Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
San Jose Christian School commits to offering the best education possible for our students. We believe that God uniquely knit together each student and that their academic journey, too, will be unique.
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Psalm 139:13-14
To support the diverse needs of our students, SJCS offers a pull-out Learning Center program for students in grades 1-5 and a Middle School Student Advocate for students in grades 6-8. You can learn more about these programs below.
The Arlet Veurink Learning Center
The Learning Center program provides instruction and support for students in grades 1-5 who are experiencing difficulty in phonemic awareness, phonics, spelling, reading comprehension, and written expression. This pull-out program provides 40-90 minutes of instruction per day during the grade level Language Arts period. There is an additional tuition fee for this program.
The Learning Center supports students, families and teachers through:
- Small class size offers students more individualized attention
- Curriculum and instruction methods are Orton-Gillingham based and provide a systematic and multi-sensory approach to learning
- Classroom observations
- Parent conferences provide recommendations for tools, strategies, and accommodations for classroom and home
- Support for teachers and parents to better understand a child’s learning style
- Recommendations for outside resources
- Basic evaluations in phonological processing, achievement, and oral language (additional cost for evaluations)
Middle School Academic Support
The Middle School Student Advocate (MSSA) provides additional support for grade 6-8 students who have an individual accommodation plan. Plans are created in collaboration with the Learning Center Director. The MSSA works with students, families, and teachers, to implement students’ accommodations in the classroom, specifically during Language Arts and Advisory periods.
The MSSA supports students, families, and teachers through:
- The implementation of student accommodations in the classroom
- Support for assignments in reading, writing, and speech during Language Arts class
- Small group direction during Advisory periods
- Classroom observations to provide feedback to the student, parents, and teachers
- Recommendations for students and teachers of best practices, support, and training
- Conferences with students, parents, and teachers
To learn more about our academic support offerings or to have your child assessed for an additional fee, please contact our team.
Academic Support Team
Kirsten Thornton
Learning Center Director
Professional Biography
I graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies (Elementary Education) and a concentration in Special Education. While at APU, I completed my student teaching in elementary public school classrooms and in a 3rd–5th grade pull-out program for students receiving special education services. I also have experience working with students in grades 3+ in reading and math through various after-school and summer programs.
Since graduating, I have had the privilege of teaching both 4th and 5th grades here at San Jose Christian School, using differentiation to meet the diverse needs of my students. I am passionate about creating an engaging environment that fosters growth in a Christ-centered way. It’s a joy to continue serving the SJCS community.
Personal Biography
I was born and raised in San Jose alongside my younger brother. With both of my parents being teachers, I quite literally “grew up in the classroom,” which inspired my passion for education and my desire to become a teacher. I attended Azusa Pacific University for college, and after graduating in 2020, I decided to move back up here to start teaching in the fall. I met my husband while at APU, and after a season of long-distance dating, we got engaged, and he moved up to San Jose so we could be closer to family and plan the wedding. We were married in October of 2023. Outside the classroom, I enjoy working out, reading, and serving on the worship team at my church.
Christian Philosophy of Education
As a Christian educator, my desire is for students to love God, love others, and love themselves more by the end of the year. I want my classroom to be a safe space where students can learn to see the goodness of God in every area of their lives and the lives around them. As a teacher, I hold students to high expectations, not just in academics, but as people who encourage each other, grow in the word, and treat each other as Christ has commanded us to (Ephesians 4:32). I have been blessed to see Christian leadership modeled by my parents as teachers. The biggest advice given to me that I carry every day is: “be sure at the end of the day, each and every student is reminded of how much they are loved by God.”
Jennifer Palacios
Learning Center Teacher
Professional Biography
I entered the field of education as a kindergarten teacher and quickly developed a deep love for teaching and learning. I have continued to grow in both practice and preparation, earning an Ed.D. in Educational Psychology, a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and undergraduate training in Counseling Psychology and Bible and Theology. My teaching experience spans kindergarten through undergraduate education, with a particular passion for helping students develop strong language and literacy skills through reading, writing, and grammar. I strive to create structured, fun, and engaging learning environments where students are encouraged, supported, and equipped with confidence and self-efficacy to flourish academically.
Personal Biography
Born in San Diego, California as a Navy dependent and raised on Oahu, I learned early the meaning and importance of “ohana,” or family. One of the greatest gifts the Lord has given my husband, Gary, and me is our two grandchildren, with whom we enjoy simple adventures such as visiting the city, exploring local spots, or sharing chips and salsa together. Gary and I also enjoy traveling, serving our community at our local church, Cathedral of Faith Ministries, and spending meaningful time with our daughter, Alex, and our son-in-love, Francisco. Family, joy, and community continue to shape both my life and the way I connect with others.
Christian Philosophy of Education
My desire is that every child would feel a sense of joy, discovery, and purpose in school and in the classroom. Isaiah 41:10 reads, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” And so, I strive to cultivate a learning environment where students feel safe, supported, and confident to grow, academically, emotionally, and spiritually, knowing that they are deeply valued and cared for by the Lord.
Jennifer Baham
Teaching Principal
Professional Biography
I graduated from Dordt College (Sioux Center, IA) in 1993 with a BA in K-12 Choral Music Education and an emphasis on Organ Performance and Liturgy. In 1994 I answered God’s call to teach music and Bible at San Jose Christian School. While at SJCS my training expanded to include spiritual formation (Kuyers Institute at Calvin College & Vantage Point), Love and Logic (Chapman University), Step Up To Writing, Orff (Mills College), The Adolescent Brain (Canter), Educational Leadership Development Institute (Christian Schools International) and Biblical studies (M.A. from Western Theological Seminary in May 2020). I currently serve as Teaching Principal in the areas of teacher leadership, faith integration, curriculum development, student support, and teacher (8 Bible, 6 History, MS Elective, MS Grammar). In addition to teaching at SJCS, I play organ once a month at Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos.
Personal Biography
I was born and raised in Oskaloosa, Iowa with my parents, two sisters, and a host of farm animals. My dad was a dairyman with 160 acres. I am still a farm girl at heart and love gardening and hiking. I enjoy talking on our patio swing with the people I love most, putting together jigsaw puzzles, baking rhubarb pie, and being at the ocean. My two daughters and I worship at Palo Alto Christian Reformed Church where we love to worship, study Scripture, sing, and experience Christian community.
Christian Philosophy of Education
I believe God is real, God is good, and God loves each one of his children. As a principal and middle school teacher at SJCS I have the unique and wonderful opportunity to take part in the spiritual formation of today’s young people. It is my goal to be a growing person in my own faith walk and education journey. With Christ and God’s Word alive in me, I pray that I can communicate to our students that God desires a relationship with us and that God’s Word is living and active. As we study God’s Word, the history of God’s people, and what it means to live as God intended, I pray that students grow in a personal journey of knowing God and living for Him in a broken world.