WCA Art Department has Phenomenal Year

This has been a wonderful year for the Art Department at Wesleyan.  I am so proud of our students who are a part of an award-winning Performing Arts Department.  Their incredible talents do not go unnoticed.  I am also thankful for the gifted faculty who lead these talented students.  Director, Joe Hilliard, along with his team, Pam Wheeler and Kyle Auman have led them to greater levels of achievement this year. 

Elementary and middle school art teacher, Mrs. Karen 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.

Finally, under the direction of Dr. Mike Jarrett, the Wesleyan Teaching Studios continue to grow.  They have experienced a great year with approximately 240 students enrolled.  All of these groups have had great successes this year.  Please allow me take a moment to share some of these with you:

• All three of the high school choruses, Men of Servant, Joy, and Faith were asked to present a concert for a chapel service at High Point University (HPU) and at their annual Community Christmas event where thousands were in attendance.  Men of Servant performed at the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Swimming and Diving championship and received rave reviews.
  
  
• All of the high school singing groups participated in the Central District Music Performance Adjudication and all received a Superior rating.
  
  
• Director, Kyle Auman organized a band clinic, which was open to Wesleyan students and students from many other private schools in the Triad. 
  
  
• The Performing Arts Department presented the musical, Mary Poppins.  It was the highest attended musical to date with four sellout performances and showcased incredible talent.
  
  
• Ten students from the high school art classes were asked to display their artwork at the TAG Upper School Art Exhibition held at the Theatre Art Galleries in Greensboro.
  
  
• The seventh and eighth grade band and chorus received an excellent rating in all categories at the Dixie Classic Music Festival in Virginia.
  
  
• At this year’s Carowinds music festival, the fourth through sixth grade choruses received Superior and Excellent ratings.
  
  
• The elementary and middle school art classes had over 70 students participate in local art shows.  Twenty-three (23) of these students participated in two art competitions, and Wesleyan walked away with a total of seven winners.

What an amazing list of achievements!  God has blessed Wesleyan with such gifted and talented students along with a wonderful faculty who not only teach but inspire their students to be the best they can be.  To read the entire online article about their accomplishments, please click here.

 

Dr. Rob Brown

Head of School

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.

Dr. Rob Brown
Head of School

Exciting News from WCA Students and Alumni

Over and over again, I am amazed at just how blessed Wesleyan is to have such high-caliber and well-rounded students.  For more than 40 years, WCA’s faculty and staff have had the privilege to work alongside some incredible students.  I often speak with parents of both current students and alumni who share with me exciting opportunities that their children have been given.  And it seems that I regularly pick up the morning newspaper and read about one of them.  Here are just a few:

• Senior Ethan Jordan was named the High Point Rotary Club’s student of the month.Ethan is an exemplary student who carries a 4.976 GPA at Wesleyan.He not only is a strong student but also is passionate about serving others as he does a lot of work for the Ronald McDonald House.
  
  
• Wesleyan seniors Erica Martin, Mary Ray Coble, and Caylin Prillaman were finalists in the Rotary Club’s inaugural Four Way Test high school speech contests on February 28 at Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown.
  
  
• Josh Rogers (10^th grade) recently was chosen to serve as a 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.
  
  
• WCA Elementary and Middle School students were represented well at the ACSI Spelling Bee and Math Olympics. We had 48 spelling bee participants and 36 students who participated in the Math Olympics.Wesleyan walked away with a total of 33 students in both events who placed in the top five spots for their respective grades, with 13 of them receiving first or second place.
  
  
• Wesleyan alumni Michael Hunter (’10) graduated from Wake Forest University and is now working toward a Master of Studies (MSt) in Greek and Latin Languages and Literature at Oxford University. After he leaves Oxford at the end of June, he plans to begin a Master of Divinity program at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia.

• Through the Appalachian Student Ambassadors organization, Jewell Ward (’13 and now a student at Appalachian State University) was recently chosen to travel with three other ambassadors to South Africa for three weeks in July to participate in the Global Leadership Summit at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein.

Each of these current and former students are great examples of the quality of students that we are blessed to have at Wesleyan.  These are only a few of hundreds of stories of accomplishments that could be shared from WCA graduates.  We give praise to our Lord for how He is blessing the work of our students and alumni.

To read the entire online article about their accomplishments, please click here.

Dr. Rob Brown
Head of School

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.

Sometimes Overwhelmed but Never Hopeless 

If you are like me, I sometimes look at the increasingly secular and materialistic culture around me and become overwhelmed as a parent.  The pull for our children is constant and comes from many directions.  According to the National Study of Youth and Religion, “Three out of four American teenagers claim to be Christian, fewer than half practice their faith, only half deem it important, and most can’t talk coherently about their beliefs.”  What can you and I do as parents to help our children overcome this statistic and to guide them to recognize the pitfalls that they will inevitably encounter?

To help answer this question, Wesleyan recently welcomed a team from AXIS Ministries to share with our High School students, faculty, and parents.  The day started with a fast-paced presentation during which 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 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.

Even though the culture seeks to bombard our children and families, I still have hope and so can you.  Our hope comes from our Savior, Jesus Christ. I Peter 1:3 tells us to give praise for the hope we have: All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead (NLT)

Events such as AXIS help to promote Wesleyan’s vision.  It is my prayer that all of our graduates leave Wesleyan knowing – without a doubt – real truth while living it out to the fullest.

Dr. Rob Brown

Head of School

Champions on the Field and in Their Hearts

Like many of you, I’m an avid fan of our Varsity Boys Soccer team and was so thrilled when the team captured the 2014 NCISAA 3A state championship on Saturday, October 25, in Concord.  They also ended their season with a ranking of third in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

You probably know that we have the finest coach in the state with Scott Reitnour, but one of the things I admire most about Coach Reitnour is that he knows that soccer is more than just a game, and he instills this into the hearts and minds of his players. Scott went on record with the High Point Enterprise with the philosophy he instills into these young men when he said, “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.”

Scott’s philosophy of soccer is also one that includes promoting team unity. When I read the statements of our players who have been interviewed by the media after a big win such as this, I realize the tremendous impact that Scott has had on each one of them. Junior Andrew Moebius brought home just how tightly knit the team is when he said: “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.”

I am – we all are – proud of the big win for our soccer team, but we’re even more proud of how they played and who they are.

Rob Brown

Head of School

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 infected 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.

Dr. Rob Brown

Head of School

Why Support Annual Gift Giving (AGG)?

Each year in September, we all work diligently to make the Annual Gift Giving campaign a successful one.  This year’s goal is $225,000, and as of today, we have raised a little more than $160,000.  You may be asking the question, why should I support AGG?  Let me give you a few reasons why.

•       All students from Elementary to High School benefit from AGG – this year, some of the major projects that AGG is funding are STEM (Science, Technology, Math, and Engineering), robotics, student outreach, playground, new technology, and much more!  
  
  
•       AGG is our only fundraiser!  We don’t want to ask students and parents to sell candy, wrapping paper, fruit, etc., throughout the year.  With AGG, we are able to raise the necessary funds to provide new student services and enhancements to academics, fine arts, technology, athletics, financial aid and much more.
  
  
•        The AGG fundraiser involves everyone, all working toward one common goal of making this a better school. 
  
  
•     Wesleyan encourages students to think of ways to “earn” money for AGG instead of just asking parents or grandparents to give.  Students sell lemonade, do extra chores, and use their entrepreneurial skills any way they can to reach the goal of $200 per student for the campaign, giving students a part in the success of their school. 
   
•      our contribution benefits Wesleyan students in numerous ways.  For example, Joel Steindel, STEM coordinator, believes that because of AGG “the STEM program will transform how students at all age levels learn, interact with, and think about science and technology.”
  
  
•        For most schools, annual funds raised go toward their normal budgets.  Wesleyan is unique in that all the funds raised through AGG go directly to providing classroom enhancements and student opportunities.

 As I travel, I am often asked, “How is your campaign so successful each year?”  Without a doubt, my first response is that it is a blessing of God.  He has done so much for Wesleyan Christian Academy through the years, and we are grateful. The second reason this campaign works so well is that all of the students, parents, and every part of the Wesleyan family help to make this a success.  We thank God for each one of you and can’t wait to see what happens during this year’s campaign!

If you would like to make a donation to Wesleyan online, please click here.  The last day for pledges or donations is Friday, October 3.

Dr. Rob Brown

Head of School

Wesleyan Christian Academy – What’s the Difference?

People often ask me what makes Wesleyan Christian Academy distinctive from other private schools in the region. That’s a great question, and some of our Class of 2014 graduates recently offered great answers to that question.

Top of the list is the academic rigor of the college-preparatory education offered here. Graduate Drew Mostoller said, “This institution taught me … how to differentiate, how to write a synthesis paper, how to balance a chemical equation, etc.” And Drew’s classmate, Savannah Young, is sure that when her parents sent her to Wesleyan, it was “the best decision they could have made. … If I attended any other school, I would not have all the skills and knowledge that will be necessary for me when I go off to college.”

It’s rewarding to me to hear teenagers say they appreciate the hard work we’ve put them through, but even more exciting to know they appreciate the creativity and inspiration of their teachers. It’s that inspiration that fuels the passion for learning and growing. Graduate Aaron Allred boiled it down to this: “The relationship between the students and teachers at Wesleyan is unmatched by any other school.” His friend, Robert Travis, offered a wonderful tribute to Wesleyan teachers when he wrote: “To all the teachers and staff, thank you for encouraging us and helping us learn how to be successful students.”

Wow! This tells me there is a connection happening on campus that goes deeper than simply relaying information and facts. Here at Wesleyan, we are striving to share God’s truths and put them into daily practice. Cecily Overbey said, “Every day I saw God’s love displayed through my teachers in their patience, kindness, and devotion to providing me with a Christ-centered education,” and Travis Leonard noticed a difference in the way teachers taught at Wesleyan from what he had seen at his previous school.  “WCA teachers have impacted many lives, pushed students to leave [popular] culture behind to follow God, and, most important, led many students to Christ.”

Is there a way to sum up that special something that makes Wesleyan unique among all the private schools around? I think so, and so do our students. Not long ago, I overheard a 4^th grader tell a friend, “The best thing about Wesleyan is that everyone cares about you. Whatever you are going through, good or bad, someone cares!” It is YOU – you the students, parents, teachers, and staff!  Without all of you working together to accomplish this endeavor called a “Christian education,” Wesleyan would not be what it has become today and what it will be in the future.

The Class of 2014 created a booklet of letters to honor the Elementary, Middle, and High School teachers.  To read additional quotes by these students, please click here.

Dear Wesleyan Family, 

 

On November 8, news broke about Typhoon Haiyan that hit the Philippines.  This Category 5 storm was the most powerful and devastating typhoon that has ever hit this nation.  As most of you know, thousands of lives have been lost, and more than 670,000 people have been displaced, these numbers increasing daily.

The devastation of this storm is incredible.  It is in times like these that the Wesleyan body of Christ feels convicted to come to the aid of children and suffering families.  The administration and staff at Wesleyan have been working on ways that our school can share the love of Christ with the Filipino people.  After researching ministries and organizations already on the ground, we have decided to partner with  Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham and located in Boone, NC.  Approximately 90% of money donated through this well-respected Christian organization goes directly to this specific relief project.  This ministry is already at work in the Philippines providing emergency care, clean water, temporary shelters, medical assistance, food, and clothing.

God has moved the heart of one of our faculty members to forego a house-remodel and instead donate $10,000 to initiating our relief project.  Our hope, as a school body, is to match this wonderful sacrificial gift.  If you are not already working through your local church or another relief organization, we invite you and your children to participate in this worthy cause by helping Wesleyan match this gift. In order to do this, we are going to sell “Love Links” through the classroom and front office.  Each link is inspired by the colors in the Filipino flag and will appear red, blue, white, or gold.

As each link is purchased, we will create a chain to hang in the hallway of the school to give our students a graphic display of how we are, in a very small way, ministering to these distraught families.  Beginning Monday and continuing through Christmas break (November 8 – December 20), you or your child can purchase a “Love Link” for $1 through the academy office or in your child’s classroom.

Wesleyan is very blessed to have staff and parents who continually show the love of Christ to others. Many of you have given financially, as well as volunteered in past projects in which WCA has participated, such as last Saturday’s Reaching Out to Macedonia service project and the Samaritans’ Feet Shoes of Hope distribution that we have hosted the past two years.  Once again, we ask that you and your family prayerfully consider making a donation toward this relief project.  If you write a check, please make it payable to Wesleyan Christian Academy with “Relief Project” in the memo line.

As you prayerfully reflect on this tragedy, remember the words of our Savior:

 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or  thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 31:37-40).

Dr. Rob Brown
Head of School

Head of School Report 2012-13

It is my privilege to introduce you to the 2012-13 Wesleyan Annual Report, filled with a wonderful review of student and program accomplishments this past year. We hope that not only will this report encourage you in how God is accom- plishing His plans through our students, but also that it serves as a testament to God’s wonderful grace and blessing that has led this ministry now in its 42^nd year.

On May 24, 2013, about 1,500 families and friends attended our graduation ceremonies. Of the 84 graduating seniors, an amazing 49 were recognized by the National Honor Society, and 67 were Beta Club members. Morgan Speight received a full appointment to the United States Naval Academy, valued at more than $400,000; Nicholas Cebollero was honored by the National Hispanic Recognition Program and was named a National Merit Com- mended Student; Payton Williams was named a National Merit Commended Student; Jewell Ward was awarded a full tuition scholarship to Anderson University; and Holly Schallert received the Anne Ford Scholarship valued at $10,000, sponsored by the Ford Motor Company, and was asked to be the national spokesperson for the National Learning Disabilities Center. A total of $3.3  million was awarded in merit scholarships, and graduates were accepted into the finest colleges and universities across the country. Addition- al details about our remarkable seniors are included in this report.


Both our Athletics and Fine Arts departments once again reached incredibly high levels of achievement this year:

• Led by Coach Keith Gatlin, the boys’ varsity basketball team won the 3A conference title and state cham- pionship.  The team also ended the season ranked No. 9 nationally in the private school division with Max Preps, with three all-conference members and a conference player of the year.
• Junior guard Theo Pinson made an early commitment to play basketball for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
• Led by Coach Scott Reitnour, the varsity boys’ soccer team won the 3A state championship for the second consecutive year and was ranked No. 1 nationally in the private school division with Max Preps. 
• Led by Coach Phillip Merritt, seven members of the wrestling team made all-conference, two were individual state champions, and two were state finalists.
• Led by Coach Mary Kay Bell, the girls’ swim team had four all-conference members and the conference swimmer of the year.
• Led by Coach Alan Spainhour, the boys’ varsity golf team finished as conference runner-up, with three all-conference players.
• Led by Coach Scott Davis, the varsity baseball team finished as conference runner-up, with five all-conference players – three of whom garnered all-state honors.
• Led by Coach Donald Brewer, the softball team finished its season by earning the conference co-championship title. The team will return six starters next season, with five being all-conference and three being all-state.
• Led by Coach Andy Thompson, the track and field team had four runners make all conference.
• Led by Coach Jessica House, WCA’s cheerleading team finished off its season in Raleigh competing in the NCISAA state invitational.  The team won the division title and was voted grand champion as the top performers.
• Led by Coach Laura Bradford, the Middle School girls’ soccer team won the 3A state championship.
• Led by Coach Jon Pavlack, the Middle School boys’ baseball team won the 3A state championship.
• The athletic department honored baseball standout and Wesleyan alumni, Wil Myers, as the first Trojan to have his jersey retired.  Wil was recently called up to play in the majors for the Tampa Bay Rays.
• An astounding 11 seniors were awarded athletic scholarship opportunities to participate on the NCAA level.
• The musical production of Singin’ in the Rain was attended by nearly 2,000 guests.
• The High School chorus, Servant, competed at Festival Disney and received a Superior rating and Best in Division.
• Faith, Wesleyan’s all-girls chorus, performed at William Peace University in the N.C. Show Choir Com- petition and received 2^nd place.  They also received a superior at Festival Disney.
• Three High School students were chosen to participate in the All-State Choir Festival.
• Seven students from the High School Wind Ensemble were selected to participate in the NCAIS Honor Band Clinic held at Wake Forest University.

Even with a broad range of academic abilities of our students, we continue to score well above the 80^th percentile in national achievement tests (SAT, PSAT, ACT, AP, etc.).

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, 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 computerized models of all kinds.  It is our desire to cultivate in our students a continuous desire for learning.  Stay tuned for the implementation of more S.T.E.M. initiatives in the months ahead.

The Enrichment Center celebrated its 10th anniversary this year and continues to attract more new fam ilies.  The center makes a great impact on our students, whether part- or full-time students.  Every year, many of our Enrichment students are successfully mainstreamed into the Academy and do very well, both at Wesleyan and on into college.  Two Enrichment Center seniors graduated this year, and both were accepted at several colleges and also offered merit scholarships.  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. 

Because of the wonderful support of our families through our Annual Gift Giving campaign, we made updates to the school cafeteria mid-year.  The cafeteria was painted the school colors of red and gold; new tables and chairs were purchased; and beautiful art depicting the spirit of WCA now hangs on the walls.  In January, Wes- leyan began a partnership with Flik Independent School Dining Service.  The newly updated cafeteria and dining service have both been a tremendous hit with the students!

The faculty and administration benefit greatly from the long list of supportive committees and parent volunteers. The Parent Teacher Organization, Trojan Club, Fine Arts Guild, Mom’s in Prayer, and Annual Giving Committee are just a few of the parent support groups that sacrificially give so much of their time and gifts to help support the school. The efforts of these volunteers benefit every student and keeps tuition affordable.  Additional information and the break- down of this support can be found later in this report.

Wesleyan is being pro-active in connecting with our community.  Many students were involved in local service projects throughout the year such as holding food drives for local food pantries; collecting clothing; working at the Miracle League with handicapped children and young adults; and volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club.  This past March, 80 student volunteers gathered at the Macedonia Resource Center in High Point for the second annual Shoes of Hope Distribution with Samaritans’ Feet.  The students were honored to share the love of Christ by washing the feet of, praying with, and distributing new shoes to the men, women, and children of the Macedonia community. Both students and faculty from Wesleyan served this summer on various mission trips around the world and in several stateside missions through Wesleyan and local churches. 

Over the past 20 years, Chaplain Paul Coates has taken hundreds of students to minister in Jamaica.  This summer, the largest group yet went for a 10-day mission trip that included ministering in an orphanage, preschool, and a girls’ home; serving children in a severely handicapped environment; and also assisting with local church construction projects. The team was also privileged to help a local Jamaican man who had recently become a Christian and is confined to a wheelchair.  The team helped to make his home handicap accessible and made many other needed repairs.  The students left Jamaica with a much broader view of the limitations and hurts in other parts of the world. They returned realizing how fortunate and blessed they really are.

As many of you already know, we addressed and implemented approximately 80% of our well-defined strategic initiatives these past few years.  As a result, this coming fall we will begin the process of updating this essential blueprint and look forward to receiving everyone’s much needed feedback.  Your input is critical as we prepare for the coming years and seek to pursue God’s excellence in all we endeavor to do.

It is my heartfelt prayer that this report is a reflection of God’s work. Of course, it also reflects the Wesleyan community’s support, encouragement, and resources.  Please continue to pray for wisdom and direction for the school board, administration, and faculty as we seek God’s guidance while we partner with our incredible families! 

To God be the Glory,

Dr. Rob Brown

Wesleyan’s Vision: To Know and Live the Truth

How is Wesleyan “keeping up” with the rapid advancement of technology?

 After spending 30 minutes and a few hundred dollars, my family finally joined the rest of the “tech” world and bought iPhones with our new cell phone contract.  I have long resisted this move and have even been teased by our loving Wesleyan principals for not doing so sooner. Perhaps a few of you, like me, have felt that the industry has all but forced our hands by providing few alternatives other than Smartphones.  One of my major hurdles was my desire to not be tied to, dependent on, or distracted by a piece of equipment 24/7.  Our culture’s obsession with these 5-inch Smartphones has caused many of us to stop and ponder the kind of influence rapidly evolving technology is having on our kids. 

A few years ago we never even heard of the terms like Skype, Twitter, Snapchat or Facebook.  The world a- round us views anyone who does not fully understand and engage in these platforms as old fashioned and out of touch.  All would agree that having access to a world of information at our fingertips is wonderful and pro- ductive, and connecting with family and friends is essential. We have benefited from the ease of communication these applications have allowed. 

Throughout history, the inventions of man have had a dramatic impact upon civilization.  Edison’s light bulb, for example, opened up many opportunities for humanity.  Few would want to go back to candles and gas light.  Christians ultimately recognize such technological advances as gifts from our gracious Lord.

When talking about technological advances, we cannot ignore the technical or moral dilemmas they bring.  Computers are a wonderful advancement that has substantially influenced our lives.  In our fallen world, we want our children to be directed in the opportunities for good that computer technology provides but at the same time be keenly aware of the dangers that come with it.

We must ask ourselves: Is the constant barrage of quick information helping or hurting our children’s learning process?  The internet has become our primary source for information gathering.  Enter a library, and you sel- dom see a student working on an assignment with piles of books, newspapers, or magazines.  Instead, that student is seated in front of a computer.  No need for pen, paper, and dictionary – the  computer provides all that is needed, and the internet has become the medium of choice for information gathering.  

This spring, the technology staff and I read “The Shallows – What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains.” In it, author Nicholas Carr says:

“The Net seems to be chipping away at our capacity for concentration and contemplation…the more we use the Web, the more we have to fight to stay focused on long pieces of writing.  This quick, conven-ient way of gathering information, on the surface, seems to make sense as being very efficient and productive; however, scientists are now discovering that its constant use changes the way a person thinks.  The constant use of the Net appears to be greatly impacting linear thinking.  Reading a book promotes the linear thought process. Reading an article on the Web with all its hyperlinks tends to make one scattered in his or her thinking.  There seems to be a loss of patience with most who try to simply read a book, so instead they find themselves reading a short web article or post.”  

Carr articulates some of our concerns: The “calm, focused, and undistracted linear mind is being pushed aside by a new kind of mind that wants and needs to take in and dole out information in short, disjointed, often over- lapping bursts – the faster, the better.”  According to Carr, the linear mind that has for centuries been at the center of art, science, and society may soon be a thing of the past.  Indeed, Wesleyan is acutely aware of these issues and purposefully addressing them in our technology integration and future endeavors.

Our students have access to and benefit from some of the latest technology, but we deliberately choose a con- trolled classroom or lab environment to broaden their exposure and increase their understanding of that tech- nology. You will not be likely to find our students walking around campus with hand-held devices checking in on their social status.  It is also doubtful that we will throw out textbooks, novels, or libraries as some schools are dangerously choosing to do.   

We are most appreciative of all who give generously to our Annual Gift Giving campaign, allowing iPads, mobile Mac and iPad carts, updated labs including both Mac and Microsoft platforms, and Panaboards and document cameras in most classrooms.  One concern we have, however, is that the American educational system may be overemphasizing the role that technology will play in the future learning process of students.  Wesleyan has taken considerable time in the past two years to thoughtfully reflect on, study, and decide how to best integrate technological advances on our campus.  Our research of a number of high-tech private institutions has led us to be very intentional with the role of technology and the use of hand-held devices at Wesleyan.  In fact, in coming months, you will hear about a few more S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering and math) initiatives that we are investigating and plan to implement throughout campus.

While understanding that we choose to take the good and useful developments of technology, we want to con- trol the issues that we feel could ultimately harm students.  Finally, I encourage you to visit our website and click on the “Technology” link for a more in-depth look at how we view, balance, and integrate technology at Wes- leyan.  God’s blessings to you and your family as you enjoy a wonderful summer together!

Rob Brown, D.Min

Head of School

I Peter 4:10 – “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve  others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

One of Wesleyan Christian Academy’s key strategic initiatives calls us to “create additional opportunities and venues for all K-12 students to participate more in local missions, outreach, and evangelism.” One of the critical reasons we developed this particular initiative is the staggering research that Barna,  McDowell, and many others have publicized, and that is the incredibly high percentage of young Christian adults who are walk- ing away from their faith once they enter college. Although we know that Wesleyan alumni are significantly less likely to abandon their spiritual foundation, we are nonetheless committed to designing more opportunities for students to take ownership and exercise their own faith in a variety of face-to-face formats.

"Because of this commitment, in the past few months the administration and faculty have researched and de- veloped more than 20 new ministry projectsin which the Elementary through High School students have par- ticipated or will participate. A few examples include:

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. Second graders created placemats for incarcerated youth, and a number of Elementary students participated in the enormous Samar- itans Feet project last spring. Students have also reached across the globe to children in Kenya. Through Dr. Ben Omungo, a parent at Wesleyan who is originally from Kenya, students helped to raise more than $700 for the mission work there.

Middle School students have been involved with a number of new projects like the Kids’ Café at 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, then 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 them-selves by taking the time to show the love of Christ with some who simply need to experience this uncon-ditional love.

Our High School continually strives to minister to others in our community by being involved in many pro-jects. In October, more than 40 students volunteered at High Point Miracle League baseball games. The Miracle League is for special-needs children ages 5 to 21 with abilities ranging from 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. In another project 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 of food donations. Pastor Paul Coates, Wesleyan’s chaplain, was able to deliver several pick-up truckloads of food that the students collected. Looking ahead toward the end of this school year, about 40 students have signed up for the next missions trip to Jamaica. The growth and interest continue  for a hands-on mission experience for our incredible students.

Sports teams at Wesleyan are also experiencing the joy of giving and ministering. The cross country team is collecting baby diapers for the Piedmont Diaper Bank Project, which distributes these diapers among local agencies that have a direct connection to local families in need. The basketball team spent a few afternoons and weekends serving at the West End Ministries Boys and Girls Club, where they played games with the children, helped them with homework and simply enjoyed developing new friendships with them. The team also served at Open Door Ministries’ Arthur Cassell Memorial Transitional Housing. The students helped beautify the property by raking leaves and doing necessary yard work, and invited the men to be special guests at some of our team’s games. 

For a second year, Enrichment Center students have taken on a project called “Carry the Love” for children in the Boys and Girls Club. After months of collecting bags of all sorts and items to fill them, the project culminates on Valentines’ Day with a party at the Boys and Girls Club. During a time of fellowship and fun, our EC students present purses and backpacks to the children, each bag filled with a number of items such as toiletries and special goodies.

At Wesleyan, it is our intent to encourage every student to be thankful for the Lord’s salvation and bles sings and to personally share that experience and love of Christ through ministry projects during the school day, after school, and even on the weekends. By God’s grace and leading, we desire that all outside classroom exper- iences and ministry projects will develop a spirit of humility and thankfulness and take root in the hearts and minds for all of our students.  

Dr. Rob Brown

Head of School

Comments on the Marriage Amendment

Dear Wesleyan Parents,

I pray this note finds you doing well, enjoying this wonderful North Carolina weather and ramping up with family summer plans!  As we prepare for the last few weeks of school, let me once again share the beauty of God’s grace and blessing in this ministry to which He has called your family and mine.  God’s leading and protection over this ministry has been clearly evident over the past 40 years.

Because of the scope and size of Wesleyan, we occasionally deal with potential litigation concerns.  We invest time, energy, and research in protecting ourselves from potential legal challenges.  Despite a culture in which many people are quick to threaten a lawsuit when they disagree or something does not go their way, God in His grace has graciously protected this ministry from any significant or costly outcomes.

Why is this?  As an educational institution, we are accountable to federal and state regulations  in many areas including accreditation, adherence to labor laws, childcare policies, food services and reimbursements, OSHA standards, audit requirements, professional development for faculty, and a handful of others.  As a Christian institution, the faculty and staff we hire must share our biblical beliefs and moral standards. The failure or challenge of this Amendment potentially can have considerable negative implications (note areas above) for any Christian school.  For example, the state or government one day could simply choose to withhold funding or approval if they determine we have discriminated against or refused to accommodate a same-sex married applicant in our hiring policy.

The fight continues for traditional marriage in those states that have passed constitutional amendments recognizing that marriage is defined as the union between one man and one woman and are facing challenges with federal appeals courts.  For example, even though the citizens passed the amendment in California, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has found that the state’s “Proposition 8” marriage amendment is discriminatory against same-sex partners.  Many legal experts on both sides of the marriage debate understand that this Amendment raises a number of issues, ranging from religious liberty to individual expression of faith to education and the professions.  Following is a  link that is a non-religious article that provides a clear perspective of the potential issues with the failure of N.C. Amendment.  Click here to see the article:   http://www.voteformarriagenc.com/threat/ 

Beyond the obvious legal implications that could very well impact our school, why should Christians be in favor of this Amendment or be concerned with the moral decline in our state and nation? The threat to the acceptance of traditional marriage and its definition is evident.  Unfortunately, the days are gone where we simply could watch a TV show with our kids, see a movie, or read a magazine without concern that homosexuality would be openly flaunted and celebrated.  Today, any disagreement with the open acceptance of homosexuality is quickly labeled discriminatory, intolerant, and prejudiced in our secular culture.  In Psalm 11:3, David asks, “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”   The foundation of our nation will continue to erode if we reject the order that God created.  Like most issues in our lives, how we view and interpret Scripture will ultimately determine what we understand and believe to be right or wrong.  Wesleyan’s mission is founded on the principle that God’s Word is true and reliable.

As we all consider this issue that is before us, we cannot escape the conclusion that we have a profound responsibility for not only the future of how we operate this school, but also and more importantly what we teach our children about what God has ordained and instituted in the beautiful and unique creation of man and woman and husband and wife.  Dietrich Bonheoffer stated that “the ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.” Please join me in prayer for our state and nation that its citizens will understand and choose to acknowledge the biblical foundations of marriage that were ordained by our Creator.

Wesleyan Christian Academy seldom takes an overt stance on political issues; however, the foundation of this amendment makes this not only a potential legal threat to the school, but also provides a moral and biblical consequence for future generations.  Our vision “to know and live the truth” continues to set our standard and course.

Sincerely,

Dr. Rob Brown
Head of School

If you would like to read the Senate Bill on the marriage amendment, please click here.

Christmas Letter

Dear Parents,

Like most of you, I am amazed that we are already ushering in Christmas next week! This week, the halls of the school are filled with Christmas decorations, celebrations, parties, and many, many parents enjoying special time with their children. And this afternoon, our 3rd and 4th graders performed a wonderful Christmas program that so accurately portrayed the birth of our Savior. How blessed we are to join our families during this special season of advent and to worship the God who became flesh for the redemption of mankind.

Christmas can and should be a time of great thankfulness and joy in our homes. It is a time for us to humbly recognize God for showing His great love for us when we celebrate the birth of the Jesus Christ. God sent His Son into the world, and His birth brought great joy and the only means of salvation to the entire world. Shepherds, wise men, and angels all shared in the proclamation and excitement of this distinct and special occasion. They knew this was no ordinary baby. The Old Testament prophets had foretold of His coming for centuries, and a brilliant star shown over Bethlehem to point the way for those looking for this particular child.

In June, I had the wonderful privilege on visiting the Holy Land. One of the stops on our tour was the Church of the Nativity. Since the 1st century AD, this has been widely accepted as the site of the birthplace of our Savior. Although I had to look beyond the religious adornments and decorations that easily distract from the rough-hewn rock, I was rightly taken aback with my incorrect presuppositions about the Lord’s birth.

Jesus likely was not born in a cozy barn and laid in a beautiful and clean basinet as depicted in some manger scenes. Barns housing animals were not part of the architect and more primitive culture of this period; instead, many biblical scholars believe Jesus was born in a cave or the quarter of a home (stable) used to store tools, agricultural produce, as well as animals. The most detailed account of Christ’s birth can be found in Luke 2, which mentions a manger three times. The Magi were not surprised the Savior was born in Bethlehem as prophesized, but I'm sure they did not expect to find the Messiah lying in a lowly and unsanitized manger. We all know that a manger is simply a feeding trough for livestock. My point is that whether it was a cave, a stable, or a storage section of a house, Jesus’ parents laid the Messiah of the world in a filthy feeding trough. For believers, this certainly demonstrates the humble manner the Savior chose to enter this world. Instead of coming as a holy and pure God on clouds filled with majesty, glory, and authority, He came to us in the dirtiest of circumstances that a child can be born. The uncleanliness of His birth should remind us of the uncleanliness of sin that resides in the hearts of all men. Through His birth, His life, and His death, God’s Word tells us that He was (as He continues to be) despised and forsaken by the world He chose to redeem (Isaiah 53:3).

How little of this powerful and historical event is really understood and believed, especially in our increasingly secular society! The older I get, and the older my children get, the more I ponder the lessons and significance that I am trying to instill in their hearts during this extraordinary time of year. Is it the soon-to-be-revealed gifts under the tree, the lights in the windows, the wonderful meals, the yet-to-be-filled stockings hanging over the fireplace, and the hype surrounding Santa Claus? Or is it reminding and teaching my children of God’s unique purpose and redemptive plan for them?

I hope you are as determined as I am to preserve this awesome celebration of our Savior’s birth rather than relinquish it to the hands of a culture that has commercialized and removed the true significance of Christmas. I pray that our gracious Lord will protect, guide, and bless your family in numerous ways during this blessed season!

Dr. Rob Brown
Head of School

Helping Our Children Navigate the Media Maze

Dear Wesleyan Parents,

I distinctly remember a conversation when I began dating my wife in college. She told me about the time that her father was so upset with the television, he threw it down the basement stairs and it shattered to pieces. As you can imagine, not only was I fearful of meeting him, I certainly questioned the wisdom of dating his daughter! I enjoyed a wonderful and close relationship with him for many years before he went home to join the Lord shortly before we moved to North Carolina. What I came to learn and respect about him was his unconditional conviction of “what goes in…comes out.”

In our partnership with parents, it is important to stress that this type of growing media influence can potentially undermine the core beliefs of Christianity. Wesleyan Christian Academy’s vision to Know and Live the Truth enables us to both share these general concerns and communicate the specific positions we take on things that are seriously offensive and destructive to traditional Christianity.

Through the increasing secularism of our culture and media, our children are being desensitized to extreme violence, premarital sex with no consequences, the acceptance of recreational use of drugs and alcohol, and a very aggressive agenda of glorifying a homosexual lifestyle. For mature believers who accept that God’s word is both infallible and applicable in any and all situations, this is greatly disturbing.

My wife and I have finally “hit the roof” with so little on TV that we feel is supportive of our convictions and standards at home. We are now beginning to turn off the TV a few nights a week, and it is amazing the amount of fun, closeness, and interesting conversations we are now enjoying! Chip Ingram, founder and teaching pastor of Living on the Edge, challenges Christian families to have a media fast. See what blessings the Lord has in store by turning off the TV, computer, etc. one or two nights a week. Try to get through a week and see what happens next.

Allow me to share a few resources and suggestions that may be helpful as we assist our children in navigating through the cultural media maze:

•          www.pluggedin.org is a website that is part of the Focus on the Family ministry. The website does a wonderful job presenting the content of all television shows, movies, music and video games. It is both thorough and Christian in its effort to educate and spark educational thought and spiritual implications.
•          www.parentstv.org – another great site that focuses primarily on evaluating and recommending family friendly television shows and movies. They do not claim to be a Christian organization, but their views and recommendations are very conservative and a very easy site to navigate.
•          Research both the ClearPlay DVD player that allows you to filter violence, sexual content, and profanity with all DVD’s, and also TV Guardian, a device that automatically filters language from programming. Both tools cost approximately $100 each.
•          Take a very proactive role in reviewing all text messages, Face Book and MySpace accounts, and all other social media outlets that your children have joined. In my opinion, this is no doubt the number one issue that parents overlook and assume is harmless. If parents viewed these accounts regularly, the majority of concerns would be appropriately dealt with and resolved early on.
•          Discuss your children’s favorite “stars” with them. Discover what it is that attracts them to their personalities. The more we observe and listen to some of Hollywood’s most popular music and movie celebrities, and famous athletes, the less we see of personal character and purpose in life. This is truly disappointing given that so many kids today look up to and idolize these individuals.
•          For stronger accountability, consider moving all personal computers and televisions into the family room.
•         Install internet content filters such as Net Nanny, DNS, Norton Online Family, etc. 

Please understand that I am not encouraging you to “throw the TV down the stairs,” but to be well informed that God’s enemy and our enemy desires nothing more than to steal and destroy the hearts and minds of our children. Given the cultural shift and agenda we see unfolding before our eyes these days, this may mean that some families need to step up and change what media is allowed to infiltrate the hearts and lives of our children. May God give us all wisdom as we navigate through the current media maze.

Rob Brown