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I was recently having a conversation with a family after they’d spent a couple hours touring around Westminster. Their first comment was one that I have grown accustomed to expecting, “Everyone is so welcoming here!”
As I asked them to describe their experience, they talked about a group of students who stopped, and went out of their way to answer questions and be helpful. They had reconnected with an old friend they hadn’t realized was part of the WCS community. They saw people from their church and recognized other students, faculty, and staff from their community. They were surprised how, after such a short amount of time, they already felt like they were at home.
I wouldn’t make a big deal about this one conversation, but it has been the common refrain from many conversations I’ve had with people coming to Westminster. In fact, I was recently hired at the school and when I walked around the school this past summer, I described my experience in much the same way.
In 1961, a group of Christian parents and community and church leaders laid the foundation for an “Institution for Christian education…in order that this educational program may bring glory to God.” These visionary leaders foresaw a school environment that would function as an extension of their own families. One that would welcome people in and help them grow in their Christian faith while pursuing excellence in education and readiness for life.
Building on that original charter, today we would say we are empowering learners, inspiring lives, and preparing hearts to serve as ambassadors for Christ. Our faculty, staff, and administrators are committed to supporting students and families in their faith, walking with them through life’s challenges and calling them to the higher standard of living for Christ. It, therefore, becomes an easy decision to prioritize engaging, spiritually focused chapels each week for elementary, middle, and high school students.
We are a school that strives to live up to our mission and vision and we’re proud of what we’ve built! We’re proud of the students who stopped to be helpful, we’re proud when our community rallies in support of families who suffer loss, we’re proud when our students use their gifts and talents to bring glory to God. We’re excited to see what the future holds as we continue to grow in our identity and calling not just as a great academic institution, but as a Christ-centered school.
