Westminster 50th Anniversary Commemorative Magazine

From the Head of School Unless the Lord builds the

As the new Head of School at Westminster, I am

physically, and socially while fostering a joy

house, those who build it

deeply committed to continuing the effective ministry

in learning that, Lord willing, will serve as a

labor in vain (Psalms 127:1).

to students that God brings to us as we embark on our

foundation for an impactful life of learning.

Since 1972, God has built a

next 50 years of service to families. While the mission

wonderful Christian school

remains the same, we will be intentional, true, and

• Westminster will have a presence and a

at Westminster Schools of

purposeful as ever in seeking to stay on mission in,

Augusta, and He has provided

and through, our ministry. As we press towards the

countless laborers over the

future with enthusiasm and anticipation, it is my

years to “build” in His strength

earnest hope that:

and for His glory. Westminster has been, and continues to be, a story of God’s amazing grace. It is most evident that the school has been a training ground to develop the Christian mind to think biblically about all of life, so that students are equipped to bear fruit for His kingdom in their various walks of life and, in so doing, live extraordinary lives for Jesus Christ!

Reviewing Westminster’s rich history, I stand in awe and amazement at the sacrifices and commitment of

• The discipleship of students and their hearts for Jesus will be our highest aim; • Our biblically saturated, excellent educational programs would be first rate in equipping the mind, nurturing the soul, and shaping the character for students’ life calling from God;

connection through the winsome engagement of the greater community of the CSRA. • The wise stewardship of God’s resources given to Westminster will be for the means of advancing Christ’s Kingdom so that He may be glorified.

Westminster can boldly embark on its next 50 years as graduates uncover, and then selflessly use, their Godgiven gifts to radiantly shine as a beacon of great hope to a broken world desperately in need of hope and healing, redemption and renewal. So as we move into the future, may we be guided by the words of Christ,

• The heartbeat of our school community will be

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see

Gospel-driven, relationally focused, and grace-

your good works and give glory to your Father who is in

filled in attitude and action;

heaven.” Matthew 5:16

early school founders who caught the vision of First

• All students will be treated as image bearers of

Presbyterian Church of Augusta for a Christian school

God with great dignity, immeasurable worth and

to be planted in our community. Now, 50 years later,

value, and viewed with high capacity as we aim to

it is evident that the Lord has clearly honored their

educate the whole child for the glory of God;

vision, generosity, and persistent prayers through His

• Our faculty and staff will relationally engage

Dr. Shawn Brower

with the whole child intellectually, spiritually,

Head of School

faithfulness to our beloved school.

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Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

For God’s glory alone,

History It all started with a cardboard box that was

Alton “Al” Lovingood, and Hunter

recycled from a laundromat at the beach. That’s

Baggs. Rev. Dr. John W. P. Oliver

where founding trustees Hunter Baggs and Thomas

mailed his recollections from

“Tommy” Burnside, Jr. first jotted down the vision

Charlotte. All four men recalled

for Westminster Schools of Augusta.

the hard work and answered

While on vacation together, the two friends began

prayers that paved the way for the

discussing plans to start a Christ-centered, collegepreparatory school that employed the area’s top educators, and offered high academic standards, strong character development values, and excellent extracurricular activities for local students. Baggs

creation of a school that would prepare Godly students to grace the campuses of the nation’s leading colleges and universities for many years to come. Collectively, the men agreed that Westminster’s founding

First Presbyterian, Rev. Dr. John W. P. Oliver was

is a testament to the school’s 50th anniversary

drawn into the conversations and accepted an

where they were staying.

theme, 50 Years of God’s Faithfulness.

invitation to speak to a group of parents at the

“That’s how it started,” said Baggs, who served on

‘A Sizable Ministry’

did a lot of the talking. Burnside did all the writing while the two sat on a screened porch at the hotel

Westminster’s board of trustees for nine years, beginning with the school’s founding in 1972. “We had a vision for a school to not only teach and train students academically, but to be ambassadors of Christ.”

With Westminster celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, school leaders sat down with three of the founding trustees living in Augusta: George Bowen,

home of Philpot, who appeared to be named, by consensus, the group’s unofficial chair. Oliver

As the men sat with Baggs in his living room,

said, “The presentation addressed the foundation

he shared it took two years to get from their

and framework of a Christian school — a biblical

notes on the cardboard box to students in desks.

worldview that guided all learning and directed

Burnside and Baggs were joined by Dewey Cave,

standards of conduct. In ensuing discussions

Jr., and William “Billy” Philpot, Jr., all members

— and with differences of understanding and

of First Presbyterian Church of Augusta. A little

commitment as to what makes a school Christian,

more than a year after becoming the pastor of

some parents drew back while a majority turned

Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

5

to him and First Presbyterian Church to assure

concerns about whether the amount of time and

Baggs said a tight-knit group of six men “were the

biblical grounding and guidance.”

labor required to launch a day school would dilute

hub of the beginning of the school.” They worked

As a result, the pastor said plans for a parent-

the attention and already strained resources of

in collaboration with Oliver. “I called us foot

church members that were needed to rebuild the

soldiers,” Baggs said. They did all the groundwork

congregation. “But, a strong biblical conviction

in meetings at Cave’s home at night to avoid work

calmed my thinking,” he said. “The Lord seemed

conflicts, meeting as many as four times a week.

to be guiding the vision and implementing steps

Baggs and Cave worked in insurance. Bowen

of committed Christian leaders. If this is truly of

was in real estate. Burnside was an attorney and

Him, He will bring it to pass. And, that despite the

Lovingood was an engineer. The meetings included

unforeseen future.” The pastor said he came to the

a lot of discussion and prayer seeking God’s will.

place of “thanksgiving and joy” that the original

“Slowly, He revealed it to us,” Bowen said.

board and a number of faculty and staff at the

The effort to start Westminster also included

controlled school soon shifted to one that was affiliated with a specific church and its governing body. That led to the school’s original board of trustees entering into a contractual relationship with the Session of First Presbyterian Church to guarantee and guard the group’s common goals, and clarify Oliver’s role as pastor and a founding trustee. “Suddenly, an unexpected and sizable ministry was on my plate,” Oliver said.

‘He will bring it to pass’

school were members of the church.

a lot of help from the wives of the founding trustees, which included Mary Ann Baggs, Jane

Oliver knew the effort would be a

Bowen, Dianne Burnside, Cynthia Cave, Betty

huge undertaking for the church.

Gene Lovingood, Cristina Oliver, and Jocelyn

At the time, the downtown First

Philpot. The women developed an extensive list of

Presbyterian was struggling, in

addresses and phone numbers of local families.

part, from declining membership

They called and mailed a letter to families in the

from the previous decades. Many

community to gauge interest in the formation of a

of its neighboring congregations

new private, Christian college-preparatory school

had closed or relocated to Augusta’s

being developed in west Augusta for students of

suburbs. Oliver admitted he had

all faiths and backgrounds. A second letter was

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Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

mailed to the families who responded favorably

Presbyterian Church. At the time, the west Augusta

We have to do business with you,’” Bowen said.

requesting a $100 deposit for a slot in the new

population had quadrupled making it an ideal

“We told him that this is how God works,” Baggs

school. Later, a $300 enrollment fee in one or more

location for a private school. They visited different

added. “We have 170 families. We have funds in

payments was required. “We had money in the

churches and places around Augusta to find a

the bank. We are in the process of interviewing a

checking account (that) we opened up and we were

location without success. After more prayer, Baggs

headmaster. School is starting in eight weeks and

off and running,” Baggs said.

and Bowen finally landed at National Hills Baptist

we do not have a place to go. We have to do this.

Church on Washington Road. The two spoke to the

Please. Please. I am begging.’” They asked Bailey

church’s pastor, Rev. Keith Bailey, and laid out the

to go back into the deacons’ meeting and tell them

The next step was to find a facility to house the

vision for a private, Christian, college-preparatory

that they are not leaving. The deacons met for

school because Oliver said “no one thought a

school. They asked to rent the church’s basement

45 minutes to an hour. “George and I prayed the

school could be established in the outdated and

to house the school and offered to pay to renovate

whole time.” When they were ushered into the

inadequate Sunday School facilities” at First

the facility to include classrooms and install a

deacon’s meeting, the answer was now a “yes.”

‘We aren’t leaving’

fence around the property. He was

Bowen said the school worked with a friend and

excited about the possibility and

National Hills Deacon Bill Smith to finalize an

planned to take it to the deacons

agreement in which they used the facility five days

for approval.

a week and paid about $1,000 a month in rent and

About a week later, Baggs and

covered utilities.

Bowen returned to National Hills

‘That’s the man’

for the deacons’ meeting. The initial answer from the deacons

Although Westminster got the facilities it needed at

was “no.” Baggs and Bowen replied,

National Hills, it still lacked a Head of School. The

“We are not leaving. You have to

founding trustees turned to Dr. Joel Nederhood,

do it. The Lord sent us over here.

a Fulbright scholar and retired minister of the

Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

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Christian Reformed Church, for help after he spoke

for a weekend interview. Baggs remembers

science, respectively. Moon also was instrumental

at a missions conference at First Presbyterian.

meeting Balkcom on the tarmac at Bush Field.

in developing the school’s physical education

He recommended Otis Balkcom, of Wilmore, Ky.

Before their initial encounter, he said, “That is

program.

Mr. Balkcom was a graduate of Asbury University

the man.” Following the interview, he was offered

The school started with grades one through eight

the Head of School position and accepted. Baggs said, “He put that school together in eight weeks.” Mr. Balkcom developed a curriculum and worked with founding trustees to recruit a list of public-school teachers identified as well-known educators who shared Christian values and might consider coming to Westminster.

The school recruited Jane Ellen Lackman, regarded as one of the top teachers in Richmond County, to teach first grade. Other and Georgetown College, where he earned his

notable teachers in the school’s early years include

bachelor’s and master’s degrees, respectively. At the

Betty Gene Lovingood, pre-K; Gertrude Arthur,

time, Balkcom served as the Education Assistant to

kindergarten; Gay Stokely, second grade; and Lee

the President of his alma mater, Asbury University.

Heard in the middle school. Joy Balkcom, Ann

Westminster’s founding trustees invited Balkcom

Faulk, and Jack Moon taught English, math, and

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Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

in 1972 and expanded a year later to include kindergarten and pre-K. The night before school started, founding trustees and their families unpacked and assembled student desks and helped set up classrooms. They also bolted down lockers and washed windows. “We were excited and nervous — and tired and sleepy— but a humble board,” Al Lovingood, trustee of 32 years, said. “We had a job to do and we did it.”

‘He opened the door’ With a vibrant faculty and staff, and eager board of trustees, Westminster started to pick up momentum in the community and the founding trustees knew the school would quickly outgrow the building at National Hills Baptist Church.

George Bowen used his connections in local real estate to find a permanent location for the school.

He worked with Hank McGowan at First National

Bank to purchase a tract

another bank to

the new campus. They leaned on Al Lovingood’s

of 25 acres of land on

take on the loan,

engineering skills to lead the construction process.

Wheeler Road bordered

Bowen said they

According to school records, it cost $170,000 to

by Rae’s Creek that was

came back to

develop the land and $260,000 to construct the

owned by the trust of a

Georgia Railroad

first two academic buildings, which opened in

recently deceased real

and proposed

1975. Eighty percent of the funds to cover the early

estate developer. McGowan

that each trustee

development of the campus and construction came

agreed to let Westminster

would guarantee

from parents and board members. Today, data

purchase the property

a portion of the

from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates

for about $4,500 an acre.

debt. The bank

the project would cost about $2.3 million.

“He gave us a good price

agreed. Several

because he had a certain

trustees pledged

The founding trustees said the process of securing

amount of time to settle the

their houses

estate,” Bowen said. “The

for their share

Lord opened the door for us.”

of the loan. According to a deed obtained from

Westminster trustees then went to the Georgia

the Richmond County Clerk of Superior Court,

Railroad and Banking Company to secure a loan.

Westminster purchased the land from Law-New

“They asked us how much money could we put

Homes, Inc. on Dec. 29, 1972.

down and we said none,” Baggs said. At first, the

‘Like a miracle’

bank wanted each member of Westminster’s board to sign a note personally guaranteeing the total

After securing a loan, Westminster’s trustees

debt on the school, but Bowen said the school’s

recruited Augusta architect Robert “Bob” Beatty, Jr.

trustees declined. When the board failed to find

to draw up the plans for the first two buildings on

temporary facilities, recruiting a head of school, faculty, and students, purchasing the land for the campus, and construction of the first buildings, all contributed to the amazing experience of starting Westminster. “The most rewarding part was to watch God work,” Bowen said. Baggs agreed. “We had no idea how to start a school, much less a Christian school. It was like a miracle. Everywhere we turned we saw God’s hand working it out.”

Truly, “He brought it to pass.”

Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

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Previous Heads of School

Mr. Otis H. Balkcom 1972-1976

Mr. Raymond C. Jackson 1976-1978

Mr. Larry A. Bivins 1978-1980

Mr. Donald R. Kimsey 1981-1986

Mr. Matthew E. Gossage 1987-1994

Dr. John H. Lindsell 1994-2002

Mr. James A. Adare 2003-2008

Mr. Stephen D. O’Neil 2008-2016

Mr. Brian D. Case 2016-2021

Dr. Shawn M. Brower 2022-Present

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Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

Former Board Chairs

2022-2023 Board of Trustees

Mr. William K. Philpot, Jr.

1972-1975

Dr. Jack W. Carter

1975-1976

Mr. Thomas R. Burnside, Jr.

1976-1978

Mr. Bruce G. Kitchen

1978-1986

Dr. J. Larry Hornsby

1986-1988

Mr. Bruce G. Kitchen

1988-1992

Mr. David H. Hanks

1992-2006

Dr. George W. Robertson

2006-2008

Mr. William R. Thompson

2008-2011

Dr. Randy W. Cooper

2011-2014

Dr. Blanche M. Conger

2014-2015

Mr. John W. Phelan

2015-2018

Dr. Ashley T. Roach

2018-2020

Mr. John A. Weaver

2020-Present

Mr. John Weaver, Chairman Mr. J. Jordan Pierce, Vice Chairman Mr. Jon Dawkins, Treasurer Mrs. Aimee Lynch, Secretary Dr. Joshua Lane, Governance Chair Mr. Matthew Aitken Mr. Victor Baker, III Mr. Christopher Booker Dr. William Boyd Mrs. Tonya Davis Dr. Adam Hoover Mrs. Patrice Johnson Mr. Kelvin Kelly Mr. Kurt Malzer Mr. Byrd P. (Rusty) McGahee Mrs. Nancy B. Miller

Ex Officio Members Rev. John Franks Dr. Shawn Brower Dr. Mike Hearon Emeritus Members Mr. David Hanks Mr. Tom Harley

Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

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Through the Years

1971

1972

1974

1973

1975

Steering Committee is formed to launch

Westminster Schools of Augusta was

Kindergarten is added with classes first

Two academic buildings open (one for

what would become Westminster.

founded by a group of area businessmen

held at Lakemont Presbyterian Church.

lower school and one for high school) and

who saw the need in the Augusta area for

Enrollment climbs to 220 students.

the current soccer field was constructed.

a college preparatory education that was

1974

1976

rooted in Christian values. Westminster originally rented facilities at National Hills Baptist on Washington Road, enrolling 178 students from grades 1-8.

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Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

A 25-acre plot of land on Wheeler Road

Ray Jackson becomes the Head of School.

is purchased and construction begins on

Administration building opened, which

the new campus.

houses a new preschool and lunchroom.

1974 1977

1973

1977

1983

1980

1982

1983

Westminster holds its first graduation

A new gymnasium is built. Westminster

Don Kimsey becomes Head of School.

Lunchroom and 4 classrooms were added

with six graduates. Frank O’Neill, was

Day School is restructured as

Westminster celebrates 10 years of God’s

to the gym. Construction was done by First

the first valedictorian at Westminster.

Westminster Day School (PK4 - grade

faithfulness with 328 students enrolled.

Presbyterian members, parents and friends.

1978

6) and Westminster Preparatory School

Jim Anderegg was the engineer. Billy English

(Grade 7-12).

was the electrician. It was built on nights and

Larry Bivins becomes the Head of School.

weekends during the summer. Westminster’s technology department begins with the use of Apple computers by students.

Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

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1991

1986

1987

1986

1989

1988

1989

1990

Four classrooms were added using

The Advanced Placement (AP) program

Westminster receives initial

The Literary Team wins its first State

temporaries. Outdoor Classroom begins.

is established. 426 students are enrolled.

accreditation by the Southern

Championship.

Association of Colleges and Schools

1991

1987

Matt Gossage becomes Head of School.

Westminster’s fine arts department begins with the formation of art, band and debate programs.

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Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

(SACS), with 416 students enrolled.

Lampposts added to the campus. The Media Center was constructed with labor provided by faculty, parents and friends.

A science lab and four classrooms are added to the Westminster campus. Girls Varsity Soccer starts at Westminster.

1999

1997

1992

1992

2000

1994

Annie, the first spring musical, is

Dr. John Lindsell becomes Head of

performed. Westminster celebrates

School. Flowers for Algernon, a one-act

20 years of God’s faithfulness with 504

play, wins a State Championship.

students enrolled.

1996

1993

The Lower School’s Invention

Children of the Holocaust, the first one-act

Convention was started by Kathy

play, is performed.

Buurma.

1997

2000

The $4 million Capital Campaign for Excellence begins. Westminster participates in the Georgia Music Educators Association All-State Chorus event.

Pamplin Hall opened its doors for the

1999

team wins Westminster’s first State

Pollard Field is completed. Groundbreaking begins for Pamplin Hall on five acres of newly acquired land.

first time to students. Pollard Baseball is dedicated. The Middle School program is established. The Boys Varsity Soccer Championship.

Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

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2004

2001 2008

2003

2001

2003

2009

2007

2009

Boys Varsity Soccer teams win State

James Adare becomes the Head of School.

The Boys Varsity Tennis team wins

Westminster Schools of Augusta announces

Championships for two years in a row.

The first Student Leadership Team is

the State Individual and Team Tennis

the Westminster Honors Scholarship program.

2002

formed and begins the tradition of the

championships.

The first recipients joined the class of 2014;

annual backpacking trip.

2008

and Kalon Hightower. The Girls Varsity Soccer

Westminster celebrates 30 years of God’s faithfulness with 592 students enrolled.

2004

The famous spirit rock found its home

team wins a State Championship. The Upper

on Westminster’s campus. Steve O’Neil

School House system is established. Imagine

Championship.

was introduced as Head of School.

2020, Westminster’s strategic plan, begins

The Debate Team wins its first State

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Jared Hanner, Caroline Page, Caroline Cain,

Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

implementation.

2015

2010

2017

2010

2011

2017

2014

2016

Football begins at Westminster. AP

International teacher-in-residence

Launch of Imagine 2020 campaign.

Studio Art course is first offered at

program launches. New campus master

Westminster breaks ground on Knox Hall.

Westminster. A Cross Country course on

plan approved.

campus is built. SAIS-SACS accreditation

2012

is completed.

Brian Case becomes Head of School.

2017

2015

Construction of Knox Hall completed

Westminster’s Fine Arts Department

and school holds official ribbon-cutting

Westminster celebrates 40 years of God’s

wins their first One-Act state

to open the building to students,

faithfulness with 600 students enrolled.

championship. The Westminster varsity

faculty and staff. 1:World Program was

Westminster’s Varsity Girls Soccer Team

girls cross-country team won the GISA

launched!

wins the GISA AAA State Championship.

AAA state championship.

Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

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2020

2019

2019

2019

2020

2020

2021

2021

2022

Gencyber is hosted at Westminster.

Successfully launched and planned

Successfully had 180 days of school

Westminster Celebrates 50 years of God’s

Gencyber provides summer

remote learning in a global pandemic.

despite COVID-19 restrictions.

faithfulness.

cybersecurity training for students and

Westminster launches Fully Wired, a

teachers. Westminster wins the first ever

new robotics league for high-school

Georgia Independent School Association

students in the area after winning a

8-man football state championship.

$25,000 grant from State Farm.

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Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

50th Anniversary Committee History Committee

Convocation Chairs

Rusty McGahee

Rusty McGahee

committee, who collected all the information and

Peggy Green

Peggy Green

pictures for this magazine, the weekly history

Michael Merwin

It would be impossible to name all of the people who have contributed to the events of the 50th anniversary year. Special thanks go to the history

spotlights, and the slide show to prepare for a great year of celebration. Thank you also to the

Julie Wiggins

committee chairs for our special events. Along

Monica Boyd

with many volunteer committee members, they have put in countless hours to plan memorable

David Hanks

events to celebrate this special anniversary.

Wes Brown Kendra Sue Finch Katrina Selby Chandler Potts

Homecoming Chairs Rhonda Barinowski Sandra Hearon Carolyn Holgate Kendra Sue Finch Gala Chairs Kathy Schafer Katie Stewart Schafer Bazemore

Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

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Faculty and Staff with 20 or More Years of Service Over the past 50 years, countless lives have been impacted at Westminster Schools of Augusta by the teachers, administrators, advisors, and coaches who have guided students during the most formative years of their lives. In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Westminster would like to thank its devoted faculty and staff who have gone above and beyond their roles inside and outside the classroom to pour their lives into their students, pray for them daily, and mentor them toward a life of selfless service for Christ and the community. This is a list of faculty and staff who

Randall Nichols

Janice Esposito

Kennard Major

Faculty - 34 Years

Faculty - 31 Years

Staff - 31 Years

Kathleen Buurma Faculty - 30 Years

Mark Tebbs

Craig Johnson

Mary-Donnan Heppert

Susan Smith

Faculty - 30 Years

Faculty - 29 Years

Faculty - 29 Years

Faculty - 29 Years

have dedicated 20 or more years of their lives to building up Westminster’s mission of providing an excellent education that equips students to live extraordinary lives for Jesus Christ.

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Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

Sue Ames

Craig Ham

Faculty - 29 Years

Faculty - 29 Years

Kenneth Curry - Faculty - 28 years

Monica Boyd - Faculty - 21 years

Mary Weidman - Faculty - 27 years

Theresa Bone - Faculty - 21 years

Ramona Story - TA - 27 years

Michael Freace - Faculty - 21 years

Leisa Tebbs - Faculty - 27 years

Jennifer Finch - Faculty - 20 years

Julia Joiner - Faculty - 25 years

Cynthia Norris - Staff - 20 years

Barbara Volpito - Faculty - 25 years

Deborah Joiner - Faculty - 20 years

Susan Davis - Staff - 24 years

Paul Owen - 20 years

Julie Wiggins - Faculty - 24 years Jeannie English - TA - 23 years Alex McCallie - Faculty - 23 years Sara Lawson - Faculty - 22 years Laurie Faulkner - Faculty - 22 years Matthew Rich - Faculty - 22 years Renord James - Staff - 22 years Eric Newbrey - Staff - 22 years

Kent Hood

Michael Merwin

Faculty - 29 Years

Faculty - 29 Years

Marsha Cantrell - Faculty - 21 years

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A Partnership of Church and School When the Session of First Presbyterian Church of Augusta and founding families of Westminster Schools of Augusta discerned God’s leading in establishing a K-12 Christian school in Augusta in 1972, the vision was compelling and far reaching. Fifty years later we can see the evidence of their faith in the lives of individuals and families and in the expressions of Christcentered service that have reached all around the world. Graduates of Westminster have served our Lord as missionaries, pastors, Christian educators and leaders in local churches. The disciplines of medicine, law, education, science, business, counseling, armed forces, and the humanities have all been served by Christ-centered graduates of the school. It is likely that the most profound impact of the school has been the shaping of Christ-centered perspectives of marriage and family, which is blessing the next generation.

Hearing the stories of the faith and commitment of the leadership in establishing the school can only

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Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

be explained as a divine mandate. These pioneers recognized the call of the church of Jesus Christ to continue to align every square inch of our dreams, thoughts, and lifestyle around the lordship of Jesus Christ and his call to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28: 18-20). Discipleship teaches followers of Christ how to discern God’s design for our lives as revealed in Holy Scripture, and to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to seek the advance of his kingdom in a world in a needy world. At its foundational level, this is the purpose of education.

These founders were drawing on the heritage of the Judeo-Christian practice of passing the faith to the next generation. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 envisions a biblical model of education where home, church, and school function as a three-legged stool to serve children, families and future servants of Christ in the next generation. Education as we know it in the world exists in large measure because of the Christian vision and commitment through the centuries to view education as a mandate for the discovery of meaning in life that explains our origins and guides our destinies. An education founded on God’s principles provides light for all of life’s disciplines and callings and anchors human living in God, leading to a life of flourishing. This

powerful and beautiful embodiment of Christcentered thinking, Christ-centered community, Christ-centered ambitions, and Christ-centered service is what the school had in mind from the very beginning.

Formation Being anchored on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ as revealed in Scripture provides an educational community with the clarity needed to grow healthy Christ-centered community.

This formation and transformation of individual lives and families takes place in the context of relationships. Westminster seeks to cultivate healthy partnerships in order to foster spiritual formation.

From the beginning the partnership between church and school has provided the necessary spiritual anchoring to offer this Christ-centered educational experience in our city into the future. The Session of First Presbyterian Church continues to be strongly supportive of the mission of the school and its leadership. Pastors and members serve on the Board of Trustees, many First Pres members serve on the faculty and staff at the school, and First Pres members make up the largest percentage of students at the school. Yet more than 80 churches

are represented at the school, which provides an opportunity for partnership among churches.

Westminster now married, establishing their own

The partnership between parents and the school leadership is vital for promoting a healthy and growing community. The relationships that are formed among peers, in the classroom with faculty and students, and among families that share life experiences are essential in fostering biblical formation. Christian Education is not simply the dissemination of information learned through books or listening to lectures, but is learned in the context of relationships, applying God’s truth to every area of life. This kind of spiritual formation marks Westminster as a unique expression of Christcentered partnership in our city to form hearts and minds in Jesus Christ.

church. I am so thrilled that God gave our family

Future

divine mandate to make disciples of all nations.

My oldest child began kindergarten at Westminster 28 years ago. Subsequently, all four of my children attended K-12 at Westminster. As a parent and pastor, I have served on the board, taught classes, coached sports, and attended thousands of school functions through the years. I see the shared vision of the future among the families of our school, and I am seeing my children and many graduates of

families and careers and serving Christ and his Westminster as the third leg of the stool for homechurch-school, and I pray that as leaders we can give the generations to come the same and even better gift that we have received. Each of my children would say that Westminster was foundational and formational in providing the guidance needed for their future. The important lessons of purpose and meaning in life, leadership, discipline, friendship, and service are all discovered in community.

Westminster is a community continually seeking to shape the hearts and minds of students to fulfill this

Dr. Michael K. Hearon Lead Pastor, First Presbyterian Church

Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

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The Seal of Westminster Schools of Augusta Westminster’s seal is not the school logo, but rather the formal seal of the school.

It denotes distinction and significance, and is used on formal documents such as diplomas, transcripts and other certificates.

Great care and consideration went into the design of the seal, with each element carrying weight and meaning.

The Cross and the Crown The Crown is the reward awaiting the believer in heaven, after suffering the trials of life on earth, the Cross, a symbol used over the centuries.

Alpha and Omega It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Revelation 21:6 The three Latin words at the bottom:

Literae Can be translated literature or all documents that transmit knowledge and learning.

Veritas A Latin word, that means Truth, “learning the Truth”.

Ministerium Can be translated as ‘“Ministry”.

Thus these words refer to reading and studying the Truth in this ministry.

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Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

Your faithfulness endures to all generations Psalm 119:90(a)

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Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

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