Parent-Teacher Conferences
Thursday, February 17 | 4:30 – 8:30 PM
In an effort to provide more opportunities for parent and teacher communication, we are offering parent-teacher conferences again on February 17. This is a critical way that you can partner with us in the education of your child, and we encourage everyone to sign up for a conference.
While there will be no childcare on site, we do understand that you may need to bring your child with. In which case, your child may sit outside the classroom for the duration of your conference.
If you have children in both elementary and secondary, the office staff will coordinate your secondary conference requests with your elementary times.
Contact the school office at Info@WestlakeChristian.org or 847-548-6209 ext. 0 with any questions.
Conferences can be in-person or virtual. Masks are required in the school building.
Elementary Parents (Preschool-6th Grade):
Click here to sign up for an elementary (Preschool-6th Grade) conference.
Secondary Parents (7th – 12th Grade):
Click here to sign up for a secondary (7th-12th Grade) conference.
High School Preview
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?
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Our Principal, Mrs. DeReus, will share a little bit about Westlake and our radically different definition of the good life
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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
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 all Preschool–6th grade students is from Slusser Street, via the back entrance to 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 was emailed to parents on September 22nd. 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.
Required Forms
The following forms must be signed and turned in at Back-to-School Night on Wednesday, August 17, 2022. Preschool and Pre-K students can turn them in at Meet the Teacher on August 22 or August 23. You may print them at home, or you may pick up a copy at the check-in table.
Your child will not be allowed to start school until their signed forms are on file with the office. Questions? Call us at (847) 548–6209.
Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week 2021
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
Emergency Closing
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.
If 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:
- Check the Emergency Closing Center website (please note that email notifications are no longer provided by ECC)
- Check the Westlake website for a banner notification (or this page for a header notification)
- Call our office and listen for an automated message: 847-548-6209
- Check your email; we will send each family an email by 6:00 AM
Dress Down Day Pass
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
We look forward to seeing you at Celebrate Westlake! Wondering about the weather? We will have displays throughout the school, including crafts and face-painting in the gym. If it doesn’t rain, students can play outside in our new GaGa Ball Pit!
Many of you know that our principal, Mrs. Laura DeReus, will be moving to Tennessee this summer. We are so thankful for her many years at Westlake, and we are sad to see her go. If you would like to wish her well, please consider bringing a card to Celebrate Westlake.
Parking may be limited. We encourage you to drop off passengers at the front door (only if you have two adults)
Event Details
Saturday, May 21, 2022
4–7 pm (Drop-in or stay the whole time)
Picnic Outside or in the Cafeteria (BYO or Pre-Order Online)
Crafts and Face-Painting for Kids in the Gym
Classroom Displays (PS–12th)
Student Artwork Exhibits
History Walk through the School
RSVP by Thursday, May 12th
Please let us know if you’re planning to join us! Picnic tables will be available for eating outside, or you can eat in the cafeteria. You are welcome to bring your own picnic meal, or pre-order one of our options from Something’s Brewing (deadline May 12th). Bottled water will be available for everyone in the cafeteria.
Pre-order meals must be paid for in advance and will be available for pick-up at 5pm in the cafeteria. All meals include chips and a cookie.
Donations can be mailed to:
Westlake Christian Academy
275 S Lake Street
Grayslake, IL 60030
Diversity Focus Group
One of our core values is Unity in Diversity, and given the cultural unrest this summer we are making a concerted effort to maintain this value. There is a group of teachers meeting on Friday mornings who are working on ways to ensure that diversity is reflected in our materials, celebrated in our classrooms, and valued in our relationships.
At the same time, a group of parents and students met this summer to discuss any problems or circumstances related to diversity that the school leadership might need to address. In response to all the social unrest we have witnessed during the spring and summer of 2020, we have gathered a small group of parents, teachers, and students to address this issue.
Our desire is to listen first–to determine in what ways Westlake might be able to do a better job of celebrating the diversity among us, treating one another with respect, and training our students to love and respect others. After sharing concerns and personal experiences, we hope to make recommendations to the faculty and staff of things that could be done to improve our school in this area.
Anyone in our school community who is interested in helping with this effort is welcome to attend. We are having another meeting of this focus group on Tuesday, October 27 at 7pm. If you are new to the Westlake community but would like to join the conversation, you are officially invited. We will be discussing suggestions for how to help our students develop this core value. Please register here, if you plan to attend on October 27.
