FAIRMONT — There will be a new place for kindergarten students and first-graders to attend school this fall in Fairmont. Bethel Evangelical Free Church will play host to Fairmont Christian School.

Bethel currently offers Small Sprout preschool, and there had been talk over the past few years of expanding.

Kimberly Fast, who is director of children’s ministries at Bethel, said Small Sprouts in itself was an experiment. It began with just a small section in the first year, then moved up to two sections and, by the third year, both sections were full, with a waiting list.

“We had parents who sent their children to Small Sprouts asking, ‘Are you thinking of adding another grade?’ So the idea was kind of born out of that,” Fast said.

Most of the children enrolled are graduates of Small Sprouts, but the school will be open to everyone. There are 10 students enrolled for both kindergarten and first grade, and class sizes will be capped at 15.

The goal is to add another grade each year. Starting off, kindergarten and first grade will be offered, but down the road Fairmont Christian School could add sixth, seventh or even eighth grade.

Fast will be the principal of the school while she maintains her role as children’s director at the church.

The new school held interviews last week and is in the process of hiring a full-time teacher, as well as a full-time aide.

Mountain Lake Christian School in Mountain Lake will provide support to Fairmont Christian School. Mountain Lake Christian has been in existence for more than 100 years and offers school for pre-school through 12th grade.

“We are working in conjunction with them,” Fast explained.

MLC will provide administrative support, as well a student tuition database.

“It is very unique, this coming together of two different programs,” Fast noted. “We are coming together for the specific purpose of providing a christian education.”

Fairmont Christian School, like MLC, will be interdenominational, meaning it is not sponsored by one denomination, and all children are welcome.

“We are investing in the children,” Fast said. “Mountain Lake doesn’t have anything to gain from this, but they’re helping because they are interested in supporting Christian education in the area.”

All of the money from tuition and other funds donated or raised will go to the classrooms, teachers and whatever the students need to strive. Little money will go to administrative costs, according to Fast.

Fairmont Christian School will have its own school board. It also will have faith-based learning, as well as character-based learning. Fast said the focus is child-centered and research-driven. They will offer the basics academically, but they also will give children the chance to explore.

“We believe in the importance of play,” she said. “There are studies proving that how kids play is how they work out ideas.”

She added, “In Small Sprouts, we had baby chicks that we had to wait for to hatch. It’s very important to teach patience to children at that age. We will use tangible activities to teach intangible concepts.”

In time, MLC is interested in relocating to somewhere more central. It is a hope that after students go to Fairmont Christian School, they will continue on to MLC.

“When children are young, you want to keep them in small classes somewhere near,” Fast said. “No one likes putting a child on a long bus ride. But when the child gets older, a bigger school with more opportunities is desirable.”

No one can predict what the future may hold, but for the next year or two, Bethel will be home to Fairmont Christian School.

“We couldn’t afford to just go out and buy a school,” Fast explained.

“The whole process has been an incredible journey and we can’t wait to see what is coming next.”