Mondays with Mike: What Learning at PCA Should Look Like
PCA Families,
At last week’s Back to School Nights, we shared a working draft of PCA’s Educational Philosophy.
In this 15-minute episode of Mondays with Mike, I share three recent parent conversations that bring that philosophy to life—and consider what we want every PCA student, from PCAP through graduation, to experience.
Listen: What Should Learning at PCA Look Like?” (15 minutes)
Key Takeaways
- Known: Students should be known and loved as whole people, with teachers, coaches, and staff who understand their gifts, needs, and next steps.
- Challenged: Meaningful challenge is not simply more work. It calls students to pursue truth, think carefully, communicate clearly, persevere, and grow.
- Contributing: Every student has something meaningful to offer—whether through leadership, creativity, service, encouragement, careful work, or helping a classmate.
Together, these ideas describe a Christ-centered, whole-student education.
Christian character is not one program alongside academics, athletics, the arts, service, and leadership; it gives direction and purpose to them all.
Whatever first drew your family to PCA, every child entrusted to us should be treated with dignity, honesty, and love.
We Would Value Your Perspective
The attached PDF (above) begins with a two-page family brief, followed by the full working draft. You do not need to be an educator or respond to every paragraph. We simply ask you to read it as a parent and consider three questions:
- Where do you most clearly recognize the PCA you already know and value
- What most reflects what you hope PCA will cultivate in your child over time?
- What needs clarification, qualification, or greater attention before we finalize the document?
Would you share your answer to these questions HERE?
This philosophy is both descriptive and aspirational. I hope you recognize much of the PCA you already know and value—and I hope you will help us identify where we need greater clarity, consistency, or attention.
Thank you for entrusting your children to us and for helping us finish this work well. I look forward to seeing you on campus soon.
With gratitude,
Mike Runey
Head of School
Portsmouth Christian Academy
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