‘24-25 Theme Verse: “...You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” -
A WORD FROM THE HEAD ADMINISTRATOR
WELCOME HOME
“You are Invited…” Aren’t those wonderful words to hear or to read? We love to feel welcomed and wanted! In fact, I think this is a core need for all of us. I’m sure God understands that too—why wouldn’t He? He’s the one who made us!
Our theme verse for this year beautifully reflects God’s deep love for us and the warm welcome we receive in Him. Ephesians 2:19-22 says: “…You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
High school is a season filled with opportunities for growth, discovery, and sometimes deep questions. “Where do I belong? Why did God make me this way? Why is this so challenging? Does anyone really see me and love me?” At Western, we hope to be a place where God’s children (and their families) feel welcomed into His household. Because of Jesus, we are given a seat at God’s table. It’s easy to mistakenly think we get to decide who belongs at this table, but this verse reminds us it’s always been God’s table. The only one truly deserving of a place is Jesus Christ. Yet, through
God’s incredible mercy, the love of our Savior, and the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit, we are graciously invited into God’s household.
This year we have enjoyed welcoming our largest enrollment in 17 years, with 311 students representing 251 families and 42 churches. We are excited to celebrate not only the fresh start but also the strategic steps we are taking to ensure a bright future. Our strategy is to harness the strengths, passion, and financial resources of our learning community to serve more students more effectively and sustainably for generations to come. We anticipate serving 15-20% more students by 2027-2028, with sustained growth projected through at least 2032-2033. One of our primary focuses this year, and in the years ahead, is to relentlessly and unapologetically advance the mission of Western Christian. Additionally, we are committed to enriching student experiences to foster a 24/7 life of worship within our school community. Thank you for your continued support! We believe that we cannot do this without you.
In mission, together,
Mr. Brian Verwolf Head Administrator
ABOUT THE COVER
The 2024-2025 school year is off to a fantastic start! Students are focused and fully engaged in their learning, free from phone distractions. Junior Logan Stetson is making great use of his time in a HUB study hall, getting ahead on his homework.
The Pack Edge Wolfpack Athletics
Snapshots from School Homecoming Week Stewardship Day Memorials
Just My Thoughts
Student Perspective
Upcoming Events
JumpSTART / CTE
JumpSTART is now in year #2 and has gotten off to a great start! Four students are in the JumpSTART Pathway (one freshman in year #1 and three sophomores in year #2). Cole Van Der Brink is in his first year of JumpSTART and is taking Machine Trade Blueprint Reading and Gas Metal Arc Welding at NCC each morning, followed by afternoon classes at Western. Taalen VanEss, Zach Dorhout, and Brayden Hettinga are in their second year of JumpSTART. These 2nd-year students take Auto Engine Repair and Fundamentals of Direct Current Electricity each morning at NCC, followed by afternoon classes at Western.
Our CTE program continues to grow and expand here at Western Christian. Currently, 16 students are gaining experience and training from local businesses and employers. Experiences for Western students include a wide range of opportunities, including medical internships, auto and diesel engine repair, welding, education, childcare, floral/horticulture, and agricultural equipment repair through partnerships with several local businesses.
2nd Year JumpSTART Students
Cole Van Der Brink
WOLFPACK ATHLETICS
SOFTBALL
This past softball season was a year of many firsts, but it also served as a great reminder of how our sport can have a Kingdom impact. We were a very young team; on most nights, you could look out on the field during a varsity game and see two to three 8th graders in the mix. We saw so much growth from the younger girls throughout the season, which is attributed to our solid senior leadership in Aidyn Schemper and Breya Van Kley. Our seniors made those around them better daily by intentionally living out their faith, reflecting Christ’s love, and serving others.
The impact of our high school players can be seen in the high numbers in the youth program. There is excitement about the future of Wolfpack Softball, as 55 girls in grades 4th-7th participated in our Junior Wolfpack program, with many current and past members helping coach them.
This past summer is a summer nobody in this area will forget. The flooding brought heartbreak, loss, sadness, and many other emotions. Still, it also provided an opportunity to serve one another. There were
multiple days our girls showed up to practice exhausted because they had been helping in the community for hours. Our girls and other Northwest Iowa softball teams also rallied to help gather donations for youth players who had lost so much.
The players certainly learned there is more to life than wins and losses, but a few particular wins stand out. First, they won 4-3 on Senior Night against dominant Akron Westfield. Second, they came from behind to win in the first round of regionals against Kingsley Pierson River Valley. The girls battled back from down 0-5 in the top of the 7th.
We look forward to continuing to build on all the good things that happened this year and embracing the Wolfpack Edge in all that we do.
Coach Jaelyn De Jong
BASEBALL
This year, the team chose Philippians 2: 14-15 as our team verse. “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without
fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.” As a young team, we knew that there were going to be challenges ahead, and we wanted to have the perspective to face them, knowing that God is still at the forefront. Perhaps the greatest example of this is when the whole team volunteered to go for an entire day to Rock Valley and help clean up after the flooding. The guys were eager to help anyone who needed it and did not grumble or complain, although we were there working hard for almost eight hours.
There were many highlights throughout the season, from players getting their first hits to playing at the Sioux Falls Canaries stadium. This year was pivotal in shaping the culture of the baseball program and we want to give a special thanks to all the players, parents, and fans who sacrificed a part of their summer to make it happen. Go Pack!
Coach Logan Cline
SNAPSHOTS FROM SCHOOL
Reconnecting through yard games and food, the class of 2025 gathered at the Verwolf home on August 15 for the annual Senior Picnic, where the class was challenged to step up as school leaders.
The largest freshman class in recent Western History (85 students) began their high school careers by practicing opening their lockers, working on communication skills with a fun domino activity, walking through their schedules, and meeting their teachers at Orientation on August 22.
In the middle of the season, the volleyball team took a night off from practicing to live out one of the Wolfpack Edge’s core values. All girls involved with the program served a meal at the Sioux Falls Banquet. They learned firsthand that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
The FFA chapter sent a team to the Milk Quality and Dairy Evaluation CDE competition in Manchester. Thirty teams competed in the Milk Quality competition, and our team received 5th place overall, with a Gold. Sophia Pausma led the team, placing in the top 14 out of over 100 students. Talja vanNiejenhuis and Ari Vangrootheest also helped lead the team, where they both placed in the top 30. Lydia Zylstra competed in the Dairy Evaluation competition, where students judged and placed classes of Dairy Cows. She placed 35th individually with a tough competition of over 100 students.
Advanced Music is an elective offered to upperclassmen every other year. This year, five students are enrolled in the class. Students in this class learn a broad overview of music theory, music history, conducting, and other music topics related to student interests. This course aims to provide a more in-depth understanding of music that students can take back to their high school ensembles, into college study, or into leadership in their communities after they graduate and possibly a music career.
HOMECOMING WEEK
BBQ DADS AND SOCCER MOMS - Monday
Chapel Speaker: Ross Douma
Music: Soloist Sydney Feenstra
JERSEY DAY - Tuesday
Yard Games
WOULD RATHER BE A COWBOY - Thursday
Family Feud
SPIRIT DAY - Friday
Chapel Speakers: Living Room Chats with Jason and Abby De Groot, Class of ‘01 Music Ensemble
Co-ed Volleyball / Ping Pong and UNO Tournaments / Bingo / Mr. Spirit Contest / Pep Rally / Football Game
STEWARDSHIP DAY
For the second year, Stewardship Day was incorporated into the activities of Homecoming Week. Western’s Faithpacks served in various ways, such as cleaning debris in Rock Valley, painting at Pahoja and Inspiration Hills, interacting with nursing home residents, collecting food for Mid-Sioux in Sioux Center, and more.
MEMORIAL GIFTS
Western Christian High School is grateful to receive memorial gifts in honor and memory of:
Johanna “Jo” Vander Schaaf - Rock Valley, IA - Johanna (1948) and her husband Duane had two children who attended Western Christian. Doug (1971) and Rachelle.
Marjorie Dykstra - Sheldon, IA.Marjorie (1953) and her husband Jerold (1948) were both graduates of Western Christian.
Jan Van Soelen - Hull, IA. Jan’s husband, Marion, served Western Christian as Head Administrator or Director of Development for 25 years.
Marla Schrank - Canton, SD - Marla was a 1984 graduate of Western Christian.
JUST MY THOUGHTS
BE LIKE CATHERINE
Her name was Catherine. She was probably in her 50s, but since I was in 8th grade then, I thought she was much older, probably in her 70s or 80s. I recognized her from my church, but I didn’t really know much beyond her name and where she and her husband usually sat on Sunday mornings.
My personal encounter with Catherine happened at Mrs. Chadwick’s house. Judith Chadwick was my next-door neighbor and piano teacher. Occasionally when I was leaving lessons, Catherine would be waiting in the sitting area of Mrs. Chadwick’s house, waiting for her piano lesson. I thought Catherine was nuts. In my 8th-grade mind, I wondered why in the world a grown adult would start piano lessons. Honestly, I didn’t enjoy lessons; I took them because my mom wanted me to. (My mom had a deep hope that one of her kids would become a church organist. I was the baby of the family–mom’s last hope of a dream fulfilled.) I could not understand why playing piano was important to Catherine. I thought it was kind of weird that a grown woman was plunking out simple songs and practicing them at home; it seemed like a complete waste of time to me.
I was even more surprised when Catherine participated in Mrs. Chadwick’s annual piano recital. As student after student took a seat on the piano bench and did our best to perform our memorized recital pieces, I was honestly shocked that Catherine sat at the piano and played a simple song on Mrs. Chadwick’s grand piano, while family, friends, and fellow piano students surrounded her.
I have no idea where Catherine’s piano skills went after I quit taking lessons from Mrs. Chadwick. Now, as I think of Catherine in my own adult years, I love to imagine that in the senior years of her life Catherine grew her musical skills even more and enjoyed playing the piano for herself, maybe even for others. What I do know with certainty is that she started. Even though she was older than the “typical” student, she took up the task of learning a new skill and began.
This year at Western, we’ve been focusing attention on being invited. God has invited us into “his household.” (Ephesians 2:19). I’ve been thinking a lot about how we respond to that invitation. Some of us won’t even venture into that
neighborhood. We’ve convinced ourselves that there will be plenty of time to head over there “when we get older.” Others of us are hanging out in the front yard, not sure we want to go in because we wonder what belonging to this household will require of us. And maybe there’s another group that’s convinced it’s too late. We believe we should have taken the invitation years ago; we missed out, and we are much too old to walk in that door, into a life of faith in Him now. For all these groups, I think of Catherine–I think of what she would advise. I think she’d say, “Take that first step. You don’t have to be an expert or professional to walk through the door; in fact, this household was made for learners, novices, apprentices.”
For Catherine, it was piano lessons; for us, it’s a commitment to a life in Christ. He is the One who stands, holding the door of God’s household. In a world that desires shortcuts and quick fixes, Eugene Peterson called the life of faith “the long road of obedience.” How true. Whether you are a 14-year-old high school freshman or an 80-year-old aging senior, it’s time to realize that the long road of obedience is actually our pathway home–a Home that is being built for God’s children, a Home that Jesus recognized as so worthy of His love that He died and rose so more rooms would be needed. There’s room for anyone who believes. Get on the road, stay for the long journey, walk alongside your Savior, and prepare to hear His loving voice calling out to you, “Welcome Home.”
Just my thoughts, KC
STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
Western Christian High School has come to mean a lot more to me than I ever expected or thought that it would. I was not familiar with this school before I was a freshman. I did do a few volleyball camps here but did not come to sporting events or have an older sibling come here before me. So, coming into this school was scary and full of unknowns. Yet, it’s become one of the safest places I know and one of the most welcoming places to be. Every day there is someone to greet you and a staff member who is genuinely happy to see you walking into school. Throughout these four school years here, a lot has changed in my personal life. But I’ve been blessed to have a peaceful, good environment to come to every day.
Western has been somewhere where I can take a deep breath and know that life is okay. I can be filled up in chapel,
UPCOMING EVENTS
October 10 Fall Music Concerts
October 25 End of the First Quarter
daily morning devotionals, prayers throughout the day, devotions with sports teams, and Mrs. Christians Thursday night at 10 devos, which all remind me how important and how wonderful God is.
This year’s theme verse is such a good vision for the school. It’s Ephesians 2:19-22, which I would encourage you to look up, or even read the whole chapter! It mentions that we are first made a citizen in His city but also then all those around us who are believers. To then be built together to enjoy dwelling with God together! I think Western is striving to do this. Students are always reminded of His wonderful love for them and how He wants us in the midst of the homework, sporting events, or concerts, while also encouraging us to love those around us and to look outwardly around the hallways.
Having no smartphones this year is a good step to work on this. It is challenging and very different without our phones. But I don’t mind it at all, and as the year has continued there is no complaining or students constantly mentioning their phones. I think the students have become content without them and are happy with the people and conversations around us, instead of all that our phones try to fill us up with.
I am so thankful that God gave me the opportunity to be student body president this year. I love Western; I love the staff; I love the students! So, I’m excited to lead them and be creative in ways to have fun but also honor and glorify God through whatever extra events we come up with. Praise the Lord for Western and the Christian community we can have through it!
Lydia Ellis, Senior
Be watching for more information through email and social media
November 14-15
Fall Play The Storm in the Barn
November 19 Explore Western
November 4-5 Parent-Teacher Conferences
November 27
Thanksgiving Break Starts - Noon Dismissal