‘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.” - Ephesians 2:19-22
During his keynote at Converge, a global gathering of Christian school leaders, Dr. Justin Bailey posed a thought-provoking question: Can you be safe and brave at the same time?
For those of us in Christian education, this question strikes a deep chord. We want our students to feel safe, protected, nurtured, and secure. But we also want them to be brave, resilient, courageous, and ready to engage with the complexities of the world. As I lean into my calling at Western Christian, and as a father of young children, I wrestle with this tension. Can our school, our students, and our educators truly embody both safety and bravery at the same time?
This conversation applies to so many areas, including race relations, political ideologies, school choice, church denominations, and the list goes on. But lately, it has taken on particular relevance in an unexpected space: the teacher’s lounge.
This time the topic is not politics or theology. It is artificial intelligence.
For many of our Western Witness readers, AI might seem like a distant concern, something to worry about later. Many educators share that hesitation. But here is the reality: If we do not train our students in AI, the largest and most influential technology companies will.
AI is no longer a fringe innovation; it is woven into the fabric of our culture. AI influencers, AI-generated content, AI therapists, and AI-driven decisionmaking are shaping the way young people think, behave, and dream. Our students will develop an understanding of AI, consciously or unconsciously. The question is: Who will guide them?
We love our children and are deeply invested in their growth and success. That’s why we must act now to equip our students with wisdom and discernment.
Over the past few years, Western has introduced “Unplugged Days”—school days where teachers and students together refrained from using modern technology. No laptops. No projectors. We even took attendance with good old-fashioned paper and pencil! The primary goal of these no-tech days was to reset our learning environment and challenge our community to reflect on our dependence on technology.
This year, we’re introducing an AI Day
The purpose is threefold:
1. To give students broad exposure to the possibilities and challenges of AI in the classroom, under the guidance of a teacher.
2. To provide teachers with opportunities to develop their own understanding of AI.
Junior Josh Petitt, embracing the fun spirit of FFA Week, kissed a pig to celebrate the week’s conclusion. The FFA chapter organized a change war fundraiser to support two members of the WC family, Lisa Van Otterloo, a cook and bus driver, and Levi Van Ravensway, son of teacher Lyle Van Ravensway, both of whom are undergoing treatment for cancer. Students showed their generosity by donating over $700 to the cause.
3. To establish a clear platform for communicating and modeling AI expectations within each subject area.
By embracing both the benefits and limitations of AI, we aim to foster thoughtful, responsible engagement with this evolving technology.
Fostering bravery in our students does not mean ignoring their very real struggles. As John Palfrey argues, in our zeal to create safe spaces, we must not neglect the need for brave spaces, places where students engage with challenging ideas under the guidance of trusted mentors. Christian education must cultivate both a robust Christian imagination and a dynamic system of discernment. Our goal is not to shield students from difficult realities, but to train them to distinguish between wisdom and folly, truth and deception, and real threats and imagined ones.
At Western, we are committed to fostering both safety and bravery. We will not retreat from the challenges ahead. Instead, we will equip our students to face them with wisdom, courage, and faith.
In mission, together, Mr. Brian Verwolf Head Administrator
Since Western Christian first opened its doors in the fall of 1919, it has never charged the full cost of education to attend. The gap between what Western has charged for tuition and the true cost of educating each student has always been filled by generous giving, foundational church support, creative fundraisers (apples pies, pigs-in-a-blanket, and silage piles to name a few), faithful volunteers, and a mindset of financial commitment to raise our children in the light of God’s Word. Stewardship and sustainability in Christian schools honor God by responsibly managing the resources He has entrusted to us. By prioritizing stewardship, Christian schools model responsible financial management and also ensure the mission of the school endures, providing Christ-centered education for generations to come.
This school year, our cost of education is $14,800 per student. When one compares that to the current tuition we are charging, $11,400 per student, and state and federal spending in public schools, we believe Western Christian provides tremendous value for the families it serves. Our students continue to excel academically, be extremely involved in co-curriculars, and graduate well prepared for the workforce or further education. Our prayer is that the seeds planted during students’ formative four years at Western will grow fruit for lives of Kingdom service.
In recent months, Western has partnered with The Center for the Advancement of
Christian Education (CACE) and other regional Christian schools to evaluate our financial model. CACE strongly recommends (working toward) the following metrics:
• Charge the True Cost of Education Per Student
• All Operational Expenses Covered by Budgeted Items
• Build Depreciation into the Budget (Facility, Transportation, Technology)
An updated financial model using these recommendations allows Western to wisely manage the resources God provides, planning not only for present needs, but also for future uncertainties.
As we prepare for next year and beyond, Western Christian’s Board of Trustees and Leadership will be intentional about shrinking the gap between the true cost of education and what we charge for tuition. This is a mindset shift, yet is best practice for the future of our institution. As author Alan Pue writes in his book Rethinking Sustainability, “The enterprise of Christian schooling will remain at risk until, and unless, Christian school leaders and supporters think more strategically about how to best fund Christian schools.”
Currently, the gap between the true cost of education and what we charge sits at $1,057,400 ($3,400 x 311 students). When viewed in this light, stewardship demands a paradigm shift. Consider how Western could use these resources to invest in the Stewardship
initiatives outlined below! It’s exciting to envision what such investments will mean for the future of our school and the students and families we serve.
As we ‘shrink the gap,’ we are confident additional benefits will emerge. Throughout its history, Western Christian has been blessed beyond measure by partnerships with area churches as well as generous giving from constituents and supporters of our mission. By moving toward charging the true cost of education, a significant portion of donations and giving can now fund Board driven strategic initiatives, comprehensive capital campaigns, innovative educational programming, and future expansion to meet the needs of our growing student population. This vision energizes supporters and current families alike.
Over Western’s 105 year history, our society has played a significant role in providing young men and women the gift of a Christ-centered education. The ‘three-legged stool’ of church, home, and school is as important in 2025 as it was in 1919. It is our prayer that this covenant partnership remains vibrant for the next 100 years at Western Christian High School.
Learning…To Serve the King,
WC Finance Committee and Board of Trustees
Brian Verwolf, Head Administrator
Justin Negen, Chief of Finance and Operations
It’s been a fun and busy year in Physical Science! Freshmen students wrapped up the end of last semester by creating Rube Goldberg machines from scratch with items they brought from home, and they prepped for the annual Science Night.
Science Night allows students to showcase their engineering skills each year as they participate and compete in three different events. This year’s events included the mousetrap car accuracy event, the toothpick bridge strength event, and the Pringle chip packaging ingenuity event. With this, senior Physics students presented a rather large Rube Goldberg machine that highlighted the concept of energy transfer.
Technology is used for a lot of learning, but students are given opportunities to put their computers aside and learn on paper. In Spanish 2, students studied different clothing. They drew themselves and labeled the clothing in Spanish. After putting their pictures on the board, classmates had to guess the names that matched to the pictures. The students in other classes had fun guessing as well.
Mrs. Reitsma’s P and A class taught Hull Christian 2nd graders about hearts, blood, and blood vessels! The grade schoolers loved being taught by the high schoolers and enjoyed learning more about how God created our bodies!
Twelve students and two teachers used their Spring Break to travel to Spain and explore the cities of Madrid, Toledo, and Segovia. They visited cathedrals, palaces, and different museums. While there, they participated in a cooking class, where they learned how to create three typical Spanish dishes. Other memorable activities include seeing a bullfighting ring and attending a Flamenco show. This was the third year in a row that students were given the opportunity to embark on this trip.
Each year of Competitive Speech is new and exciting, as students bring original ideas and spend hours preparing for competitions. We had 15 students participate in large group speech this year, with entries in musical theatre, short film, and choral reading. The sophomore Chorale Reading group and the senior Short Film received a 1 rating at Districts and advanced to the State Competition in Spencer.
For Individual Speech, we had 16 students involved in nine different c ategories. Eleven students received a 1 rating at Districts and advanced to the State Competition in Moville. While some students choose light-hearted and funny speeches, others create original pieces wrestling with identity and faith. Competitive Speech is an excellent opportunity for students to express creativity and share parts of who they are.
Coaches Anna Bierma and Bobbi Jeltema
Western Christian celebrated FFA week on February 18-21st. The FFA Chapter invited all students to participate in themed dress-up days throughout the week. Every morning, school started with Ag trivia during announcements. On Wednesday, businesses, banks, and colleges set up informative booths for students to browse and gain information on possible ag-related careers available to them. This fun-filled week ended
with the annual Ag Olympics, in which each Faithpack selected students to participate in scored competitions.
A highlight of FFA week is watching the change war winner, ‘Kiss a Pig!’ Along with the change war proceeds, the FFA chapter donated its profits from strawberry sales to Lisa Van Otterloo and Levi Van Ravenswaay, both undergoing cancer treatments.
A variety of competition teams are preparing for the upcoming State Convention. Bella Alons will present the chapter website at the state convention, having earned first place at the District competition. Megan Wielenga has excelled in Creed speaking competitions, earning first place at sub-districts and a Gold rating at Districts.
A highlight of the Chamber Singers’ year, besides the tour, is Chamber’s Night Out, which features fun musical performances, food, and fellowship with the guests. This evening raises money for the annual tour and gives the students a chance to express their personalities more in their musical selections. Chamber’s Night Out was on February 28.
Hard work pays off, and for five band students, their work earned them the opportunity to play in the Honor Band Festival. Students started practicing the first week of school, memorizing 12 major scales and the chromatic scale. They auditioned in early November. After being selected, they received the music for the festival and needed to practice on their own time to prepare. The Honor Band Festival occurred on January 11 in Sioux City. The students were all in the same band under the direction of Dr. Onsby Rose, band director at Dordt University.
The WC Freshman Band took music out of the halls of Western for a concert at Crown Pointe in Sioux Center on Thursday, Feb 27. The residents enjoyed the program, which included a variety of Americana music—”Theme from Spiderman,” “Semper Fi,” “Antonin’s New World,” hymns, and patriotic songs.
The Western Christian Orchestra hosted its annual “Orchestra Extravaganza!” on Thursday, February 27. 3rd-8th grade orchestra students from Rock Valley Christian School and Hull Christian School joined the high school orchestra in an afternoon of fun activities, rehearsals, dinner, and a concert with the high school students. This year’s concert theme was “Welcome to the Jungle,” which included music inspired by jungle animals or African and South American culture.
As we wrap up another exciting basketball season, it’s time to reflect on our team’s journey. This year was marked by dedication, resilience, and unforgettable moments that have allowed this team to form a life-lasting bond.
From the outset, our team demonstrated incredible teamwork and commitment. With a mix of incredible, selfless seniors and enthusiastic newcomers ready to prove their way, we built a competitive spirit that carried us through each game.
Our team faced the toughest schedule in class 2A and had to travel over 3200 miles. These opponents challenged our abilities and pushed us to improve. Each game was a learning experience, highlighting areas for growth and showcasing our strengths. Notable victories included our showdown against Sioux Falls Christian, where our guys battled out a double-overtime victory!
As we look back, we celebrate not only our achievements on the scoreboard but also the friendships and life lessons we’ve gained. This season was about perseverance, learning to overcome challenges, and cherishing the bonds we’ve formed. We are grateful to our Wolfpack supporters for standing by us every step of the way.
A special thanks to the ten seniors who will be greatly missed on and off the court for their leadership.
The season ended successfully, as Back-to-Back State Champions! Western Christian extended their lead for the most boys basketball state titles (twelve) in IHSAA history.
Coach Derek Keizer
The Western Christian Wolfpack girls’ basketball team embraced a season centered on gratitude, positivity, and a strong team culture. A guiding theme of the year was #Get2–the
reminder that playing this game is a gift from God, who has blessed each player with talents and opportunities. The team also found encouragement in Proverbs 4:23: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” By filling their minds with positive thoughts, the girls built resilience and joy throughout the season.
Our seniors embodied the Wolfpack Edge, demonstrating unity, intentionality, responsibility, and trustworthiness. Their leadership shaped a culture of care and belonging that will leave a lasting impact on our program. We will deeply miss our four seniors, and their imprint of commitment and selflessness will continue to inspire future Wolfpack teams. This season was a testament to the power of faith, gratitude, and a team-first mentality.
Coach Klay Byker
Wrestling is one of the most complex and challenging activities any athlete will do in their lives. Wrestling is extremely physically and mentally demanding, especially if you set ambitious goals and work diligently to achieve them. The sport of wrestling truly helps you prepare
for the rest of your life. Much of what it teaches coincides with the fruits of the spirit.
This year, the girls grew immensely. Not only with their wrestling technique and success on the mat but with the life lessons taught by this sport. Five years from now, we will mostly forget who won what tournament, but the self-control, discipline, resilience, mental toughness, confidence, and work ethic learned will stay forever.
This year, we had Nicole Vander Zwaag, Abigail Kats, Jadyn Leloux, and Aubree Graves return from last year, along with the addition of Jasmine Bakker and a few other girls who tried it out. Jasmine and Aubree were unable to finish the season due to injuries. Nicole, Abigail, and Jadyn all had an outstanding year, with each coming home from multiple tournaments with podium finishes. One of the highlights for the year was that we participated in and won the first dual format competition in the young history of Western Christian girls’ wrestling. We also had great road trip memories from wrestling in Ames, Fort Dodge, and Emmetsburg. Hosting our home tournament is always awesome, too.
While we are sad to see Nicole move
on, we are excited to welcome a great group of freshmen next year. Many other local schools have big girl’s wrestling teams. Hopefully, more girls at Western will come out and try this amazing sport!
Coach Brad Kats
This season, my goal for the team was for each guy to give their best and use their abilities to honor God. For many others the team encountered, Western Christian’s wrestling team might have been their first exposure to God, and I wanted to ensure we left a positive impression. I’m proud of how the team responded, especially given our youth and inexperience. Improvement was evident, even if it didn’t show in the record. I emphasized that their identity is not defined by wrestling but by being children of God, loved no matter the outcome.
It was a fun season. I’m excited for next year as the guys start to buy more into the program and as I learn more as a coach. Colossians 3:23 –“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.
Coach Austin Wilson
Once again, the dance team completed a full season: starting to prepare in the summer with camps and choreography, performing at home football and basketball games along with area dance nights, hosting a dance camp, and competing at the state competition. Dance season is the longest of any athletic season.
The state competition was held in Des Moines on December 5th. The team competed in four categories (Lights, Jazz, Hip Hop, and MIX, a brand-new category). All of their performances were awarded a
Division 1 rating and top-ten finishes. The team was also awarded a Distinguished Academic Award for a 3.5-3.89 GPA. Along with the team competition, four dancers, Addison Rozeboom, Addison Covey, Ella Rozeboom, and Haley De Groot, represented Western Christian at the Solo competition in Pella in October.
This was also an exciting season for the first-ever JV dance team. This team had three freshmen and six 8th graders. They competed at the JV State in the Small School Pom category and received a Division 1 rating. The JV girls walked into their first practice not knowing each other or what to expect for the season. They
concluded the season as friends and having learned a lot.
Ninety-nine girls, ages kindergarten to 5th grade, attended dance camp on January 30.
Both teams had a great year. Even though it is a long season, the girls grew as dancers, friends, and in their faith through our weekly devotions and had fun along the way. They worked hard at every practice and performed their best at the state competitions.
Coach Megan Kooima
As we enter the Spring Season, I am reminded of the powerful words in John 15:5. God’s Creation is renewing. May this remind us that we need to be connected to Jesus Christ, the source of life and purpose.
“I
AM THE VINE; YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. IF YOU REMAIN IN ME AND I IN YOU, YOU WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT; APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING.” JOHN 15:5
Western Christian is more than just a school; we are a learning community of over 8,000 branches (alumni) which spread throughout 49 states and 9 countries. The “Branches of Western Christian” continue to bear fruit, “Serving the King” both locally in nearly every state, and across the world. The Spring Drive is an opportunity for you to partner with our mission that seeks to GROW our Faith, Hope and Love for Kingdom Service.
Spring is a very busy season, as we complete one school year while planning for the next. While we are so grateful for this school year, we anticipate the great things that God has instore for our future. We anticipate enrollment being over 315 students for the 20252026 school year, the highest enrollment in over 15 years. Projections are that Western Christian High School could pass 340 students in the foreseeable future.
Will you prayerfully consider giving Western Christian a Spring Drive gift as we plan for the next school year and beyond? Funds raised will be given to the General Fund an directed towards Capital Improvements. There are many options to give: donations are accepted by check, stocks, bonds, and minimum distributions from your IRA. To proceed in giving online, please use the QR code below.
Thank you for your continued commitment to Western Christian High School! We look forward to seeing what God has in store for the future. We are grateful for the continuous support of our community. May all who come behind us, find us faithful!
In His Service,
Brad Vis Director of Mission
I have noticed for quite some time that my prayers often include the phrase “good people.” When I prayed for my kids growing up, but especially as they moved out of our house, going to places without the daily check-in with us in our home, I prayed for God to place “good people” in their lives. More recently, I found myself praying that for a student at Western, going through a particularly difficult time, and I wasn’t sure who was speaking into her life, so I prayed again for good people. And even when kids graduate from Western, I am often able to stay connected with them and their lives, sometimes with the student directly, sometimes with a student’s sibling or parent. I got a message from a Western parent recently as she shared some of the life happenings of her son, a recent Western grad, and her request for me sounded so familiar, “Please pray that God puts good people around him.” Amen, I know that prayer; I pray that prayer often.
When I think about what exactly I have on my heart when I pray for good people, I think of what the seniors and I have just read together in the book Just Do Something. One of the chapters is entitled “The Way of Wisdom,” Kevin DeYoung offers
three direct paths to God’s wisdom: Scripture, prayer, and wise counsel. Reading through his insights on wise counsel affirms the same qualities I desire when I pray for good people. When we face decisions or difficulties in life, we should lean on the people who know and love us best, but the author makes it clear that for those voices to offer truly wise insight, those individuals must share our deep faith and trust in God. I encourage the seniors (and myself) to consider the people we surround ourselves with. We can always find people to tell us what we want to hear, but do we have people around us who are committed to “speaking the truth in love,” (Ephesians 4:15)? Those are precisely the people I have in mind when I am praying for good people.
While we are praying for good people in our loved ones’ lives, a natural question should arise: Am I living my life in a way that I can be an answer to someone else’s good people prayer? Is my life so clearly linked with God, His will, and His Word that when called upon or offered an opportunity, someone is drawn closer to God by being in close proximity to me? I recently read in two places from two different Christian authors that Christianity cannot be our hobby if
we want our faith to be vibrant and flourishing and if we want to truly impact others for Christ. A hobby is something you enjoy, something you participate in as your schedule allows, something you sometimes encourage others to try, but also something you sometimes set aside for long periods of time or even drop completely when a new or different hobby comes along. Brian Maisch writes, “Following Jesus is not a hobby; it’s a mission that defines our existence.” And that is exactly the good people I want God to send to the lives of those I pray for. That is exactly the person I pray to be to others–not a hobby Christian, but rather a my-lifedepends-on-it Christian.
By God’s grace, and in His beautiful providence, may He answer our prayers for good people to be everywhere in the lives of our loved ones, students, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. But just as important, may our prayers always include that important request: “And, Dear Father, continue to work in me and through me that I, too, may be part of your good people throughout all the earth!”
Just my thoughts, KC
During my time at Western, I have been blessed to grow in my faith with fellow students’ help and staff members’ guidance. Much of this faith-building was done in activities I am involved in, like the WC Tech Team and being an FFA officer. These roles allowed me to grow my faith through leadership.
As a freshman at Western, I started working on the WC Tech Team to stay involved in school activities. It interested me, and I thought it would be a good way to learn more about technology. This simple interest turned into more than I ever could have imagined. It led to a big responsibility as Teigen De Kam, and I started the Wolfpack Livestream early in my junior year. The livestream was challenging at times, yet when it all came together, it was easy to see the blessing it was for the school community. This opportunity allowed me to grow in my faith because it
April 14–17 Spiritual Emphasis Week
April 18 Good Friday, No School
Western Christian High School is grateful to receive memorial gifts in honor and memory of:
Andrew G. Brummel - Williamsburg, IA. Andrew was a 1956 graduate of Western.
showed me how I could bless others through the gifts and talents God has given me.
I also have the privilege of being the treasurer for the FFA program. This opportunity as an officer has been an important part of my faith. I have been influenced by many Christian people who guide me and push me outside of my comfort zone to become a better leader and an example for other students. I have used my position to promote Christ-like leadership to all members of the FFA and beyond. More recently, the FFA program has blessed two individuals with donations that we could only donate because of the generosity of people in our school. This donation was eye-opening because I saw how my influence helped our school come together to impact others’ lives positively. This role has continued to grow my faith in ways I wouldn’t have imagined when I started as an officer.
John Van Zanten - Rock Valley, IA. John and his wife Mary had five children who attended Western. Diana (1968), Fonda (1971), Terry (1975), Barbra (1978), and Bonnie (1982).
Peter Soodsma - Hull, IA. Peter (1956) and his wife Helen (1957) had three children who attended Western. Mark (1978), Brenda (1979) and Dan (1984).
Marian Wallenburg - Inwood, IA. Marian (1957) and her husband Gerald had six children and nine grandchildren who graduated from Western. Dave (1981), Sharon (1982), Darwin (1984), Brian (1986), Marlin (1989) and Brent (1993).
Alongside these two significant roles I have here at Western, where much of my faith has grown, I can also increase my faith just by walking the halls. I know many of the teachers at Western well, and all of them desire to grow each student’s faith. Being in a Christian school has allowed my faith to flourish before I go out into the world beyond high school.
Aiden
Van Roekel
Be watching for more information through email and social media
April 22 Grandparents and Special Friends Day
May 2 Junior/Senior Banquet
May 7 Spring Music Concert
May 9 FFA Banquet
May 20 Graduation
May 28–30 Exams