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Recent Posts from the Better Together Blog
Why Is Remote Learning So Hard?
Why Is Remote Learning So Hard? By guest author: Peg Dawson, Ed.D., NCSP
For many years, I’ve been leading a study group on executive skills sponsored by the New Hampshire Association of School Psychologists. When the pandemic hit last March, we switched from meeting in person to meeting over Zoom, and it’s given me the opportunity to observe how distance learning has impacted student learning and performance in schools in my state. Because my area of interest and expertise is executive skills, I’d like to look at the effects of the pandemic through that lens. Read More
Every year, PCA’s Preschool (PCAP) works together to put on their biggest performance of the year: acting out the story of The Great Kapok Tree.
Harlee Tuttle, PCAP Director, once compared this event to PCAP’s equivalent of the Super Bowl. Needless to say, the littles ones worked hard to put on this show! Tuttle writes:
“The children in the Polliwog and Frog classrooms have been studying the Rainforest during the month of March. Children have learned about the ecosystem- and how all living things are connected and depend on one another.” Read More
Philia (Brotherly Love) By Julie Stevens -First Place US Auction Art, felted wool design
By Elaina Russo
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:7
Tithe 10%. Give to others 5-20% of what you spend on discretionary expenses. Whatever you spend on TV or streaming services, you should match in charity. These are a few of the asserted expectations that some have on giving.
But the truth is that God—above all else—wants our generosity to be from the heart; not in response to legalistic obligation. God loves a cheerful giver. It’s as simple as that.
Or is it? Read More
Evie, Grade 10
We’re continuing to celebrate International Week at the Upper School by sharing stories of international students within our own PCA family! Today, we are spotlighting Evie, from Hunan, China. Coming to PCA as a Freshman, she’s currently in her Sophomore year and eager to share how her time here has impacted her thus far. Continue reading to learn more about her experience at PCA.
“I would say, from a little girl, I’ve grown into a young woman. “
So tell me a little bit about how you started at PCA?
I started at PCA the end of last year, and it was great to be with my friends and all of PCA’s teachers for the whole year. And I really appreciate everything the teachers have done for me, and I’m thankful for my friends who supported me. And [PCA] is a really loving family, if I’m honest. I met my best friends here, and I have met lovely teachers.
That’s great that at PCA you’ve felt like a part of a family! How have relationships or friendships with peers or teachers here impacted you?
I think one of my favorite teachers is Mrs. Blatchley, and she’s the sweetest teacher to me! I actually had a tough time at first when I wasn’t really used to being here. And even though I had some of my friends, they weren’t really [connecting] with my heart. Mrs. Blatchley told me how to solve these things, and she told me what I should do in my relationships and how to relax my emotions; how to do all these things that count.
So how do you feel like you’ve grown, then at PCA?
I would say, from a little girl, I’ve grown into a young woman. I learned not only just study or subjects from PCA, I also learned how to control my mood, how to make great friends, and how to talk with different kinds of people as well. It was really hard to leave home at only fifteen, to come here. Like I was a little baby when I was in China, you know? All the people were around me and did everything for me. And now I have to learn to take care of myself, I have to cook for myself, and I’m learning to do things on my own. And my host parents help me a lot. But I think I’m really lucky to learn how to be independent like this.
Is there anything you would want to share with people interested in PCA?
At PCA, teachers are willing to know students deeply, and they really want to, you know? They want to know how we are doing, and really talk to us, to really do the best things for us, which is really helpful. I came here because I wanted to go to one of the universities in Boston, but I thought, ‘Boston is a little too noisy and busy because of all the people’. So instead, I found that PCA was not too far and was a suitable school.
Thanks for sharing! It’s so good to hear that PCA has been taking care of you.
Yeah, it’s like my second mom!
请告诉我您一开始来PCA的情形？
我从去年年底来PCA，很高兴能与我的朋友和PCA的所有老师一起度过一年。我真的很感谢老师们为我所做的一切，也很感谢我支持我的朋友们。 PCA是一个充满爱的大家庭。如果我说实话，我在这里遇到了我最好的朋友，也遇到了可爱的老师们。
太棒了，在PCA，您就像一个家庭的一部分！与这里的同伴或老师的关系或友谊如何影响您？
我认为我最喜欢的老师之一是布拉奇利女士，她是对我最温柔体贴的老师！刚开始我在这里还不太习惯时，我实际上度过了一段挺艰难的时期。即使当时我有一些朋友，但他们还没有与我建立真正亲密的关系。 Blatchley老师告诉我如何解决这些问题，她告诉我在人际关系中应该做什么以及如何放松情绪。她教我如何做所有这些重要的事情。
那么，您在PCA成长后的感觉如何？
我会说，我从一个小女孩成长为一个年轻女子。我不仅学习了PCA的学习或课程，还学习了如何控制自己的情绪，结识新朋友以及与各种人交谈。真的很难只有十五岁就离开家。就像我在中国时还像个小婴孩一样，你知道吗？所有的人都在我身边，并为我做了一切。现在，我必须学会照顾自己，必须自己做饭，我也正在学习自己处理事情。我的寄宿父母对我有很大的帮助。我觉得我很幸运能学会这样独立。
您想与对PCA感兴趣的人分享什么吗？
在 PCA，老师们愿意深入的去了解我们，他们是真心想知道我们过的怎么样，并真正与我们交谈，尽可能地为我们的好处着想，这真的很有帮助。我之所以来到这里，是因为我想去波士顿的一所大学，但我想， “波士顿因为人太多而有点太吵杂和繁忙了。” 而我发现PCA不太远，是一所合适的学校。
感谢分享！听到PCA一直在照顾您，真是太好了。
是的，就像我的第二个妈妈！
“…I wanted to go to one of the universities in Boston, but I thought, ‘Boston is a little too noisy and busy because of all the people’. So instead, I found that PCA was not too far and was a suitable school.
Interview originally recorded in English, translated to Evie’s native language in Mandarin Chinese.
Tommy, Grade 10
For International Week at the Upper School, we wanted to share real stories of international students within our own PCA family. Tommy is an international student from China and has developed his faith, friendships, and interests during his time at PCA. Read his story below, originally in English, translated to his native language in Mandarin Chinese.
“If I didn’t come here, first of all, and probably the biggest, I would not be a Christian. Because I didn’t know about God before I came here. But we had bible classes and I started knowing about God.“
How did you come to PCA?
I came to the Open House at PCA about six years ago. It‘s been a pretty long time, but I think this is a pretty good school. Right after I graduated my lower school [elementary school] in China, I decided to come here, to PCA. And when I came here, I found that everything worked out fine for me; everything’s nice, the teachers are nice. I have a couple of friends who have stuck with me ever since 7th grade.
So you came here in 7th grade?
Yeah, in 7th grade.
So how was that transition from middle school to high school?
It’s been good. People are relaxing [easygoing] here. If you ask teachers questions, the teachers will answer you. You can get extra help from the teachers, from your classmates, and your friends too. So, it’s not quite hard with the help from the friends and the teachers.
When you came here in 7th grade, you stayed with a host family, right? Was that part of the transition hard?
Actually, not really. Because the host families treat you as one of their kids, like you’re the same. They’re like your second parents here. It’s actually a pretty good experience. You can ask your host family for help if you have any troubles – not just on studies, but if you have any trouble with your life, for example.
So they really took care of you!
Yeah!
What about the PCA community, do you feel like it’s grown you as a person? What specifically do you think would be different if you never came to PCA?
Yeah, because the PCA community also improved faith in God for me. I became a Christian when I came here. And people are nice. I made a couple friends, and like I said, who have been my friends since 7th grade.
If I didn’t come here, first of all, and probably the biggest, I would not be a Christian. Because I didn’t know about God before I came here. But we had bible classes and I started knowing about God.
And second, because at PCA you can choose clubs for yourself, I can make many interesting studies and try to improve myself as a better person. And PCA doesn’t just have classes like Math or English, but they have other courses like photography or engineering. They’re not just improving your skills for studying, but abilities for other areas that you may be interested in too.
That’s really encouraging to hear. It really sounds like PCA has done a lot to shape you as a person. Is there anything else you would want to share about your PCA experience?
Oh, I think the trip in 8th grade to Washington was pretty nice. And we have college tours every year for international students! It’s actually really nice, some extra time for you to get to know America better, and know about American history and people; it helps integrate [and immerse] you into the group.
您是怎么来PCA的?
大约六年前，我来到了PCA的开放参观日。已有很长时间了，但我认为这是一所很好的学校。我刚从中国的小学毕业后，就决定来PCA。当我来到这里时，我发现一切对我来说都很顺利。一切都很好，老师们也都很友善。我有几个朋友从7年级认识到现在，都一直陪伴着我。
那你是七年级来这里的吗？
是的，七年级。
那么，从初中到高中的衔接如何？
很好。人们在这里很放松。如果您问老师问题，老师会回答你的。你可以从老师，同学和朋友那里获得额外的帮助。因此，在朋友和老师的帮助下并不难。
当您七年级来到这里时，您住在寄宿家庭，对吗？刚开始的适应困难吗？
其实不难。因为寄宿家庭把你看成他们自己的孩子之一，就像你是跟其他孩子一样的。他们就像你的第二个父母。实际上，这是一个很好的体验。你可以向寄宿家庭寻求帮助，例如遇到任何麻烦-不仅是学习上的麻烦，还包括生活方面的麻烦。
所以他们真的很照顾您！
是的。
PCA这个群体又如何呢？您觉得它在您个人成长上有幇助吗？如果您没有来PCA，您认为会有什么不同？
是的，有幇助，因为PCA幇助我增加了对上帝的信心。我来这里时成为基督徒。人们都对我很好。我也在这里结交了几个朋友，就像我前面说的那样，他们从7年级开始就是我的朋友。
如果我不来这里，首先，也是最重要的，我就不会成为基督徒。因为我来这里之前不认识上帝。但是我们有圣经课，我开始认识上帝。
其次，因为在PCA你可以自己选择社团，所以我可以进行很多有趣的研究，尝试使自己成为一个更好的人。 PCA不仅提供数学或英语等课程，而且还提供摄影或工程学等其他课程。他们不仅可以提高您的学习技能，而且可以提高您可能也感兴趣的其他领域的能力。
听到这真令人鼓舞。听起来PCA确实为塑造您这个人做了很多。您还有其他想分享在PCA的经验吗？
哦，我认为八年级的华盛顿之旅非常不错。而且我们每年都会为国际学生提供大学旅行！真的很好，您可以多花点时间来更好地了解美国，了解美国的历史和人民；它有助于使您更融入美国。
“…PCA doesn’t just have classes like Math or English, but they have other courses like photography or engineering. They’re not just improving your skills for studying, but abilities for other areas that you may be interested in too. “
