News

National Honor Society Fosters A Heart For Service

One of our core values at PCA is to assist students in developing a passion for serving others. That value was recently put into action by four of PCA’s National Honor Society seniors along with their advisor Erin Grimsley.

The ladies volunteered to help paint decks at The Beautiful Gate Center, a school for children with disabilities owned by a family whose daughter graduated from PCA.

When approached with this opportunity, Grimsely did not hesitate. “National Honor Society is characterized by its four tenants: character, scholarship, leadership, and service,” she explained. “When we held our first meeting, I emphasized the importance of stewarding each of these pillars equally. Our students are of high character, they are excellent academically, and they demonstrate leadership within the school and community. It is my goal to instill in them a heart of service.”

And serve they did! The four girls, AnnaJaye Walters, Morgan Kammer, Mary Grace Booker, and Charlie Olson laughed and painted their way through the hot morning sun for a cause they felt called to help.

“Being at PCA I am blessed with a great education and an environment that fosters relationships,” AnnaJaye explained. “It broke me and my peers' hearts to hear that Beautiful Gate Center is the only site in Charleston specifically directed to give that educational and relational opportunity to children with special needs.” 

Each year NHS comes up with a focus and vision, and this year is no different. Grimsley says, “As a Christian school, it is our goal to follow Jesus and to conform to his image. Mark 10:45 states, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Our mission in NHS is to serve others, for I believe that service is the keystone that upholds the other three pillars of character, leadership, and scholarship."

And it is clear that NHS members agree. “After serving, I felt refreshed and convicted,” Walters said. “The leaders of that ministry radiate joy from a place of deep dependency on Jesus. They challenged me to see God’s kingdom in a broader way, and fired me up to be more surrendered in my day to day ministry.”

PCA Awarded ACSI Reaccreditation!

Palmetto Christian Academy received some wonderful news last week as it was awarded a 5-year reaccreditation from ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International). A team of educators from around the Southeast traveled to PCA last Monday to visit the school, review submitted evidence on whether we were in compliance in a multitude of areas, and complete the accreditation process. The team spent three days last week at the school where they observed 54 classes, and conducted interviews with 7 Administration Team members, 23 teachers, 9 support staff, 30 students, 15 parents, and 3 current and 2 former Board members. 

Accreditation with ACSI includes a vigorous process of organizational appraisal and improvement as reflected in their accreditation philosophy - “Excellence grows where a commitment is made to systematic school improvement.” The primary areas they consider:

• How are we assessing and improving student learning?

• Are we staying on mission?

• Do we focus on systematic processes?

What they found is great affirmation that PCA’s faculty and staff are committed to putting our mission front and center daily in our classrooms and beyond to equip students to passionately pursue Jesus Christ. Our major commendations, where we are achieving well above norms, include:

• The executive leadership, faculty, and staff continually support the advancement of the philosophy, mission, and vision of the school.

• Mentoring and discipleship experiences focus on spiritual formation, character development, and the instilling of Christian values. The school provides a structure whereby each student is known personally by at least one adult who can provide support for that student’s spiritual formation.

Headmaster, JD Zubia, says, “Our school could have been commended for having the best academic program or many other things that would not set us apart from any other school, but to be commended for advancing the Christ-centered mission of our ministry, as well as the mentoring and discipleship we have worked so hard to achieve, is exactly why we exist and gives the utmost glory to God!”