WCA Sees Surge in Enrollment and Retention
- August 22, 2017
- 2017-2018, Academics, Announcements, Arts, Athletics, Extracurriculars, Head of School, High Profile Posts for Feed, Lower School News, Middle School News, Spiritual Life, Student Life, Upper School News
- academics, Arts, breslin, curriculum, Debate, Enrollment, Fine Arts Coalition, international program, meisinger, Mock Trial, naylor, retention, Walls, Ware
While the enrollment numbers of many private schools around the nation have leveled or declined, Williamsburg Christian Academy has been able to record an impressive jump in enrollment in every division heading into this school year. WCA has also reported a dramatic increase in retention figures from recent years, with seven grades recording 100% retention.
Head of School Dr. David Breslin knows this is not just a fluke or anomaly, but rather points to the strengthening of 
the school in the past year and the framework for success he and the leadership, board, faculty and families have collectively built. “The growth and maturation of the school heading into this year is incredible, and I credit the teachers, the students, and their families who call WCA their home for our improved academic, athletic, and fine arts programs. In addition, we are all thankful to those who have created a foundation through serving at WCA in the past, and we are taking that foundation and moving boldly forward, making improvements in our curriculum, our teaching, and the way we meet the needs of the whole child. We are totally focused and dedicated to meeting the social, emotional, academic, physical, and spiritual needs of every student we have the honor of serving. In a short amount of time, we have raised the bar in every area of our operation and will continue to do so throughout the coming year.”
Contributing to the growth of the school was the establishment of WCA’s International Program, which is welcoming 12 students from China this year to the Upper School. In addition to these students, dozens more new enrollments have been received, and Breslin expects a busy week, as many late comers who have not yet submitted their applications and those completing pending applications pour into the school for tours and appointments to finalize their school plans.
A few of the major changes in staffing this year were new hires at both the Athletic Director position, and a newly formed Director of Student Life position. The energy and innovative thinking of both new Athletic Director Kraig Ware and Student Life Director Donna Walls has Breslin excited for the upcoming school year. ” Athletics are playing a key part in helping bring WCA to the next level. Our new athletic director, Kraig Ware, is dedicated to helping our program soar to new heights. We have a strong basketball program, and that will remain strong. Kraig is elevating all of the other sports to a new level by hiring amazing coaches that have a deep, mature faith, believe in the mission and vision of the school, believe in nurturing the whole child, and have expertise in their particular sport. Our program begins in the lower school with our Junior Eagles program, which teaches fundamentals of the sports as well as sportsmanship and extends all the way to the varsity level,” Breslin explained. “And Donna Walls has already done such an enormous amount of work in such a short span planning for our Spiritual events this year, and has been able to energize and engage the faculty and volunteers to follow their passions in establishment of a wide array of new extracurricular clubs and programs. There is now a club, sport or arts offering for every student to participate in, from Lego robotics club for our middle-schoolers, and chess club for all grades, to a new debate club, French club and more.”
The Arts Department, already renown for its award winning strings program and many other arts programs, should see further strengthening as well, as recently appointed Director of Fine Arts Chelsea Meisinger will look to grow participation and richness in the offerings in the arts, while Cathy Naylor embarks upon her second season as Drama Director, following a wildly successful production of an all grades play which was written and edited by the participants themselves. In support of the Arts at WCA, the newly formed Fine Arts Coalition arts patron program gives parents and the WCA community an avenue to directly support the school’s arts programs.
Asked if he thinks there is room for further growth at WCA, Dr. Breslin responded with a resounding yes. “There is just so much potential here, we have the space for growth and every month, and into next school year, I fully expect our programs and our curriculum to grow with our enrollment numbers as we continue to be an incredible option for a strong, Christ-centered, college preparatory education in Williamsburg and its surrounding communities.”
WCA is still accepting applications for all classes from preschool to grade 12. There is no deadline for admissions, as we have a rolling admissions policy, however, applicants are encouraged to apply and finish enrollment as soon as possible as classes may fill. You can start your application process by visiting our website at williamsburgchristian.org, and schedule a private tour by contacting us at tours@williamsburgchristian.org. The front office can be reached at 757-220-1978.
WCA Sees Surge in Enrollment and Retention
- August 22, 2017
- 2017-2018, Academics, Announcements, Arts, Athletics, Extracurriculars, Head of School, High Profile Posts for Feed, Lower School News, Middle School News, Spiritual Life, Student Life, Upper School News
- academics, Arts, breslin, curriculum, Debate, Enrollment, Fine Arts Coalition, international program, meisinger, Mock Trial, naylor, retention, Walls, Ware
While the enrollment numbers of many private schools around the nation have leveled or declined, Williamsburg Christian Academy has been able to record an impressive jump in enrollment in every division heading into this school year. WCA has also reported a dramatic increase in retention figures from recent years, with seven grades recording 100% retention.
Head of School Dr. David Breslin knows this is not just a fluke or anomaly, but rather points to the strengthening of the school in the past year and the framework for success he and the leadership, board, faculty and families have collectively built. “The growth and maturation of the school heading into this year is incredible, and I credit the teachers, the students, and their families who call WCA their home for our improved academic, athletic, and fine arts programs. In addition, we are all thankful to those who have created a foundation through serving at WCA in the past, and we are taking that foundation and moving boldly forward, making improvements in our curriculum, our teaching, and the way we meet the needs of the whole child. We are totally focused and dedicated to meeting the social, emotional, academic, physical, and spiritual needs of every student we have the honor of serving. In a short amount of time, we have raised the bar in every area of our operation and will continue to do so throughout the coming year.”
Contributing to the growth of the school was the establishment of WCA’s International Program, which is welcoming 12 students from China this year to the Upper School. In addition to these students, dozens more new enrollments have been received, and Breslin expects a busy week, as many late comers who have not yet submitted their applications and those completing pending applications pour into the school for tours and appointments to finalize their school plans.
A few of the major changes in staffing this year were new hires at both the Athletic Director position, and a newly formed Director of Student Life position. The energy and innovative thinking of both new Athletic Director Kraig Ware and Student Life Director Donna Walls has Breslin excited for the upcoming school year. ” Athletics are playing a key part in helping bring WCA to the next level. Our new athletic director, Kraig Ware, is dedicated to helping our program soar to new heights. We have a strong basketball program, and that will remain strong. Kraig is elevating all of the other sports to a new level by hiring amazing coaches that have a deep, mature faith, believe in the mission and vision of the school, believe in nurturing the whole child, and have expertise in their particular sport. Our program begins in the lower school with our Junior Eagles program, which teaches fundamentals of the sports as well as sportsmanship and extends all the way to the varsity level,” Breslin explained. “And Donna Walls has already done such an enormous amount of work in such a short span planning for our Spiritual events this year, and has been able to energize and engage the faculty and volunteers to follow their passions in establishment of a wide array of new extracurricular clubs and programs. There is now a club, sport or arts offering for every student to participate in, from Lego robotics club for our middle-schoolers, and chess club for all grades, to a new debate club, French club and more.”
The Arts Department, already renown for its award winning strings program and many other arts programs, should see further strengthening as well, as recently appointed Director of Fine Arts Chelsea Meisinger will look to grow participation and richness in the offerings in the arts, while Cathy Naylor embarks upon her second season as Drama Director, following a wildly successful production of an all grades play which was written and edited by the participants themselves. In support of the Arts at WCA, the newly formed Fine Arts Coalition arts patron program gives parents and the WCA community an avenue to directly support the school’s arts programs.
Asked if he thinks there is room for further growth at WCA, Dr. Breslin responded with a resounding yes. “There is just so much potential here, we have the space for growth and every month, and into next school year, I fully expect our programs and our curriculum to grow with our enrollment numbers as we continue to be an incredible option for a strong, Christ-centered, college preparatory education in Williamsburg and its surrounding communities.”
WCA is still accepting applications for all classes from preschool to grade 12. There is no deadline for admissions, as we have a rolling admissions policy, however, applicants are encouraged to apply and finish enrollment as soon as possible as classes may fill. You can start your application process by visiting our website at williamsburgchristian.org, and schedule a private tour by contacting us at tours@williamsburgchristian.org. The front office can be reached at 757-220-1978.
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