Private Christian School in Chicago Area, IL

Westlake Christian Academy, Lake County:
Located in Grayslake, a northern suburb of Chicago in Lake County, IL, Westlake Christian Academy (WCA) is approximately 40 miles north of Chicago’s downtown, 14 miles west of Lake Michigan, and 15 miles south of the Wisconsin border. Westlake Christian Academy is a non-denominational private school for Pre-Kindergarten through to 12th grade students, within a convenient commute from Zion, Wadsworth, Waukegan, North Chicago, Gurnee, Round Lake, Lake Villa, Mundelein and Libertyville. The Academy seeks to provide a well-rounded education in a distinctly non-denominational evangelical Christian context. In a personal and prayerful manner, WCA intends to educate children in partnership with home and church.

Pre-School and Pre-Kindergarten Program:
Socialization and school readiness are the main emphases of our three and four-year old program. We believe that learning to socialize is an important reason for children to be in a formal school setting at this age. Our program is designed to develop each child's spiritual, perceptual, motor, social, emotional and language abilities. Children learn to communicate and problem-solve through interactive games, music, and play.

Our Pre-School and Pre-Kindergarten program offers a choice of schedules:

- Pre-School (3 yr olds) T, Th 8:25 - 11:30 AM
- Pre-Kindergarten (4 yr olds) M, W, F 8:25 - 11:30 AM
- Combined Program (3 & 4 yr olds) M - F 8:25 - 11:30 AM

Kindergarten Program:
The academic emphasis of our Kindergarten program includes number concepts, reading readiness, socialization, and motor development.

* Math:  We utilize a hands-on program designed to help children more fully comprehend the concept of numbers. The program covers patterning, grouping, graphing, classifying, identifying shapes, and counting.

* Reading Readines:  Children learn to make each letter correctly with its corresponding sound. Though formal reading in Kindergarten is not our primary objective, we encourage each reader to progress as far as he or she desires.

An after-school care program is available until 6:00 PM for Pre-School, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students.

Elementary Program:
During the primary grades children blossom to become students eager to learn. WCA seeks not only to provide a sound knowledge of basic instructional strategies and academic content, but also to incorporate the truths of the Bible into all areas of growth. The program includes:

* Self-contained classrooms at each grade level
* Christian integration within all disciplines
* Inclusion of Fine Arts and PE
* Extracurricular sports for upper grades

Junior and Senior High School Program:
This is a time of transition from self-contained elementary classrooms to a more departmental approach. Responsibilities and independent work increase. By the time the students reach ninth grade, they should feel comfortable with the demands of the upper school.

The curriculum includes Mathematics, with placement by ability into General Math, Pre-algebra or Algebra, Literature and Composition, Science (both physical and life), World Geography, American History and the Constitution, Spanish, Bible and Physical Education.

Besides full-year and semester courses, Westlake offers a number of high school modules, which are nine-week studies of a specific topic within a given subject area. One module within a given subject area receives 25 credits. Modules are usually offered on a two-year alternating cycle allowing the student to study a wide variety of topics. Typically, no prerequisites are required for modules.

A full time athletic director, gymnasium and playing fields enhance the WCA after school sports program offered at the Junior and Senior High level. Competent faculty serve as coaches and mentors encouraging athletes at all ability levels. Even the unskilled but eager athletes can develop into valuable members of a chosen team.

Fine Arts Program:
Our Fine Arts Program includes instrumental music, vocal music and visual arts:

Instrumental Music:
Our Concert Band is for students having acquired the skills necessary to play music at an upper junior high to senior high school level, as determined by the director. Students through 8th grade will typically receive one group lesson per week. The full band currently rehearses three mornings per week as part of this program.

Vocal Music:
Westlake's Vocal Music department provides both large and small group performance opportunites for Junior High and High School students.

* Choir:  Using a wide variety of musical styles from traditional to contemporary, students in our Choir and various small ensembles develop their vocal skills while glorifying Christ and representing Westlake at school concerts and in a number of church and community activities.

* Leadership and Worship:  Westlake seeks to provide opportunities for students to express their love for Christ and to develop Christian leadership skills while ministering to fellow believers. Members of this class learn and practice these skills while regularly leading worship in our weekly Upper School chapels.

Visual Arts:

* Art I:  Students learn composition through the use of the Elements of Art (color, line, shape, value and texture) as well as the Principles of Design (balance, repetition, space, and variety).

* Drawing:  Students learn to draw through simple and gradual skill-building assignments, and learn to express themselves by drawing. The drawing techniques taught provide students with a wide variety of skills and methods of working. Students are exposed to: blind contour drawing, self-portrait drawing, still-life drawing, and perspective drawing. They use a variety of media including but not limited to: pencil, colored pencil, pen, ink, and charcoal.

* Painting:  Students develop an understanding of painting, its materials and applications. They explore through painting the interrelated discipline of drawing and design and learn to understand color harmony, balance, and form. The course also encourages the development of objective painting as a means of personal expression.

Athletic Program:
Westlake offers a full program of interscholastic sports for boys and girls, beginning in upper elementary grades and continuing through senior high school. Girls may also participate in Cheerleading for Basketball. Homeschool students who enroll for at least one course at WCA may join WCA sports teams.