Reflecting on Growth and Achievement: A Summer Update from PCA

Hello PCA families,

It's summer vacation, and this is Mike with you on this Monday afternoon. We're about 10 days into the break, and I want to take the next 10 minutes or so to reflect on this past year. Last week, we had our faculty here for Consolidation Week, where we reviewed curriculum, data, and grades, and discussed how to make next year even better. We celebrated our achievements and farewelled each other for the summer, handing out awards to faculty and staff, and enjoying a lunch together.

Christy and I celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary on Saturday, followed by a wonderful Father's Day. I hope your summer is starting off as great as ours.

I did something last week that I haven't done in my five years here, and I was thinking of you and the faculty while doing it. I'll share more about that soon, but first, let's talk about growth and achievement at PCA.

As you know, we emphasize growth in all areas: academically, physically, spiritually, and relationally. Some of you have asked how we gauge and measure growth, so I want to explain our three primary ways: testimony, trophies, and trends.

Testimony: This is what people tell us about your child's growth. Teachers, students, and parents share stories and examples, which are very compelling. One example is how teachers use writing samples from the beginning and end of the year to measure progress. Commencement is another key testimony, showcasing the growth and achievement of our graduating class (see the link below). These stories make your eyes light up and highlight the development of your child as they grow into their God-given potential.

Trophies: These are not just literal trophies but also standards of excellence. Report cards, awards ceremonies, and standardized test scores indicate levels of achievement. These marks show when students meet or exceed expectations, demonstrating both growth and excellence.

Trends: This is the data that shows overall progress.  Later in the month, I'll share some of the trends we've observed.

Summary. I mentioned earlier that I did something last week I haven't done before, and I had you in mind. What am I talking about? I sat down with your child's teachers and interviewed them--I got their first-person testimony.

These were so inspiring that, in the coming week, I will send you their Testimonies about the growth and challenges your child and classmates overcame this year.  Next week and into the July 4th holiday, I will share more on Trends. As I have reviewed the data already, and as Dr. Lawrence and others review it as well, I can say we are seeing some really positive trends, especially in certain areas we have focused on. This year has been among our very best since I have been here, with unprecedented growth and achievement. I can't wait to share more details with you.

As you enjoy your summer vacation, please take a moment to think about this and pray for us. There's a lot of maintenance work happening on campus to prepare for next year. We also have Eagle Camp and ongoing athletic practices. Wherever you are, we hope you find rest and adventure. God bless you, and we'll be back with more soon!