What's at stake isn't just how kids experience adolescence. The constant presence of smartphones is likely to affect them well into adulthood. Among people who suffer an episode of depression, at least half become depressed again later in life.

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As the debate swirls about how smartphones and access to social media is affecting our young people, a new movement is gaining strength which encourages parents not to give their young kids smartphones. It's called "Wait Until 8th".. a pledge to promise not to give your child a smartphone until at least 8th grade. The goal is to provide a support network from within your child's own school.. a network of parents who want to delay putting this technology at their kid's fingertips.  The pledge has become a full-blown movement now, with over 2000 commitments from parents in over 500 schools and in 49 states.  Is it the right choice for your family?

Learn more about the "Wait Until 8th" movement

Field trip experiences are plentiful during the lower school years. As students move into middle and high school, field trips become fewer but the ones that are planned are usually major undertakings.

 

The Sunday after Thanksgiving, Mrs. Blackstone, Mrs. Jacobs, Mr. Cooper, and Mr. McDonald took the 10th grade students on a literary expedition to Asheville, North Carolina. I heard from the adults that the trip was a success, but did the students feel the same way? It turns out they did! Abby Warburton put it this way, "I was pleasantly surprised and I wish it would have lasted longer." That is high praise from a teenager!

 

Mrs. Blackstone packed a great deal into one trip. Here is a breakdown of where the students visited and why:

 

Thomas Wolfe Home: Wolfe was a resident of Asheville and authored Look Homeward Angel, an autobiographical fiction work.

 

Biltmore House: Edith Wharton and Henry James both stayed here and wrote about the upper class and how the American Dream was realized.

 

Grove Park Inn: F. Scott Fitzgerald visited this retreat for wealthy Americans and wrote stories during his stays.

 

Riverside Cemetery:  O. Henry, author of The Gift of the Magi, and Tomas Wolfe are buried here. Wolfe's father carved many of the grave monuments.

 

Carl Sandburg Home: Built in the 1800's, modern American poet Carl Sandburg purchased this estate and occupied it with his family. One third of Sandburg's work was written in this home.

 

Flat Rock Playhouse: Students attended the Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas production which was a musical variety show celebrating the Christmas holiday highlighting secular and religious music.

 

Even though the itinerary was tight, the students did get a break that allowed them to pet some goats which was Avery Jimenez's favorite part. (She's obviously an animal lover.) The Biltmore seemed to be the highlight for the majority of the sophomores while the Flat Rock Playhouse production was "interesting but enjoyable."

 

There was something that happened on the trip that highlighted our awesome PCA sophomores. While at the Playhouse, Bailey Kaiser shared that a gentleman asked her where their group was from. Bailey stated, "We are from Palmetto Christian Academy in Charleston." After the production, the man approached Mrs. Jacobs and told her that he was impressed with our students and asked for the school's address so that he could donate $1,000 toward the next trip to Asheville! Whether or not the money makes it to us, the blessing is that our students made an impact for His Kingdom. That's what life is all about. Way to go sophomores!!