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Mondays with Mike: Mid-Summer and Best of

July 14, 2025

PCA Families,

It is a true New England July: hot sun, sudden afternoon thunderstorms, and that unmistakable blend of salty air and hayfields ready for cutting. The young turkeys are wandering across campus, the ospreys out on their power-line perch are tending to their fledglings, and a knobby-antlered baby buck has been grazing down near Rabbit Run.

Every Tuesday and Thursday you can catch the cross-country team pounding the new trail. This past Thursday and Friday we the senior prefects dove into leadership training. Daily we watch Eagle Camp kids darting between field games and crafts with full summer energy.

I love this time of year—not just for the stillness under the trees or the long twilight walks—but for the chance to slow down, reconnect, and reflect. It has been a joy to bump into so many of you: some just back from a trip or a national park, others staying local and soaking in all that makes summer in New Hampshire and the Seacoast so restorative.

In that spirit, this week’s Mondays with Mike is a quiet one—a pause to look back on what shaped us this past year. Below are the Top 10 most-listened-to episodes from August 2024 through July 2025. These stories capture joy, growth, courage, and faithfulness in ways that remind us of who we are and what God is doing in and through our children and our community at PCA.

Which episode is your favorite?

A person wearing a hat and backpack walks on a grassy path beside a brown dog, surrounded by tall grass and trees under a partly cloudy sky. — *Out hiking with Penny our dog on the PCA XC Course–this is Butterfly Field.*

A group of children and a teen, all wearing matching maroon t-shirts, stand between two buses in a parking lot, preparing to board. — *Eagle Campers back from Portland Sea Dogs game!*

Podcast “Top-10” from the 2024-2025 School Year

Eight teenagers stand side by side outside a brick building, some with arms around each other, dressed in casual athletic clothing. — *PCA Senior Prefects at their summer training retreat*

A group of people sit and stand around a campfire in the woods, roasting food on sticks, with chairs and supplies nearby. — *Student leaders rotated leadership on each major event, putting leadership into action–lunch is a training event!*

A grassy field with tall dry grass and scattered white wildflowers, with a line of green trees in the background under a cloudy sky.

A deer stands on green grass near the edge of a wooded area, surrounded by trees and foliage.

We love telling stories about your children and how they are growing in faith, knowledge, and strength. Here’s the full 108-episode breakdown from August 2024 through this year:

🧠 Academic Growth (25 episodes) These episodes capture how PCA students are growing as thinkers and learners, engaging God’s world with curiosity, discipline, and excellence.

Reflections on capstone projects and senior academic growth
Behind-the-scenes glimpses into Humanities, STEM, and feedback surveys
Dual Enrollment and AP coursework highlights
Student-led tutoring and academic support testimonies
Department spotlights in Science, Robotics, Math, and the Arts
Teacher interviews on instructional design and whole-child learning

🙏 Spiritual Formation (17 episodes) Spiritual formation remains central to PCA’s mission. These episodes reflect on how students and faculty are being rooted in Christ and shaped by His Word.

Student and teacher testimonies from chapel and classroom
Reflections on spiritual milestones like Grandparents’ Day and Easter
Worship team conversations and devotionals
Encouragement on how Scripture is integrated in daily learning
Formation stories from Bible class, House groups, and prayer gatherings

🎨 Creative Growth through Fine Arts (4 episodes) These episodes celebrate the beauty, discipline, and joy that flow from our student artists as they create in light of the Creator.

Cast interviews and behind-the-scenes stories from the fall musical
Visual arts senior reflections
Worship songwriting and ensemble discussions
Highlights from PCA arts nights and gallery exhibitions

🏅 Athletic & Competitive Growth (4 episodes) Athletics at PCA forms character through discipline, teamwork, and joy in competition. These episodes highlight stories from the field, court, and trails.

Cross-country team reflections and interviews
Fall and spring sports recaps
Coach conversations about winning and witness
Field Day and all-school athletic moments

🤝 Leadership & Service Formation (4 episodes) Leadership is shaped through service, humility, and courage. These episodes explore how PCA students are being equipped to lead as Christ led.

Prefect Retreat and student leadership interviews
ROTC cadet profiles
Service project highlights
Insights into the House system and Leadership in Action program

🏡 Parenting & Family Formation (4 episodes) Equipping parents as the primary disciplers and partners in growth. These episodes offer wisdom and practical support.

Technology, screens, and family rhythms
Mental health and resilience for teens
Home-school partnership in discipleship
Encouragement on creating sacred space at home

🌳 Community Life & Connection (54 episodes) These episodes reflect the heartbeat of daily life at PCA—stories that knit our community together across grades, seasons, and generations. 🐣 Lower School & Preschool Life (10 episodes)