Westminster Christian School News A Private preK-12 school in Palmetto Bay, FL

2024-25 Course Request Approval

4/23/2024

Parents of students in grades 8-11 are asked to approve their child(ren)'s course request form for the 2024-25 school year. The form is available in myWCS and is due no later than Monday, April 29.

Take a Knee

4/23/2024

by John Bishop
Director of Spiritual Formation

Mario Cristobal found himself in a firestorm of media attention last fall after neglecting to tell his team to take a knee in a game against Georgia Tech. UM ended up losing the game and consequently their undefeated streak. No one was happy about this decision! We want to win!

We were winning the game. There were only 26 seconds left on the clock! The headline on USA TODAY Sports read, “Cristobal Coaching Blunder, Bad Call, Doom Miami against Georgia Tech.”

At the risk of being a little unpopular, I’m going to come to Cristobal’s defense a little. First of all, you don’t get to that level of success by making consistently bad calls; the whole system makes sure we never know the names of people who do that. Secondly, you can’t win in that role, not really. If you have a killer season, you’re a hero and everyone loves you. If you make a bad call, you’re being blasted on the cover of USA TODAY Sports. That’s a lot of pressure!

So, what do we really want from our leaders? We want to win, right? But apparently not enough to run another play with 26 seconds left on the clock.

This is not a new issue. In Exodus chapter 5, Moses goes before Pharaoh and tells him to let the Israelites go. That makes him mad, and his response is to treat them with contempt by taking away their supplies and demanding the same production. When the crowds hear about the call Moses made, they’re not happy and they say in verse 21, “May the Lord look on you and judge you! You have made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” i.e., there were only 26 seconds left on the clock!! Why would you even give them a shot at it?

Join Us in Celebrating Faculty and Staff During Teacher Appreciation Week

4/19/2024

Through room mom coordinators and grade/campus level liaisons, Parent Partners is coordinating a variety of opportunities for parents to get involved and recognize the amazing work of our faculty and staff for Teacher Appreciation Week and the End of Year Gift Collection.

Teacher Appreciation Week will be celebrated from May 6-10 with small daily treats for all teachers and teacher assistants. You will hear from your specific grade representative on how your class will choose to celebrate and daily themes can be viewed below. You will also be asked to consider a financial gift to the End of Year Gift Collection (April 17-May 1) that will be distributed equally to every person under payroll at Westminster. Last year's collection was a huge success and a tremendous blessing to our Westminster community, which was made possible through your generosity. Teacher Appreciation Week will culminate with distribution of the year-end financial gift.

Thank you in advance for making this a memorable week for our teachers and staff!

Exclusive Event for Senior Families

4/19/2024

Join us for the Senior Awards and Cords Night* on Tuesday, April 30, at 7 p.m. in The Lighthouse. Attendance is required for the class of 2024. All students will receive their caps, gowns, and honor society cords.

Light refreshment and desserts will be available following the event. Space is limited. Please limit attendees to immediate family. Select students will be receiving awards.

*Business formal attire

Important Reminders for Prom 2024

4/18/2024

Prom is this weekend, and students are eager to enjoy this high school milestone. We are grateful we can coordinate and sponsor this event as well as other activities that enhance the Westminster student experience.

To maximize the fun and safety of our community, we want to remind families of our expectations for students who participate in Westminster-sponsored events. In this, we hope to clear up any misunderstandings, answer questions you may have, and set expectations for students and parents. We also feel it will be helpful to clarify the potential consequences associated with behavior that contradicts the standards outlined in the student handbook that occurs at this and any school-sponsored events.

Student expectations from the current student handbook:

Students and parents should be mindful that certain behaviors including, but not limited to, acts of violence, vandalism, dishonesty, abusive behavior, and alcohol and drug use, are simply inconsistent with our students’ role as emerging ambassadors for Christ, and these behaviors will not be tolerated and subject to disciplinary actions.
Students are expected to behave in a manner that reflects positively upon the student and the school. Students are expected to take care of our campus and clean up after themselves. Students are expected to always maintain proper decorum and conduct themselves with respect for themselves and those around them. Students should not engage in public displays of affection that exceed the bounds of good taste and/or make others reasonably uncomfortable.
The use of drugs, alcohol, or other prohibited items (i.e., tobacco products, products with pseudo-tobacco qualities, or vaping/juuling products), including misuse or abuse of synthetic compounds, common household chemicals, prescribed or over-the-counter medicines, will not be tolerated and subject the student(s) to disciplinary actions.
Students using, possessing, transporting, distributing, or involved in selling or purchasing drugs, alcohol, or other prohibited items on campus or at school functions will be expelled. If student(s) are not on campus nor at a school sanctioned activity, students are still subject to severe disciplinary action with possible expulsion at the discretion of school administration, given the totality of the circumstances and in the best interests of the student and student body of the school.
WCS expects the entire school community to support its efforts to keep our students’ drug and alcohol-free. Parents who permit or condone the use of alcohol or controlled substances by WCS students in their home or at events or functions under the parents’ control (regardless of whether the parent is present) place their children’s continued enrollment at WCS in jeopardy.
Some offenses warrant immediate expulsion as determined by the administration. WCS reserves the right to expel any student whose behavior is a concern or threat to the safety, health, and well-being of our WCS community. WCS further reserves the right to expel any student for serious and/or multiple infractions (even if unrelated) of this Code of Conduct or any behavior, whether specifically referenced herein, which is deemed to constitute a departure from the behavior expected and required of WCS students.

We invite you to learn more about the dangers of teen alcohol use and the significant dangers, legal risks, and consequences to parents associated with underage drinking. Please refer to this resource, which includes a presentation by MADD and an attorney and former Westminster parent about Florida law related to liabilities associated with teen alcohol use and having alcohol present in a home where an after-party occurs.

We appreciate your attention to this matter as we seek to partner with you in educating our students to make good choices.

Fun Camp is Full!

4/17/2024

We are thrilled to announce that Camp Westminster Fun Camp has received an overwhelming response! In a few short days, both our full-day and half-day Fun Camp options were filled with excited campers. Fun Camp is now full.

To all the families who have secured their spots, we are excited to welcome you to Camp Westminster's Fun Camps!

For families who may have missed out on securing a spot, we understand how disappointing it can be to miss out on the fun, which is why we've opened a waitlist for last-minute openings. Simply reach out to wcscamps@wcsmiami.org to be added.

Due to the overwhelming demand, we're excited to announce that we've expanded our offerings to include additional options from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Now, campers can enjoy even more specialty and sports camps in the afternoon. All our afternoon camps include lunch.

Afternoon options with availability:

Week 1: Warrior Tennis
Week 2: Warrior Tennis, Make a Splash VBS, and our Warrior Strength Camp.
Week 3: Warrior Tennis, Esports Camp
Week 4: Warrior Tennis
Week 5: Warrior Tennis, Fun Art with Recyclables, Warriorette Minis Dance Boot Camp
Week 6: Warrior Tennis, Fun Art with Recyclables, Warrior Strength Camp
Week 7: Warrior Tennis, Warrior Strength Camp

Let the countdown to Camp Westminster begin!

Batting 1,000

4/16/2024

by John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation

When we say, “he’s batting 1,000” we never mean it literally. It’s an expression! No one bats 1,000. In fact, the all-time greatest batting average in MLB history was held by Ty Cobb at .366. There have been over 20,500 players in the MLB since 1876 and not one of them has even gotten to 500. In other words, the expression, “he’s batting 1,000” literally means, he’s achieving the impossible.

Here’s the important lesson to take from this week’s message – if you like winning, you’ll need to make friends with failure! When the GOAT misses nearly 7 out of 10 at-bats, we shouldn’t be surprised when we swing and miss.

On the other hand, here’s a casual observation, YOU WILL NEVER HIT A BALL YOU DON’T SWING AT! The batting average is for every person who chooses not to expose themselves to the possibility of a strikeout is ALWAYS, exactly 0!

We can’t afford to fear failure!

In Psalm 86:11 we have been talking all year about being wholehearted, giving it your all. But what about when you do give it your all and fall flat on your face? What if you finally quit drinking or smoking and make it a few weeks only to relapse and strike out again?

Winning isn’t only about the dub, it’s also about how you handle the losses.

Proverbs 24:16 says, “The righteous may fall seven times but still get up, but the wicked will stumble into trouble.” Will you still get up? Will you allow God to meet you in your lowest moments and rely on his faithfulness even when you know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that he could NEVER rely on yours?

Paul makes an interesting analogy in 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 when he says, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Here’s a thought to chew on: the light of God’s glory dwells inside us. When we receive Jesus for our salvation, the Spirit of God enters our soul and begins guiding us, shaping us, changing us, and shining through us. But if we were a well-formed clay pot how would God’s glory shine forth? Consider this, the cracks are how the glory of God gets out. It is in our weakness He is made strong. It is our foolishness that reveals God’s wisdom. It is in our getting back up and continuing to walk with God that we demonstrate a faith that shines like a light. Everyone will stumble and fall, everyone will strike out, but the one who endures to the end will be saved! (Matthew 24:13).

Keep swinging!

There's Still Time to Order Your Class Group Picture

4/15/2024

Steckley emailed parents information about how to order a class group picture. There is still time to place your order before the end of the school year.

📸 Can't find the email? Please search your email for "Steckley" and check your spam folder. If you still cannot locate the email, please email steckleyphoto@gmail.com with your child's name, school and grade.

Congratulations to our Westminster Writing Warriors!

4/15/2024

Kindergarten

Belvedere-Saige Clarke, Emilio Faustin, Emma Sparks

Fosselman-Wesley Cole, David Tirri, Mercedes Cespedes

Kenney-Liam Boulos, Olivia Aloupis, Noah Nery

First Grade

Dirube-Serafina White, Jaxson Rodriguez, Charles Frye

Barboza-Andrew Sparks, Blaire Sanchez, Audrey Acosta

Abbey-Jack Bogie, Carrie Money, Sammie Abou Orduna

Second Grade

Berteletti-Louie Arocha, Raif Manzur, Van Urquidi

Goodrich-Austin Gazitua, Hamilton Jones, Jordan Thurn

Forjan-Jonah Childers, Amanda Alvarez, Evie Barbara

Third Grade

Ashley Harder, Lana Bogie, Phoenix Moreau

Fourth Grade

Gabriela Prado Lang, Anabelle Blanco, Isabela Gamarra

Fifth Grade

Jordan Kurenuma, Cade Sporrer, Sophia Polino and Valentina Vera

Wandering Through WorldWonder: Chapters 8 & 9

4/12/2024

The Right Thing in the Wrong Way
by John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation

Read: Chapter 8 and Chapter 9

I’m sure we can all easily come up with examples of someone trying to do the right thing but doing it in completely the wrong way. Perhaps we’d also admit we’re guilty of it sometimes.

I think of the difference between the polite Miami tap on the horn to let someone know the light has turned verses laying on the horn while tailgating the person halfway to the next light. Or, maybe, leveraging Chat GPT to seed some ideas for an essay that you then write vs. simply cutting and pasting the essay that Chat GPT spits out for you.

These, of course, are relatively lighthearted scenarios, but it can get dicey pretty quickly. Emerson Egrich, for example, wrote a book about marriage titled, Love and Respect. In it he says, “while in an argument in your marriage you can be right at the top of your lungs and still be wrong.” His point is that if you win the argument, but in your anger, damage the relationship you haven’t really won anything. In other words, in marriage, essay writing, traffic, and life in general, there’s not just a right thing to do, there’s a right way to do it.

Chapters 8 and 9 in Wander Through WorldWonder: Mac & Mica’s Adventure help us think about this tension. These chapters are suggesting that Mac, Mica, and King are doing the right thing (trying to defend Tommy) but perhaps they’re going about it the wrong way.

In his sermon on the mount, Jesus provides an extreme example for us on how to handle these kinds of tensions. He suggests, “the next time someone smacks you in the face, turn your other cheek and let him smack the other one too.” (paraphrased Matthew 5:39)

Can you imagine…in Miami!

We think, “What is Jesus getting at? Why in the world would He EVER suggest we allow someone who has just hit us in the face to hit us again? What possible wisdom could be hidden in this bizarre suggestion?” Then you imagine what you would feel in this scenario. Anger! Resentment! Bitterness! Self-righteous indignation! And it becomes clear that our natural response to the other’s sin is to sin back.

We want justice (the right thing) but in sin we take it for ourselves (the wrong way)! This is not the way of Jesus who had just said, “Anyone who is angry with his brother is subject to judgement” (Matthew 5:22). Paul goes on to warn us in Ephesians four to “be careful that in your anger you do not sin.”

Mac, Mica, King, and Tommy are justified in fighting for justice. But by taking matters into their own hands, they are doing the right thing in the wrong way. Tommy is the one who figures this out at the end of the chapter. After they’ve failed and made a bigger mess, Tommy understands the truth. And both the problem and tensions are resolved.

“Teach me YOUR way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.”

Dubs

4/9/2024

by John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation

I think most of us want to win! At everything. All the time.

Isn’t that why we cut each other off in traffic, and scan the grocery store aisles for the shortest line? Isn’t that why we pay attention to the latest fashion trends and keep up with all the details of our friends’ lives? Isn’t that why we apply for the best college we think we can get into maximizing the impressiveness of the name, while not overshooting and facing rejection?

Being part of a team that is enduring a losing season is brutal! If we don’t start winning quick, the coaching staff starts packing up their offices.

We want dubs! And if we don’t have dubs, we want answers!

At Westminster Christian School we’re winning at a lot of levels! I walked into the gym and took a quick video of all the national, state, regional, and district championships hanging on the walls. If you haven’t looked recently, it’s a lot. We have national and state championships in baseball for 13 years and counting; state championships in softball – six years; boys track – two years; volleyball – two years; beach volleyball – one year. And we have district and regional championships in football, boys’ & girls’ basketball, baseball, softball, boys’ & girls’ track and field, boys’ & girls’ soccer, wrestling, volleyball, cross country, tennis, and boys’ lacrosse. This doesn’t account for the tremendous performance of individual students and teams that won critical games along the way. In athletics, we’re winning!

On the website under “Recent College Acceptances” there’s a list of over 140 different schools to which our students have been accepted. Prestigious academic institutions like Harvard, Stanford, M.I.T., Brown, Berkley, Dartmouth, and many others. Our students have also been accepted at universities that are nationally known for their athletics, design, music, arts, research, engineering, law, medicine and a host of other things. Last year our school placed 100% of its graduates in schools to further their education. Beyond that we offer 27 different AP courses across all core subjects and the arts. In academics, we’re winning!

There’s a bumper sticker that many of us have on our car that simply says, “The Dub” with a sword running through it. Obviously, this stands for “Westminster” and directly, but more subtly boasts of how we feel about our school, #WINNING!

There is another area we’re winning, but it’s a little harder to measure, and so a little less obviously a part of what we love so much about our school. We hear about it on admission open house days when people from around town show up and comment, “Wow! Everyone is so nice!” I saw it last year when one of our athletic teams went out of their way to make some kids feel special in a restaurant. The father was so moved by how kind our students were to his kids that he went out of his way to tell us about it in an email. I don’t remember which team it was or whether we won the game, but we certainly won the game being played in that restaurant with those kids! We get to see it when our community faces tragedy. In those terrible moments we rally together and love each other and grieve well. And, finally, we get to see it at Warrior Week and Gr8 Escape, and increasingly every Tuesday as we open our hearts to God worshipping together in chapels. We’re winning!

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

I’m proud of our dubs!

Now is the Time to Apply

4/9/2024

Westminster is seeking approval to participate in the state government-funded financial program that provides funding to students who attend certain private schools. Despite the long review process, we are confident that Westminster will be approved in time for the 2024-25 school year.

If you have not already done so, we encourage families to complete the application process as soon as possible. Visit www.stepupforstudents.org to begin the application process or to learn more.

We will notify families when Westminster has received final approval.

Join Us for the Spring Association Meeting

4/8/2024

We invite you to attend the Spring Association Meeting on Tuesday, April 23, at 6:30 p.m. This year’s meeting will be held in the sanctuary of Christ Congregational Church, 14920 SW 67 Ave.

While there are often elections to the Board of Trustees during the Spring Association Meeting, there are no vacancies on the board for the upcoming school year. Therefore, no election will be held at this meeting. We are grateful to have a stable Board of Trustees who will continue to serve us over the next year.

We anticipate the meeting will be shorter than usual and the Board of Trustees and school administrators will be updating you on the school finances, the upcoming capital campaign, and the proposal for a new athletics center.

This has been a remarkable school year, one in which we have seen God’s hand move in and over us in amazing ways. He has guided us through great times of celebration and challenge, directing and protecting our every step.

Please continue to pray for our children, our faculty and staff, and our leadership as we continue to seek God’s direction in all that we do.

Support the Blood Drive on Campus: April 17

4/8/2024

The Future Health Professionals (HOSA) high school club has partnered with OneBlood to host its final blood drive of the year on Wednesday, April 17, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. All eligible students and parents are encouraged to donate. There will be two Big Red Buses in the high school circle collecting whole blood and platelet donations.

Students can sign-up on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 9 and 10 during their social studies class or stop by HS 210. Students will receive a parent consent form when they register. Additional consent forms are available HERE. Students must be at least 16 to participate. Additionally:

Students who are 16 need a signed parent consent form at every donation, even if they’ve donated before.
Students who are 17 need an ID and a signed parent consent form. This form will be valid for all remaining drives during this school year.
Students who are 18 need an ID, but are not required to submit a parent consent form.
Parent consent forms must be returned to the high school office no later than February 13 to donate.

While Westminster will remain a closed campus during the blood drive, parents are encouraged to participate.
Please register below:

Donate Blood

Overflow

4/5/2024

by John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation

I got caught up the other day on YouTube watching a man build a mini hydroelectric power plant in a ditch. I know, embarrassing. I’m such a nerd but so are 25 million other people! Here’s the link if you want to watch it 😊.

It’s about overflow! The water that backs up behind a dam is loaded with potential, but there’s not much you can do with the potential that is trapped behind the wall of the dam. Potential has to be released in order to be realized. But if you’re not careful in how it is released it can be very dangerous. So, engineers figured out how to harness a strategic, measured amount of that potential in ways that can produce sustainable power. One way they do it is by creating a low spot in the wall and harnessing the overflow.

God has designed us (humanity) with tremendous potential. The human spirit is profoundly powerful! We marvel at stories of people who thrive in prison camps, sacrifice themselves to save someone else, accomplish unbelievable physical feats, or harness nature to build and create fascinatingly complex tools that bend reality and hold suffering at bay. Our potential, individually and collectively, is seemingly unlimited but the issue is that potential is available to those who would use it for good and evil. That means it can also cause tremendous destruction, pain, and suffering.

While I’m writing this, the videos of war in Israel are flooding to people’s phones revealing the real-time devastation of human potential busting through the walls in rage, resentment, and hatred. How do we hold back the flood of human depravity and use our potential for good?

Luke 6:45 gives us a clue, “The good man brings things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”

There are streams of influence flowing into our souls behind the wall. And what backs up behind the dam of our soul eventually breaks through. Have you evaluated the streams filling up your life lately?

When Jesus walked with the disciples he put them in all kinds of crazy situations as they watched him turn water to wine, multiply fish and loaves, heal blind people, lame people, sick people, then walk across the water, speak to the wind, rebuke powerful men, cast out demons, pray, weep, laugh, die, walk through walls, transform into an angel of light, ascend into heaven, and all this in three years of public ministry. For three years, he filled these disciples with torrents of evidence and examples of God’s power at work with us. By the time He left them to continue the ministry without them they were bursting with potential.

Then in Acts 2, the dam broke and the overflow of the Spirit of God through those men and millions since has not stopped flowing like a stream into the lives of countless others through the generations. And that was His plan all along. He said in John 14:12, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the father.”

How do we hold back the flood of human depravity and use our potential for good? We tend to the streams that fill our lives. We allow Jesus to fill us with the Spirit of God and let the overflow of His love do the rest.

Jesus promises that he will give us living water (John 4), that when we give our lives to Him, we will never thirst again. What we may need to be reminded of is that the abundance of his living water will never stop flowing.

So let it flow! We are blessed to be a blessing. So, let’s get busy doing the greater things He said we would.

Parenting a Warrior: Got Anxiety? Families Living in an Anxious World

4/5/2024

Parents, please join us for the upcoming Parenting a Warrior seminar on Friday, April 12, at 8 a.m. in the Nature Center. This important meeting will discuss anxiety, its effects on families, and will share strategies for coping in a world where anxiety abounds.

This meeting is hosted by Westminster Counselors Kim Brigham, Yeni Dumas, and Scarlett Saldaña.

PS/ES Chapel Update

4/5/2024

Thank you for supporting our third quarter Noisy Offering. We were able to send $6,951.50 with our high school student missionaries to support One More Child, a ministry in Costa Rica. Please continue to pray for the families and that our student missionaries made an eternal impact on their lives.

Enjoy this video!

Our last Noisy Offering of this school year will be going to support the ministry of Youth for Christ KIX summer programs in Homestead. Be on the lookout soon for how students can support this ministry!

Shop Dennis Uniforms at Discount Prices

4/5/2024

Dennis Uniforms is now offering a 50% discount on all Westminster logo items, plus an extra 15% off in store only discount with code 15MRFLS24. All items are available only while supplies last.

We encourage families to take advantage of this opportunity to shop Dennis Uniforms online or in person for their uniform needs. With full inventory available, all students are expected to follow Westminster's uniform guidelines.

Read the previous article Westminster Partners with All Uniform Wear for the 2024-25 School Year for full details.

HS: Are You Interested in Auditioning for Advanced Theatre Programs?

4/3/2024

High School students who are interested in auditioning for advanced theatre programs, get ready!

First, save the date.

High School Audition Date: Friday, April 26, from 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Second, sign up for an after-school audition spot:
High School Advanced Auditions Sign-Up Sheet

Third, prepare!

Prepare a one minute monologue and a :30 second to one minute of a musical theatre or pop song (no rap)

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to lplyler@wcsmiami.org, and make sure you tell your friends who are interested. Hope to see you there!

View Flyer

MS: Are You Interested in Auditioning for Advanced Theatre Programs?

4/3/2024

Middle School students who are interested in auditioning for advanced theatre programs, get ready!

First, save the date.

Middle School Audition Date: Wednesday, May 1, from 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Second, sign up for an after-school audition spot:
Middle School Advanced Auditions Sign-Up Sheet

Third, prepare!

Prepare a one minute monologue and a :30 second to one minute of a musical theatre or pop song (no rap)

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to lplyler@wcsmiami.org, and make sure you tell your friends who are interested. Hope to see you there!

View Flyer

Juniors: AIMS Invitational College Fair

4/2/2024

Juniors are expected to attend the AIMS College Fair on Sunday, April 14, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Miami, 400 SE Second Avenue in Miami. Parents are encouraged to attend.

The event is mandatory for all juniors. Click HERE to view directions and parking information. A special discounted parking rate of $15/vehicle is offered to event guests at the Miami Tower Garage.

For more information, please contact your college counselor.

Important Information About the Junior/Senior Brunch and Prom

4/2/2024

Tickets to the Junior/Senior Prom and to the Junior/Senior Brunch can be purchased via the school form banner on parent's myWCS account. Please enter the student's legal first and last name for the guest list.

The deadline to purchase tickets is April 15, 2024 at 3 p.m. These are student only events. Students are ineligible to attend the following events if they have been placed on academic, disciplinary, or attendance probation up to the date of the event.

Junior/Senior Brunch
Thursday, April 18
10 a.m. to Noon
Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove

The Class of 2025 and 2024 celebrate the passing of the torch from the seniors to the juniors in this Westminster tradition. The program is hosted by Student Leadership.
Tickets: $60/student

Junior/Senior Prom

April 20, 2024
Trump National
7 p.m. - 11 p.m. (Students may leave event at 10:45 p.m.)

The Class of 2025 and 2024 celebrate the school year in this Westminster tradition. Students will have dinner together and dance while making long lasting memories.

Tickets: $150/student

Learn About Boating and Water Safety at the Next Parent Partners Meeting

4/2/2024

Join us on Friday, April 5, at 8 a.m. in the Lighthouse to learn about Boating and Water Safety. The Parent Partners meeting will feature Major Alberto Maza from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Monica Burguera Foundation (MBF). Westminster parents and students may sign up for free boating classes from MBF after the meeting.

Important Graduation Information for Senior Families

3/22/2024

Congratulations on your child's upcoming graduation from Westminster Christian School! What a privilege it has been to see the students in the Class of 2024 discover who God created them to be, ready to conquer the world as ambassadors for Christ. God has blessed each with amazing gifts and talents, and they are ready to do great things.

Graduation will take place on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 11 a.m. at The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater, 1700 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Students need to arrive at the auditorium by 9:30 a.m. to line up for the ceremony. Choir, band, and orchestra seniors must arrive at 9 a.m. for rehearsal and sound check.

The doors will open for parents, families, and friends with tickets at 10:15 a.m. Please note that only ticket holders with assigned seats will be admitted. There is no general admission seating. Graduation will last approximately two hours.

Graduation tickets are available for pick up beginning Monday, April 8, in the HS Office (with Ms. Lorena Vicente), Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Each family will receive six (6) tickets at no cost with preassigned sections, rows, and seats. If you would rather your senior pick up the tickets, please email Ms. Lorena Vicente at lvicente@wcsmiami.org to provide permission to release the tickets to your child. Graduating seniors do not need tickets. All six tickets may be used for family and friends.

A lottery system will determine seat assignments. Additional seats may be purchased for a non-refundable $35 per ticket. Please note that these additional seats will be in a separate section from the six seats you were originally assigned. If anyone needs handicap-accessible seating, please email Ms. Lorena Vicente so that arrangements can be made.

Please mark your calendars with the following important dates leading up to graduation:

April 18	Junior/Senior Brunch	Ritz Carlton @ Coconut Grove
April 20	Prom	Trump Hotel @ Doral
April 30	Senior Awards Night	All seniors must attend as caps, gowns, and cords will be distributed this evening. Parents are invited to attend.
May 3	Last Day of Class & Senior Caravan	May 6-17: Seniors with AP exams are expected to report to the exams they are registered for and to class if there are pending tests/assignments.
May 17	Graduation Rehearsal & Senior Breakfast	Mandatory attendance for seniors on campus (students only)
May 18	Graduation Ceremony	The Fillmore at Miami Beach (11 a.m.) Ticket distribution will begin on Monday, April 8.

Please contact the High School Office if you have any questions or concerns.

PS/ES: What We Learned During Spiritual Emphasis Week

3/21/2024

This week, the preschool and elementary enjoyed Spiritual Emphasis Week.

Upstairs, students in grades 3-5 gathered to enjoy a wonderful time of worship and engaged with a creative presentation of the Gospel. Each day, they heard a new installment of an allegory written and presented by Mr. Bishop. In it, they uncovered and discussed the cost of our sin and the incredible blessing of freedom in Christ.

Downstairs in HUB1, students in preschool through second grade worshipped and read God’s Word together. They went on a "Journey to Jerusalem" to the very first Easter to learn about Jesus' last week on earth. What an emotional journey it has been as students learned about Palm Sunday, Maudy Thursday, Jesus' Crucifixion, and celebrated his Resurrection! Your children listened intently, asked thought-provoking Bible questions, and worshiped with whole hearts.

As your child/ren wrestle with the spiritual concepts brought up by this week, we encourage you to keep this life-changing conversation going as you celebrate Easter with your family and your church. Enjoy a safe and joyful Spring Break!

PS/ES/MS School Supply Lists Now Available

3/20/2024

The 2024-25 school supply lists for preschool, elementary and middle school are now available. Visit the Resources tab in myWCS to view the School Supplies Board, and review your child's full supply list by grade.

The elementary and middle school will once again offer the Teacher Tailored supply kits which provide pre-packaged boxes filled with most of the school supplies requested by your child’s teacher. Order from the comfort of your home and receive your items in one easy package!

Supply kits may be purchased online at www.shopttkits.com from April 2-May 31, 2024. Orders cannot be placed after that date.

Elementary School Order Number: 13536
Middle School Order Number: 25169

With the exception of "bulk" items, supply kits will be shipped directly to you by August 6. Bulk items may be picked up from the campus office on the first day of school.

Please note that purchasing your child's school supplies via the Teacher Tailored supply kits is not mandatory. Also, some required items (i.e. Bibles, water bottles and backpacks) may not be included in the pre-packaged kits. Please review your child's full school supply list for all required items.

Fulfilled

3/19/2024

by John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation

In Genesis 3:22 it says, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat and live forever. Therefore, the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.” At first glance, this is a strange result.

Adam and Eve are at their lowest and God banishes them from paradise in a final act of what?! What is God doing here?

For the longest time I didn’t understand this outcome. I didn’t think much about it either; It just kind of felt like the end of a story, “…and they lived miserably ever after…” or something like that. It was later in my walk with the Lord that I realized what a profound act of mercy this banishment actually was.

The consequence of eating the fruit was knowing good AND evil, whereas before the fruit we only knew good. If God allowed us to then reach out and take eternal life, we would exist for eternity knowing evil – that is not what He wanted for us. Death is introduced so that our suffering from evil (sin) could be limited to our lives on earth. And after that act, a drama unfolds through all human history depicting all of the ways that God has attempted to reach us and bring us back into a right relationship with him.

Noah builds an ark to rescue his family from the flood.
Abraham is promised a home in Canaan for his family who will outnumber the stars in heaven.
Joseph is sent to Egypt to protect his people from a famine.
Moses is empowered to rescue his people from slavery in Egypt and is then given the law to bind them as a people under God.
Esther is hand-picked in a special moment in history to ensure that the people of God endure.
David is sent as a king to unite and rule over the people and defend them against their enemies.
Judges and prophets are sent to guide the people according to the will of God.

And despite all of that we failed!

No matter what God did to lead us, rescue us, guide us, protect us, we all like sheep, went astray, each to his own way and turned our backs on God. All, that is, until Jesus, the lamb of God, went willingly to death, even death on a cross to fulfill the plan of God from the beginning, to reopen paradise and invite us into eternity with Him.

Information Regarding Junior Bootcamp & Service Day

3/18/2024

Today, juniors received their location, field trip form, and service day t-shirt. Please return the field trip form to Mrs. Walker on Tuesday, March 19.

On the day of community service, students should arrive at their location by 9 a.m. and will be dismissed at noon.

On the day of Junior Bootcamp, students will meet at 8 a.m. in The Lighthouse, in school uniform, with their SURFACE and charger. Students will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m.

If a student is scheduled for Community Service Day on Wednesday, March 20, he/she will attend Junior Bootcamp on Thursday, March 21. If a student is attending Community Service Day on Thursday, March 21, he/she will attend Junior Bootcamp on Wednesday, March 20.

For questions regarding Community Service Day, please see Mrs. Walker. For questions regarding Junior Bootcamp, please see your counselor.

Stuff the Truck: March 18-April 4

3/18/2024

As part of Spiritual Emphasis Week, middle and high school students are organizing an all-school collection to support organizations such as Chapman Partnership Homestead, Kristi House, Lotus House, and more. The goal is to "stuff a truck" with essential goods and deliver them to their respective locations.

Between March 18 and April 4, please donate lightly used clothes, shoes, toys, new diapers and/or underwear. View the flyer for grade specific information. In the middle school, donations may be dropped off with Mrs. Bishop or Ms. Reyes. Donation boxes will also be available in the high school concourse.

Important Senior Milestones and Information

3/15/2024

We are excited about the upcoming milestones as we near the end of senior year! Thank you for entrusting us with your children's education and growth. They have truly been a blessing to us, and we are thrilled to see them embark on their final journey as high school seniors. Below is a recap of yesterday’s assembly.

Senior Trip

Please review the itinerary to know flight information and daily activities. It has been posted in The Brief each week for the past month, and shared in the Senior Parent/Student Community Groups in myWCS. Students need to plan accordingly, be mindful of their dress attire, and pack wisely. It will be cold (expected temperatures are 30s through 50s), and there will be quite a bit of walking involved. Bring comfortable shoes. The students are allowed to check a bag for their flight; however, that is an independent cost and they must pay for it directly at the airport during the check-in process. We HIGHLY ENCOURAGE taking a carry-on bag and personal bag (i.e. bookbag) instead of checking in a large bag. If you have any questions or concerns about the senior trip, please contact Mr. Castaneda.

We are closely monitoring all updates in New York regarding subway transportation and will adjust accordingly as needed. We have booked a bus for transportation from airport to hotel on arrival day and from hotel to airport on departure day.

Seniors not participating in the Service Trip will be required to attend school on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, March 18, 19, and 22. Most classes are mixed-grades, so classes will still take place, and attendance matters. They are excused from school on Wednesday and Thursday, March 20 and 21, since juniors will have the CCC Boot Camp and Junior Service Day. Therefore, seniors not attending the service trip may miss school Wednesday and Thursday without affecting their attendance records.

Academic Reminders

On the academic front, we emphasized the importance of finishing strong. Maintaining their studies and GPA is crucial, and attendance remains a graduation requirement. We urge students to prioritize their academics and ensure they have met the minimum required community service hours for graduation (100 hours). If you have any academic concerns or require further guidance, please feel free to contact your child's counselor for support.

March 18-22	Senior Trip	Miami International Airport Last Names A-E Check-In: American Airlines Door 4 @ 5 a.m. Departure: AA1736 @ 7:03 a.m. Last Names F-Z Check-In: American Airlines Door 4 @ 7 a.m. Departure: AA1848 @ 9:01 a.m.
April 18	Junior/Senior Brunch	Ritz Carlton @ Coconut Grove
April 20	Prom	Trump Hotel @ Doral
April 30	Senior Awards Night	All Seniors must attend. Caps, gowns, and cords are being distributed at this event. Parents are invited.
May 3	Last Day of Class/Senior Caravan	May 6–17: Seniors with AP exams are expected to report to the exams they are registered for and to class if there are pending tests/assignments.
May 17	Graduation Rehearsal and Senior Breakfast	On Campus; Mandatory Attendance for Seniors (students only)
May 18	Graduation Ceremony	Fillmore @ Miami Beach Ticket distribution will begin after Spring Break.

Detailed information will be sent for each event separately. Thank you for your continued support and partnership in ensuring our seniors' success. If you have any questions or need more assistance, please contact us.

Boston College Tour Scheduled for September 2024

3/14/2024

We are excited to announce that the College Counseling Center is organizing a college tour to Boston scheduled for September 8-12, 2024.

View the flyer containing details regarding the trip and the application process that students must complete to express their interest in attending.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Suarez at msuarez@wcsmiami.org or Ms. Ndhlovu at ondhlovu@wcsmiami.org.

Purchase Tickets for the ES Father/Daughter Dance

3/14/2024

A special evening awaits fathers and daughters at the annual ES Father/Daughter Dance on Saturday, April 13, at 6:30 p.m. in the SAC. Students from PK3-Grade 5 will enjoy dancing, delicious food, and more. If the child's father is unable to attend, she is encouraged to attend with another adult.

Purchase Tickets

Check Your Child's Backpack for a Free Youth Fair Ticket

3/14/2024

Today in his/her backpack, your child will receive a free student pass to attend the Miami-Dade County Youth Fair, along with a parent discount as well. Be sure to look for it today!

PS/ES Chapel Update

3/13/2024

Thank you for supporting our thirrd quarter Noisy Offering! Our preschool and elementary students have raised over $5,000 for food baskets for families in need in Costa Rica through the ministry, One More Child. Several Westminster high school students are going on a mission trip to Costa Rica over Spring Break to support this ministry. Our students raised an additional $1,500 with donations from our Share the Love Spirit Week to supply children in Costa Rica with books and supplies they need. In just a few weeks, our students raised over $6,500 in support of this ministry. Praise God! We are so proud of their mission-mindedness and willingness to love and support others in need. Thank you for encouraging your child to pray and participate. Please pray for the offering to bless the families and for the safety and experience of our high school missionary students!

PS/ES Field Day Takes Place on March 22

3/12/2024

The PS/ES Field Day is on Friday, March 22, 2024 at the following times and locations:

Preschool (8:15 a.m.-9 a.m.) – East Side of the Gutierrez Field by the Nature Center and Wild Acre
K5-2nd Grade (9 a.m.-10:20 a.m.) – Gutierrez Field
3rd-5th Grade (11:45 a.m.-2:15 p.m.) – HS Main Field on the North Side of Campus

Field Day is a great opportunity to come out and enjoy time with your child and their classmates as they engage in physical activities that develop community and sportsmanship.

Parents of students in K-5th Grade are welcome to join us for lunch. We will be providing hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, cookies and water for students and parents wishing to join us that day. If parents want to have a picnic lunch with their child, you may bring a blanket to sit at the ES Field, select a picnic table or sit inside the SAC at the designated tables. You may only pull your own child to sit with you for lunch and supervise them while in your care. Students are not allowed to play on the ES Field, ES Basketball Court or ES Playground while having lunch with their parent. Students not having lunch with their parent will be supervised by their classroom assistants in the SAC.

If you plan to join us for lunch, please click here to complete the lunch questionnaire.

(Must be submitted by Friday, March 15, 2024.)

We are looking forward to our Field Day event and lunch opportunity!

Complimentary Scoliosis Screening

3/12/2024

Westminster's Health Office, in conjunction with Scholar Screenings, Inc., will be conducting complimentary Scoliosis screenings on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 to detect children with curvature of the spine.

The procedure for screening is simple. Trained screeners examine the child’s back as he/she bends forward. If the child has a possible curvature, parents will be notified so they can be taken to the family physician, pediatrician, or orthopedist for a follow-up examination.

If you do not wish to have your child participate in this program, please email the school nurses at healthoffice@wcsmiami.org by Friday, March 15, 2024.

The Thorns

3/12/2024

by John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation

Next week we will be celebrating the story of Easter - the central story of all human history. In the article next week, we will focus on how Jesus is the fulfillment of a story God has been telling from the beginning of time. As a setup to this climactic story, we have been outlining different symbols and images used in Scripture. We’ve already discussed the tree and the garden. Today we’ll look at the thorns.

Without the saving work of Jesus, sin rules our lives. And there are consequences to sin that cannot be avoided or erased. The Bible describes these consequences by using the imagery of the thorns. In Genesis 3:17-19 we read, “God said to Adam, Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’” “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

How many times have you poured your heart into something only to see some of your effort wasted? You practiced all summer but didn’t make the team. You spent six months saving, but by the time you had enough, it was out of style. You invested time and effort into the relationship only to be betrayed. Thorns!

We are so accustomed to the effect of sin that we even anticipate failure in our planning process. Airlines over-sell their seats because people don’t show (and maybe because of greed, too). If you’re smart, you have a contingency plan anytime you’re counting on someone following through. When you’re saving for retirement, you must account for inflation. You must carry insurance on everything. Thorns!!

This is not the way God intended it. He put us in paradise without need or lack. It was sin that introduced brokenness and wasted effort. It’s not work that we hate; it’s wasted effort. Work isn’t even the curse, it’s the thorns.

Important Information for Seniors Not Attending Service Trip

3/8/2024

Seniors not participating in the Service Trip will be required to attend school on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, March 18, 19, and 22. Most classes are mixed-grades, so school will still take place, and attendance matters. They are excused from school on Wednesday and Thursday, March 20 and 21, since juniors will have the CCC Boot Camp and Junior Service Day. Therefore, seniors not attending the service trip may miss Wednesday and Thursday without affecting their attendance records.

Course Selection Guides Due March 11

3/8/2024

The 2024-25 course selection forms for sixth and seventh grade students must be completed, signed by a parent, and submitted to the homeroom teacher by no later than Monday, March 11.

View Course Offering Guide

The Garden

3/8/2024

by John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation

Last week we discussed our hearts (our will, motivations, thoughts, and decision-making center). We do the things we don’t want to do and don’t do the things we should do. The Bible calls this sin, and we all must deal with its effects in our lives. Instead of being Wholehearted, we are Hole-hearted. Then we looked at the problem and the solution using the image of “the tree.” This week we want to look at our hole-heartedness through a different lens, that of “the garden.”

There are certain places we find ourselves (or put ourselves) that make doing the right thing much more difficult. There are also certain places where the possibility of something bad happening is much more likely, like South Beach after dark, for example. But we need to be careful giving too much credit to the place (context/circumstances) for how it affects our life.

For example, we all know people who’ve come through bad places but made something very good of those experiences. We have also known people who have been given every advantage and have, nevertheless, ended up in a rough spot. How our heart chooses to direct us, regardless of where we are, is the central issue in navigating our lives.

Consider the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:1-5 says, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’””

There could not have been a better place to be. It was literally paradise. Everything was provided in abundance, even meaningful work. There was no brokenness, sin, shame, addiction, natural disasters, just God’s perfect creation. And in that context, Adam and Eve were hole-hearted. Even though they lacked nothing, they felt something was missing. The hole in their heart caused them to exert their will and take what was not theirs, even in a place where they had no need. This one act introduced sin to all of humanity.

WCS Nature Ambassadors Present: Green Challenge 2024

3/8/2024

Hello Warriors!

We are so excited to announce our very first Green Challenge. Please click here to learn how you and your child(ren) can participate at home and what you can do to earn points. Mr. Heetderks will be sharing more during his WorldWonder classes. Please join us in learning more about God's Creation, loving what he created for us to enjoy and sharing what we experience!

Please email Mrs. Glavach with any questions you may have.

Wandering Through WorldWonder: Chapter 7

3/6/2024

Discovering Others’ Stories

Read Chapter 7

King, the goat, is different from Mac and Mica. They all discover this in Chapter 7 and have a good laugh about it. That’s not usually the way it goes, though. For many of us, meeting someone new can be intimidating, especially if they’re different. This tension plays itself out all the time in school as kids work through the process of developing friendships and affinity groups.

We can’t navigate through life successfully only spending time with people we feel comfortable around. We must learn how to connect with a wider range of people.

Mac’s tactless approach (asking about King’s big belly) is not the ideal method for identifying others’ differences, but at least he wasn’t judgmental or critical. Kids are funny like that. They haven’t mastered the subtle socially acceptable behaviors so they just say what they’re thinking.

Even though we can’t follow the same strategy, we can still learn from this kind of honesty and authenticity. Kids are explorers by design. They are curious about the world around them, including the people in it, and they wonder about things that are different. This child-like faith-filled approach to others, this willingness to look past the things that make us different, is a necessary foundation of making disciples for Christ.

As Christians we have been commanded by God to seek and to save the lost, to go into all the world making disciples, and to spread the message of the good news of Jesus. We cannot fulfill this command AND only spend time with people we already know and feel comfortable with.

After all, when you take away all the complexity of our day-to-day lives most people, no matter how different they may appear, are looking for the same things: something to eat, people to know and love, and a safe place to sleep. Providing this for the people we already know and love is our duty; being willing to extend this to strangers is our divine privilege as Christians.

This week in chapel I illustrated how our differences are often our advantage and when we recognize and honor each other’s strengths we make better teams.

One meaningful way you might support this teaching at home is to share your story with your child(ren). Tell them, for example, what your parents had to sacrifice to get to the United States, or how you always loved baseball as a kid. Talk about the things you struggle with and things you love. Perhaps they know the stories already, but, trust me, they want to hear them again. We all have unique histories, heritages, and experiences and as you share your story with your child(ren), their uniqueness begins to shine as well.

Congratulations to our Westminster Writing Warriors!

3/2/2024

Congratulations to our Writing Warriors this quarter!

Join Us for the Mother/Son Game Night!

3/1/2024

Join us for the Mother/Son Game Night on Friday, April 12 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the SAC. This fun-filled event is about moms creating fun memories with their sons. Students from preschool through fifth grade will enjoy fun games, delicious food, and more alongside their mother or special guest.

Click HERE to purchase tickets.

Order Your Class Picture for Free School Delivery

2/29/2024

Information on how to order a class group picture was emailed to parents by Steckley. Place your class picture order by Friday, March 14, at 5 p.m. to receive free school delivery.

📸 Can't find the email? Please search your email for "Steckley" and check your spam folder. If you still cannot locate the email, please email steckleyphoto@gmail.com with your child's name, school and grade.

Fifth Grade Parents: Join Us for "Transition to Middle School Parenting"

2/29/2024

Fifth grade parents, you're invited to attend "Transition to Middle School Parenting" on Friday, March 8, at 8 a.m. in the Nature Center with the Westminster counselors.

Also, mark your calendar for these important dates as your student transitions to middle school.

March 5, 2024 – Middle School Counselor Yeni Dumas meets with 5^th grade students.
March 5, 2024 – Middle School Curriculum Guides are sent home.
March 11, 2024 – Completed and signed Middle School Curriculum Guides are due.

The Tree

2/28/2024

by John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation

There seems to be something wrong with our hearts (that is, our will, motivations, thoughts, and decision-making centers). This shows up in our life all the time. For example, we struggle to follow through, even when it’s something we want to do. Then when we give it our best effort, we often fall short. We love things we shouldn’t and resist things that are good. We get angry, tired, distracted, bored and then instead of taking ownership and doing better, we blame, get bitter and resentful and multiply hurt to ourselves and others. The Bible calls this sin, and we all must deal with its effects!

Instead of being wholehearted we are hole-hearted.

The Bible gives us a helpful image to understand both the problem and the solution to our hole-heartedness: “the tree.”

Consider how the image of a tree works its way through Scripture. There are no wasted words in the Bible.

There was a tree planted in the garden of Eden. In Genesis 2:17 it says, “But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” The obvious question you might want to ask is, “Why did God put it there?” It’s a good question! But be careful, asking it can quickly become a way to blame God for our behavior. Here’s another question to ask, after God made the consequences so clear, why did Adam and Eve do exactly what He told them not to? Why do we?

There are many times in our lives that we know full well the consequences of the decisions we’re about to make. We’ve made the same decision before and suffered the same way every time. Yet, when faced with the decision again, we ignore the consequences and do it anyway. Then we get mad at God and others for putting the “tree” there.

Mark Your Calendar: Register for After School Clubs

2/27/2024

You can now register for after school clubs. You may click here to begin.

Click here for the elementary after school club welcome letter.

Click here to browse the after school club guide.

Students Invited to Jesuit Excellence College Tour

2/22/2024

Juniors, sophomores and freshmen are invited to join the College Counseling Center for a Jesuit Excellence College Tour on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 1 p.m. in the high school gym. The following schools will be in attendance:

Le Moyne College
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola New Orleans
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Maryland
Marquette University
Saint Joseph's University
Saint Louis University
Spring Hill College
University of San Francisco
University of Scranton
Xavier University of Ohio
Fairfield University

Networking 101: How to Create a LinkedIn Profile

2/16/2024

If you missed the networking presentation for junior students, click here to learn how to create an account on LinkedIn.

PS/ES Chapel Update: Love Like Jesus

2/14/2024

We have been learning about different character traits that are important to God – traits that the Bible tells us should also be important to us. So far, we know that God wants us to be obedient. God wants us to be mission-minded. This week we learned another biblical character trait--loving! God so loved the world that he sent his son, Jesus, to die for each one of us so that we could have eternal life.

He loves all of us. He loves us before we believe in Him. He loves us even if we don’t believe in Him. While Jesus was here on earth, he taught us how to love God and love others. We are all called to love God, and we show that love by loving others. How well do you do that? We all do it in different ways, but this week let’s be intentional with loving others and a good example to our children. Join us in showing God’s love by loving like Jesus!

Junior Parent Night: College Admission Presentation

2/14/2024

Join the College Counseling Center for a special presentation for junior parents about the college admission process. The presentation will take place in The Lighthouse on Wednesday, February 28, at 6:30 p.m.

The One

2/13/2024

by John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation

The formula for building a satisfying and life-long marriage does not primarily hinge on picking the right person.

If that sentence causes you to bristle a little, I get it. It directly contradicts a popular idea about relationships that suggests there is someone out there who perfectly “fits” you, and all you need to do is find them and you will know, “They’re the one.” We all long for a, ‘happily ever after,’ and it would be awesome if it could simply be found. This romantic idea makes for a touching movie plot, and maybe a sentimental anniversary card, but it is not biblical; it is not even realistic.

Here are some statistics about marriages in the U.S.: 41% of first marriages in the U.S. end in divorce. For second marriages it’s 60%, and 73% of third marriages end in divorce. And yet, no one shows up at the altar to get married because they’re hoping to suffer a lot of pain! What’s going on here? Most of us have been deeply affected by broken marriages. It is painful, disruptive, and costly on every level.

Here’s the sobering reality: you cannot enter the most important human relationship you will ever have with a short-term, shallow, romantic, fleeting, ideological sentiment. And you cannot experiment with sex and sexuality, the glue that is intended to hold this most central relationship together, without consequences. It’s going to take everything you and your future spouse have to make it work, and it will still be hard. The Bible does not pull any punches on describing the level of commitment required in marriage.

Genesis 2:24 says, “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”

You cannot get anymore committed than, “one flesh.”

Jesus was asked about marriage and divorce, in Matthew 19:2-9, here’s what He said,

“Some Pharisees came to test Him. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” they inquired. “What did Moses command you?” He replied. They answered, “Moses permitted a man to write his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away.”

But Jesus told them, “Moses wrote this commandment for you because of your hardness of heart. However, from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

So, what can we take from Jesus’ teaching about the answer to our issues in marriage and intimacy, i.e., what is the thing that a satisfying, life-long marriage primarily hinges on? Well, it is NOT some squishy idea about finding the one. All human relationships and interactions have the potential to be enriching, fulfilling, enlightening, fun, challenging, satisfying etc. The thing that moves any relationship in this direction is commitment! This is most essentially true in marriage where we take it all the way to the level of a spiritual covenant with vows and everything.

Mark Your Calendar for Mother/Son and Father/Daughter Events

2/12/2024

Mark your calendar for these exciting upcoming events open to students from preschool through fifth grade:

Mother/Son Game Night
Friday, April 12
6 p.m.
SAC

Father/Daughter Dance
Saturday, April 13
6:30 p.m.
SAC

Ticket links and more information coming soon!

Purchase Tickets to "Into the Woods!" - March 7 & 8

2/9/2024

The Westminster High School Theatre Program proudly presents its production of INTO THE WOODS on Thursday and Friday, March 7 and 8, at 7 p.m. in The Lighthouse Theater.

Embark on a magical journey with a whimsical and enchanting musical where fairy tales come to life. Join us for an evening of laughter, lessons, and Christian values as our talented students bring these timeless stories to the stage. Don't miss the magic – join us for "Into the Woods" and be inspired by the joy of storytelling with a twist!

PURCHASE TICKETS

Soulmates

2/9/2024

by John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation

Have you ever met someone and after a brief interaction felt like you’d known them for years? Maybe they love the same sports or have read the same books. Maybe you found out some little things you have in common like playing dungeons and dragons or playing pranks on others. Maybe you share a birthday, or your families come from the same country or hometown or neighborhood. When you meet someone like this, there is an instant connection, like you’ve found a long-lost sibling. You might call a person like this your soulmate.

There is something profound and powerful about being with someone you can relate to and connect with at this level. Being known and understood is a deep, deep desire of our heart and a person like this often leaves us feeling known and loved. Do you have a soulmate?

I think there is a romanticized idea floating around saying there is a soulmate out there for all of us. But is that a realistic idea? We’ve all stood in grocery store checkout lines to see the tabloid covers advertising the latest breakups and dramas playing out between famous people who just a year ago had been labeled as soulmates.

What’s going on here? Who’s lying to us and what’s their aim? For the tabloid editors the motive seems clear, to sell magazines and make money. Maybe it’s easy to dismiss their use of soulmate to make a buck. But what do we do about our own genuine experience of betrayal, our wounds, and the times we’ve been abandoned by those we at one time thought of as soulmates?

Wandering Through WorldWonder: Chapter 6

2/9/2024

What’s in the Box

Read Chapter 6

In Chapter 6 Mica begins to feel comfortable in her newly discovered independence. She meets a new friend and is willing to go exploring with him a little. She also discovers a doorway that leads into the unknown. These are representative of the important milestones we look for in our own kids’ development.

If your child is the kind of kid who would hide behind your leg and cling to you with desperate fear whenever someone said hello, then perhaps you can appreciate at a deeper level the victory being illustrated in Mica’s progress.

It is not our job as parents to turn our kids into our expectation for them, but instead through prayer and a personal devotion to God we hope to understand who He has made them to be and steward their experiences the best we can to lead them toward His expectations for them. I hope this chapter serves you as a parent as you lead your child(ren) toward independence, adventure, and reliance on God.

We all need to have the courage to step into the unknown, and just like Mica, we are often blocked from pursuing growth and progress by some steps we need to learn how to climb. As a fun way of illustrating this principle, consider recreating the game we played in chapel this week with your kids, WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

Here’s what the kids experienced in Chapel this week: a few kids were invited to play a game called, “What’s in the Box?” There were three boxes covered with clothes with holes in them. Without peaking they had to reach their hand into the box and feel what was in the bowl.

If they did not guess correctly, they were awarded a prize for their courage. If they were able to guess what was in the box, they were given a reward for their courage, and a second reward for their accurate guess.

It was a simple illustration used to demonstrate the need for courage. Like Mica, our kids need to trust God. This idea is found in our verse for the year, Psalm 86:11, “Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.” Written into this verse is the need for faith in God. Faith, as defined in Hebrews 11, is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we cannot see. We cannot have faith without being willing to reach out and trust him.

It’s difficult to let go of the comfort of what’s known and reach out into the unknown, but the growth we need and the growth we need for our kids will be found in faith.

8th Grade Parent Meeting

2/2/2024

Parents are encouraged to attend an informational meeting on Monday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. in The Lighthouse regarding the Washington, D.C. trip.

Immediately after the meeting, the College Counseling Center will also share important information about high school course selection.

MS Students Selected to Attend Vanderbilt Summer Academy

2/1/2024

The Vanderbilt Program for Talented Youth is an exceptional opportunity for academically talented and motivated students to explore accelerated instruction in custom courses from Vanderbilt University faculty and graduate students. We are proud to recognize Gabriela Handel and Talena Rivera for their acceptance to this distinguished and competitive summer program. Their acceptance is an honor for our academic community.

The residential Vanderbilt Summer Academy (VSA) for rising 7th and 8th graders will take place June 9-14, 2024. The program offers eight specialized courses ranging from "Urban Transportation & Data Analytics" to "Engineering the Human Body: From Health to Disease." Dr. Leslie Seidel, 7th grade English teacher, presented this prestigious opportunity to her students, and she met with interested students to advise them concerning the application process. Many thanks to Principal Manoogian, Mrs. Dumas, and the Westminster Middle School faculty for providing letters of recommendation and support for our student applicants. Further information for the VSA can be found here.

Girls Soccer: K5 and Grade 1

1/31/2024

Spring sports begin February 21, after Winter Break.

Our ES Athletic program is designed to nurture essential soccer skills while also having fun! We believe in the power of teamwork. Your student will learn to pass, kick, and work together as a team. It's not just about goals; it's about creating memories at a young age. Practices are held on the ES field on Tuesday and Thursday directly after school and led by Coach Tony. Our team also plays against other local schools on the weekend at either Coral Reef Park of Miami Dades Kendall Campus.

Register today!

PS/ES Chapel Update

1/31/2024

Are you raising a mission-minded child? Someone who has a heart and mind for spreading God’s love to others through their words and actions? This week in chapel we learned about Paul and how he had a huge change of heart and became dedicated to being a missionary for Jesus.

We had some high school students share with us about their upcoming mission trip to Costa Rica. They will be working with the ministry One More Child. This is the ministry we are supporting through our Noisy Offering this quarter. We are supporting their food basket program which costs $35 a week per family. So far we have raised $2,765 – enough for 79 food baskets!

Please pray for our high school students as they prepare for this mission trip over Spring Break and while they are there. And pray for all of our children, that they would have a heart for serving God. Thank you for your support for this ministry and for inspiring your child to be mission-minded!

MS Kickball Tournament Cancelled

1/31/2024

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Middle School Kickball Tournament scheduled for February 3 has been cancelled. If you and your family registered for the event, you will receive a refund for tickets purchased. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Besties

1/30/2024

by John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation

What makes someone your bestie? Common interests? Similar outlooks on life? Your families have been friends your whole lives? Trust? Or maybe it’s something less innocent like peer pressure, proximity, or guilt. There are a lot of complicated reasons why we choose to spend time with people; why we might throw around a term like Bestie.

Relationships are central to most everything we do and think about. From the moment we’re born and look up to our parents, and every day after, our lives are filled with relationships. We are bound to each other, for better or worse. Because of this it is important to formulate our beliefs about relationships. So how do we think about what we want from others and what do we think about our responsibility to others? And where do we turn to formulate these beliefs?

I think most of us would say that what we want from our bestie is to be acknowledged. To be seen, known, understood, loved, accepted, treated justly and kindly etc. But, often, even with our best friends, this is not always the case. You get (or at least feel) rejected. You must navigate complicated situations where being associated with one person gets you in trouble with another. Loyalties shift, interests wane, tensions arise, people change. This catches us off guard because it’s not what’s presented on social media feeds, movies, and music. Even though the closing scene of Grease shows Sandy and Danny riding into the sunset like everything is going to work out, we all know that the drama will continue tomorrow. It always does.

Preschool Soccer Starting at PK4

1/26/2024

Our ES Athletic program is designed to nurture essential soccer skills while also having fun! We believe in the power of teamwork. Your student will learn to pass, kick, and work together as a team. It's not just about goals; it's about creating memories at a young age. Practices are held on the ES field on Monday and Wednesday directly after school and led by Coach Ale and Coach Ty. Our preschool team also plays against other local schools on the weekend at either Coral Reef Park of Miami Dades Kendall Campus.

Space is limited. Register today.

Join Us for the Annual Middle School Kickball Tournament!

1/26/2024

Calling all middle school parents and their children to join us for a day of fun at the Middle School Kickball Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Gutierrez Field and in the SAC.

Have fun playing slip 'n slide kickball and backyard games, and enjoy shaved ice, a barbecue lunch and more! The cost to join the fun is $10/person.

Register and Pay Online Today

Check-in begins at 10 a.m. Games begin promptly at 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch. See you there!

PS/ES Chapel Update

1/26/2024

Do you like to listen and obey? It is easier for some of us than others! In chapel we will be learning biblical character traits (through stories and people in the Bible) that God wants to develop in each of us. This week we learned about OBEDIENCE through the story of Noah. Noah gave his whole heart to God and did everything just as God commanded him. . . even when no one else did. Ask your child if it is easy for him/her to obey. How can you help them develop this important biblical trait?

Read this article to learn more about teaching your children to WANT to obey.

The Best Cardio

1/26/2024

by John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation

I think if you ask 10 people what the best cardio exercise is you will get 10 different answers, and you might get a lot more information than you bargained for. In fact, I typed, “The best cardio” into Google to see what might come up and there was an endless list of options. Of course, that’s because there are endless ways to get your body moving and your heart pumping. It also depends on your goals. If you want to lose weight, that’s very different from if you’re trying to build muscle while decreasing your BMI.

There is, after all, a wide gap between HIIT and dance classes, but both activities will get your heart pumping, both are great cardio options. You can swim, run, do burpees, row, jump rope, get a membership in a climbing gym, walk around your block briskly, or go to bootcamp to join the Marines. Every one of these activities will get your heart pumping and will benefit you physically.

But with all our focus on health, fitness, and physique, have we forgotten that our hearts are more than a muscle?

Have you ever been startled by something and discovered that your heart was racing? Have you ever held your breath and found after a little while that your heart was pounding in your ears? Have you ever had a near miss in traffic and experienced that flood of adrenaline and struggled to “calm your nerves.”

Your physical heart is connected to your emotions, thoughts, relationships, successes and failures, fears, and hormones. Your heart beats like you’d just done ten burpees even while you’re sitting on a roller coaster or laid back in a soft chair in a movie theater.

Considering all of this, I think we need to aim a little deeper when considering the question, “What’s the best cardio?” If you strengthen the muscle of your heart so you can run a marathon, but you never deal with the strife at home, you won’t have peace. Maybe you can sprint to the top of the stadium steps ten times in a row without slacking your pace, but how does your heart do when it’s rejected by your best friend? Perhaps you’ve had success trimming the inches on your waistline, but do you trust God with your finances, safety, and future?

Watch Now: Protecting Our Youth From Human Trafficking and Other Dangers

1/26/2024

Westminster's Parent Partners hosted a panel discussion titled, "Protecting Our Youth From Human Trafficking and Other Dangers." If you were unable to attend, you may click here to watch the panel discussion now.

Click below for supporting documents:

Sextortion: What Parents Should Know

Protecting Your Kids Online

Parents' Guide to Smartphone Safety

Internet Safety at Home

Gaming Safely

Model United Nations Conference: March 1-2

1/24/2024

The Model United Nations Conference takes places on Friday and Saturday, March 1 and 2, and is an excellent opportunity for interested students who are beginners or new to the program. The event is open to students from grades 7 through 12 and takes place at Palmer Trinity School.

If interested in participating, please contact Ms. Hamming by February 15 to sign up. Limited spots are available.

Heart Rate Monitor

1/19/2024

by John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation

I got frustrated the other day after realizing that I’d forgotten to turn on Strava before the three-mile walk I’d just finished. I said out loud in frustration, “I don’t get credit if it’s not tracked!” The people I was with laughed at me, rightfully so.

On the other hand, I find that tracking metrics like distance, speed, or reps is an essential part of building and maintaining an effective fitness plan. And when I look back on my week, it helps me to stay more consistent if I’ve tracked what I’ve done. For me, I don’t know if I’m pushing myself to an appropriate stress level if I don’t know how far, how fast, or how many I did last time.

A few years ago, I was training for a big race and picked up a book I thought might be helpful called The Triathletes Training Bible, By Joe Friel. You’ll need to read the book to get accurate technical details, but here’s one of the things I took away from it: to build endurance you need to maintain peak exertion over a set distance largely independent of time. And central to all his biometrics is an accurate heart rate.

If you walk three miles and your heart rate never picks up, then you can say you had a nice stroll. You can celebrate that you were active, and perhaps the casual walk is significantly better than sitting in a desk chair with respect to overall health choices, so it is an unequivocal success! On the other hand, if you walk three miles today and your heart rate skyrockets – your Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin, Vital or whatever reads 125 bpm, that is an entirely different story! You are working hard, and your body is telling you through your heart rate that it is responding to accommodate the effort.

Wandering Through WorldWonder: Chapter 5

1/19/2024

Read Chapter 5: Rubber Boots and Bubbles

Back in chapter 2, while Mr. Heetderks (who represents God in this story) is carrying Mac away from the firepit, he turns back to Mica and says, “Come on Mica, you don’t need to stay up there, I think. You can come back with me. After we get your brother settled, I can give you the tour around WorldWonder.” He makes a promise to Mica in chapter 2 that he fulfills in chapter 5. God always keeps His promises!

In chapter 3, however, Mica has to face Doc, a Burmese python who represents evil. In chapter 4 she is left behind in the Nature Center and struggles with insecurity, feeling like she has been abandoned. Mica is facing a reality that we all must navigate - the gap!

There is a gap between when God makes His promise to us and when He keeps it, and that gap can feel very wide. Learning to rely on God’s faithfulness, like our verse for the year (Psalm 86:11) instructs, requires us to hold onto God’s promise even while we face evil and feel abandoned.

As parents, we are going to let our kids down, it cannot be avoided. As fantastic as our faculty and staff are and as amazing as Westminster is, it is inevitable that we will make mistakes and get it wrong sometimes. Your kids likely have wonderful friends, but it is inevitable that friends will sometimes say and do mean things and your kids will face rejection and disappointment. This is the normal experience of life. We don’t like it, and we campaign to change it, but it will never change. We are not God. When we make a promise, we don’t always keep it.

PS/ES Chapel Update

1/12/2024

The Bible tells us to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, and soul; and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We learned this week that we can do that by being generous - with our money, time, talents, hugs, smiles, kindness, and prayers. The PS and ES students have been incredibly generous in supporting our Second Quarter Noisy Offering. We raised $4,658.50 for PET carts and are changing the lives of those without mobility!

Our Third Quarter Noisy Offering will be supporting One More Child, a ministry in Costa Rica. Mr. Lopez will be leading a group of high school students on mission trip to support this ministry over Spring Break. For $35, we can provide a food basket to feed a family in need. Let's see how many families we can feed! Our fourth graders are already off to an amazing start by collecting $215 in the first two days - enough to feed six families!

Learn more HERE.

Change of Heart

1/10/2024

by John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation

One of the great challenges we face in achieving our goals is inconsistency. Here’s the pattern: you lay out a good goal. “I’m going to work out!” “I’m going to do better in math.” “I’m going to spend less time on social media.”

Then you start with great momentum. Somewhere along the way, however, you miss a workout. Maybe you got injured and had to take a break, maybe you stayed out too late and couldn’t get up, or maybe something more enticing distracted you. Whatever the reason, now your perfect streak is an inconsistent one, the beginning of the end - it’s so much easier to stop altogether once you’ve practiced stopping once.

You start by getting all your homework done for math and a couple weeks later you’ve reverted to your old habits.

You deleted Snapchat and Instagram, but then a friend told you a story and you just had to see, so you reinstalled them…the beginning of the end!

This is true in our spiritual pursuits as well. You might come back from a beautiful Christmas service with a strong desire to be closer to God. You start praying every day and commit to being in church more. You make it a week, two weeks, a month, but inevitably something happens.