Following the mission statement, Westgate strives to integrate its Mennonite foundation into the life of its program. Our school is grounded in our Anabaptist tradition and focuses on developing Biblical literacy and spiritual reflection. At the same time, we welcome and recognize the different Christian traditions and other faith traditions of our students. In fact, we believe that our foundation as a Mennonite school gives us the obligation to be a welcoming and loving place for all of our students whatever their tradition may be. We often say that we become richer as new students with new
traditions become part of our community.
Our schedule includes daily devotions and a weekly chapel. In these activities, students will be invited to sing, pray, and listen to various speakers speak about their faith. Once a year we hold a Spiritual Emphasis Week in which we hold extra chapels, invite guest speakers, and meet in small groups to delve deeper into a topic.
Furthermore, students will take one Christian Studies course in each grade. These courses invite our students to explore their beliefs within the context of a Mennonite school. The courses progress throughout their time at the school. In grades 6-8, students will explore Old and New Testament stories and themes. In grade 9, the focus is on Jesus and the early church. Grade 10 focuses on other religious
traditions such as Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Indigenous Spirituality. In grade 11, students will enter into the arena of Christian ethics. Finally, in grade 12, the focus is on Mennonite history and theology. Our hope is that through the progression of these courses and through participation in
devotions and chapel, students will gain a deeper and richer understanding of their own beliefs and the beliefs of others.
Chapel Theme 2026-27
Justice, Grace, and the Kingdom Banquet
Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. Matthew 9:13
Like the Old Testament prophets before him, Jesus called people to lives of justice and mercy rather than religious ritual. These days we may not offer sacrifices in the Temple, but we are used to paying for access. We pay a subscription fee to Netflix, an entry fee to a concert, and a price for food and shelter. We may even pay to be part of a community, earning our place through certain words and actions. Our world tells us that if we can pay the price, we earn the right; our instincts sometimes tell us that people should get what they ‘deserve’. This way of thinking often reinforces hierarchies in our world: people gain power by demanding payment from others.
God’s justice and grace are not something we earn. This year in chapels we will hear God’s call to restorative justice, to an economy of gift, and to a community of abundant care. Jesus brings an end to sacrificial systems, in which people had to pay a price to meet God, and instead invites all to the banquet table.