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Lower School "Adopts" Seniors For The Year

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Two years ago Lower School Choir teacher Pam Hall began what is now a meaningful tradition of Lower School classes adopting a Senior for the year. These classes pray and celebrate the seniors over their last year at PCA.

“It all began by God planting a seed that we nurtured," explains Hall. “This year, for the first time, we announced the seniors at our first Lower School Chapel. We danced, sang and praised the Lord; it was a beautiful morning.”

Seniors have already started visiting their lower school classrooms, and getting to know their little Eagle friends.  

“The best thing that I have heard from a fellow teacher,” said Hall, “was that her child came home and asked, “Mommy, am I going to be a senior at PCA one day?” That hits you in the heart."

First-grade teacher, Molly Hare said, "It is such a gift for our youngest scholars to have fun and prayer-filled partnerships with our seniors! These partnerships make the big picture of PCA click for our early learners who are just beginning their PCA journeys.”

Senior Grant Blackwell said, "I am so excited to get back in the elementary halls and experience the memories and hopefully make new memories for the younger kids." 

"I think lower school adopting seniors is amazing,” said Senior Abby Creech. “It really gives us a chance to bond with younger elementary school kids and set a good example for them, and it gives them something to look forward to in their senior year!”

The students are excited to love on the senior class this year and to pray for each one as they walk through their final year as PCA Eagles.

in Upper School

Finding Their Purpose: Senior Retreat 2022

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On the first Friday of the school year, the Class of 2023 packed their bags, boarded the bus, and embarked on their Senior Class Retreat, located at the beautiful Camp Kinard on the outskirts of Columbia, South Carolina. 

Throughout the weekend, the seniors had the opportunity to grow in community with their classmates, in their relationships with Christ, and in their personal character as they learned more about leadership, which served as the central theme of the retreat. Students engaged in worship together and in spiritual workshops, where they learned how to identify and overcome challenges in their lives, and where they were guided in finding their Ephesians 2:10 purpose in their lives. 

“It was a great learning experience, and an awesome opportunity for the class to grow together as we built trust among one another,” Senior Jordan Benfield explained. “We shared vulnerably about our faith and the giants we face. Being able to worship together as a class was eye-opening. It was really encouraging to see everyone singing genuinely and desiring to pursue the Lord authentically.” 

While worship and workshops anchored the weekend, the students also had time to explore the trails that encompassed the lake, swim in the pool, canoe, compete in games including spikeball, beach volleyball, and board ball, and make S’mores around the bonfire on Saturday night. 

“I believe part of developing leadership in students is developing a strong sense of unified community,” said chaperone and PCA science teacher Erin Grimsley. “Learning how we can work together to use the gifts God gave us to love one another and advance the Kingdom is what I saw happening this weekend.” 

Guest speaker, Jimmy Kaiser, encouraged students to pinpoint their passions, and then have their peers identify, name, and affirm each other’s spiritual gifts. Afterwards the seniors collaborated as a group to reflect on not only what the world needs, but what PCA needs. 

“The senior retreat was about leadership,” said Mr. Wulff. “and the importance of the Senior Class being Godly examples for the rest of the student body and what that looks like.”  

Through workshops, shared testimony about PCA’s impact on their lives, and through reflecting qualities of good leaders, these students were able to begin discovering God’s call on their lives as they grow and lead with Christ-like character this year at PCA.

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