I was addressing the student body recently and told them that when the military engages in a mission, they will have what is called a primary objective. The goal for them is to meet this objective at all costs, understanding that certain collateral damage is to be expected. It may seem a rather drastic topic to bring up with students, but I wanted to make my point. By comparison, I let them know that my primary objective is to keep the school open for in person learning; and therein lies my point. I also explained to them that in order to achieve this objective, we do have to make some sacrifices, our version of “collateral damage,” if you will. One such sacrifice would be the mandate to wear a mask, for example. It is also important to note that no sacrifice we are making is calling us to behave unethically or compromising our dearly held beliefs in Biblical standards, and therefore they are worth it if it allows us to achieve our primary objective – to stay in school . . . (Read More) | |
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(Pictured Above) More than 70 freshmen and their families join the Westside Community for the 2021-2022 school year! | |
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Westside Senior, Natalie Fagen, chosen as Campus Captain ambassador for Hidden Opponent
“This year I have an amazing opportunity to be a Campus Captain(ambassador) for a mental health organization called The Hidden Opponent. In order to become a Campus Captain, I had to apply and send in an application about my goals for the program, my personal struggles with mental health, and how I will help my school with this new program!! Over the summer, I was involved with group Zoom calls with our leadership, and calls with psychologists and therapists. There are currently 412+ college athletes, and I'm one of seventeen high school Campus Captains!! It was started by a former Division I USC volleyball player Victoria Garrick after she realized that physical health was put over mental health. This organization's mission is to end the stigma behind mental health in student-athletes and students. Through this club, students will be able to learn more about the importance of mental health in themselves and others. They will learn how to properly help others who are struggling, and how to truly help themselves.”
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Congratulations to Senior Lukas von Koch
He has been selected as a National Merit Semifinalist. Each year, less than 1% of 1.6 million students who take the PSAT in the Fall of their junior year are chosen as a National Merit Semifinalist. In Oregon, only 183 students received this honor last year. Of the 16,000 National Merit Semifinalists, approximately 15,000 of them will be recognized as a "Finalist" based on an application and their performance on the SAT. Lukas is the second Westside student in the past 2 years to earn this honor.
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Shelley Chase joins us with many years of experience in science education and will be
teaching both AP Biology as well as Anatomy/Physiology. We have had to make a lot of room for Shelley, as she comes with animals, bones, rocks, and of course her favorite skeleton. . . (Read More)
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Willy Hughes comes to us with decades of working with adolescents in both the secular and Christian spheres. In particular, the local church, the high school and college classroom, and on the tennis court. . . (Read More) | |
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Leesa Michael joins Westside with 13 years of teaching experience after receiving her BS in Math and Masters of Arts in Teaching from Oregon State University. Michael will be running the Math Lab, training students to be peer tutors and teaching two sections of
Algebra 1. Michael's oldest child is a graduate of Westside and her daughter is a current student. . . (Read More)
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Aniela Petrisor Born and raised in Romania, Petrisor knew at a young age that she was destined to teach in a language that was not her native one. Petrisor studied English Literature at PSU and then went on to George Fox University to complete her Master's of Arts in Teaching. Petrisor will be teaching 10th Grade English. . . (Read More) | |
Jason Washburn will be taking on the new, and very popular, Introduction to Engineering Design classes, as well as helping out with IT. Washburn has a wealth of teaching and life experiences, and will be an integral part of our 2022 launch of the Eagle Engineering Center. . . (Read More) | |
Our new Athletic Director, Van Anderson, has been on staff as a coach for the last three years and we are excited to see him bring his passion in assisting and molding the minds of our youth to the AD position. . . (Read More) | |
Jason Housley has joined the administrative team in the newly created position, Director of Admissions and Strategic Outreach. Jason has many years of experience in advancement and development and will be a huge asset to us as we develop space and programs for all these new students. . . (Read More) | |
Jennifer Martyn is our new part-time library and lunch coordinator. Born and raised in the Hillsboro-Beaverton area, she graduated from Hillsboro High School and went on to obtain a Biology degree from Seattle Pacific University and a masters degree in Education from Pacific University in 1997. . . (Read More) | |
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Many new clubs are starting soon at Westside. Applications were submitted to start a club and those that received approval were announced during Club Rush. At this time, students were able to walk around to different clubs and sign up. The list includes: Fitness for Life, Racket Club, Chess Club, Outdoor Adventure, Science Club, Fishing Club, Engineering Club, Art Club, Sneakerhead Club, Ski/Snowboard Club, The Hidden Opponent Club, and the International Club. We will feature a different club in each newsletter.
In the Science club, students will do many fun things. Students will enjoy chemistry experiments, physics challenges such as mouse trap car races and egg drops, dissections of different animals and plants, Crime Scene Investigations (CSI), biology
experiments, science games, nature field trips, and whatever else that is science related. . . (Read More)
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2018 Alumnus, Alison Mills, named Principal Second Violin of the American Youth Symphony | |
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Alison Mills, WCHS Class of 2018, is in her senior year as a Violin Performance major at Biola University in La Mirada, CA, pursuing her dream of becoming an orchestral musician. After spending this past summer studying and performing at the National Orchestra Institute in Washington, DC, Ali was invited to audition for the American Youth Symphony in Los Angeles, CA. She received news this week that she won the audition and was selected as the Principal Second Violin of this prestigious ensemble. She will be leading and performing alongside some of the nation's finest undergraduate and graduate orchestral musicians in this year's concert series, including a performance at LA's famed Walt Disney Concert Hall in March 2022. Ali performed with her violin numerous times in her 4 years at WCHS, and we are excited to see where God takes her, as she uses her music to bring joy to people and glory to Him.
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The Nest is a room on campus where students may go either individually or in small groups to seek confidential support and advice from trained chaplains. The Nest is designed to be a safe, confidential sanctuary where a student can retreat to at any time and for any reason.
The Chaplains who are available in The Nest are contract employees of Westside Christian High School. They are committed and mature followers of Christ and will offer advice from a strictly Biblical worldview.
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