I like what late author Jerry Bridges wrote about finishing well. He shared these thoughts after experiencing a full life prior to his death at the age of 86. While he writes about finishing life well, I do think his “essential elements” apply to finishing a school year well at Western Christian. Mr. Bridges writes about many issues that are important, and these four nuggets are essential:
• daily time of focused communion with God
• daily exploration of the gospel
• daily commitment to God as a living sacrifice
• firm belief in the sovereignty and love of God
When I look back on the 21-22 school year, I recall dozens of times when these four elements remained at the forefront of our academic program. And moving forward, I’m wondering how we can continue to embed each of these elements into our curriculum at a deeper level.
We take our commitment to a biblical reformed worldview education very seriously. God has called us to do everything as if working for the Lord, and we know this holds our learning community to a high standard. In every endeavor, we exist to bring honor and glory to God. In fact, everything we do is an act of worshiping Him!
Years ago M. Scott Peck wrote a book, The Road Less Traveled, that began with a three-word sentence: “Life is difficult.” Most people would agree with that. If you have lived for any length of time you realize life is difficult, or at least it’s often difficult, and sometimes it’s even painful. Perhaps you just made it through your sophomore year at Western and already understand that life isn’t easy.
So how do we finish well, then? We don’t just grit our teeth and say, “Lord, I don’t feel thankful, but you said to give thanks, so I’m going to give you thanks even though I don’t feel thankful.” That’s not giving thanks. We do it by faith. We do it by trusting in the promises of God. We do it by faith in the words of God through Paul in Romans 8:28–29, where he says “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love him.”
I am so proud of what this past school year has meant for our learning community. By my assessment, we have finished well. Read on to see evidence of God’s goodness!
Stay faithful,
Brian Verwolf, Head Administrator
Junior Brody Van’t Hul passes off the baton to his twin brother Parker Van’t Hul for the final leg of the 4X400 relay. The 4x400 relay is always the last event at each track meet; at the conclusion of a well run 400 the runner is exhausted. As another school year comes to a close students and staff may be tired, but Western Christian has finished well. 71 Seniors have walked across the stage and a symbolic baton has been passed as the graduates move on to ‘run the race’ that has been put before them in life.
Class of 2022
Hellos and Goodbyes
Board Update
Building Renovation Updates
Wolfpack Athletics
Snapshots from School
Spring Break Serve Trip
Director of Mission Advancement Report
Just My Thoughts
Upcoming Events
Student Perspective
Darcy Renae Alons+
Riely Shawn Andringa
Claire Louise Bleeker+
Ella Mae Brands+
Danika Shae Cannegieter+
Cristian Castelan Ramos
Michel Castelan Ramos
Dawson Lee De Jager
Emily Jean De Jager+
Teagan Justine De Jager+
Aric James De Kam
Naomi Ann De Stigter+
John Michael De Vries
Jacob Dean Dibbet
Ellie Sue Dokter+
Jakob Allen Emerick+
Emily Sue Fedders+
Cole Ryan Feenstra+
Donte Reese Gulker
Wyatt John Gulker
Zoe Lee Gulker+
Allison Joy Gurtler
Kyler James Heemskerk+
Jaden Jay Hinderks
Logan Nickolas Hoekstra
Grace Renae Hofman*
Tage Edward Hulstein+*
Levi Garret Jansma+
Braeden Matthew Kats
Moriah Lin Kats+
Alexa L. Klyn+
Mason Jacob Kooi
Jada Rae Kooima
Jeremiah Calvin Kredit+
Bradyn Taylor Krommendyk
Davis Alan LeLoux
Caelyn Marie Mantel*
Kellie Jo Park Martin
Jacob Matthew Medema+
Lyndsey Jean Moser+
Tyler Jon Mulder
Skyler Travis Mullinix+
Sierra Brooklyn Nielsen+
Dylan Chad Petitt+
Jarace Evan Schemper
Levi John Schreurs
Olivia Grace Ten Kley+
Jackson Lee Tormanen
Shayla Marie Van Beek+
Hadlie Mae Van Bemmel
Mason Dale Vande Hoef+
Carson James Vanden Brink
Sydney Marie Vander Pol+*
Karson Paul Vander Ziel
Jaylin Dawn Van Dyken+
Eli Bentley Van Essen
Ty David Van Essen+
Scott Colin Van Heuvelen
Lydia Marie Van Kley+
Brayden Jacob Van Meeteren+
Drew Nicholas Van Oort+
Jacob Lee Van Otterloo
Jaden Rae Van Schepen+
Wyatt Charles Van’t Hul
Kyson Wayne Van Vugt
Austin Lee Van Wyk
Amanda Lynn Veldman+*
Julia Violet Veldman+
Allison Joy Walhof+*
Emma Lee Westphal
Josie Anna Zeutenhorst+
+Graduating With Honors
*Life Serve Blood Center Donor of Distinction
On Tuesday, May 17 we said goodbye to a fantastic group of seniors, and we are also getting ready to say goodbye to one faculty member who has carried out Western’s mission in a special way. We also look forward to welcoming a few new faces this coming school year:
First, a Faculty Goodbye:
• Mr. Lucas Den Herder - Mathematics
It’s sad for us to say goodbye to Lucas Den Herder after his first year as a full-time teacher. Lucas, who graduated from Western in 2016 and Dordt in 2021, has decided to follow a nudge from God to explore working with YWAM (You With A Mission). We know God will use Lucas powerfully to make Him known around the globe, just as he has done at Western.
Next, a few Staff and Faculty Hellos:
• Ms. Abby Vanden Bosch - Social Work
Abby has been interning with Western Christian since January of 2022 as she works towards the completion of her Master’s degree in Social Work from Dordt University. Starting this summer, Abby will blaze a trail for Western’s first-ever on-campus social work program. As a licensed school social worker, Abby will provide direct and indirect services to students and families who are experiencing social-emotional challenges that interfere with their abilities to flourish in school and facilitate communication among school, home, and community providers. Dr. Tara Boer has been a catalyst for creating sustainable and clinical social work support for our Christian school. Abby will build upon this collective vision. Tara will remain involved as a mentor for the advancement of Western’s social work program.
Abby graduated from Unity Christian in 2014 and earned her BA in Social Work and Spanish from the University of Sioux Falls in 2018. Through her experiences in crisis intervention, case management, and advocacy with a variety of populations, Abby has a desire to meet individuals where they are at and lean into their strengths while overcoming life’s challenges. Abby has a passion for mental health and strives to support students and families who experience the highs and lows of life.
When asked to reflect on the opportunity Abby said, “I feel God is intentional and provides purpose to where He leads us in life. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to continue to pursue my passion here at Western Christian.”
We are grateful for the continued expansion of our social work services at Western Christian as we aim to meet the needs of all learners. Abby will also provide social work services for Rock Valley Christian School.
• Mr. Seth Lewison - Mathematics Seth will be joining our math department next year as Lucas Den Herder moves on from his teaching position after this school year. Seth was born and raised in West Salem, WI, and graduated from Dordt University in 2020 earning his BA in Secondary Math Education. Since graduating, Seth has been teaching math at Boyden-Hull High School for the past two years. On a personal note, Seth married his wife, Hannah, in August of 2021. The couple recently announced they are pregnant with their first child! Please pray for a healthy pregnancy, and that Baby Lewison is born before the first day of school in August.
Here are a few comments from Seth regarding his decision to join our team in the fall: “I am excited to be a part of Western Christian because even from the outside, I can see the desire to grow, develop, and innovate education in Sioux County. I can see the passion the faculty have for helping students grow and develop as followers of
Christ and as citizens in the community, and it excites me that I have a chance to be a part of that. In regards to teaching math, I am excited to help students see how math can give us the opportunity to get a different perspective on who God is. Mathematics is a framework and a structure to understand the universe God created. Furthermore, math is also a creative art that allows us to play with patterns, sculpt and refine ideas, and mess around with what we would expect to be impossible. Through understanding how the “impossible” can actually be applicable, we can understand how when WE see something as impossible, GOD sees it as a tool to grow us and shape us.”
• Mrs. Lindsey Ver Meer - Choir Lindsey has been serving as Western’s Interim Choir Teacher for the 2021-2022 school year. She has also been leading Chambers Singers for the Spring Semester as she finishes her student teaching appointment through Dordt University. We spent the entire year recruiting a permanent Director of Choral Activities for the 2022-2023 school year and lo and behold, God has brought Lindsey to Western to serve as a full-time employee moving forward. We have already seen that Lindsey is deeply passionate about sharing her love of music with students, and she will continue to raise the bar for music education for the future of our program. We’re excited to have Lindsey as part of our staff in a full-time capacity!
Here are a few thoughts from Lindsey, “Being a part of Western’s program this past year has given me a firsthand look into the care this school has for its students. I am so excited to be part of a community working to guide these students as they learn how to be effective citizens of Christ’s kingdom, engaging with and shaping the world around them with the gifts they’ve been given. Being part of a high school choir program creates so many opportunities for students. They get to discover and develop God-given talents, grow relationships across classes with other students as well as with those in their broader community, and most of all, serve God, right here, right now...as well as equipping themselves to continue serving Him with music for many years to come. I can’t wait to continue teaching students at Western Christian!”
In recent years, Western Christian has experienced a variety of accountability measures from outside entities to ensure the sustainability of our mission. This has helped our organization thoroughly assess our weaknesses and capitalize on our strengths. These measures included consulting with the Center for the Advancement of Christian Education (CACE), and most recently, in the spring of 2022, we became re-accredited through Christian Schools International (CSI). This is a process that we complete every five years. Both CACE and CSI conducted several focus group sessions with diverse groups of constituents and offered Western a thorough evaluation. Detailed reports indicate many commendations and recommendations.
Major Commendations:
• “Western Christian is to be commended for building a school culture that is relational, positive, and built on Biblical truth. Faculty genuinely care about students and want them to flourish and thrive.”
• “Faculty, staff, and parents have a strong sense of trust and a positive working relationship with school leadership. Western Christian is blessed with exceptional school leadership.”
• “The school is very intentional regarding
school improvement and strategic planning. They are committed to consistent and sustained school improvement. The school should keep moving forward with implementing its strategic plan and this school improvement plan. It is headed in the right direction.”
• “The school has a desire to tell the complete story of what God is doing at Western Christian High School and is working to shift the perception that the school is focused on athletics.”
Major Recommendation:
• The key recommendation coming from CACE’s consultation work, CSI Accreditation Sites Visits from 2017 and 2022, and input from staff, board, and parents, is that Western Christian must prioritize the revision of its board governance model and selection process. A re-evaluation of the governance model and processes, as it relates to the school board, along with a comprehensive review including onboarding processes, clearly articulated roles, and structural modifications is recommended.
In response to this valuable feedback, the Board of Directors has launched a Board Governance Study Taskforce. The work of the task force is set to begin in the 2022-2023
In addition to many exciting things happening around campus, we are also in the middle of renovating the old “Library Media Center”, also known as the LMC. By the start of the 22-23 school year, the newly renovated space will become “The HUB”, Western’s Center for Student Services. We will continue to
school year and continue as long as necessary. The task force is composed of a board member (who will chair the task force), the head administrator, and representatives from Western’s society who have expertise in missional and strategic board governance models. The Board Governance Study Taskforce will study and recommend to Western’s Board of Directors a unique-to-Western governance model that will improve board-level organization and functioning as it relates to:
• The process of board evaluation
• The development of a consistent election process
• The creation of a board strengths-based profile
• The review and revision of current bylaw statements.
• The development of a board policy manual and board orientation process that aligns with the desired outcome of a mission-directed governance model.
The chief goal of this task force is to study and envision a model of governance that enhances the sustainability of the vision and mission of Western Christian High School and increases church and community partnerships throughout our learning community.
host study halls and research/printing materials in the space, while also adding four offices (Academic Registrar, Guidance, Social Work, etc.), a
conference room, a technology support desk, and collaborative seating. The renovation started in early May is moving along quickly.
Spring 2022 weather created many cancellations and a few postponements in the Athletic Calendar for the Wolfpack. But when allowed to compete, the Wolfpack competed well. The ending of each season had athletes striving to perform their best, and for some competitors, those performances took place at the highest level.
The boy’s golf team saw once again large numbers of participants. Three seniors returned from the squad who competed at the state meet last year. They played a role in the team’s remarkable success this season, notably having a 32-0 record heading into state competition along with winning the Lakes Conference, Districts, and Sectionals. After all the years of competing in the Lakes Conference, this was the first year the Wolfpack won the golf championship. The team finished tied for 5th place at the state meet in Ames.
Coach Derek Keizer noted that Cole Feenstra played a particular role as a leader. He had a steady hand and was the ‘balance guy.’ “The younger competitors looked to Cole to guide the way, and he did a great job of that for this year’s team.” Trips to state competitions give teams extra time to bond; the senior parents led devotions on both nights at
state. It was remarked how special it was to spend time with the family members and players all in one room together.
Next year’s team returns three competitors who have the experience of golfing at the highest level. Other individuals played quite a bit of golf as well; this experience will help keep the momentum going for the Wolfpack golfers.
Coach Justin Negen remarked on how fun the golf season had been for his team. “The girls showed significant improvement, they learned more about a game they can enjoy for the rest of their lives, and they had fun together.” Numbers were low for the girls’ group, but they were up by one from last year, which benefited the team. The hope is that some incoming freshmen will join next year, and the Wolfpack can have a full squad of six compete.
Entering this golf season, the team had three returning golfers from the previous season, plus two new freshmen, who were strong additions to our team.
“Overall, we had a young team in terms of competitive golf experience. Lyndsey (Sr.), Maggie (Jr.), and Kyra (Jr.) all had one year of playing experience, and Kiah (Fr.) and Reagan (Fr.) were newcomers as freshmen. With five golfers, this was a close group; our upperclassmen did a great job welcoming our freshmen and allowed them to fit in right away. Both our individual and team scores improved considerably over last season. Scores moved from around 270 to consistently shoot in the 220s. Reagan, Kiah, and Maggie were all steady in the mid-50s from the middle part of the season on. It was fun to see their improvement, and I think in some instances, they even surprised themselves with a handful of rounds in the 40s,” stated Coach Negen.
Next year, two seniors return and two sophomores; if they continue to play through this summer, they have the ability to play some pretty competitive golf next season. Kiah and Reagan were in the top 10 at the conference, and Maggie missed moving on in Regionals by one stroke.
Three seniors competed for the Wolfpack this year. Sydney Vander Pol competed in the shot and discus for the first time in her high school career. Emma Westphal and Josie Zeutenhorst have competed throughout high school and have been valuable members of the sprints and relays. (Unfortunately, they were hurt much of the year but were able to compete at a high level at the end of the season and be a part of the state participants.) With these injuries, a lot of younger runners gained valuable experience throughout the season and will represent Western well in the years to come.
A highlight of the season was how the team ran at Districts. The district meet was postponed due to storms, and it allowed the Wolfpack to compete on Friday in perfect conditions. The team struggled through the first part of the season trying to get meets in and didn’t have much time to get relays together, but our performance at districts helped us gain confidence.
“Getting the chance to run and compete at the Blue Oval is always a highlight for our athletes. From a fan and parent standpoint, it’s a fun sport to cheer your team on and cheer on the efforts of others. When you run at state, you get to see some amazing talent throughout the state of Iowa,” said Coach Mark Fenchel. Western Christian had ten girls at the state meet this year competeing in various events. The 4x800 team placed 7th.
Coach Travis Kooima shared thoughts on how competing at the State Track meet is a highlight. The Blue Oval atmosphere and the excitement are like no other state competition. “It was fun to see three of our field event athletes get a chance to throw and jump, and we had a lot of young guys gain experience on the blue oval that should motivate them for next season.”
Tage Hulstein and Wyatt Gulker were the lone seniors on the team; their leadership will be greatly missed. Tage saved his best race for the state meet by running a personal best in the 1600 and bringing home a 6th place medal.
Both track coaches also mentioned watching the athletes grow in their faith as they fought adversity of injuries, or the disappointment of the weather was memorable to them. The athlete devotions led at the State meet were especially meaningful.
The boys team had nine competitors at the State Meet.
Members of the Western Christian FFA chapter worked alongside the Rock Valley FFA at the annual Ag Safety Day put on by Hegg Hospital. Over 100 3rd graders from the Rock Valley grade schools attended. Ten different agricultural safety stations provided learning opportunities that students rotated through. Western’s chapter led the Tractor & Lawn Mower Safety station and assisted at other stations.
Emily Fedders & Darcy Alons invited the Hull Christian 1st graders to tour the greenhouse and had a lesson on the parts of a plant. Each student left the greenhouse with their own planted flower.
Grandparents /Special Friends Day was held on Wednesday, April 20. This year the event was made extra special by only the Seniors and their guests attending the chapel. School was dismissed at noon that day, so after the optional tour of the school building, Seniors were encouraged to take their guests out for lunch.
On Wednesday, March 30th, 13 of Western’s JETS (Junior Engineering and Technical Society) students competed in a friendly competition against Cherokee’s JETS team in Cherokee. Teams consisted of 4-5 team members and were tested on human body heat and fluid mechanics, windmill power generation, urban green space design, and biological life support systems. In addition to testing in these areas, teams also participated in a design and build challenge where they were challenged to design and build a “robotic arm” that could pick up, carry, and release a water bottle onto a targeted area from 24 inches away. Overall, our JETS teams did an outstanding job working collaboratively through a variety of challenging problems. It was great to see each team member share their gifts and talents within the team setting! Shawn De Stigter leads the JETS team.
“Adventures in Space” set the tone for a true adventure. Orchestra students from Hull Christian and Rock Valley Christian joined the Western Orchestra on April 19 for an Orchestra Extravaganza. The musicians took the audience a million miles away on a galactic journey into the stars.
It was a beautiful day for the Western Christian Drumline to participate in the annual Orange City Tulip Festival parade on May 19.
Junior Olivia Hulstein received quite a delightful shock on Wednesday, May 25, at an impromptu school assembly when she was notified that Google had selected her Doodle from thousands of entries as the Iowa winner of the Doodle for Google contest. This contest is open to all K-12 students across the United States. The prompt for this year’s competition was “I care for myself by…..”
Olivia’s Doodle is in the running to be the national winner. If selected, she could earn a $30,000 college scholarship and the school a $50,000 tech package towards establishing or improving a computer lab or technology program.
Mrs. Karinda de Boom took the Drawing and Painting students to the annual Northwest Iowa Visual Arts Invitational hosted by NCC. The school submitted fourteen pieces of artwork from the class members to the show. While at the Art Invitational, students could create spin art, listen to a panel of artists, and view the gallery of student work. Three Western students’ artwork earned four placings in the art show. Senior Levi Jansma received third place in the acrylic painting subcategory for his “Wave” painting and second place in the watercolor painting subcategory for his “Blue Eyes” painting. Freshman, Reagan Roetman received first place in the subcategory of graphite drawing for her “The Eye of Emotion” as well as second place overall in the drawing category.
Juniors and Seniors dressed sharp on Friday, May 6, for the annual Jr./Sr. Banquet. Grand March took place in the Event Center, with the Banquet held in the cafeteria.
Four students, Maeva Haveman, Trista Ten Pas, Lily Hofman, Macy Westra, Lucas DenHerder, and Carey Van Donselaar traveled to the Mexican border over Spring Break to be the hands and feet of Jesus. The group partnered with Kurt Rietema while there, who works at a mission at this location. Macy Westra shared her thoughts about the experience. “The trip started with a quiet morning on the banks of the Rio Grande River, listening to the stories of Sam, a migrant who came from Haiti to Mexico on foot with his wife and then-infant son. This story left us shocked. We had never heard about the real hardships many were experiencing, and the rest of
the trip continued to show us just that. We handed out over 150 care packages with food and hygiene necessities, served meals and handed out clothing at an immigrant outreach facility, and brought balloons and coloring books to a migrant shelter for the kids. We also had a rooftop party with traditional foods and received some dance lessons from our new Haitian friends.
I have never seen so many genuine smiles. Whether they were receiving a meal, an article of clothing, a slice of pizza, or a coloring book, they were grateful for every little thing. Seeing the children play, dance, and laugh helped us know that we were
doing something that made their lives just a little brighter. Each morning we reflected on what we saw and how the acts of service we were doing tie into God’s commands for us. I realized that our faith was something that should not only be developed internally but expressed outwardly as well. The relationships, applicable Bible studies, and many memories will continually impact my life.”
• Building Fund Debt Reduction Drive
- Have you contributed to the Building Fund Debt Reduction Drive? Western Christian has the goal of eliminating Building Fund Debt by the end of 2022. The school has been very encouraged by the response given by so many to reach this goal. To date, Western Christian has less than $400,000 left in Building Fund debt. Help us cross the finish line!
• Western Christian Foundation Update - As of May 2, 2022, the Foundation had $3,722,000 in the investment portfolio. The Western Christian Foundation Board allocates 3.5% of the total assets back to the General Fund each year. That percentage equates to over $450/student. Western
asks that you prayerfully consider making the Western Christian Foundation part of your estate plan. Giving to the Foundation makes Christian Education more affordable for generations to come.
• Northwest Iowa Christian School Tuition Organization (NICSTO)Western Christian has the opportunity to raise nearly $223,000 in student scholarship donations for 2022. A reminder that a donation to NICSTO allows a 75% tax credit on your Iowa taxes and helps both current and new families with tuition. There is no limit to how much someone can contribute.
• If you have any questions, please contact Brad Vis - Director of Mission
Advancement at brad.vis@westernchristianhs.com or 605-359-5704. Thanks in advance for supporting the mission of Western Christian High School!
• Did you know… Enrollment at Western Christian continues to grow. With a possible incoming Freshman class of 85 students, Western’s enrollment could exceed 295 students next year! In
CS Lewis came to genuine Christian faith in his mid-thirties; although he was raised in a Christian home, he rebelled passionately against that faith for many years. For over ten years he much preferred the title/label/name atheist to Christian. But God had a different plan and purpose to accomplish through his life, and CS Lewis eventually became one of the leading authors and apologists for the Christian faith of the 20th century. One of his well-known quotations addresses that part of his faith journey: “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” What wise words!
One of my all-time favorite passages is Psalm 103. Years ago, I remember reciting it often in my church after taking communion. The formulary that my church used included the entire psalm after taking communion, and my church family got in the habit of reading it in unison. I loved reading the whole psalm together, especially verses 11-12, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions
from us.” I loved the assurance and reassurance that my sins are removed, far removed. I love the image of God’s love being far greater than my sin. I love knowing that each day ends with complete forgiveness when I turn all my failures over to my loving Father. I love how Psalm 103 reminds me that no matter how my story started, because of God’s great love, my story has a beautiful ending.
We’ve had a number of powerful chapels in the past school year, and so many of them shared faith stories with rough starts but grace-filled finishes. Isn’t that the beautiful story of redemption for all of us? We so often fixate on our bumps and bruises; we sometimes imagine that our sins are somehow beyond the reach of Christ’s redemption. But God is the author of every story that finishes well. Jesus Christ was the only one whose life was a perfectly consistent, obedient walk with God, and because of His perfect start and flawless finish, our stories, too, can end well.
We have been spending intentional time and energy for the past year examining not only the entire high school experience
July 12 Registration Day for’22-’23 School Year
- Online and in-person
Aug. 12 WC Booster Club Outing
Aug. 22 Wolfpack Edge Luncheon
- Invites will be mailed out in early June
- Come to see and hear how faith development is at the heart of all activities and athletics at Western.
for our students but also the way that we pray our graduates are equipped to take their learning, training, and faith into the world upon their graduation from Western. We pray they model the Christian life in a way that invites others to our Savior. We see and hear how Western grads impact our world, God’s world. But we never pretend to be perfect. Life is a mix of starts and stops, progress and set-back, two steps forward and one step back. And those are the times when Psalm 103 perfectly assures and reassures us that God doesn’t see our sin when He considers us, He sees our Savior. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” We join CS Lewis in declaring that it’s not the beginning of the story that is nearly as important as the ending. We thank God with CS Lewis that He commands our destiny; through Him, our stories can end well.
A few weeks ago, I was led in prayer by a pastor who prayed about how beautiful the sound of our name will be when we first hear it on the lips of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Finishing well doesn’t mean running perfectly, avoiding all missteps, mess-ups, stumbles, and sins. It does mean keeping my eyes on the only One who ran perfectly, trusting all my steps to Him, and covering myself in His redeeming work. Then I can run into His arms as He welcomes me home, forever. He will know my name, and I will know His voice. “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:23) What a finish that will be!
Just my thoughts, KC
Aug. 22 Freshman Orientation
Aug. 23 First Day of School
Sept. 12-16 Homecoming Week
- Celebrating 20 years of Wolfpack Football
– Be watching for more information through email and social media –
After walking across the stage at the Graduation ceremony and celebrating with family and friends two senior girls reflected on their years as a student at Western Christian. Here are Zoe Gulker and Lydia Van Kley’s thoughts on their time at Western.
What does a Western Christian Education mean to you?
“Western Christian education is not just simply showing up to school, listening to teachers, and going home with homework. Yes, it may include all of these things but it is filled with much more. It is filled with prayer, devotion, mentorship, worship, reflection, opportunity, and tremendous growth in a teenager’s faith journey. I will be forever grateful for the way that Western Christian education has molded me into the person that I am today.” - Zoe
“It means growth. Throughout my four years at Western, I have grown so much in every aspect of my life. I have been given a Biblical worldview and I am able to articulate my faith to others. This is so valuable in our world today which is giving us a completely different message. Western Christian has given me a firm foundation built on Biblical truth and that is such a blessing” - Lydia
After 4 years of High school what would you say was the biggest challenge in high school to finish well?
“After four years, you are definitely ready to move on to the next stage of life. I didn’t believe senioritis was a real thing until my first day of senior year and while I had so much fun in high school and I grew a ton I am ready for college. I think this just shows that Western did a great job preparing me for college. I’ve learned all I can from high school and I think that’s why I am ready to move on. I would say in order to finish well, realize how fast it’s going by, enjoy the time you have there, and use it wisely.” - Lydia
“I think the biggest challenge for me was finding purpose in what I was doing at
school this year. I so easily got into the mindset of “this doesn’t matter anymore.” It honestly was a struggle to remember that praising God means working at all things to the best of our ability.” - Zoe
If you were to give your younger sibling advice about how to get the most out of high school what would you say to them?
“As the oldest sibling who tends to look way too far into the future, I would stress how it is SO important to live in the moment. So often our parents say “don’t grow up too fast”...even though this advice is very forward, it’s true. Before you know it, four years of high school are gone, make every second count and shine the light of Christ as you do it.” - Zoe
“I would say that it is so true that what you put in is what you get out. You are going to get so much more out of your high school experience if you put yourself out there and try new things. Maybe if you try it, you find out it’s not for you but maybe you try something and it becomes something you love and you get to meet so many new people through it. Whether it is athletics, theater, choir, praise team, dance, or whatever it is, take a chance and try it because you never know how big of a blessing it could be and who you will get to meet because of it!” - Lydia
Something special about a Western Christian education is the time spent in chapel. Both ladies wrote about chapel and how it helped them grow. Spiritual Emphasis week this year was particularly meaningful.
Chapel at Western has been so good for me and I know many other students feel the same way. Being a part of the praise and worship team this year was so cool for me because I got to see all the behind-thescenes stuff but also got to worship with my classmates. Pastor Zan did Spiritual Emphasis week for us this year and had such a great message for us all. He challenged us to be on fire for the Lord and brought
so much energy. He’s not the only one that has blessed Western this year. There were many speakers that came and delivered a powerful and challenging messages to students. One that sticks out to me is when a local pastor came in and talked about “taking our keys.” This basically means that all of us have a role in God’s kingdom and He will offer us keys but it’s our job to actually take and use them. This was such a cool challenge and motivated students to WANT to get more involved and take their keys to be a servant of the Lord.” - Lydia
“Spiritual Emphasis this year was probably one of the best weeks out of my high school career. Pastor Zan showed up, and he brought the power of the Holy Spirit along with him. His messages were an amazing reminder of the grace and power of our God. The biggest point that I took away from the chapels is that we cannot go anywhere or do anything that can separate us from the love and mercy of Jesus Christ. We are much more than our flaws and wrongdoings…we are children of the Most High. Every day he had us repeat this out loud:
I am the called of God. I am a chosen generation. I am a royal priesthood. I will not allow my situations to conquer me; but through the power of the Holy Spirit, I conquer my situations. I am not overcome, but I am an overcomer. I am not the victim, but I am the victor. I am empowered. I am equipped. I am anointed. I am bold in Christ. I am a child of God. I am everything that God says I am.
These words were so moving for me. What a powerful way to encourage the lives of students who are dealing with a wide diversity of struggles. Pastor Zan delivered spontaneous worship. And it was an incredible experience to say the least.”
- Zoe