October 1, 2026
Dear Wheaton Academy family,
Fall at Wheaton Academy is nothing short of incredible. The sports, the clubs, and the preparation for all things Homecoming–the energy is unmatched. I am reminded daily of the strength of the Christian community at Wheaton Academy as I meet with faculty and staff, hear from students, and connect with parents. I am thankful to be a part of what God is doing in and through each of us at WA to further His kingdom.
A voice from our own students. We were blessed and challenged by senior Eli Cherry, who addressed our school community during chapel and shared a message from John 9 with the student body. It is such a gift to watch our students step into leadership and speak God’s Word to their peers, a reminder that our Living Curriculum faculty and staff are not the only ones shaping our school’s spiritual culture.
Partnering with parents. This fall, WA has sought real ways to partner with parents raising resilient, joyful kids. On September 24, Dr. Jon Eckert joined us on campus to discuss his new book, The Happiness Crisis: How Adversity Can Build a Resilient and Joyful Next Generation. His point stuck with me: our kids grow stronger and more joyful only when we let them wrestle with real challenges, not when we shield them. Additionally, Dr. Rob Rienow will build on that partnership with three Saturday morning seminars on campus. Also, our women gather every month on a Tuesday, and our men gather on the second Saturday to pray for this school. I’m grateful for the parents who carry that work before the Lord, and I would love to have you join them.
Generosity that fuels our mission. Our Todd Beamer Golf Outing was a wonderful success, bringing together over 120 golfers to support the Warrior Fund. We were especially encouraged by Todd’s parents, David and Peggy Beamer, who joined us and challenged us all with their example of sacrifice and faith as they shared Todd’s story. Every dollar raised through this event goes directly to strengthening the programs and people that make Wheaton Academy what it is through the Warrior Fund. I’m grateful to every golfer, sponsor, and volunteer who showed up for our students.
Application season is open. Our application for the 2027-2028 school year opened this month. I am excited to report that we are experiencing a record response to this launch with more interest than we’ve ever had in school history. If you know any Future Warriors, please encourage them to apply now!
Storytelling, up close. Rehearsals are underway for our fall musical, Little Women, which takes the stage October 22 to 24 in the Alumni White Chapel. Unlike our larger spring musical in the Fine Arts Center, the fall production is intimate and up close. It’s always a joy to watch our students bring a redemptive story to life in that setting. Tickets will be available soon.
Sending the arts into the world. This month, our Instrumental Music groups and Furnace Company dance and improv teams begin their autumn tours across the Midwest. Over 100 of our students will perform five times over several days across three states. These tours have long been a hallmark of our fine arts program. They exist to give students opportunities to perform, serve, build community, and grow in faith. I’m praying our students carry that same spirit of service into every gym, church, and school they visit.
Homecoming is next week! I am looking forward to enjoying this week with our current students and our alumni. Starting with Field Day, there is so much happening on campus next week, including the Alumni Family Picnic, the Heritage Breakfast, and the Worship Chapel. We’re looking forward to celebrating 50 years of our volleyball program, cheering on our boys’ soccer and football teams, and honoring our 2026 lacrosse state championship team. I hope to connect with many of you during Homecoming. Please stop by and introduce yourself if I haven’t had the chance to meet you yet.
For His glory,
Mike Rogers
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September 1, 2026
Dear Wheaton Academy family,
We’re just over a week into the new school year, and I want to begin with a thank you. Thank you to everyone who came out for our Back-to-School Worship Night and my Head of School Installation. That night, I spoke about steadfastness, about the sentinel who guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in every kind of weather, including blizzards and hurricanes, and on nights when no one else is watching, because the mission was never about the crowd. It was about the vow. That’s the kind of steadfastness I’m praying for in our students, our faculty, and in myself as I take up this post. Thank you for showing up and committing this year to the Lord with us.
I was encouraged to work alongside our faculty and staff during our August Professional Learning Days. For four days, our Living Curriculum Teachers trained in Biblical Worldview Immersion, wrestled with how we use technology and AI in the classroom, and recommitted to the five core values that shape our student culture.
On one day, West Chicago Police Department officers led training on rescue drills, active shooter response, and safety protocols. This training was especially meaningful because the Police Department, in partnership with our Dean of Students, Erin Carwell, spent two full days this summer familiarizing themselves with our campus while working through a variety of response drills. I am incredibly grateful for how they partner with us to know our buildings and keep students safe.
On the first day of school, Wheaton Academy’s Fine Arts Center was filled to capacity with a record 696 students! I had the honor of sharing with them what the Lord has been placing on my heart recently. My encouragement to them, and my continued prayer for all of us, is that we would attune our ears to hear our Shepherd’s voice and follow Him (John 10:27). That posture of listening and following set the tone for the rest of the week, as students dove straight into the Connect Retreats. Students enjoyed a day-long experience built around growing teacher and student relationships to promote moments of connection and belonging. Each class was specifically challenged to show up, step up, rise up, or own up, and we concluded with time to look up during our closing worship service. It was an incredible day of team-building, fun, activity, food, and worship. I can’t wait to see what the Lord does in and through our students this year.
If you haven’t been on campus yet, I hope you’ll join us this fall. This past Friday, it was great to celebrate a win for our football team with so many of you, especially as it was Coach Swider’s birthday! Current parents, I’ll see you at Back to School Night this Thursday, and I hope to see many more of you during my first Wheaton Academy Homecoming, October 8-11. When you are on campus, be sure to check out our improved athletic facilities. They are more than an upgrade; they’re an investment in our student-athletes’ lives and a place for our community to gather, support, and encourage one another.
As Wheaton Academy continues to strengthen its partnership with parents, I’m excited to invite you to join us on September 24 at 7 pm in the Fine Arts Center to hear Dr. Jon Eckert share ideas from his new book, The Happiness Crisis: How Adversity Can Build a Resilient and Joyful Next Generation. His message that struggles and challenges, not comfort, are the building blocks of strong, joyful young people aligns with the steadfast, resilient faith we’re seeking for our students this year. I’m grateful that Jon will present this message in more detail to our faculty and staff at the Professional Learning Day the following day. It’s a message that will encourage all of us!
Finally, as many of you may know, our Wheaton Academy community has experienced the loss of several loved ones this past week. It has been a comfort to witness our community supporting one another in times of both joy and sorrow. Please continue to pray for our students, our teachers, and this school as we seek to keep Christ at the center of everything we do here.
For His glory,
Mike Rogers
Head of School
August 17, 2026
Dear Wheaton Academy family,
What a joy to write to you for the first time as your Head of School. Linda and I are so honored and excited to join this community. I can hardly believe that school begins in just one week.
Although I am new to Wheaton Academy, I am not new to this calling. For more than twenty-five years, I’ve had the privilege of building and leading schools, most recently Moving Everest Charter School in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, which the Lord grew from just an idea into a school serving more than 750 students. Our family’s faith has always been the center of our lives, which is exactly why WA already feels like home. Here, Christ is our center.
There is so much to look forward to. This week, we welcome new families at the New Parent Orientation (Aug 18). Next week, students return for classes and their Connect retreats, a time set apart to build community and reconnect with their peers and teachers.
I’d love for you to join us for our Back-to-School Worship Night and Head of School Installation on Thursday, August 20, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center. We’ll worship, pray, and begin the year together, marking the start of a new chapter for the Academy. I would be honored to have you there as we commit this year to the Lord.
This also marks our 173rd school year. For 173 years, generation after generation, Wheaton Academy has pointed students to Jesus, a legacy I hold as a sacred trust.
One more note: this is the first of what will become a monthly letter from me.
Beginning September 1 and on the first of each month, I’ll write to share where we’re headed, what God is doing, and how you can pray for and partner with us.
For His glory,
Mike Rogers
Head of School