Glow Dance Tonight!
The Student Activities Team would like to invite the WA student body to the annual Glow Dance tonight! The dance begins immediately following the football game and will be held in the gym. This event is FREE to all WA students! Come dressed in NEON for the football game and attend the dance afterward. The dance will end at 11 pm.
Academics
Back-to-School Night
We are excited to invite you to Back-to-School Night on Thursday, September 3. Our goal is that you would have the opportunity to experience life at Wheaton Academy the way your student does each day. You will begin the evening in your student’s first-period class.
The evening’s schedule will be as follows:
6:30 pm Arrive and find 1st-period class
6:40 – 6:49 pm Period 1
6:55 – 7:04 pm Period 2
7:10 – 7:19 pm Period 3
7:25 – 7:34 pm Period 4
7:40 – 8:00 pm All Community Assembly, FAC
8:10 – 8:19 pm Period 5
8:25 – 8:34 pm Period 6
8:40 – 8:49 pm Period 7
There will not be classes for study halls or TAs. You are welcome to visit the Student Union during a study hall period, where you can purchase WA Wear, pick up your Athletic Pass, obtain information on the Center for Lifelong Learning, and learn about being an international host parent. We look forward to seeing you there!
Picture Day!
Lifetouch will be set up in the atrium from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm on September 2 and September 3. It is very important that your student stop by to take his/her picture within the given time frame on one of those two days. There is not an allotted time for students to take their pictures, so it is up to the student to make sure they get their picture taken. Before school, study hall, lunch, and passing periods are all great times to stop by! Please note, Lifetouch will be gone by the end of the day, so they will not be available after school.
Contact:
Kristen Rusthoven
Activate Your Parent Orah Account
Thanks to all the families who've activated their Parent Orah account! As shared in last week's email, we've moved attendance tracking to Orah, integrated with OnCampus. If you haven't activated yet, please do so.
Check your email for the message from Orah "Welcome to Orah" and check your spam folder if you don't see it.
Please download the Orah app to your phone if you haven't already:
Note from the Nurse's Office
Back-to-School Forms are available to be completed now in August schools (our online health information portal). You can find this by logging in to OnCampus from the families tab and scrolling down to the August schools tile. You will need to fill out these for all returning and new students by September 1. Please note, there is a small issue with this year’s form; if your child does not need an EpiPen, inhaler or medication, you can disregard those forms, and they will be deleted when your packet is reviewed.
Here are a few reminders:
- All incoming freshmen or transfer students will need to provide a physical and immunization record.
- All students in the class of 2027 will need to provide proof of a second meningococcal vaccine.
- If your child’s current physical is still valid, you may upload that but will need to provide a new one by the day it will expire which is 395 days after the date of exam.
- The Activities Packet is required for all athletes and must be signed before trying out for a sport. We encourage all other students to complete these forms just in case they change their mind or are participating in a non-IHSA sport (disc club, rock climbing, furnace, etc).
Contact:
Jenn Sezonov
Community
2026 Todd Beamer Golf Outing
Let’s Roll: A 25-Year Remembrance of September 11 and a Celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary
Join us for the Todd Beamer Golf Outing, a beloved Wheaton Academy tradition supporting our mission by equipping every student with a Christ-centered education made possible through the Warrior Fund.
At 11:30 am, come share a patriotic luncheon with Todd’s parents, David and Peggy Beamer, along with new Head of School Mike Rogers. Shotgun start will follow at 1:00 pm.
There are only a few individual golf registrations and sponsorships remaining!
Click here to register and learn more!
Parent Event: An Evening with Dr. Jon Eckert
On September 24, join Dr. Jon Eckert on the Academy's campus as he walks WA parents through the ideas in his new book, The Happiness Crisis: How Adversity Can Build a Resilient and Joyful Next Generation. RSVP for the event to receive a free copy of Jon’s book.
Jon Eckert is the Copple Professor of Educational Leadership at Baylor University and executive director of the Baylor Center for School Leadership. He taught and coached middle-grade students outside Chicago and Nashville before earning his doctorate at Vanderbilt University, then served in the U.S. Department of Education. He later prepared teachers, including some of our very own Living Curriculum Teachers, as a professor at Wheaton College.
Speaking from decades of experience, Eckert will show parents how to invite young people into challenges, risks, and adventures; prioritize real-life connections that show kids they matter; resist echo chambers and the pull of fleeting success; and welcome kids into lives that move beyond circumstantial happiness to lasting joy.
WA Women’s Prayer
Once a month on Tuesdays, the women of Wheaton Academy meet to pray for our school. Please join us on for our next prayer time on Tuesday, September 8. Please sign in at the front desk when you arrive.
WA Women Prayer Email Sign-Up
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15).
Do you desire to support others through prayer in the WA community? Sign up to be part of the WA Prayer Chain where you will receive email updates on ways you may rejoice with others, pray for one another and lift up urgent requests as they arise.
Contact:
Jodi Bauer
Driver's Education Class
In an effort to accommodate student schedules and extracurricular activities, Wheaton Academy offers after-school driver’s education courses by hosting Excel Driving School. This year’s Driver’s Education Class Schedule can be found on the Families page and has a class starting in just a few weeks!
Athletics
Athletic Passes
Wheaton Academy Athletics is still waiting on this year's new 2026–27 athletic passes to arrive. In the meantime, please continue using your 2025–26 pass for entry to all home Wheaton Academy athletic events (excludes state series competitions). We'll let you know as soon as the new passes are in and ready for pickup. Thank you for your patience!
The Center for Lifelong Learning
Build Habits for High School Success
Choose one date during the block period lunch dates (bring your lunch!).
Help your student start high school strong! Certified Executive Functioning Coach Holly Taritas will guide students in building key habits for time management, organization, study strategies, and stress reduction. Perfect for incoming freshmen and underclassmen. All materials included. Space is limited!
Contact:
Holly Taritas
Free Parent Meeting: Starting the School Year Strong
Join us for a practical, parent-focused workshop led by Holly Taritas, designed to equip families with tools to support organization, time management, task initiation, and study skills at home. A special invitation is for parents of new students.
Contact:
Holly Taritas
College Essay Writing Workshop
Application deadlines are approaching—Give your student the support they need to create an authentic, standout essay and feel confident submitting it! The Center for Lifelong Learning invites Class of 2027 seniors to an engaging, interactive 4-hour workshop designed to guide them through the college essay writing process. Using proven strategies, students will brainstorm ideas, write their compelling story, and refine it using guided exercises, peer feedback, and expert support. Optional one-on-one coaching is also available afterward to give the essay a final polish.