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PCA Students Attend Leadership and Ethics Conference

Juniors Will Perkins and Joseph Terry were selected to represent PCA at the Service Academy Leadership & Ethics Conference for Charleston County schools last Thursday. Graduates from the nation's military service academies partnered for this event with retired state senator Mike Rose to inspire leadership and ethical behavior among high school students. Speakers included LTC (Ret.) Kent Selby - Director Of Operations at KBR Careers, Joshua Dix - Government Affairs Director for Charleston Association of Realtors, Captain Scott McGinnis - former Command Officer of Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, and Ryan Cass - Senior Management at The Boeing Company. Each speaker closed by presenting the students with a real world dilemma from their field that required a decision. The students worked in small groups to develop a plan and present their solutions. The day ended with group challenges aimed at helping students identify different leadership styles and helping the students develop their list of personal values & goals.

Will Perkins says it was a very meaningful experience, "The event was a fantastic opportunity that not only allowed me personally to meet several either impressive or important persons, but also, I believe, inspired many of those present to pause and look at things that they may not normally consider.”

Fellow attendee Joseph Terry agrees, “I enjoyed the great team building exercises and leadership talks that were given. Having lunch and meeting student leaders from around the Charleston area was really good too”.

Seeking God Wholeheartedly In A Circle Of Prayer & Praise

The rain that trickled down onto the roof of the SLC did not stop the many parents, students, teachers, and staff from gathering together to celebrate this year's “See You at the Pole.” 

“See You at the Pole”, is a global event that is held on the fourth Wednesday of September each year, where school communities gather together, joining their hands and hearts, to lift up their school, community, and nation in prayer.

This year's theme was “Wholeheartedly” from Jeremiah 29:13 NLT “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” 

PCA embraced this gathering with their whole heart. New Director of Student Activities and Culture, Abby Best, helped orchestrate this beautiful event, “Getting to be a part of See You At The Pole was so encouraging. It is special to see the PCA family come together and spend time in prayer and worship. We are so proud of our students for stepping out in faith and praying for their classmates, teachers and our community. It is a joy to be a part of what the Lord is doing here.”

The event started with Mr. Zubia explaining how “See You At The Pole” originated before leading the event in an opening prayer.

Flag bearers from last year, now sixth graders, Hunter Tisdale, Kassy Cameron, and Solomon Jarvis brought the flags to the center of the gym as the choir, directed by Dr. Jo Hethcox, sang the national anthem.

Afterwards, 5th graders Eloise Sherrill and Carsten Spear led everyone in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Pledge to the Bible. 

Then, one by one, members of our school’s various student organizations came up to the microphone to pray over the nation, our city and first responders, and to pray over PCA’s teachers, students and families.

“It was very special for me to pray for our leaders,” said senior Autumn Benton. “I think it is amazing to have the whole school together gathered in prayer. It was such a privilege to pray with everyone!”

The event ended with the choir singing a medley of, “Down to the River to Pray and Shall We Gather at the River” before students went off to school and parents, off to their days, with a sense of gratitude that we can gather as a school family to pray and seek Him above all else.