News

Oct. 12: Seniors Do Not Report to Campus

10/4/2022

On Wednesday, Oct. 12, seniors are not to report to campus as all students in grades 9-11 will be taking the PSAT/NMSQT exam. Seniors should use the day to work independently off campus on college applications. Counselors will be available for virtual appointments.

We Are Hosting Chapel Next Week!

10/4/2022

Students from Mrs. Riccio's' third grade homeroom and Mrs. Belvedere's kindergarten homeroom will be serving as chapel hosts on Tuesday, Oct. 11. Mrs. Riccio's homeroom will host first chapel at 8:15 a.m., and Mrs. Belvedere's homeroom will host second chapel at 9:10 a.m.

Join Us in Helping Provide Hurricane Relief

10/4/2022

The Westminster family has been blessed with two opportunities to serve our community after Hurricanes Fiona and Ian.

The first is a collection for families in Puerto Rico. They are specifically requesting baby food in non-glass containers, boxes of cereal, and nutrition/granola bars. These items are being shipped by Global Empowerment Mission.

The second is for Ft. Myers Christian School faculty and staff. We reached out to the school to offer support and they are welcoming it with open arms. The headmaster is asking foremost for prayer for their school community, and secondly, for gift cards for the faculty and staff to assist with providing the essential needs for their families. Gift cards can be from Walmart, Publix, Target, Lowes, Home Depot, or for restaurants in amounts of $25. In addition, they are requesting prayers for two faculty members who have lost their cars in the storm. We serve a mighty God who listens to the cries of His people and is faithful to meet our needs. Please keep these families in your prayers.

We are accepting these donations on Friday, October 7, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at a table set-up in the HS concourse.

Generosity is a privilege. Please join us as we take this opportunity to live out our mission to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ.

Questions? Contact Lenny Castaneda, director of Student Activities.

Seniors Score Among Top 1% in PSAT/NMSQT

10/3/2022

Westminster seniors Angel Sajous and Leo Leon have been named semifinalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. Students qualify for this designation based on their performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Semifinalists are the highest scorers in the state and represent less than one percent of Florida’s high school seniors. According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, approximately 1.5 million students were eligible nationwide, but only some 16,000 have been named semifinalists.

Leon and Sajous were also recognized by Westminster Christian School for this prestigious honor, and were congratulated by both the principal, Alex Gonzalez, and vice principal, Teresa Torralbas.

"We are extremely proud of Angel and Leo for their hard work, dedication and pursuit of excellence in academics. Their success is also a reflection of the role Westminster plays in the academic development of its students," said Alex Gonzalez.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation annually honors the nation’s scholastic champions who exemplify academic excellence. High school juniors entered the program through participation in the 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test. Semifinalists can advance to the Finalist level and compete for National Merit Scholarships.

Seventh Grade Heads to Orlando

10/3/2022

This year we are taking the seventh grade class to experience the beauty of God’s creation at SeaWorld Orlando on Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. Prior to the trip, students will spend several weeks exploring Kingdom Animalia. At SeaWorld, students will be required to take pictures of the animals and then complete an assignment on the animals at school. This one-day field trip offers the perfect combination of learning, fun, and fellowship. Westminster faculty and staff will serve as chaperones and remain with their group the entire day.

To register your child, please return the Participation Release and Waiver and the Medical Release Form to the homeroom teacher by Friday, Nov. 4, 2022.

The cost of the trip is $190. The cost includes transportation, all day dining at the park, Quick Queue unlimited access to most rides, and a one-time front-of-the line pass for the all-new Ice Breaker. Pay for the trip.

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Oct. 3: This Week in Sports

10/3/2022

Date	Team	Time	Opponent	Location	Early Dismissal	Transportation
Mon. 10/3	MS Golf	3:00 p.m.	Ransom/Palmer	Briar Bay	1:30 p.m.	1:45 p.m. (25 passenger)
Mon. 10/3	MS JV Football	4:00 p.m.	Calvary Christian	Calvary Christian	1:45 p.m.	2:15 p.m. (25 passenger)
Mon. 10/3	V B Golf	8:00 a.m.	Maverick Invite`	Grand Palms	none	6:30 a.m. (25 passenger)
Tues. 10/4	MS V Volleyball	3:30 p.m.	University School	University School	1:15 p.m.	1:30 p.m. (28 passenger)
Tues. 10/4	JV Volleyball	4:00 p.m.	Kings Academy	Kings Academy	12:35 p.m.	1:15 p.m. (Charter)
Tues. 10/4	V G Golf	2:00 p.m.	Riviera	Biltmore	12:30 p.m.	12:45 p.m. (25 passenger)
Tues. 10/4	V G Volleyball	5:30 p.m.	Kings Academy	Kings Academy	12:35 p.m.	1:15 p.m. (Charter)
Wed.10/5	MS Golf	3:00 p.m.	Carrollton	Palmetto Bay GC	1:30 p.m.	1:45 p.m. (25 passenger)
Thurs. 10/6	MS JV Football	4:00 p.m.	Ransom	WCS - Warrior Field	none	N/A
Thurs. 10/6	V Golf	3:00 p.m.	Gulliver	Palmetto Bay GC	1:45 p.m.	2:00 p.m.
Thurs. 10/6	V Swim	3:00 p.m.	Coral Shores/Carrollton	WCS - Pool	1:45 p.m.	N/A
Fri. 10/7	MS XC	3:30 p.m.	305 Classic	Larry & Penny	2:00 p.m.	2:15 p.m. (25 passenger)
Fri. 10/7	V XC	3:30 p.m.	305 Classic	Larry & Penny	2:00 p.m.	2:15 p.m. (25 passenger)
Fri. 10/7	V Football	7:00 p.m.	Florida Christian	Florida Christian	none	4:45 p.m. (25/28 passenger)
Fri. 10/7	V G Volleyball	3:00 p.m.	Warrior Invite	WCS - Main Gym/SAC	1:30 p.m.	N/A
Sat. 10/8	MS Swim	8:00 a.m.	Doral Invite	Doral Academy	N/A	N/A
Sat. 10/8	V G Volleyball	8:00 a.m.	Warrior Invite	WCS - Main Gym/SAC	N/A	N/A

Jealous

9/30/2022

by John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation

Is there anything more painful and grief inducing than the betrayal of someone you love?

The British playwright William Congreve put it succinctly when he wrote, “Heav'n hath no rage, like love to hatred turn'd, Nor hell a fury, like a woman scorn'd.”

It is not new news, in other words, that being betrayed is awful. Though, if you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of enduring betrayal currently, it will certainly feel like a present crisis! In fact, it’s hard when you’re in the middle of the pain of betrayal to not nurse thoughts of revenge and be overcome with jealousy. This is a particularly painful, but unfortunately all too common part of the human experience.

Perhaps, you can take some comfort in this (though maybe you shouldn’t), that even the most grace-filled person tends to look on with a cool bit of, “Yeah, they had that coming…” when they see the betrayer eventually paying for their sins.

It’s interesting to me that one of the ways we see God portrayed in the Bible is jealous!

“Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Exodus 34:14

Jealousy seems like a bad character trait. One I don’t necessarily like associated with God. I kind of love how the Bible describes God as a strong tower, a shepherd, bread, a mother hen, even a cornerstone. These images leave me feeling comforted and supported, and I like that. But jealous?!

‘Jealous’ seems too small for God! Doesn’t it?

But it’s hard to get around this title since Exodus 34:14 is the first of the 10 commandments. God had ten things to say to us about how we should live, and in the first one we find out He’s jealous.

Perhaps the connection between betrayal (the sin) and jealousy (the response) can help us hear. We can understand the steps needed to get from one to the other easily enough at least. In this way, we can ask a simple question, “If God is jealous, then who is the betrayer?”

Obviously, unless you're overcome by a pathological level of narcissistic self-denial, you realize that you (and I) are the betrayer. Each time you forsake God to pursue your own selfish purpose you reduce yourself to a level of relationship you wouldn’t even tolerate in your most distant acquaintance.

We cannot stomach even a tiny bit of betrayal without considerable effort, but still, we want to take issue with God for being jealous.

I think we must do the hard work of turning our perspective over at this point. God MUST be jealous. The alternative would be far more intolerable. The fact that He is jealous has baked into its reality the fact that He therefore also cares. Apparently deeply - like a husband, or father, or shepherd, or caretaker or mother hen. God’s jealousy is only aroused by our betrayal but if we stay faithful, then don’t we get to receive help from the kind of fierce love and protection that can only come from someone who loves and cares about us deeply?

See You at the Pole Has Been Re-Scheduled to October 6

9/29/2022

"See You at the Pole" has been re-scheduled to Thursday, Oct. 6. Parents are invited to join students and faculty from 7:45 a.m. to 8 a.m. in the ES courtyard. October 6 is also Bring Your Bible to School Day.