Richmond Hill Christian Academy is an independent, non-denominational, private school. We are a member of the Association of Christian Schools International, and are listed as a private school on the Ministry of Education website.
Enrolment Policy: Although the majority of our students are from evangelical Christian families, we welcome children from other Christian backgrounds. Our registration form includes a declaration by parents that they are aware of, and will co-operate with, our philosophy and policies.
Curriculum: For the most part, we use the A Beka curriculum in all grades (exceptions are Canadian history, music and French). A Beka books are enjoyed by over a million students in Christian schools around the world. They are academically advanced, colourful, and exciting for the children, and are Biblically based in their philosophy and content. Reading is taught through intensive training in phonics. The math is traditional and thorough, and teaches both Imperial and metric systems. All subjects are presented in such a way as to create a love for learning.
How Our Students Achieve: Independent testing has confirmed that our students rank one to two grades higher than national averages in reading, language, vocabulary, mathematics, and computation for Grades 1-8, plus language/writing conventions and dictation or spelling for Grade 2 and up, and numerical estimation for Grade 3 and up.
In addition to excellent academics, we emphasize traditional family values, good discipline and work habits, and strong Christian foundations for life.
Our 9711 Bayview Campus has a modern, well-equipped, air-conditioned building with 17 classrooms and a portable, and a fellowship hall which serves as a mini-gym, lunch room, and chapel. Outside, there is a courtyard, a small soccer field, and parking for 120 cars. We also have the use of the big RHCCC gym Monday to Friday afternoons, and we take our older students there by bus for their twice-weekly gym classes and after-school sports clubs.
Before and after-school clubs are provided beginning at 7:30 AM and ending at 6:00 P.M. After-school club is provided on as needed basis for qualifying students and families.
Contacting Us: Please send any correspondence to the 9711 Bayview Avenue address on our letterhead, and feel free to call us at the school number and leave a message.
| John C. Yip, BA; MS Ed. Admin., MS Elem. Ed., MA Bible Exposition | Grace P. Yip, BS Accounting; MS Education Administration | |
| Principal | Administrator |
History and Facilities:
Richmond Hill Christian School opened on January 15, 1996, with one student. Since then, we have grown to a current student population of 270:
As an independent school, we are very grateful to the Lord for His provision of facilities through the generosity and kindness of several churches in the area:
1996: Opened in Richmond Hill Free Methodist Church at 212 Hillsview Drive
1998: Expanded to the Richmond Hill (Chinese) Baptist Church at 136 Hillsview
1999: Richmond Hill Chinese Community Church (9670 Bayview at Weldrick) and Richmond Hill Baptist Church (50 Wright Street).
2001: RHCCC and RH(C)BC.
2003: RHCCC requested that we move out at the end of the school year so that they would have space for their office staff and other users of the building during their massive Phase Three construction. Then, as we could not find a suitable location, RHCCC graciously gave us an additional year to find space.
2004: The school was re-incorporated as non-profit, with a new Board, and the word Academy replaced the word “School” in the title.
2005: RH(C)BC, and King Bible Church (on King Road west of Dufferin): The Grade 4 to 8 children greatly enjoyed the country setting at King and the free daily bus rides to and from the south campus.
Over the years, we tried hard to find a permanent location, although our financial resources were very limited. Our efforts included an attempt to acquire or lease the Enbridge property at 500 Elgin Mills Road East, the Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Elementary School at 10568 Bayview, and a suitable industrial building at 280 Centre Street.
In the fall of 2005, we supported an attempt by RHCCC to buy the United Synagogue Day School (the building we now occupy). Instead, the property was purchased by Great Lands Corporation for re-development. Anticipating a long process to get the property re-zoned, the developer decided to rent it out for a few years.
2006: We were very thankful to the Lord that RHCCC succeeded in negotiating a five-year lease for 9711 Bayview, with our school as their sub-tenant. We were very grateful to Pastor Sam Chan and the RHCCC board for such concern and care for us. The lease provided that RHCCC would cover a significant portion of the costs of the property, in return for using it some evenings, weekends, and part of the summer.
For the first year and a half, the office staff of RHCCC occupied five classrooms and three offices in the building while construction proceeded on their church property. Our kindergartens continued to be housed at our second campus, Richmond Hill (Chinese) Baptist Church.
In January, 2008, we completed renovations to the classrooms previously occupied by the church staff, and moved our kindergartens in.
2009: In September, we re-opened Hillsview Campus at Richmond Hill (Chinese) Baptist Church to accommodate our growing numbers in JK, SK, Grade 1 and Grade 2.
2006-2009: Throughout the first four years of our sub-lease, Great Land pursued its ambition to re-zone the property, knock down the school, and build town-houses, while we in turn made several offers to buy it, subject to obtaining financing, but the asking price was always too high.
2010: Much to our surprise, in January, Great Land proposed more affordable terms. We immediately set about raising funds through donations and the sale of Promissory Notes. On May 12, we purchased 9711 Bayview for $9,500,000, including a down payment of $1,000,000. Great Land took a vendor-take-back mortgage of $8,500,000 at 4% for ten years, with principal payments starting at $100,000 in July, 2011 and rising by $50,000 per year to $300,000 in 2016 and remaining at that rate thereafter until the mortgage becomes due ($6,000,000 in 2020).
We were extremely happy about this, and so grateful to the Lord for His provision of a permanent home for RHCA.
The Governance of Richmond Hill Christian Academy:
Since its reorganization as a non-profit corporation registered as a charity in 2004, the school has been governed by a board of directors. The founders of the original school, Madeline and Brian Hayes, retired after 18 years of faithful service in January 2014 and June 2014, respectively. John and Grace Yip have taken over the responsibilities as Principal and Administrator since January 2014 and June 2014, respectively.
John has been on staff for twenty years. Starting in the fall of 2014, he began full-time in the appointed position of Principal. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from The Kings University College in Edmonton, a Master of Science in Education Administration and a Master of Science in Elementary Education from Pensacola Christian College, and a Master of Arts in Bible Exposition from Pensacola Theological Seminary. He has “AAA” Full Professional Certificate Standing as a Teacher accredited by the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. In addition, he taught elementary and middle school computer at Dalat International School in Penang, Malaysia, and at North Florida Christian School, and has had experience in using computers in library applications. He is fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin and is gifted in vocal music.
Grace has been working behind the scene for RHCA for the last nineteen years. She was appointed to the position of Administrator after the retirement of Brian Hayes in July of 2014. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Science in Education Administration from Pensacola Christian College (PCC). She was employed in several responsible positions there, most recently under the Financial Assistant to the former-President of PCC. She joined our staff to help prepare the 2005 year-end receipts, and now also has all the responsibilities that comes with the position of a school administrator. She served as a Teacher Assistant in the Senior Kindergarten from September, 2008 until June, 2010. Grace and her husband, John (our Principal), have three children: Christopher and Joshua who graduated from our Grade 12 program in 2020 and 2022 respectively, and Daniel who is currently in our Grade 8 program.
Rev. Dr. Bernard Sin has a Doctor of Ministry degree and a Master of Theological Studies degree from Tyndale Seminary, and an Honours Master in Business Administration (with a major in Finance) degree, and an Honours Bachelor of Computer Science degree from the University of North Texas in Dallas. He has extensive business as well as pastoral experience. He was the founding pastor of a daughter church of Richmond Hill Chinese Baptist Church that opened at Springvale Baptist Church on Stouffville Road. He recently retired from his position as the senior pastor of North Toronto Chinese Baptist Church. He and his wife, Eva, have two children: Yvette and Joshua graduated from our Grade 8 program in 2014 and 2016 respectively.
Mrs. Mable Au holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Waterloo and Masters degrees in both Biblical Studies and Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary. She has extensive experience as an educator of young children and is active in several ministries of Richmond Hill Christian Community Church. Her husband, Rev. Dr. Peter Au, is the former Principal of Canadian Chinese School of Theology at Tyndale Seminary. The Au’s have three children; the youngest, Beatrice, graduated from our Grade 8 in 2008.
Dr. Esther Ng joined the Board in December of 2008. She is a gynecologist and obstetrician, having received her degrees in Pharmacy and Medicine from the University of Toronto, and having served her residency with the University of Ottawa. She is married to Dr. Victor Mak, a urologist; both work at Mackenzie Health Hospital in addition to their private practices. They have two children, Daniel – who graduated from our Grade 8 program in 2014, and Priscilla – who graduated from our Grade 8 program in 2015. Dr. Ng is a member of RHCCC and has been active with Moms-In-Touch for several years.
Charitable Status: The Academy is registered as a charity and can provide Official Receipts for Income Tax Purposes for donations as well as for a portion of the tuition.
Historic Note – The Samuel Society: In 2002, prior to our being able to receive funds as a charity, a group of parents headed by John and Mary Halbert set up a charitable foundation called The Samuel Society to raise funds for a future school building. In 2005, these funds ($120,938.33) were donated to the Academy. We are very grateful for this initiative.
