| Westminster Christian School- Miami | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Palmetto Bay, FL, USA |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Established | 1961 |
| Faculty | approx. 121 full time. 32 administrative staff A.J. West, Superintendent David Medder, HS Principal John Manoogian, MS Principal Jenn Thompson, ES Principal |
| Enrollment | approx. 1050 |
| Colors Mascot |
Green, and White Warriors |
| Website | http://www.wcsmiami.org |
Westminster Christian School is a PK3-12 school in Palmetto Bay, Florida. WCS is governed by a board of directors- 13 people (mostly current parents, although some have been former faculty) elected by parents of current enrollees. It is operated by a Superintendent who is hired by the Board.
WCS provides a Reformed Protestant religious education (similar to Calvinist thought). Though the school is Reformed by charter, its students come from a wide variety of denominations, including Presbyterian, Southern Baptist, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox Christian. The parents of students are required to be active members at their local church (as evidenced by a letter from their pastor), and the students do consider themselves to be strong Christians.
It is located on 26 acres in the Village of Palmetto Bay, near the Charles Deering Estate and a USDA agriculture testing space.
WCS' mascot name is the "Warriors." The athletic booster club is called the "Chiefs." The school colors are Green and White.
WCS may be most famous for its baseball program and fine arts - especially in choir and string orchestra. WCS is the home to the 1992 and 1996 USA Today National Champion baseball teams, and won several FHSAA state championships under the direction of former coach Rich Hofman. The 1996 team adorned the cover of one of the first Team Cheerios boxes, and notable baseball alumni include World Series winners Alex Rodriguez and Doug Mientkiewicz. The orchestra has taken first place in several national competitions, as well as superior ratings in district and state competitions. It was invited to play at Carnegie Hall in 2002 and 2006, and has also toured Europe. The orchestra is led by Dr. Lee Stone, former head of the Florida Orchestral Association.
Westminster Christian School has recently added a new Student Activities Center, and a new Middle School and High School Science Building is opening for the 2011-2012 school year.
In 2006, Westminster Christian's High School (including the enrolling freshmen) began a program called "Warrior Week." This is a week dedicated to bonding and the spiritual restoration of the high school students in a fun environment of relaxation and fellowship at the Young Life Campus in Jasper, Georgia. Warrior Week received the The Creative Management Award for 2006-2007 from Independent School Management, a leading consulting firm for independent schools.
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At the turn of the century Jules Vroon, just a two year old boy, emigrated from Dinteloord, Holland to the United States to grow up in Michigan's Christian schools where all subjects were taught from a Christian perspective. During the Depression, Vroon, then a husband and father, moved his company to Florida. When he found no Christian schools like those he knew as a boy, he shared his vision to bring Christian education to south Florida with friends at Shenandoah Presbyterian Church. Westminster Christian School opened in 1961 with four teachers and twelve students.
The school was formerly located in the census-designated place of Cutler until the incorporation of Palmetto Bay on September 10, 2002.[1][2]
Virtually 100 percent of WCS graduates pursue college educations, and attend universities around the nation. Roughly half of the graduates choose to stay at major universities in Florida such as (Miami Dade College, Florida International University, Florida State University, etc.), while others attend schools such as Brown University, UNC, Georgia Tech, Boston University and more.