UPCOMING EVENTS
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Academy 4 Mentoring with Pillow Elementary
Mentoring a 4th grader with Academy 4 is a great way to get to know other Westover people and make a huge difference in our community. Westover is paired with 4th graders at Pillow Elementary, which is less than 2 miles from Westover. Mentoring with Academy 4 occurs 1 Friday each month for 90 minutes. If you’ve got questions, please contact our Westover coordinator, Bryona Maxwell Bryona.Maxwell@academy4.org
Westover’s mentoring dates for 2025-2026 are (all Fridays): September 18th, October 23rd, November 13th, December 4th, January 22nd, February 19th, March 5th, April 9th, and May 14th.
Spark Clubs are 11:45-1:15pm and mentoring is from 1:00-2:30pm.
Pillow Elementary’s address is 3025 Crosscreek Dr., Austin, TX 78757
Sound like fun? Get started by signing up to mentor through the Academy 4 website here »
Please note: mentoring requires a background check and training, so please sign up in advance
What is Academy 4?
Academy 4 equips communities and churches to build lasting relationships with schools and families through mentoring 4th graders. Academy 4 volunteers come together for 90 minutes, one Friday a month to mentor fourth graders in economically disadvantaged schools in and around DFW, Austin, and Memphis, TN.
Community
You may be asking how we make this happen- how do we provide a mentor for EVERY single 4th grader? It begins with our partnerships with local churches and the community. Every school we serve is partnered with a local church, and then we invite other organizations, business, and community members to come alongside the church to volunteer together.
And that is perhaps the most powerful thing about Academy 4: we all serve together, and collectively we all get to be a part of a community for 4th graders and the entire school! We truly make them feel SPECIAL! They know that there are people in their community that care about them, their teachers, and the whole school!
Why Academy 4?
At the heart of why we do Academy 4 is this simple but profound notion: kids need positive relationships. As this study from 2012 asserts, “positive relationships are the most important thing in a child’s development.” (Source: Pianta, R.C., Hamre, B.K., Allen, J.P. (2012). Teacher-student relationships and engagement: Conceptualizing, measuring, and improving the capacity of classroom interactions. In S.L. Christenson et al+, (Eds), Handbook of research on student engagement, p. 369)
Why 4th Grade?
Fourth graders are becoming more individualistic, and their values and morals are forming.
4th graders are on the cusp of adolescence, have the language skills and cognitive ability to gather information, formulate opinions and thoughts that are well-organized and thought-out.
They are at a stage between childhood and adolescence where they are more open to and listen to adults.
A study (Schmidt, McVaugh, & Jacobi) showed impact of mentoring is greater for 4th over 5th graders. They compared a group of 4th graders with mentors, a group of 4th graders without, and a group of 5th graders with mentors. Not only did the 4th graders with mentors have better results than their peers without a mentor, they also performed better than the 5th graders with mentors. And that’s because they just still like adults and are more receptive to learning from and spending time with them.
Also, 4th graders are fun to be around!
Research about the Impact of mentoring
Source: MENTOR (https://www.mentoring.org/mentoring-impact/)
74% of those who had a meaningful mentor say that person contributed significantly to their success later in life.
69% of young adults say that this key relationship has helped them with issues related to their education.
58% say their mentor has supported their mental health.
92% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities.
75% More likely to have held a leadership position in a club or sports team.
What is a Title 1 School?
Title 1 is a designation based on the number of low-income students who are considered at-risk for school achievement. To be considered a Title 1 school, a minimum of 40% of the students must qualify for free or reduced lunch. On average, 70-80% of the students in the schools Academy 4 serves qualify for free or reduced lunch.
How hard is mentoring?… Mentoring is easy!
The time commitment is just 90 minutes, one Friday a month!
If you can’t make any of the program dates, we will find a substitute for you
You will be mentoring alongside other adults
There is no preparation required—we will equip you with training before each mentoring session. All you have to do is show up!
Each month, you and your mentee will work through our research-based curriculum, that makes it easy to facilitate conversation and to get to know your mentee
How To Sign Up to Mentor: Easy as 1,2,3...
Sign Up Online at https://academy4.org/mentor
Do the required background check and short online training
Add the program dates to your calendar and show up!
Academy 4 Mentoring with Pillow Elementary
Mentoring a 4th grader with Academy 4 is a great way to get to know other Westover people and make a huge difference in our community. Westover is paired with 4th graders at Pillow Elementary, which is less than 2 miles from Westover. Mentoring with Academy 4 occurs 1 Friday each month for 90 minutes. If you’ve got questions, please contact our Westover coordinator, Bryona Maxwell Bryona.Maxwell@academy4.org
Westover’s mentoring dates for 2025-2026 are (all Fridays): September 18th, October 23rd, November 13th, December 4th, January 22nd, February 19th, March 5th, April 9th, and May 14th.
Spark Clubs are 11:45-1:15pm and mentoring is from 1:00-2:30pm.
Pillow Elementary’s address is 3025 Crosscreek Dr., Austin, TX 78757
Sound like fun? Get started by signing up to mentor through the Academy 4 website here »
Please note: mentoring requires a background check and training, so please sign up in advance
What is Academy 4?
Academy 4 equips communities and churches to build lasting relationships with schools and families through mentoring 4th graders. Academy 4 volunteers come together for 90 minutes, one Friday a month to mentor fourth graders in economically disadvantaged schools in and around DFW, Austin, and Memphis, TN.
Community
You may be asking how we make this happen- how do we provide a mentor for EVERY single 4th grader? It begins with our partnerships with local churches and the community. Every school we serve is partnered with a local church, and then we invite other organizations, business, and community members to come alongside the church to volunteer together.
And that is perhaps the most powerful thing about Academy 4: we all serve together, and collectively we all get to be a part of a community for 4th graders and the entire school! We truly make them feel SPECIAL! They know that there are people in their community that care about them, their teachers, and the whole school!
Why Academy 4?
At the heart of why we do Academy 4 is this simple but profound notion: kids need positive relationships. As this study from 2012 asserts, “positive relationships are the most important thing in a child’s development.” (Source: Pianta, R.C., Hamre, B.K., Allen, J.P. (2012). Teacher-student relationships and engagement: Conceptualizing, measuring, and improving the capacity of classroom interactions. In S.L. Christenson et al+, (Eds), Handbook of research on student engagement, p. 369)
Why 4th Grade?
Fourth graders are becoming more individualistic, and their values and morals are forming.
4th graders are on the cusp of adolescence, have the language skills and cognitive ability to gather information, formulate opinions and thoughts that are well-organized and thought-out.
They are at a stage between childhood and adolescence where they are more open to and listen to adults.
A study (Schmidt, McVaugh, & Jacobi) showed impact of mentoring is greater for 4th over 5th graders. They compared a group of 4th graders with mentors, a group of 4th graders without, and a group of 5th graders with mentors. Not only did the 4th graders with mentors have better results than their peers without a mentor, they also performed better than the 5th graders with mentors. And that’s because they just still like adults and are more receptive to learning from and spending time with them.
Also, 4th graders are fun to be around!
Research about the Impact of mentoring
Source: MENTOR (https://www.mentoring.org/mentoring-impact/)
74% of those who had a meaningful mentor say that person contributed significantly to their success later in life.
69% of young adults say that this key relationship has helped them with issues related to their education.
58% say their mentor has supported their mental health.
92% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities.
75% More likely to have held a leadership position in a club or sports team.
What is a Title 1 School?
Title 1 is a designation based on the number of low-income students who are considered at-risk for school achievement. To be considered a Title 1 school, a minimum of 40% of the students must qualify for free or reduced lunch. On average, 70-80% of the students in the schools Academy 4 serves qualify for free or reduced lunch.
How hard is mentoring?… Mentoring is easy!
The time commitment is just 90 minutes, one Friday a month!
If you can’t make any of the program dates, we will find a substitute for you
You will be mentoring alongside other adults
There is no preparation required—we will equip you with training before each mentoring session. All you have to do is show up!
Each month, you and your mentee will work through our research-based curriculum, that makes it easy to facilitate conversation and to get to know your mentee
How To Sign Up to Mentor: Easy as 1,2,3...
Sign Up Online at https://academy4.org/mentor
Do the required background check and short online training
Add the program dates to your calendar and show up!
Missions Fair
Visit the Westover foyer between Bible class hour and worship to learn about Westover’s many global missions efforts, including opportunities for you and your family to get involved. You’ll learn about short term mission opportunities, service projects, sponsorship, and more.
Academy 4 Mentoring with Pillow Elementary
Mentoring a 4th grader with Academy 4 is a great way to get to know other Westover people and make a huge difference in our community. Westover is paired with 4th graders at Pillow Elementary, which is less than 2 miles from Westover. Mentoring with Academy 4 occurs 1 Friday each month for 90 minutes. If you’ve got questions, please contact our Westover coordinator, Bryona Maxwell Bryona.Maxwell@academy4.org
Westover’s mentoring dates for 2025-2026 are (all Fridays): September 18th, October 23rd, November 13th, December 4th, January 22nd, February 19th, March 5th, April 9th, and May 14th.
Spark Clubs are 11:45-1:15pm and mentoring is from 1:00-2:30pm.
Pillow Elementary’s address is 3025 Crosscreek Dr., Austin, TX 78757
Sound like fun? Get started by signing up to mentor through the Academy 4 website here »
Please note: mentoring requires a background check and training, so please sign up in advance
What is Academy 4?
Academy 4 equips communities and churches to build lasting relationships with schools and families through mentoring 4th graders. Academy 4 volunteers come together for 90 minutes, one Friday a month to mentor fourth graders in economically disadvantaged schools in and around DFW, Austin, and Memphis, TN.
Community
You may be asking how we make this happen- how do we provide a mentor for EVERY single 4th grader? It begins with our partnerships with local churches and the community. Every school we serve is partnered with a local church, and then we invite other organizations, business, and community members to come alongside the church to volunteer together.
And that is perhaps the most powerful thing about Academy 4: we all serve together, and collectively we all get to be a part of a community for 4th graders and the entire school! We truly make them feel SPECIAL! They know that there are people in their community that care about them, their teachers, and the whole school!
Why Academy 4?
At the heart of why we do Academy 4 is this simple but profound notion: kids need positive relationships. As this study from 2012 asserts, “positive relationships are the most important thing in a child’s development.” (Source: Pianta, R.C., Hamre, B.K., Allen, J.P. (2012). Teacher-student relationships and engagement: Conceptualizing, measuring, and improving the capacity of classroom interactions. In S.L. Christenson et al+, (Eds), Handbook of research on student engagement, p. 369)
Why 4th Grade?
Fourth graders are becoming more individualistic, and their values and morals are forming.
4th graders are on the cusp of adolescence, have the language skills and cognitive ability to gather information, formulate opinions and thoughts that are well-organized and thought-out.
They are at a stage between childhood and adolescence where they are more open to and listen to adults.
A study (Schmidt, McVaugh, & Jacobi) showed impact of mentoring is greater for 4th over 5th graders. They compared a group of 4th graders with mentors, a group of 4th graders without, and a group of 5th graders with mentors. Not only did the 4th graders with mentors have better results than their peers without a mentor, they also performed better than the 5th graders with mentors. And that’s because they just still like adults and are more receptive to learning from and spending time with them.
Also, 4th graders are fun to be around!
Research about the Impact of mentoring
Source: MENTOR (https://www.mentoring.org/mentoring-impact/)
74% of those who had a meaningful mentor say that person contributed significantly to their success later in life.
69% of young adults say that this key relationship has helped them with issues related to their education.
58% say their mentor has supported their mental health.
92% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities.
75% More likely to have held a leadership position in a club or sports team.
What is a Title 1 School?
Title 1 is a designation based on the number of low-income students who are considered at-risk for school achievement. To be considered a Title 1 school, a minimum of 40% of the students must qualify for free or reduced lunch. On average, 70-80% of the students in the schools Academy 4 serves qualify for free or reduced lunch.
How hard is mentoring?… Mentoring is easy!
The time commitment is just 90 minutes, one Friday a month!
If you can’t make any of the program dates, we will find a substitute for you
You will be mentoring alongside other adults
There is no preparation required—we will equip you with training before each mentoring session. All you have to do is show up!
Each month, you and your mentee will work through our research-based curriculum, that makes it easy to facilitate conversation and to get to know your mentee
How To Sign Up to Mentor: Easy as 1,2,3...
Sign Up Online at https://academy4.org/mentor
Do the required background check and short online training
Add the program dates to your calendar and show up!
Artreach Gift Fair
Shop once and give twice with Austin’s #1 ethical gift fair, hosted at Westover.
Academy 4 Mentoring with Pillow Elementary
Mentoring a 4th grader with Academy 4 is a great way to get to know other Westover people and make a huge difference in our community. Westover is paired with 4th graders at Pillow Elementary, which is less than 2 miles from Westover. Mentoring with Academy 4 occurs 1 Friday each month for 90 minutes. If you’ve got questions, please contact our Westover coordinator, Bryona Maxwell Bryona.Maxwell@academy4.org
Westover’s mentoring dates for 2025-2026 are (all Fridays): September 18th, October 23rd, November 13th, December 4th, January 22nd, February 19th, March 5th, April 9th, and May 14th.
Spark Clubs are 11:45-1:15pm and mentoring is from 1:00-2:30pm.
Pillow Elementary’s address is 3025 Crosscreek Dr., Austin, TX 78757
Sound like fun? Get started by signing up to mentor through the Academy 4 website here »
Please note: mentoring requires a background check and training, so please sign up in advance
What is Academy 4?
Academy 4 equips communities and churches to build lasting relationships with schools and families through mentoring 4th graders. Academy 4 volunteers come together for 90 minutes, one Friday a month to mentor fourth graders in economically disadvantaged schools in and around DFW, Austin, and Memphis, TN.
Community
You may be asking how we make this happen- how do we provide a mentor for EVERY single 4th grader? It begins with our partnerships with local churches and the community. Every school we serve is partnered with a local church, and then we invite other organizations, business, and community members to come alongside the church to volunteer together.
And that is perhaps the most powerful thing about Academy 4: we all serve together, and collectively we all get to be a part of a community for 4th graders and the entire school! We truly make them feel SPECIAL! They know that there are people in their community that care about them, their teachers, and the whole school!
Why Academy 4?
At the heart of why we do Academy 4 is this simple but profound notion: kids need positive relationships. As this study from 2012 asserts, “positive relationships are the most important thing in a child’s development.” (Source: Pianta, R.C., Hamre, B.K., Allen, J.P. (2012). Teacher-student relationships and engagement: Conceptualizing, measuring, and improving the capacity of classroom interactions. In S.L. Christenson et al+, (Eds), Handbook of research on student engagement, p. 369)
Why 4th Grade?
Fourth graders are becoming more individualistic, and their values and morals are forming.
4th graders are on the cusp of adolescence, have the language skills and cognitive ability to gather information, formulate opinions and thoughts that are well-organized and thought-out.
They are at a stage between childhood and adolescence where they are more open to and listen to adults.
A study (Schmidt, McVaugh, & Jacobi) showed impact of mentoring is greater for 4th over 5th graders. They compared a group of 4th graders with mentors, a group of 4th graders without, and a group of 5th graders with mentors. Not only did the 4th graders with mentors have better results than their peers without a mentor, they also performed better than the 5th graders with mentors. And that’s because they just still like adults and are more receptive to learning from and spending time with them.
Also, 4th graders are fun to be around!
Research about the Impact of mentoring
Source: MENTOR (https://www.mentoring.org/mentoring-impact/)
74% of those who had a meaningful mentor say that person contributed significantly to their success later in life.
69% of young adults say that this key relationship has helped them with issues related to their education.
58% say their mentor has supported their mental health.
92% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities.
75% More likely to have held a leadership position in a club or sports team.
What is a Title 1 School?
Title 1 is a designation based on the number of low-income students who are considered at-risk for school achievement. To be considered a Title 1 school, a minimum of 40% of the students must qualify for free or reduced lunch. On average, 70-80% of the students in the schools Academy 4 serves qualify for free or reduced lunch.
How hard is mentoring?… Mentoring is easy!
The time commitment is just 90 minutes, one Friday a month!
If you can’t make any of the program dates, we will find a substitute for you
You will be mentoring alongside other adults
There is no preparation required—we will equip you with training before each mentoring session. All you have to do is show up!
Each month, you and your mentee will work through our research-based curriculum, that makes it easy to facilitate conversation and to get to know your mentee
How To Sign Up to Mentor: Easy as 1,2,3...
Sign Up Online at https://academy4.org/mentor
Do the required background check and short online training
Add the program dates to your calendar and show up!
Anderson High School Teacher Appreciation Lunch
We love our Anderson High School community! To show our appreciation for all that the teachers and staff do, Westover is hosting lunch for them on Monday, August 17th.
This yearly tradition is always a highlight for the school staff, and we’d love your help making it a success. Whether you can lend a hand with set up, serving, and clean up, or simply bring a delicious dessert, every bit helps.
SIGN UP HERE TO BRING A DESSERT OR VOLUNTEER TO HELP MAKE THE LUNCHEON A SUCCESS →
School Supplies + Tennis Shoes Drive
Let’s help our kids step into the new school year on the right foot! We are collecting brand-new tennis shoes, backpacks, and school supplies for our Westover community.
Supply Wish List:
New tennis shoes (all children's and adult sizes needed) No used shoes please.
Backpacks and Pencil Pouches
Pencils, crayons, & colored pencils
Glue sticks & scissors
Spiral & composition notebooks
Wide-ruled paper & pocket folders (with brads)
Kleenex boxes
Drop-off Deadline: Wednesday, August 6th at Westover.
Prefer to give financially?
Donate online HERE » (select Backpack Fund)
Or text WESTOVER Backpacks to 73256.
Your kindness makes a huge difference—thank you for supporting our community!
Lima, Peru Mission Trip
Every summer for over 20 years, Westover has sent a team of volunteers to Lima, Peru. This year's trip is June 30th through July 8th. The purpose of the visit is to produce a giant VBS for students in a poor community outside Lima. In partnership with a school and children's home, we build relationships with students, share the love of Christ, encourage the staff, play sports, explore STEM projects, and much more. Over the years, many young people have given their lives to Christ. It is an honor for Westover to be part of this amazing transformation of young hearts and lives. Want to get involved? Here are 2 ways:
☝️ Join the trip! If you are interested coming to Peru, please attend the informational meeting on Sunday, February 8th, right after worship in the Library at Westover. Or if you missed/can't make the meeting, just talk to Cyndy Miller.
✌️ Volunteer to help prep! With over a thousand students participating in programs, we have A LOT of supplies and materials to prep in advance. Every Wednesday, from 11am to 2pm, volunteers meet in the Library at Westover to help out. Talk to Cyndy if you want to help, or just show up!
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Mission Trip
This is an exciting new opportunity for Westover to connect and work with teens in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Igreja da Vitoria Church of Christ in the heart of Rio de Janeiro has a growing sports ministry with Brazilian youth in the city. This June, Westover is helping lead a retreat for the youth program, for the purpose of helping teens connect with Christ and with one another, and as an outreach tool so that more young people learn about the work Igreja da Vitoria is going. Talk with Ricky Mata (mata.ricardo.e@gmail.com) for more information or to save your spot.
Volunteer with Academy 4
Please note: this is the last Academy 4 mentoring day of the school year. We’ll see you again in the fall!
Serve with Academy 4!
Academy 4 is a local nonprofit organization that pairs 4th grade students in economically disadvantaged schools with a mentor. Students meet with their mentors monthly for 90 minutes to walk through a leadership development curriculum from which they learn a new leadership trait each month (Listen, Encourage, Attitude, Develop, Example, Respect, Serve). Through the simple vehicle of a positive relationship with a dependable adult, 4th grade students gain a greater sense of self-worth, a positive view of the future, increased engagement in school, and encouragement for greater academic achievement.
Westover has been volunteering with Academy 4 since 2018, and our volunteers are paired with students at Pillow Elementary School. We serve together one Friday each month. This is a great way to share God’s love with young people in Austin.
If you are interested in volunteering with Academy 4 alongside 40+ other Westover members:
Please email Glenn Scott (tglennscott86@gmail.com) or complete the form on Westover’s Serve page.
When you volunteer with Academy 4, you have the option to mentor (which is what most people do) or you may also lead a club.
Club Leaders lead clubs from 11:30am-1:00pm. Clubs are themed around topics like American Sign Language, cooking, engineering, financial literacy, and golf.
Mentoring occurs from 1:00pm-2:30pm.
All volunteers meet at Pillow Elementary, 3025 Crosscreek Drive, Austin, TX 78757
Volunteer with Academy 4
Serve with Academy 4!
Academy 4 is a local nonprofit organization that pairs 4th grade students in economically disadvantaged schools with a mentor. Students meet with their mentors monthly for 90 minutes to walk through a leadership development curriculum from which they learn a new leadership trait each month (Listen, Encourage, Attitude, Develop, Example, Respect, Serve). Through the simple vehicle of a positive relationship with a dependable adult, 4th grade students gain a greater sense of self-worth, a positive view of the future, increased engagement in school, and encouragement for greater academic achievement.
Westover has been volunteering with Academy 4 since 2018, and our volunteers are paired with students at Pillow Elementary School. We serve together one Friday each month. This is a great way to share God’s love with young people in Austin.
If you are interested in volunteering with Academy 4 alongside 40+ other Westover members:
Please email Glenn Scott (tglennscott86@gmail.com) or complete the form on Westover’s Serve page.
When you volunteer with Academy 4, you have the option to mentor (which is what most people do) or you may also lead a club.
Club Leaders lead clubs from 11:30am-1:00pm. Clubs are themed around topics like American Sign Language, cooking, engineering, financial literacy, and golf.
Mentoring occurs from 1:00pm-2:30pm.
All volunteers meet at Pillow Elementary, 3025 Crosscreek Drive, Austin, TX 78757
Longhorns for Christ Rodeo Party Missions Fundraiser
RODEO PARTY: Longhorns for Christ Missions Fundraiser
Saturday, April 18 | 5pm
Help send twelve Longhorns for Christ students to six week Let's Start Talking mission projects in Japan, Brazil, Germany, and Italy this summer.
Do it with BBQ, carnival games, music, two stepping, and lots of family fun!
LFC Rodeo Party on Saturday, April 18, 5pm at the Longhorns for Christ Campus Center - 1909 University Avenue.
Tickets available at longhornsforchrist.org/rodeo
Or in the lobby before and after worship on Sunday, April 5 and 12
Adults: $15
Family: $20
Students: $7
Volunteer with Academy 4
Serve with Academy 4!
Academy 4 is a local nonprofit organization that pairs 4th grade students in economically disadvantaged schools with a mentor. Students meet with their mentors monthly for 90 minutes to walk through a leadership development curriculum from which they learn a new leadership trait each month (Listen, Encourage, Attitude, Develop, Example, Respect, Serve). Through the simple vehicle of a positive relationship with a dependable adult, 4th grade students gain a greater sense of self-worth, a positive view of the future, increased engagement in school, and encouragement for greater academic achievement.
Westover has been volunteering with Academy 4 since 2018, and our volunteers are paired with students at Pillow Elementary School. We serve together one Friday each month. This is a great way to share God’s love with young people in Austin.
If you are interested in volunteering with Academy 4 alongside 40+ other Westover members:
Please email Glenn Scott (tglennscott86@gmail.com) or complete the form on Westover’s Serve page.
When you volunteer with Academy 4, you have the option to mentor (which is what most people do) or you may also lead a club.
Club Leaders lead clubs from 11:30am-1:00pm. Clubs are themed around topics like American Sign Language, cooking, engineering, financial literacy, and golf.
Mentoring occurs from 1:00pm-2:30pm.
All volunteers meet at Pillow Elementary, 3025 Crosscreek Drive, Austin, TX 78757