WCS Fall 2023 Magazine

WESTBURY

CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Faithful

Wise

Diverse

Head of School Address Happy New Year, Wildcats!

As we start a new semester and calendar year, we wanted to take a look back at just a few of our students’ incredible accomplishments and transformative experiences. Inside this digital magazine, you’ll find some of our top stories and student activities from the past year.

In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul writes that “we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

That’s the type of transformation we want to foster at Westbury Christian, and it’s a privilege to play a role in that process with our students.

The past semester has been full of blessings, challenges, opportunities, and growth at Westbury Christian School. We can’t wait to see what God has planned for the spring!

Nathan Wagner Head of School

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Table of Contents FROM THE HEAD OF THE SCHOOL

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LOWER SCHOOL PROJECT H.U.G

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FOSTERING A LOVE THROUGH READING

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MIDDLE SCHOOL FROM DIGITAL DESIGN TO 3D PRINTING

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SIXTH GRADERS GEAR UP FOR MECHANICAL MODEL CHALLENGE

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HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC HONORS

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STAND OUT WILDCATS

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ATHLETICS

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FINE ARTS

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT JASMINE MATTHEWS

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MJ NELSON

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PROJECT H.U.G Project H.U.G (Hearts Understanding Goodness) is an organized initiative to build a tradition of service, from our youngest Wildcats to our oldest Wildcats in Lower School, through various community projects.

KINDERGARTEN PROJECT H.U.G

Our Kindergarten Wildcats completed their class service project as part of the Lower School Project H.U.G. With the help of students, teachers, and parent volunteers, our Kindergarten class planted a flower bed on campus.

We love seeing Wildcats of all ages contributing to better our community!

4TH GRADE PROJECT H.U.G

For the 4th grade Project H.U.G, Mr. McDonald’s class traveled to Evergreen Commons to spread Christmas cheer to the nursing home residents. They read scripture, delivered cards, and spent time speaking with the residents. We are so proud of our students for sharing joy with others!

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Fostering a Love of Reading and Leadership through Cross-Grade Mentorship What began as an organic initiative among our fourth graders has blossomed into a school-wide program nurturing both literacy and leadership in the Lower School: Reading Buddies. At WCS, we are dedicated to cultivating well-rounded individuals who not only excel academically but also develop the confidence and skills to guide and inspire others. Reading Buddies embodies this philosophy beautifully, providing a platform for our elementary students to practice their reading fluency and refine their leadership potential through bi-weekly cross-grade mentoring sessions.

In this heartwarming program, each older student is carefully paired with a younger buddy. Fourth graders take on the role of reading companions for our PreK3 and PreK4 learners, while third graders are matched with first graders, and second graders with kindergartners.

With careful guidance, the older students select engaging books to share with their assigned buddies, fostering a love of reading in the younger children while simultaneously honing their own communication and presentation skills. As the younger students gain confidence in their reading abilities, they too will have the opportunity to share their favorite stories with their older buddies, creating a reciprocal cycle of learning and mutual respect.

Reading Buddies goes beyond the mechanics of reading, instilling invaluable lessons in empathy, responsibility, and the joy of connecting with others. The program’s success lies in its organic spirit, born from the enthusiasm of our fourth graders and embraced with equal fervor by every Lower School class. Witnessing the bonds of friendship and mentorship that blossom between these young learners is a testament to the transformative power of reading and the importance of fostering a supportive and inclusive school community.

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From Digital Design to 3D Prints: Unleashing Creativity with 3D Printing in Middle school Engineering 1 Class Imagine a classroom where imagination takes shape, not just on paper, but in tangible, threedimensional forms. At Westbury Christian School, that’s exactly what occurred in one middle school classroom thanks to the WCS Makerspace and the magic of 3D printing.

Mrs. Leeson, the WCS STEM Director, challenged her Middle School Engineering I class to learn a new computer design software and use their skills to create a 3D-printed animal toy. Students learned how to use TinkerCAD, a user-friendly basic computer-aided design (CAD) software that allows students to explore using shapes to create forms in art. The middle school students worked through 12 self-paced lessons to learn to place, view, move, rotate, resize, group, copy, duplicate, hide, align, create holes, and use camera controls.

“We also learn how to focus the screen on particular parts of an object, how to change color, and most importantly how to measure!” explains Leeson.

Before the students were ready to design an animal toy project, Leeson tasked her students to recreate a LEGO piece to serve as a replacement part for their EV3 robotics kits.

“Students have three tries to get the sizing right for the length, width, height, diameter, and spacing of the holes. With each print, they test it out with other pieces in their kits to see how well it matches up and works as a replacement piece. They get to physically determine what they need to do to improve,” Leeson explained.

Armed with their new TinkerCAD skills, students then demonstrated their skills and creativity on an animal toy to 3D print. With just two prints – one for the initial prototype, one for the final masterpiece – they brought their vision to life, line by line, layer by layer. Students and Mrs. Leeson beamed with pride at the final results.

As we watch these students experiment, design, and create, we know that their future is bright!

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Sixth Graders Gear Up for Mechanical Model Challenge Sixth graders at Westbury Christian School weren’t just studying science and math - they were experiencing a hands-on STEM project! In an innovative cross-curricular project, led by the dynamic duo of Ms. Kleinhenz, 6th Grade Science Teacher, and Mrs. Lebron, 6th Grade Math Teacher, students were tasked with designing and building a machine.

Working in pairs, they had to combine two simple machines to complete one of the following tasks: moving an object, lifting an object or flipping a switch.

The WCS Makerspace transformed into a space of creativity as students sketched, debated, and finalized their designs. Our students showed resilience as they brought those designs to life as simple machines using resources in WCS Makerspace.

After many class sessions of building, presentation day arrived, Our young inventors presented their creations to other Middle School teachers and the 5th-grade class. The 6th-grade students shared how their machines worked or did not work. If their machines did not work, they needed to explain why and what they would need to do next time for it to work. If the machine did work, students shared what they would improve.

This wasn’t just a science project or a math lesson - it was a collaborative challenge that required creativity and persistence.

Westbury Christian has the next generation of engineers, architects, and dreamers already taking shape.

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College Board Honor Roll

The College Board announced that Westbury Christian School has been named to the Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) School Honor Roll, earning Platinum distinction.

The AP® School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening access. Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness.

At Westbury Christian School, 97% of seniors took at least one AP exam during high school, 63% of seniors scored a three or higher on at least one AP exam, and 22% of seniors took five or more AP exams! The AP program at Westbury Christian School offers 18 AP classes led by 10 instructors across the social studies, history, art, and science departments.

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College Board National Recognition Programs Students at Westbury Christian School earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. These programs celebrate students’ hard work in high school and showcase their strong academic performance. The academic honors for rural area, Black, Indigenous, and/or Latino students are an opportunity for students to share their strong academic achievements with colleges and scholarship programs that are seeking to recruit diverse talent.

At Westbury Christian School, 3 students received the academic honor.

Eden Williams

Luke Dewberry

Vince Bilnoski

National African American Recognition Award (NAARA)

National Hispanic Recognition Award (NHRA)

National Hispanic Recognition Award (NHRA)

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From Tech Crew to Lead Role: Behind the Scenes with Nathan Marable ‘23 Nathan Marable came to Westbury Christian in 2017 as an 8th grader. As a senior in the spring 2023, he served as one of the lead roles of Aladdin Jr. as Sulton. His time at Westbury Christian has been transformative for his personal growth and discovering his hidden talents in fine arts.

How did you get involved in the WCS Theatre program?

“Between sophomore and junior year, I found out I have to take a fine arts course to graduate.

And I didn’t want to take a fine arts course at all.

My options were art or theater. I thought, I am terrible at art, so I might as well do theater. What I didn’t know was that I could have just taken the theater class. I participated in the Mary Poppins play in the Fall 2021 and took the theater class because I thought I had to do both. I was casted for a regular Banker and Chimney Sweep. I was in the back and it was a good first experience.

Then after that I didn’t want to act so I decided to go on tech crew for Little Women and Radium Girls. I planned on doing Tech Crew for Aladdin Jr. but Mr. Blaine convinced me that I should do Sulton for Aladdin Jr. I ended up loving it.”

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What is your favorite activity at WCS? “My favorite WCS activity is Theater because I am enjoying it. The people and the show, lots of memorable times, and also it’s just fun to play with your lines and pretend to be someone. I am involved in a lot of different clubs and groups. I am in National Honor Society, Yearbook, VEX Robotics, and at one point student council.”

How have you grown as a person at Westbury Christian?

“I think when I started at WCS in 8th grade I came from a small school with 40 kids. Over there I was also in my shell and I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I acted that way here until my junior year.

My junior year is when I started to feel more comfortable and try new things.

One of those things I tried was theater, but I also tried golf and VEX Robotics this year.”

Are there teachers at WCS who inspired you or encouraged you to challenge yourself?

I would say Mr. Reid challenges me in the classroom. He gives a lot of projects.

The projects aren’t hard but you have to put in the work. A lot of times, I procrastinate. Getting started is always the hardest part.

Mrs. Leeson encourages me. I am new to building in VEX Robotics. She reassures me and tells me I am trying my best.”

What advice would you give to another WCS student?

“Be yourself. Because it’s a free place to be yourself.”

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ATHLETICS

The Varsity Cheer team placed State Runner-Up at the TAPPS State Cheer Championships in the 3A Spirit Division.

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The Middle School Football team won the HSFC Championship game to complete their season undefeated.

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JASMINE MATTHEWS ‘09 From WCS to Hollywood After graduating from Westbury Christian School, Jasmine Mathews (’09) earned her undergraduate degree in theatre from Spelman College and her Masters at UNLV. Today, she is known for her acting roles in The Tomorrow War (2021), The Man from Toronto (2022), and Big George Foreman (2023). She loves acting for its exploration in humanness, connection to humanity, and travel. What was once an extracurricular at Westbury Christian School is now her profession.

Mathews is currently an actress in Sherman Oaks, California.

As an actress, her day-to-day responsibilities look different.

Some mornings she may be up at 3am to prepare for a day of filming. Other days she may be preparing for auditions with the possibility of facing rejection.

“My job has many rewards and challenges. I love being able to inspire little girls by being a strong role model they can look up to.

At times it can be challenging because of rejections in auditions.

I have to put my faith in God, trust Him and be patient.”

She credits Westbury Christian for giving her spiritual formation in an industry that can be difficult for believers to work in.

“I often think back to my days at Westbury Christian and how it gifted me with such a firm faith-based structure that has served me well in an industry that can be, well, frankly put, full of rejection and superficiality. I think it’s important for kids to continuously be fed the reality that their dreams are not only attainable but also that the grounded spiritual foundation that WCS instills is vital to fulfilling their ultimate success and purpose.”

When she looks back on her time at WCS, she reminisces about her Chick-Fil-A lunch days with friends, learning about Shakespeare with Mr. Wagner, and the formative relationships with faculty, several who are still at WCS. “Mr. Wagner was so cool because he would reassure me that there is nothing weird about loving Shakespeare. His class allowed me to have my moments full of expression and authenticity. I cherish that moment. He taught me to embrace what you love when no one else loves it. [Coach Hawley] was really impactful while I was there. I never had him as a teacher, but his kindness, compassion, openness and availability made such an impact on me. He was just a light.” Mathews adds, “Mrs. Annette Turner received me with open arms and created a safe space for me even when I wasn’t a student of hers. She made me feel seen, heard, and gave me a safe space during the day. I look back at my time at Westbury Christian and they just inspired me that I could do anything. I got the encouragement I needed from faculty and staff.”

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

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MJ NELSON ‘14 Answers the Call to Pursue Ministry through Music in LA

Marion John “MJ” Nelson has always had a passion for music. He loves spoken word, rapping, and music production. After high school, God called him to the West Coast to pursue a music career, ultimately becoming a missionary serving Central American youth through his unique gifts and passion for music.

“My favorite years of school ever were 7th and 8th grade. Every single day I laughed so extremely hard. It’s great to be in an environment where you are around your friends every single day,” reminisced Nelson. “It’s so much harder as an adult.”

At Westbury Christian, Nelson was extensively involved in the WCS Fine Arts department through theater performances, musicals, and band.

“I had a High School Musical Troy Bolton entrance into Fine Arts. I suffered an injury in basketball, and while on the sidelines, I became interested in what was happening in theatre.”

In addition to representing the school at state competitions in oratory and spoken word, his most impactful experience in high school was serving on the campus ministry team and going on missions trips to Oklahoma City.

“That was a huge part of my experience at WCS, and the mission trips had a huge impact on my life that led me to what I am doing now. I even rapped in Westbury Christian chapels.”

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

After high school, Nelson received multiple scholarships to pursue musical production. He decided to attend Shepherd University of Los Angeles for Musical Production. During his senior year, Nelson faced an unexpected situation when his college closed.

“It’s such a clear example of God at work in that situation because I was able to get a job as youth director at Christian Assembly Church where I attended.”

Nelson’s time in Los Angeles became a pivotal point for him in his relationship with the Lord and his career. He interned at a production company and had the opportunity to work with multiple Grammy-nominated producers and artists. He released a Christian rap album, performed at events and local schools in the area, and worked as a youth leader at his local church. It became clear that his passions of working with youth and music were his calling.

This past year, Nelson prayerfully decided to volunteer with InnerCHANGE where his love for kids, music, and the Lord intertwined. Through those volunteer experiences, God led Nelson to join the InnerCHANGE Los Angeles team as the Assistant Director for the ICLA Music Collective. His daily tasks include cultivating a music curriculum, strategizing youth outreach, and immersing himself in Central American culture.

“Growing up in Texas I have always been familiar with Latino culture, but definitely now I am more immersed and more aware of these kids’ stories,” says Nelson. “The studio is a safe place for our kids. I am very intentional with Biblical mentorship.”

“I remember Mr. Wagner did this exercise in high school my senior year. He said, ‘If you know who you are go to this side of the room, and if you don’t know who you are go to the other side of the room.’ All of my peers went to [the side indicating that] they didn’t know who they were and I was the only one on the side who knew who I was. In my mind, of course I know who I am. I am an artist.

“When I first moved out [to Los Angeles], I wanted to pursue a career in the music industry. But God really wanted a space where he saw a chance to pursue me here even deeper. Over the past couple of years, I have had a heart for kids and the Lord. My favorite part of my job is sharing God with them and because of God’s love for me…. I just can’t help it!”

“Being a first-time missionary, I have to completely trust in God for raising support,” Nelson said about one of the challenges in his new life. “I have also had to branch out to build partnerships with supporters.”

Nelson still recalls a long list of teachers at Westbury Christian who made an impact on his life. He gives credit to teachers like Coach O, Coach Hawley, and Mr. Wagner who helped prepare him for this new work.

“It was a combination of so many things that led to where I am today. Westbury Christian School just gave me so many opportunities to help me get to where I am today.”

To learn more about MJ’s Mission, please visit: https://mnelson.novostaff.org/

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