Steinbach Christian School Expands to Meet Growing Demand

Steinbach Christian School (SCS), a prominent educational institution in southeast Manitoba, has announced significant expansion plans following a remarkable 60 percent increase in enrolment over the past three years. With a legacy spanning 75 years, SCS is set to fully occupy the campus previously shared with Steinbach Bible College, allowing for further growth in educational offerings.

Renovations are currently underway on the former Bible College space, with the aim of creating four new classrooms, an art room, and a media lab. This additional space is expected to welcome students by the fall of 2026. Principal Thor Barkman expressed the school’s commitment to responding to community interest in Christian education, stating, “We are listening to the community’s interest in Christian education and are committed to trusting God’s guidance as we grow in faith.”

The school’s board of directors is actively engaged in this mission, with ongoing prayers for guidance and opportunities. One recent initiative includes a newly dedicated bus route serving rural students. This route facilitates daily transport for SCS students from Niverville and includes an additional pickup point in Blumenort. “Access to Christian education is important,” Barkman added, highlighting how this service has eased scheduling for many families.

The addition of the bus route emerged from parent engagement efforts in Niverville, where SCS administration held information meetings to explore interest in a potential satellite school. As of February 2025, the school received 60 expressions of interest, alongside 20 responses indicating a desire for local Christian education for their children in the future.

SCS is now exploring the possibility of establishing a Kindergarten to Grade Four school in Niverville. According to Dylan Zacharias, SCS’s public relations representative, the administration plans to meet with interested families in the coming months to discuss this initiative. An expression of interest form remains available on the school’s website, indicating that only five or six more students are needed to initiate the early years program. To establish a local Kindergarten program, an additional ten to fifteen students are required.

Current estimates place annual tuition at $2,500 for Kindergarten students and $3,990 for those in Grades One through Four. As SCS continues to expand its reach and services, the school remains committed to providing quality Christian education to the community, ensuring that it meets the evolving needs of families in the region.