WCA September & October Newsletter

We want to begin by emphasizing the mission of Western Christian Academy.

“Western Christian Academy is dedicated to assisting families, by providing quality academic programs from a Christian worldview, through individualized instruction and affordability.”

We encourage students to be all that they can be in Christ as we assist you in preparing them for the future and the world that awaits them. This is something that the faculty is passionate about. We became educators because we believe in the power of a Biblically-based education and the difference it makes in both society and in the lives of individuals. Our teachers have worked hard to create a positive culture that emphasizes a love for school, spiritual growth, and academic achievement.

We are living in a unique time. Despite unprecedented school closures, the GOOD NEWS is that WCA is able to keep students moving forward on their schoolwork due to the fact that we are a distance learning school. We are blessed to be able to offer our students a positive school experience, even in the midst of this trying time in our nation. We hope that we can all see ourselves on the same team as we work to keep your students moving forward as we meet the many needs of our valued students and families.

We invite you to join with our faculty in choosing to be optimistic about this school year. By working together, we can help students learn and enjoy school no matter where they are and understand what is happening around them in our world.

Our students are doing things that no generation has ever had to do and they are doing a good job. Our future is bright because of the young people that we are teaching, guiding and influencing in Christ. We look forward to working with you to help your students have a great school year. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Thank you for choosing Western Christian Academy!

Distance Learning Characteristics

1. Communication – This is the most important factor to being successful in distance learning. It involves the following characteristics.

a. Listening – This is the art of hearing to understand, not hearing to respond. The response will be guided by how much is comprehended. Sometimes this means that an immediate response (emotional at best) should be weighed and contemplated before sending. Be effective, not rude. Listening is what helps a person feel valued.

b. Tools – There are many tools that can be used. Here is a few that we have used: Skype, email, phone, Google Meet, and Zoom.

c. Responsibility – Always understand that it is personal. That means, no one else can or should take ownership of what someone else is responsible for.

d. Prioritization – Make it important. A simple reply, “Thank you,” is just as important as the major communication.

2. Flexibility – This is one of the greatest attributes of distance learning. This allows for family vacations, part-time jobs, natural disasters, sudden accidents, and new ways to learn.

3. Personal Responsibility – This creates an awareness of our own inadequacies; our weaknesses and strengths.

a. A new way to learn – This is like taking the path less traveled. Discovering new things is always personal, but it is still a great and exciting adventure.

b. Responsibility – Take ownership of your learning.

4. Time Management – This is where the rubber meets the road and where procrastination conquers all. Wasted time can never be regained. Make the most of today by creating a schedule and sticking to it. Set priorities for the week that your schedule reflects. Do not be deceived that there is always tomorrow. The old adage, “Don’t put off tomorrow what can be done today,” still rings true.

5. Relationships – This is vital for a student’s success in life and education. Even though face to face interaction is difficult, technology has created a way in which we can still incorporate the visual aspect in relationships. This helps to break down barriers that exist without even realizing they were there. Share life together, not just business or academics.

a. Community – A healthy culture only comes through healthy relationships.

b. Empathy – This involves walking with others. Empathy statements are a great way to validate a person’s feelings and point of view. Empathy statements are a way of conveying to a person that their concerns, issues and feelings they’re coming to you with are understood. They demonstrate that you’re invested in solving the problem, answering their questions, and helping them find a solution if possible. People need to see you as ‘on their side’.

c. Avoid isolation – This is easy in distance learning, even for a “people” person. Feelings of depression can be avoided through interaction with others.

6. Smart Digital Choices – Screen time is something to be monitored and observed. Sometimes the best choice is to put it down and have a conversation.

7. Family Structure – Distance learning will interrupt the entire family structure. It becomes a priority as it takes up so much time during any given day. However, it can also remind us how important our husband, wife, or children are.

8. Avoid distractions – The previous 7 items can all become distractions if not applied through wisdom. As knowledge increases, wisdom should abound more. 

WCA Graduate Parent’s Comments:

Lindsey Lanier is a WCA Graduate. Her favorite thing about Western Christian Academy was how her teachers were always willing to listen and help; it seems like they won’t quit working until they are sure that their students have mastered the subject in which they are working. The biggest lesson Western Christian Academy has taught Lindsey is to embrace a challenge, for they are just another opportunity to learn something new.

Lindsey’s greatest achievement was being able to maintain a 4.0 in her classes, she accredits this success to believing in herself and never underestimating the power of hard work. She plans on majoring in psychology and taking pre-med classes at West Texas A&M University. She hopes to become a psychiatrist to help others and to help break the stigma around mental health issues.

She refers back to this verse as a reminder that if she follows God through her journey she will be able to accomplish all of this and more, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all of your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Thank you Western Christian Academy!” Michael & Sharon H. (Parents)

Are you needing to do CREDIT
RECOVERY?

“See to it that NO ONE misses the grace of God.” Hebrews 12:15

Please contact WCA to obtain a list of our A-G Courses for your student. WCA offers all of the core subjects, electives, CTE, as well as provides excellent career and college preparation!

For more information call: 800-868-5839.

Important Upcoming Events:

 
AUGUST 7th – Last day of Summer School

November 11th- Veteran’s Day –School Holiday – Observed- Thank a Veteran Today & Everyday!

November 26-27 – Thanksgiving – School Holiday – WCA OFFICE CLOSED

Some Of You May Be Asking…

WHY WCA for MY CHILD or MY CHILDREN?

In a world that strives to suffocate the light, it is a joyful sight when we bring light back into the world through the minds and hearts of our children. A complete education trains the individual and is centered on biblical truth.

1) We recognize the awesome responsibility we have to come alongside of your family, to affect not only your student/s, but the generations to come!

2) We pray for our students EVERY DAY!

3) We have been providing CHRIST-CENTERED education for nearly 37 years, meeting the academic needs of students in every state as well as many foreign countries around the globe. The corona virus did not catch us unprepared. We have been doing online education for many years. CHOOSE WCA as your trusted provider of excellent Christian education.

4) We recognize that education is about more than curriculum, it is about meeting our students and their families right where they are…TODAY!

BUT most of all, it is because we want to ensure that your student/s are prepared for their future in every way possible, and Because We Care!

Meet the Staff Corner

Jodi Jordan

Middle School Teacher

Reentering the workforce after thirteen years found me
back in public education. I have much experience in
reading remediation and became an intervention teacher.
I love helping kids learn. But then my road led to me
WCA where God once again provided a blessing I could
not imagine. Here my heart’s desire is to teach and glo-
rify God.

I am here to serve. I pray your adventure with WCA
blesses your socks off!

Please review our website information. Feel free to use the Contact page to ask questions. You can also call us at 800-868-5839 between 7am-4pm PST.

Introducing WCA 2020 Graduating Senior…

What 2019-2020 Graduate Tate Kelly Is Saying About WCA…

Hi there, I am Tate Kelly. I am the 19-year-old son of Tom and Carrie Kelly from Gardendale, TX. I’m also the youngest of five children and a 2020 Graduate of WCA.

I transitioned to Western Christian Academy at the beginning of my Junior Year from a small rural public high school when our family moved from Wyoming to Texas. The community we moved to offered two very large high schools. The large population was very intimidating to me because of my previous experience of just 30 students in my class. Choosing to home school was an easy decision for me. It allowed me a lot flexibility in my learning and I also received so very much support from all of the teachers.

I am a rodeo athlete as a saddle bronc rider. I have rodeoed since I was 3 years old. As I have grown up, I have become more competitive which required me to travel all over the country. WCA allowed me the flexibility to continue my learning while competing. This was definitely the best option for me. In addition, I received an excellent education which prepared me well for college.

I’m currently attending Odessa College to obtain a business degree while on a full-ride rodeo scholarship. With this recent health crisis in our nation, many of my classes are online. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have had the online option through WCA which prepared me to know how to navigate through the new learning environments that our college is faced with.

“Written by Tate Kelly

Teacher Aaron Penberthy’s Shout Out!

“Tate is an outstanding young man who has worked hard to achieve outstanding grades at WCA. He was one of my students in my elective classes and always completed his work on time. Tate was a hard worker and will be very successful in life with his work ethic.

“Happy Trails and God Bless You Tate!”

The entire WCA Staff congratulates you on a job well-done! We pray that your future will be bright and blessed as you fulfill the plan of God for your life. May your dreams be fulfilled as you walk in His steps throughout this next exciting chapter.

Introducing WCA 2020 Graduating Senior…

Did You Know?

Each year more than 1.3 million children are reported missing. Law enforcement, citizens, and even children have been instrumental in keeping children safe and returning them home to their families, communities, and school.

On May 25th, National Missing Children’s Day, we pause to focus our attention on children who have been recovered, as well as the children who are still missing.

We invite you to join us in our efforts to educate children across our country by giving your 5th Grade students an opportunity to participate in this WCA 2020 Missing Children’s Poster Contest. Each school will have the opportunity to submit their winning poster for judging to WCA. We will then send it to the missing Children’s Clearinghouse who will then submit it to the Department of Justice for judging.

All entries must be submitted to WCA no later than February 1st, 2020.

We look forward to receiving and entry from YOUR 5th Grader and hope that you will join us in this exciting and national competition.

Together we can insure the safety and security of children across our nation.

Even if you do not have a 5th grade student, please take the time to start the discussion and make the subject less scary, and provide your children with information to help protect themselves and other children.

CONTEST RULES: Students must create a poster that demonstrates the theme, “Bringing our Missing Children Home”.

1) The finished poster must be 8 1/2 X 14 inches.

2) The slogan “Bringing our Missing Children Home” must appear somewhere on the poster.

3) Posters must be created by hand. Posters with printed images, collages, and stamping are not eligible.

4) Posters should be original in design. be creative! Use acrylics, watercolor, pencil, charcoal, magic markers, spray paint, crayons, pastels, and etc. To view previous artwork, visit the Featured Resources section on: http://www.ncjtc.fvtc.edu/mcd.

5) The poster must be submitted with a complete application, which includes a description of the poster and a brief biography of the artist. Incomplete packages and incorrectly sized posters will not be eligible for judging.

WCA will submit the Winning Entry and if you are the winning entry, your student and his/her teacher and parent or guardian will be invited to Washington, D.C. to participate in the 38th Annual National Missing Children’s Day Ceremony on May 19, 2021. Transportation and lodging will be provided.

The National winner will also receive a national award certificate and a professional print of their poster.

The Winning Poster becomes the property of the DOJ and will be displayed in the DOJ, congressional offices, and other locations as determined by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

So come on all of your WCA 5th Grade Students! Show us your Entry for this contest!

Please ensure that your entry is not folded or bent. Using a rolled package is the preferred method to mail it so that there is no damage to your entry.

Email your request for an application to: admissions@westernchristianacademy.com.

Please mail your entry with the application to:

Western Christian Academy

P.O. Box 306

Prather, CA 93651

Missing Children’s Day Discussion Guide

Questions for Students:

• Have you or anyone you love ever been lost before?
• How did you feel?
• Did anyone help you or your loved one home?
• How do you think your family felt?

Provide Guidance for Students:

• When you draw your art, think about:
• How you felt when you were lost.
• Who helped you?
• How your family felt when you were lost?

Attention Juniors & Seniors!

Download the App!

From your smartphone or tablet, visit Google Play or the App
Store. Search for “Western Christian Academy” and install the
app.