Mondays with Mike: What Does Learning Feel Like in Upper School?
Our Students Share Their Stories
PCA Families and Students,
Over the past several weeks, we’ve been listening to our students describe what learning feels like at PCA—from our youngest preschoolers through Lower and Middle School. This week, we conclude our series by hearing from our Upper School students.
I’ve really enjoyed these conversations. They’ve reminded me how much learning changes as our children grow, and how much more is happening in their lives than we might see in a classroom assignment, a report card, or a conversation around the dinner table.
In preschool, we see the wonder and joy of discovering something new. In Lower School, students are learning to ask questions, develop new skills, and persevere when something doesn’t come easily. In Middle School, they begin navigating greater challenges, growing independence, relationships, and responsibility.
And in Upper School, we’re beginning to see those things come together as our students learn to think more deeply, take greater ownership of their learning and faith, and consider the people God is calling them to become.
For this final conversation, I sat down with three of our juniors—Emma, Fletcher, and Judah—and their science teacher, Mrs. G (Jessi Graustein).
I think you’ll appreciate their hopeful candor.
Emma talks about the challenge of college-level biology, learning to connect difficult concepts, and the work required to prepare herself for more demanding academics. She also shares something many of us can relate to: the fear of answering a question incorrectly and worrying about what others might think.
Mrs. G reflects on how much these students have grown over three years—not simply in what they know, but in how they observe, ask questions, weigh evidence, and draw conclusions.
Judah shares candidly about learning to receive correction, grow in humility, and recognize that his faith must increasingly become his own.
And Fletcher offers a particularly meaningful reflection on the influence of our beloved Dr. Ray Gamble—how Ray’s faithfulness, dedication, and care for others have helped shape Fletcher’s own desire to lead and serve.
[Listen to this week’s Mondays with Mike: What Does Learning Feel Like in Upper School?]
What encourages me about these conversations is that we’re hearing more than students becoming capable scholars, athletes, and artists, important as those things are. We’re hearing young people learning to face difficulty, think carefully, receive guidance, care for others, and increasingly walk with Christ in their own lives.
Of course, none of us is a finished work. These are formative years, filled with real joys and challenges. And what a blessing it is to share in this calling together.
Our prayer is that every student, from preschool through graduation, will grow in the knowledge, wisdom, character, and faith to maximize their God-given potential—and, as Christ-centered graduates, go into the world to impact it for good.
I’m grateful for these students, for Mrs. G and all our faculty and staff, and for you, our families. Thank you for the privilege of partnering together in the education and formation of this next generation.
God bless you, and we’ll see you on campus soon.
Mike Runey
Head of School
Portsmouth Christian Academy
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