Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility
consider others better than yourselves. ... Your attitude should be the same as
that of Christ Jesus. (Phil 2:3,5)

Humility. That is not a word we hear much about in the confused world around us. It does not seem to be a virtue to which people aspire. Andrew Murray wrote: “I am amazed how little humility is sought after as the distinguishing feature of being Jesus’ disciple… . People don’t seem to realize that humility is the only root out of which other good character traits can grow. It is the one indispensable condition of true fellowship with Jesus.” Our school theme this year, Walk humbly with your God, is based on Micah 6:8, and seen throughout scripture. Would you pray for us, that we would truly learn what our rightful place under God looks like in our hearts, minds, and actions?  

We have completed 9 weeks of in-person school, which is something to celebrate! We have stayed healthy and safe, and our students are learning and growing. I thank God for his protection, provision, and goodness. I congratulate our parents, teachers, and students for their success through hard work, attentiveness, and a Christ-like spirit. By making specific changes within the school and implementing sensible guidelines within the parameters of the state mandates, we have found a way for each day to feel quite normal, despite the COVID-19 confusion. After not having in-person school since March 13, it has been a JOY to be back in session!

How important is a classical Christian education in a time of national confusion and a global pandemic? That question is aptly answered in a recent podcast from BaseCamp Live. I highly recommend it to you, dear Excelsior reader: BASECAMP LIVE PODCAST. You will be glad you listened and might even discover that Martin Luther's A Mighty Fortress will give perspective to today's COVID-19 scare. You can download Basecamp Live wherever you get your podcasts.   

Thank you to those who became monthly givers, joining our Fidelis Society. If you would like to support WCA with a monthly gift of any size, you can do so here: FIDELIS SOCIETY

Would you join us in prayer?
  • For wisdom for our leadership and teachers.
  • For the hearts and minds of our students and their parents.
  • That the Lord will keep us safe so that we are able to continue with in-person learning for the entire year.
  • For our newest alumni who are now in college and university.
  • That true humility will grow in our hearts and we will seek to consider others better than ourselves

We are grateful for your interest and commitment to fulfilling the mission of WCA.
Jim Whiteman


As I continue to grow older, I’m not sure if the “bad things” happening in the world are increasing, or if I’m simply becoming more aware of them. With the news and media at ever increasing rates of alerts, dings, and notifications, it’s near impossible to avoid all the “bad news.” As a Christian, one thing is certainly clear: Our world is broken and in need of a Savior. And while this is true, it can feel deceptively simple to apply lofty theological truths to the choices we make each day. In a world where everything seems to be threatening and dangerous, the choice between staying inside or venturing into the outside world becomes not only relevant, but seemingly life-dependent. The problems our world faces can be dangerous and frightening. The stakes for the choices our community may make for this coming year seem high; these are our children, our families, our loved ones. The high stakes cause us to survey the trials and difficulties around us, to ask “How shall I then live”? 

The good news in the midst of the bad is that our God never leaves us without guidance. He gave his Holy Spirit as a comforter and His Word as a light for our paths. And while we might not have a specific mandate about pandemics, there is always so much to be learned from God’s word. Ultimately, living a Christian Life is about living in risk. Jim Elliot seems to have understood this better than anyone when he said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what we cannot lose.”  ...continue reading
What brought you to enroll at WCA and what grade were you in?
Well, my parents were founding members back in 1993, so I was enrolled in Kindergarten before the doors of the school opened.

What is your most fond memory(ies) of your time as a student at WCA?
There are so many! I loved going to Mohican in 6th grade, I also loved all the musicals, especially Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland.

What did you do after you graduated from WCA?
After WCA, I was enrolled at CVCA and graduated from there in 2011. Then I went to Covenant College in Tennessee for both my undergraduate and masters work. I studied in Israel for a year and worked in Rome for a bit after that. Then my first teaching job took me to St. Louis, MO where I worked for 3 years teaching 10th grade History, and I now I’m back in Cleveland as of last year.

What brought you back to WCA?
I knew I wanted to be near family eventually, but I also felt strongly that the Lord was directing me to WCA. I wasn’t particularly looking for any new jobs and was quite happy in STL, so when I met with Mr. Whiteman for the first time, I was doing my best to follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I’m very glad that He brought me here.
Fun Facts about Miss Prentis:
I love traveling and languages. I have been very blessed with many opportunities to travel around the world, so I have some crazy stories! Feel free to ask any of the Upper School students about the time I slaughtered a goat in the deserts of Jordan, or the time I found a tarantula in my laundry in Nicaragua. 
Maddie (OSU sweatshirt) enjoying an upper school picnic 2019
Alumni, we want to hear from you!
We would like to share what has been happening in your life. How is the Lord leading you? Email Andrea Poltrone @ apoltrone@westsideacademy.org with your updates and photos for our Alumni section in future editions of the Excelsior.

Congratulations and a HUGE thank you to all of our families, staff, volunteers, and corporate sponsors for making Rock the Challenge such a tremendous success
Together we raised $78,000!!!