Westminster Christian School News The Standard for Excellence in Christian Schools

Mark Your Calendar for the Mother/Son and Father/Daughter Events

1/29/2025

Parents, please mark your calendars for these exciting events!

The Mother/Son event will take place Friday, April 4, and the Father/Daughter Dance will take place on Saturday, April 5.

Information will be available soon!

Check Your Streams

1/28/2025

Julia Tuttle’s orange blossoms, sent to Henry Flagler during a particularly harsh freeze in the winter of 1895, played a significant role in the oil-baron-turned-railroad-tycoon’s decision to bring his trains south. In reality, Flagler had always had his sights set on Key West, believing it would be a great city and shipping port. With the failing health of his wife, and the mounting frustrations and costs of building railroad tracks through the swampy everglades, however, he may have simply stayed in Palm Coast. But for Tuttle’s creative persistence, Flagler came south! Three years later, Miami was incorporated.Today, it is everything Julia thought it would become and more, as one of the premier cities of the U.S. and a gateway to Latin America. And Flagler too, spurred on by an irrational drive, made it to Key West cutting the path that would become what is now U.S. 1 on the first “railroad across the sea.”

Learn How to Navigate the Critical Changes in Admissions Testing

1/28/2025

The CCC invites high school parents to an important session with Ben Neely, chief research and impact officer at Revolution Prep, to discuss critical changes in admissions testing on Thursday, Feb. 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the Learning Commons.

This is a must-attend event for parents looking to stay ahead in the college admissions process. This seminar is especially important for parents of the class of 2026. Don't miss this valuable opportunity to stay informed and be prepared!

REGISTER

Join Us for Junior/Senior Brunch!

1/27/2025

Class of 2025 and 2026, mark your calendars for the Junior/Senior Brunch on April 9, 2025, at the Rusty Pelican from 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Payment Due: All payments for the brunch are due by February 7, 2025. You can make your payment easily through your MyWCS portal by clicking on the yellow banner.

Important! Please Complete Form for Your Child's Diploma

1/27/2025

Parents, congratulations on nearing the final chapter of your Warrior's high school journey! To ensure your child's name appears exactly as you would like on his or her diploma, please provide the correct information in the form linked below:

DIPLOMA FORM

Please note: The information you enter will be used exactly as written. Middle names can be included in full, as an initial, or omitted entirely.

Thank you for your attention to this important detail!

Parent Partners Meeting

1/26/2025

THE READIED CHILD: PREPARING YOUR CHILD FOR SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM

Friday, February 7 • 8 a.m. • The Lighthouse (Breakfast is provided)

Presented by:

Heidi Tringali

Pediatric Occupational Therapist

As parents, we all desire the best for our children. In today’s world, there are so many definitions of success that we can become overwhelmed or even immobilized by trying to find the best parenting tools and strategies.

As a pediatric occupational therapist, Heidi walks the challenging journey of parenthood with families every day. In this session, Heidi will help you identify developmentally appropriate goals for your young children. You will leave this session with tools that will ensure classroom success and give your child a solid foundation for achievement in their future endeavors.

You will clearly understand the difference between school readiness and learning readiness. And, you will be equipped with the three basic skills that will single-handedly enhance your child’s classroom performance.

Join Us for Taste of Westminster

1/23/2025

Sample bites from some of South Florida's best restaurants and beverage vendors while mingling with friends at the Taste of Westminster! Enjoy unlimited sips and samples and dance the night away, all while supporting Westminster Christian School. You'll also be able to pick-up some great finds at the spectacular silent auction! It's a night you don't want to miss.

PURCHASE DISCOUNTED TICKETS ONLINE UNTIL FRIDAY, JAN. 24, AT 3 P.M.
Tickets will be available at the door for $150/person.

BROWSE THE ONLINE AUCTION CATALOG AND START BIDDING TODAY.
(Save time at the door and share this link with your guests to pre-register for event.)
Sports memorabilia, international vacation packages, grade baskets, beauty and wellness items, culinary adventures, jewelry, and so much more!

ES Athletics Spring Season Dates: Feb. 24 - May 10

1/22/2025

Registration for the ES Athletics spring season began on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m. Register HERE.

The spring season will run from February 24 to May 10.

Monday/Wednesday Sports
Grade 2 Boys Basketball
Grade 3 Boys Basketball
Grades 2 & 3 Girls Basketball clinic: No Games
PK4 Co-ed Soccer Clinic: No Games
K5 Boys Flag football
Grade 1 Boys Flag football
Grade 4 Co-ed Flag Football: 2 teams
Grade 5 Co-ed Flag Football: 2 Teams
PK4 - Grade 5 Co-ed Tennis
2nd- 5th Coed Esports

Tuesday/Thursday Sports

K5 Girls Soccer

Grade 1 Girls Soccer

Grade 1 Boys Basketball

Grade 4 Boys Basketball

Grade 5 Boys Basketball

Grades 4 & 5 Girls Basketball clinic: No Games

Grade 2 Co-ed Flag Football

Grade 3 Co-ed Flag Football

PK4- Grade 5 Co-ed Tennis

Mark Your Calendar for the Christian College Fair

1/22/2025

The College Counseling Center will be hosting a Christian college fair on Tuesday, Feb. 4, from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. in the gym. All Westminster high school students will attend the event.

This event is also open to the public. We encourage you to share this information with high school students at your church or in the community who may be interested. Students may register HERE.

Please contact your child's college counselor with any questions.

California Fires Relief: Penny Wars Collection, Jan. 27–31

1/21/2025

Join us in raising funds for those affected by the California fires! All proceeds will go toward providing relief to families in need.

Dates:
January 27-31, 2025

How it works:
Add pennies and $1, $5, $10 bills to your grade’s jar. Drop silver coins or $20s in other grades’ jars to subtract from their total.

Positive Points:
Each Penny = +1 Point
$1 Bill = +100 Points
$5 Bill = +500 Points
$10 Bill = +1,000 Points

Negative Points
Nickel = -5 Points
Dime = -10 Points
Quarter= -25 Points
$20 = -2,000 Points

The grade with the most points wins a SWAG DRESS DAY!

The Dull Axe

1/21/2025

Have you ever tried to cut using a dull knife? My mother-in- law has spent most of her life preparing meals with a dull, three-inch paring knife. Whether she’s chopping meat, vegetables, or trying to cut a pie, she instinctively reaches for the same small knife. She’s generous and thoughtful and always has food on the table so there are no complaints from me on that front, but I’ve never understood why she uses that tiny little knife.

The truth contained in a little verse in Ecclesiastes 10:10 sheds some light on this little conundrum, “If the axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.” I’ll stand by and watch as my mother-in-law will labor over chopping up celery for a salad, having to make every single slice and taking forever to get it done. It’s a labor of love, but she’s skilled. She knows what’s she’s doing, and she doesn’t mind taking the extra time. A sharper knife more suited to the task would make the job significantly faster and easier, but with skill she’s able to produce the same results even if it does take her longer (shrug).

Save the Date for the Color Wars MS Family Mixer

1/17/2025

Celebrate the Win, Stay for the Fun!

Mark your calendars for the Color Wars Middle School Family Mixer on Thursday, March 13. After an exciting day of friendly Color Wars competition, join us after school for a time of food, music, and family fellowship.

More details will be shared soon!

The Boastful Axe

1/14/2025

It’s about to be Super Bowl weekend again. Of course, I’m writing this in June, so I have no idea who is in the Super Bowl this year. But for the purpose of this article, let’s assume it’s the Dolphins and the 49ers. Why not?

Obviously, the Dolphins will win the Super Bowl and they’ll get rings. But did you know that for most teams, the owner, the general manager, the whole coaching staff, managers, even athletic trainers, get rings too? Everyone gets one.

Is that fair? None of the support staff could win the championship without players, so do they really deserve one? On the other hand, could the players win without the owner, the general manager, the coaches, or even the athletic training staff? It’s hard to say.

Share Your Acceptance Moment with Us!

1/14/2025

Did you capture the excitement when you received your acceptance to Westminster? Whether it’s a joyful video, a candid family photo, or a fun celebration of this milestone, we’d love to see it! Share your special moment with us by sending your photos or videos to itorres@wcsmiami.org, and you could be featured on the school’s social media. Be sure to include the student’s name and graduation year along with your submission. Don’t miss the chance to showcase your excitement with the Westminster community!

Important Information Regarding Senior Class Trip to New York City

1/9/2025

*This information is for families who have already secured their child’s spot on the Senior Class Trip to New York City (March 12-15, 2025) by paying in full. Please note that registration for the trip is now closed, and students who have not completed payment will be unable to attend.

To finalize your child’s participation, please complete the registration process with our travel partner, ETA Adventures. The registration deadline is Friday, January 17. Follow the steps below to officially register:

How to Complete Student and Chaperone Registration:

Visit the ETA Adventures Website: Go to https://www.etadventures.com/.
Login to Your Account: Click the green “Login” button at the top of the page.
Enter the Trip Code: When prompted, enter the trip code: westminsternyc25.
Create or Access Your Account: If you’ve already created an account with ETA, simply sign in with your existing credentials. If you have not yet created an account, select "Access Account" and follow the prompts to create one using either your email address or Google account.
Add New Reservation: After reviewing the trip itinerary, click "Add New Reservation" to begin completing the required forms and acknowledgments.

What You’ll Need to Do After Logging In:

Complete the registration forms, including emergency contact information, medical details, and any special dietary requirements.
Review and submit the forms to confirm your child’s participation.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact Mrs. Jennifer Pino, director of student life, at jpino@wcsmiami.org.

We are looking forward to an unforgettable trip to New York City with your child!

Important Reminder: How Step-Up Funds Will Be Received and Applied

1/9/2025

Funding

Step Up will receive funding from the Department of Education on the following projected dates: September 1, November 1, February 1, and April 1.
Step Up will deposit the funds on a quarterly basis in the student’s EMA account.
School invoices will be generated in EMA (Education Market Assistant) for schools and parents/guardians to approve. Parents must approve quarterly payments in EMA.
Once approved by the parents/guardians and the school, Step Up will initiate quarterly payments to the school within seven (7) business days.

Distribution

Parents will still need to make payments to Blackbaud Tuition Management in accordance with their preselected payment plan. Westminster will apply the scholarship funds to the Blackbaud tuition accounts within 15 days of receipt from Step Up and will be deducted from your next scheduled payment.

What Does This Mean?

For Monthly Payers: The amounts received will be applied as follows:

September funds will be deducted from your October tuition payment.
November funds will be deducted from your December tuition payment.
February funds will be deducted from your March tuition payment.
April funds will be refunded in May 2025.

For Semiannual Payers: The amounts received will be applied as follows:

September funds will be deducted from your November tuition payment.
November, February, and April funds will be applied to your Blackbaud account and refunded in May 2025.

For Annual Payers: A credit to your account will be posted as the funds are received.

In May 2025, the credit balance will be refunded.

Please remember that scholarship funds are designated exclusively for the school year in which they are awarded. As a result, refunds for any tuition overpayments will be issued at the end of the 2024-25 school year.

Thank you for your support and patience as we navigate this new process together. If you have any additional questions, please contact Leyma Matozinho in the Business Office at lmatozinho@wcsmiami.org or 305-233-2030, Ext. 1251.

The Borrowed Axe

1/7/2025

About 10 years ago, my family was invited to stay with some friends in a Lakehouse near Charlotte, NC. We were having a great time on the pontoon boats and jet skis.

One morning, I needed to stay back and get some work done while the family went out on the boat. A few hours later, just before I jumped on the jet ski to catch up with everyone, I had the thought, “I should add some gas.” So, I did, and took off after my family.

At the end of the day, my friend was driving the jet ski back and it started sputtering. Eventually, it wouldn’t drive anymore, and we had to tow it back. When I explained how I’d filled the tank with gas and pointed to the can I used, my friend’s face looked horrified as he said, “That’s the wrong fuel!” We told the owner and after taking it to the shop, he let us know it was ruined. I tried to pay for it, but the owner refused my offer leaving me with no way to make it right. I was mortified...