PCA Podcasts

Theatre Week Spotlight: 'A Play With Words' Cast Shares Laughs and Faith

PCA Community welcomes listeners to Theatre Week with an interview featuring the middle school cast of A Play With Words. The episode introduces the play’s premise—a writer named Scribe who personifies characters and plays with language through puns, metaphors, and mixed-up proverbs—and highlights the comedic tone.Cast members Lily, Lydia, and Adam describe their roles, the playful confusion of characters named Me, You, and Judge, and how the show uses wordplay and quick sketches for laughs. They also talk about the close-knit, mixed-grade cast, the director Mrs. Fillion’s supportive leadership, and the learning moments from rehearsals and performances.The conversation ties theatre to personal growth and faith, emphasizing risk-taking, teamwork, and learning from mistakes. The episode closes with invitations to come see the lively, fast-paced comedy and support the students’ hard work.

Live on Mic: PCA Students Reimagine 'It's a Wonderful Life'

This episode spotlights PCA upper school students as they prepare their fall production: It's a Wonderful Life — A Live Radio Show. Cast members and the stage manager explain how the classic story is retold through an old-fashioned radio broadcast performed in front of a live audience.Listeners learn about the play’s two-layer structure: actors play radio performers (like Sally Appelwhite) who then perform the story’s characters (like Mary Hatch), while live sound effects and microphones recreate the vintage radio experience.The cast of about 11–13 students ranges from newcomers to seasoned performers. The team discusses practical production details — 1920s/Depression-era costuming, limited blocking for radio staging, juggling rehearsals with sports, and the stage manager’s role in keeping things organized.The conversation also highlights the play’s Christian themes, the community and spiritual growth that come from theater, and how the production helps students practice empathy, trust, and teamwork. The episode ends with an invitation to come support the students and enjoy the unique retelling of this holiday favorite.

Historic Win: Middle School Cross-Country Claims First Ever State Championship

Ladies and gentlemen, it is Monday, and it is the end of our fall athletic season. Our middle school cross-country team made history this week by winning the state championship — the first state title in middle school cross-country for PCA. Coach Daphne Corso, assistant principal and head coach, joins Mondays with Mike to share how the team’s focus on love of running, encouragement, and teamwork drove their unexpected success. Featuring interviews with runners from fifth to eighth grade, the episode highlights individual stories of growth, training with high school volunteers, race-day strategies, mental toughness, and shout-outs to coaches, parents, and teammates. The girls’ team also had standout performances, including an individual third-place finish. The episode celebrates faith, community, and the grit that led these young athletes to a memorable season.

Grandparents Day Preview: Little Voices, Big Gratitude

Host Mike Runey opens this episode announcing Grandparents Day and celebrates the close of the first quarter. He takes viewers on a tour of PCA students who share their special names for grandparents and the simple joys they enjoy together — from card games and mac and cheese to mowing lawns and attending hockey games.
Children express thanks for grandparents’ love, care, support, and presence, and mention health, travel, volunteering, and spending time together as reasons for gratitude. The interviews highlight authentic, everyday stories that show how faith and family are passed between generations.
Mike reflects on the school’s core value of compassionate community, cites Psalm 145:4 about one generation commending God’s works to another, and invites grandparents to campus for Friday’s celebration.
The episode closes with a prayer of gratitude and blessing for grandparents and families, and an encouragement for continued compassion and grace in the community.

Top 5% Again: How Growth Leads to PCA Students' Remarkable Progress

Mike reports exceptional results: students are performing in the top 5% nationwide, with all cohorts reaching national Blue Ribbon levels (85th percentiles or above). Math growth is especially strong, and new students from 24–25 showed remarkable gains. Reading and language growth were also notable.
The episode emphasizes PCA’s definition of excellence as sustained growth rooted in faith and discipleship. Mike describes the school’s new challenge index—tracking honors, dual enrollment, and college-level participation—and highlights that over 70% of recent juniors and seniors completed multiple college courses, with the class of 2026 averaging three college-level courses before graduation.
He notes the school’s commitment to supporting students as they take on more rigorous coursework, the value of Christ-centered teaching, and plans to share a detailed academic vision update with families in November. Mike closes with gratitude to parents, staff, and supporters, celebrating students’ perseverance, character, and flourishing in faith and learning.

PCA Homecoming 2025: Students Lead the Spirit

It is Homecoming Week at PCA, and the campus is alive with color, cheers, and cowboy hats. In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Head of School Mike Runey sits down with Upper School leaders—Student Body President Kyla Collins, Vice President Anna Odom, Athletic Prefect Marion Spur, and Cross-Country Captain Christian Barnes—to share what this week means for our community. From Senior Sunrise to pep rallies and Dig Pink service projects, their stories reveal joyful leadership, teamwork, and faith in action. Discover how PCA students celebrate together and live out Philippians 2:2-4—being of one mind and one spirit in Christ.

Fourth Graders Build Solar Ovens and Make Music

Mid-quarter at PCA, fourth grade students join the show to share hands-on learning in science and music. The episode features students introducing themselves, describing their daily routines, and explaining class projects and activities.Students built solar ovens from shoeboxes to test insulation and heat retention, planning to measure temperatures and even make s'mores as part of the experiment. They discuss hypotheses, materials, and how the sun provides energy for everyday needs.The episode also highlights the new band and strings program: students are starting saxophone, violin, viola, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, cello, and percussion, with several teachers guiding their musical journey and upcoming concerts and showcases planned.Teachers describe academic focus areas like deeper multiplication and division, new novels in reading, and Old Testament studies in Bible class. The conversation emphasizes curiosity, problem-solving, faith connections, and the joy of learning and serving younger students as shepherds.

Inside PCA's Safety Strategy: Meet the Team Protecting Our Campus

This episode gives a clear update on PCA's campus safety efforts, introducing Steve Howe (Director of Operations) and Laurie Underwood (Director of IT and Educational Technology) and explaining the ongoing transition after Gene Watson stepped back for medical reasons.
Steve describes PCA's layered security approach: Eagle Watch volunteers who observe the perimeter and buildings, a trained response team of staff volunteers who can engage to buy time, and strong partnerships with Dover Police and other local agencies.
Laurie outlines technology and infrastructure upgrades, including over 100 cameras, upgraded door locks with key-fob access, a new intercom and phone system with E911 in every classroom, and alerting systems to improve communication across campus.
The episode also covers training for different audiences (students, faculty, response team), regular reviews with Homeland Security and local responders, and continuous improvement without turning the school into an "armed camp." It aims to reassure families of PCA's commitment to safety and invites questions to school leadership.

Student-Led Leadership: PCA Prefects Take Brookwoods

In this episode we hear from two PCA seniors — Marian, the athletic prefect, and Chloe, the fine arts prefect — along with Mr. Jordan Hecklemann, as they prepare to lead the upper school during their leadership retreat and the student-led Brookwoods Day.
The conversation covers their leadership roles (captain devotions, pep rallies, worship team development), the Leadership in Action course, and the evolution of student government into the Student Life Council focused on community and culture.
They share personal stories of mentorship and growth, practical examples of student-led initiatives, and how the program aims to maximize students’ God-given potential by giving them responsibility, coaching, and real leadership experience.
The episode closes with excitement for Brookwoods Day, reflections on community-building activities, and a request for prayer and support for the student leaders as they put their training into practice.

Middle School Retreat Sparks Unity at PCA

This episode highlights a recent middle school retreat at Portsmouth Christian Academy led by Principal Lois Blatchley and Assistant Principal David White, with chaplain David Moore supporting the community. The retreat focused on uniting sixth through eighth graders early in the year and introducing a theme of compassionate community.
 
Listeners hear about worship, team-building activities like the human knot and charades, and how the retreat mixed grade levels to foster new friendships. Students Ian and Kaylee share personal reflections on worship, lunchtime connections, and welcoming over 20 new students.
 
School leaders describe their goals for the year: creating opportunities for students to love and serve one another with head, heart, and hands, and helping new students feel seen and included. The episode offers a glimpse into middle school life at PCA and the people helping shape a supportive, faith-centered community.