Mondays with Mike: Student Scholars Reflect

I hope and pray your summer is off to a great start! Commencement on Friday (you can watch it here, and don’t miss the dramatic ending), and all the other events such as PCAP graduation, Kindergarten graduation, and 8th grade milestone culminated a year’s worth of learning and growth. On Friday, I was struck by how each of the speakers captured both who we aspire to be and who we are as a school. I hope you get a chance to watch or listen to it, even if you are a Lower School or Middle School family.

Commencement and the events surrounding it for our seniors as well as those special ceremonies for other grades all help to consolidate our collective efforts to educate and inspire your children to grow into their potential. At commencement, we send out out graduates who are ready to Think, Demonstrate, Engage, and Go in ways that honor God and skillfully as well as graciously bless others in our world.

We are wrapping us a six-week series in which you heard from our Upper School students in their voices about their student experiences, growth, and pursuit of excellence. In the prior weeks (which you can access here through Podcasts or here via our blog), we heard about mission trips and service; fine arts and performing to God’s glory; athletes who compete well across sports and represent Christ and our school.

After the listening to this week’s podcast with our scholars (or reading the summary below), check out where we are going this summer for our summer series of “Monday’s with Mike.”

Listen on Podbean HERE (or click picture above–closed captioning provided). Listen on Spotify HERE

Today, fittingly, we close the series and the 23-24 school year with hearing from our student scholars, specifically four of our rising seniors.

These four student-scholars–Phoebe, Gideon, Louisa, and Mavrick– join me into the heart of what makes PCA a nurturing ground for academic excellence, personal growth, and spiritual development.

In this episode, we explore the four pillars that define our Upper School experience: Learning, Time, Faith, and Growth.

At PCA, we believe that education is more than just academics; it’s about fostering a holistic environment where students thrive. Our students share invaluable insights on effective learning tips and study techniques. Gideon emphasizes the power of “Repetition and practice problems,” particularly for SAT preparation, while Mavrick highlights the simplicity and effectiveness of creating “practice exams or quizzes” to reinforce knowledge.

Time management is another crucial element at PCA. Phoebe discusses how staying organized and pacing work throughout the week can transform the high school workload from daunting to manageable. Mavrick’s advice to “be consistent” and approach tasks methodically resonates across our community, helping students balance their academic and personal lives.

Faith is the cornerstone of our educational philosophy that leads us, inspires us to pursue excellence in all things. Phoebe articulates the importance of maintaining a Christian perspective in all endeavors, whether it’s writing a paper or tackling a challenging project. Gideon reminds us to pursue academic excellence “for the glory of God,” without succumbing to anxiety.

Lastly, PCA aims to be compassionate community where growth is nurtured daily. Louisa’s experiences reflect the supportive environment that PCA offers, from praying with peers to receiving personalized attention from dedicated teachers. This community spirit fosters an atmosphere of mutual respect and encouragement, essential for personal and spiritual growth.

Join us as we celebrate the unique blend of learning, time management, faith, and community at PCA, ensuring our students are well-prepared to impact the world for God’s glory and others’ good. Tune in to hear more about how we inspire students to maximize their God-given potential.

Based on your feedback and engagement, we are going to continue this summer! Here is an outline of our plan:

We will close out the year with a summary of student growth with some educational leaders at PCA; we will also talk about where we are going with programs and approach for next year. Finaly, we will touch on our emerging reflections and adaptations to student use of technology.

We will take a break in July for the first couple of weeks. I will be off campus and with family.

Later in July, I am inclined to cover two topics I think might be of interest:

1. One is to talk about how we think about student growth (I have had some good discussions) and how we measure, assess, and gauge it broadly and specifically.
2. Second, I would like to talk with you about how our curriculum is being shaped. As those of you who work with curriculum, you know it is never “done,” but we have been working with it. How we think about it directly impacts how your child will grow and learn.

We are turning the corner and being specific about the 24-25 school year. I will spend time introducing you to new team members and teachers, as well as getting us ready to transition into the new year. I aim to shape expectations, from the practical (had to make arrival and dismissal as smooth as possible) as well as work with our school leaders to update you (parents and students) to how to start strong and have a great year.

What do you think? Anything I missed? Let me know. Praying for your summer! Appreciate your prayers for us as we wrap up this week and get ready for summer camp and work on facilities and grounds.