Our February all-school meeting brought together WCA families from across the globe — from Japan to Romania to the United States — for a celebration of our graduating seniors and a major announcement about the future of Western Christian Academy. If you missed the live call, here are the highlights.
The Big News: WCA Is Relocating to Tennessee
After more than four decades of operating out of Prather, California, Western Christian Academy is officially moving its main office to Johnson City, Tennessee — a journey of 2,444 miles from our longtime West Coast home to the East Coast.
The relocation is scheduled for the end of February into early March. Our nonprofit has actually been registered in Franklin, Tennessee since March 2024, so this next step simply brings our day-to-day operations in line with where we’re already officially based.
Why the Move?
Principal Jeff Gillingham shared that the decision came down to a combination of factors: the cost of doing business, better opportunities for the family, and some personal family considerations. But there’s a benefit our global WCA community will feel right away — the move shifts our office hours from Pacific Time to Eastern Time, putting us three hours closer to our students in Romania, Japan, the UK, and essentially every other international family we serve.
What’s Changing
- Main office address — we’ll share the new location on our website and all documentation as soon as we’re settled
- Time zone — Pacific Time is becoming Eastern Time
- Brief transition period — communications may be a bit slower during the actual move as staff travel and the new office gets set up
What’s NOT Changing
- Our name — we are still Western Christian Academy
- Our phone number — still 800-868-5839
- Our email — still WCA@westernchristianacademy.com
- Our incredible staff, including Office Manager Ms. Liz, who is relocating with us
- Our accreditation with Cognia and NCA CASI
- Our Statement of Faith and 42-year mission of serving families with a Christ-centered education
In Principal Jeff’s words: the great staff, the amazing customer support, and everything that makes WCA what it has been for the last 42 years stays exactly the same. Only the address and the time zone are moving.
Listening to Our Families: Three Questions
Every all-school meeting gives our families the chance to share feedback directly with administration. This month, Principal Jeff asked three questions — and the answers are already shaping how we plan for next year.
1. “If WCA improved just one thing, what would make the biggest difference?”
The top requests were more video instruction and more student-to-student interaction through teacher-moderated class chats. We hear you. While our current Ignitia curriculum is due for a refresh, teachers are ready and willing today to create custom videos for specific lessons — just ask. And we’re actively exploring the development of a brand-new system over the next 3–5 years that would give us full control over our lesson content.
2. “What stress has WCA taken off your family?”
Parents shared beautiful answers: no more worry about classroom indoctrination contradicting their faith, no more fears about bullying, and the flexibility to learn from anywhere in the world. That freedom — grounded in a Christian worldview and parent partnership — is exactly why WCA exists.
3. “What’s one thing at WCA that annoys you just a little?”
Due dates and having to request that teachers open quizzes were the honest answers — and Principal Jeff addressed both directly. Due dates are guides, not stressors; focus on daily goals and the big picture takes care of itself. And the quiz-opening process is part of our mastery-based learning model, which holds students to an 80% pass standard — statistically the threshold that produces the strongest long-term learning outcomes. Good communication with your teacher makes the process smooth.
Communication Tip: Get on Microsoft Teams
If you’re not already using Microsoft Teams, it’s the single most effective way to stay in touch with your teachers and administration — much faster than Ignitia messages or email alone. Download the app version (not the browser version) on your phone and computer, then share your Teams contact with your teachers. Principal Jeff is also available on Teams for any parent or student who wants to connect directly.
Celebrating Our Japanese Seniors
A special reason this month’s meeting was scheduled for 2:00 PM Pacific (that’s 7:00 AM the next day in Japan!) was to honor two of our graduating seniors — twin brothers from Hamamatsu, Japan, who have been with WCA since 7th grade.
Their presentation was a highlight of the call. Japan is often called “a graveyard for missionaries,” with only about 1.1% of the population identifying as Christian, so the opportunity to receive a Christ-centered education has been rare and precious. One of the brothers shared how WCA helped him grow in three specific areas: time management, the flexibility to learn from anywhere (including while traveling to visit family in Malaysia), and of course, the ability to learn about Christianity in a country where it is almost unheard of.
Their next steps:
- One brother is heading to Akita International University in northern Japan, drawn by its full-English curriculum, its international student body representing 50+ cultures, its liberal arts approach, and a required year of study abroad
- The other is heading to Yamanashi Gakuin University’s International College of Liberal Arts, where he plans to study psychology
When their parents were asked why they chose WCA in the first place, the answer was simple: accreditation. Because WCA is a fully accredited school, their diplomas are accepted by universities in Japan without issue — a testament to why accreditation matters for online education.
Looking Ahead
Our next all-school meeting will be in March, and we’ll announce the date soon. In the meantime, if you have questions about the move — or anything else — please don’t hesitate to reach out. We want to hear from you.
To every family who joined us live, and to those reading this now: thank you for being part of the WCA community. Whether you’re in California, Tennessee, Tokyo, Bucharest, or anywhere in between — we are genuinely honored to walk alongside you in your student’s education.
Considering WCA for your family? Learn more about our programs and start your application today, or explore our curriculum by grade level.