Mondays with Mike: From Solar Ovens to Shepherding
God at Work in Fourth Grade
Happy Monday, PCA Community,
Each week on Mondays with Mike, we take a snapshot of life at Portsmouth Christian Academy. Sometimes it is a group of students, sometimes a teacher, sometimes a program or project. But together, these glimpses show how God is at work across our school—in faith, in learning, in creativity, and in service. This week, I sat down with some of our fourth graders and their teacher, Mrs. Eastman. From building solar ovens to picking up new instruments, from shepherding younger children to asking deep questions about God’s Word, their joy reminds us of the growth happening in every division at PCA.
Don’t Miss This Episode:
The dialogue with our students was inspiring and fun. At one point, when asked what they would cook in their solar ovens, the students shouted in unison: “S’mores!” Later, Rebecca shared that if she could sing anything, she would sing, “Praise God for all the good things you do.” These simple words capture the delight and faith we want to see take root across PCA.
I hope you will take a few minutes to listen to this week’s episode and hear the joy in our fourth graders’ voices. Their curiosity, creativity, and faith are a reminder of how God is at work in every corner of PCA. You will be encouraged by their words and the picture they give of what growth looks like here.
As always, I look forward to seeing you on campus soon.
Mike Runey
Head of School
Portsmouth Christian Academy
Key Takeaways from this Week’s Podcast
- Hands-on Science: Students designed solar ovens out of shoeboxes and insulation, tested their ideas, and are preparing to cook s’mores.
- Music & Creativity: They are beginning instruments like violin, viola, saxophone, trumpet, and percussion, starting a journey that will grow through concerts and showcases.
- Faith & Wonder: They connected their projects to God’s provision in creation and are studying the lineage of Jesus through the Old Testament.
- Leadership in Action: Fourth graders serve as “shepherds” at dismissal, helping preschoolers with care and encouragement—an early picture of servant leadership.
- Growing Curiosity: This year marks a shift from basics to deeper problem-solving, critical thinking, and faith exploration—laying the foundation for middle and upper school.
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