Westminster Christian Academy (Missouri)
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Westminster Christian Academy | |
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School type | Private |
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Established | 1976 |
Faculty | 73 Full Time / 5 Part Time Jim Marsh, Headmaster Dr. James Sefrit, US Principal Steve Hall, MS Principal Tim Hall, Dean of Students Scott Holley, Dean of Academics |
Students | approx. 825 |
Colors Mascot |
Blue and white Wildcat |
Location | St. Louis, MO, USA |
Website | http://www.wcastl.org |
Westminster Christian Academy is an independent, Christian co-educational 7-12 grade secondary school located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
Westminster is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States, a member of MOACAC, NACAC, the College Board, Independent Schools of St. Louis, St. Louis Association of Christian Schools, Christian Schools International, and NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools).
The school has an enrollment of approximately 825 students in its six classes. It is further divided into an Upper School (9-12) of approximately 585 students and a Middle School (7-8) of approximately 240 students.
Tuition for the 2006-2007 school year costs $9,750 regardless of grade.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
Westminster Christian Academy was opened on September 7, 1976 to 72 students. Several of the founding Board members were associated with Covenant Theological Seminary in Creve Coeur, the national seminary of the RPCES (In 1978, the RPCES was received by the newly formed Presbyterian Church in America). The founding Board of Directors, who received incorporation from the Missouri on September 8, 1975, included the following: Lee Brown, Rex Brown, Bobby Duck, who oversaw the finances for nearly a decade, Synesio Lyra, Robert Luedde, Robert Miller, James Routszong, Patrick Tharp, Al Thomas, Joe Hall, Robert Reymond, and George Knight.
[edit] Campus
Purchased in 1984, the 30 acre Creve Couer Campus serves as the primary campus for the school.
In 1999, the school started an $11 million construction and renovation project. With the money, the school added a new gymnasium, new student commons, new senior and 8th grade hallway wings, a new weightlifting facility and locker rooms, a new bookstore, and new offices. Dubbed the "Creve Coeur Campus", the building has over 150,000 square feet, a 25 yard indoor pool, library, two gymnasiums, cafeteria, academic and administrative rooms, and outdoor sports facilities.
In 2002, Westminster purchased the campus of the West County Technical College in Town and Country and has plans to renovate the space to serve for future growth of the school.
[edit] Activities
Though not reputed for its athletics, the upper school fields 9 men's teams, 11 women's teams, and 2 co-ed teams that compete as part of the Missouri State High School Activities Association.
This year in the Missouri state Class 4, both the men's and women's basketball teams are ranked in the top ten in the state. The men are ranked #9 and the women are ranked #4.
In 2005, Westminster Christian's Academic Competition team (coached by Bob Vass) won the MSHSAA state championship, which is the only MSHSAA title WCA has to date. However, many other teams have earned "Final Four" honors at the state level.
In addition, three athletes have won individual state level titles.
[edit] Full Staff
Administration
Head of School: James C. Marsh, Jr.
Head of Upper School: Dr. James Sefrit
Head of Middle School: Steven M. Hall
Registrar: Lawrence J. Birchler
Dean of Students: Timothy Hall
Academic Dean: Scott Holley
Director of Guidance: Sherry A. Blough
Director of Special Services: Lucy Erdman
Director of Admissions: Peggy Johnson
Director of Finance & Operations: Todd Fuller
Athletic Director: Alan Miller
Middle School Counselor: Craig Walseth
Staff
Administrative Assistant: Karen Aaberg
Administrative Assistant: Katie Boggs
Student Services: Susie Brown
Director of Community Relations: Kim Doyle
Director of Maintenance: Mike Ford
Administrative Assistant: Judy Haas
School Nurse: Sue Haverstick
Middle School Administrative Assistant: Terry Haxel
Accounts Payble: Nicky Hensley
Director of Communications and Annual Giving: Jeff Johnson
Technology Coordinator: Kent Kehr
Media Coordinator: Han Kim
College/Career Counselor: Kate Kindbom
Food Service: Shari Kleyn
Librarian: Becky Mendis
After School Supervision: Gavin Ortlund
Librarian: Marty Peters
Head of Bookstore: Judy Powell
Upper School Administrative Assistant: Betty Richardson
Payroll: Amy Turner
Executive Assistant to the Head of School: Becky Van Valkenburg
[edit] Notable Alumni
- Michael Gerson, 1982, George W. Bush's Presidential Speechwriter and Time Magazine Top Evangelist.
- Stephen Hauser, 1988, Wrote screenplay for Warner Bros.' motion picture "Sphere" starring Dustin Hoffman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Sharon Stone.
- Andrea Mackris, 1989, FOX News Television Producer, Allegedly harassed by Bill O'Reilly.
- Kate Koth, 2000, Contestant on "The Real Gilligan's Island", reality show on TBS.
- George Thampy, 2005, Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion in 2000, Featured in the movie Spellbound.