Westlake Christian Academy

Grayslake kindergarten, elementary, junior high and high school academy providing Christian families with private academic education.

(847) 548-6209   275 South Lake Street Grayslake, IL

High School Preview

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Are you wondering what high school looks like at Westlake? Do you have questions about what courses we offer and what athletic programs are available?  Are you wondering if this would be a good fit for your student?

This event is for you!  On Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at 7:00 PM, Westlake will be opening its doors to all current WCA 8th graders and to any prospective students interested in learning more about high school at Westlake. We’ll tell you a little bit about our school, talk courses and college readiness, share details about the trips and the special activities in which our students participate, and answer any questions you may have.

The program will be held in the gym, with tours available for prospective students. Face coverings are required for all attendees.
 
Afterward, students can join our high school student council team outside for snacks and games.

All of the specific details are broken down below. We hope to see you there!

Please take a moment to register below. We’ve included a section in the form for any questions you may have ahead of time.

Who is this for?

  • Current WCA eighth graders and their families AND
  • Anyone interested in attending high school at Westlake (2nd semester of 2021-22 or for 2022-23)

What should I expect?

  • Our Principal, Mrs. DeReus, will share a little bit about Westlake and our radically different definition of the good life
  • Our guidance counselor & teacher, Mr. Flemming, will discuss our high school program and college readiness

What if I have questions?

  • We will have some high school teachers present to talk about
    • what to expect in their class
    • what courses are available
    • options for dual-credit college classes
  • Our Athletic Director will also be available to discuss varsity sports
    • Cross Country
    • Soccer
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
 

Grandparents’ Day 2021

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We love our Grandparents!

Westlake Christian Academy looks forward every fall to having our students’ grandparents visit the school. This year, we are providing two opportunities for grandparents to visit classrooms. Preschool–6th grade teachers will host virtual classroom “visits” in the morning (via Google Meet), and we will also have in-person drop-in tours (all grades) in the afternoon.

If you have been to a previous Grandparents Day at Westlake, the format will seem quite different. We hope that offering both a virtual and in-person option will allow many grandparents to attend. We are also eliminating the portion of the day when grandparents gather in the gym to watch class performances. Instead, individual classes will be making a presentation during their virtual visit. We hope you enjoy the opportunity to spend some time with your grandchild(ren) and see what’s happening at Westlake!

Friday September 24, 2021

9:15–11:30am: Virtual Classroom Visits

1:00–2:30pm: Drop-in Classroom Tours

Grandparents Day is a Half Day (9am–12pm)

Grandparents Day is a HALF DAY for all students. There is no After Care on all-school half days. Because it is also a Late Start Friday, the school day runs from 9am–12pm for Preschool through 12th grade. Pickup for Preschool–6th grade is from Slusser Street, via the playground.

All students are expected to be picked up between 12:00–12:20pm. Please leave campus for lunch, and then students may return with grandparents any time between 1:00–2:30pm for an in-person classroom tour.

Morning: Virtual Classroom Tours (Preschool–6th Grade)

Take a peek at what the school day looks like for your grandchild! Preschool–6th grade teachers will host a brief Google Meet for each grade. The times will be staggered, so that grandparents can “visit” multiple grades throughout the morning. Grandparents can expect to “meet” the teacher, “see” what’s happening in the classroom, and say hello to their grandchild.

Each grade will have a 10–15 minute Google Meet, which grandparents can join using a link that will be provided to parents a few days before the event. Please ask your grandchild’s parent to forward the email to you. A schedule and full instructions for joining will be included. Please RSVP below.

Afternoon: In-Person Drop-In Tours (Preschool–12th Grade)

Grandparents are invited to visit the school with their grandchildren to take a quick tour of the classroom. Students will be able to show you where they sit, along with some of their school work.

The school will be open from 1:00–2:30pm for tours. You may come at any time during that window, but please let us know that we should expect you. The doors will not open until 1:00 pm, as our teachers need time to eat lunch and prepare for your arrival. Please RSVP below.

Grandparent's Day Registration

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Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week 2021

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Let’s taco bout how amazing our teachers are! 

They have taught and loved our students so well in the midst of a challenging year.

Teacher Appreciation Week is right around the corner (5/10 – 5/14), and the Parents Association wants to make it a special one.

In addition to some fun things planned (see image below) , we would love to stock the fridge full of drinks and provide a catered lunch. Please consider donating toward lunch or sending an item in with your student this week.

Click the links below to help make this a spec-taco-ular week for our teachers and staff!

Sign up to stock the fridge

Sign up to donate to lunch

Fill out this form (with your student) to encourage your child’s teacher

Open Board Meeting

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Join us on Monday, May 17, 2021 at 7:00 pm for our bi-annual All-School Board of Trustees Meeting. 

RSVP to Attend

Twice a year, the school’s leadership prepares a meeting to report to families about what’s going on. The constitutionally mandated meetings happen in September and May.

At the meeting, brief presentations will address the activities of the school administration, development, finances, as well as the Board itself. 

In addition, candidates will be introduced and voted on for vacant board member positions. Each Westlake family may vote once for board members.

The open board meeting on May 17, 2021 will be held in-person in the gym. There will not be a virtual option. Voting (see below) will occur in-person. Childcare will not be provided.

RSVP to Attend

Board Member Elections

Three new candidates are seeking election to the Board of Trustees, and three current board members are standing for re-election at the all-school board meeting on May 17, 2021. Brief bios are listed below, and each candidate will be introduced at the meeting.

Each Westlake family can vote once for each vacant position. In order to vote, you must be present at the meeting on May 17th. 

Candidate Bios

Board Nominee – Amanda Happel

Mandy and her husband, Tim, have been a part of the Westlake family for 3 years. Their children are Madelyn (2nd grade) and Ava (Pre-K).

Mandy has a passion for Christian education and for Westlake. She is active in the Parent’s Association and has supported many events and projects. She is also serving on Westlake’s Development Committee and as a room parent.

Board Nominee – Chad Limones

Chad and his wife, Becky, have been a part of the Westlake community for 3 years. They have two boys; Austin (2nd Grade) and Zac (PK). 

They have been members at The Chapel for over 10 years and have served in a variety of volunteer positions. Chad has an MBA in Healthcare Administration and works on the commercial side for a small biotech company. Quote: “I look forward to the opportunity to continue to serve our great Westlake community.”

Board Nominee – Tania Rodriguez

Tania and her husband, Huber, have been a part of the Westlake family for four years. Their daughter, Montse, is in second grade.

Tania has been active in the Parent’s Association and has served as Treasurer for the last year.

Board Member – Kim Lurvey

Kim has served on the WCA Board for the last three years and as Treasurer, she chairs the Finance Committee.

She and her husband, Kent, and their family have been part of the Westlake Family for eight years. Their son, Christian, graduated from Westlake in 2018; and their daughter, Charity, attended Westlake from 2015 to 2019.  

Board Member – Joel Sensenig

Joel has served on the WCA Board for the last three years.  He is currently serving as Vice-Chair of the board and chairs the Development Committee.

Since moving to Illinois in 2010, Joel and his wife Courtney have had all five of their kids enrolled at WCA.  Three have graduated, Jana (2014), Mady (2016), Eli (2019), and two are in High School; Sophia (2021) and Lucas (2023).  He retired from the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps in 2015 and is now the Assistant Director of Public Works at Lake County’s Public Works Department and an active member of the Society of American Military Engineers.  Joel and his family are members of Christ Church Crossroads in Grayslake and volunteer with the Children’s ministry.

Board Member – Taylor Wilcox

Taylor has served on the WCA Board for the last three years. She is currently serving on the Development Committee and has led our Alumni Outreach initiatives.

Taylor is a Westlake alumna who graduated in 2012. Her brothers, Kaleb and Spencer, also graduated from Westlake in 2006 and 2009. After college, she coached men’s and women’s soccer at Westlake for three years, and she often photographs sports and events for the school. She is a stateside missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators, working primarily in recruiting and photography, and she also works for and volunteers at her church.

Emergency Closing

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WCA places safety as a top priority, and that includes traveling to and from school during times of inclement weather. On days when the school is open but travel conditions in your area are still treacherous, it is important for you to keep your child at home until travel conditions improve. If conditions improve later in the morning, you may bring your child for the remainder of the school day. Determining the safety of road conditions in your area is a parental decision.

Of course, we want as many children as possible to be in attendance but not at the risk of their safety. Please weigh carefully whether or not to attempt to come to school.

Students who are remaining home due to inclement weather should default to remote learning for the day. Please notify the office of your decision by 9:00 AM and contact your child’s teacher to get signed on with remote learning.

rotary_telephoneIf school is open but you choose to keep your child at home, please leave a message on the attendance line:
847-548-6209 ext. 0 by 9:00 am or via westlakechristian.org/absence

If you’re wondering whether or not Westlake will be open due to the weather, you can find out in a few different ways:

  1.  Check the Emergency Closing Center website (please note that email notifications are no longer provided by ECC)
  2.  Check the Westlake website for a banner notification (or this page for a header notification)
  3.  Call our office and listen for an automated message: 847-548-6209
  4. Check your email; we will send each family an email by 6:00 AM

Dress Down Day Pass

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Thanks for watching the What’s Up @ Westlake LIVE Video! To claim your free dress down day pass(es), please enter your information below.

*The deadline for this form has passed.*

Celebrate Westlake

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While this year has certainly looked much different than any of us expected, the Lord has done so many amazing things through our school. Our students are flourishing, in the midst of many difficult circumstances. They have grown both academically and spiritually. As we reflect on the blessings of in-person learning in a Christian environment, we give all the praise and glory to God!

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 
To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18, ESV

Normally at the end of our school year, we would host “Celebrate Westlake,” a special event where we would gather as a community to praise God for his provision and to raise support for the coming school year. This year, we have combined many of our year-end concerts and programs into one special program, Celebrate Westlake 2.0. We hope you will enjoy performances from our bands and elementary music students, a showcase of secondary student artwork, and stories of God’s faithfulness.

Watch the Video

Perhaps God has blessed you with resources that can be used to further God’s kingdom through the work of Christian education and discipleship at Westlake. Donations can be made online or by mailing a check to the address below. Thank you for partnering with us!

Donate Now

Donations can be mailed to:

Westlake Christian Academy
275 S Lake Street
Grayslake, IL 60030

Giving

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Donate Now

Did you know that no family pays the full cost of educating a child at Westlake Christian Academy? In addition, 45% of Westlake families receive need-based tuition assistance and benefit from the generosity of people like you.

You can make a difference in a student’s life by donating to Westlake’s Tuition Assistance Fund. Your donation makes it possible for students to receive a high quality Christian education at an affordable price. 

As a ministry, Westlake Christian Academy walks by faith, depending on God to use his people to cover the gap between what it actually costs to provide an education and what some of our families can pay. Thank you for helping us to meet the needs of these families!

Click here to Donate Now:

Donate Now

275 South Lake Street
Grayslake, IL 60030
(847) 548-6209