News

As I write this, I’m sitting on a dock along the Intracoastal Waterway in Palm Coast. It’s a beautiful, sunny morning. The breeze is cool, water birds glide quietly by, and everything feels peaceful and calm. I have three healthy kids, a beautiful wife, and a job I love at Westminster Christian School, a place committed to honoring Jesus. I live in what I truly believe is the best city in the best state in the country. My needs are met, and many of my desires have been fulfilled.

This—all of this—is God’s grace.

Just two days ago, as we were driving home from school, I was recounting a very different scene from our lives to my boys. Before we adopted Micah, we had adopted another baby. He had been with us for six days when his birth mother changed her mind about going through with the adoption and took him back. When the adoption agency came to pick him up, my son Jeremiah, who was three and a half at the time, walked into the room and asked, “Can I hold him one last time?”

That was one of the most gut-wrenching moments I’ve experienced as a father—grappling with my own grief while trying to be strong for my child. And yet, that too was God’s grace.

There’s something sacred about suffering shared. It creates an unbreakable bond. God led us through that valley, and our life, our faith, and our family are richer because of it.

Have you taken the time to reflect on your life—the joys and the sorrows—and recognized how God’s grace has been present in every step? Are you truly grateful for His grace, even in the hard places?

Because the grace that carries us through peace and plenty... is the same grace that sustains us through heartbreak and loss. And that grace never runs out.

Honoring Our Heroes

Gold Leaves and Harmonies

• PK3 – Grade 1: Meet at The Lighthouse
• Grades 2 – 3: Go directly to your grandchild’s homeroom classroom
• Grades 4 – 5: Meet at the Student Activities Center (SAC)

Time	Grade Level	Activity	Location
8:10-8:35	PK3-Grade 1	Chapel	Lighthouse
	Grades 2/3	Class Activity	Homeroom Classrooms
	Grades 4/5	SAC Activity	SAC
8:45-9:10	PK3/PK4	Class Activity	Homeroom Classrooms
	Kindergarten/Grade 1	SAC Activity	SAC
	Grades 2/3	Chapel	Lighthouse
	Grades 4/5	Class Activity	Homeroom Classrooms
9:15-9:40	Kindergarten/Grade 1	Class Activity	Homeroom Classrooms
	Grades 2/3	SAC Activity	SAC
	Grades 4/5	Chapel	Lighthouse

One of the marks of maturity is growing awareness of our motives and intentions. An immature response to life’s events tends to focus on immediate wants, urges, and emotions. A mature response, however, considers consequences, impact, and the deeper “why” behind our actions.

If we’re paying attention, we begin to see that our motives are often not as pure as we’d like to believe—or as we try to present to others. It takes real courage to admit when we desire the wrong things, or even the right things for the wrong reasons. And it takes even more courage to enter the long, difficult process of examining and uprooting outdated mindsets—so they can be reshaped to look more like Christ.

In this work of transformation, our hearts aren’t neutral companions. Scripture reminds us that “the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9). Left unchecked, our inner voice will lead us astray. We also need to be on guard in seeking the advice and perspective of others. When we need advice, we often turn to our peers, but though they are convenient, are they wise? It is a rare person who will tell you what you need to hear, especially when you don’t want to hear it. Perhaps, that’s not even what we want when we turn to our friends, is there a chance you turn to your peers because you know they’ll agree with your point of view?

Growing up is not an easy process, but you’re not alone— and you’re not without hope. You don’t have to give in to the cunning of your own heart or the persuasion of your peers. Instead, you can embrace the gift of knowing Jesus as your guide. His Spirit leads us in truth, shapes our desires, and offers us the grace to become who we were always meant to be.

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Students, please register for a visit in your SCOIR account.

JV/Varsity Wrestling
November 10, 6:30 p.m., Wrestling Room

MS Wrestling
November 10, 6 p.m., Wrestling Room

High school students are invited to participate in the 2026 Costa Rica Mission Trip on March 18-22. 

The Master's Plan

Class of 2026 Roadmap
Date	Event	Location	Price (if any)
February 26, 2026	*Junior/Senior Ring Ceremony at 7 p.m.	The Lighthouse	Varies by Ring
March 12-15, 2026	Senior Trip	Boston and Maine	$2199
April 11, 2026	Junior/Senior Prom at 7 p.m.	Trump Doral	$180/person
April 17, 2026	Junior/Senior Brunch at 10:30 a.m.	Rusty Pelican	$75/person
April 28, 2026	*Senior Chapel at 12:45 p.m.	The Lighthouse	N/A
April 28, 2026	*Senior Brick Laying Ceremony	The Memorial Fountain	N/A
April 28, 2026	*Senior Cords & Awards Ceremony at 7 p.m.	The Lighthouse	N/A
April 30, 2026	College Decision Day	N/A	N/A
May 1, 2026	Last Day of Class for Seniors  (AP Exams May 4-15)	N/A	N/A
May 1, 2026	*Senior Caravan and Family Fun	HS Concourse	N/A
May 14, 2026	Graduation Rehearsal, 8 a.m.	SAC	N/A
May 15, 2026	*Graduation Ceremony at 6 p.m.	Knight Concert Hall, Adrienne Arsht Center	6 Comp Tickets

Gold Leaves and Harmonies

Honoring Our Heroes

⭐️ HIGH SCHOOL ⭐️

Varsity Girls' Basketball

October 27
@ 5:30 p.m.
Main Gym

October 28
@ 5:30 p.m.
SAC

Varsity Boys' Basketball

October 29
@ 5:30 p.m.
Main Gym

October 30
@ 5:30 p.m.
Main Gym

JV/Varsity Wrestling

November 10
6 p.m.
Wrestling Room

What an incredible Book Fair week! Thanks to everyone who volunteered, shopped and rounded up, we reached a gross revenue of $19,562.37. That’s nearly $9,000 for Westminster to spend on new books for the Hub and classroom libraries!

Through “Share the Fair” rounding up, we raised $256, which our Be the ’Lil Light chapter used to purchase books for the Christmas Book Drive benefiting CARE Elementary.

Your support keeps our community reading, sharing, and shining bright!

Much of our relationship with God—like much of life—is often experienced in solitude, not in public. Think for a moment about how much time you spend alone or even surrounded by others yet still lost in your own world. Truly being present and connected with others is surprisingly rare. We often find ourselves caught up in our own thoughts and distractions, even when we’re with people.
 
More often than not, we are surrounded by people yet still feel distant or isolated. This isn’t always a bad thing, though. Each person’s inner life is unique and complex. No one can tell, just from being in the same room with you, that you’re still anxious about a comment someone made last week, frustrated over a grade in English, or distracted by the smell of lunch. These thoughts, and a thousand others, shape your mood and experiences throughout the day. Our minds are constantly moving, shifting between past regrets, present concerns, and future worries.
 
We are like small boats tossed by the waves of life, and those waves can often leave us feeling adrift and insignificant. The constant motion of our lives can feel overwhelming, and we may struggle to find solid ground. But Jesus invites us into a secret place with Him—a place where we are fully known, understood, and loved. In this place, there is no need to hide, no need to pretend to be something we’re not. He knows the deepest parts of us and loves us completely, despite our imperfections.
 
Spending time with God anchors our souls (Hebrews 6:19). It gives us a steady place amid life’s motion, a quiet harbor where we can rest in the presence of the One who knows us completely. In that stillness, we find peace. We are reminded of who we truly are—God’s beloved children, deeply cherished and cared for. When we make space to spend time with God, we allow Him to calm the storm in our hearts, bringing clarity and direction during life’s chaos.

1. Visit Educational Travel Adventures.
2. Click Customer Login at the top of the screen.
3. Enter the trip code: westminsterbos26.
4. Select Access Account and create an account with your email or Google account.
   • If you already have an ETA account, simply sign in.
5. Once logged in, select Add a New Trip and enter the code: westminsterbos26.
6. Review your trip details, then select Make a New Reservation and complete all fields.
   
   Download flyer and itinerary HERE. 

Imagine working all summer to earn a spot in a group. Maybe it’s a job, a competitive team, or even just a tight-knit circle of friends. You’ve made smart, strategic moves. You’ve prepared. You feel ready for the challenge. Then come two grueling days—an intense, high-pressure experience clearly designed to test and eliminate those who don’t measure up. But you push through.

You give it everything you have. Finally, someone with authority pulls you aside and says the words you’ve been hoping to hear: “You’re in.” Your heart leaps. You did it. Relief and excitement flood in as you begin to imagine the benefits, the camaraderie, the recognition that comes with being accepted. But then, just as you’re settling into this moment of triumph, a seasoned member of the group sits down beside you. They glance around, lean in, and say quietly, “Hey, congrats on getting in… but just a heads up—watch your back.”

• Book a Learning Labs Tutor
• Book an HS Mentor

• Language Arts
• Algebra 1
• Geometry
• Social Studies
• Life Science
• Physical Science
• Homework help

• Book a Learning Labs Tutor

• Adriana Solares: M/W/F, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (MS and HS Math includes Pre-Algebra through Calculus BC)
  

by John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation

When asked to name the greatest commandment, Jesus responded immediately by quoting Scripture from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind—and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37–39)

In this message, we’re focusing on the second part: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

This raises an important question: How can we love others well if we don’t first understand how to love ourselves?

Let’s be clear—this isn’t an invitation to selfishness or self-centeredness. Instead, it’s about recognizing the true foundation of your identity: you are made in the image of God.

Before you are male or female, short or tall, Hispanic, white, Black, Asian, or anything else...
Before you are athletic, smart, artistic, musical, funny, driven, or talented...
You are first and foremost an image-bearer of God.

This truth is foundational. When we accept this, we begin to understand what it really means to be loved. Not based on what we do or who we are in the eyes of others, but simply because we are God’s creation.

When you truly embrace this identity, you begin to see yourself through the eyes of God—perfectly loved and perfectly accepted. And as we grow in our acceptance of being known and loved by God, we become more able to love others with that same unconditional love.

This is a profound and freeing truth. It doesn’t puff us up with pride, but it fills us with gratitude. It frees us from the need for constant validation and comparison because we already have everything we need in Him.

It allows each of us to say—not with arrogance, but with deep gratitude: “I’m blessed to be me.”

When you know who you are in Christ, you can love others as Christ loves you. You can give love freely, without needing to take anything back in return; you can truly love your neighbor as yourself.

Click here to review the packing list for the GR8 Escape. 

Westminster's eighth grade class will participate in the GR8 Escape, a three-day spiritual and leadership retreat from Wednesday, Aug. 27, to Friday, Aug. 29, at the Southwind Young Life Camp in Ocklawaha, FL, just east of Ocala. Visit the GR8 Escape Resource Board in myWCS > Resources > GR8 Escape for more information. 

• Appropriate Content: Ensure all photos are school-appropriate and in line with our school standards. Avoid images with inappropriate content or language.

• Quality Matters: Please choose high-resolution images to ensure they look as good as possible. Also, keep in mind the larger pictures are easier to see. (If you choose the single picture page and create a collage, please keep in mind the smaller the picture the harder it will be to see). Please avoid blurry or low-quality pictures.

• Variety: A mix of photos such as candid shots, milestones, hobbies, sports, school events, and family are among the most meaningful ways to personalize your senior's ad. 

Join our 2nd Annual Green Challenge and make a difference—it's never too late to start! Since October, students have been earning points by completing fun, eco-friendly activities that help care for God’s creation. This year, Mr. and Mrs. Heetderks have been inspiring us with lessons about coral reefs in their WorldWonder and Art classes as part of the Everglades Foundation Challenge. We’ve all become obsessed with the Coral City Camera livestream, watching day and night as fish, manatees, dolphins, sharks, and stingrays bring the reef to life! We've even added exciting coral reef activities, like creating a Minecraft biome to explore the beauty and importance of these ecosystems. Click here for details, and don’t forget—student journals will be proudly displayed in the Nature Center! 

Westminster HOSA students, Future Health Professionals, are hosting a blood drive on Wednesday, February 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the high school circle (main entrance). You must be at least 16 years old. Consent and ID are required. Students, staff and parents may donate. 

Donors may receive:

• Refreshments
• Long-sleeved t-shirt
• Wellness checkup (including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, iron count, and cholesterol screening)

Appointments are encouraged. Please visit oneblood.org/donate-now.

• Step Up will receive funding from the Department of Education on the following projected dates: September 1, November 1, February 1, and April 1.
• Step Up will deposit the funds on a quarterly basis in the student’s EMA account.
• School invoices will be generated in EMA (Education Market Assistant) for schools and parents/guardians to approve. Parents must approve quarterly payments in EMA.
• Once approved by the parents/guardians and the school, Step Up will initiate quarterly payments to the school within seven (7) business days.

• September funds will be deducted from your October tuition payment. 
• November funds will be deducted from your December tuition payment.
• February funds will be deducted from your March tuition payment.
• April funds will be refunded in May 2025. 

• September funds will be deducted from your November tuition payment. 
• November, February, and April funds will be applied to your Blackbaud account and refunded in May 2025.

• In May 2025, the credit balance will be refunded.