News & Events
News
2026
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Merciful
Read Moreby John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation, based on this week's MS/HS Chapel
This week, we continue with the fifth beatitude found in Matthew 5:7:
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”Are you someone who can let things go? Or do you find yourself constantly fighting for justice, making sure every wrong is made right?This beatitude isn’t difficult to understand—Jesus’ words are crystal clear. The challenge isn’t comprehension, it’s self- awareness. The real question is: how do you respond when someone wrongs you? When someone offends you, hurts you, takes what’s yours, lies about you, or lets you down— what’s your instinct? Is it mercy?There’s a universal truth about human nature: when we are in the wrong, we hope for mercy. We want understanding, grace, and a second chance. But when someone else is in the wrong—especially if it’s against us—we demand justice. We want them to feel the consequences of what they’ve done. We want fairness. We want payback.Jesus flips this instinct on its head. He says if you want mercy, you need to extend mercy. And by implication, if you insist on justice for others, you may find yourself receiving justice as well. That’s a sobering thought.To apply this beatitude to our lives, we have to begin with an honest admission: we are sinners. Every one of us. A perfect person could demand justice without fear—they’d never need mercy because they’d never do anything wrong. But that’s not us. We are far from perfect. We mess up. We fall short. We hurt others. We need grace more often than we’d like to admit.Mercy requires humility. It calls us to treat others not as they deserve, but as we hope to be treated when we’re at our worst. And the blessing Jesus promises is both practical and profound: when we live with mercy in our hearts, we create a world where mercy flows both ways.So this week, ask yourself: In what situation do I need to choose mercy over justice? Where have I been holding onto offense instead of offering grace? Because Jesus is clear—the merciful will be shown mercy. -
Mark Your Calendar for Middle School Athletic Tryouts
Read MoreSoftball
Monday/Tuesday, 2/2 & 2/3, 4 p.m.
Location: Palmetto Bay ParkGirls Track
Monday/Tuesday, 2/2 & 2/3, 3:30 pm
Location: TrackBoys Track
Wednesday, 2/4, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday 2/5, 2:30 p.m.
Location: TrackBeach Volleyball
Monday 2/9, 3:30 p.m.
Location: Coral Reef ParkBoys Lacrosse
Wednesday 2/18, 3:30 p.m.Thursday 2/19, 2:30 p.m.
Location: Gutierrez FieldGirls Lacrosse
Wednesday 2/18, 3:30 p.m.Thursday 2/19, 2:30 p.m.
Location: Gutierrez Field -
Hunger for Righteousness
Read Moreby John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation, based on this week's MS/HS Chapel
This week, we continue with the fourth beatitude found in Matthew 5:6:
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”Here’s a truth about our physical desires: they’re never fully satisfied. Think about it—have you ever been truly, painfully hungry? Maybe you skipped breakfast, powered through lunch with too much to do, and by 3:30 p.m. you’ve got a headache and a growling stomach. You’re cranky, foggy, and desperate for something to eat. Then, after a quick meal, you feel totally fine—until a few hours later, when the cycle begins again.It’s the same with thirst. You can’t chug three gallons of water on Monday and expect to be hydrated for your track meet on Thursday. Our physical cravings are persistent. They demand regular attention. You can satisfy them momentarily, but you can’t fulfill them permanently.Jesus uses this common experience to point to a deeper spiritual truth. In this beatitude, He shifts the focus from physical hunger to spiritual longing: hunger and thirst for righteousness. He’s asking, “What are you really craving? What are you pursuing like your life depends on it?”Unlike physical appetites, Jesus promises that the hunger for righteousness—living rightly with God and others, aligning our lives with His will—can lead to true fulfillment. But it starts with desire. It starts with being spiritually hungry.This idea echoes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. In Genesis, Eve looked at the fruit and saw that it was “good for food.” Her physical appetite played a role in humanity’s first rebellion. Jesus, in contrast, is inviting us to redirect our desires. He isn’t just correcting Eve’s hunger—He’s redeeming it. He’s saying: “Let your deepest craving be for what is good, true, and lasting.”So ask yourself: What am I truly hungry for? Am I chasing temporary satisfaction or eternal fulfillment? Jesus promises that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. Not temporarily—but fully, deeply, and eternally. -
MS Grandparents' Day: March 12
Share this special invitation with your child's grandparents.Read More
Grandparents of middle school students are invited for a special morning on campus on Thursday, March 12, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Grandparents will be celebrated and enjoy brunch with their grandchild(ren) in the Student Activities Center, followed by a special assembly.
Comfortable shoes are recommended as the morning includes walking across campus together.
Share this REGISTRATION LINK with your child's grandparent. -
Support Westminster Fine Arts Students at Jazz Night
Read MoreJazz Night takes place on Friday, February 6, and Saturday, February 7, 2026, in Beacon Hall!
Event and program sponsors are invited to an exclusive, limited-seating dinner show on Saturday, February 7 at 7 p.m. Thank you to our sponsors: Doctors Barquin and Guardiola, Carolina Santos Brandao; Seth Carlson; and the Clarke, Conley, Gilchrist, Herrero, Hirzel, Lopetegui, Newcomm, Rovira, Seagren and Spivak families.
SPONSOR AND ATTEND THE FEBRUARY 7 PERFORMANCE (Limited Seats Remain)PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THE GENERAL ADMISSION FEBRUARY 6 PERFORMANCE
Your support creates meaningful opportunities for our Fine Arts students, enabling them to travel to new places, perform in exciting venues, and build memories that fuel their artistic journey. For more information, please contact Fine Arts Director Angie Spivak-Lopez. -
Meek
This week, we continue with the third beatitude found in Matthew 5:5:Read More
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
“Meek” isn’t a word we hear much these days. And when we do, it often carries a negative tone. It sounds soft, timid—like how you might describe a mouse or someone who struggles to speak up for themselves. In the words of our eighth graders, you might hear someone say meek is “low key beta.”
So why does Jesus declare that the meek will inherit the earth—a reward we typically associate with power, ambition, influence, or assertiveness? How can meekness lead to something as vast and substantial as the earth itself?
To understand this beatitude, we need to redefine our assumptions. Meekness is not weakness. It isn’t being a pushover or avoiding conflict out of fear. True meekness is strength under control. It’s the ability to put others ahead of yourself—not because you lack confidence, but because you possess the kind of inner strength that doesn’t need to dominate.
Jesus isn’t praising passivity. He’s lifting up a way of being that values humility, gentleness, and self-restraint in a world that constantly pushes for self-promotion. The meek are those who live with others in mind. They don’t insist on their own way at every turn, and they don’t see life as a competition where only the loudest or strongest win.
When we live with ourselves at the center, our world shrinks to the size of one. But when we learn to see others, to care, to yield when appropriate, our world expands. We become connected, open, generous—and that’s the kind of life that truly inherits the earth.
Perhaps Jesus is inviting us to consider that we’re short- changing ourselves when we make everything about us. Real blessing, He suggests, comes when we let go of control, embrace humility, and trust that the way of gentleness leads to greater things.
So ask yourself: Where might meekness be more powerful than pride this week? And what might God want to give you—not by grabbing hold, but by letting go? -
The CCC Hosts Junior Parent Night About College Admissions: February 5
The College Counseling Center invites you to attend Junior Parent Night: College Admissions Presentation on Thursday, February 5, at 6:30 p.m. in The Lighthouse.Read More
This presentation is a critical step in understanding the college admissions process and what lies ahead for your student. We will cover essential topics including:- Junior year and Senior year timeline for college admissions
- SAT and ACT testing and planning
- The differences between early decision, early action, and regular decision
- How families can best support their student throughout the process
We look forward to seeing you on February 5. -
Mourners
Read Moreby John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation, based on this week's MS/HS ChapelThis week, we continue with the second beatitude found in Matthew 5:4:
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
At first glance, this verse sounds like a contradiction. How can someone who is mourning—someone in the depths of grief—be considered blessed? Mourning is tied to loss, pain, and heartache. It doesn’t feel desirable, let alone like a pathway to blessing. And yet, Jesus makes this bold promise: those who mourn will be comforted.
The truth is, grief touches all of us—often more frequently than we realize. While we tend to associate mourning with funerals or major life tragedies, the need to grieve surfaces in everyday disappointments, too.
Consider a scene at Starbucks: after waiting in a painfully long line, you finally step up to order your favorite drink—a venti oat milk chai latte—only to be told they’ve run out of oat milk. Your sigh and half-defeated “Okay, fine, I’ll take almond,” is a small expression of grief. You’ve let go of the ideal you were holding onto and accepted something less than perfect. It might sound trivial, but it reveals something deeper: every loss, big or small, invites us to acknowledge what we hoped for and come to terms with what is.
You could have refused to grieve. You could have clung to your ideal, raised your voice, and tried to force the world to meet your expectations. But reality doesn’t always bend to our will. And when we try to ignore our grief—when we pretend, we’re fine or demand control—we miss the very thing Jesus promises: comfort.
Grief is not weakness; it’s a doorway. When we allow ourselves to mourn—whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a dream, or even oat milk—we acknowledge our limits and our longing. And in that honest space, God meets us. He doesn’t shame our sorrow. He sits with us in it. And through His presence, we find real comfort.
So this week, ask yourself: What loss have I minimized or ignored? Where do I need to make space to mourn? Because in that space, Jesus says, we are blessed—and we will be comforted. -
UM Spirit Day – January 16
Next Friday, January 16, in addition to our usual Swag Day, students may also wear UM gear in support of the National Championship Game. Go Canes!Read More -
Student Sign-Out Policy Reminder
Read MoreAs part of our ongoing commitment to student safety, campus security, and instructional consistency, we would like to remind families of an important policy regarding student sign-outs during the school day.Students are not permitted to sign out for lunch and return to campus afterward. When a student is signed out by a parent or guardian through the Concierge app, that sign-out is considered a dismissal for the remainder of the school day.
The only exception to this policy is a verified medical appointment. In those cases:- Students must still be signed out by a parent or guardian via the Concierge app.
- Upon returning to campus, students must sign back in at the Concierge Kiosk in the High School Office. A doctor’s note is required in order for the student to be readmitted and for attendance to be updated.
- Appropriate student supervision
- Strong campus security practices
- Consistency in attendance and instructional time
We are grateful for your understanding and partnership as we work together to maintain a safe, structured, and orderly learning environment for all students. -
Updated Class of 2026 Roadmap: Mark Your Calendars!
Read MoreBelow is an overview and tentative schedule of the special events planned to create lasting memories and to honor and celebrate your child's senior year. Parents are encouraged to attend events marked with an asterisk (*).Class of 2026 RoadmapDateEventLocationPrice (if any)February 26, 2026*Junior/Senior Ring Ceremony at 7 p.m.Beacon HallVaries by RingMarch 12-15, 2026Senior TripBoston$2200April 11, 2026Junior/Senior Prom at 7 p.m.Trump Doral$180/personApril 17, 2026Junior/Senior Brunch at 10:30 a.m.Rusty Pelican$75/personApril 28, 2026*Senior Chapel at 12:45 p.m.The LighthouseN/AApril 30, 2026College Decision DayN/AN/AMay 1, 2026Last Day of Class for Seniors(AP Exams May 4-15)N/AN/AMay 1, 2026*Senior Caravan and Family FunHS ConcourseN/AMay 11, 2026*Senior Brick Laying Ceremony at 6 p.m.The Memorial FoundationVariedMay 11, 2026*Senior Cords & Awards Ceremony at 7 p.m.The LighthouseN/AMay 14, 2026Graduation Rehearsal, 8 a.m.SACN/AMay 15, 2026*Graduation Ceremony at 6 p.m.Knight Concert Hall, Adrienne Arsht Center6 Comp TicketsIf you have any questions or need further information, please contact Jenny Pino in the Student Life Office at 305-233-2030, ext. 1324. We look forward to celebrating with you and making this senior year unforgettable for your child!Please note that all events and dates are subject to change. -
Poor in Spirit
Read Moreby John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation, based on this week's MS/HS ChapelThis week, we begin with the first beatitude found in Matthew 5:3: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Just a few weeks ago, many of us were unwrapping Christmas gifts—things we had longed for, talked about, and eagerly anticipated. In those first moments, the excitement is real. We’re thrilled. We’re grateful. But it doesn’t take long before those once-treasured gifts lose their luster. The thing we once “had to have” becomes just another item on our shelf—or worse, something we’re already thinking about replacing. This cycle reveals a deeper truth: stuff, no matter how shiny or satisfying in the moment, was never meant to fulfill us for long.
Jesus understood this. In fact, He begins His most famous sermon—the Sermon on the Mount—with a powerful and countercultural statement: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” At first glance, this seems confusing. Why would poverty of any kind—especially of spirit—be considered a blessing? Isn’t the goal to be rich in spirit, strong, full, and confident?
But Jesus flips our assumptions upside down. To be “poor in spirit” means to recognize our need—our spiritual emptiness apart from God. It’s the realization that we can’t earn or manufacture meaning on our own. We’re not self-sufficient, and that’s not a flaw—it’s the doorway to something greater.
When we admit our spiritual poverty, we create space for God to move in. We become open to His grace, His truth, and His kingdom. And that kingdom is not like the kingdoms of this world. It isn’t built on possessions, power, or popularity. It’s a kingdom marked by peace, joy, humility, and purpose—things no amount of stuff can ever truly offer.
So as we reflect on this beatitude, let’s ask: What am I clinging to for fulfillment? Am I willing to let go of the illusion of self-sufficiency and admit my need? Because Jesus promises that it’s in that very place of honest humility that we find the kingdom of heaven.
Westminster Christian School, located in Palmetto Bay, Florida, is a private, college-preparatory school for children from preschool through twelfth grade.