s a fallen world, but you, with Christ,

are redeeming things that are broken. Tree is a

dwelling place of God — this is viscerally clear to me.

With distance, I see it even more plainly.

“a riCH Culture of life… reDeeMiNG tHiNGS tHat are broKeN.”

MARCYHINTZ:Former Tree of Life Teacher, writer for Wheaton Alumni Magazine and other publications

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VibrAnT. DiVerse. DiFFerenT.our SCHool iS Not oNly aDMireD loCally for itS CHriSt-CeNtereD Culture of aCaDeMiC exCelleNCe DeliVereD iN a WarM faMily-liKe eNViroNMeNt; We are alSo reCoGNizeD NatioNally for our uNique ViSioN of uNity aCroSS eCoNoMiC, raCial aND DeNoMiNatioNal liNeS.

Tree of Life’s student body represents

more than 130 churches from a wide

variety of denominations.

Tree of Life prepares principled persons for prominent positions for a purpose.

— Dr. VernarD GanT

Director of Urban School Services for the association of Christian Schools International

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tree of life Christian Schools is nurturing, yet academically rigorous. We have created an environment that is intellectually robust without being institution-ally rigid. our deeply-rooted Christian philosophy of education empowers our partnership with parents in the spiritual, mental, social, and physical development of their children.

our faculty and staff are united by a desire to see each student grow “in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man.” We have designed our academic programs and curricula to integrate God’s word and God’s perspectives into every class and every subject. our goal is for each student to graduate equipped to lead and change the world around them. our commitment to excellence is evident not only in our current classrooms, but in our ambitious plans for new, state-of-the-art facilities that will serve tree of life students for generations to come.

aCaDeMiCSOUr TeaCherS

are highly

trained anD

exceptionally

motivated.

aS a reSULT,

OUr STUDenTS

emerGe FrOm

Tree ThOrOUGhLy

eqUIppeD FOr

SUCCeSS In hIGher

eDUCaTIOn anD

The WOrkpLaCe.

98% coLLege bounD

100% high schooL grADuATion rATe

15:1 sTuDenT T0 TeAcher rATio

100% pAssAge oF ogT

at Tree of Life, I learned to consider the ‘intellectual’ and

‘spiritual’ as integrated parts of a whole: intellect does not

have to discount spirituality, and spiritual depth does not

have to be anti-intellectual. my teachers were models of

Christian faith who also insisted on academic excellence.

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DR. ANDREWD. RYDER:Associate professor of Theatre, seattle pacific university, class of 1986

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our teaCHerS are our Major DiStiNCtiVe. tHey are exCelleNt iNStruCtorS, MaNy WitH aDVaNCeD DeGreeS aND ColleGe teaCHiNG experieNCe. tHey alSo builD WoNDerful relatioNSHipS WitH tHe StuDeNtS. eVery Day i See tHeir paSSioN for CHriSt, tHeir CoMpaSSioN for tHe CHilDreN tHey SerVe, aND tHeir profeSSioN-al exCelleNCe. i loVe tHe faCt tHat My oWN CHilDreN Sit uNDer tHeir Care aND iNStruCtioN.

— Todd Marrah, principal, northridge: grades 6–12

TREVOR TOLLEY:bible and science Teacher

Christians should be the most educated and best

thinkers in the world. We know that the world is

comprised of shepherds and sheep. most people

are sheep. We want to equip our students to be

the shepherds. I have felt the love and care of

a wonderful staff that has sharpened my ability

to think biblically through their depth of insight

into God’s word.

Life Story

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“We WaNt to equip our StuDeNtS to be tHe SHepHerDS.”

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my role as a teacher begins with my ability to model

the truth. It is imperative that God’s word and ways

are represented in every aspect of what I say and do.

I am the “living curriculum” that is examined by my

students every day, all the time. my challenge as a

teacher is to know God more. Only then am I able

to model and distinguish his truth, the total truth.

Life StoryDANSPEARS:high schoolMath and science Teacher

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at tree of life Christian Schools, we believe that fitness and athletics are key compo- nents of our students’ physical and spiritual development. We recognize each student’s individual abilities and emphasize unity, rather than uniformity. from our K–12 gym classes to our Middle and High School competitive sports, we have designed programs that produce winners on and off the playing field.

our coaches and instructors view themselves as mentors, dedicated to producing both godly character and practical skills that lead to a lifelong love of fitness and cooperative effort. our athletes strive not only to win, but to demonstrate the highest standards of fair play and to exemplify God’s grace to their teammates and rivals alike.

representing tree of life on the field of play is a privilege. our student athletes are required to work hard in the classroom, not just the gym. as a result of our high standards and integrated vision for both athletic and aca-demic achievement, tree enjoys a high level of school spirit that energizes our community and inspires all of our students.

atHletiCS

We reCoGNize eaCH StuDeNt’S iNDiViDual abilitieS aND eMpHaSize uNity, ratHer tHaN uNiforMity.

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Life StoryFor some people, success is associated with stature,

public opinion, material possessions or just wins and losses.

as Christian athletes we must keep success in its proper

perspective. We are taught in Scripture to “do all things

for the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31) We believe that success

is achieved by maximizing one’s full potential in the eyes

of the Lord. This is the reason why we follow proverbs 16:3,

which advises, “commit to the Lord whatever you do,

and your plans will succeed.”

YOHANAHILL:Tree of LifeAthletic Director

Tree of Life Christian Schools has been a major factor in my growth

and development since I was a kid. now that I am currently in high

school, I have experienced first-hand the love and caring which every

member of the faculty possesses. I have also been challenged in my

faith. The Varsity soccer coach, and assistant principal, andy Cousens,

organized a soccer-based missions trip to romania in the summer

of 2007. Seeing the romanian kids’ passion for soccer and the will to

thrive in the post-communist country inspired me to be more passion-

ate about my faith and gave me more determination to live for God.

Life Story

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DAN STARKEY:class of 2009

“WiSDoM iS a tree of life to tHoSe WHo eMbraCe Her.”— proVerbS 3:18

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“iN tHe beGiNNiNG, GoD creATeD.”

We see from the opening lines of Scripture that creativity is an essential component of our vocation as God’s image bearers. at tree of life, God’s own brilliant artistry is reflected in the artistry of our students. We’ve been blessed with world-class instructors who have helped create a beautiful and expressive culture of music, drama and visual arts that enriches the lives and sparks the imaginations of all members of our community.

instruction in the arts begins with our very youngest students, and culminates in high school with plays and musicals, exhibits, competitions, and performances that allow our students to explore and express their own perspectives, backgrounds and aspirations.

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GoD’S oWNbrilliaNt artiStry iS refleCteD iN tHe artiStry of our StuDeNtS.

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Since 1978, tree of life Christian Schools has invested in the lives of its students and their families. We’re blessed to have hundreds of graduates and thousands of family members who view tree as an integral part of their life story.

our students have gone on to success in academia, in the work force, and in life. tree’s network of alumni stretches across the world and into classrooms and boardrooms, laboratories and law offices. our grads fill pulpits and cockpits, stages and sales rooms; the influence of our students is the proof of the value of a tree of life education.

the spiritual formation that occurs at tree of life makes a lasting impact on our students who, in turn, make significant and permanent impact on the churches, neighborhoods, and businesses they serve.

aluMNi

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During my 10th grade year of high school, I got my first glimpse

of missions in mexico, and specifically Door of Faith Orphanage.

after that trip, I eagerly anticipated each trip back to Door of

Faith, and God began growing in me a love for the children and

the mexican culture. about a year ago, God really placed it on

my heart to return. now that I am here in mexico, God has been

nothing but faithful to me in every way imaginable.

Life StoryLAURENBELL:class of 2007

tHe iNflueNCe

of our StuDeNtS

iS tHe proof of

tHe Value of

a tree of life

eDuCatioN.

The lessons we both learned at Tree have stayed with

us, influencing our home, our marriage, our politics, our

parenting, and our choice to send our kids to the school

where we grew up. We want our kids to be taught, guided,

and loved, like we were; to grow not just academically,

but spiritually, too. We’re grateful to our parents for

investing in us all those years ago. We look forward to

watching our four children grow in wisdom and stature

at Tree of Life Christian Schools.

Life Story

JEREMYNICKLAUS:class of 1992

RACHEL (SISSON) NICKLAUS:class of 1993

ALU

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We LoVeD you so

Much ThAT We Were

DeLighTeD To shAre

WiTh you noT onLy The

gospeL oF goD buT our

LiVes As WeLL, becAuse

you hAD becoMe so

DeAr To us.

Students at tree of life Christian Schools encounter the warmth and welcome of the Family of god, and are, by god’s grace, transformed into ardent followers of jesus Christ, a process we describe as being “loved into loving.” We believe that with the support of the tree of life community — its faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni — your child will excel both spiritually and scholastically.

We invite you to join in the life of this unique community, and we extend to you an invitation to visit our school, to speak to our faculty members, and to apply for admission.

— i Thessalonians 2:8

loVeD iNtoloViNG

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aDMiSSioN

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In 2006 my husband and I made one of the greatest decisions in

the lives of our children by applying for the edChoice Scholarship.

We were blessed to have them accepted to Tree of Life Christian

Schools. The faculty and staff embraced our family immediately as

if we were part of their own family. my children are getting a quality

education — I have seen how they are challenged in every aspect of

their academic experience. What my husband and I instill at home

is reinforced at school, and I am most grateful for that. Our children

are thriving mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Life Story

KIMBERLYPEEKS:Tree of Life Mother

educating In Truth, Discipling In Christ

NORTHRIDGE BRANCH

Grades 6 – 12935 Northridge RoadColumbus, OH 43224t: 614.263.2688f: 614.263.6450

WESTERVILLE BRANCH

Preschool471 E. College AvenueWesterville, OH 43081t: 614.818.4405f: 614.891.6273

INDIANOLA BRANCH

Preschool – Grade 52141 Indianola AvenueColumbus, OH 43201t: 614.299.4906f: 614.299.3047

DUBLIN BRANCH

Preschool – Grade 52900 Martin RoadDublin, OH 43017t: 614.792.2671f: 614.588.0236