History
Japhet School was founded in 1973. It opened at a time when public education institutions were removing the teaching of values from the daily lives of schoolchildren. Japhet's six original trustees were parents and educators who were devoted to the idea that character instruction and strong academics went hand in hand. Japhet began with 27 students who were Christian Scientists. Religion never was, nor is today, taught at Japhet School. 38 years later, Japhet is an independent, co-educational day school for children of diverse backgrounds. Faculty, staff, and trustees also represent a variety of life experiences.
Timeline
1973 School opened in September for children who attended Christian Science Sunday Schools.
1975 Granted non-profit, corporate status as an elementary K-8 school.
1976 Moved to our present location in a Lamphere School District building in Madison Heights, Michigan. Japhet developed a character quality curriculum that became integrated into our academic curriculum.
1983 Infant/toddler and latchkey programs started.
1984 Full-service, licensed day care center opened. Introduced computer curriculum. Received provisional membership in the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS).
1991 Received full membership and accreditation by ISACS.
1996 Children of all religions were invited to enroll.
1999 Japhet completed Self-Study and renewed full ISACS accreditation.
2000 Japhet honored by the country of Ghana with a personal visit, recognizing a student-led service project to supply books to Ghana's schoolchildren. General Motors looked to Japhet educators for lesson plans on environmental stewardship. Target Corporation named Japhet as an Outstanding School in America.
2001 Japhet honored as a National School of Character by the Character Education Partnership as the first Michigan school and first independent school in the country to win this award. Japhet schoolteacher assists school in England develop its own character education program.
2003 Japhet hosted our first character conference entitled "Promoting Student Character, Integrity and Leadership" with Hal Urban.
2004 Japhet co-sponsored with Birmingham Public Schools the conference entitled "Building Schools and Communities of Character" with Thomas Lickona; approximately 800 attended, and since this time BPS has had schools designated as National and Michigan Schools of Character.
2005 Prepared Self-Study for third ISACS re-accreditation.
2006 Hosted our 3rd Annual Character Conference entitled "Building a Family of Character" with Chick Moorman and break-out sessions from Japhet educators. Joined the Troy Chamber of Commerce.
2007 Granted ISACS reaccreditation until 2014. Created Strategic Plan. Hosted 4th Annual Character Conference with Chick Moorman, and presented at a character conference for Detroit and Pontiac schoolteachers. Piloted Algebra 1 as standard mathematics course for eighth-graders (and younger students as appropriate).
2008 Japhet celebrated 35 years. Hosted 5th Annual Character Conference with Sean Hogan-Downey. Implemented Robert Andreasen, Marjorie Hale, Henry Buelow, and Winnie Buelow Merit Scholarships. Piloted revised Science and Math curricula in all grade levels, meeting or exceeding current Michigan and national benchmarks.
2009 Japhet recognized as a Michigan Green School. Japhet teachers and staff presented on the benefits of character education in various venues. Piloted Writers Workshop in elementary and middle school grades, and revised Social / Global Studies curriculum that meets or exceeds current Michigan and national benchmarks. Japhet hosted our 6th Annual Character Conference, which will focus on helping teachers, parents, and children make ethical decisions while using the Internet.
2010 Japhet recognized as a Michigan Evergreen School. Japhet sponsored Metro Parent Magazine conference titled “Growing Up in Today's Crazy World: Strategies for Dealing with Crushes, Frenemies, Gossip and Bullying,” featuring two Japhet speakers.
2011 Created GJS Scholarship and Leadership Scholarship – new merit scholarships for current students. Entire faculty and staff engaged in writing the Self-Study for our fourth ISACS re-accreditation. Full staff attended national ISACS conference titled "Innovation."
