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Join Us For A Fantastic Production Of Aladdin!

Get ready to enter a whole new world when the PCA Middle School drama department takes to the stage for this year's production of Aladdin, Jr.

Every other year the dynamic duo that is drama teacher Jenni Brown and choir director Kathy Thames take PCA’s middle schoolers and turn them into a crew worthy of the broadway stage.

This year's production is made up of a total of 73 sixth-through-eighth grade students that together perform the tasks of: stage crew, “commercials”, members of the cast, and dancers. With no time to waste, the team has hit the ground running. When auditions finished in December, students began rehearsals as soon as they came back from break, practicing during drama and choir classes as well as after school everyday to get each step and note just right. Members of the cast and their directors are all very excited about how the play is coming together!

“The most exciting part about being the Genie,” said Laura Horne, “is being able to learn from Mrs. Brown and showing my personality through acting this role!

"I am always so excited to see how the talents of the students shine,” said Thames. “A musical combines acting, singing and choreography, so students have to work so hard and remember a lot! Mrs. Brown and I are always so proud of how our students grow as artists during this process!"

“I am most excited for opening night,” said Brown, “when the kids see it all come together and see the fruits of their labor. 

Don’t worry, you won’t need three wishes from the genie to be able to see this show. Performances will take place on February 10 at 6 pm, February 11 at 6 pm, with a matinee on Saturday, February 12 at 2 pm. 

Make sure to be “one jump ahead” and get your tickets now by clicking the link below. Scroll down past the athletic games to find the Aladdin ticket link. Tickets are $5 per person.

Bring the whole family to enjoy this “unbelievable sight” that will send your emotions “soaring, tumbling and freewheeling” as you sit back and watch the PCA Middle School Drama Team's production of Aladdin!

Exploring A Liberal Arts Curriculum Integrated With The Trades

To most when they hear the word “art” they think of drawings, paintings, and works hung in a gallery, but last Tuesday, students from Mrs. Seitz’s Art 2 and AP classes, Mrs. Siegwald’s Graphic Design class, as well as members of the Architecture & Engineering Club, visited the American College of the Building Arts (ACBA) to see that art expands to more than just what someone can put onto paper.

Located in downtown Charleston, ACBA is a liberal arts college that offers an Associate of Applied Sciences in the Building Arts as well as a Bachelor of Applied Sciences in the Building Arts. What makes this stand out from a typical college is that each degree has a "craft specialization" where students select an area to focus. 

The Associate program offers four areas: Blacksmithing, Heritage Masonry & Stone Carving, Plaster, and Wood; while the Bachelor program offers six areas: Architectural Carpentry, Blacksmithing, Classical Architecture & Design, Heritage Masonry & Stone Carving, Plaster, and Timber Framing. “Dying arts” that hold a special niche in the world of historical preservation.

But how did PCA students find this hidden treasure to explore? Academic Counselor, Sally Pascutti, can take the credit.

“ACBA offers such a unique opportunity to earn a Bachelor's degree and a journeyman level master craft,” explained Pascutti. “For creative, tactile students, it is a practical way to express creativity in a physical environment.”

Art teacher NIcole Seitz and Kylie Siegwald were just as excited as the students. “I want to go there and take classes!” Siegwald exclaimed. 

Nicole Seitz agreed and added that she was most impressed by the fact that students, “were doing traditional building arts that you find in the Bible, like in 1 Chronicles when they are building the temple.” 

The teachers weren’t the only ones who were excited about the tour, the school and its majors also left an impression on the students. ”I really liked seeing the section where they welded the metal,” explained junior Grayson Campbell. “I thought it was really fascinating that you can take a solid and get it hot enough to create anything you want.”

“It was amazing to see this is happening in our own town,” said Seitz and the students agreed. 

The ACBA is truly a hidden gem in our historical, Holy City.