Elementary School: Program

Consistent with our school mission, the WCA elementary faculty and staff have worked diligently to create a safe, nurturing environment where every child is encouraged to grow both academically and spiritually. Children receive rigorous instruction in reading, math, and the sciences, as well as opportunities to explore music and the arts. By teaching within the context of a Christian worldview, we inspire children of all ages to become disciples of Jesus Christ in thought, word, and deed.

A before-school program (starting at 7:00 a.m.) and an after-school care program (until 6:00 p.m.) are available for elementary students. Click here for more information.

Academics

Bible

Believing that the Word of God is the anchor of faith and practice for the believer, WCA takes care to select appropriate curricular materials and teach this subject to each student with passion and practical application. Students are taught to know the Bible through a thematic, chronological study of the Old and New Testaments. By incorporating higher thinking skills and encouraging Christlikeness, teachers guide students to trust God and to apply His principles in their everyday lives.

English/Language Arts

Teachers integrate reading, writing, spelling, listening, and speaking.  The teachers provide students with a balanced approach to literacy that involves phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.  Students are given meaningful opportunities to write in a wide variety of genres.  Grammar is taught within the context of writing with a focus on sentence structure, parts of speech, mechanics, and reference skills. Westlake uses developmentally appropriate handwriting instruction that involves print in the lower grades and cursive writing starting in grades 2 and 3.

Mathematics

The main goal of our mathematics instruction is to teach students to become problem solvers who can apply mathematical skills and concepts to a wide variety of situations.  The curriculum is designed to blend the procedural and conceptual aspects of math in order for students to gain mastery of both.  New concepts are taught concretely with manipulatives and models and then moved to more abstract representation through numerals and equations.  Students are challenged to begin to develop algebraic thinking as early as Kindergarten. 

Science

Science instruction at Westlake begins with the understanding that God is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and we are studying His creation.  Westlake teachers work to inspire curiosity, promote problem solving and critical thinking, and develop collaborative skills.  Students are taught to follow the scientific method and challenged to become good stewards of God’s creation.  Teachers provide STEM activities and encourage students to develop a love for science. 

Social Studies

Westlake teachers take care to stress a biblical worldview in social studies instruction. Teachers use a balanced approach to social studies concepts in conjunction with reading skills, map and globe skills, chart and graph skills, citizenship skills, study skills, research and writing skills, and critical-thinking skills. Primary sources, biographies, literature, and cross-curricular activities help teachers integrate Social Studies across the curriculum. Early grades focus on families and communities. Middle grade students study states and the United States. Upper grade students study world history. Content strands include history, geography, economics, government, citizenship, culture, and technology.

Physical Education

Each elementary class has physical education twice each week. Understanding that each person is fearfully and wonderfully made by his Creator and that the believer’s body belongs to God, Westlake helps students understand their responsibility to take care of the body. Program goals include honoring God in all things, strengthening physical fitness and endurance, developing coordination and agility, promoting team work, developing skills for and understanding of specific sports, and demonstrating good sportsmanship.

Elementary Fine Arts

Instrumental Music

Westlake Christian Academy’s band program is recognized for excellent instrumental music performances in area churches and in the community at large. Students from WCA’s band program perform not only for school functions, but also for churches and in other settings throughout the community. Our goal as a department is to honor God with excellence in the performance of quality instrumental music and to encourage lifelong participation in music.

• Beginning Band – Qualified Westlake and home school students in grades four and up may take the music aptitude test to determine readiness for our Beginning Band program. Beginning Band is for students in their first year of playing a band instrument. Students typically receive one 30 minute group lesson and one full band rehearsal per week, held during the school day. Students in Beginning Band finish the first year by performing in a Spring Beginning Band Concert. (Download/Print) Beginning Band Requirements
• Intermediate Band – Qualified Westlake and home school students in their second year of band participation who have successfully demonstrated skills above the Beginning Band level make up the Intermediate Band. Students typically receive one 30 minute group lesson and one full band rehearsal per week, held during the school day. The Intermediate Band performs at the Christmas and Spring Concerts. Qualified students may perform at solo and ensemble contests held in the spring semester. (Download/Print) Intermediate Band Requirements

General Music Instruction

All elementary students (grades 1–6) receive two music classes each week during which they learn the basic elements of music, including musical symbols and notation. Depending on grade level, students learn to play bells and simple wind and percussion instruments. Integral to their instruction are music appreciation, music history, ear training, and music theory. Additionally, elementary students perform in winter and spring concerts.

Visual Arts

Elementary students (grades 1–6) receive two art classes per week. Westlake Christian Academy seeks to provide each student with a positive opportunity to develop as a creative individual. God’s attributes are most clearly understood as the student perceives similarities between his own creative abilities and the work of God’s hands (Psalm 8:3-4). Because God is a God of order, students can learn rules that will help to develop their creative processes, as well as their confidence, self-worth, and sense of responsibility. Respect for materials and respect for others can also be developed. Students can see the importance of creating. They can learn about design elements and learn to appreciate the beauty of all creation as they come to know God as the Creator of the universe–the Master Designer in his power and majesty. They can use the Visual Arts as means to communicate God’s truth to a fallen world.

S.O.A.R. (Reading Instruction)

Westlake offers reading instruction for students from Kindergarten through 8th grade who struggle with phonics, fluency, and reading comprehension. This program is open to our students as well as the home-school community and includes AIMSweb benchmark testing. For more details, please visit the S.O.A.R. page.

Athletics & Extra Curricular

Elementary Athletics

Westlake offers interscholastic sports for boys and girls beginning in grade five.  Depending on interest, various sports are offered for 5/6 graders, including soccer, volleyball, and basketball. Please visit the athletics page for more information.

Elementary Application Process

If you would like to apply for elementary school at Westlake Christian Academy, please visit our admissions page to learn more about the process. The admissions process opens on January 15th each year, and we continue to accept new students throughout the school year. Some classes have waiting lists, so we suggest that you start the process early.