by admin | Jun 17, 2022 | Around Campus, High School News, Lower School News, Middle School News, WCS Service
At WCS, we don’t emphasize a day of service with our students, but rather live lives of service.
A beloved annual fundraising drive to benefit Mission Lazarus and Hope for Haiti’s Children continues for its 24th year at WCS. During the spring semester, students from kindergarten to seniors in high school, collected spare change in water bottles to benefit underprivileged orphans. The 2022 collection included donations collected in 2020 and 2021. “What makes this project extra special is that every penny has been counted for 24 years by the students and goes straight to the charities, ” says Coach Steve Hawley, leader of the project. “We don’t take it to a change machine, we don’t bring in outsiders,100% goes straight to the charity.” This project is completely voluntary for WCS students and families. They are not required to participate. Each year students are excited for the distribution of the water bottles.
HISTORY
Westbury Christian Middle School and High School Bible Teacher and Middle School Girls Basketball Coach, Steve Hawley spearheads the spring long collection. While the project has continued for 24 years at Westbury Christian, the project originated in Lebanon, Tennessee at Friendship Christian School in 1995 with Coach Hawley.
Honduras is a special place in Coach Hawley’s heart. His first mission trip to Honduras occurred in July 1998, a month before his arrival at WCS. A few months later in October 1998, Hurricane Mitch devastated Honduras. Coach Hawley felt compelled to act and serve. Previously at Friendship Christian School, Coach Hawley and a fellow teacher and cheerleading coach initiated the project. After a successful collection in its first year, Coach Hawley recognized there was still work to do. Year after year, Coach Hawley shared the mission of Mission Lazarus and Hope for Haiti’s Children and encouraged participation. He brought the project with him to WCS. Coach Hawley and the former WCS football coach, Chris O’Neal, searched through trash cans to find empty Powerade bottles to pass out to students to collect change. In an attempt to be resourceful, Coach Hawley wrote to Powerade to provide bottles for the fundraiser. Powerade generously donated 600 bottles for WCS students to collect change for Honduras for the 2000-2001 school year. In 2002, a WCS family bought the bottles for WCS students, which included the WCS crest, Mission Lazarus and Hope for Haiti’s Childrens logos. This family has continued to supply WCS students with water bottles for the past twenty years. Coach Hawley’s room has all 20 water bottles on display for all to see.
MISSION LAZARUS AND HOPE FOR HAITI’S CHILDREN
The funds raised at WCS provides support to two nonprofit Christian organizations: Mission Lazarus, a holistic ministry focused on community development in Honduras and Haiti through spiritual, educational, medical and agricultural outreaches; and Hope for Haiti’s Children, which utilizes in-country educators and professionals to nurture, educate and train poverty-bound Haitian children to become spiritual leaders. This year, WCS has chosen to support the Hope for Haiti’s Children school lunch program. Coach Hawley has visited a few of the schools on his past mission trips. “The children at these schools are fed lunch every day. For some kids, this is the only meal they will get.” says Coach Hawley “So it is vital they get some nutrition everyday.” says Coach Hawley. Mission Lazarus has not shared what they plan to do with the funds yet. In the past, our donation has helped supply a pick up truck or any community needs. This school year, the total donation was $11,740 with two checks split to each organization. “The thing I am most…I hate to use the word proud… but the thing I am most proud of as a teacher and a coach is that we’ve been able to keep this project going for 24 years.” says Coach Hawley.
To learn more about the benefiting organizations, visit missionlazarus.org and hopeforhaitischildren.org.
To see a brief summary of the project this year, watch here.
by admin | Jun 16, 2022 | Alumni News, Athletics
The Houston Astros have claimed OF Dillon Thomas, a graduate of Westbury Christian, off of waivers from the Los Angeles Angels. He has been optioned to Triple A Sugar Land, meaning he will initially be playing for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, the AAA-affiliate of the Astros. We are thrilled for his return to his hometown!
During his time at WCS, Dillon was a multi-sport student-athlete, playing football and baseball for the Wildcats. He was a member of the 2011 Wildcat baseball team that reached the final four of the state tournament, and he was selected in the fourth round of the 2011 MLB draft by the Colorado Rockies.
“It’s exciting to see Dillon have the opportunity to return home, and I’m not surprised that he continues to pursue his dream of playing professional baseball,” says Athletic Director Russell Carr. “When Dillon first arrived at our school, it was clear that he was focused on reaching that goal. He knew what he wanted to do, and he was willing to put in the work to have the opportunity. He was always focused and disciplined in that goal. It’s opened a lot of opportunities for him over the past decade and he continues to remain focused. It’s awesome to have him playing in town now.”
by admin | May 19, 2022 | Around Campus
Every day that school is in session, our faculty—the teachers, coaches, staff, and leaders at Westbury Christian—come eager and ready to encourage and inspire our students to learn and grow. The lessons and activities that our students experience each day exist because of the diligent efforts of our faculty. Through the course of the year, they continue to grow as professionals and demonstrate a passion for our school and Wildcats.
Ms. Lund, high school Spanish teacher, completed her Master of Science degree in Learning, Technology and Design from HBU this spring. She is our most recent faculty member to complete her graduate degree, joining 15 of our faculty with advance degrees. She also inspires the four other faculty members currently completing a M.Ed. program.
Mrs. Sandahl, school receptionist, celebrates 45 years at the school this May. During that time, she’s done everything from welcoming guests to Mundy Hall to teaching preschool classes. It’s a milestone worth celebrating, but rest assured she will be back for Year 46 this fall. Mr. Ramirez also celebrates a big milestone this spring—30 years serving at WCS. He also will continue to serve next year, but we couldn’t be more grateful for his work and talents the past three decades!
We celebrate a lot of milestones at our final faculty luncheon at the end of the school year and recognize many individuals for their years of service. Mrs. Adams (25 years) and Mrs. Keese (20 years) join the “20+ Club” this spring. Their commitment to our students over the years has made a lasting impact on the school. The average tenure is 10 years at WCS, a reflection of the passionate commitment to the school and Christian education.
We are also celebrating our Teachers and Coaches of the Year. In Lower School, Mrs. Reynolds (Kinder/First) was recognized as the award winner. Mrs. Archer noted that “She is a woman of tremendous faith, who constantly prays for her students, fellow teachers, the administration, and the school at large. Mrs. Reynolds shows a deep love for all her students, and they love her in return, as evidenced by the never-ending hugs she receives each day.” Mrs. Reynolds was joined by Coach Okwuonu (HS Science/Bible) who was recognized as both the Upper School Teacher of the Year and the Middle School Coach of the Year. “His uplifting spirit is such an inspiration and he pushes us to be the best we can be,” says upperclassman Joey C. “He starts every day asking us to say good things, and we end by saying the words ‘We are special.’ No matter how bad of a day someone can be having, every time they leave his class they leave with a smile on their face.” 
Their work in the classroom mirrored the work of Coach Chance, who was recognized as our High School Coach of the Year. Not only does she inspire many of our students to participate in different athletic activities and successfully lead our volleyball and soccer teams, she also regularly volunteers to support our fine arts events and other activities on campus. “Coach Chance is the model Westbury Christian Coach. She is a great leader who coaches with great love, character and consistency. Coach Chance has the gift to develop new players as well as the discipline to stretch the more advanced athlete. Coach Chance is an example of the impact that coaches have on student-athletes.” says Athletic Director, Coach Carr.
We are grateful for all 65 of our faculty and staff members and the way they impact our campus, and we look forward to partnering with our families for another school year this fall.
