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Westbury Christian School Named AP Honor Roll Platinum School

Westbury Christian School Named AP Honor Roll Platinum School

Westbury Christian School is proud to earn a place on the College Board’s AP School Honor Roll for the 2023-24 school year! The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs deliver results and broaden access for students. Schools can earn the Honor Roll recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing their college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness. WCS also received the AP Access Award, which honors schools encouraging more low-income and underrepresented minority students to take AP courses.

According to Trevor Packer, Senior Vice President of AP and Instruction for College Board, research shows students who take AP courses and exams are more likely to attend college and graduate on time. Even for those who don’t earn college credit, advanced coursework provides early exposure to college-level work and contributes to a college-going school culture. “We know it takes a considerable schoolwide effort—dedication from teachers, counselors, administrators, students, and parents—to make AP access a priority,” said Packer. “I’m inspired by your commitment and grateful for the chance to honor your success.”

The AP School Honor Roll offers four levels of distinction: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. As a Platinum school, WCS had an impressive 100% of our senior class take at least one AP Exam during high school, 56% of seniors scored a three or higher on at least one AP Exam, and 39% took five or more AP Exams. “At Westbury Christian School, we are honored to be recognized by College Board as a Platinum School,” said WCS High School Principal Kaitlyn Ballard. “This honor is a true reflection of our student body and their diligence in achieving their academic goals. Our AP teachers motivate and challenge their students to be successful on their AP exams and beyond. I am extremely proud of our Wildcats.”

Congratulations to our AP students and teachers on this outstanding achievement! We look forward to more great things from this impressive group!

 

 

 

Westbury Christian School Receives Top  Workplaces 2024 Award

Westbury Christian School Receives Top Workplaces 2024 Award

We’re excited to be named a Houston Metro Area Top Workplaces 2024 Award winner by the Houston Chronicle for the third consecutive year! The list is based solely on employee feedback from a confidential third-party survey administered by Energage, LLC, an employee engagement technology Partner.

“For the past three years, we’ve been recognized as one of Houston’s Top Workplaces. It’s an encouraging honor and a reflection of the work that our school community has done to cultivate our culture. It’s also meaningful because of the role employee feedback plays in determining the recognition,” says Nathan Wagner, WCS Head of School. “Our Wildcat educators love our students, our mission, and one another. They serve out of a deep sense of passion and purpose, and they work to create great experiences for students every day to faithfully pursue truth, grow in wisdom, and build relationships.”

The survey uniquely measures the employee experience and its component themes, including employees’ feelings of Respect and Support, Ability to Grow, and Empowerment to Execute. “Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “That’s something to be proud of. In today’s market, leaders must ensure they’re allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That’s paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.”

Thank you to our dedicated employees for sharing their experiences at WCS. This recognition testifies to the positive school culture and work environment we strive to achieve together.

 

Alumni Spotlight: Jasmine Matthews ’09 WCS Graduate Realizes Hollywood Dreams

Alumni Spotlight: Jasmine Matthews ’09 WCS Graduate Realizes Hollywood Dreams

In the 15 years since Jasmine Matthew (’09) graduated from WCS, she earned an undergraduate degree in theater from Spelman College, a master’s at UNVL, and moved to California to pursue her dreams of becoming an actress. Matthews has enjoyed much success and is best known for her roles in The Tomorrow War (2021), The Man from Toronto (2022), and Big George Foreman (2023). What was once an extracurricular at Westbury Christian School is now her profession.

“My job has many rewards and challenges. I love being able to inspire little girls by being a strong role model they can look up to. At times it can be challenging because of rejections in auditions. I have to put my faith in God, trust Him and be patient.” She credits Westbury Christian for giving her the spiritual formation in an industry that can be difficult for believers to work in.

“I often think back to my days at Westbury Christian and how it gifted me with such a firm faith-based structure that has served me well in an industry that can be, well, frankly put, full of rejection and superficiality,” said Matthews. “I think it’s important for kids to continuously be fed the reality that their dreams are not only attainable but also that the grounded spiritual foundation that WCS instills is vital to fulfilling their ultimate success and purpose.”

Among her favorite memories of her time at WCS are Chick-Fil-A lunch days with friends, learning about Shakespeare with Mr. Wagner, and the formative relationships with faculty, several who are still at WCS.

“Mr. Wagner was so cool because he would reassure me that there is nothing weird about loving Shakespeare. His class allowed me to have my moments full of expression and authenticity. I cherish that moment. He taught me to embrace what you love when no one else loves it. [Coach Hawley] was really impactful while I was there. I never had him as a teacher, but his kindness, compassion, openness, and availability made such an impact on me. He was just a light.”

Matthews adds, “Mrs. Annette Turner received me with open arms and created a safe space for me even when I wasn’t a student of hers. She made me feel seen, heard, and gave me a safe space during the day. I look back at my time at Westbury Christian and they just inspired me that I could do anything. I got the encouragement I needed from faculty and staff.”

If you graduated from WCS, we’d love to share your story with our WCS community. Please send your update to [email protected].

See As God Sees: Reflections by WCS Students Kai and Nile

See As God Sees: Reflections by WCS Students Kai and Nile

What 1 Samuel 16:7 means to me…

To me, the verse means not to judge a book by its cover. I can apply this by not caring about how people look, but about whether they are kind, caring, or nice. It is hard when they’re not nice, even when I try to be nice. I can grow by continuing to be kind to them.  – Kai F., sixth grade

The theme of the verse is to look at someone’s heart and personality instead of their looks or clothes. It is good to see as God sees because then we will live a more positive or love filled life. The first time I see someone, I don’t always look at them like God does. I can grow in those areas by looking at the positive in people.  – Nile N., sixth grade

Meet Your 2024 Westbury Christian School Homecoming King and Queen

Meet Your 2024 Westbury Christian School Homecoming King and Queen

Celebrating Our Homecoming King and Queen

 

Westbury Christian School is excited to introduce our 2024 Homecoming King and Queen, Cristian H. and Jannieka H. These outstanding seniors embody the spirit of WCS through their dedication, leadership, and service to the Wildcat community. Let’s get to know a bit more about each of them and what this special honor means to them.

 

Cristian H. – Homecoming King

homecoming king 2024Class of: 2025
Years at WCS: 8
Sports/Clubs/Activities: Football, Track, National Honor Society, Student Ambassador, National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Club Track.

What WCS Means to Cristian:
“Westbury Christian means so much to me. Ever since the 5th grade, the teachers, students, and staff have been so welcoming and encouraging. You can tell they genuinely want to help me succeed in everything I do. The Wildcat community is like family to me, and I’m very grateful to be a part of it.”

On Being Named Homecoming King:
“I am so honored to receive this title. Being Homecoming King isn’t just about wearing a crown; it’s a responsibility. It means that people see you as a role model, someone they look up to. I want to set a positive example for others by leading with integrity and showing kindness to everyone.”

“Working with our younger Wildcats in K3 reminds me that being a role model isn’t about perfection; it’s about showing others how to rise with resilience, lead with compassion, and grow through every challenge.”

 

Jannieka H. – Homecoming Queen

homecoming queen 2024Class of: 2025
Years at WCS: 13
Sports/Clubs/Activities: Varsity Cheer (Head Captain), Track, Soccer, Theater, Senior Class Treasurer, International Thespian Society (President), National Honor Society (Publicity Officer), Interact Club (Secretary), National Spanish Honor Society, Student Ambassador, 2024-2025 Marketing Ambassador.

What WCS Means to Jannieka:
“WCS holds a special place in my heart! After 13 years, it has been my sanctuary and a pillar of support, shaping me into the person I am today. I’ve formed lifelong friendships here and will always be grateful for the environment that has allowed me to grow.”

On Being Named Homecoming Queen:
“The privilege of being Homecoming Queen means the world to me! Knowing that my peers chose me to represent our school is truly an honor. It’s a full-circle moment, remembering how I once looked up to past Homecoming Queens and now, being one myself, I hope to inspire others to shine their light and embrace who they are.”

 

 

 

We are so proud of Cristian and Jannieka for their accomplishments and the example they set for their fellow students. Their dedication, involvement, and character truly embody what it means to be a part of the Westbury Christian family. Congratulations to our 2024 Homecoming King and Queen!

See As God Sees: Reflections by WCS Students Kai and Nile

See As God Sees: 1 Samuel 16:7

The theme for the 2024-25 school year is See As God Sees. Based on the verse 1 Samuel 16:7, the theme encourages students to look at one another as God looks at each of us, focusing on the heart.

One of our primary goals in Bible class is for students to study God’s Word, not just to memorize verses, but to learn how to interpret and apply scripture to their daily lives. It’s encouraging to see our students across grade levels embrace the Bible with such enthusiasm. We thought we’d share some of their responses to this year’s verse each week.  

 

What 1 Samuel 16:7 means to me…

He always looks at the heart. He sees me by how I act. I want to see how God sees so I can know instead of assume. It’s hard to know someone when you don’t know them at the same time. I will grow by reading the Bible and to pray.  – Henry M., sixth grade

To me the verse 1 Samuel 16:7 means don’t choose people based on their appearance, think about being friends with them based on the inside. This applied to me in real life whenever I came to Westbury and chose people to hang around with. I got to know them before I hung out with them. It’s important that we really get to know other people instead of judging them based on their appearance.  – Braylon B., sixth grade

Westbury Christian School Named Parent Choice Award Winner

Westbury Christian School Named Parent Choice Award Winner

Westbury Christian School in Houston, Texas has been awarded a prestigious 2023-24 Parent Choice Award by ParentPulse, a third-party provider that administers surveys for more than 130 private and independent schools in the United States.

Parent Choice Awards are presented to a select group of schools that logged an overall parent Net Promoter Score of 70 or greater for the period from Sept. 1, 2023, through May 31, 2024.

Net Promoter Score is a universal metric (expressed as a single number on a scale from -100 to 100) that seeks to measure overall customer satisfaction by asking survey respondents a single question – “How likely are you to recommend us to a friend or colleague?” The Net Promoter Score was developed by Bain & Company, an international management consulting firm, in 2003, and is used by millions of organizations across just about every industry.

Most researchers and survey scientists classify Net Promoter Scores of 30-50 as “good,” 50-70 as “excellent” and 70+ as “world class.” With a score of 70 or greater during the 9-month period, Westbury Christian School has achieved a truly elite parent satisfaction rate.

Unlike most survey platforms – which measure Net Promoter Score through a one-time survey blast – ParentPulse employs automated, rolling surveys throughout the year, so a school’s score is truly reflective of the entire academic year, and not just a single moment in time.

“Net Promoter Score truly captures the essence of an organization’s commitment to actively listen to and engage its customers,” said ParentPulse founder Ryan Ermeling. “We created ParentPulse to help private and independent schools better understand and leverage the paradigm of ‘parent as customer.’ Schools that receive this award have truly embraced this concept and are seeking to serve their families and continually adapt to the changing needs of their community.”

About ParentPulse

Most private and independent schools don’t have a year-round method for capturing parent feedback. That can lead to disgruntled families, unclear priorities and even enrollment decline. ParentPulse features an automated recurring survey tool that gives parents (and now students and staff as well!) a voice throughout the year, empowering school leaders to make more informed decisions and better engage their stakeholders.