About

The Southwest Chicago Christian School Association is made up of three campuses in the southwest suburbs of Chicago:
  • Southwest Chicago Christian School – Oak Lawn (Preschool through 8th Grade)
  • Southwest Chicago Christian School – Tinley Park (Preschool through 8th Grade)
  • Chicago Christian High School – Palos Heights
We are a Christ-centered learning community intent on restoring God’s world.
The VOICE Express
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Learn more about Superintendent Henry Doorn, Jr.
and the structure and functioning of our Association.

Our Vision, Faith, & Philosophy

List of 5 items.

  • Our Faith

    As a school with its roots in the reformed tradition, we believe that God exists in three persons – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God, the only infallible rule for faith and life. Our faculty teach from the reformed tradition as based on these confessions: 
    The bulk of what we believe we hold in common with the Christian church around the world. We welcome students and families from various Christian denominations, and we celebrate the beliefs that we hold in common, namely salvation through Jesus Christ.

  • Our Mission/Vision

    To be a Christ-centered Learning Community Intent on Restoring God’s World.

  • Our Philosophy of Education

    Our goal is to develop our students’ awareness of the lordship of Jesus Christ over all of life. SCCS prepares students spiritually, socially, academically, culturally, and physically to serve society wholeheartedly and to glorify God by honoring Him in all aspects of life.

  • Our Association & Heritage

    Our schools began over a century ago.  In 1900, members of local Reformed and Christian Reformed churches started a school in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago for “Civil and Biblical” education. Englewood Christian School erected its first building in 1903 and built on as enrollment soared. As the Christian community grew into nearby communities, a variety of other Christian schools in the reformed tradition were formed. The Chicago Southwest Christian School Association was formed in 1958 as the result of multiple school mergers:
    • Englewood Christian School, 1900-1962
    • Evergreen Park Christian School, 1924-1958
    • Oak Lawn Christian School, 1957-1958
    • Palos Christian School, 1956-1958
    Chicago Christian High School was founded in 1918, and was first located in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago. CCHS rented space from the Bible Mission and began with 14 students. With a growing enrollment, CCHS opened the doors of its own, larger building in 1927. In the early years, sports were already an important part of their program and students enjoyed both basketball and volleyball. They also enjoyed a Literary Club, Chorale, Debate, and Oratory among other activities. In 1963, CCHS built a new campus and moved to its current location in Palos Heights.

    Southwest Chicago Christian Schools Association was formed in 1998 with the merger of the elementary and high school entities.  Today, our Association encompasses three campuses, serving Christian families with students in preschool through high school. Our Association members include worshippers from our supporting churches, our current parents, and our financial supporters.  These members have voting rights in regard to our governing laws and our Board of Directors. The school is overseen by our Board and is managed by a superintendent.

  • Our Business Office

    The Association’s Business Office is the hub of our schools. The professionals in the Business Office can assist you with enrollment, billing, tuition assistance, and more. The office is located on the campus of Chicago Christian High School in Palos Heights.

    You can reach the Association Office at 708.388.7656 or Info@swchristian.org.
Mark Hamstra
New SCCS Superintendent

The Association Board of Southwest Chicago Christian School and Chicago Christian High School is excited to announce the appointment of Mr. Mark A. Hamstra as Superintendent beginning with the 2023-24 school year.

Mr. Hamstra has gained extensive experience in education during his twelve-year career with Noble Charter Schools and Chicago Bulls College Prep High School.  The Noble Charter School system educates over 12,000 students across the city of Chicago.  Mr. Hamstra served as the Director of Student Culture & Support for this school system and also held multiple roles at Bulls Prep, including serving as Principal, Dean, Teacher and Head Football Coach.  Mr. Hamstra also served in the US Army and Illinois Army National Guard, honing his leadership and strategic thinking skills during his tenure, serving locally, nationally, and abroad, including a deployment to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.  Mr. Hamstra earned several awards while leading units in multiple capacities across his decorated military career. 

Mark grew up in South Holland and later moved to Palos Heights where he graduated from Chicago Christian High School in 2001.  He obtained his B.A. from Wheaton College and a M.A. in Leadership Studies from the University of Texas at El Paso.  Mark resides in Chicago with his wife, Sandy (Dryfhout) Hamstra, CCHS class of 2002.  They have four children, ranging in age from five to thirteen.  Mark will work with our current Superintendent, Mr. Henry Doorn, Jr., to transition into the position.  Mark recently shared, “I am excited about this opportunity, especially due to the foundational experience I had at CCHS and the vision I have to lead the community forward.”

The Association Board is thankful for the work accomplished by the Superintendent Search Committee.  Committee members worked cohesively and strategically to find the next superintendent.  The committee unanimously recommended Mr. Hamstra to the Association Board for the superintendent position.  They cited his “leadership traits, experience, drive for the future health of the school, and his strong, personal, reformed Christian life walk” as the defining characteristics that led to their decision.  The Association Board is thrilled to make this announcement, and we eagerly look to the future of Southwest Chicago Christian School under the leadership of Mr. Hamstra.




Our Profile of a Graduate

List of 5 items.

  • By the Grace of God ...

    Our graduates are the product of our striving, our efforts, and our prayers. A graduate of Southwest Chicago Christian School is:

  • A Follower of Christ

    Our graduates celebrate the centrality of Christ, they are committed to and formed by God’s Word, they live out His calling, they build community, and they live out the hope we have in Christ.

  • A Seeker of Knowledge

    Our graduates have been engaged in continuous learning, they have asked tough questions, and they have been challenged to answer them. Our graduates have embraced mistakes and have collaborated with fellow students and faculty alike. With apt goals in sight, our graduates leave our doors with the skills to accomplish their aspirations.

  • A Pursuer of Justice

    In their time with us, our graduates have continually been challenged to reach across boundaries of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, and politics. As part of a caring community, they have fostered relationships, acted in love, and worked to bring God’s kingdom to surrounding and global communities.

  • A Caretaker of Creation

    Our graduates are devoted to creative solutions for the care and preservation of God’s World. Faculty work alongside our students, in our communities, as agents of change and restoration.

Our Publications

Important Policies & Statements

Accreditation & Memberships

Our Leadership

Henry Doorn 
Superintendent
hdoorn@swchristian.org

Trinity Christian College
BS, Accounting
Jean Bergeson 
Director-Mission Advancement
jbergeson@swchristian.org

Amberton University
BA, Business Administration

Certified Fundraising Executive
CFRE
Beth Goodfellow
Business Manager
bgoodfellow@swchristian.org

Northern Illinois University
BS, Accounting
Suzanne DeBoer 
Curriculum Director
sdeboer@swchristian.org

Trinity Christian College
BA, Elementary Education

University of Illinois
Certificate in Assistive Technology

Olivet Nazarene University
MA, Curriculum & Instruction
Nathaniel Pettinga
Principal, Oak Lawn Campus
npettinga@swchristian.org

Calvin University
BA, Education

Concordia University Chicago
MA, Educational Leadership
Philip Siemer
Principal, Tinley Park Campus
psiemer@swchristian.org

Calvin University
BA, English & German

Purdue University Northwest
MA, English Composition

Fort Hayes State University
Principal Endorsement
Michael Drury
Principal, CCHS
mdrury@swchristian.org

Calvin University
BA, History & Secondary Education

Central Michigan University
MA, Educational Leadership

Board of Directors, 2022-23

David Gabrielse, President
Alumnus & Parent
Hope Christian Reformed Church
Vice President-LincolnWay Community Bank
Term Ending 2024

Michael Slifko, Vice President
Parent of Alumni
Calvary Church - Oak Lawn
Dean/Teacher-Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
Term Ending 2024
Dan Vander Plaats, Secretary
Parent of Alumni
Orland Park Christian Reformed Church
Director of Advancement, Marketing & Communications at Elim Christian Services
Term Ending 2025
Rita Miltzow,  Treasurer
Spouse of Alumnus
Term Ending 2025
Orland Park Christian Reformed Church
Financial Reporting Manager for Ozinga Bros., Inc.
Irene Buikema, Vicar
Parent of Alumni
Term Ending 2024
Orland Park Christian Reformed Church
Retired, Recreation Division Manager with Village of Orland Park

Additional Board Members

  • Robert Burkum, Alumnus and Parent of Alumni, Faith CRC, Term Ending 2023
  • Kristal Coley, Parent, Pullman CRC, Term Ending 2023
  • Lynnae Dieck, Parent of Alumni, Orland Park CRC, Term Ending 2023
  • Priscilla DuBois, Parent, Hope CRC, Term Ending 2025
  • Jordan Hamstra, Alumnus and Parent, Covenant OPC, Term Ending 2026
  • Peter Kamp III, Alumnus and Parent, Calvary Church-Oak Lawn, Term Ending 2025
  • Matt Postema, Parent, Calvary Church-Oak Lawn, Term Ending 2026
  • Abbie Schrotenboer, Parent, Palos Heights CRC, Term Ending 2024
  • Pauline Sterenberg, Alumna and Parent, Immanuel CRC, Term Ending 2026


SCCS Association Office

12001 S. Oak Park Avenue
Palos Heights, IL  60463
 708.388.7656

Oak Lawn Campus

10110 S. Central Ave.
Oak Lawn, IL 60453

Tinley Park Campus

17171 S. 84th Ave.
Tinley Park, IL 60477

Chicago Christian High School