50 Years of Faith, Excellence, and Impact

This year marks Westminster Christian Academy's 50th school year—a remarkable milestone that reflects the decades of dedication, commitment, and love shown by so many. What began in 1976 with a handful of subjects, 72 students, and 13 teachers has grown into a thriving school grounded in a clear mission: to honor Jesus Christ by providing an excellent education, rooted in biblical truth. That mission continues to guide everything Westminster does, and at the start of the 2025-26 school year, we introduced a new guiding principle to capture its heart: Belong. Believe. Become.

Choosing a school is one of the most important decisions a family makes. Where our children attend informs their friendships, the organizations, clubs, and teams they join, and profoundly impacts their future. As Dr. Barrett Mosbacker says, as parents, our desire is for our children to "belong to a caring Christian community, to believe deeply in the truth of God's word, and to become all that He created them to be, ready to face the future with confidence, faith, and purpose." Here, those three ideas are lived out daily.

Belong.

It's easy to find ourselves wrapped up in numbers, in statistics. But we don't see our students as such; rather, we know them as image-bearers of Christ. Whether in the classroom, on the field, or on the stage, here they find a place to grow and build lasting relationships. That sense of belonging is especially visible during Spirit Week. "The whole community comes together for it," says senior Blaise Baca. "It's not just about individuals. It's about classes coming together. Many different people participate in different ways. You see this on one hand with the film project, with a lot of the people who are good at tech, and then also people who love to dance and show their artistic skills with Boys Poms, Lip Sync, and Hallways."

Athletics also play a significant role, with more than 70 percent of upper school students participating each year. For senior Isabaelle Clawson, being part of a team created deep bonds of trust with her classmates: "My favorite part about cheer is always stunting. The camaraderie we build is so strong because your life depends on someone else. You're going eight feet in the air, so you are giving your teammates your trust."

Building trust is a fundamental part of belonging in a community, and at Westminster, that trust extends beyond teams into the classroom. Students consistently point to meaningful relationships with their teachers as a defining part of their Westminster experience.

"Many teachers, here at Westminster, have come to me and had conversations with me personally about what is going on in my life and have honestly built relationships, not just focused solely on the classroom," Blaise explains. That's really important because it helps me feel seen and valued by the person who's instructing me."

Isabelle agrees:

"I've never had a bad teacher at Westminster. I've only had the best of the best, and I have been so blessed. I am completely confident that my teachers love and care for me. It's actually something I've taken for granted. I talk to people at different schools, and they say, 'Yeah, it's my teacher, whatever.' I tell them I love every single one of my teachers. The funny thing is, at the end of every year, I'm always so distraught about not having those teachers again."

Westminster also intentionally fosters connection through its phone policy. According to Westminster's Head of Academics, Micah Gall, there are roughly 90 hours of passing period time over the course of a school year. By limiting device use during the school day, there is intentional space for students to build more meaningful relationships. The result is simple. "The Westminster community is seen day to day in the hallways," says junior Riley Nelson. "We aren't on our phones in the hallways. Everyone's talking to each other."

Believe.

Belonging creates a foundation for something deeper: spiritual growth. At Westminster, faith is not confined to weekly Chapel services or Bible class; rather, it is woven into everything that we do. "Westminster does a great job preparing students to talk about their faith and live it," says Riley. Students engage their faith in a variety of ways, from participating in team devotionals or small group Bible studies to joining groups such as the Spiritual Life team or the Chapel band.

"My faith has grown specifically through participating in Chapel Band," says Blaise.

"One of the things the Lord has shown me during my time at Westminster is that He is committed to the people and the things He has in place."

For Isabelle, leading devotionals on the cheer team became a meaningful way to invest in others and grow in her faith. "My friend Bella and I, the two seniors on the cheer team, lead devotionals before practice," she says. "We've even had girls approach us saying they'd like to help lead. Now, we have different girls do a different Bible story or devotional every week before practice."

At the heart of Westminster's approach to Christian education is the integration of faith into every subject. Students are encouraged to wrestle with complex ideas through a biblical lens, whether they are studying English, French, or even physics. "I'm glad we're exposed to secular things through our Christian education," explains Isabelle. "I would much rather learn difficult concepts and read difficult things and spend time discussing difficult topics with the overarching knowledge that it's all underneath a Christian worldview. My faith has grown by learning some hard things and walking through them with my teachers, peers, and friends."

Become.

The goal at Westminster is not only to prepare students for college and career, but for a life of purpose and impact. Through academics, arts, athletics, and innovative programs such as the new coral lab and our Pawprint Coffee shop, students are equipped to pursue whatever God has called them to.

"Westminster has prepared me for my future very well, especially through the Bible program," says Isabelle. "You start with New Testament class and build your way up, and end with Worldviews. I love that because it's so wonderful to have all those tools now in my tool belt to go into the world. We say we want to engage the world and change it for Jesus Christ, and that's true. That's what our classes are preparing us for."

That preparation is both academic and spiritual. By the time students graduate, they are exceptionally equipped for college, career, and a life of faithful service to Christ in their communities and beyond. "Over the years, I've had incredible teachers whom I go to, not just during the class period but afterward or during lunch," says Riley. "I ask them questions beyond their subject because I admire them so much, especially for their relationship with Christ. I remember in middle school, I had Mrs. DeRousse in 7th grade. Coming to this new school, I saw how much she loved the Lord, and I would talk to her so much about my relationship with God."

As Westminster celebrates 50 years, its impact is best seen in the lives of its alumni and its students. "When you go out of this place, you take your faith and make it your own, and you're able to walk with it," reflects Isabelle.

"It's a blessing. There were so many people before us, and there's going to be so many people after us. And yes, things have changed, but the core values have always been there. There are people who have always been there, supporting us and shaping the way Westminster was going to go. And to be able to be part of that, to be able to witness that, has been a privilege. Words can't describe how grateful I am."

Westminster began as a dream with 72 students. This year, our graduating class joins a community of over 5,000 alumni. As we turn the corner and look to the next 50 years, we are blessed and grateful that Westminster remains what it was originally founded to be: a home where students belong to a Christ-centered community, grow in their faith, and become all that God has called them to be. Westminster is more than a school. It's family.