Summer Leadership Retreat and Upcoming School Year Insights

Hello PCA families,

This is Mike, and I hope you're having a fantastic week this summer of 2024. I just wrapped up an incredible weekend with some of our seniors, Mr. Hecklemann, and Mrs. Shoemaker. Mr. Hecklemann is our principal at the upper school, and Mrs. Shoemaker is our dean of women. We took a group of senior leaders through a 36-hour bonding challenge course right here on campus. The students camped out, rotated through leadership positions, and participated in various challenges. We enjoyed campfires and evening swims, which helped them get out of their comfort zones and bond as a team.

One of the key activities was a land navigation course, where we taught our seniors how leadership applies to navigating terrain both individually and as a team. This included determining direction and understanding distance. Mrs. Shoemaker led us in a devotional from Exodus chapter three, framing the coming year with themes of direction and distance, much like God's guidance to Moses.

As we look ahead to the new school year, our focus remains on maximizing each student's God-given potential and challenging them to grow. Whether you're new to PCA or returning, welcome! We've included over a hundred new students, and we're excited to have you all join us. We'll be fine-tuning some aspects of our direction and sharing more details in the coming weeks.

During our land navigation exercise, we emphasized the importance of understanding one's pace count—the number of steps taken to cover a specific distance. This exercise highlighted how each student moves at a different speed, symbolizing how we all progress at our own pace in life. This analogy will guide us as we come together as a community, regardless of our individual speeds. We all go along the same course together!

In the coming weeks, we'll be welcoming new faculty, preparing for Shine Week, and getting ready for the new school year. Our school calendar is available on Veracross (Parent Portal--requires login)and our website, providing key dates and events to help you navigate the year smoothly. If you have any questions, feel free to connect with us through the PCA community Facebook page or send us feedback.

We are excited and called to support your children and partner with you as parents and grandparents. As we prepare for the upcoming year, we are committed to helping your children grow and flourish in their faith, academics, and personal development. Life may present challenges, but together, we will navigate them as a community.

We're praying for you and look forward to seeing you on campus soon. God bless you!