News

Senior Thesis Presentations: The Capstone Of A PCA Education

The papers have been written. The presentations have been prepared and are currently being practiced. It's an exciting time for our senior class as they are gearing up for their Senior Seminar Presentations, the culmination of an entire year's worth of work.

Covering such topics as “The Body Image Dilemma”, “Is The Constitution Absolute?”, and “How to Pursue the Homeless as a Believer”, the Class of 2024 has worked since September with teachers Mrs. Kristi Ugland and Mrs. Marcia Siebert, as well as with the many senior mentors who volunteered their time to help each of the seniors fully understand, present, and defend their thesis.

"The Class of '24 has been a pleasure to work with and guide through the Senior Thesis Seminar Course and Presentation", says Mrs. Ugland. "The students have been actively engaged since day one and have worked with passion in their topics of choice. I'm excited for them to show the PCA Family what they've learned and how they've grown." 

Mrs. Siebert added, "This year's presentations are as diverse as our students. Many of them chose topics that they have strong personal connections with and I believe those personal connections with their topics will make for very impactful presentations."

Celebrating Achievements & Excellence During Black History Month

Throughout the month of February, in a variety of methods and settings, students at Palmetto Christian Academy fostered vibrant celebrations learning about Black History Month, weaving it seamlessly into various academic disciplines. Middle School Math Teacher Sasha Heiney, who took part in leading this emphasis, explains how students were able to celebrate Black History Month in her class. 

"My 7th and 8th grade students embarked on a mini-project highlighting black mathematicians who made profound impacts on the world of mathematics. Students selected a person of their choice, researched them and learned about that person’s biography and achievements in the field of mathematics, and then made a poster to share their findings."

Students say this was a meaningful learning experience. Will Chandler was blown away learning about David Blackwell, “David Blackwell was brilliant and an insightful mathematician. It was interesting to learn how he contributed to probability theory and information theory.” Millie Ralph also gained appreciation for black mathematicians, “I learned about Morgan Ray who gave women a greater voice within the society among African American mathematicians.”

Kara Karnes, a history teacher at PCA, expresses delight in integrating Black History Month into her classes. She led students through a study encouraging students to dive into both familiar and lesser-known stories of contributions of Black Americans. This project not only informed but kindled excitement among students as they continually discovered new historical figures.

Elle Hinson emphasized the broader perspective gained, recognizing the diverse achievements of African Americans and their enduring impact on the fabric of America: “In this project we were able to read and learn about the many diverse achievements of different African Americans and the fundamental contributions and impact they had on America.”

Palmetto Christian Academy's commitment to such interdisciplinary, engaging initiatives during Black History Month ensures a holistic and enriching educational experience for its students. PCA remains committed to honoring the past and actively shaping compassionate and informed Christian leaders for the future.