March 11, 2022

Dear Wheaton Academy Parents & Students,

This weekend marks two years since we made the decision to move to virtual learning for an anticipated two-week alternative from normal life at Wheaton Academy.  Little did we know what was ahead for all of us.  Since then, we have experienced over two months of virtual learning, endured 18 months of a mask mandate, weathered changes and disruptions to most co-curricular activities, and grappled with the need to be more flexible than ever before.

I am so thankful for how well the Wheaton Academy community has persevered during these difficult times.  Faculty and staff have worked harder and more creatively, parents have been even more generous with time, talent and treasure, and students have risen to meet standards unlike any we have seen in our modern era.

As we have shed the masks in recent weeks and move desks and classrooms back to their usual locations in the days ahead, it is essential to give thanks to God for His faithfulness to us in so many ways over the last two years—for overall health in our community, for in-person learning for the entire school year this year and last year, for record enrollment, and for generous financial support.

As the pandemic begins to fade, I wanted to mark this point in Wheaton Academy’s 168-year history and congratulate each of you for your determination and resilience over the last two years.  You have been an encouragement to me and to so many beyond our community. Well done!

God’s blessings to each of you as we continue to build on what He has taught us through adversity.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Steve Bult
Head of School

Upcoming Events

WA Men’s Prayer
Saturday, March 12
8:00-9:00 a.m.
White Alumni Chapel
On the second Saturday of every month, the men from Wheaton Academy meet to pray for our community and hear from one of our faculty/staff members. Please join us Saturday, March 12. We will hear from WA vocal music teacher, Joel Visker. Light refreshments are served.

Open House – Save the Date 
You are invited to join in the celebration of Luz Vergara’s 90th Birthday! Luz is our resident prayer warrior. Please mark your calendar for Saturday, April 9. Stop by the Atrium between 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. for cake & refreshments!

General News

Summer Academy Registration
Summer Academy registration has opened. Summer Academy is June 13-July1. The deadline to register is May 1. Click here to register. Questions – email Angie Roberts, aroberts@wheatonacademy.org.

Senior Ads for Yearbook Deadline – Tomorrow!
Parents – A reminder that if you want to purchase a senior yearbook ad for your student, they are due tomorrow. If you order a senior ad, you do not need to order a yearbook through the Jostens website as that fee is included in the $150. The deadline for the ads is tomorrow, March 12. Ads can be sent to yearbook@wheatonacademy.org. A check payable to Wheaton Academy may be sent to the attention of Jim Holtrop in the front office. You may click here for an example of the ad size and layout. The yearbook staff will gladly design the ad for you if you send in the photo images and the message you would like included.

2021-2022 Yearbook
It is time to order the 2021-2022 yearbook!  The cost is $25.00 per book. Please click here to place your order. Yearbooks are only available through the Jostens website. If you are placing a senior ad for your graduating senior you DO NOT have to order one, it is included in the ad cost.

WA Appreciation Team
Our team is made of a group of parents who desire to encourage, bless, and appreciate our faculty and staff at two specific times during the year. During finals week in December and again with an Appreciation Luncheon in April to honor and thank everyone for a fantastic school year. It is only possible to provide these wonderful events on behalf of all families because of your generous gifts. We ask for sponsorship in the Fall for the Christmas event and in late Winter/early Spring for the Appreciation Luncheon. Thank you to the families who helped make December’s event possible.

We are now preparing and planning for the Spring Appreciation Luncheon. Might you consider sponsoring a Faculty/Staff member for the Appreciation Luncheon on April 22nd? Click here to sponsor and learn more details.

Host an International Student in Your Home
Our international team is preparing for the fall of 2022 now. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to host an international student in your home? We currently have 43 students from seven different countries living with 20 host families. We are looking for a few more families for the fall. If you are interested in finding out more about this unique opportunity, please email Julie Grant, International Host Family and Student Coordinator, at jgrant@wheatonacademy.org.

Wheaton Academy is Hiring!

Contact Human Resources or refer to the employment opportunities page of the website for more details.

College Corner

Christian College Fair
Monday, March 14, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Commons
Register:  Scan the bar code and register in advance by clicking here.
Who:  Over 30 different Christian colleges from around the country

School-Wide Test Day
Wednesday, April 13
8:00 a.m. – Please note the change of start-time on this Wednesday
Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, April 13. All juniors will take the SAT with essay, due to this being a requirement for the state of Illinois. Please see this link for more details about why we are taking the test with essay and how to prepare for the essay portion of the test. All sophomore students will take the PSAT 10. Freshmen will take the PSAT 8/9. For detailed information about the schedule for that day please click here. Please feel free to email Gina Churchill at gchurchill@wheatonacademy.org with questions.

Athletics

Wheaton Academy to Join New Conference in 2023-24
Wheaton Academy will be leaving the Metro Suburban Conference (MSC) in 2023-24. Current conference members announced they leaving the MSC for the Chicago Catholic League (CCL) after next year and we felt it was the right time to join together with other faith-based schools to form a new conference that better aligns with our mission. Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, we will be joining the newly formed Chicagoland Christian Conference (CCC). The conference will be home to nine total schools (eight for football):  Aurora Christian, Bishop McNamara, Chicago Christian, Chicago Hope Academy, Christ the King, Marian Central Catholic, St. Edward, Timothy Christian, and Wheaton Academy. The conference members will compete in over 20 IHSA sports and activities. We are extremely excited to maintain many long-standing rivalries and look forward to creating new matchups within the new conference.  The CCC will bring together faith-based schools from six counties around the Chicagoland area.  It will promote a balanced and competitive environment while placing a special emphasis on building the whole individual in mind, body, and spirit in glory to God.

For the 2022-23 school year the MSC will remain intact with the exception of Rosary, who will be joining the Greater Chicagoland Athletic Conference (GCAC). We look forward to finishing our last year as a member of the MSC but couldn’t be more excited for our participation in the Chicagoland Christian Conference for many years to come.