History
Christ Lutheran Academy began in 2002 grades 1-8. It was the result of many years of prayer on the part of two congregations: Lamb of God Lutheran Church and Messiah Lutheran Church.
Messiah Lutheran Church was opened in 1961 as the first LCMS congregation in Kenosha. The plans even then were to have a school. The original sanctuary was setup to that it could easily be converted into a school. Priorities shifted, and the age of the congregation at different times made it so that there weren’t enough students in the right age bracket to seriously consider a school. But the prayer and desire was there even then. Many of the original members, or those who came shortly thereafter, grew up in Lutheran Churches with schools all over Wisconsin and beyond.
Lamb of God Lutheran Church opened its doors in 1992 as a mission congregation in Pleasant Prairie, about six miles southeast of Messiah. It wasn’t until the spring of 2002 that Lamb of God had a building, where it is now located. The initial members had a great desire to instill Lutheran doctrine and practice in the congregation, and especially its children. A midweek school started. Some of the families home-schooled, so that they could spend more time in Scripture and in teaching the faith. At one point in the discussion, there was even the question of opening with a school building first and then with a sanctuary. But God is merciful, they got both, and thus the location for Christ Lutheran Academy was instilled.
In 2000 a Lutheran School Planning Committee was formed jointly between these two parishes. Studies were made, surveys handed out, different models of Lutheran education were examined. What this committee, and the many faithful members of sub-committees, finally settled upon was the model of Peace Lutheran Academy in Sussex, Wisconsin. The chief difference would be a greater emphasis on classical education and the trivium model of teaching.
By the fall of 2001 the initial votes went to the two parishes to move forward with starting a school. It passed overwhelmingly. After two more votes (budget and to incorporate), the Kenosha Area Lutheran Education Association (KALEA) was formed. This association was incorporated separately from the two parishes, but the members of both boards would almost entirely come from Lamb of God and Messiah.
In the Spring of 2002, the name Christ Lutheran Academy was adopted. Here is why:
CHRIST
The name Christ comes from a Greek word which means anointed one. It is an appropriate combination of Messiah (the Hebrew equivalent of Christ) and Lamb of God (Jesus is anointed to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world).
LUTHERAN
We believe the teachings of the Lutheran Confessions to be biblical and an accurate reflection of what historic Christianity has always taught. This academy is deliberately Lutheran.
ACADEMY
An academy is a school which is rigorous in its academic standards and seeks to give the highest quality education possible.
The mission statement that was adopted and serves us to this day is:
The Christ Lutheran Academy Mission Statement
CHRIST LUTHERAN ACADEMY is owned and operated by the Kenosha Area Lutheran Education Association (KALEA), under the supervision of Messiah Lutheran Church, Kenosha, and Lamb of God Lutheran Church, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. CHRIST LUTHERAN ACADEMY was established in 2002 to assist and support Christian parents in their God-given vocation of raising their children. Children are gifts of God. Christian parents desire that their children grow up knowing and believing in their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and learning to live as faithful, responsible, God-fearing citizens in the world in which God has placed them. It is the goal of CHRIST LUTHERAN ACADEMY to do all it can in the fields of elementary education and Lutheran catechesis to assist parents in their God-given calling.
Not long after the choosing of the name, our first teacher was hired and then appointed at the opening service. Mrs. Lynette Fredericksen has served faithfully as our headmaster and primary teacher since the inception of the academy. In addition, a teacher assistant was hired, Mrs. Lauri Schmeiser. The beginnings of CLA were modest. The opening class looked like this:
