Westminster Academy Tampa Enrollment Guide 2023-2024

HEADMASTER’SWELCOME

ThankyouforyourinterestinWestminsterAcademy.Ihope thatthisinformationhelpsyoubecomebetteracquaintedwith theschoolasyouconsiderthebestoptionforyourchild.

WestminsterAcademyisanindependentChristianand classicalschoolintheheartofbeautifulTampa,Florida.The schoolisconvenientlylocated,justminutesfromdowntown, situatedbetweenDaleMabryHighwayandMacDillAvenue. WestminsterAcademyisamemberoftheAssociationof ClassicalChristianSchoolsandtheSocietyforClassical Learning.

WestminsterAcademywasfoundedin2013byseveralfamilieswithavisionforanewschoolin thecentralandsouthTampaareatoprovideathoroughlyChrist-centerededucationandtoinstruct studentsusingclassicalmethods,subjects,andcontent.Thisvisionhasbeencomingtolifeforthe pastsevenyearsatWestminsterAcademy,growingfromseveralfamiliestoover50students, representingmorethan30householdsandadozenchurchesintheTampaBayarea.Theschool offersanurturingandrigorouseducationtostudentsingradesPreK4throughfifthgrade,training themtolovelearningandpreparingthemtothinkbiblicallyinallspheresoflife.

IamexcitedaboutwhatGodisdoingatandthroughWestminsterAcademy,andthebestwayto understandwhatI’vedescribedistovisittheschool.Iencourageyoutocontacttheschooland scheduleadaytovisitorattendoneoftheopenhouseevents.Youwilldiscoverforyourselfhow impressiveandwonderfultheclassicaldifferenceisinthejoyfulexperienceofthestudentswho attendtheschool.

Mr.ToddBohlander,M.A. Headmaster

VISIONSTATEMENT

Thisvisionstatementencapsulatestheaspirations oftheschoolintoasimpleandclearsentence.This isthegoalthattheWestminsterAcademystrivesto attain.

ThevisionofWestminsterAcademyis tobeaneducationalinstitutionof scholasticandculturalexcellencemade upofacommunityofvirtuous scholarscommittedtoservingChrist andhismission.

MISSIONSTATEMENT

Inourmissionstatement,wesetforthhowwe intendtogoaboutachievingthevision.Thisisa concisewayofsayingwhatwedoandwhywedoit.

WestminsterAcademyexiststo provideaChristianandclassical educationtoequipstudentsfora lifetimeoflearningandfaithin Christ.

VALUESSTATEMENT

WhenWestminsterAcademywasfounded,thefirst familiesagreedthatitspurposewouldbetocreate a“privateChristianclassicalschooldedicatedto educatingchildrenthroughitscommitmentto BiblicalFidelity,DevotionalVitalityandIntellectual Integrity.”Thesethreecommitmentsremainthe pillarsofhowWestminsterAcademyadministration andfacultybelieve,teach,andactasweperform ourmission.Additionally,studentsaretaughtto behaveinamannerthatdemonstratesthesevalues:

AsWestminsterAcademypursuesits visionandmission,theschoolcommits itselftothefollowingthreevalues:

VISION MISSION VALUES

BiblicalFidelity isourunwavering commitmenttotheScripturesasthe ruleforfaithandlife.TheBible containsGod'swrittenrevelationtoall humanityandservesasourguideto salvationthatisfoundinChrist.

DevotionalVitality isour convictiontoliveeverymomentasunto theLord.Allofhumanactivityis knowntoGod,andHeisworthyof thesacrificeofallourendeavors.Inall thatwedo,weseektoglorifytheLord Jesus.

IntellectualIntegrity isour certaintythatalltruthandknowledge havetheirsourceinourCreator. Therefore,allthatisknowableis ultimatelyconnectedanddependenton therealityofGod'sexistence.Weare createdtouseourmindsinserviceand worshiptotheLord.

WHATWEBELIEVE

CHRISTIANSCHOOL

WestminsterAcademyisaChristianschoolinthe mostmeaningfulsenseoftheterm.Theschool existsasaministrythatpartnerswithChristian parentsforthesakeoftheirchildreninthe biblicalmandatetobringthemupinthetraining andinstructionoftheLord(Ephesians6:4).We provideChristianhomeswithanallyintraining theirchildrentoknow,love,andobeytheLord Jesus.Asmuchasiswithinourabilities,westrive todrawchildrentowardandencouragefaithin JesusChrist.Inthisway,WestminsterAcademy isaChrist-centeredschool.

AsaChristianschool,weenjoyrelationshipswith Christiansfromvaryingtraditionswithinthe historicalChristianfaith.Wewelcomefamilies frommanydenominationsandsomefromno denominationatall,andwedrawencouragement fromthefactthattheschoolishelpingfollowers ofJesusfromsomanybackgrounds.Theschoolis notaffiliatedwithaparticulardenominationor church,anditsleadershipandfacultyare membersofdifferentchurchesinthecommunity.

BIBLICALCENTRALITY

CentraltoaChristianeducationisthe developmentofabiblicalworldview.Through theBible,Godcommunicatesknowledgeof himselfandhiswillinsalvationtoallpeople foralltimes.Moreover,theBible communicatestrulyandauthoritativelyinall theareasthatitspeaks.Thismeansthat studentsmustlearntoseetheeventsoflife andtheworldaroundthemthroughthelensof God’srevelationfoundintheScriptures. Therefore,theBibleisfoundationalinthelife oftheschool.StudentsmemorizeScripture, reciteScripture,andareinstructedinallareas fromtheperspectivethattheGodwhois revealedintheBiblecreatedallthingsand thatallthingsareunderhisdivinecareand rule.

REFORMEDTHEOLOGICAL COMMITMENTS

Fromitsinception,WestminsterAcademyhas beencommittedtothetheological understandingofhistoricalChristianityborn outoftheProtestantReformation.Inparticular, theschool’sleadershipandfacultyallaffirm agreementwiththedoctrinesexpressedwithin theWestminsterConfessionofFaith,theLarger Catechism,andtheShorterCatechism.

Studentsmemorizemanysectionsfromthe Children’sandtheShorterCatechismsaspart oftheiracademicstudies.Wehaveseenhow memorizinganddiscussingthesequestionsand theiranswersleadstudentstoengagetheir familiesinimportantconversationsaboutfaith andlife.Whattheylearngroundsthemina solid,biblicalunderstandingofwhoJesusisand whathehasdone.

STATEMENTOFFAITH

WeprofessthattheScripturesare theinerrantandinfallibleWord ofGodandareouronlyultimate authorityforfaithandlife.We believethattheWestminster Standards(consistingofthe WestminsterConfessionofFaith andtheLargerandShorter Catechisms)articulatethesystem ofdoctrinetaughtinthe Scriptures.

YEARFOUNDED

2013

GRADESOFFERED

PreK(4)through5th grades

STUDENTENROLLMENT

2022-2023:55students

STUDENTTOFACULTYRATIO

8:1ratio-classesdonotexceed18students

SCHOOLDAY

Studentdrop-offbegins@7:40am

Bellringsforattendance@8:00am

StudentAssemblyM,Tu,Th,F@8:05am

WeeklyChapelonWednesday@8:00am

MorningsSnackRecess@9:15am

LunchforPreKthrough1st grade@11:05am

Lunchfor2nd through5th grades@11:45am

AfternoonRecess@1:15pm

Studentpick-upbegins@3:00pm

ENRICHMENTCLASSES

PhysicalEducation-MondayandFriday

MusicHistory&Appreciation-Tuesdayand Thursday

VisualArts-Wednesday

CLASSICALINSTRUCTION

Weeklymemorizationsequence

Catechismtraining

Integratedcurriculum

ClassicalLatin,3rd through5th grades

SCHOOL ATA GLANCE

CLASSICALEDUCATION

HISTORY

DorothySayers,BritishauthorandfriendofC. S.Lewis,gaveaspeechatOxfordUniversityin 1947entitled“TheLostToolsofLearning.”The lecturewasacalltoreturntoeducationthat preparesstudentstobecomelearnerswho masterskillslongheldasthehallmarksofa trulyeducatedperson—fluencyinlanguage, correctreasoning,andclearexpressionof thought.Shepositedaformofeducationthat alignsthestagesofchilddevelopmentwiththe educationalmethodsoftheancientand medievalperiods,whichwerethestandardsof excellenceforcenturiesinthewesternworld. Nearlyhalfacenturylater,Sayers’address wouldbecomefoundationalfortheclassical educationmovementintheUnitedStates.

TheAssociationofClassicalChristianSchools wasfoundedin1994inordertosupportand promotethecreationanddevelopmentof classicalChristianschools.Sinceitsformation, theACCShasgrowntomorethanmember300 schools,15ofwhichareinthestateofFlorida.

METHODS

Classicaleducationisareturntotrainingchildren usingmethodswhoseimportanceineducation havebeendiminishedbyoursocietyatlarge. Thesethreemethodsalsocorrespondwiththe stagesatwhichchildrennaturallydevelopintheir thinking.Themethodsandtheirstagesarecalled theTrivium,whichisaLatintermmeaningthe intersectionofthreepaths.Thefirststageis calledtheGrammarstage,anditroughlyaligns withthetypicalelementaryschoolyears.Infact, elementaryschoolsusedbecalledgrammar schoolsbecauseofthis.Studentslearnthebasics buildingblocksofallknowledgeatthegrammar stage,withspecialattentiontothefundamental elementsoflanguage.Themiddleschoolyearsare thetimefordevelopinglogicalandargumentative reasoning,andarethuscalledtheLogicstage.

Finally,thehighschoolyearsaretimeforstudents torefinetheirabilitiestoarticulatetheirthoughts inanorganizedandpersuasivemanner,sothisis calledtheRhetoricstage.Masteryofthethree skillsofGrammar,Logic,andRhetoricprepare studentstoexcelinanyotherfieldofknowledge. Byfollowingtheclassicaleducationalmethod, studentsaretraininginthesecriticalskillsatthe pointwhentheyarebestequippedtolearnthem.

Asagrammarschool,WestminsterAcademy trainsitsstudentsinthefundamentalpiecesofall fieldsofknowledge.Atthispointinthechildren’s development,theyhaveastronginclinationto memorization,recitation,andfindingwonderin theworldaroundthem.Theylovehearingnew ideasandlearningallthattheycan.Studentsin thegrammarstageareabletoabsorbvast amountsofinformationandretainitfarbetter thanadultscan!Andtheyenjoydoingjustthat.It isnotthecasethatclassicalschoolsavoid trainingincriticalthinkingatthegrammar stage—thereisplentyofthattoo.However,we takeadvantageofthechildren’sGod-givenability toacquireandretaininformationatthisstageso thatthereismoreofthefoundationalknowledge presentforhigherlevelthinkinginthefuture.All alongtheway,teachersarelayingthegroundwork forthelaterstagesintheTrivium.

SUBJECTS&CONTENT

Inadditiontowell-proveneducationalmethods, classicalcurriculumemphasizescontentthathas stoodthetestoftime.Newandtrendybooks,art, andmusiccanbeusedforinstructingchildren, butwechoosetodirectstudents’attentiontothe greaterworksofliteratureandart.Classical educationfocusestheintellectualenergyof studentstowardthoseclassicworkstostirup theiraffectionsforwhatisexcellent,virtuous, andbeautiful.Weplacebeforestudentsthose stories,ideas,andimagesthatareoutstanding examplesforimitationandthoughtful interaction.

Manypeoplewhohearaboutclassicaleducation oftenequateitonlywiththestudyofLatin.Itis truethatstudentsinclassicalschoolsstudyLatin orsomeotherclassicallanguage,suchasGreek. However,thesubjectsstudiedinclassicalschools includetypicalcourseslikemusic,art,math, reading,history,andsciences.Inadditiontothese aresubjectslikephonics,grammar,logic,public speaking,andLatin.Also,theinstructioninall subjectstakesanintegratedapproach.Inother words,whatstudentslearninonesubjectis taughtinawaythatishighlyconnectedtothe othersubjectsinsteadofbeingtreatedasiffields ofknowledgeexistseparately.

RESULTS

Theoutcomeoftheclassicalapproachto educationisastudentequippedwiththemost powerfulskillsforlearning,astudentwhoenjoys attendingschoolbecausethemethodsof instructionarealignedwiththeirnaturalabilities, andastudentwhoseaffectionshavebeenguided towardtruth,goodness,and beauty.

ADDITIONALRESOURCES

TheLiberalArtsTradition:APhilosophyof ChristianClassicalEducation

(2019)RaviJainandKevinClark

AnIntroductiontoClassicalEducation

(2004)ChristopherPerrin

TheCaseforClassicalChristianEducation

(2001)DouglasWilson

RecoveringtheLostToolsofLearning:An ApproachtoDistinctivelyChristian Education (1991)DouglasWilson

TheLostToolsofLearning

(1947)DorothySayers

ACCSwebsite-classicalchristian.org

SCLwebsite- societyforclassicallearning.org

CLASSICALEDUCATION

ADMISSIONSPROCESS

VISITTHESCHOOL

ScheduleaSchoolTour

Callorregisteronlineforatour

SUBMITINITIALAPPLICATION&FEE

ApplicationforAdmission

$100applicationfee (non-refundable)

Followingthesubmissionoftheadmissions applicationandfee,theStage2Application willbesent,ashadowdayappointmentwillbe made,andaparentinterviewwillbe scheduled.Theschoolwillalsoinitiatecontact withthepriorinstitutiontoaccessacademic andbehavioralrecords.

RECORDS&EVALUATIONS

CompletedStage2Application

CopyofAcademicRecords

CohortAcademicEvaluation

INTERVIEW&ASSESSMENT

ParentInterviewwithHeadmaster

StudentShadowDay/Group

Observation/Interview

NotificationofAdmissionsDecision

TUITION ANDFEES

2023-2024TUITION

Kindergarten-5th Grade

$9400annualtuition

Prekindergarten

$7250annualtuition

Tuitionmaybepaidallupfront,in2sememster payments,orin10monthlyinstallments,dueonthe 15thofthemonth,AugustthroughMay.

EnrollmentFee

$250until2/24/2023

$325until3/24/2023

$400until4/24/2023

$475until5/24/2023

$550after5/24/2023

OtherFeesandAdditionalCosts

CurriculumFee:$60perstudent

SchoolSuppliesFee:$55perstudent

FinancialAssistance

WestminsterAcademyparticipatesintheStepUp ForStudentsprogramusingtheFloridaTaxCredit Scholarship(FTC)andtheFamilyEmpowerment Scholarship(FES-EO),whichprovidefundingto families.Pleasevisitthe StepUpForStudents website formoreinformationabouttheFTCand FES-EOscholarships.

Also,WestminsterAcademyofferstuition assistancefamilieswhodemonstratefinancial need.TheschoolusestheonlineFinancialAidfor SchoolTuition(FAST)serviceasthesubmission formatandprocessorforalltuitionassistance applications.Theapplicationprocessisself-guided, andparentguidesareavailableontheFAST website.Pleasevisittheschoolswebsiteabout FinancialAssistance formoreinformation.

EXTRAPROGRAMS

AFTERSCHOOLPROGRAM

WestminsterAcademyoffersafterschool supervisionforinterestedfamiliesbeginningat 3:25pmofeachregularschoolday.Anystudent whohasnotbeenpickedupbyparentsoran authorizedadultby3:25willbeplacedinthe AfterSchoolProgram,andthefamilywillbe chargedforthatday.TheAfterSchoolProgram willnotbeavailableondaysscheduledforan earlydismissal.

TheAfterSchoolProgramendspromptlyat

5:30pmeachday.Aparentoranauthorized adultmustpickuptheirstudentpriortothis timetoavoidanadditionaldailycharge.

Eachchildwillneedasnackwhenstayingfor theAfterSchoolProgram.

ACTIVITIES

•Structuredandunstructuredplaytime

•Afternoonsnack

•Homeworkassistance

•MemoryWorkrehearsal

•Ageappropriateshowormovieviewing

TYPICALSCHEDULE

3:25-AfterSchoolprogrambegins

3:25-4:00-Snackandshow

4:00-4:25-HomeworkorCourtyardplay

4:25-5:00-PackupandOutdoorplay

5:00-5:30-Courtyardplay

5:30-Programends

PRICINGperstudent

SingleDay:$15

Fourormoredaysinaschoolweek:$60

Latepickup(after5:30P.M.)$15additional

SUMMERDAYCAMP

WestminsterAcademyisexcitedtoofferits summerdaycampagainthisyearforstudents enrolledattheschool.Welookforwardtoa wonderfulweekofourstudentslearningand playingtogether!

•Dates:July24–28,2022

•Dailyhours:8:00AM-3:00PM

•Location:schoolcampus

•Availability:studentscurrentlyenrolledat WestminsterAcademy

•Cost:$200perstudent

•Studentsneedtobringlunch,water bottle,andsnackseachdayofcamp.

DAILYACTIVITIES

•BibleLesson

•Sport/game

•SpecialActivity

•Lunch

•Snacktime

SPECIALACTIVITIES

Monday

SportsandScienceProject

Tuesday

LocalParkfieldtripandScienceProject

Wednesday

ScavengerHuntandMovie

(Pizzalunchwillbeservedtostudents)

Thursday

BounceHousefieldtripandScienceProject

Friday WaterPlay

(Studentscomereadytogetwet!)

Completethisformandsubmititto admissions@westminstertampa.org.Initial applicationiscompleteuponrecieptofthe non-refundable$100applicationfee.

APPLYINGFORACADEMICYEAR ______________

STUDENTINFORMATION

APPLICATIONFORADMISSION

APPLYINGFORGRADEPKK12345

Fullname Preferredname:

Dateofbirth ______/_______/_______ Placeofbirth

Adopted:yesnoSex:femalemaleParentsseparated/divorced::yesno

Homeaddress

FAMILYINFORMATION

Mother’sname Phone

Mother’s address

Mother’soccupation Employer

Mother’semail

Father’sname Phone

Father’s address

Father’soccupation Employer

Father’semail

Churchfamilyattends

Denominationpreference

Haseitherparentbeenconvictedofacrime?

Ifyes,pleaseexplain.

Ifparentsareseparatedordivorced,describe custodyagreementandhowtuitionwillbepaid.

ACADEMICINFORMATION

Members?yesno

Currentschool Currentgrade

Previousschools

Hasyourchildeverbeentestedforlearningdifficulties?

Doesyourchildreceiveanyspecialaccommodations orhaveanIEP?Ifyes,pleasedescribe.

Hasyourchildeverbeendisciplinedordismissed fromschool/preschool?Ifyes,pleaseexplain.

Thesignaturebelowindicatesthattheinformationprovidedistrueandcompletetothebestoftheparent’sorguardian’sknowledge.It alsoindicatesunderstandingthatyourchildwillbeeducatedaccordingtothephilosophyofclassicalChristianeductionandreceive traininginChristiandoctrineasarticulatedintheWestminsterConfessionofFaithifadmittedforenrollment.

Parent/Guardiansignature Date