RCS is equipped to assist children at all levels of learning due to our partnership with 'All Belong'. Our 1st Grade Teacher, Mrs. Kristie Smith wrote a brief article about 'All Belong' in our Fall 2023 Redeemer Record. 
 
Redeemer Christian School's Partnership with 'All Belong' -- by Mrs. Kristie Smith, 1st Grade Teacher

History of All Belong for Inclusive Education: 
Redeemer Christian School partnered with All Belong Center for Inclusive Education in 2022. All Belong (originally know as the Christian Learning Center or CLC) was founded in 1979 after the Pine Rest Children's Retreat closed.  This left the greater Grand Rapids area without religious affiliated school services for students with intellectual disabilities, physical differences, and/or learning or behavioral challenges. 
In the early 1980's, CLC launched West Michigan's first Christian inclusive education program on the Zeeland Christian School's campus. Seventeen students with disabilities were able to get the extra help they needed in a Christian school setting because of this partnership. 
In the 1990's, families with a disabled student no longer had to pay extra tuition for their diabled child's education if they attended a Christian school partnering with CLC. 
In 2008, the CLC Network transitioned into a non-profit advocacy and consulting organization extending their inclusive support for students with disabilities to communities across North America.
In 2019, the All Belong brand launched to carry on the forty-year legacy of building belonging and inclusivity in communities for all individuals with different abilities and needs. 

Benefits of Partnering with All Belong: 
All Belong's Vision encompasses making sure that "every student with a disability, is known, needed, and experiences belonging in their Christ-centered school." They not only help individuals with disabilities but every student has the opportunity to be supported whether they have a physical challenge, a sudden illness or injury, or are experiencing and emotional crisis. Please watch this engaging 3-minute video to learn about the "Puzzle Piece" analogy that explains how we all have our own personal strengths and "hotspots" or areas that are more difficult for us along with their supporting Bible verses. 
WEBSITE: 

All Belong support includes many different training sessions for administrators, teachers, and paraprofessionals. Each member school is also assigned a Teacher Consultant from All Belong. Our teacher consultant is Jenna Zematis who comes to Redeemer once a month and spends time observing, talking with teachers, administrators and providing tips and insight. She has been a wonderful resource to the teachers of students with different needs. Other Protestant Reformed schools who are members of All Belong are Heritage, Adams, and Eastside. 

We are looking forward to a continued partnership with All Belong as we strive to be an inclusive school that supports teaches, students and families on our journey to help everyone feel cared for and experience a sense of belonging in our Classical, Christ-centered school.