Western Michigan Christian High School
Encyclopedia
Western Michigan Christian High School (commonly Western Michigan Christian, WMCHS, or WMC) is a Calvinist coeducational private secondary school in Muskegon, Michigan
, United States
, serving students in grades 9
–12
. Western Michigan Christian High School is accredited by the Michigan Association of Non-Public Schools, and is a member of Christian
Schools International (CSI).
WMCHS has had 20 National Merit Finalists in 25 years.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school has an enrollment of 227 students and 24 classroom teachers (on an FTE
basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 12:1. The full-time professional staff consists of 24, 60% of which have at least one master's degree
and all are certified in their respective areas of teaching.
Weighted courses (5.00 Grade Point) include: Pre-Calculus and Honors English (11th Grade).
WMCHS won its third consecutive Class D state title in basketball, 9th all-time, March 27, 2010. Evan Bruinsma, a 1st team all-stater was named the Class D Player of the Year. London Burris was a first team all-state player and Mario Harris was named the Class D Defensive Player of the Year.
Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, serving students in grades 9
Ninth grade
Ninth grade is the ninth post-kindergarten year of school education in some school systems. The students are 13 to 15 years of age, depending on when their birthday occurs. Depending on the school district, ninth grade is usually the first year of high school....
–12
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
. Western Michigan Christian High School is accredited by the Michigan Association of Non-Public Schools, and is a member of Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
Schools International (CSI).
History
Founded in 1948, the school is owned by the parents of the students it serves. In addition to charging tuition, the school operates fundraising campaigns to support ongoing operations and expansion projects, and receives endowments. In addition to the usual academic graduation requirements, students are also required to perform 50 hours of community service over four years.WMCHS has had 20 National Merit Finalists in 25 years.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school has an enrollment of 227 students and 24 classroom teachers (on an FTE
Full-time equivalent
Full-time equivalent , is a unit to measure employed persons or students in a way that makes them comparable although they may work or study a different number of hours per week. FTE is often used to measure a worker's involvement in a project, or to track cost reductions in an organization...
basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 12:1. The full-time professional staff consists of 24, 60% of which have at least one master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
and all are certified in their respective areas of teaching.
Academics
At Western Michigan Christian High School, the school year is divided into equal trimesters - three terms of 12 weeks each. Classes meet daily for 68 minutes, except Vocational classes which meet daily in a three-hour block. WMCHS offers 59 subjects on campus, plus numerous courses through the Career Tech Center. In addition, Christian Learning Center support is available for students with learning disabilities.Weighted courses (5.00 Grade Point) include: Pre-Calculus and Honors English (11th Grade).
Extracurricular activities
WMCHS has 17 athletic teams, drama, chapel, music programs, student council, numerous clubs as well as other voluntary student activities.WMCHS won its third consecutive Class D state title in basketball, 9th all-time, March 27, 2010. Evan Bruinsma, a 1st team all-stater was named the Class D Player of the Year. London Burris was a first team all-state player and Mario Harris was named the Class D Defensive Player of the Year.
Notable alumni
- Kate ReindersKate ReindersKate Reinders is an American musical theatre actress, who has performed as lead and understudy in several Broadway shows. Reinders was born in Seattle, Washington, but raised in Muskegon, Michigan...
– (Class of 1998), born in Muskegon, MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, is an AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musical theatreMusical theatreMusical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
actress, and has performed as lead and understudyUnderstudyIn theater, an understudy is a performer who learns the lines and blocking/choreography of a regular actor or actress in a play. Should the regular actor or actress be unable to appear on stage because of illness or emergencies, the understudy takes over the part...
in several BroadwayBroadway theatreBroadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
shows. - David Pruim, (class of 1966), was senior vice president of risk services for AON Corporation, on the 103rd floor of the World Trade CenterWorld Trade CenterThe original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
's south tower. Pruim died in the September 11, 2001 attacksSeptember 11, 2001 attacksThe September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
. - Dan BylsmaDan BylsmaDan Bylsma is the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League as of February 15, 2009, replacing Michel Therrien. Prior to coaching the Penguins, he played as a forward in the NHL and coached in the American Hockey League . He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1989...
(Class of 1988), who played for the National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
's Los Angeles KingsLos Angeles KingsThe Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, co-wrote several books with his father, and currently coaches the Pittsburgh PenguinsPittsburgh PenguinsThe Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
hockey team. - Joel DeLassJoel DeLassJoel DeLass is an American soccer player who currently plays for Dayton Dutch Lions in the USL Professional Division.-College and amateur:...
- (Class of 2005), plays professional soccer for the Dayton Dutch LionsDayton Dutch LionsDayton Dutch Lions is an American soccer team based in Dayton, Ohio, United States. Founded in 2009, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having promoted themselves from the USL Premier Development League at the...
of the United Soccer LeaguesUnited Soccer LeaguesThe United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
as of 2011.