The Wolfpack Edge

Happy New Year! We're off to a great start here at Western. Please be praying for our students as they wrap up the first semester with exams next week.

This morning, I had the privilege of participating in a panel for Accelerate Siouxland, a regional leadership development program, alongside Mike Mulder (Superintendent of MOC) and Gary McEldowney (Superintendent of Sioux Center)—two exceptional leaders. The discussions were both challenging and inspiring, focusing on how schools contribute to community health, foster collaboration, and prepare students for a thriving future.

As I shared Western Christian’s story, I was reminded of the importance of partnerships—not just within our school, but also across schools, businesses, and communities. This opportunity reaffirmed WC's strategic goal to invest in relationships that amplify the Kingdom work happening here daily while strengthening connections with surrounding schools and organizations. Together, the work we do builds not only educational success but also a foundation for thriving communities.

I felt inspired to share this with you today and look forward to the many ways we can continue engaging in opportunities to build stronger communities in the future.

Mr. Brian Verwolf

Head Administrator

-------------------------

The Wolfpack Edge serves as a weekly communication to our parent community. We'll send it to your inbox each Thursday during the school year. If you would like the newsletter to be sent to an additional account, let us know! Grandparents & supporters may request to receive the communication, too. Please email Mrs. Kathy Mouw with contact information: Kathy.Mouw@westernchristianhs.com

I am still in Christmas Break Brain, and I forgot to get my update in earlier, so I will keep it short! Chapel on Thursday was powerful and memorable. Ask your son or daughter to share. Maybe prompt them with the question: What did the speaker mean when he said, “Don’t be an Ichabod.”?

Please consider joining us for chapel by subscribing to Western Christian High School Livestreams on YouTube.

Mrs. Karen Christians

Director of Discipleship

Join us in celebrating with Mrs. Porter (formerly Ms. Wolf) on her recent marriage over the holiday break! While we’re excited for her new chapter, we are sad to share that she will be moving to Minnesota after this school year to join her husband. As a result, Western Christian is seeking a math teacher for the upcoming school year!

Western Christian is proud to offer an outstanding food services program for our students, including breakfast options. We are grateful to Head Cook Nancy Driesen and her dedicated team for preparing nutritious, delicious, and cost-conscious meals each day. We would like to inform parents that, due to ongoing increases in food costs, meal prices will be adjusted beginning second semester. Over the past three years, Western has only increased meal prices by a total of $0.25 per meal, despite significant inflation in grocery costs. Starting next semester, the price per meal will increase from $4.25 to $4.75, and the cost of extra milk will rise from $0.40 to $0.50. These adjustments align with the National School Lunch Program standards. If you need assistance with paying for school lunches, free and reduced-price lunch forms are available in the front office. Thank you for your understanding and support as we continue to provide high-quality meals for our students.

Please remember to check tuition balances on JMC. WCHS Board Policy states "One-half of tuition must be paid by 1st semester exams or arrangements must be made with the finance committee."

Western Christian and Unity Christian High Schools have long been blessed by the faithful support of local churches, partnering with families to make Christ-centered education accessible. As we look to the 2025-2026 school year, we’re excited to rebrand our "Fair Share" program as Covenant Partnership, reflecting the covenantal relationship between church, family, and school. Together, we can continue nurturing the next generation for God’s glory. Learn more about this initiative and how your church can participate! This letter has only been sent to the deacons or Christian Education Committees of the churches who traditionally have supported the "Fair Share" program. We would love for more churches to participate!

ESA funding for the second half of the school year is now available to ESA participants. The ESA amount for the second half of the school year is $3,913.00. To maintain ESA eligibility for the rest of the 2024-25 school year, ESA participants must approve payment of tuition within the Odyssey portal no later than February 1, 2025. Please get this done as soon as possible! It takes 15-30 seconds.

Sign-in to your portal, here: https://iowa.withodyssey.com/en/odyssey_auth/sign_in

Over Christmas break, Seniors are encouraged to check the scholarship list on Mrs. Khang's website that was shared via Classroom. Some deadlines for scholarships are quickly approaching. It is a great time to get these filled out & sent in!

NCC online courses begin on Monday, January 13. The "ADD" date is no longer available. The "DROP" date is extended until January 22.

Dordt online courses began today (Thursday, January 9th). Add/Drop dates are open until January 15, if there is any interest for those who have not signed up. Students are responsible for the tuition costs.

Late last week the Department of Education came out and said that while they are continuing to test the FAFSA with selected students and schools, they were anticipating that they would open up the FAFSA to all students “by the end of the month.” Then on Monday we received notice that it has gone live already for all students. Technically they are still in the testing period which means they will continue to monitor the site closely for any issues that might come up and shut it down if necessary. They are still anticipating an “official launch” by the end of the month, although there is a possibility that this could happen by the end of this week.

In short, the 2025/26 FAFSA is currently available for students and families that wish to submit one at this time, or they can wait for the official launch. There is no advantage nor disadvantage to doing it now or waiting until December 1st.

NCC is offering a Scrubs Camp on NCC’s campus on Tuesday, March 11 from 9 AM to 2 PM. Registration is from 8:15–8:45 AM. This event is for all students currently enrolled in 7-12 grade interested in a healthcare career. We do have limited space so please have your students sign up as soon as possible. We will need students to fill out the online registration form as the workshop is hands-on and there is a liability waiver for parents to sign for them to be able to participate in all of the activities. Visit here to register. Visit here to learn more.

Students should take a look at their second semester schedule to make sure they have the required minimum of six Western classes and to see if there are any changes that they would like to make. Please be mindful that some class sections are already full. Contact Mrs. de Boom with any schedule change requests.

At Western Christian High School, we recognize our students’ unique creation and the variety of God-given talents and skills. We know that each student presents a unique combination of such strengths. We believe it is our responsibility to meet students where they are at in their journey and equip them with the tools and resources required to exceed their potential. To meet the need, we have a Student Support Team with a variety of resources. Go here to learn more about who to connect with!

We are thrilled to welcome two new soccer coaches to Western this spring! Coach Madi Manary, who will graduate from Northwestern in May, is applying to medical school and is engaged to Western graduate Bailey Baccam. Coach Avril Baccam, also graduating from Northwestern in May, is an education major and will be student teaching this spring.

Welcome to the Pack, Coaches Manary and Baccam!

The Bargain Alley Thrift Store and Furniture Outlet would like to welcome more volunteers! Please contact Kari Hoekstra at bargainalleyhull@gmail.com if you are interested in helping at one of the Bargain Alley locations.

Brad Vis

Director of Mission Advancement

brad.vis@westernchristianhs.com

Western Christian High School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs (if any exist), and athletic or other school administered programs.