News

Personal Finance Course Equips Students With Financial Literacy

PCA High School students have the unique opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of financial management through our Personal Finance class. Faculty member Lindsay Kendrick, who teaches the course, says it’s something that she wishes she could have taken in high school. “Students graduate high school and college and are expected to know how to buy a car, what taxes are, the process of buying a home, and to navigate the nuanced world of investing and retirement. They aren't ever taught this, but rather are expected to figure it out,” says Kendrick. “I am so grateful that we offer this course here at PCA to allow students to grow in their knowledge of finance, budgeting, saving, and much more so that they are equipped to honor the Lord and serve him and those around them well!” 

 Throughout the course, students cover a variety of topics from budgeting basics, money saving skills, credit and debt, career readiness, college planning, the role of insurance, taxes - all the way to investing and retirement. 

So how do our students feel about this essential life skills course? Junior Sophie Baumgardner says she believes it will serve her well in the years ahead. “In Personal Finance, I have learned the valuable foundations for managing my finances and building wealth to ensure a solid financial future. I now understand that having freedom in my finances includes having a budget with an emergency fund, getting and staying out of debt, giving, and knowing who I am when it comes to money. I appreciate that PCA offers this class because I can see the importance of teaching young adults how to handle their money, truly preparing them for the future.” 

PCA’s Personal Finance course not only provides practical knowledge but also instills values of responsibility, integrity, and stewardship. Ms. Kendrick explains, “1 Timothy 6:17-21 says, ‘Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.’ My prayer is that after leaving our class the students will see the value that understanding and managing your finances will add to your future and that they will know what it means to be good stewards of all that the Lord has blessed us with!

Through our Personal Finance course, we’re excited to equip our students to become financially responsible adults who are able to navigate the complexities of personal finance with confidence and integrity, always giving glory to God!

Students Construct & Test Earthquake Resistant Structures!

Earth Science is a subject that impacts our everyday lives. Meteorologists study the weather and watch for dangerous storms. Hydrologists study water and warn of floods. Seismologists study earthquakes and try to predict where they will strike. In PCA’s 6th grade Earth Science class, Mrs. Kelly Rhodes and her students recently wrapped up an in-depth study of earthquakes and how they can potentially impact the Lowcountry. 

Mrs. Rhodes shared more about this fascinating learning unit, and their exciting hands-on experiment: 

To begin our unit, I asked the class why we needed to learn about earthquakes. Many of the students mentioned the creation mandate to have dominion over the Earth and to subdue it. Science helps us understand this broken, yet still beautiful world that God created. We must understand the dangers we face and learn to live with them. Yet, no student answered with the information that Charleston had a major 7.3 earthquake in 1886. This earthquake was felt for 2.5 million square miles - from Cuba to New York - from Bermuda to the Mississippi River. They were shocked to know this information. Now we had a personal reason to understand earthquakes. 

After learning through text, notes, videos, and drawings, it was time to put our knowledge to work. The class did some research to discover a sturdy way to construct. Each team of three had to work together to create a plan and build a structure that could withstand an earthquake. They were given constraints for their structures and many different materials to use. A lab report was completed to show their thinking and reasoning. We tested with P Waves (primary waves - waves in the interior of the Earth) and L Waves (surface waves - the most severe). Most of the structures survived with little to no damage. A few collapsed under the stress. We discussed what worked best. The students all agree that triangular structures support, stable and stiffen a structure. Hands-on is the best!