Belleville Mennonite School in Pennsylvania is changing its name to Belleville Christian School when students return to school this fall.

An April 16 announcement from the Belleville administration and board of trustees indicated the change was made so that the school name would “speak more clearly to who we are, why we are here and what we offer to students and families. . . Intentional efforts to deepen our spiritual focus and biblical worldview practices that make us different have been at the forefront of our efforts the last six years.”

Belleville’s name change was approved last year by the board of trustees. The April announcement stated the decision came in response to “significant shared interest over the years paired with prior school community survey input and the Lord’s perfect timing.”

The school has more than 235 students from pre-kindergarten through high school representing more than 150 families from about 40 local churches in several denominations. It was founded as Kishacoquillas Valley Christian Day School in 1945 by Mennonite and Amish Mennonite congregations. The name was changed to Belleville Mennonite School in 1952 when a high school department was added.

The school’s Thunder mascot and logo will remain the same, along with the school’s mission, vision and admissions process.