We love Westminster because we feel God's love in all of the teachers and staff. The academic curriculum exceeds our expectations. We are excited to be a part of this wonderful school!
- Lower School Parent
Douglas Wilson, author and prominent advocate for classical Christian education, states that while the Bible teaches that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, this is not the final goal of education, but the foundation. As such it is the basis for all subsequent goals.1 Subscription to this truth is evidenced in Westminster's approach to academics, spiritual emphases, physical activity and extracurricular opportunities.
From beginning each day with prayer and a devotional message from God's Word to applying scriptural character lessons on the playground, an all-inclusive biblical worldview is modeled at Westminster throughout the day. Academic lessons are taught in the context of this worldview with the understanding that God, himself, is the author of all knowledge, which includes every educational discipline from the humanities to the hard sciences.
The spiritual context of the Lower School is extended through weekly chapel services, where the emphasis is on worshipping God through song, prayer and giving. Guest chapel speakers share messages from the Word in ways that grab students' interest and attention and teach them about God's character and his desire to have a personal relationship with each of them. Offering funds from chapel services are used to support missions both at home and in distant countries.
Because Westminster's educators believe that students are better able to concentrate on academics when provided with adequate opportunities to engage in physical activity during the day, students are given a recess break every day as well as a physical education class twice weekly. In addition to the P.E. classes, students also attend music and art class twice a week. Classes visit the library as a group each week where they learn fundamental research skills that enable them to utilize this resource individually throughout the school year.
Westminster also offers a full slate of exciting extracurricular activities for students that include a variety of fascinating and educational field trips. Dynamic guest speakers often visit the school to share their expertise in various fields of interest that relate to the school's curriculum. Students are also introduced to the fundamentals of football and basketball through a league designed especially for them.
1. Wilson, Douglas. Repairing the ruins: the classical and Christian challenge to modern education. Canon Press, Idaho. 1996.
