By Briana Bizier
As a parent, one of the hardest decisions you face is
choosing the school your children will attend. Jaclyn Sands, Principal of
Windham Christian Academy (WCA), would like parents to know that academics with
a Christian-based curriculum is an option, and that there are many ways to make
a private education affordable.
As
we sat in her office and listened to the sounds of the WCA band practicing in
the shared gymnasium and worship space for the Windham Assembly of God church,
Sands explained that WCA teaches students to look at Christianity as their “blueprint
of life.”
The
Academy offers classes from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.
“Our
pre-k program is growing in leaps and bounds,” Sands said, adding that the
school is considering opening a program for three-year olds.
Overall,
Windham Christian Academy has 65 students, from towns as far away as North
Baldwin and Bridgton, with seven full time teachers. Part time teachers also
join WCA to lead courses in math, science, Spanish, and Latin.“The kids
love Latin,” Sands added.
Despite
the relatively small size of their school, students at WCA are exposed to a
wide variety of activities, as evidenced by the tremendous number of trophies in
their lobby.
“We
participate in the Maine Christian Schools Sports League,” Sands explained,
which gives WCA students the chance to join soccer, basketball, and disc golf
teams. They also partner with other Christian schools to offer academic
activities like spelling bees.
“I
did finally have to put some of the trophies in storage,” Sands admitted as we
began our tour of the school.
When
WCA students reach their final two years of high school, a dual accreditation
program with Saint Joseph’s College allows them to take college classes
at a fraction of the regular cost. WCA’s graduates can leave high school with
as many as twelve college credits, and two of last year’s four high school
graduates are currently enrolled at Saint Joseph’s, with another at the University
of Southern Maine and the fourth working for his family business.
“We
hear great things about our students from the professors at St. Josephs,” Sands
stated.
In
addition to their full-time students, Windham Christian Academy partners with
local families who home school their children. Their Day at WCA Home School
Program welcomes home schooled students from the community to join Windham
Christian Academy classes on Wednesday morning for extracurriculars such as
gym, music, art, band, and library.
I
was treated to some of the robust music program at WCA as Sands led me through
the building and the classrooms. The school offers two public concerts a year;
if you are interested in seeing the students perform, their winter concert will
be held on December 13.
WCA’s
focus on Christianity as the “blueprint” for life emphasizes service and giving
back to the community. In addition to their academics, each grade at WCA has a
specific ministry. For the kindergarten through second grade, this involves
visiting the Casco Nursing Home once a month to bring crafts and sing songs.
When I visited the kindergarten through second grade classroom, where the
students were practicing math facts with their foster grandparent, Grandma
Nancy, teacher Mrs. Dodd showed me the paper scarecrows the class created to
share with the nursing home.
“My
first graders are very excited to start spelling,” Mrs. Dodd said, with a
smile.
Third
and fourth graders join the Windham Matters ministry with the Windham Assembly
of God, where they provide monthly snacks and encouragement to public servants
such as police officers and fire fighters. The fifth and sixth grades help
unload donations and stock shelves at the Casco Alliance Food Pantry, while the
seventh and eighth grade classes have a ministry dubbed “LOL” where they
learn to juggle and perform magic tricks, occasionally involving a real rabbit
or dove, in order to spread a ministry of laughter and levity to the community.
This month, “LOL” will be visiting Riverview Psychiatric Center in Augusta.
“As
a parent,” Sands adds, telling me her two children are also students at WCA, “I
love knowing that my children are safe, and knowing they’re cared for.”
If
you are interested in Windham Christian Academy, please contact Jaclyn
Sands at (207) 892-2244 or visit www.windhamchristian.org.
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