Warwick River Christian
Offering quality education & child care to the Virginia Peninsula.
Embracing every child with love and care.
We take pride in keeping our teacher to student ratio smaller in order to provide each student with the attention they need and deserve. The experiences and Christian education that children receive at Warwick River Christian provides them with a foundation rich in knowledge, integrity and prepares them for a strong and successful future. Weekly Chapel engages children even further to explore God’s word through worship, music and prayer. Warwick River Christian is constantly expanding your child’s knowledge and experiences, challenging them to grow and develop self confidence.
Warwick River Christian is in a large two-story school building covered by a liability policy through Philadelphia Insurance. The school building has two large well-lit stairways and an elevator. There are 9 classrooms (5 classrooms with bathrooms), an office, a kitchen and two large bathrooms on the first floor. On the second floor there 8 classrooms and two large bathrooms. All classrooms have sinks. There are two playgrounds located behind the building and a tall fence separates our property from neighboring houses. The playground used by the youngest group children is completely fenced in. We invite you to come in and take a tour, meet the staff and experience for yourself.
Our Core Values
Our curriculum is designed to reflect God’s love toward us, and the uniqueness of God’s creation in each child.
The focus of our program is to provide for the development of the whole child: spiritual, physical, emotional, social and intellectual. We encourage independent thinking, development of social and motor skills, pre-reading and writing skill, and creativity. We introduce spiritual development through Bible stories, prayer, songs and weekly chapel.
Meet Splash – Our Feathered Friend and Faithful Mascot!
Say hello to Splash, the cheerful Wood Duck who proudly represents Warwick River Christian! Native to the wetlands of Virginia, just like the shores of the Warwick River near our campus, Splash is more than just a mascot – he’s a symbol of our school’s spirit, values, and connection to God’s creation.
Wood Ducks are known for their vibrant colors, strong family bonds, and their ability to thrive in nurturing environments – just like our students! They nest close to the water and take flight with confidence, a beautiful reminder of how we grow in faith, learn with purpose, and soar toward our future.
Since 1942: Our History
Twenty-one children were enrolled as the first students at Warwick River Christian School on September 21, 1942. Classes met in the basement of the original church building. A new building was constructed at our current location in 1949, followed by an addition in 1965. Since the 1970’s the school has hosted three-year preschool through Grade 8. At the end of the 2019 -2020 school year, the painful decision was made to discontinue offering kindergarten – 5th grade. But it is written in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 5, Verse 38, “But new wine must be put into new wine-skins, and both are preserved.” We are excited to see how God leads us and establishes a new work with our program.
We are blessed to have our 4-year-old preschool, child care center, kindergarten, first grade and second grade consolidated into the main building.
The childcare program began in 1989, enabling more children with working parents to utilize the school. In 2024, the name was changed from Warwick River Christian Preschool and Learning Center to Warwick River Christian. The new name reflects our commitment to providing each child in our care with a developmental, age-appropriate learning environment. The Learning Center hours extend from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. year-round, including weekly day camp programs throughout the summer, and Before and After Care for school-age children.
Our Facility
Governance
Warwick River Christian operates under a Commonwealth of Virginia exemption clause offered to childcare centers and preschools operated by a religious organization. As a religious exempt organization, we are required to comply with all applicable City of Newport News and State of Virginia fire, safety, and health standards. Documentation is submitted annually to the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) to maintain our religious exemption status. Required in this documentation is a Staff Health Report form that all staff members are required to have completed annually by their physician. WRC is inspected twice a year by the Peninsula Health Department and annually by the Newport News Fire Department. Background checks are performed on all employees in accordance with VDSS guidelines, including fingerprinting.