News

Class of 2020 Commencement

What a joy to celebrate the Class of 2020 with an in-person, although physically distanced, graduation ceremony.  Despite being in the midst of a pandemic, PCA was able to pull together as a community to provide a graduation ceremony to remember. 

The celebrations began on June 11, where students and select staff members met in the sanctuary for graduation rehearsal followed by a “tailgate” lunch where seniors grabbed a lunch to-go and headed into the parking lot to eat together as seniors for one final time.

The next day, prior to the ceremony, graduates were given several fun surprises such as monogrammed duffle bags, an insulated alumni etched cup, and a personalized cookie bouquet. While the graduates enjoyed their presents, their families took their lottery drawn seats in the ECBC sanctuary, marking the first time a PCA graduation ceremony has taken place in the sanctuary.  Seating was limited to only students and their immediate families which capped at six guests including the graduate. The graduates themselves spaced several feet apart while the school administrators, ECBC pastor, and PCA board member on stage wore masks, and handed diplomas to the graduates in a contactless manner. 

The ceremony consisted of inspiring and moving speeches made by Valedictorian, Jerry Biggerstaff and Salutatorian, Anne Gregory Horton, and  previously recorded teachers and staff messages of praise and encouragement for each of the graduating seniors.

Although a little different this year, families were grateful for the opportunity to have a live graduation ceremony and end the year with a spirit of fellowship and love.

We wish our graduated seniors all the best in their future endeavours and we hope to welcome them back soon at one of our alumni events.

The Slave Dwelling Project at Magnolia Plantation

Last Friday, the PCA 7th Grade classes visited Magnolia Plantation. The young students were able to participate in a special presentation by The Slave Dwelling Project. The mission of the Slave Dwelling Project is to raise awareness of American history by addressing the legacy of slavery. The group does so by re-enacting on properties that generally have old slave houses or dwellings. This year's program at Magnolia Plantation was called, "Inalienable Rights: Living History Through the Eyes of the Enslaved".

Students were first greeted by the founder of the Slave Dwelling Project and Civil War re-enactor, Joe McGill. McGill greeted the students in historical clothing and proceeded to tell them how he travels to various properties throughout the U.S. and actually stays the night in their slave dwellings, such as the ones currently on Magnolia Plantation. "Now that I have the attention of the public by sleeping in extant slave dwellings, it is time to wake up and deliver the message that the people who lived in these structures were not a footnote in American History," stated McGill. PCA students were then transported into another time as they walked on the plantation property and experienced re-enactors performing their trades in front of the slave houses. Students were educated on the challenges of cooking for many people, and what crops they grew and meals they prepared. There was also a brickmaker and blacksmith performing their skills on site. Students saw a dramatic performance from a Harriet Tubman re-enactor as well.

Many of the students enjoyed the lectures and learned of the slaves' challenges. 7th grader, Lauren Pabst, states, "I enjoyed the cooking demonstration. They had to cook outdoors and it wasn't electric. So, it was harder and probably took longer." Fellow students Gavin Wease and Daniel Stewart enjoyed watching the blacksmith work with fire and yield the iron. Middle School History teacher, Kara Karnes, knew this field trip would be important. "I just like them to be able to see what life was like, and be able to see history as opposed to just learning it in the classroom. I think it sticks with them better through the demonstrations and having the experience."