Services and Information for Lee Rickman

Funeral arrangements for our beloved teacher, Mr. Lee Rickman, have been finalized. Visitation will be at 6 p.m. until on Saturday, June 20, in the auditorium at Wesleyan.  The Celebration of Life service for Lee will be on Sunday, June 21, 2:30 p.m. at First Wesleyan Church, Providence Place in High Point.

There have been several newspaper articles that have been written this week about his tragic accident along with an interview that was done by Lee's father, Mr. Tim Rickman, who is Wesleyan's high school principal.  There were also several other interviews that were done.

If you would like to read these articles or watch the interviews, please click on the links below:

Click here for an article in the High Point Enterprise.

Click here for a second article in the High Point Enterprise.

Click here for an article in the Greensboro News and Record.

Click here for an article in the Wesleyan denomination's online magazine.

Click here for an article in Christianpost.com.

Click here to watch the WXII interview with Mr. Tim Rickman, Lee's dad.

Click here to watch an interview on WFMY News 2.

Click here to watch an interview on FOX8 News.

Art Department has Phenomenal Year

This has been an exciting year for the arts at Wesleyan.  From elementary school to high school, the students who participate in this program exhibit tremendous gifts and talents.  Many of our art students had the opportunity to display their artwork and compete in art shows throughout the Triad.  Fine Arts Director, Joe Hilliard says that this may be one of the best years we have ever had in the Performing Arts Department!  The excitement of students wishing to join the Performing Arts or take lessons at the Wesleyan Teaching Studios is at an all-time high.  There were 275 middle school and high school students who participated during the 2013-14 school year, this year’s total jumped over 351.  Two new performing groups were added this year, Men of Servant, which includes 21 high school guys and the 18-member high school girls’ ensemble, Joy.  Presently, there are 240 students enrolled in the teaching studios.  The list of this year’s accomplishments is long; however, allow us to note a few highlights:

·      Wesleyan’s choral groups are often asked to perform at events throughout the Triad.  In October, Men of Servant, Joy and the high school all-girls’ ensemble, Faith presented the music for a chapel service at High Point University (HPU).  These groups also presented a concert at HPU’s Community Christmas event where thousands were in attendance.  Finally, in the spring, Men of Servant performed at the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Swimming and Diving championship.  All of Wesleyan’s Performing Arts groups have a wonderful reputation of presenting quality programs.  Tracy Bodenheimer, Entertainment Coordinator for the NCAA Division 1 had this to say about Men of Servant:

          “When I reached out to Wesleyan Christian Academy, after seeing with my own eyes
          and having heard awesome reviews of their students’ performances and talents, there
          was no question of who I would want to represent us from North Carolina at this
          National event . . . This performance was a performance that will not be forgotten by
          anyone in the swimming and diving world.”

·       All of the high school singing groups participated in the Central District Music Performance Adjudication where they each received a Superior rating, and Faith and Joy also received a Superior in sight-reading.

·       The director of the high school wind ensemble, Kyle Auman, organized a band clinic which was held at WCA.  A number of high school students from Caldwell Academy, Greensboro Day School, High Point Christian Academy and Wesleyan all attended.  Band directors from each school came and participated as well.  Dr. Brian Meitzner from High Point University was the clinician.  The day ended with an afternoon concert for parents and friends.

·     The Performing Arts Department presented the musical, Mary Poppins under the direction of Pam Wheeler and Barbara Britton, founder of the Greensboro Children’s Theatre and Livestock Player Musical Theatre.  It was the highest attended musical to date with four sellout performances.  This was amazing acting and singing by our talented middle and high school students.

·       Elementary and middle school art teacher, Mrs. Wilkins does a tremendous job of helping the younger students to discover their God-given talents and abilities with the visual arts.  High school art teacher, Sandy Bohon continues this in high school by inspiring these students to reach their full artistic potential.  This year, there were 10 high school students who had the opportunity to display their artwork at the TAG Upper School Art Exhibition held at the Theatre Art Galleries in Greensboro.  Their work was on display at the galleries for several months.

·      The elementary and middle school art classes were given many opportunities this year to participate in art shows and competitions throughout the Triad.  The elementary school had 15 students to participate in the High Point Theatre Art Show, along with 14 middle school participants.  There were three winners from the elementary school who participated in High Point University’s, “Draw like a Panther” competition.  Wesleyan sent 20 participants to Cone Health’s, “I’m Healthy When” competition and returned with four regional winners!  Finally, there were 19 participants in the Westchester Harbour Assisted Living Art Show.  Students also used their talents to make Christmas cards for soldiers who are in the hospital at Fort Bragg and the residents at Westchester Assisted Living.  Elementary students always look forward to the annual Arts Impact Day at WCA.  This year’s event was a tremendous success.  Students were able to learn about graphic design, beekeeping, woodturning and much more!

·       The seventh and eighth grade band and chorus took a spring tour to Washington D.C. where they participated in the Dixie Classic Music Festival near Richmond, Virginia.  The performing groups received the highest ranking in all categories.  Grace Hilliard, a Wesleyan alumnus, arranged for the students to meet Mark Walker, the newly elected Congressman for the 6^th District of North Carolina, and Wesleyan alumnus, Sarah Sutton, also arranged for a private tour of the Capitol.

·       The fourth through sixth grade choruses and sixth grade band attended the music festival at Carowinds. The fourth and sixth grade choruses received a Superior rating, while the fifth grade chorus received an Excellent.  The sixth grade band received very positive comments from nationally known adjudicators in their performance as well.

·       Students also have the unique opportunity to be enrolled in the Wesleyan Teaching Studios.  The Studios offer private instrumental and voice lessons, dance and art classes.  We are also privileged to have Drama Kids International, DKI Acting Academy and the community choral organization, High Point Young Voices as a part of the studios.  We appreciate and are thankful for the great leadership of Dr. Mike Jarrett who is the director of the teaching studios.

We are very blessed to have such talented students at Wesleyan, and we are thankful for the wonderful staff who leads them.  We are very excited to see what God has in store for Fine Arts at Wesleyan in the upcoming year. 

Wesleyan Family Establishes College Scholarship Fund

WCA Player Named to First Team All-American

On Tuesday, March 31, Wesleyan Christian Academy’s junior Harry Giles joined the ranks of well-known NBA players such as Alonzo Mourning, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James as he was named to the American Family Insurance ALL-USA High School First Team chosen by USA Today.  Harry is an amazing player whose list of accomplishments is quite lengthy.  NBCsports.com reported that he was “the first freshman Roy Williams has ever offered a scholarship.”  After an injury while playing on the USA Basketball Under-16 team at the FIBA World Championship in Uruguay, he was not able to play in the 2013-14 season during his sophomore year at Wesleyan.

Even after this setback, however, Harry is considered by most to be the nation’s top recruit in the Class of 2016.  This past summer, he won a gold medal representing his country as a member of the 2014 USA Basketball U17 World Championship Team in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.  He averaged 10.9 points and 6.1 rebound per game to help the USA capture a 7-0 record and the gold medal at the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship.  Harry said about being chosen to represent the USA, “My coach talked on the first day of training camp about standing on that championship stand at the end representing our country, and I thought about that when we actually did it.  It felt great!” 

Some other honors Harry has received include:

• PACIS player of the year
• NCISAA Class 3-A all-state
• City of Palms Classic and Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions all-tournament
• HighSchoolOT.com Invitational MVP
• Greensboro News and Record Area Player of the Year.

For the 2014-15 basketball season, Harry led the Trojans to a 30-5 record and to the NCISAA 3A state finals where the team finished as the runner-up.

If you Google the name “Harry Giles,” you will inevitably find statements such as this: “There is not anything on the court Giles cannot do.  He can bang in the post and finish there. He can bring it up and run the team.  He can attack from the wing.  He defends and rebounds at a high level.  He handles the ball at a high level.  He finishes at a high level.  He’s the best player in high school ball” (verbalcommits.com). 

Harry not only loves basketball, but he loves mentoring young children.  In one of his blog posts, he wrote, “I’m excited about this week because I get a chance to go and talk to local kids at their practice in the YMCA league.  I always love talking to the younger guys because I remember when I was younger and Chris Paul and those guys would come back and do the same thing.  I was always really excited when they came back and showed love.”

We are very proud of Harry and all of his many accomplishments.  May God bless him as he continues to pursue excellence on and off the court.

New Partnership with Wesleyan Churches

Over the past year, the Wesleyan Christian Academy school board and the Local Board of Administration at First Wesleyan Church High Point have been dialoguing about broadening the makeup and background of the school board as well as developing a stronger relationship with other Wesleyan churches in the Triad and the rest of the state.  Since its founding, WCA has enjoyed a wonderful and supportive relationship with First Wesleyan Church.  First Wesleyan Church has had definitive decision making authority over the years in matters of board membership and by-law changes.  Recently, the leadership of First Wesleyan Church has blessed the transition of the Academy moving from a ministry of FWC to now being under the direction of the NC Wesleyan districts as well as the main denomination located in Indiana.  Below is an excerpt from First Wesleyan Church that went out to the congregation last week:

"It has been referred to many times in our LBA’s meetings that First Wesleyan, the church that gave birth to the school, like a good parent desires the school to be more independent and to flourish. We are happy to share with you that the LBA has given its blessing for the academy to transition to being under the direction of the N.C. East and West districts and the Wesleyan denomination.  We are very excited about these changes because:

• This will give the academy an even stronger spiritual accountability within the Wesleyan church.
• It will provide opportunity for a broader range of Wesleyan candidates to serve on the academy’s Board of Directors. 
• It will help to promote our school among our fellow Wesleyans who live in the Triad.

Please know that this move will only enhance and strengthen the academy as a Wesleyan institution.  Our relationship will continue to remain a very strong one.  Dr. Brown recently shared with us, “We covet and celebrate our relationship with First Wesleyan, and our relationship must remain strong. Please pray for us as we seek to build new relationships with the Districts and other Wesleyan churches in our area.”  First Wesleyan and the school both desired that our church always continue to have a permanent presence on the board.  We are excited about the future for the academy, and we ask that the Lord continue to guide, protect, and use it to minster to thousands of more families in the years to come.”

With many institutions of higher learning, there is at times a move away from their Christian heritage. The purpose of this partnership with the North Carolina districts is to provide the school an even greater protection and accountability both theologically and educationally.  School board members will now be represented from all Wesleyan districts as well as general community board members.

With nearly 60 Wesleyan churches in the Triad representing more than 5,000 members, this partnership will also open up other opportunities for us, which will help the school accomplish its vision for the future.  This can only help to strengthen the Academy as it moves onto more exciting new ventures.

As the school partners together with other churches to accomplish our mission to provide and pursue a biblically based, college-preparatory education so that students will be equipped to serve Christ and influence the world, we trust you will continue to pray for us as we develop these new relationships.

....

Wesleyan Is Blessed With Academically Gifted 

Wesleyan is blessed to have many academically gifted and accomplished students and alumni who excel in multiple venues.  We also have alumni all over the world who are using their God-given abilities to pursue academic excellence.   Allow us to recognize and celebrate a few our incredible students this month:

• While catching up with his father last month, we learned that Wesleyan alumni Michael Hunter (’10) graduated from Wake Forest University in 2014 and is now working toward a Master of Studies in Greek and Latin Languages and Literature at Oxford University.  His main priority while at Oxford is to develop his language skills in Greek, Latin, and biblical Hebrew before he begins his formal theological education.  Michael shared with us, “It has been an amazing experience to have classes with some of the leading classicists in the world.”  Upon completing this program at the end of June, Michael plans to move to Philadelphia to begin a Master of Divinity program at Westminster Theological Seminary.
• Through the Appalachian Student Ambassadors organization at Appalachian State University, Jewell Ward (’13) was recently chosen to travel with three other ambassadors to South Africa for three weeks in July.  These students will participate in the Global Leadership Summit at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa.  During the summit, they will join students from other universities to address issues of transformational leadership, citizenship, social justice, complex societies, and sustainability.  Not only is Jewell excited about the opportunity to gain diverse social, cultural, and academic experiences, but also she has the chance to make a significant impact with other young leaders across the globe!
• Senior Ethan Jordan was recently named the High Point Rotary Club’s student of the month.  An exemplary student who carries a 4.976 GPA at Wesleyan, Ethan is also passionate about serving others as he does substantial work on behalf of the Ronald McDonald House.  Wesleyan’s High School College Counselor Michelle Ledbetter said, “Ethan’s best trait may be his selfless concern for the underdog and his true moral courage.”  Ethan has also pursued acting recently, playing a lead role in this year’s Fine Arts musical, Mary Poppins.
• Wesleyan seniors Erica Martin, Mary Ray Coble, and Caylin Prillaman were finalists in the Rotary Club’s inaugural Four Way Test high school speech contest on February 28 at Guilford Tech.  The News and Record reported, “This test includes asking the following questions of the things you think, say, or do: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned?  Will it build good will and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”  What a great opportunity it was for our kids to use this setting as an opportunity to represent our vision “to know and live the truth.”
• Josh Rogers (10th grade) was recently chosen to serve as page for the North Carolina Senate.  He was sponsored by Senator Trudy Wade and appointed by the Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger of Rockingham County.  Selected high school students from across the state serve as pages when the General Assembly is in session, performing various duties for the Senators and their staff, including attending daily Senate sessions and committee meetings.  What a unique opportunity for Josh and we’re so proud of his exceptional work!
• WCA was represented well at the recent ACSI Spelling Bee and Math Olympics.  The Elementary School had 16 students participate in the spelling bee, and the Middle School had 12 students represented.  Sebastian Azar (1^st grade) and Liam Railsback (4^th grade) each placed third, and Faythe Madison (2^nd grade) earned fourth.  For the Middle School Spelling Bee, students Logan Prillamon (5^th grade) was awarded third place, and Mackenzie Wood (7^th grade) was ranked fourth for her grade.  The ACSI Math Olympics drew 36 Wesleyan students, third through eighth grade, to compete in computation and reasoning. Twenty-seven students placed in the top five spots in the various grades, and 13 of them received either first or second place! 

 Each of these current and former students are great examples of the caliber of students that we are blessed to have at Wesleyan.  We give thanks to our Lord for how He is blessing the good work of our students and alumni!

Wounded Vietnam Veteran Shares His Story of Triumph

Retired Lieutenant Clebe McClary is not just any ordinary speaker.  When this Vietnam veteran speaks, his audience cannot help but closely listen.  In a recent High School chapel, students had the distinct honor to hear him share his journey of faith and triumph. 

At 26-years-old, Lt. McClary had fulfilled his dream of becoming a college football coach. Life was good as he had a job he loved and was about to marry the love of his life.  He witnessed an event on a college campus that forever changed the direction of his future.  He watched as college students burned the American flag in protest of the Vietnam War.  After seeing this horrifying event, Lt. McClary decided he wanted to be a part of the answer for America, so he joined the Marines and thus began his journey.

On March 3, 1968, during his 19th reconnaissance mission, Lt. McClary led 13 marines into uncharted territory in the jungles of Vietnam. He and his men were suddenly ambushed by more than 200 North Vietnamese soldiers.  During this attack, he lost his left arm, eye, and nose; some of his teeth were blown out; his ear drum was shattered; and most of the use of his right hand was gone.  As he was running for cover, another grenade hit him in the legs and damaged them so badly that he was told he would never walk again.

One would believe that no person should survive such an event.  After 2 1/2 years in the hospital and nearly 40 operations, with God's help Lt. McClary not only survived but overcame these adversities.  He shared with the Wesleyan students the defining moment in his life when he realized his need for God.  While recovering from surgery, he and his wife Deanne heard Billy Zeoli, chaplain to President Ford, speak.  Rev. Zeoli stated, "There are two kinds of fools in this world, a fool for Christ and a fool for others.  Whose fool are you?"  "At that moment, I knew whose fool I had been," said Lt. McClary.  That evening he made God the Lord of his life and has never regretted his decision. 

Through these experiences, Lt. McClary is able to bring a message of hope to his audience.  To Lt. McClary, the Bible is his most prized possession.  He shared that it sets the pace for attributes in our lives such as character, integrity, and honor.

It is the desire of the administration at Wesleyan to give our students the opportunity to learn from individuals of great faith such as Lt. McClary.  We encourage students to take Lt. McClary’s message to heart and let God orchestrate their lives as was declared by the prophet Jeremiah:  For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Faculty Endowment Strengthens the Academy

The faculty at Wesleyan continually seek avenues for additional professional development. One of the ways the school administration has sought to support this effort is through a faculty endowment that provides annual grants or special recognition to faculty and staff. The endowment was established through a matching gift from a long-time Wesleyan alumni family in 2012. Establishing this endowment was critical in providing a permanent and sustainable resource to benefit our wonderful staff. These grants not only improve our teachers’ professional objectives, but also they help to improve the mission of Wesleyan and establish or enhance student programming. 

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires,” says author and theologian William Arthur Ward.  It’s that last word, “inspiring,” that fittingly describes the faculty members of Wesleyan Christian Academy. These exceptional men and women tirelessly give of themselves to guide and teach their students. Without their diligence to pour into students’ lives each day, Wesleyan would not hold the distinctive position among Christian and private schools in North Carolina and the Southeast region that we do today. 

A number of our teachers have already used these endowment funds to attend valuable workshops and conferences. 

• High School teacher Rob Hoots attended an Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature workshop at Wake Forest University, which certifies him as an additional AP English teacher for the academy. 
• The Enrichment Center’s Elementary School teacher Ashley Compton attended a workshop at the Hill Center that helped her develop a new writing curriculum for the Enrichment Center.
• High School Enrichment teacher Susan Eanes attended workshops on ACT, critical reading, writing and essay instruction for juniors and seniors, and instruction in writing.
• Wesleyan’s band director Kyle Auman organized a band clinic for Wesleyan students and students from other area private schools. The clinic afforded students the opportunity to rehearse and perform with renowned conductor Dr. Brian Meitzner, from High Point University. 
• High School College Admissions Counselor Michelle Ledbetter took part in the Pennsylvania Liberal Arts College Tour, giving her a first-hand look at several Pennsylvania liberal arts colleges. 

These are just a few of the opportunities for growth and professional development that the faculty has taken as a result of the faculty endowment.

We thank the Lord for our wonderful faculty and are excited about how this endowment helps Wesleyan become a stronger school. The end result is to help make an impact on the children, families, and colleagues at Wesleyan. We look forward to seeing the results.  Please feel free to contact the Development office at 884-3333 ext. 221 if you are interested in supporting the WCA faculty endowment.

WCA Students Celebrate the Christmas Season with the Community 

It is hard to believe that Christmas is only a week away. Wesleyan is always an exciting place to be during this season.  Students are working hard to finish their first semester with excellence.  The Fine Arts students from Elementary to High School are giving beautiful concerts guaranteed to generate Christmas spirit, and in the spirit of helping those who have less means, our students filled hundreds of gift bags for children in Guatemala and for homeless families in the Triad area.

 On Thursday, December 18, three performing groups from Wesleyan – Men of Servant and the all-girl choirs, Faith and Joy – will perform for the community at High Point University’s (HPU) 4th Annual Community Christmas Celebration. Thousands of visitors will come to this campus to enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of Christmas, among them our students at Hayworth Fine Arts Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Our students have had the opportunity to perform for the past four years at HPU's Thanksgiving chapel.  Because of the excellence and quality of their presentation, they were invited back.

For more details about this celebration, click http://www.highpoint.edu/community/christmas/.

 Wesleyan students are excited to share with our community the hope that we have in our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Luke described in his gospel the joy and excitement that the angels had in announcing the birth of Jesus: Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.  As our students are sharing this good news and joy in our city and around the world, it is our prayer that you will do the same with those closest to you.

WCA Students Called from Apathy to Action 

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation Study, the average American watches five hours of television, listens to 2.5 hours of music, and sees more than 

3,000 advertisements daily.  With statistics such as these, we can see how easily our children are influenced by the culture around us.The pull for their hearts and minds is great.  Technology and media can have a tremendous sway over their lives.  To help them stay on the offensive with this dilemma, Wesleyan welcomed the AXIS team for a full day of seminars with our High School students, faculty, and parents.

The day started with a fast-paced presentation where  students were encouraged to rethink the roll of technology and social media so that it can be a tool for them to transform the world around them rather than letting the culture dictate to them their values and relationships.  Students were also challenged to examine the way they read and understand Scripture.  The team shared that the Bible is the story for the world.  It is the Good News.  Do we believe this? “Do you know the story?” they asked.  Finally, students were encouraged to examine what they love because what we love shapes our lives.  If our love is based on things of this world, our lives will be radically different than having a love based according to a biblical worldview.

The day continued with an afternoon meeting with faculty members and an auditorium filled in the evening with over 300 parents ready to learn how to help their students and children to stand firm against the messages that are daily competing for their hearts and minds.

The biggest issue our students face, according to the AXIS team, is unquestioned answers – meaning that there is a danger to our students accepting answers without knowing where those answers came from and on what truth those answers are based. With the facts that “61% of today’s young adults who had been churched…are now spiritually disengaged, and 80% of twenty-somethings have not maintained a level of spiritual activity consistent with their high school experience” [Barna.org], we are compelled as a school and parents to guide our students into asking the right questions and then believing the truth of God’s Word for the answers.

As part of the vision of Wesleyan, the administration and faculty will continue to seek avenues to expose our students to groups that challenge them to think more clearly, as the AXIS group did.  It is our prayer that all of our graduates will leave Wesleyan knowing real truth while living it out to the fullest.

 Soccer Team Wins State Title and Ends with National Ranking 

 After a hard fought season, which finished 21-0-2, Wesleyan’s varsity boys’ soccer team captured the 2014 NCISAA 3A state championship on Saturday, October 25, at Cannon School in Concord. This is the Trojans’ third state championship title in four years, with 13 titles since 1984. The Trojans also ended their season with a ranking of third in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Wesleyan is privileged to have Coach Scott Reitnour to lead these young men. Coach Reitnour knows that soccer is more than just a game, and he instills this into the hearts and minds of his players. “If you want to know what the centerpiece of Wesleyan soccer is, that’s it. We believe that God cares about what humans do. It’s a game we play, but we want to use it to glorify Him. So we’re playing for an audience of one,” he told Michael Lindsay of the High Point Enterprise.

Unity has also been a hallmark of this team. Junior Andrew Moebius showed just how tightly knit these players are when he said: “It’s magical – that’s all I can say.  It’s more playing for our brothers – it’s playing for each other. Whatever the result, we want to be able to walk off the field, look our teammates in the face, and tell them we gave them everything we had.”

Wesleyan is very proud of our team and their resolve to give of their best throughout the entire season. Senior Matt Owens said it the best: “Being able to go a whole season without losing, it’s incredible. We’ve got to give God the credit. That couldn’t have happened without Him.”

WCA Addresses Ebola

Most of us are fully aware of the growing health concern we see with the rise of the Ebola virus.  Our prayers go out to all those in-fected with this virus; we ask that the Lord would provide the treatment, healing, and, ultimately, a cure for this serious illness. 

We have been monitoring the news, consulting with doctors and nurses who serve on various response teams, and meeting collectively as an administration to provide an appropriate response to this growing concern.   As a school that you trust with the care and safety of your children, we do not take lightly issues like this when they become evident.  With this being said, the school board and administration are implementing the following measures that may impact a small number of our families:

• Wesleyan Christian Academy will not host speakers or programs involving those who have traveled to Ebola-affected regions or have been in contact with individuals who have traveled to those regions.
  
  
• WCA will not host mission trips to known affected regions.  WCA will continue to pray and support missions in those areas through other means.
  
  
• Employees, students, or family members who travel to known affected regions or who have come in contact with another person known to be infected with the Ebola virus will be excluded from school attendance for three weeks.  Teachers will work with those students to continue their missed classes.

 If the Ebola illness spreads in the United States or in North Carolina, additional measures will be considered and communicated to you based on guidance and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health officials.  Thank you for your understanding and support as we seek only to keep your children at the safest distance possible from this potential concern. May our Lord give us wisdom and clarity as this develops.

Wesleyan Welcomes U.S. Congressman

Wesleyan offers the opportunity for students to learn from many distinguished individuals throughout their years at the academy.  Several High School history classes recently had the privilege to hear the longest-serving Republican in the history of the North Carolina congressional delegation, the Honorable Howard Coble, share his experiences of working as a representative of the citizens of the 6^th district.  Representative Coble reminded the students of the importance of education.  He also shared with them his love and respect for educators.  Having a close family member who served as an educator, he knows the hard work that teachers put forth in this lifelong calling.  He encouraged these students to “not take them for granted.” 

During a question-and-answer time, Representative Coble told of his most memorable moment while serving in Congress.  On the morning of September 11, 2001, he was speaking at a breakfast with the Supreme Court justices and other distinguished guests.  As he began to speak, Chief Justice William Rehnquist handed him a note, which stated these sobering words, “The Pentagon has been bombed.”  Representative Coble remarked to the students that Americans often assume that their freedom will always remain constant; we tend to look at it with a casual eye.  He exhorted them to “not take it for granted; we must guard it.”  These students were young children when the terrorist attacks of 9/11 occurred.  Most have no memory or even a full understanding of the devastation that took place.  What a gift it was for them to hear Representative Coble’s unique personal perspective of the intensity and trauma of a day that irrevocably changed their history.

Our Head of School Dr. Rob Brown presented Representative Coble with a framed certificate, recognizing him as an Honorary Trojan for his tireless service in the U. S. Congress and for living out Wesleyan’s vision statement: “To Know and Live the Truth.”  He thanked Representative Coble for the time he gave to our students and wished him well in his upcoming retirement.

It is our desire at Wesleyan to enhance our students’ learning environment with such speakers as Representative Coble; Dr. Ben Carson; and internationally known speaker, author, and advocate for Christian apologetics Alex McFarland who both spoke last year.  We believe that education happens not only in the classroom, but additionally through exposure to individuals such as these.

Students Find Joy in Ministering to Others

For most students, summer means sleeping late, hanging out with friends, or maybe working a summer job.  For nearly 40 students from Wesleyan, their summer took on a very different meaning.    

Most of us can’t imagine what life would be like if we had to go to a dump to look for food, but in Guatemala, this is a daily occurrence for many.  A team of students, faculty, and our Head of School went in June to this impoverished country to work alongside the Hope of Life International (HoL) ministry.  HoL has a wonderful ministry that includes rescuing children so that they can be brought back to good health and receive proper nutrition; building homes for families; taking care of the elderly; and feeding 20,000 children and adults each year at special stations.  When the team from Wesleyan arrived in Guatemala, they had no idea what they could expect to accomplish; they began by reaching out in love to all the people they met, serving meals to those in need, and just sharing the love of Christ with hugs, smiles, and a helping hand.  While some of the sights, smells, and sounds of Guatemala were not pleasant, the memory of and love for the Guatemalan people is now engraved in the hearts of this team.    
   

Over the course of nearly 25 years, Wesleyan’s chaplain Pastor Paul Coates has taken hundreds of students to minister in Jamaica.  For 10 days this past June, students ministered to the lonely and hurting in the local orphanage, girls’ home, and handicap home.  They also assisted the local Wesleyan churches with construction projects such as painting and pouring concrete.  A highlight for the students was finishing a project started by last year’s team at the home of a man named Patrick.  Patrick is confined to a wheelchair and needed lots of help in making his home a pleasant and safe one.  When the week came to a close, his home looked brand new!  The students stood in awe as they watched Patrick attempt to walk using the new railing that they had installed.  God used them in many ways to bless Patrick and many others.  


Closer to home, a team of eight students, along with High School teacher, Kristen Bowles, were privileged to work at Camp Joy in Flat Rock, N.C., a Christian camp for special needs people.  They served as counselors and were paired one-on-one with their “special friend” for an entire week attending Bible class, crafts, drama, swimming, and much more!  These friends taught them how unconditional and deep God’s love is for us.  Mrs. Bowles shared that one of her favorite moments was watching Joseph Held, a senior at Wesleyan, serve his friend.  “The way they interacted and danced together was such a joy to watch!  The administration at the camp even mentioned that this camper hadn’t shown that much love in several years,” stated Mrs. Bowles.  God used these students to bless the lives of these special people, and true lasting friendships were made.

In Psalm 82, we are instructed to “rescue the weak and needy.”  This summer, the students and staff from Wesleyan had a small part in doing just this.  We praise God for how He used them, and we ask God to bring healing to and bless the lives of those that they served. 

Jamaica Missions Trip 2014

Jamaica Missions Trip 2014

Guatemala Missions Trip 2014

Camp Joy Home Missions 2014

Wesleyan Partners with High Point Police Department and KLOVE

This summer, Wesleyan partnered with the High Point Police Department (HPPD), and KLOVE, a national Christian radio station that broadcasts contemporary Christian music to affiliate radio stations, to provide critical incident and crisis response training to nearly 200 individuals. In June and July, eight training sessions involving approximately 30 High Point police officers were held in the high school building, and Wesleyan provided faculty and staff volunteers to role play for the exercises. Officer Jeremy Nemitz of the HPPD said, “It is not often that we get to have live role players, and it greatly added to the realism of the training.”

This training was not only beneficial for the HPPD, but also for our school. It helped us to better understand what would be involved in a police response to a critical incident on campus. One unexpected outcome of the training was the need to renumber our classrooms so that numbers coincide with each floor to avoid confusion for personnel unfamiliar with our school. As a result, all the room numbers from Elementary through High School were changed this summer to match 100s to the 1st floor, 200s to the 2nd floor, and so on. To read a letter written by Chief of Police Marty Sumner describing why this training was so important to the department, please click here.

Additionally, a crisis response training provided as a community service by KLOVE was held in the Farlow Kennedy Center. Nearly 150 first responders, counselors, mental health providers, and pastors came out for this extensive training. This training also was open to our faculty and staff to attend, which some were able to do. Topics such as emotional and spiritual care in disasters, grief following trauma, psychological first aid, and suicide prevention / intervention / postvention were covered during the training.

Wesleyan takes the security of our students very seriously, and we continually seek new ways to make them and our campus safe. We are very thankful for the partnership that has developed over the years with our local law enforcement and now the new relationship we have formed with KLOVE. We look forward to a continued partnership with both of them in the future.

K-8 Students Score in the 90^th Percentile

Wesleyan seeks to provide all students with a high-caliber Christian education, and the academic performance of our students for the 2013-14 school year was exceptional. 

The Elementary and Middle School students worked with determination to excel academically this year.  Each year, the TerraNova Achievement Test is administered to K2-8^th grade students.  This test – covering reading, language, and math – gives the teachers, administration, and parents a picture of the progress of the students to ensure that they are academically advancing.  The Complete Battery Score for this year’s test results was an outstanding 90% average!  

On Friday, May 30, 95 seniors graduated in the annual commencement exercises.  Many of these graduates were awarded significant scholarships, admitted to honors programs, and admitted to some of the most selective colleges and universities across the country.

Two of the graduates were named National Merit Finalists and one was named a National Merit Commended Student.  We congratulate these students for receiving these prestigious honors.  One of the finalists, Drew Shook, gained admission to The University of Alabama Honors College on a scholarship covering five years of tuition (including one year of graduate studies), fees, room and board, and a study abroad stipend. 

Additionally, 2014 graduate Kirby Robbins was named by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America to the Academic All-America Team.  To be nominated, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) throughout his or her career.  Kirby will be attending Messiah College in the fall.

The total scholarships and grants offered to the Class of 2014 was more than $4 million dollars. These students have set a high standard of excellence for themselves as they take the next steps to further their knowledge and education.

Also each year, students from the Elementary and Middle School compete in the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Science Fair and Spelling Bee.  This year, sixth grader Nathan Scott received second place in the ACSI District Spelling Bee.  Seven middle schools were represented with a total of 89 spellers, and he placed second in the district.  We are very proud of Nathan and this noteworthy accomplishment.  

Wesleyan is very blessed to hold an academically distinctive position among Christian and private schools in North Carolina, as well as in the southeast region.  We are continually seeking out new academic endeavors to expose all of our students to new learning environments such as hiring a new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) teacher and coordinator for this fall.  Students K-12 will have the opportunity to learn more about STEM, which can only help them to be better equipped for the tremendous emphasis it has in our highly technological society.

We are very proud of all of our students and look forward to the many more accomplishments that they will reach in the future. 

Three Students Receive National Merit Recognition

Wesleyan is pleased to announce that three 2014 graduates have received National Merit recognition.  Drew Shook and Logan Johnson each were named a National Merit Finalist, and Jack Gavigan was named a National Merit Commended Student.  Wesleyan has had a total of 17 National Merit Finalists and 16 Commended Students over the past 20 years, an incredible number for a school of our size. 

According to the National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSP) website, in October 2012, 1.5 million high school juniors entered the 2014 NMSP by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, and some 50,000 students with the highest scores qualified for either a Commended Student or Semifinalist.  From this group, approximately 16,000 qualified as semifinalists and the rest were recognized as Commended Students for their outstanding academic abilities.  The semifinalists are the highest scoring entrants from each state who then go on to be considered a finalist.  To become a finalist, a student must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the high school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the performance on the qualifying test.  A total of 15,000 finalists were named as National Merit Scholars for 2014.

NMSP Finalist Drew Shook has been attending Wesleyan since third grade.  During that time, he has received other academic honors such as AP Scholar and a National Hispanic Scholar.  He plans to attend the University of Alabama Honors College where he has received a scholarship for five years of tuition (including one year of graduate studies), fees, room and board, and a study abroad stipend.  Drew plans to double major in biology and psychology, with a minor in philosophy.  He hopes to go on to medical school and has aspirations of pursuing a career as a surgeon.

NMSP Finalist Logan Johnson has been an active student at Wesleyan, serving as an officer in both French Club and Debate Club.  He also was a founding member of Wesleyan’s Quiz-Bowl team and participated in High IQ Bowls during high school, where he has been passionate about history and literature.  Logan will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and plans to study business or political science with hopes to later go on to law school. 

Jack Gavigan, a National Merit Commended Student, has received numerous academic awards such as being named AP Scholar and a Junior Marshall.  Jack maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout all four years of high school, and he founded “Astronomy Without Limits,” a club for middle school students to take an exciting first look into the cosmos.  Jack plans to attend Duke University and major in nuclear engineering or physics.  His greatest interests are in nuclear fusion energy development as well as robotics and STEM education. 

We congratulate these students for their hard work and for receiving this prestigious honor of National Merit recognition.   One of our strongest objectives at Wesleyan is to provide a rigorous academic environment for training and equipping future leaders, and these young men have stepped up to the challenge.  We are very proud f them as they have and will represent Wesleyan well! 

Drew Shook	Logan Johnson	Jack Gavigan

Top-Seeded Trojans Win NCISAA 3A Softball State Championship

On Saturday, May 17, the Varsity girls’ softball team was crowned state champions in the NCISAA 3A State tournament.  After a hard-fought series of games on Friday and Saturday, not only did the team walk away with the state title, they also go down in Wesleyan’s history as being the first-ever softball team to win a state championship!  Michael Lindsay of the High Point Enterprise (HPE) referred to them as “one of the area’s most explosive teams all season.” Senior, Cayla Cecil, who has signed to play with NCAA Division II Tusculum College, pitched a great game.  “It was her pitching ability along with Wesleyan’s lineup whose players hit for average and power, ran the bases well and scored tons of runs that kept them in position to win games even when they trailed – as they did in all three of their games Friday and Saturday.  And they rarely faltered all season,” as noted in the HPE.

The team has grown to be a tightly knit group, especially over the past 15 months.  During a practice last March, one of their teammates collapsed and went into sudden cardiac arrest.  The days after this traumatic event only brought them closer as they prayed over their teammate and visited her on a regular basis during weeks of a hospital stay.  Two of the players received the prestigious American Red Cross Award for saving this young girl’s life by giving her CPR and playing a vital role in coordinating communication to and between emergency services, fellow teammates, team coach, and other school personnel.  That bond played a role in this year’s success and championship win. Cecil said, “I think the biggest thing is that we’re a big team, we’re like sisters. … It was definitely a great feeling because we worked really hard this season, and Christ has really brought us together as a team.” 

In reality, the team has been building up to this championship win over the past three years.  As reported in the HPE, the team “became a state powerhouse with a number of college-level players and standout athletes who have filled their roles quite well.  This season, it all clicked into place.”  Without a doubt, Coach Donald Brewer is excited about the team’s future.  “It’s exciting to look at where we’ve come from, where we are now, and where we can go from here,” he said.     

We are very proud of these athletes.  Their demonstration of perseverance and hard work is what Wesleyan seeks to instill in all of our students.  Congratulations to Coach Brewer and his team for reaching this tremendous accomplishment.  We look forward to many more successful seasons!   

Dr. Ben Carson Speaks to High School Students 

On May 9, High School students from Wesleyan Christian Academy and around the Triad gathered at Providence Place in High Point to hear a timely message given by renowned surgeon and author, Dr. Ben Carson.  Wesleyan was the host school for this event with nearly 1,400 students in attendance and more than 1,000 watching it live at WCA’s auditorium.  Dr. Carson shared with the audience his inspiring “Helping Hands” message.

Dr. Carson’s life exhibits a unique kind of determination.  He shared with the students how he loved to go to the doctor when he was a child, fascinated by everything that was done there.  When he and his family would visit someone in the hospital, he would imagine that he heard ‘Dr. Carson’ being called over the speaker system to assist a patient.  He grew up in a very poor home and was raised by a single mom who instilled in him the idea that, with God’s help, he could do anything that he desired.  With this kind of belief system ingrained in him, it is no surprise that Dr. Carson’s dreams came true when at the age of 33, he became the youngest physician ever to head a major division at Johns Hopkins Hospital.  He also pioneered the work of separating conjoined twins in 1987, with the operation on a pair of 7-month-old twins from Germany.  In fact, his life and work was so widely recognized that in 2009 it was presented as a made-for-television movie, “Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story.”  Last week in his message to the students, Dr. Carson encouraged them to pursue their dreams just as he has done.  “Think about your intellectual talents, not the easiest path,” he said.  The students left challenged by these words. 

Wesleyan seeks to instill in all of our students, from Elementary to High School, the same message that Dr. Carson shares in his book Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence:“God cares about every area of our lives, and God wants us to ask for help. … If we make every attempt to increase our knowledge in order to use it for human good, it will make a difference in us and in our world.”  This statement sums up Wesleyan’s mission, “to provide a biblically based, college-preparatory education so that our students will be equipped to serve Christ and influence the world.”

It is with a deep gratitude that Wesleyan was able to be the host for this exceptional event, and we thank our alumni parent who funded it.  May all of our students be challenged to live their lives to the fullest and use their gifts and talents for our Lord.

Successful people don’t have fewer problems.  They have determined that nothing will stop them from going forward.  Dr. Ben Carson 

12 Senior Athletes Sign Letter of Intnet to Play College Sports

Wesleyan is pleased to announce that 12 senior athletes have signed to play sports at various colleges and universities across the nation – eight signing with Division I schools. Not only are these students talented athletes, they are also tremendous students and leaders with a servant’s heart.

Last May, Theo Pinson announced his decision to play basketball with the University of North Carolina.  This became official when he signed his National Letter of Intent this year.  In an interview with the High Point Enterprise he commented, “I dreamed about going to a big-time school my whole life.  Now that I’m officially a Tar Heel, it’s a blessing.”  Theo’s accomplishments include being named PACIS 3A Player of the Year as a sophomore, All-PACIS as a junior, and playing for the 2014 McDonald’s All-American East team.  Theo plans to study sports management.

A three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals, and Scout, Jaquel Richmond signed to play at University of Houston after considering other schools such as Texas A&M and Creighton. He has been a key player for the Trojans basketball team and helped the team achieve its second consecutive state championship this year.  “He’s been really, really special in building this program,” said Coach Keith Gatlin, “and for Jaquel to accomplish what he has is just a blessing.  His speed and his strength are what really set him apart.”  Jaquel plans to study architecture at Houston.

Another determined athlete, Donovan Gilmore signed to play basketball with NCAA Division I, College of Charleston.  Although he had a slow start with his high school basketball career, Donovan always strives for excellence in everything he does.  As a National Honor Society student with a 3.72 GPA, his dream of playing for a Division I school has come true.  “I would’ve never thought I’d get a Division I scholarship,” he said.  “To work so hard and to finally sign on that dotted line, it’s an amazing feeling.”  Donovan’s plans are to study business and finance.

Ryan Clinch signed to play baseball with NCAA Division I East Carolina.  After trying basketball, he discovered that baseball is really his first love.  Coach Scott Davis said, “He’s just a good baseball player overall. … His leadership abilities are off the charts, and his defensive abilities are really good as well.”  Ryan plans to study communications and elementary education.

Hayden Manuel signed to play baseball with NCAA Division I Presbyterian College. His first time playing on the varsity baseball team at Wesleyan was during his freshman year when he was called temporarily from the JV team because of another player’s preseason injury.  When Coach Davis saw his abilities, he knew he wanted Hayden on the varsity team.  Hayden helped Wesleyan reach the 3A state semifinals three times and the championship series once.  He was named all-conference and all-state, as well as MVP his junior year.  Hayden is interested in pursuing either pharmacology or exercise sports science.

Cecily Overbey is about to reach a life goal of playing college golf: She signed with N.C. State University.  Coach Jaime Cebollero said about her determination to be the best, “She’s self-driven, self-motivated; she practices when everyone else is taking time off.  She’s grinding year-round – that’s what makes her special.”  Cecily plans to major in business administration.

Drew Mostoller signed to play soccer with NCAA Division I Furman University.  A very dedicated player, Drew helped the Trojans win consecutive NCISAA 3A state championships during his high school soccer career.  He earned all-conference three times, all-region twice, and all-state once.  “He just has this massive appetite to improve,” said Coach Scott Reitnour.  “I think it’s his commitment to excellence, how motivated he is.”  Drew plans to major in business administration. 

Haley Fulp started playing soccer when she was four years old and is thrilled to be playing for NAIA Division I Milligan College.  She has played for the Kernersville Soccer Association as well as N.C. Soccer Fusion. Haley chose Milligan because of the Christian environment and the school’s excellent soccer program.  She plans to study to be a teacher.

Ashleigh Kelley has signed to play soccer at Southern Wesleyan University, which is in the process of moving from NAIA to NCAA Division II.  While playing at Wesleyan, she also played for the Twin City Youth Soccer Association and worked hard to develop her soccer skills.  Ashleigh says she chose SWU because of its Christ-centered atmosphere and close community.  She plans to study pre-med.

Cayla Cecil, who has always loved softball and always left her mark on the field, has signed to play ball with NCAA Division II Tusculum College.  She has worked extremely hard as the pitcher for the Trojans, being chosen all-state and helping the team reach the state quarterfinals.  Selected to play in the 2012 and 2013 Powerade Games, Cayla promises to be a strong force for Tusculum where she plans to study elementary education.

Kirby Robbins signed to play soccer with NCAA Division III Messiah College.  He has played soccer for many years including playing for N.C. Soccer Fusion, formerly the Greensboro Soccer Club, since he was 10 years old.  According to Coach Reitnour, “Kirby has always had a ton of soccer ability, and it’s been a process with him embracing all those potentialities and making them a reality. … He’s now paired that innate, intrinsic ability with a desire to really become who God wants him to be.”  Kirby plans to study biology with aspirations to go on to medical school.

After several major injuries during his sophomore year, Lane Kowalski came back stronger than ever for a great finish to his Trojan baseball career.  He signed to play for NCAA Division III Ferrum College.  Lane has always strived for excellence not only in soccer, but also in academics, and is receiving an academic scholarship from Ferrum, where he plans to be a business administration major.  Playing college baseball has been a lifelong goal for him, and he is excited about the future God has for him. 

We are very proud of each of these student athletes as they are using their God-given talents and abilities for Him. We look forward to seeing how He uses them in the future.

Christian Apologetics Speaker and Author Visits Wesleyan 

On March 13, Wesleyan’s Middle and High School students heard a challenging message from noted Christian apologetics speaker and author, Alex McFarland.  In the chapel services, Mr. McFarland shared his testimony of accepting Christ at the age of 21 years old while in college and how the Lord began to show him the importance of knowing how to defend his faith.  As students grow in their faith and become more intentional about sharing it, they often will encounter such questions as “How can I know that there really is a God?”  As Mr. McFarland began to study the answers to questions such as this, he found that people can be brought to belief in God when they can understand that He is real and true.  For the “big” life questions such as “Is there a God” and “Is the Bible true and trustworthy”, he found compelling and persuasive evidence for these and many other questions that people may have.

It is this kind of passion for truth that Wesleyan’s administration and faculty seek to instill into the hearts and minds of our students.  We greatly desire for the students who graduate from WCA to leave not only academically prepared for their future, but also with a faith that is deep and an understanding of why and how they can boldly proclaim the answers to the questions of doubt that a person might have.

With this in mind, Wesleyan is in the process of hiring a Student Life Coordinator for the 2014-15 school year.  The purpose of this position is to initiate, develop, and teach courses in the critical areas of apologetics and life calling and purpose.  Through a partnership with Indiana Wesleyan University, the Introduction to Life Calling will help provide juniors and seniors a foundation that will enable them to take actions of personal leadership that can lead to greater success in their high school and eventually college/university experience, and at the same time make a positive impact on the world around them.  A second class also offered to juniors and seniors, Apologetics, will examine a rational defense of the basic elements of the Christian faith, including the existence of God, reliability of the Bible, the claims of Christ, and the historicity of the resurrection.  The course is designed to explain how to present a reasoned defense of the Gospel. Rebuttals to the challenges and the evangelistic opportunities they present will also be demonstrated.  These courses will add to the foundation that has already been laid in the Understanding the Times (UTT) classes that faculty members Kevin Barrows and Scott Reitnour have taught to 8^th and 12^th grades.  The Spiritual Life Coordinator will also help promote the spiritual formation of the High School student body and will develop, facilitate, and lead “Great Commission” strategies as well as mentor and develop student leadership opportunities. 

These new opportunities for our students are yet another way that we are seeking to help them truly live out Wesleyan Christian Academy’s vision to know and live the truth.  

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
1 Peter 3:15

Alex McFarland speaks across the nation and abroad as an advocate for Christian apologetics.  He presently serves as director of the Center for Christian Worldview and Apologetics at North Greenville University.  He has also served as president of Southern Evangelical Seminary and Director of Teen Apologetics for Focus on the Family.  His knowledge of apologetics has also taken him on the secular stage for interviews with such media outlets as the New York Times, Washington Post, and FOX News’ ‘The Strategy Room.’  He has also interviewed well-known atheists such as author and activist, Christopher Hitchens, and President of the American Atheists, David Silverman.

To watch the chapel service at Wesleyan with Mr. McFarland, please click here.

Wesleyan Expands STEM Initiative

At Wesleyan, we take very seriously the mandate that we have been given to help our students reach and accomplish greater levels of learning. With this in mind, we have placed a high priority on implementing and expanding Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) into our curriculum, ranging from programs put in place last year to the addition of a new STEM Coordinator and Teacher for 1^st through 6^th grade beginning next year.

Last year, Wesleyan kicked off the Lego Robotics League. This academic club, open to 4^th-6^th grades, has given students the opportunity to build and test computerized robots, which in turn has helped them learn and apply new STEM skills. The league continues to gain momentum with the addition of a second advanced club this year. This advanced club competes in area robotics tournaments, including this year’s “FIRST LEGO” tournament on both the regional and state level.

To add to the STEM experience at Wesleyan, this year our 6^th grade students have been offered the opportunity to study outer space through the “Astronomy Without Limits” club, led by High School senior Jack Gavigan, his father, Brian, and faculty sponsor, Mrs. Linda Kohns. The astronomy club gives the students the opportunity to explore the universe through “field sessions” that afford the opportunity to view planets, stars, and galaxies with high-powered telescopes and binoculars.

This year, we have also added a new Mac Lab for our Middle School students. Through funds raised from our Annual Gift Giving campaign, we purchased 31 new Mac computers. Daily, students are learning new advanced skills that are helping them to grow in their knowledge of how to use the technology available.

For the 2014-15 school year, a new position of STEM Coordinator and Teacher will be added. This person will teach 1st through 6th grade classes related to STEM and be a resource for and promoter among all of our teachers as they also integrate STEM into their instruction. This new coordinator will help guide the already-established STEM initiatives in Elementary and Middle School and will help to create new ones all the way through High School. We are excited about this addition and the hands-on learning our students will experience. This will only enhance the STEM initiatives that have already been established at Wesleyan.  

We are very excited about the future of STEM at Wesleyan and look forward to offering many more opportunities for our students to excel in these areas.

Trojans Win Second Consecutive Basketball State Championship

For the second consecutive year, Wesleyan’s Varsity Boys’ basketball team won the NCISAA 3A state finals.  The team entered the playoffs as the second-seeded team (22-9) ready to play in the quarterfinals against seventh-seeded Christ School from Asheville, N.C.  The Trojans earned first round byes against Christ School with a score of 50-34.  After this initial win, the team moved on to the semifinals with a game against the third-seeded High Point Christian Academy Cougars.  The Trojans ended the game against the Cougars up 70-54.  In the finals on Saturday, the Trojans beat top-seeded Greensboro Day School and won the championship.  Although down at the first half, the team rallied to this final win.  The City League Hoops website reports, “The game was close all the way through, and Greensboro Day’s more deliberate pace clearly bothered the uber-talented WCA unit, coached by former Maryland point guard Keith Gatlin.  Ultimately, it was the talent that won out, giving Wesleyan their second consecutive state title by the score of 54-47 in overtime.”  Senior athlete, Theo Pinson played a phenomenal game that helped the Trojans win; his three pointer sent the game into overtime with 17 seconds left, and he finished the game scoring 15 points.  “Basically, we just knew this was it,” Theo said in an interview with the High Point Enterprise. “There’s nothing else.  We couldn’t hold anything back.  We had to go out knowing we played as hard as we could.”

The team triumphed over many adversities as they dealt with injuries and illness throughout the season.   Sophomore Michael Buckland, who scored 12 points in the final game, put the year into perspective: “All that hard work, all the ups and downs we went through all season – to come out on top feels awesome.”  The team was able to play two games on the national level this year.  “The reason you play a national schedule is for moments like this,” said Coach Gatlin. “I just give all the glory to God.  The way our season went, those games prepared us for this right here – no question.”

We are very proud of how hard the team has worked toward accomplishing this notable goal.  The players’ attitude and drive of pursuing excellence in everything they do is the heartbeat of Wesleyan Christian Academy.  It is this level of excellence that has produced three Division 1 players that will enter universities across the country next fall.  We congratulate Coach Gatlin and the team and look forward to many more successful seasons.

WCA Athlete Named to the 2014 McDonald’s All-American Team

On Wednesday, January 29, Wesleyan Christian Academy senior Theo Pinson was named to the prestigious list for the 37^th annual McDonald’s All-American East team. Theo is one of 24 student-athletes chosen from nearly 1,000 who were nominated to play on April 2 at Chicago’s United Center.  The players who were chosen are considered the top-rated players from high schools all across the nation.

In the 36 years of the McDonald’s All-American Game, a number of well-known NBA players played, including Isaiah Thomas, James Worthy, Michael Jordan,  LeBron James, and many others.  Wesleyan’s coach, Keith Gatlin, who played for the Maryland Terrapins (1984-1988), was an All-American player in 1983.  According to www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com, “Proceeds from the games have raised more than $10 million for the Ronald McDonald House Charities and its local chapters in the U.S. since the games’ inception in 1978.”  The Triad is privileged to host one of these chapters at Brenner’s Children’s Hospital in Winston-Salem.

On Friday, January 31, at the home varsity basketball game, Theo was recognized for receiving this distinction.  With an impressive number of media present, the owner of the McDonald’s at Oak Hollow Mall in High Point presented Theo with a plaque, recognizing him as an All-American player on behalf of McDonald’s.

Theo’s basketball career already includes a tremendous list of accomplishments, including being chosen to play ball for many elite teams such as the USA U16 National team, the USA National Developmental team, and the Under Armour Elite 24.

Last May, Theo announced that he had chosen to play for the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill next year.  After his official signing this past November, Roy Williams, coach of the Tar Heels had this to say in an interview with the Greensboro News and Record, “Theo’s versatility is a big part of his game.  He can do almost everything on the court and do it well. … I love his versatility, which allows him to play multiple positions, something we always like in a player.”

A person would think that notoriety such as this at a young age would produce a spirit of pride.  However, this is not the case with Theo.  Above all, Theo places his trust and faith in God.  “I thank God for the gift he gave me, and I try to use it to the best of my ability”, said Theo.  He is a well-rounded student who loves his school and classmates.  If you attend a game at Wesleyan, you will inevitably find students in the Red Sea section, as the student cheering section is known, holding up Theo’s picture as they cheer him on.  Without fail, he always recognizes his peers in a way that simply says thank you for being here and for your encouragement.  We also see this spirit of humility in a feature on the USA Basketball website in which Theo is asked to name the most impressive person he has ever met.  He said simply, “There isn’t just one person, [it’s] his family and friends who are supportive of his dreams.”  He was also asked what his most prized possession is, and he named his family.

In the New Testament book of James we read that if a person humbles himself before the Lord, He will exalt him.  This verse describes the heart of Theo Pinson. With all the accolades he has already received, Theo knows that his help first comes from the Lord and then from his family and friends. Wesleyan is excited to see how the Lord uses Theo at Carolina and beyond.  

To watch a FOX8 interview with Theo and his mom, Barbara Pinson, please click here.

Wesleyan Raises Thousands for Philippines Relief Project 

On November 8, news broke that Typhoon Haiyan had hit the Philippines.  This category 5 storm was the most powerful and devastating typhoon that has ever hit this nation.  According to government data, more than 6,000 people were killed, nearly 1,800 are still missing, more than 27,000 are reported injured, and 3.9 million were forced from their homes.  As you can see, the devastation has been great.

The day after the typhoon hit, the administration and staff at Wesleyan began working on ways that our school might come to the aid of the Filipino people.  One of our faculty members initiated a relief fund for the Philippines by foregoing a house-remodel and instead donating $10,000 toward this project.  The goal became for the student body to match this donation.  We are pleased to report that this goal was accomplished and more.  Students, parents, faculty, and staff all pulled together and raised more than $28,000, the largest amount ever raised at Wesleyan for a mission’s project such as this.  This is a phenomenal achievement, in light of recent news reports that donations to nonprofits have decreased nationwide.  To create a graphic display of how we were endeavoring to minister to the Filipinos, “Love Links” – paper chain links in the colors of the Filipino flag – were sold for $1 per link.  Hanging throughout our school hallways, you could see as a few links became many links that formed a chain representing the generosity of the Wesleyan family.

The administration made the decision to partner with Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham and located in Boone, N.C.  On January 9, Aaron Ashoff, a relief team leader for Samaritan’s Purse and one of the first people on the ground in the Philippines, spoke in each of our chapel services and was presented a check for $28,414.17 from Wesleyan for the work there.  While here, Mr. Ashoff told the High Point Enterprise: “When I was driving here, I just prayed and thanked God for students like these.  I don’t know that when I was in high school I would’ve given money for a storm across the world.”  He also said that “the money received from Wesleyan most likely will be used to build transitional shelters for 50,000 people.”

In the gospel of Matthew, we find the statement that whatever is done for one of the least, it is also done for Christ.  Wesleyan is very blessed to have students, parents, and a faculty and staff who are all willing to live out what Christ has called us to do.  Chaplain Paul Coates also told the High Point Enterprise, “Anytime there’s a disaster in our city, country, or around the world, we want to be a part of the solution.”  We praise God for all He is doing through the Wesleyan Christian Academy family.

Renowned Surgeon, Philanthropist, and Author Scheduled to Speak at Wesleyan 

Wesleyan is pleased to announce that in May 2014 internationally known surgeon, philanthropist, and author Dr. Ben Carson will be speaking to our High School students along with hundreds of other students from private, public, and charter schools across the Triad.  This event will take place at First Wesleyan Church in High Point.  We are privileged and honored that one of our alumni parents has taken it upon himself to fund this exceptional event. 

Dr. Carson is director emeritus of Pediatric Neourosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital.  At age 33, he was the youngest physician to ever head a major division at this hospital.  He also is a retired professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery, and pediatric medicine at Johns Hopkins.  He has written more than 100 publications about neurosurgery and numerous books.  Dr. Carson has received more than 50 honorary doctorate degrees, and President George W. Bush presented him with the Presidential Medal of Honor.   He is also a pioneer in the separation of conjoined twins.  His first surgery in 1987 was a tremendous success, as he was able to separate a pair of 7-month-old twins from Germany.  His work in this area attracted international media attention that has paved the way for the popularity he receives today.   In fact, his life and work was featured in a 2009 made-for-television movie, “Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story.”  Dr. Carson grew up from the humble beginnings of a poverty-stricken home where he was raised by a single mom who devoted herself to her children and providing for them.  His mom, Sonya, only had a third grade education; however, she instilled in all of her children the need to pursue education to the highest level possible.  

In 2012, Dr. Carson wrote America the Beautiful – Rediscovering What Made This Nation Great.  At the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., he shared with President Barack Obama and many other highly esteemed guests his thoughts from the book.  The book cover notes that Dr. Carson shares his experiential insights that help us understand what is good about America, where we have gone astray, and which fundamental beliefs have guided America from her founding into preeminence among nations.  This work calls us all to use our God-given talents to improve our lives, our communities, our nation, and our world.

The heart of Dr. Carson’s message is to help young people understand that with their God-given desires and talents, they can accomplish anything.  He shares with students the message he learned from his mom about the importance of education.  This is not only a speech that Dr. Carson gives; he puts his words into action through his Carson Scholars Fund, which supports scholarships and a reading project.  Scholarships are awarded to students in grades 4-11 who have achieved academic excellence and have served their community.  The Ben Carson Reading Project provides funds to schools across the nation to help provide books and create an atmosphere where children will enjoy reading. 

As a devout Christian, Dr. Carson’s life and message underscores the mission of Wesleyan Christian Academy as we desire to provide a biblically based, college-preparatory education so that students will be equipped to serve Christ and influence the world.  It is with great anticipation that we look forward to hearing the timely message that Dr. Carson will bring.

New STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Initiative Implemented  

We are very excited about a new STEM initiative that has been implemented this year for 6^th grade students at Wesleyan. “Astronomy Without Limits” provides an exciting first look into the cosmos for the 14 students participating this year. High School senior Jack Gavigan and his father, Brian, are leading the club along with faculty sponsor Mrs. Linda Kohns. The program commenced with a Power Point presentation modeled after similar programs by the National Park Service through which students explored the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies supernovae stars, and the Hubble deep field image.  Students will also have “field sessions” to observe planets, stars, and galaxies using powerful telescopes and astronomy binoculars. During the field sessions, they will observe the moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, double stars, the red supermassive stars, Betelgeuse star, and the constellations Orion, Big Dipper, and Leo.  They hope to observe Comet ISON, also called the “Comet of the Century” which is set to come through in December.

Another part of the STEM program at Wesleyan is the LEGO Robotics League. This year we have two clubs, the first year group and the more advanced team who started last year. The advanced club is now competing in area tournaments. Two teams from Wesleyan’s advanced club competed on Saturday, November 23, at Walkertown High School and did very well. Congratulations to team 13025, a.k.a. Robo Brains, as they will be heading to the North Carolina FIRST LEGO League state tournament on January 11 at N.C. A&T State University in Greensboro. These competitions allow students to learn from professional engineers, compete with a robot of their own design, and work with sophisticated software and hardware. Team members leave the event inspired and motivated to succeed.  We are very proud of our beginners and our advanced clubs and look forward to hearing about their future successes. 

The STEM program at Wesleyan continues to grow and affords our students exposure to greater levels of knowledge and opportunities to participate in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Wesleyan Alumnus Named American League Rookie of the Year   

It has been reported for weeks now that Wesleyan alumnus, Wil Myers (2009) of the Tampa Bay Rays, was a viable candidate for the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year.  On Monday, November 11, this dream was realized as Wil received this prestigious honor.  In an interview with the Major League Baseball (MLB) network, Wil stated “It’s awesome. … It’s a huge honor to win this.  I’m very excited about it.”  Not only was he given this honor, but also his name will also go in the record books as the first AL winner who has played fewer than 100 games.  Wil did not start playing with the Rays until June 18, 2013, yet he still took the lead with 53 RBIs, batting .293 with 13 home runs.

A week after receiving this honor, representatives from the local media gathered in the lobby of Wesleyan’s auditorium for a press conference with Wil.  His unpretentious demeanor and humble spirit was evident as he answered the many questions.  Wil’s greatest joy is playing baseball, but not necessarily the limelight that goes with playing in the majors and being named Rookie of the Year.  It is evident by all who know him that he is still the same guy we had all grown to love years before.  To the Wesleyan family, he is still the teenager who walked the halls of WCA with his friends.  In an interview with the High Point Enterprise, Wesleyan’s baseball coach, Scott Davis, shared that during a recent practice he had asked Wil to come and share his outfielder expertise with the young athletes.  Mr. Davis commented that Wil was a little nervous about working with them, forgetting he had just received a nationally recognized honor.  Davis went on to say, “It’s humbling, simply because I still see him as a freshman, … to see him on the baseball field in Tampa or in Boston. You start to come to the realization: Man, he’s a big leaguer.”

Wil keeps close to his roots at home.  His family and friends joined him for the press conference and have been with him throughout this new journey.  He shared with a reporter from the Greensboro News and Record his thoughts about coming back to Wesleyan: “It’s cool to come back here and be able to do something like this. It’s humbling to come back.”  After the press conference, Wil headed to his first off-season workout session.   He still trains with Wesleyan’s Middle School P.E. teacher Mo Blakeney, who played and coached in the minor leagues from 1995 to 2001. 

The press conference ended in the gym with a cheering crowd of Elementary School students ready to welcome their friend and hero home.  Fourth grader Garrett Allred and second grader Benjamin Brown wore Tampa Bay Ray’s jerseys with Myers written on the back and stood with Wil as Chaplain Paul Coates and High School Principal Tim Rickman ended the gathering by praying for Wil.  Garrett, who also plays baseball, said, “I am a huge fan of Wil. … It’s kind of awesome that someone who went to the same school as me has made it all the way to the major leagues.”   It is Wil’s desire to be a role model for students. “It’s cool to have kids look up to me, and it’s up to me to set a good example for them.”

Wesleyan is very proud of Wil and how God is using him to encourage others to be the best they can be.  He is a great example of what we hope and desire for all of our students: To strive for excellence in everything they do and to influence the world around them.  We wish Wil the very best that God has for him and look forward to watching him accomplish greater goals throughout his baseball career.

Annual Gift Giving Sets New Record

This year’s Annual Gift Giving (AGG) campaign achieved a record-setting level of participation and success.  The goal of $225,000 was exceeded with a little more than a quarter of a million donated and pledged. In the history of the AGG campaign, this is the largest amount ever raised, and we give glory to God for His blessings and favor upon our school. 

The idea of establishing this campaign was placed in the hearts of the school’s administration more than 20 years ago.The desire is and has always been to make Wesleyan Christian Academy a better place where students can grow both academically and spiritually. This year’s contributions will do just that, funding such things as life-saving automated external defibrillators (AED), iPads for the Enrichment Center, a mobile laptop lab for High School, funding for the drama production and wireless microphones, a new Middle School computer lab, Elementary mobile Apple learning lab, athletic equipment, and much more.  Some of the funds raised will also go to support a monthly outreach to local families at the Macedonia Resource Center in High Point.  Chaplain Paul Coates, along with students, will serve a meal each month to men, women, and children from the Macedonia community.  This is an exciting new way that our students will be able to share the love of Christ with others as they share a meal and fellowship together.

During the AGG campaign this year, we heard many stories of how students and parents raised money toward the campaign. One family sold tickets for a bouncy house at the PTO yard sale and gave all the money raised to AGG.  This is only one story of families dedicating their time and effort toward this endeavor. 

Wesleyan is very blessed to have such wonderful families and friends who care deeply about providing a well-rounded Christian education to students who come to us from all over the Triad.  It is because of this kind of dedication that Wesleyan Christian Academy will be able to better equip students to share the love of Christ and influence the world. 

Wesleyan Shares the Love of Christ Across the Globe

Every year, many of Wesleyan Christian Academy’s students and faculty members travel around the world to share the love of Christ with others.  This summer was no different as  nearly 60 students and faculty traveled to places such as Jamaica, Guatemala, Guyana, and even in the mountains of western North Carolina. 

For nearly 25 years, WCA Chaplain Pastor Paul Coates has traveled with a team of students and faculty to Jamaica.  The largest Jamaica team yet, with 34 students and five chaperones, ministered for 10 days to these wonderful Jamaican people.  The students ministered to children at Blossom Garden Orphanage, Tucker Basic School, West Haven Handicap Home, and a local girls’ home.  The team also  had the privilege of  worshipping at Norwood Wesleyan Holiness Church in Danieltown, Jamaica, where they spent several days painting and doing other needed work.  High School teacher and chaperone, Mary Kay Bell, works with the team every year and says that she loves to watch the Lord stretch these students and to sees the gift of compassion and understanding come to life in them. 

A group of 11 WCA students, alumni, faculty, and parents traveled to Guatemala with First Wesleyan Church in High Point to minister to the people there. The team served at the Hope of Life Orphanage where they l  ed on the children and also served a meal of soup and bread to hundreds of people who fought for a place in line. The missions’ team also ministered at Hope of Life’s Kelly’s House, a home for special needs children, and St. Luke’s Hospital.  They even had a pizza party for the nurses for a much-needed break. 

High School junior Sydney Parker, along with three alumni from WCA, traveled with a team from her church to Guyana.  “The biggest God moments were when God moved, and we had not planned on it,” said Sydney. Many times during this trip, the team was pushed out of their comfort zones, and they came back to the States with a new love for hurting people.

Students and faculty from Wesleyan also ministered close to home when High School math teacher, Kristen Bowles, along with seven WCA students worked at Camp Joy in Flat Rock, N.C. This camp is designed for those with mental and physical handicaps, and campers are paired with counselors for a week of Bible class, aerobics, crafts, drama, swimming, zip line, and climbing a tower.  One of the most special times that week was the nightly worship.  One of the campers wrote to Ms. Bowles: “I wish that other schools would do what you did.  The kids are so nice!  I am so glad to know them!” 

These are just a few of the stories of ministry that took place during summer 2013.  Other WCA students  and alumni traveled to faraway places, reached out across the United States, and participated in events such as a walk-a-thon to raise money for wells in Africa.  Our mission and hope at Wesleyan is to develop students to serve Christ and influence the world.  We thank God for how He is working in the hearts of the students; may many more answer this call to serve!

Wesleyan Featured in Business Journal

This past summer, we made Wesleyan families aware of a bill proposed in the N.C. General Assembly that has the potential to revolutionize the availability of private education to families across North Carolina.  In July, the Opportunity Scholarship Act passed, and it will go into effect for the 2014-15 school year. 

In the latest edition of the Triad Business Journal, Wesleyan was featured on the headline page, and Head of School Dr. Rob Brown was interviewed for an article about the scholarships.  We are very pleased with the great press for Wesleyan, but even more important is that this will help to make families in our community who have the greatest needs aware of what the act will offer them.  In the article, Dr. Brown expressed his desire “to help organize other private schools in the Triad around a concerted effort to educate parents about the voucher program.”

The Business Journal reported that Wesleyan is the largest private school in the Triad, and we are so very grateful for the Lord’s blessings and favor upon us.  Allowing more families to have access to avenues of financial support for a private education will help not only new families attend WCA, but also these scholarships have the potential to help all families at WCA.  Indeed, a full school – with like-minded families who believe in our mission – is a financially healthy school.

If you would like to read the Triad Business Journal article, please click here.

New Resources for Wesleyan Families

We are pleased to make you aware of a few new resources that are now available for all WCA parents.  First, we have reached a partnership agreement with a local publisher who will be sharing with us a series of newsletters called, If Christianity Is True.  His work eloquently expresses biblical truths on the critical topic of understanding and interacting within a secular culture.  We hope that you will use these articles as a tool to strengthen and sharpen your biblical understanding in a variety of topics and as well as to help identify and discuss your convictions with your children.  We have also received permission that allows you to share these newsletters with friends and family who may find them helpful.  To read this month’s article, please click here.

We would also like to remind you of the many resource materials that can be found on our website.  Our faculty have researched and read a umber of books and videos that have been the most influential in their lives and calling into Christian education.  You will find topics on worldview and culture; what it means to follow Christ; family, parenting, and dealing with grief; and books recommended for all families to read.  To review this list of resources, click here.

In a world where secularism is aggressively gaining its foothold on our culture, as believers we must remember and follow the instructions written in Hebrews 10: 24-25 as we spur one another on toward love and good deeds…and encourage one another, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

We hope that you will find all of these resources useful for your families, as well as your own personal walk with the Lord. 

Alumnus Called Up to Major League and in Running for Rookie of the Year

If you watch any sports network, locally or nationally, inevitably you will hear the name, Wil Myers.  If you google his name, you will find hundreds of articles written about him.  Wil graduated from Wesleyan in 2009, and during his time at Wesleyan he had many successes, such as batting an astro- nomical .532 with 14 homers and 41 RBIs.  He was ranked No. 2 in the nation as “best pure hitter” among high school players by Baseball America. Wil also helped to lead the Trojans to win the North Carolina Private School Championship in 2008.  In 2009, he was named the Greensboro News and Record’s high school player of the year.  All that was only the beginning of Wil’s success in baseball.

Immediately after graduation, Wil made his debut playing professional baseball with several Rookie League affiliates associated with the Kansas City Royals, batting .369 with five home runs in 84 at-bats.  In the 2010 season, he played catcher for the Burlington Bees of the Midwest League and was named to the Midwest League All-Star team.  His success continued as he was promoted in July 2010 to the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Carolina League, a league considered more advanced than the previous leagues he had played in.  Wil finished this season batting .315 with a .429 on-base percentage overall, and totaled 14 home runs, 83 runs batted in, and 85 walks between his time in the Midwest and Carolina leagues.  

In December 2012,  Wil was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays and started the 2013 season with its affiliate,  the Triple-A Durham Bulls of the Inter- national League.  He became Major League Baseball’s (MLB) No. 4 overall prospect as he was hitting .286 with 14 home runs, 13 doubles, 29 walks, and 57 RBIs in 63 games for the Bulls.  He  was also named Minor League Player of the Year and according to news reports, one of his homers may have been the longest ever hit at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. 

On June 17, 2013,  Wil got the news that  he was being called up to play with the Tampa Bay Rays.  Friends and family gathered in the  chapel at
Wesleyan to watch his debut major league game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.  A week later, he hit his first home run, and it was a historic one.   According to the Greensboro News and Record, “The last time Yankee Stadium was the site of a visiting player hitting a grand slam for his first home run was 1980, when Detroit’s Ricky Peters did it.”   Yahoo Sports reported that he is also “the first player whose first home run was a grand slam at Yankee Stadium since Hideki Matsui in 2003.”  An article on Bleacherreport.com stated that “Wil has to be the favorite right now for the American League Rookie of the Year. He would become the third player in franchise history, joining Evan Longoria and Jeremy Hellickson, to win the award.”

One thing everyone loves about Wil Myers is his humble spirit.  In an article on MLB.com, Rays’ Manager Joe Maddon had this to say about Wil: “I just think he’s handled everything properly and well.  There’s no showboating.”  Wesleyan’s head coach, Scott Davis, knew that Wil had what it takes to make the majors, and Davis promised him that when the day came, he would be there to watch him play.  Coach Davis kept his word and enjoyed every moment as he watched his former player show baseball fans around America the talents that God has given him. 

To honor this young man, Wesleyan has retired his jersey.  This is the first time in the history of the school that the jersey of an alumni student has been retired.  We are very proud of Wil, and look forward to watching where the Lord takes him throughout his baseball career.  To see a video created by FS Florida/SunSports and used with their permission, click here.

Students Receive Prestigious American Red Cross Award

On July 1, representatives from the American Red Cross, along with Wesleyan’s administration, friends, family, and various local media outlets came together  to honor students, Taylor Bisbee (8^th grade) and Taylor Travers (Class of 2013) for their heroic actions with saving the life of fellow student, Paris White (8^th Grade).  Both of these young ladies received the highest award given by the American Red Cross, the Certificate of Merit.  This highly prestigious award is given to only 90 individuals across the nation each year for saving or sustaining a life as a direct result of the American Red Cross training.  The certificate bears the signature of the President of the United States who is the honorary chairman of the American Red Cross and the signature of the chairman of the American Red Cross.

 On March 26, 2013, during a varsity softball practice at Wesleyan, Paris collapsed and went into sudden cardiac arrest.  Taylor Bisbee had just completed CPR training at Wesleyan the day before and immediately went into action by giving her friend and teammate CPR. 

Taylor Travers also played a vital role during the initial moments of this alarming situation.  She also had taken CPR training at Wesleyan and knew the exact protocol for situations such as this. Taylor coordinated all communications to and between emergency services, fellow teammates, team coach, and other school personnel.  She helped to maintain calm and order allowing others to work together to sustain Paris’ life until the arrival of EMS to continue care and transport.

Without a doubt, because of their calm demeanor, quick thinking actions, and the skills that both of these young ladies learned in the American Red Cross Health and Safety Services Adult CPR/AED Course, Paris’ life was saved.

CPR training is a required class within the 8^th grade P.E. program at Wesleyan and is also offered on a continual basis throughout the year to all students and staff.  Wesleyan has also taken an additional step to be ready for emergencies such as this by purchasing six Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for our campus.  The use of this device also proved to be further help in saving Paris’ life.  Wesleyan is blessed to have nurse, Mary Lou Lawton, who is trained to use AED devices and was able to administer it to Paris before emergency assistance arrived.

Additionally, on May 20, the academy partnered with Carolina Cardiology Cornerstone for the first-ever cardiac athlete screening at Wesleyan.  The goal of this program was to provide this service to the athletes and their families for a minimal cost and to educate the students and families about sudden cardiac death in young athletes.  The screening was given not to replace, however, to supplement the athlete’s regular pre-participation athletic screening exam.  It is our hope to continue to offer these screenings in the future.

We are very proud of Taylor Bisbee and Taylor Travers, and we are very thankful that today, Paris is doing well.  We are grateful to our Lord for his hand in orchestrating this event so that both of these students were prepared and available to help save their friend and teammate’s life.

Class of 2013 Student Achievement Update  

 Our clear objective at Wesleyan Christian Academy is to set a high standard of academic excellence for our students, and through    the years, hundreds of students have accomplished this goal and much more.

 On Friday, May 24, 2013, commencement exercises for 84 seniors took place.  Valedictorian Morgan Speight followed in the      footsteps of her two older siblings, Thomas and Katherine, in attending Wesleyan since Elementary School.  Morgan was selected to  the National Honor Society and Senior Beta Club and received academic recognition in Bible, Spanish, AP Biology, Public Speaking, Chemistry, English, Language, and Mathematics.  Morgan re- ceived a full appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy where she plans to focus on nuclear engineering 

Payton Williams, salutatorian, also demonstrated a pattern of academic excellence, receiving “all-A” honor roll recognition throughout high school as well as numerous subject area awards.  She is pursuing a major in Biology and possibly a minor in Spanish at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Four students were recognized as honor graduates and are attending Cornell University, University of Michigan, North Carolina State University, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute.   75% of our graduates received the President’s Award for Academic Excellence, and over half of our high school students received honor roll awards.  The total merit-based scholarships and grants extended to the graduating class was $3.4 million dollars.

At the Middle School Awards Program in May,  well over half of our student body received the A Honor Roll Award and the A/B Honor Roll Award.  Thirteen students qualified for the Duke University Talent Identification Program and took the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or ACT, which are national college admissions tests.  Two of these students scored high enough (510 or above on SAT Reading, above 500 on the SAT Writing, or above 20 on any of the ACT tests) and were recognized at the state recognition ceremony.  Three students took the Latin exam and scored summa cum laude, maxima cum laude, and the Praemium Latimum (Latin Prize) for a perfect paper.

One of our Enrichment Center graduates, Holly Schallert, was recognized as both a 2013 Anne Ford Scholar and as the national spokesperson for the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD).  Holly was chosen from a large number of applicants based on her placement among the top eight of her senior class, her willingness to share both the struggles and advantages of having a learning difference, and her active service to the community while undertaking very strenuous advanced placement classes.

Wesleyan is blessed to hold an academically distinctive position among Christian and private schools in North Carolina, as well as the Southeast Region.  With the high-caliber Christian education that our students receive, they will graduate from Wesleyan equipped to pursue God’s excellence in all they do.  We are very proud of all of these students and are privileged to serve all of our families as we partner together in the pursuit of a Christ-centered, college-preparatory education.  If you would like to read the 2012-13 Annual Report in its entirety, please stop by the academy office for your copy.

Rising Senior Commits to UNC Tarheel Basketball

On May 23, media outlets from across the Triad, state, and nation gathered in the high school gym as rising senior Theo  Pinson announced hiscommitment to play basketball for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  The High Point Enterprise reported, “Theo has been one of the most heavily recruited athletes the area’s ever seen.”  The news of his decision to play for the Tar Heels came as a shock to many in the sports world who expected him to choose Indiana University.  Indiana’s coach, Tom Crean, had recruited Theo hard and long, with great hopes that his announcement would be in the Hoosiers’ favor; however, this was not to be.  Theo was also recruited by many other schools, including Duke University, Georgetown University, and University of Louisville.  Theo chose to play for UNC for many reasons, one of which was to play for a team close to home so that his family and friends would have the opportunity to be involved in his college basketball career.  This young man’s family means the world to him.  In an interview with ESPN, his father, Theo Sr., said that the closer his son got to making this monumental decision, the more he showed a desire to stay close to home for college.  Mr. Pinson went on to say, “In the end, it all came down to him wanting us to be at every game. He showed me that me and my wife must be doing something pretty good because he’s a family guy.  That was probably what did it [for UNC].”  Theo is also excited about the possibility that his classmates from Wesleyan will be able to cheer him on.  During his press conference, he stated how grateful he was to the “Red Sea” (those student fans who cheered the Trojans on to win this year’s state champion-ship).   During the recruiting process, Theo also developed a strong relationship with Tar Heel coach, Roy Williams, which helped to confirm his decision. Williams strongly recruited Theo believing that he will make an immediate impact for the Tar Heels, and he was thrilled to hear Theo’s choice. 

This young man has already reached many milestones during his high school basketball career.  Theo averaged 13 points, four rebounds, and three assists per game this year and was selected all-state as the Trojans won the NCISAA state championship.  He also played for the 2012 USA Basketball Men’s Developmental National Team. Scout.com ranks him as the No. 15 overall prospect in the class of 2014, while Rivals.com has him at No. 13.  Additionally, Theo is ranked the No. 13 best prospect on the ESPN Top 60 list.  Brian Snow of Scout.com said, “Pinson is one of the most naturally gifted players in the entire class of 2014.  He is a big-time athlete, has long arms, and has some defined ability to score the basketball.”  Theo will be joining a UNC recruiting class that already includes two five-star players.  With accomplishments such as these, a young person could easily lose sight of the source of his strength and abilities.  Wesleyan’s basketball coach Keith Gatlin has continually encouraged his team to never forget that these attributes come directly from the Lord’s hand.  Coach Gatlin has pushed them to play with hunger and passion but to always remain humble.  Additionally, the team has also been led to give of themselves to others as they volunteered this year at the West End Ministries Boys and Girls Club and Open Door Ministries Arthur Cassell Memorial Transitional Housing.  Theo has learned these lessons well: When he made his college announcement, his first statements were his love and appreciation to God, his family, and his friends.  What a testimony this is to the secular world who is watching this young man.

It is our desire at Wesleyan that all of our students pursue excellence in everything they do.  Theo is doing just this, and we are very proud of him.  We look forward to watching him play another successful year of basketball for the Trojans and anticipate an exciting college career for him at Carolina. 

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3

Wesleyan Student Overcomes Learning Differences and Named National Spokesperson for National Center for Learning Disabilities

“Determined” – that is the word that might best describe 12th grade student, Holly Schallert.  When Holly entered kindergarten, her parents and teachers quickly began to notice that she was having significant difficulty learning how to read.  It was during this first year of school that Holly was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD. These learning differences were greatly affecting her ability to reach the grade level at which she should be performing.       

In 6th grade, Holly came to Wesleyan to attend the Enrichment Center, and it was here where her world began to change.  Principal Becky Owens says that she remembers well just how frustrated Holly was when she started in the Center.  Even though she was frustrated, Holly was and is  a very deter- mined and strong-willed young lady who refuses to give up.  The word “quit” is not in her vocabulary. After Holly started school in the Enrichment Center, where the student-teacher ratio is as low as 5-to-1, she began to thrive and blossom.  By the eighth grade, Holly decided she wanted to transition into a regular classroom.  According to Principal Owens, “Usually a student will mainstream one course at a time, but Holly was not satisfied with this.”  Against all odds, she completely mainstreamed into the academy classes, and success has followed her all along the way.  During her junior year at Wesleyan, she served as a Junior Marshall at the 2012 graduating ceremonies. 

The success story of Holly’s academic life continues.  On April 15, 2013, she and her mom, Ruth, flew to New York City where she was honored at the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) annual benefit dinner. Holly was awarded the Anne Ford Scholarship.  News journalist Paula Zahn emceed the evening, and actress Sigourney Weaver presented the scholarship award.  This scholarship offers financial assistance to grad- uating high school seniors who have documented learning differences and are pursuing post-secondary education.  Holly will receive $10,000 to be applied to the college of her choice.  Holly has also been named a national spokesperson for the NCLD.  Her duties as spokesperson will allow her to speak and blog on behalf of the NCLD.

We are very proud of Holly and the good work of our Enrichment Center.  It is amazing what a person can accomplish even as he or she may face many obstacles. We wish Holly the very best and are excited to see how God will use her as she attends Carolina State University in the fall where she plans to study industrial design.

“Perseverance is more than endurance. It is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for is going to happen.”  Oswald Chambers

Lego Robotics League Builds Math and Science Skills for Students

At Wesleyan Christian Academy, one of our primary core values is to continually strive for excellence and improvement.  With this in mind, it has been our desire to get students more involved in S.T.E.M. subjects (science, technology, engineering, and math).  This year, with the support of our parents, we have started an exciting new club that does just that, the Lego Robotics League.  This unique academic club helps students apply math and science to real world situations, develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, and create and construct models of all kinds that really work!  The league has been a tremendous hit with the students.

On Thursday afternoons in the computer lab at Wesleyan, you will find 20 energetic 4^th-6^th grade students testing the computerized robots that they have built with the popular children’s toy, Lego Building Blocks.  The club is not only fun; students also are learning to apply math and spatial skills, work as a team while building their individual self-esteem, follow explicit written and oral directions, and work with team members to solve problems as they build these robots. Students create programs that will make their robots perform specific tasks, along with some random fun mixed in.  The goal for the league is to participate in competitions in the future. Fourth grade teacher Donna Cebollero leads this group; Annalise Wenning, who was referred to the league by the Greensboro Natural Science Center’s Lego Club, serves as mentor, and parent volunteer Wanda Curtis also works each week with the students. The academy is very blessed to have teachers and parents who are willing to give of their time and effort, even after school  hours, to help our students with activities such as this.  

It is our desire at Wesleyan to cultivate in our students a continuous desire for learning. Through activities such as the Lego Robotics League, students find the fun and excitement in learning.  We look forward to seeing what these young boys and girls accomplish in the future! 

Wesleyan Gives 400 Free Pairs of Shoes to Community

On Saturday, March 2, about 80 volunteers – nearly all of them students from Wesleyan – gathered at the Macedonia Family Resource Center in High Point for the second annual Shoes of Hope Distribution with Samaritan’s Feet.  Samaritan’s Feet is an organization that distributes new tennis shoes to children all around the world.  We were very excited to partner with Samaritan’s Feet and share the love of Christ by giving new shoes to the men, women and children of the Macedonia community.

As the guests entered the facility, volunteers greeted and led them to the foot washing station.  At this station, many lives were touched with a smile and kind word, a new Bible, and a brand new pair of tennis shoes after the volunteers washed their feet.  It was a wonderful sight to watch the students wash the feet of strangers and pray with these dear people, many of who were in great need. Volunteers washed about 800 feet, passed out 350 bottles of water, made a couple hundred crafts, and  smiled countless times.  Many good organizations are known by their giving to the community around them; however, the difference is made when an act of kindness is done in the name of Jesus.  These students did just that; the hope and love that Jesus has for the people of the Macedonia community was shared.  In an interview with the High Point Enterprise, one of our guests told the reporter that “she had brought her dad to his appointment for new shoes and got much more.”  She expressed her gratefulness by saying, “I’m so glad I came.  A lady came and stopped me out of the blue and prayed for me.  I like that, and we really appreciate what they’re doing.”  Christy Lowe, program director at Macedonia Family Resource Center, also commented to the reporter about how excited she was to be a part of Shoes of Hope.  “It is the most humbling thing I’ve ever been a part of,” she said.  It truly was a joy to see the excitement on the faces of some 400 people, ranging in age from a 3-month-old infant to an elderly gentleman in his 80s. 

It is our desire at Wesleyan to invest not only in our school, but in our community.  We appreciate the many students who gave of their time on a weekend to do this.  Time and time again guests were heard to say what a blessing the distribution was to them, and at the end of the day, it was evident that all of our volunteers were just as blessed as well.

Trojans Crowned State Champs

“Humble but Hungry,” this describes the determination of this year’s Boys’ Varsity Basketball team. On Saturday, February 23, after three games against the top state schools, the Trojans walked away with the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Associa-tion (NCISAA) 3A state championship title.  The top-seeded Trojans began the tournament with a 58–43 win against Ravenscroft. The semi-finals against No. 4 seeded High Point Christian Academy brought a 59–52 win,  with the final championship win against No. 3 seeded Greensboro Day School with a score of 59-49. The team also ended the season ranked No. 9 nationally in the private school division with Max Preps. Congratulations go not only to the team, but also to freshman Harry Giles and junior Theo Pinson for being named to the 11-player all-state team.    

Coach Keith Gatlin came to Wesleyan in 2009 and has worked hard to prepare the team for wins such as this. The Trojans have beome a competitive team who seek to play to their best ability and represent Wesleyan with a Christ-like attitude of sportsmanship.  Some of these players have left WCA to play on the college level with schools such as Florida State of the Atlantic Coast Conference and Virginia Military Institute (VMI) of the Big South Conference.  Wesleyan is very blessed to have these talented young men who are not only making an impact in the high school arena, but also in colleges and universities around the nation. 

It is our desire that students from Wesleyan pursue excellence in everything they do, and these guys have done just that. Congratulations to coach Gatlin and the team for this tremendous accomplishment.  We look forward to many more successful seasons!

Elementary Wellness Fair:  "Healthy Kid -- Inside and Out"

Wesleyan Christian Academy is very blessed to have a tremendous team of faculty and staff who truly care about our students.  Our nurse, Mary Lou Lawton, is one who always goes the extra mile for them.  Nurse Lawton has 35 years of nursing experience, 22 of those in the Air Force in an active duty and reservist role.  Each year, Nurse Lawton plans many activities such as the Wellness Fair to help promote good health at the school.  We appreciate the time and effort that Nurse Lawton and the Wellness Committee gave to preparing for this fair.  Below you will find an article about the fair written by Nurse Lawton: 

Mark 12:30, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”  This was the theme for the 2012-13 Elementary wellness fair, “Healthy Kids – Inside and Out.”  Kindergarten through 4thgrade students enjoyed learning about their bodies as they rotated through nine interactive stations.  Parent volunteers, many of whom were medical professionals’ and two of our health and physical educa-tion teachers facilitated the teaching points at each station.

The excitement began when students entered a simulated haven of glowing black-light germs to emphasize the importance of hand washing.  Progress- ing through the Heart, Mind, and Strength stations, students learned that making wise food and activity choices promotes heart, muscle, and bone health.  A favorite activity was listening to their heartbeats through the use of a Doppler machine.  Younger students experienced a colorful reinforcement of their classroom lessons with the new My Plate nutrition guide.  Older students learned how to read ingredient labels.  At the Soul station, students made their own puppet to illustrate the concept that every person is a unique creation of God and that God breathed life into each individual.  They learned that taking time to read the Bible, pray, and be obedient to God will help them to stay in shape spiritually.

The Wellness Committee is pleased to promote biblical integration into each component of the wellness fair and extends heartfelt gratitude to parents and staff that played a valuable part in making the fair a success.

New Look, New Food a Hit with Students  

January has been an exciting month for services at Wesleyan in our newly updated cafeteria.  When you enter the cafeteria, you find an inviting room that has been transformed into a fun, contemporary dining area.  Bright red and gold paint on the walls, new tables decorated with the Wesleyan crest and “W”, and beautiful wall art depicting the spirit of WCA fills the room with excitement and fun.  Students are truly enjoying this new atmosphere and look forward to lunch time.    

We are also very excited about our new partnership with Flik Independent School Dining.  Flik is a food service company that works with about 150 private schools across the nation.  The philosophy of the company is to serve fresh, made-from-scratch meals to students to help build strong bodies and minds.  The homemade soups, freshly baked bread for the sandwiches, and the delicious hot plate lunches have already been a hit with many.  Students are also enjoying the fresh salad bar with a variety of vegetables and side dishes. Entering the cafeteria, you overhear students asking each other, “What did you eat for lunch”? With the many choices available to students, eating in the cafeteria has now become an exciting time for everyone.  It is our desire at Wesleyan to make our students’ entire day an enjoyable learning experience, and proper nutrition plays a very important role.  Parents can be assured that their children are eating healthy, nutritious meals at a very affordable price.   

 We are very excited about the new updates to the cafeteria and food service.  We are also thankful for the way our Lord provides to meet all of our needs.  The updates that have been made to the cafeteria are a direct result of the tremendous success the academy had during this year’s Annual Gift Giving campaign.  It is wonderful projects such as the cafeteria update that the campaign helps to complete each year.  We give praise to the Lord for everything He has done and is going to do in the future at Wesleyan Christian Academy!  
  

Students Minister to Their Fellowman from High Point to Kenya

Already, in the few short months of this school year, the ministry rendered by Wesleyan students reveals the heart they have for others.  From Elementary to High School, WCA students have touched the lives of hundreds of people locally and around the world by being involved in nearly 20 different ministry projects. 

In the Elementary School, the 4th Grade held a food drive for area food pantries collecting hundreds of items. This will provide delicious warm meals for needy families during the holiday season. Elementary students are also making beautiful Christmas cards that will be delivered to wounded soldiers at Fort Bragg military base. This has developed into a wonderful ministry that was started in the past few years.  Additionally, for the past few years, the school has reached across the globe to fellow students in Kenya. Dr. Ben Omungo, a parent at Wesleyan who is originally from Kenya, brought beautiful necklaces that were made by the village people there.  The students purchased these necklaces, raising more than $700 for the mission work in Kenya.

Middle School students have been involved with projects such as food drives and the “Give a Kid a Coat” program sponsored by A Cleaner World, FOX8, 107.5KZL, and the Salvation Army.  A highlight service project for the students has been the Kids’ Café with West End Ministries of High Point, a project they will continue every month throughout the school year. This is a program of the Second Harvest Food Bank that aims to address the growing problem of childhood hunger. Wesleyan students collected various food items for the ministry.  They also served a meal to the kids and enjoyed their time interacting with them. This project has stretched the students out of their comfort zone as they are learning to give of themselves by taking the time to show the love of Christ with those who need to see that someone really does care.

Our High School continually strives to minister to others in our community by being involved in many projects throughout the school year.  In October, 43 students volunteered at High Point Miracle League baseball games. The Miracle League is for special-needs children ages 5 to 21 with abilities including simple handicaps to more extreme conditions. Students assisted players by serving as their buddies, helping them hit the ball, run bases, and catch the ball.  During homecoming week, High School as well as Middle and Elementary School students collected hundreds of food items for Open Door Ministries.  The ministry’s food supply was very low, and they were in desperate need.  Pastor Paul Coates, Wesleyan’s chaplain, was able to deliver several truckloads of food that the students collected. 

Sports teams at Wesleyan are also experiencing the joy of giving. The cross country team is collecting baby diapers for the Piedmont Diaper Bank Project. The diaper bank distributes these diapers among local agencies that have a direct connection to local families in need. The basketball team spent an afternoon serving at the West End Ministries Boys and Girls Club.  They played games with the children, helped them with homework and just enjoyed developing new friendships with them. The team also served at Open Door Ministries Arthur Cassell Memorial Transitional Housing. They helped beautify their property by raking leaves and doing necessary yard work.  

At Wesleyan, it is our desire to encourage our students to make a difference in the local community and around the world. We are blessed to have students who are willing to give their time after school and sometimes even on weekends to do this. Many more ministry projects are planned for this year, and it is our hope and desire to change one life at a time as the love of Christ is shown to those around us.

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:16 (ESV)

Nationally Ranked Boys' Soccer Team Wins Second Consecutive State Championship

For the second consecutive year, the Wesleyan Boys’ Varsity Soccer team won the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA) 3A state title on Saturday, October 27.  The tournament began with a 3-0 victory win against Christ School from Asheville, N.C.  The semi-finals against Forsyth Country Day brought a 2-1 victory, with the final tournament win against second-seeded Greensboro Day Bengals ending with a score of 1-0.  The Trojans have won 11 state titles since 1984; however, this is the first-ever perfect season (25-0-0) in the school’s history.  The team also ended the season as No. 1 according to www.maxpreps.com and No. 2 in the nation according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Head coach Scott Reitnour has made it his mission to teach the students that they are not only giving their best for Wesleyan, but they are also giving their best for God.  Because of his leadership, the team has grown together both athletically and spiritually.  In an interview with the High Point Enterprise, Bruce Olivier, senior captain, stated that the success of the team “was just guys buying into the program.  That’s what Coach Reitnour works with us about.  Just playing for an audience of one – playing for God.”  Coach Reitnour says it is because of this attitude that the team has been so successful.  In his interview with the paper, he said, “They reached a point where they humbled themselves and played with respect for the opposition and appreciation for the God who gave them breath.  I think we realized that it wasn’t about us, but it’s about glorifying Him and honoring our opponent.” 

Congratulations go not only to the team, but also to senior players Craver Stamey, Bruce Olivier, Brandt Bronico, and Bob Gigliotti for being named to the NCISAA 3A All-State team.  In addition to the success of the varsity team, the Junior Varsity and Middle School boys’ soccer teams all were undefeated in the regular seasons.  Wesleyan is very blessed to have these talented, skillful young men ready to join the ranks of the varsity team. 

It is our desire at Wesleyan to teach students how to pursue God’s excellence in all areas; these young men have done this.  Congratulations to Coach Reitnour and his team for reaching this tremendous accomplishment.  We look forward to many more successful seasons!

Annual Gift Giving Campaign A Success

On October 12, the Annual Gift Giving Campaign (AGG) concluded the fundraiser with a closing assembly. After the students from kindergarten through high school gathered in the gym, Dr. Brown announced the good news: This year we exceeded our goal of $200,000; in fact, we raised a little more than $220,000! It was an AGG finish to celebrate as we look forward to the special projects to be funded.

We would like to thank our corporate sponsors, the names of whom are displayed on the signs in the halls – each one a big part of the campaign’s success. In addition we want to thank our AGG committee, volunteers, families, and friends who supported the school.

Before closing this year’s campaign, each WCA principal announced the classrooms who had earned AGG pizza parties through their fundraising efforts, as well as the three classrooms winning the special field trips to Kersey Valley’s maize adventures and other attractions: Sullens, Elementary; Powell, Middle School; and Ludemann, High School.

Each year, the students are encouraged to find creative ways to support the AGG.  As in years past, teachers learned about numerous examples of students who earned money to reach their AGG goals.  One wonderful example is Kristin Barnes, who made and sold baked goods in her neighborhood.  Through her efforts, Kristin raised $130 for the AGG campaign.  We are so appreciative of Kristin’s efforts and those of all the students who helped us surpass this year’s goal.

Homecoming 2012

Homecoming excitement filled the hallways of Wesleyan last week as Middle School and High School students celebrated Spirit Week.  The activities began with students celebrating a different theme each day: Monday – Pajama Day; Tuesday – “What You Are Not” Day; Wednesday – Holiday Day; and Thursday – Character Day.  On Friday, all of the students from Elementary to High School wore their Wesleyan Red and Gold to celebrate the culmination of Spirit Week.  By the end of the week, in the final push to win the Spirit Stick, High School students were hard at work decorating their class halls and practicing their skits for the afternoon pep rally on Friday. Each class had a theme for its hallway and skit: “Freshman Got Talent”; “Sophomores Rise”; “Jukebox Juniors”; and “Suessical Seniors”. 

Activities continued on Friday with a morning parade as High School students circled the Eastchester parking lot tossing candy to the Elementary and Middle School students.  At 2:30 p.m. everyone gathered in the High School gym for the pep rally.  The pep band pumped the crowd into a frenzy of excitement while the cheerleaders kept everyone’s spirits up.  Wesleyan spirit and pride was evident all over the faces of students, faculty, and parents.  Finally, each class performed its skit in the final competition for the coveted Spirit Stick, which was awarded to the Seniors!

The day ended with the Varsity Men’s Soccer team competing against Mt. Tabor High School in Winston-Salem.  To show support for the soccer team, members of WCA’s Cross Country team participated in a “Game Ball Run” starting at the opponent’s school.  The goal of the 28-mile relay was for the runners to bring the game ball to WCA’s soccer field by the start of the game. The crowd erupted in cheers as these Cross Country members were escorted in the last leg and onto the campus by a High Point police car.  The Trojans celebrated a victory over Mt. Tabor with a 4-1 win (15-0 record, ranked 3^rd in the State and 64^th in the nation)!  During half-time the Homecoming court was introduced.  This year’s Princess is Miss Megan Woodward, and Miss Katelyn Kennedy was crowned Wesleyan’s 2012 Homecoming Queen.

On Saturday evening, High School students enjoyed a delicious banquet, themed “Come Sail Away,” in the Fine Arts Auditorium.  Afterward, a student talent show entertained guests with a range of performances. 

Each year, Homecoming at Wesleyan is a fun-filled week for all, and this year was no different.  At the parade, pep rally, and game, you see students of all ages, alumni, and parents coming together to celebrate.  Homecoming 2012 is now just a memory; however, many moments of laughter and fun made it unforgettable.

Students and Faculty Minister around the World 

This past summer, Wesleyan Christian Academy was well represented in many countries around the world.  More than 50 students and faculty members served on various mission trips in countries such as Jamaica, Guatemala, Haiti, Brazil, Dominican Republic, and Honduras.  Many traveled across the United States to minister to those who are poverty-stricken, homeless, and orphans. 

You might ask, why does Wesleyan encourage missions work with our students?  First, it is our desire to encourage students to answer the Biblical mandate to go and tell others the good news of Jesus Christ.  We also want to embolden them to put “feet” to their faith.  Finally, as our mission states, it is our hope that they will leave Wesleyan prepared to “serve Christ and influence the world.”  

These students are already impacting their world for the cause of the Gospel.  Twenty-six students, along with our Head of School, Dr. Rob Brown; Chaplain, Paul Coates; High School Principal, Tim Rickman; and High School teacher, Mary Kay Bell traveled this past summer to Jamaica to work in an orphanage, handicap home, pre-school, girls’ home, and at three Wesleyan churches.  Over the past 20 years, Wesleyan’s chaplain Pastor Paul Coates has taken hundreds of students to minister in Jamaica.  The results from this labor of love have had a tremendous affect on the Jamaican people.   

One student, Hannah Reed, had the opportunity to serve in Honduras to set up a hospital with her grandfather who is a surgeon.  She saw a stark comparison between what she has and what they don’t have.  Hannah also recognized the opportunity she has to affect others.

Senior, Nolan Reep, ministered to the homeless in Atlanta, Georgia.  Nolan and his team focused on building relationships with these individuals.  Daily, they lived out Matthew 25:40: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”  Nolan stated that he began to see the homeless as “real people” with thoughts, concerns, and needs just like he has. 

The ministry does not end with the work of the students. It is wonderful to have a faculty that not only teaches the precepts of scripture, but also choose to live out what they teach and believe.  Anita Brand, one of our K1 teachers, traveled to Guatemala with her two children, Josh and Chrissy, who are both students at Wesleyan.  They helped with new housing construction and ministered to the people of Guatemala.  Mrs. Brand’s life was forever changed, and she was thrilled to watch her children’s hearts be transformed as they served these wonderful people. 

Enrichment teacher Joanie Ratchford traveled to Haiti to work with a ministry there called the “Mission of Hope.” Haiti is an extremely impoverished nation, and Mrs. Ratchford had the opportunity to share the love of Christ with many hurting and broken people.   

These are just a few of the dynamic stories of the ministry opportunities that took place this past summer.  These people came back to Wesleyan changed men and women for God.  We look forward to hearing many more stories of how God continues to use our students and faculty at home and around the world.

WCA Kicks off Annual Gift Giving Campaign

Each year, the students and faculty at Wesleyan enjoy an exciting assembly to kick-off our Annual Gift Giving (AGG) Campaign.   This year’s assembly took on a patriotic theme as we celebrated the life and the freedom we have as Americans.   After a beautiful rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” by our very own girls’ chorus, “Faith,” internationally acclaimed motivational speaker Craig MacFarlane shared his testimony of triumph with the students and faculty.   Craig has overcome the obstacles created by his total blindness to achieve many things in his life.   Known as “The World’s Greatest Blind Athlete,” Craig has accomplished many tremendous feats with 103 gold medal wins in wrestling, track and field, snow-skiing, and water-skiing.   He has worked with many companies such as Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, Ford Motor Company, and IBM.   He has also spoken at three Republican National Conventions and left Wesleyan headed to speak once again at the convention in Tampa, Florida.  It was an honor to have such an inspiring speaker, one who looks at his blindness as “just a minor inconvenience.”   Craig believes that the obstacles in life are only stepping stones to great success.   He reminded all of us that nothing is impossible with God by our side.

We were also honored to have Marine Corporal Garrett Carnes to share with the students.   Last February, Corporal Carnes lost both of his legs after stepping on an IED while serving in Afghanistan.   His wife, Courtney, served as one of our Childcare workers while Garrett was deployed to Afghanistan.  The Academy and Childcare has taken a great interest in praying for this young couple and raising funds for them soon after the accident.  The story about Corporal Carnes’ accident has made national news.  He also received a “Purple Heart” presented to him by President Obama while in Walter Reed Military Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.  Garrett shared with the audience about the faithfulness of God in his life. We praise God for Garrett and the message he shared that we always have hope no matter what our circumstances may be.

As Wesleyan kicks off another AGG campaign, we are reminded of the blessings that God has placed upon this school for more than 40 years.  We know that we can only reach our God-given potential through perseverance and determination such as that of Craig MacFarlane and Garrett Carnes.  We also recognize that without the freedoms that we enjoy and sometimes take for granted, Wesleyan would not have the ability to provide students a biblically based education.  May God keep us faithful to the mission of WCA as we equip our students to serve Christ and influence the world just as these two men are doing.

If you would like to watch the AGG Assembly, please go to www.wesed.org/Academy/Videos. 

Enrichment Center Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary

Ten years ago, Wesleyan opened the doors to the Enrichment Center, which serves students who have been diagnosed with learning differences. The Enrichment Center offers a unique learning experience that accommodates the various learning needs of students.  The goal of the Center is to be a resource to families as they go through the process of seeking a quality education for their children. Wesleyan is very blessed to have a tremendous faculty with vast expertise and knowledge to work with these wonderful students. Mrs. Becky Owens serves as the director of the Enrichment Center.  Mrs. Owens has nearly 30 years of teaching experience and has found that “if a student receives structured, comprehensive, strategic instruction addressing his or her various learning needs, this ‘learning disability’ can eventually become simply a ‘learning difference.’”

Students in the Enrichment Center have often found that after their hard work and persistence, they are armed with the strategies they have been taught and are able to mainstream into a traditional classroom. One such student is senior, Holly Schallert. All of her life she has struggled with reading and writing skills because of challenges from dyslexia and ADHD. Holly became a student in the Enrichment Center in the 6^th grade and was able to mainstream into a traditional classroom in 9th grade. She ranks in the top seven of this year’s senior class. Holly is only one success story of many in the Enrichment Center.

The Enrichment Center at Wesleyan is unlike any other school across the nation. This innovative idea provides a “school within a school” where students can receive the same college-preparatory education as their peers while still being able to interact with other students in the academy in homeroom, lunch, sports, Fine Arts, and many other activities. Many of our alumni have graduated from Wesleyan and entered prestigious colleges around the nation. They leave Wesleyan ready to enter the world with the tools that they need to succeed.

The Enrichment Center is now much more financially affordable due to the recent $6,000 tax credit passed by the N.C. House.  New families transferring from a public school to WCA may take advantage of this opportunity upon meeting certain guidelines established within this newly passed law.

We thank the Lord for the privilege He has given us to serve these students and for a dedicated faculty that helps them reach their full potential.

Student Elected Governor of Tar Heel Girls State

Rising senior, Morgan Speight was recently elected to the top-honor of governor of the 73rd annual Tar Heel Girls State held at Catawba College. Girls State is held throughout the United States with North Carolina’s program being the longest continuous-running. Nearly 300 high school girls from all across North Carolina who have completed their junior year and are in the top third of their class academically were chosen to participate in this event. Tar Heel Girls State, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, is a weeklong practical study of the structure and operation of state and local government. In a non-partisan atmosphere, students participate in an interactive program of campaigning, debating, voting, and electing mock local and state leaders. Citizens are also chosen and develop an understanding of the responsibilities of citizenship by creating and living under a mock government.

A number of guest speakers, including Elaine Marshall, North Carolina Secretary of State and Attorney General Roy Cooper attended the event. In an interview with the Salisbury Post, Cooper stated that “There’s so much cynicism about public officials these days that when you find young people who are interested in public service it’s critical to stoke that fire; so many of these young people will be leaders of the future.” One of our goals at Wesleyan is to provide a great environment for training and equipping these future leaders, and Morgan is one of them. We are very proud of her as she represented Wesleyan well!

2012-2013 New Faculty and Staff

Wesleyan is pleased to announce the following new faculty and staff members for the 2012-2013 school year:

Mrs. Emily Orman (K1): Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education – University of North Carolina – Charlotte; Master of Education in Elementary Education – Catawba College

Mrs. Orman will serve as our K1 teacher. She has worked in both public and private schools across North Carolina. Mrs. Orman comes to Wesleyan with “a passion for educating young children in a Christian environment.” We are very blessed to have such a talented teacher to help our students grow academically as well as spiritually.

Mrs. Vanessa Sullens (4th Grade): Bachelor of Arts in Special Education and Elementary Education – Marist College; Master of Arts in Educational Psychology – Marist College

Mrs. Sullens will be joining Wesleyan as a fourth grade teacher. Mrs. Sullens is excited about her new position at Wesleyan and desires for each of her students to achieve their highest potential. She “believes that each student learns differently and needs to be respected and loved for their uniqueness.” We thank God for her deep dedication to her students and welcome her to the academy.

Mrs. Molly Huneycutt (6th Grade Language Arts): Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education – High Point University; Master of Science in Counseling and Educational Development – University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Mrs. Huneycutt will serve as the sixth grade Language Arts teacher. She comes to Wesleyan with tremendous experience in the teaching and counseling fields. She has a compassionate heart for children and love for teaching. We welcome Mrs. Huneycutt to Wesleyan.

Mrs. Kristina Railsback (7th Grade Language Arts): Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies and Educational Psychology – Eastern Washington University; Master of Arts in Teaching – Pacific University

Mrs. Railsback will serve as the seventh grade Language Arts teacher. She has a wide variety of teaching experience with varying student ability levels from remediation to advanced learners. Mrs. Railsback is a gifted teacher who seeks to help her students achieve their highest potential. We are very excited to have Mrs. Railsback to join the Wesleyan family.

Mr. Matthew Reitnour (Director of College Counseling): Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science – Messiah College; Master of Arts in Higher Education – Geneva College

Mr. Reitnour will work alongside Diane Whitman in assuming the role of Director of College Counseling as she transitions to retirement. For the past ten years, he has worked at Houghton College where he has most recently served as the Director of Admissions. We are very blessed to have a person of Matt’s quality to take over our college counseling program, and we welcome him to Wesleyan.

Mrs. Kami Tucker (Enrichment Center Science Teacher) Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics – N.C. State University

Mrs. Tucker comes to Wesleyan with an extensive chemistry background. She has taught chemistry on the college level and has done private tutoring for the past 10 years. Over a 16 year span, she has also worked as a chemist for several companies throughout the south. In recent years, Mrs. Tucker has assisted in our Enrichment Center as a Chemistry teacher and substitute. We are very excited to have such an accomplished person to join our faculty, and we welcome Mrs. Tucker to Wesleyan.

Mr. Glen Foster (Athletic Director): Bachelor of Science in Communications with a concentration in Media Graphics – Liberty University; Master of Arts in Sports Studies with a concentration in Sports Management – High Point University

Mr. Foster will serve as the Athletic Director for Wesleyan. For the past seven years, he has been the Athletic Director at Salem Baptist Christian School in Winston-Salem. His work at Salem has been very impressive as he helped to move their athletic department from an unaffiliated program in 2003 to the North Carolina Christian Schools Association, and now to the 2A level of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association. Mr. Foster also serves as president of the Triad Athletic Conference and a member of the NCISAA board of managers. We are very happy to welcome him to our school.

We are very blessed to have these talented and gifted people to join our faculty and staff. We ask God’s richest blessings on each of them and look forward to see how God uses them at our school.

High School Students Minister in Jamaica

On June 1, twenty-six high school students along with five adult chaperones from Wesleyan traveled to Montego Bay, Jamaica to serve on a 10 day missions’ trip. For the past 20 years, Wesleyan’s chaplain, Pastor Paul Coates has taken hundreds of students to minister in Jamaica. 

Each year, Pastor Paul and his leadership team schedule various ministry opportunities for the students. The trip always begins with a prayer journey around Montego Bay. This is a time for the students to prepare themselves and seek the heart of God for their work with the Jamaican people.

The students always love going to Blossom Garden Orphanage. The orphanage is a place where the students are able to spend time with the children and simply let them know how valuable they are. These precious children receive little human touch each day, so the team arrived at the orphanage with open arms ready to love them. They danced, played, and sang songs with them. The students made instant connections with the children which made it very hard to leave them. The team was able to serve at the orphanage twice during their visit to Jamaica. During their second visit, they gave the children new tennis shoes. The team did a “mini-version” of the Samaritan’s Feet project. The students washed the children’s feet, prayed with them, and gave them their new shoes. Mary Kay Bell, a teacher from Wesleyan who also served as a chaperone on the trip, described the orphanage as her “favorite place in Jamaica. God works fast, and He works wonders on our students; I love watching our God work!” Indeed, the Lord did work on our students’ hearts in a mighty way.

The team had the opportunity to visit the Granville School of Safety for Girls. This is a home for girls ranging from eight to 18 who have had troubled lives and need a safe place to live. The students did ministry activities, shared their personal testimonies, and just spent quality time with the girls. The most meaningful time for the students was giving the girls new tennis shoes from Samaritan’s Feet. This was a very emotional time that our students will not soon forget. When the team asked the girls how they could pray for them, several replied, “please pray that I can go home.” This simple request moved our students as they began to realize how very fortunate they are to have loving parents who provide for them.

Additionally, the team visited the children at Tucker Basic School. The children loved the students’ ministry and the crafts they made. The students made connections and memories together with these children that will last forever.

The missions’ team also ministered at West Haven Children’s Home. This is a residence home for children and young adults who are handicapped. This is always a very emotional day for the team because they are required to come out of their comfort zone and minister to these individuals in a way that they have never been asked to do before. The students danced with the residents, sang songs, performed puppet shows, and brightened their day any way they could. All the team members helped to feed those residents who were not able to feed themselves. Everyone was deeply touched as they watched these hurting and broken people praise God in spite of their physical and mental conditions.

Finally, the team helped several churches with work projects. They did a lot of painting for Norwood, Tucker, and Montego Bay Wesleyan Holiness Churches. Painting is not always a simple task in Jamaica. First, the students had to sand cement walls to make them smooth by using sand paper. This was very hard and tedious work; however, the students did it with a smile on their faces and without complaints. The pastors of each of these churches were overwhelmed with gratitude for their work.

The team was also given a day to tourJ amaicaa nd shop. They were even able to take in a snorkeling adventure in the beautiful Caribbean waters. We thank the Lord for his faithfulness during this trip. These students have come back to Wesleyan changed men and women for God, and we can’t wait to see how He uses each one of them in the future as they further His kingdom everywhere they go!

Let my heart be broken with the things that break God’s heart – Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision

Wesleyan’s All-Girl Choir Wins North Carolina Glee Competition and Mixed Ensemble Wins Sweepstakes Trophy at Southern Star Music Festival

The all-girl High School choir, Faith, competed in and won the first-ever North Carolina Glee Club Competition, and the mixed Ensemble, Servant, won the coveted Sweepstakes Trophy as the top choral group at the Southern Star Music Festival.  

Each year, the High School choruses, Servant and Faith, and the High School Wind Ensemble take their spring tour. During this year’s tour to Atlanta, they participated in the Southern Star Music Festival sponsored by Six Flags Over Georgia. Servant and Faith returned with Gold ratings, and the Wind Ensemble returned with a Silver rating. In addition, Servant received the coveted Sweepstakes Trophy as the top choral group of the festival with their presentation of Awake the Harp by Haydn and For the Beauty of the Earth by John Rutter with Faith following closely behind to come in second. Congratulations to all the groups for a job well done. 

Every year, our 4th – 6th grade choruses and 6th grade band compete in the Carowinds Music Festival. Once again, each group delivered a stellar performance. The 4th and 6th grade choruses both received superior ratings, and the 5th grade chorus received an excellent rating. The 6th grade band performed for comments only and received many positive remarks from the judges. One of the most meaningful remarks came from Larry Clark, a judge and also the composer of one of the pieces the band performed, Magma. Mr. Clark praised the band’s performance of his song and offered inspiring comments and suggestions. Congratulations to all of these groups for their great performances and hard work. 

Wesleyan is very blessed to have such a vibrant and strong Fine Arts Department. Students not only have the opportunity to be a part of the chorus and band program, but they also have an opportunity to take lessons in voice, dance, and a variety of musical instruments through the teaching studios. It is our goal to pursue excellence in everything we do at Wesleyan, and the Fine Arts Department always exhibits this kind of dedication. Many thanks go to Joe Hilliard, Director of Fine Arts, and his amazing team – Pam Wheeler, Kyle Auman, and Keven Spargo – for their hard work and devotion to our school. Thanks also to Mrs. Teresa Flack for her superb teaching in the Elementary choruses and to Dr. Mike Jarrett for serving as the Director of Wesleyan’s Teaching Studios. 

Senior Athletes Sign to Play College Athletics

Five senior athletes commit to play college sports at various colleges and universities.

Over the past 40 years, Wesleyan has had numerous athletes to graduate and enter various colleges and universities to play sports. This spring, we have five additional athletes to add to the ranks of such accomplishments.

Chase Kenny has signed with NAIA Division II, Lee University. As an all-conference, all-region, and all-state winner, he is a strong competitor who keeps his eyes on the goals he has set for himself and his team, and it is one reason he has chosen Lee. In an interview with the High Point Enterprise, Chase stated, “The vision of the coach is awesome. He really wants to be a championship team. And coming from a championship team, that’s what I want, too.” Chase is ready for the challenge that college soccer will bring. He plans to study business and entrepreneurship.

Sammy Tyson has been a strong player for the Trojans basketball team and has chosen to continue his basketball career with NCAA Division III, Bridgewater College of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Sammy has been an impressive player for the Trojans as well as the AAU team he has played with. He has prepared himself athletically as well as academically and looks forward to entering college. Sammy plans to study health and exercise science. He hopes to eventually play basketball professionally.

Zach Hostetler has tried to set goals in track, continually pushing himself to run faster and beat his own record. Zach wants to continue setting these goals in college. Next fall, he will be joining the High Point University Panthers track team. Zach was named ALL-PACIS 3A twice and was selected all-area in track. He also was named all-conference twice in cross-country and all-state his senior year. He also considered Wake Forest and Clemson University but chose High Point after meeting the coach, Mike Esposito. In an interview with the High Point Enterprise, he said that Mr. Esposito “is very interested in his runners and wants to invest in them. It was a tough decision, but I think I made the right one.”

WCA Senior Launches Music Career

At 18 years old, Marissa Burchette, a senior at Wesleyan Christian Academy, has made an impressive mark on the music world. Marissa, who uses the name Marissa Kay for the stage, has already recorded two CDs and sings in many different music venues. Marissa’s love for music began early in her life singing at the age of five years old in church. Throughout her school years, Marissa has participated in many facets of the arts at Wesleyan, including chorus, drama, band, and playing keyboard and singing in the High School Praise Band.

She also has ministered in her local church praise band.In eighth grade, Marissa realized that she has a calling upon her life to pursue music as her life’s work. In a radio interview with local Christian radio station 89.3 WBFJ, Marissa said that she would love to sing music professionally; however, if the Lord calls her to use her talents in the local church as a worship leader she is willing. Her heart’s desire is to serve Christ through her music in whatever arena He chooses. Marissa also has a passion to minister to teens. As she sings in concerts and through her CDs, she seeks to show them that with Christ at the center of their lives, they are not alone and can accomplish anything.

As for the immediate future, Marissa recently competed in America’s Got Talent and is waiting to see if she will move on to the third round of the competition. This summer, Marissa has been asked by owner and sound engineer of “Underground Recording Studios” in Greensboro, Saul Johnson, to write Christian music for a new CD with plans to produce it in Nashville, Tennessee. Johnson is the former drummer of the popular contemporary Christian band “Building 429” and is interested in playing for Marissa’s new band. He is also working to get a recording label for her music so that it will be played across the nation on Christian radio stations. Marissa plans to tour this summer and perform at youth camps and crusades. Additionally, she plans to attend UNC-Charlotte in the fall where she will major in psychology, with a goal of earning a Master’s and Doctorate Degree from Charlotte.

Marissa, like many of the students at Wesleyan, has shown exceptional accomplishments in the arts, and we are very blessed to have such a strong Fine Arts Department that is dedicated to helping these students reach their full potential for Christ. It is our desire that Marissa and all Wesleyan students pursue God’s excellence for their lives. Congratulations to Marissa Kay as she is serving Christ and influencing the world. If you would like to learn more about Marissa and her music career, go to www.facebook.com/MarissaKayMusic.

Wesleyan Receives Donation of Land

We are very excited to announce that a donation of 25 acres of land has been given to the academy. Praise the Lord for this generous gift. The donor of this property shared in a letter to the school board his testimony about the impact Wesleyan has had on his family, and his reasons for the gift of land, which will be sold to financially benefit and strengthen the academy. We deeply appreciate his commitment to Wesleyan Christian Academy; he reminds us of the lasting value of the academy’s mission and the impact Wesleyan continues to have on generations of students. To read the letter in its entirety, please click here.

Elementary School Holds Annual Missions Fair

 March 16 was an exciting day for the Elementary students at Wesleyan as more than 20 missionaries participated in this year’s Missions Fair. Many of our students comment each year how much they look forward to this day. Numerous countries were represented, including China, Ukraine, Columbia, Brazil, Thailand, Angola, Peru, Australia, and Papua, New Guinea. The theme for the day was “Serve God with all your heart.” All of the students memorized and recited the key Bible verse from Colossians 3:12: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion and kindness.”

The day began with an exciting processional of flags in the opening assembly. Parent and student volunteers wore beautiful costumes and carried flags from countries around the world. The keynote speaker for the assembly was Jim Baptista. Mr. Baptista has been involved in many different areas of ministry with Wycliffe Bible Translators and Jungle Aviation and Radio Service (JAARS). In 1954, he began his ministry in Ecuador serving as a pilot and mechanic for Wycliffe. Several years later, his work continued in Peru as an aviation radio technician with JAARS while continuing his pilot duty. In 1959, he started the radio department at JAARS. His work later took him to Papua, New Guinea, where he began an aviation and radio service for more than 300 translators. In 1968, Mr. Baptista began the first mission helicopter service to reach people of various cultures and different language groups. He has served the Lord in many different places, from South America to Africa. Today, he serves in the Partnership Ministries Department in Waxhaw, N.C., at the headquarters of JAARS. Mr. Baptista has made it his life’s work to serve others in faraway lands around the world. The students were challenged as they heard his testimony of God’s faithfulness. 

Through the years, the annual Missions Fair has had a tremendous influence on many WCA students. Middle School and High School students comment about how the fair influenced them as an Elementary student. Each year, the students close the fair by singing the theme song, Here Am I, Lord. The words of this song sum up the hearts of everyone involved in this wonderful day:

Let me see my mission field all around each day.

Fill my heart with Jesus’ love. Use me, Lord I pray.

Here am I, Lord, send me. Here am I, Lord, send me,

I will serve you faithfully. Here am I, Lord, send me.

Wesleyan Gives More Than 1,000  Free Pairs of Shoes

Saturday, March 3, more than 400 parent, student, and staff volunteers at Wesleyan served more than 1,000 children, teens, and adults in the local community by giving away new tennis shoes. The day began with our guests arriving an hour early to get in a line that started in the Middle School gym and wrapped down the sidewalk into the High School gym where the distribution took place. Little did we know of the tremendous needs around us and how a simple pair of shoes given in the name of Jesus would be received. 

Samaritan’s Feet, the organization with whom we partnered for this project, calls the shoe distributions “Shoes of Hope,” and hope was indeed given as our volunteers ministered to and served these people. The distribution was more than giving out free pairs of shoes – this was about blessing the lives of people with loving care and Christ-like servanthood by washing their feet and putting them in brand new shoes, as well as having the opportunity to encourage them while sharing the truth of God’s Word and praying with those who attended. God’s presence was very real. One of our fifth grade teachers, Lou Midkiff, shared how her heart was moved as she heard the stories of those who had experienced personal tragedy, who had recently lost their jobs, and who were refugees with very little.

As the guests entered the gym, they were taken to the foot washing station where volunteers washed their feet and gave them new shoes. During this time, our volunteers were able to share the love of Christ. Many of our Middle School and High School students served in the foot washing station, and Elementary students worked throughout the event with their parents. Grace Sieck, a second grader at WCA, helped her mother in the foot washing station and was excited to serve a gentleman who came to their seat. He could not believe that this little girl who did not know him was so eager to wash his feet. Many of our guests left overwhelmed and commented what a blessing they had received. 

After the foot washing station, volunteers stood ready to greet people at the prayer station. God worked as the hearts of the volunteers and guests were drawn to Him in prayer. One of our school board members, Mike Jones, had an opportunity to share and pray with several people who desired to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. Lives were changed that day, and the work that was begun will continue by way of the New Testament each guest received to take home. 

Each of our volunteers exhibited a servant’s heart. What a wonderful sight to see our students, parents, and staff as they gave freely of themselves by measuring and washing feet, serving snacks, helping children make a fun craft, praying with these precious people and sharing God’s Word before sending them off with a hug. Even those volunteers who were constantly emptying and refilling the water pans did this with a smile on their face. 

To see more pictures, click here.