First Family Adventures
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
About 5.8 million people, more than half the population of North Carolina are not Christians. More Christian Education is needed to reach the growing population of those who have not heard the Good News. 64% of Christians make a commitment to Christ by the age of 18. An education at Winston Salem Christian allows us to influence the lives of students for over 14,000 hours. Our International program allows us to evangelize by immersion into the Christian culture of WSCS. We are also providing a quality education to a wide variety of students from different socioeconomic backgrounds and cultures. Unlike many private schools, 60% of our population come from Title 1 school districts and come to our school for the small classes and transformative education we can provide.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Early Learning Center
Our Early Learning Center is a year-round, full-time daycare program that offers a quality academic program to children from 3 years through 5 years of age. We are distinctively Christian and we provide both an excellent preschool and quality childcare for students. We provide this childcare and education in a diverse and engaging environment.
Lower School
Our Lower School provides Christian Education in a diverse and inclusive environment that supports families in developing their students for success in the more rigorous and challenging environments of the Upper School.
We transform the lives of our students and introduce them to the love of Christ while providing them with the academic skills they need to reach whatever goals they have for their lives.
Upper School
Our Upper School provides students in grades 6-12 a rigorous education, opportunities to play high level athletics and most importantly develop a Christian worldview. 68% of students make their decisions about their faith before the age of 18. An education at Winston Salem Christian can provide these students 14,000 hours of direct instruction and influence we can have over their lives and their future. These students are given quality instruction in small classrooms and the impact is transformative.
Many of our students are not the traditional private school student. Our students come from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds and it is only through the generosity of donors that we are able to continue to provide quality, Christian instruction to these students.
Our vibrant exchange program also provides us the opportunity to evangelize the world. Instead of providing the opportunity to speak into lives for a week such as on a mission trip, we can speak in to their lives daily for years. This cultural exchange also allows us to provide our local students with the opportunity to experience real diversity and learn more about our world.
Extended Day Program
Our extended day program partners with working parents to provide a safe and fun atmosphere for students outside of the academic day.Counselors provide tutoring and life skills training to students daily. Homework assistance, enrichment activities and experiential learning are all components of our daily schedule.
Summer Camp
Our summer camp allows students to spend summer in safe and engaging environment that helps parents prevent summer slide and engages students throughout the summer. Regular field trips and activities allow students to learn and grow throughout the summer.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
Association of Christian Schools International 2021
North Carolina Association of Independent Schools 2020
Winston Salem Chamber of Commerce 2019
Lewisville-Clemmons Chamber of Commerce 2019
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We are seeking to equip and transform the next generation. We want every student who walks these halls to know the love of Christ, have close relationships with adults who seek to mentor and guide, and to be challenged academically, athletically and spiritually. We seek to create students who are able to accomplish anything they set their mind to and to be able to engage in the world with a Christian worldview. This is something we seek to be able to provide every family who wants it- regardless of their financial situation.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Personalized Instruction: Our classes are designed so that each and every teacher has the ability to give personalized instruction and develop personal relationships with each and every student. No student at WSCS is just another face in a crowd.
Quality Instruction: We seek to engage and challenge each and every student, from our ELC students all the way to our Seniors. We push our students to achieve and provide them the tools necessary to be successful. No matter your starting point, you can improve with hard work and dedication.
Christian Worldview: At WSCS, we do not believe that being Christian compromises the ability to provide a world-class education. Our academics are high-quality and taught with a biblical worldview thanks to teachers that see the world with a Christian lens and impart that information to their students.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Small Classrooms: Our teachers create a nurturing climate that challenges students to pursue their God-given gifts and use them to glorify Him. With an average classroom of 17 students, teachers provide the attention necessary for individual support and challenge.
Experienced Teachers: More than 50% of our teachers boast advanced degrees, and the median experience is 10 years. The relationship you have with a WSCS teacher will be unlike any you have had at other schools, because we are family.
Comprehensive Curriculum: Our students experience a full curriculum of Math, Science, Reading, Literature, History, and Bible. Electives include media, art, music, and physical education. Students benefit from a traditional classroom setting, hands on learning, and experiential trips throughout the year.
Christ Centered: Our teachers embrace the immense responsibility of creating a love for learning and a love for our Savior, as they seek to develop the hearts and minds of these students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In the 40 years that WSCS has served the city of Winston Salem, thousands of students have walked these halls. The number of success stories are innumerable and the impact we see on each individual life is inspiring. We have seen students who hated school come to love it again. Students who were told at other schools that they had no chance at "making it" graduate and go to college. But out story is not done.
We seek to expand our International programs and evangelize the world through Christian education, heal racial tensions by working and living together, and transforming lives by providing scholarships to students who desire to achieve their dreams. But none of this will be possible without a new building. In 2020 we will be moving to a new location. We are seeking to continue the long and rich history of our school in a new location. We are fundraising to provide us the brick and mortar necessary to house the good work we are doing.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
First Family Adventures
Board of directorsas of 09/13/2019
Dr. Bryan Wolfe
Winston Salem Christian School
Travis Hodge
Vulcan Materials
John Sumanth
Wake Forest University
Dave Sloat
U.S. Air Force
Terri Smith
Winston Salem Christian School
Jane Wallace
Winston Salem Christian School
Brian Gaither
New Life Church
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? No -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
No data
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data