d i m e n s i o n s WEstbury Christian School “Preparing Youth for Here and Eternity” since 1975
September 2012
Guests and Visitors Enrich Student Learning
Fine Arts Symposium
Wildcat Athletics
2012 Commencement
Westbury Christian 5th-8th graders were privileged to hear from accomplished Houston-area performing artists, working within several disciplines of the Fine Arts, in the first annual WCS Fine Arts Symposium. Each guest showcased their particular talent, detailed how they earn a living practicing their trade, and provided a personal testimony of how their faith impacts their work, and how they use artistic expression to bring honor to God. Monday brought Stella Almblade from Ad Deum Dance Company who performed a solo to Amazing Grace. On Tuesday, internationally known voice and film actor Luci Christian spoke to the students about her experience with voice-over work for anime movies and cartoons. Gospel singer Brandee Nelson performed original selections from her upcoming album on Wednesday. Jose "VurseOne" Ramirez brought his graffiti art talents to the stage on Thursday, demonstrating the skill live as he painted a portrait of Jesus on a piece of cardboard in less than 10 minutes. Friday marked the close of the symposium and featured a performance from Christian rock singers Heath Beahmer and Eric Sengbusch, who brought their full band to the WCS stage.
In the spring, Houston Texans Head Coach Gary Kubiak visited campus to speak with the 8th grade Boys Bible class and members of the varsity football team. Coach Kubiak is a former player of WCS Associate Head Football Coach Robin Kirk who once led the Panthers of St. Pius X High School here in Houston. Through illustrations drawn from the Texans’ 2011 season, which found the team riddled with severe and, in some cases, season ending injuries to key players, but also marked their best finish in organization history, Coach Kubiak stressed the importance of always giving your best effort and the value in true teamwork. He spoke about the impact that experienced players can have on younger players when they look for ways to serve and mentor one another. He urged students to maintain high character and moral practices, which will translate in the classroom and/or on the field and will prompt the appropriate responses to the pressures they are each sure to face at some phase in life. After addressing the students, Coach Kubiak took a trip over to the Wildcat Athletic Center to tour the new home for Wildcat athletics.
Judge Kenneth Starr, former federal judge and current President of Baylor University, served as the commencement speaker for the 2011-12 graduation ceremony. Mr. Starr is a highly regarded lawyer and educator, serving not only as a federal Court of Appeals judge but also as the Solicitor General of the United States (the primary lawyer for the federal government in arguing cases before the U. S. Supreme Court) and as the Independent Counsel during the Clinton Presidency. His speech was filled with references of past and present warriors of freedom, including Chen Guancheng, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., William Wilberforce and Esther, who risked her life to save her people. “Class of 2012,” he said, “steep yourself in the Biblical basis for human freedom. You don’t need a weapon to fight what our Nation’s pledge of allegiance reminds us of what is enduringly great about our country at its best. It is not economic prosperity. It is liberty and justice for all.” He continued, “And especially for those of you who have been called to attend our great, public universities, be prepared to boldly defend this proposition: Christianity stands for freedom.”