December 11, 2020

Upcoming Events

WA Men’s Prayer
Saturday, December 12
8:00 a.m.
White Alumni Chapel
On the second Saturday of each month, the men from the WA community meet to pray and hear from one of our WA employees. Chip Dykema, WA Bible teacher and Girls Golf  Coach, will be speaking tomorrow. Please join us at 8:00 a.m. in the white Alumni Chapel. Light refreshments are served.

Final Exam Schedule
Monday, December 14
1st Period: 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
2nd Period: 9:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Tuesday, December 15
3rd Period: 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
4th Period: 9:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Wednesday, December 16
5th Period: 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
6th Period: 9:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Thursday, December 17
7th Period: 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Merry and Bright Night
Thursday, December 17
Entrance Time: 3:00-4:00 p.m.
End Time: 8:00 p.m.
Brookfield Zoo
On Thursday, December 17, Wheaton Academy will host the Merry and Bright Night at Brookfield Zoo for those who already purchased tickets. In-person Learners can pick up their tickets today at lunch (or at the front office if they forget). Virtual Learners: If you purchased a ticket to the Brookfield Zoo and are not attending school in person, your tickets are available at the front office. Please stop by and pick them up anytime next Monday or Tuesday. You will need the ticket to enter the parking lot at the zoo. If you have any questions, contact Jim Holtrop.

General News

Merry Christmas and a Message of Gratitude from the Principal

First, I want to share that Advent and Christmas are my favorite time of year. Perhaps what I enjoy the most are the Christmas carols that we hear – either before or after Thanksgiving, depending on your preference.  This year, as I listen to the words in each of the verses, the concept of waiting has taken a more poignant meaning. Perhaps my favorite verse comes from Hark the Herald Angels Sing: 

Hail! the heav’n born Prince of peace!
Hail! the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die:
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”  

These words bring us to the hope we find in the Gospel.  Jesus Christ came to save us, and with His coming we experience, hope, joy, life, and peace.  This Christmas, I pray that each of you experiences the peace that can only come through your relationship with Jesus and that even in these dark circumstances, the light would shine brightly for you and your family.   

Second I want to express my thankfulness as we complete first semester. What a semester it was!  In August, I am not sure any of us had any idea of what to expect.  We began a journey, committed to our mission and our students – that they would be able to experience community and in-person learning even amidst challenging circumstances around us.   As a community, we executed our UNITE plan and have been able to worship, learn, and grow together throughout the semester.  With each passing week, our team would daily thank the Lord for His provision, protection, and strength for our students, faculty, and staff.   

I am overwhelmed with all that God has done in and through the lives of our Wheaton Academy community. As we conclude and celebrate the resilience, work, service, leadership, worship, learning, and growth that has taken place this semester, we want to position our gratitude rightly.  Isaiah 26:12 aptly summarizes the semester – “LORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.”   All glory to God for the work He has done at Wheaton Academy this semester.   

And finally, I have so much gratitude for this community – for our students, parents, faculty, and staff.  We are truly blessed by the support, hard work, and willingness to come together to do in-person learning.  Thank you for your partnership and all praise to God.  May you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

Kori Hockett

COVID-19 Update
Over the last week, we had one individual test positive for COVID-19​ , with 12 students in quarantine. As we have done in previous weeks, we have contacted those who were in close contact with this individual and asked them to quarantine at home for the appropriate time. 
We ask for your continued vigilance.  We know how important in-person instruction is for student learning and discipleship. As we mentioned last week, key metrics for us to continue providing learning in this environment are: 

  • Sufficient number of faculty and staff on campus
  • Low amount of virus transmission at Wheaton Academy
  • Small number of students who are sick and unable to do school work

At this point, these metrics continue to be favorable.  Please join us in praying for healing for our nation and for a vaccine to be distributed very soon. Please do not hesitate to call us with any questions.

Lunch During Winterim
The lunch menu will soon be available to view and order during the two weeks of Winterim. We will continue lunch delivery as in first semester and deliver lunches at the end of your student’s morning class. Please order lunch by the Thursday before each week of Winterim. You may find your student’s am classroom location in OnCampus.

A Note from Our Nurse
Everyone has done such a great job keeping our community safe by wearing their masks, staying 6 feet apart, and keeping students home when they aren’t feeling well.  I want to take the time to thank you all for your diligence with our Magnus App and certifying your students each day this semester.  As we finish this semester, I would ask that you continue to certify your students each morning and enter it into Magnus by 7:45 a.m.  When this is done, it prevents me from finding your students and pulling them from class to make sure they are okay.  This is especially important for finals week, as we would hate for them to be distracted from any tests or presentations. Thanks again for your hard work!
Jenn Sezonov, RN

Need-Based Scholarships
The Wheaton Academy, 2021-2022 need-based scholarship application is now open.  To be considered for these scholarships, applicants must complete the online application by January 31, 2021.  For more details and/or to complete the online application, visit https://wheatonacademy.org/affordable.

Timeshares for Teachers 2020-2021
Wheaton Academy is once again seeking vacation opportunities to be used by our Living Curriculum Teachers. If you have a timeshare, a privately-owned vacation home, vacation packages, or airline miles and would like to participate in this program, please click here for more information. To fill out an online form, please click here. Questions? Email Chelsea Schillinger or call 630-562-7520.

Winter Coat/Hat/Glove Drive
The Service Project Club will begin collecting new or slightly used winter wear items such as jackets, hats, gloves, scarves, etc. We will donate them to WeGo Together for Kids, a local organization that seeks to support and enhance the health, safety, and well-being of students and families through a collaborative, coordinated, and comprehensive community school approach for West Chicago schools and community. We will be collecting these items all next week, and donation boxes will be available in the Atrium. If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact Mr. Bowling.

Christmas Toy Drive
The Project Lead Local team will be organizing a Christmas toy drive for children in foster care through Youth Service Bureau.  Foster care provides safe homes for children in state custody who are unable to remain in their homes.  The holidays, especially during Covid-19, can be especially difficult for youth in foster care.  While we practice social distancing, many youths in care cannot see their biological parents, support team, doctors, and friends.  Please join Project Lead Local this season in sending some Christmas joy to the children in foster care! 

Christmas collection bins are located in the Atrium, or you can send gifts directly to Youth Service Bureau by accessing their Target & Amazon Wish Lists.  **If you purchase a gift through the online wish lists, please be sure to state that you are giving from Wheaton Academy!**

To Access YSB Target wish list:

Go to Target.com
Click on Menu
Click on Registry
Key in:  first name:  YSB
Key in:   last name:  Christmas

To Access our Amazon Shopping list:
In the address bar key in: https://a.co/3wHjq6u
This will take you directly to our list. 

**All purchased items will ship directly to the YSB office, and our caseworkers will deliver them to our foster care children.

2020 Yearbooks
Students received their 2020 yearbooks last week. If you were not at school last Friday and you ordered a copy of the book, please come to the front office to get it. There are extra copies if you did not purchase one last year. They are available at the front office for $25.00. Stop by and get one!

Time to Order the New Yearbook 
Your 2020-21 yearbook is now available for purchase at www.jostensyearbooks.com.  Go to the Yearbooks dropdown to find “Buy your Yearbook,” then search Wheaton Academy to finish your purchase. They will only be for sale through the website. We do not want you to miss out on receiving a yearbook, so please order yours today! If you do not order via the Jostens link, you will be unable to receive a yearbook next fall.

Senior Ads for Yearbooks
Parents, senior yearbook ads will again be available for purchase for $150 per quarter-page ad.  Fees for ads will include a yearbook at no additional cost.  Orders are due before spring break. If you order a senior ad, you do not need to order a yearbook through the Jostens website. You may click here for an example of what an ad should look like. Send your pictures and text to yearbook@wheatonacademy.org and we will design it for you.