CHOOSING WESTGATE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Choosing a school for your child is a major decision. It requires a careful analysis and comparison of each school's features and how they match the needs of your child. Here are a few guidelines one couple followed when they were faced with finding a school for their 6 year old son.

First, the parents considered the following features and determined what they were looking for in a school:
 

• low teacher/student ratio
• small class size
• professional staff
• religious affiliation
• parent involvement
• classroom atmosphere
• physical education
• resources
• after-school program availability
• art/music/language study
• curriculum - integrated unit study
• tuition
• location

They divided these features into two categories:

required and desired.

Then they carefully listed their child's needs. To assess these needs, they asked themselves the following questions:

• What kind of a learner is he?
• Did he learn best with hands-on tools, or did he enjoy busy work?
• How well did he concentrate in class?
• Is he very distractible?
• What kind of learning environment is best for him?
• Would he have an outlet for his artistic side?
• Would he be helped to make and keep friends?
• Would he be challenged to be a proper, honest person that is accountable to rules and authorities?

These parents found two schools that met their "required" needs and offered a few "desired" features as well.

Their next step was to visit the schools. They set up appointments and visited with their son. He spent a couple of hours in the classroom while parents interviewed with the principal. Parents were able to ask pertinent questions based on their preliminary analysis. They were careful to take good notes that could be referred to later.  They told their son that his input was an important part of the decision making process and asked him the following questions regarding how he felt in the class.

• Did he enjoy the teacher?
• Were the other children respectful?
• Were they friendly?
• Did they include him at recess?
• What was his favorite activity while he was visiting?

As a family, they also prayed and sought God's leading. Based on their research, visits, in-depth interviews, and prayer, the family decided that Westgate Christian Academy met all their requirements as well as their child's needs. They made this decision five years ago and report that they have been very pleased with their son's intellectual and spiritual development.