September 29, 2023
Upcoming Events
WA Women’s Tuesday Prayer
October 3
1:30-3:30 pm
Library
The first WA Women’s Prayer Meeting is this Tuesday, October 3rd from 1:30 – 2:30 pm in the WA Library. Please be sure to check in first at the front desk.
Parents of Freshmen & Transfer Students – Fellowship
Wednesday, October 4
7:00-8:30 pm
Atrium
The Parent Ambassador team invites parents of Freshman and Transfer students to join us for a time of fellowship and light refreshments, and to receive a special gift! Younger children are welcome to attend the Fall Social. Drop your student off at Sonny Acres for the service project then head over to Wheaton Academy and let’s continue to build relationships within our parent community. Registration is required for the FALL SOCIAL for Parents of Freshmen and Transfers.
Project Lead Homecoming Tailgate
Thursday, October 5
5:00-7:00 pm
When? Homecoming is approaching and Project LEAD is excited to announce the annual tailgate held on Thursday, October 5 from 5-7 pm.
Who? This event is for EVERYONE! There will be good food, games, face painting, and more! Bring your students and your families and enjoy time together before heading to the football game!
Why? All proceeds will go to support the students that Wheaton Academy supports in the Dominican Republic and Haiti through Kid’s Alive International.
Finally, in order to make this event successful, we need your help! Please sign up to donate food, plates, napkins, etc. Here is the link: Volunteer Sign Ups: Homecoming FAMILY TAILGATE 2023 (signupgenius.com) Please reach out to Anna Joy Setran (asetran@wheatonacademy.org) with any questions. We are excited to see you there!
Homecoming Fall Informal
Saturday, October 7
7:00-9:30 pm
The student council would like to invite the entire student body to the fall informal on October 7. Our annual event will be held in the central parking lot from 7:00 – 9:30 pm. The night will include multiple food trucks, carnival games, a giant slide, pumpkin decorating, and our homecoming dance. Tickets will be on sale October 3-7 at lunch. The cost is $35.00 during the week and $40.00 at the door. Push coin is available. Students may bring a guest from another school, after filling out the permission form available next week. This event is informal and casual attire is the norm. Although students may attend with a date, friend groups are encouraged. We are looking forward to an amazing, fun, and safe night!
Get to Know Wheaton Academy
October 12 or November 9
6:45 pm
Middle school students and their parents are invited to Get To Know Wheaton Academy on October 12 or November 9 at 6:45 pm. This evening will provide an opportunity for families to learn about our school’s commitment to academics, spiritual life, co-curricular activities, and college readiness, as well as experience the community, connection, and culture that Wheaton Academy offers our students and families. Our time together will include:
- Opening Welcome from Mrs. Hockett, Principal
- Individual Family Tours
- Meet and Greet with Teachers, Coaches, and Program Leaders
Join us and discover what it’s like to be a Wheaton Academy Warrior. Questions? Please contact Amy Burdett, Admissions Coordinator, or Amy Hogan, Director of Admissions
Save the Date: Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Alisa Childers
7:00 pm
FAC
How can we help equip our kids to have a Christian worldview in an increasingly secularized culture? Join us on November 14 to hear from author, singer, and apologist Alisa Childers. She will share tips about how Christian parents can teach their kids discernment by exposing them to bad ideas in an age-appropriate manner and teaching them to analyze media from a biblical perspective. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Please use this link to secure your registration https://wheaton.typeform.com/alisachilders.
General News
No School Offices Closed, Monday, October 9
Columbus Day is Monday, October 9. There will be no school that day and offices will be closed.
From the Desk of the Principal
Dear Parents,
We have had such a great beginning of the year. Thank you for your continued support as we seek to help students “Look Up” from their cell phones to experience life more fully. This past week, we spent time together each day in chapel thinking about how to look to Jesus as we live, and how He often calls us to stop doing things, so we can start doing better things. Our students came together for prayer and worship. The foundation of our community is our desire to follow Jesus and worship Him in all that we do.
We are moving into an exciting Homecoming week where students will have incredible opportunities to engage and build an even deeper community. Because these next couple of weeks are full and also have some different schedules, I wanted to make you aware of what you need to know as you help your student navigate all of the activities.
“WAlking Through Life” is the Homecoming theme and each day students are encouraged to dress up. We always have 100% participation on the dress-up days, so your students won’t want to miss out. However, we want students to be creative and use what they have at home to dress up. We do not expect or encourage families to spend lots of money on costumes. This is a great chance to be creative and look through those attics and garages to find great items for costumes. Each day there is a theme and a bell schedule, click here to access that information.
Snapshot of other Events during Homecoming Week (click the link above for full details):
Monday, October 2 – Field Day
Tuesday, October 3 – Girls Home Volleyball games
Wednesday, October 4 – Sonny Acres Service Event 7:00 pm, Parent Event at WA
Thursday, October 5 – Home Football game and Tailgate Dinner fundraiser for Kid’s Alive; Alumni Tents open.
Friday, October 6 – Home Soccer Game, Alumni Events from 5-8 pm, Fireworks after Soccer game.
Saturday, October 7 – Fall Informal 7 pm
Other important dates to remember:
Monday, October 9 – Columbus Day, no school
Wednesday, October 11 – Testing Day
8:00 – 11:00 PSAT NMSQT and PSAT 8/9
(Seniors arrive for 1st period at 11:50 am)
11:00 – 11:45 Lunch
11:50 – 1:05 Period 1
1:10 – 1:40 Community Time
1:45 – 3:00 Period 2
Thursday, October 12
8:00 – 9:10 Period 3
9:16 – 10:26 Period 4
10:32 – 11:42 Period 5
11:50 – 12:28 Lunch
12:34 – 1:44 Period 6
1:50 – 3:00 Period 7
There are a couple of events we want to highlight. Wednesday night we ask students to come to Sonny Acres and bring items to support our Project Lead Local team as they partner with a local agency to support students in foster care. Our purpose behind this evening is to help students keep a focus on others in the midst of having fun together. Thursday evening, our Project Lead Global team sponsors a tailgate before the football game to support our Kids’ Alive-sponsored students in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Bring your family for some good food and to support our kids!
Finally, Saturday evening we have a Fall Informal for students. This is designed for all students. Students may come alone, with a group of friends, or with a date. If they want to bring a guest from another school, they must complete the process that was laid out for them in Community Time. They can see Ms. Carwell for details if they have questions. The dress for this evening is casual. There are games, food trucks, and a giant slide as well as time to dance. We encourage students to dress so they can participate in all those fun activities. If you have questions, please contact Jim Holtrop.
Thanks for your partnership and support as we seek to encourage students and let them experience the fun and joy of community together.
Mrs. Hockett
Homecoming Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are needed to help with alumni events over the Homecoming weekend (October 6-7). We are especially in need of people to help serve and clean up at the Alumni Dinner and Dessert Reception on Friday, October 6. Your service is a blessing to our WA alumni. Please click here to review the volunteer slots we are trying to fill.
Homecoming Volunteers Needed for Alumni Events – Help us serve WA alumni!
Friday, October 6 (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.)- set-up/ decorating for Alumni Dinner
Friday (4:30-7 p.m.) – serving/clean-up at the Alumni Dinner
Friday (7-10 p.m.) – serving/clean-up for the Alumni Dessert Reception
Saturday, October 7 (10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.) – clean-up Heritage Breakfast
If you would be willing to help with any of the above activities, please sign up here. Questions can be directed to Director of Alumni Relations Dawn Earl at 630-562-7510 or dearl@wheatonacademy.org.
Tell Your Wheaton Academy Story
To celebrate Wheaton Academy’s 170th birthday, we are launching an exciting storytelling initiative during homecoming! Your story matters—and we would love to include you in the project!
There are two ways to participate:
- Visit the storytelling booth! The booth will be available on Thursday during the Homecoming Tailgate and on Friday before and during the Soccer game. The booth will be located in the parking lot under the tent.
- Tell us your story through our online storytelling platform here: wheatonacademy.org/storyOur faculty will prompt you through the steps to record and share your story.
2024-2025 Application Process Now Open!
We are excited to announce that the Application for the 2024-2025 School Year opened on Thursday, September 14! If you know any prospective students who are interested in Wheaton Academy, we invite you to tell them to APPLY NOW by visiting wheatonacademy.org/apply. Applicants who apply this fall will be considered for an early decision (before Christmas time).
Timeshare for Teachers
We are beginning to gather vacation opportunities for the Summer of 2024. Click here to learn about our Timeshares for Teachers program. If you have a timeshare, a privately-owned vacation home, vacation packages, or airline miles, we invite you, as a friend and supporter, to provide our faculty and staff a much-deserved vacation at little or no cost to them. This partnership is a direct opportunity for our teachers and staff and is not a donation to the Academy. We will put you in touch with the teacher who selects your property, and you will work directly with them to make all arrangements. The process for vacation selection by teachers begins in January. Please fill out the Timeshare Participation Form by December 1.
Guys Campout 2023
October 27-29
Parents of Freshman through Senior boys… Guy’s Campout is a long-standing tradition of forging bonds across classes over a weekend of camping with outdoor fun including Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball, Soccer, 9 Square, Capture the Flag, campfires, and more. The cost is $100 and includes breakfasts, dinners & snacks plus a sweatshirt. Students can choose to lounge and relax with a card game or join in an impromptu soccer match, it’s up to them. We’ll bond over incredible food at mealtime and the adventure of a weekend camping in the woods. They won’t want to miss it. Students need A SLEEPING BAG, AN EXTRA BLANKET, WARM CLOTHES, and A TENT or TARP. Please encourage your son to register to attend Guy’s Campout! For questions or help with CAMPING GEAR? CONTACT SEAN MCCALLUM. Click here to sign up.
WA Appreciation Team
Allow us to introduce ourselves. We are the WA Appreciation Team, a group of parent volunteers who plan, organize, and host two events during the school year for teachers and staff. These events help express our gratitude for all the ways teachers and staff not only teach, but inspire, nurture, and guide our kids throughout the school year. The WA Appreciation Team manages these events on behalf of ALL Wheaton Academy families and represents our collective gratitude.
We are already planning our first event, in December, where we serve coffee, donuts, and a Christmas blessing. You will also be hearing from us this spring, as we begin to plan an appreciation luncheon in April.
These events are funded solely through contributions from the school community (which are completely optional and not tax-deductible). Please click on the CheddarUp link to provide funds that will contribute towards making these events possible. Thank you!
College Corner
PSAT Wednesday, October 11
An email went home this week regarding the details of the PSAT next month. You may click here for additional details of the day, and you may click here for the 2023 PSAT student guide. Please note the bell schedule for October 11 & 12 (listed above) – we will have school after the testing which is different from previous years. Seniors should plan to arrive for first-period class. Please contact Gina Churchill if your student will miss the test day and you are interested in scheduling a make-up.
AP Testing Timeline and Deadlines
Please click here for important AP Test timeline information including signing up for tests and test payment.
Athletics
If your child is not on a Fall sports team, please come to the Athletic Office and pick up your ALL-ACCESS pass that allows you into any home game for the whole school year. All fall sports athletes should have received them from their coaches, but all other students/families should come to the Athletic office and pick theirs up. Thank you.