September 5, 2017      Visit Our Website      
Taking Classroom Technology To The Next Level
Written by Selina Zubia

"Technology" is a popular buzz word in the realm of education, but how often is it implemented? Often teachers can be heard discussing how they use PowerPoint during lectures or have students turn in assignments via email, but that is merely tapping the surface of how technology can be used in the classroom.
 
Enter new 5th grade ELA teacher Billie Ann Blalock. She is a techie at heart and savvy at incorporating technology in her instruction. A donor kindly supplied Mrs. Blalock with six iPads with kid-proof cases to get her started and another generous donor stepped up and is providing enough iPads with cases to complete a class set! Thank you Jesus for our wonderful PCA families!!
 
The 5th graders are just learning how to use the iPads in an educational setting so Mrs. Blalock is beginning with the basics. This past Friday, her students became familiar with sending a PDF into a PDF annotator app. As they become proficient working with the iPads, the students will begin using them to complete larger assignments and creative projects.
 
If you'd like to learn more about Mrs. Blalock and how she uses technology in the classroom, visit her blog, purposedriventeaching.net. Thank you Mrs. Blalock for your enthusiasm and heart for our students!  
Sharing Our Alumni Stories: Member of PCA's Inaugural Class of 2009 Begins Clinical Phase of PA Program

It is a milestone moment for students in MUSC's Physician Assistant Studies program.. the traditional white coat ceremony. PCA Alumnus Kimberly Wilson Russell (Class of 2009) stood among those students and officially began the clinical phase of her training as a health care provider. Kimberly shared some of her exciting journey since graduating from PCA. We wanted to share her story with you.

"In May 2016 I entered MUSC's Physician Assistant program, which is a 27 month Master's degree. Earlier this month, I completed my first year of PA school at MUSC, which was the classroom/didactic portion. I am now just beginning the first of nine clinical rotations that will make up my second year, and I anticipate graduating in August 2018. After attending Clemson where I majored in Spanish & International Health, I spent a year and a half in the Dominican Republic facilitating medical mission trips for volunteer groups. My desire to become a PA was solidified through the experience, so I returned home to pursue this goal. Although I have almost a full year of clinical experience left to complete, my interests so far are surgery, dermatology, and emergency medicine. As an alumnus of PCA's inaugural class of 2009, I feel that the school prepared me academically and personally to be successful in this program. I am thoroughly enjoying what I have experienced so far in this field, and welcome anyone interested in learning more about the profession to feel free to be in touch."

Kimberly will graduate as a Physician Assistant from MUSC's College of Health Professions in the Class of 2018. We are proud of Kimberly and her accomplishments as she pursues God's calling and so beautifully demonstrates the legacy of PCA. 
Fellowship Of Christian Athletes Hosts First Meeting Next Week!

Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a group designed to equip, empower, and encourage students to make a difference for Christ. It's a chance to unite your two passions, faith and athletics, to impact the world for Jesus Christ.  
PCA's chapter of FCA will hold its first meeting of the year on Thursday, September 14th from 7:15 am to 7:55 am in the PCA gym. All 6th-12th grade athletes are encouraged to attend. Breakfast will be provided.
Students who plan to attend are asked to sign up so we know how much food to prepare. Please remind your athletes that FCA is designed to build their faith; therefore, students who attend the breakfast are expected to remain for the meeting. Thanks for your support!
Calling All Sports Parents: Join The Booster Club Today!

It's time to join the Booster Club! If your child is involved with any sport in any grade level at PCA, you need to join the Booster Club!
 
Exciting things  are happening this year with PCA Athletics and the Booster Club is thrilled to be a part of supporting many of those activities !
We are actively enrolling new member s and sponsors to the Booster Club and though t you might like to know just a few of the things we do!  
  • Manage concessions for home games 
  • Purchase uniforms for athletic teams
  • Fund team trips, clinics, and tournament transportation
  • Assist with the cost of year end sports banquets
  • Provide academic/need based scholarships for current students 
  • Purchased the new Eagle Mascot uniform last year
Your participation as a  Member or  Sponsor is a critical component in the success of our athletic program. There are a variety of membership options for your family or sponsorship opportunities for your business that offer excellent perks.  Please take a moment to join today! 

Play Golf For A Great Cause!

We are excited to announce the 6th Annual PCA Golf Tournament will take place on Saturday, September 16th at Wild Dunes Harbor Course. You are invited to support PCA athletics by sponsoring or participating in the tournament. It's a great day of fun and fellowship that you don't want to miss! 
 
Plus, there's more great news! We have a great selection of items up for grabs in our annual auction. View what's available and begin bidding now at 
pcaboosterclub.com. If you have questions or would like to donate an auction item, contact Ken Evans at mailkenevans@gmail.com  to get listed.
 
All proceeds from the tournament go to support PCA athletics as well as academic scholarships. Be a part of the tradition!  

Meet Our Newest Faculty Members

We are blessed to have several new faculty members that have joined us for the new school year. Each week in our Eagle Edition newsletter, we'll be highlighting those teachers so you can get to know them better!


Brittany Feola - Kindergarten

My name is Brittany Feola and I am very excited to be teaching Kindergarten at PCA this year! I was born and raised in Colorado. I absolutely love the mountains and being outside. I just recently moved here about two months ago because my husband is serving in the United States Navy. We are excited to explore Charleston and to show this state to our new puppy Mia. I graduated with a BS in Human Development Family Studies and a BA in Dance-Performing Arts. I also have a Masters in Art of Teaching. This will be my second year of teaching and I was lucky enough to do my first year at a Christian school as well. I absolutely love teaching the love of God and how we are all children of God. I also love to move and groove in my classroom because of my love for dance. I am excited to see what this year holds and I have already felt so welcome to PCA!
Anna Boyer - Lower School Art

My name is Anna Boyer, and I feel extremely blessed to teach Lower School Art at PCA this year. My husband is an officer in the Navy, and we have been stationed in the Charleston area for a year now. He is Hawaiian, and I was actually born in Australia, though my parents are
from the States. We met at Wheaton College in Illinois, where I studied Community Art and Missions and he majored in Chemistry. I have been teaching art classes for the last 5 years in various non-profit settings, many of which were after-school programs for children and
senior citizens in government housing or similar socially vulnerable situations. I count every opportunity to teach art as a gift from God,
and I hope to convey the joy and freedom of the creative process to
all my new students. Worshiping God through the arts is an amazing
thing. Thank you for letting me to be part of the PCA family!
Rachel Tuck - Upper School Art

My name is Rachel Tuck and I am the Upper School Art teacher! I am a PCA Alumni and first started at the school when I was in third grade. I recently graduated from Clemson University with a bachelor of science in Graphic Communications. This is my first year teaching but my 11th year at PCA. Apart from my love for art and design, I also spend my weekends hiking, kayaking, camping and all things outdoors. I also won't pass up a chance to play a game or two of volleyball. I have the honor of coaching PCA's 5th and 6th grade volleyball team this fall. Thank you for welcoming me back to Palmetto Christian Academy. I look forward to teaching a deeper understanding of how we worship God through art!
Get Wrapped Up And Support Our Parent Teacher Fellowship!

Do you feel there aren't enough hours in the day once the holiday season approaches? Don't get wrapped up worrying!
Instead, get wrapped up with our Parent Teacher Fellowship's fundraiser.. wrapping paper!   
PTF is delighted to share with you "Genevieve's fundraiser" for the fall of 2017. Genevieve's has a variety of gift wrapping options from colorful wrapping paper to decorative bags that you can easily order and keep stockpiled ready for the holiday season.  Not only does Genevieve's offer gift wrap, but they have a home and style catalog too. It's a great way to support PCA while getting a jump on your holiday shopping. 

All proceeds from the sale will go directly to benefit the teachers at PCA. With your support of this fundraiser, PTF will be able to shower the teachers with goodies and supplies throughout the year. 

Simply visit  www.genevieves.com to view a great selection of items. Then, follow these quick steps to get started:
  • Click Shop
  • Enter our school code - 14531
  • Complete the student information section
  • Click on "assign credit and go shopping"

It's that easy! Plus, you can invite family and friends to support PCA as well. 

Look for the "invite people" button. You'll be asked for your student's ID code.

That's to make sure your child receives credit for additional orders placed in his or her name. Your child will collect emoji backpack buddies based on a certain level of orders.   


Orders are due September 14th. If you do not choose to order online, p lease submit the packet your child received to the PTF box in the front office or to your child's homeroom teacher.  Questions? Contact Brantli McMillan at Mcmillanbrantli@yahoo.com. 
Faith In Action: Relief For Hurricane Harvey Victims

Hurricane Harvey has devastated much of Southeast Texas. Thousands of people desperately need help, and Palmetto Christian Academy is proud to partner with one of its own families to collect much needed supplies for hurricane victims.
 
What can you donate? Water, baby food, non-perishable food items, diapers, clothing. Any of these donations will be greatly appreciated and will make a tremendous impact on those who have lost their homes and their belongings.
 
You can drop off your donated items beginning today, Tuesday, September 5th through Thursday, September 7th from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm each day. Simply drop them off under the blue PCA tent located in the grassy area near the gymnasium. The trailer will be leaving early Friday morning  to transport these much needed items to Texas to be delivered to the families devastated by Hurricane Harvey. As a school committed to helping those in need, we want to fill that trailer to the top!
 
We offer a sincere thank you to the Miles family of Exclusive Properties for allowing us to partner with them in this important relief effort. Let's join together and meet this great need with the love of Christ!
Monitoring The Storm: Hurricane Irma

We wanted to reassure you that we are watching the forecast closely as Hurricane Irma churns in the Atlantic. We will continue to monitor the storm and its track throughout the week and update you as necessary. We will follow Charleston County Emergency Management recommendations and will take our  lead from the Charleston County School District. 
PCA New Family Coffee: Join Us On September 12th  

If you are a new family to PCA, we hope that you will join us for "Coffee and Conversation" on Tuesday, September 12th at 8 am at Saveurs du Monde Cafe at 536 Belle Station Boulevard.
We are delighted to welcome you to PCA and look forward to hearing about your new family experiences.
Open Invitation To Moms In Prayer

What if you could change the world -- not just for today but for generations to come? The PCA chapter of Moms in Prayer International gathers women together to pray for our children, our staff and our school. Join us every Monday morning at 8 am in the Worship Center. Be a part of a community of supportive like-minded parents. Questions? Contact  Jennifer Davidson at jdavidson2001@icloud.com.
Eagle Athletic News
Varsity Football Team Hosts First Home Game Of The Season

The Varsity Football team played some tough iron-man football but suffered a 40-18 loss Friday night at the hands of the John Paul II Golden Warriors.  Junior Da'Von Stuckey scored a rushing touchdown and threw a TD pass to Senior Stephen Hickman.  Hickman also caught a 50 yard touchdown pass from Senior QB Chad Shimakonis. The Eagles are now 0-3, 0-1 on the young season. Head Coach Chris Shimakonis says, "Iron Man is really a term that fits these Warriors. As a Coach, you cannot ask anymore than what these players are giving. Toughness, commitment and dedication to PCA and to their teammates defines them. I'm sure the students and parents that cheer for them recognize their resolve to battle until the end of the game.   Really a life lesson for all of us."

The Varsity Team will travel to Walterboro on Friday, September 8th to take on the Colleton Prep Warhawks. Kickoff is 7:30 pm.
Former PCA Fighting Eagle On The Field For Newberry College

PCA graduate (Class of 2014) JT Waters played at Johnson-Hagood Stadium this season but it was not in the Sertoma Classic where he starred for the PCA Eagles. JT played for Newberry College against The Citadel Saturday night. JT caught a 4 yard pass for a third down conversion and threw a key block for the Wolves late in the game.  
Pictured after the game are JT Waters and Tyler Hoover, both 2014 PCA grads and Eagle football teammates.
Middle School Football Team Rolls Over Northwood In First Game Of The Season

The PCA Middle School football team started its season with a 20-0 win over Northwood Academy in 11 man action on Thursday. The game was called early in the 3rd quarter due to lightning in the area.  
Even with the stormy skies, these lovely moms you see pictured proved their Fighting Eagle loyalty by braving the weather until the game was called.
The Middle School team is 1-0 on the season and will have its first home game this Thursday, September 7th at Danny Jones Field in North Charleston. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 pm.
Varsity Volleyball Team Remains Undefeated While JV Girls Split Games

The JV volleyball team split their games last week. On Tuesday, they lost 0-2 in two close sets to Northside Christian. However, they bounced back quickly defeating Coastal Christian 2-0 on Thursday to move their record to 2-2 on the season.  The Varsity girls played the same two schools last week and went 2-0 recording convincing 3-0 wins in each match. The Lady Eagles are now 4-0, (1-0 in region). Both teams will travel to Thomas Sumter on Tuesday to take on the Lady Generals.
Cross Country Team Running Strong

The Cross-Country team competed in the Greenwave Invitational on Saturday and the girls team finished 11th out of 17 teams defeating Oceanside, Hanahan, and Pinewood among others. Ella Banks led the girls with a time of 23:37 while Gabe Moser led the short-handed boys team, running the course in 25:00. Missing two runners, the boys did not qualify for team placement. Most of the PCA runners improved considerably over their times in the first meet despite a very wet and muddy course at The Ponds Conservancy in Summerville. The Eagles will be in competition again at the Charleston County meet which will be held at the Isle of Palms on September 20th at 5 pm.
Congratulations To PCA Student For Being Selected As SCISA Player Of The Week

Varsity Eagles Cheerleader Sarah Spivey was chosen as a SCISA Player of the Week for the week of August 24th. This honor was bestowed on her for being named a 2017 UCA All-American Cheerleader at the team cheer camp held at Lander University this summer. Congratulations Sarah! We are proud of you!
Varsity Girls Tennis Team Has Tough Loss

The girls tennis team played well in a loss to Academic Magnet on Wednesday.  Despite the 0-9 score, the Lady Eagles were very close in a few matches against the veteran Raptor squad. The girls will be traveling to Williamsburg to compete in their first region match today. Then, on Wednesday, they will host region opponent Carolina Academy at 3 pm at The Volvo Tennis Center.  Please come out Wednesday to show the girls your support!
Important Dates To Remember
  • September 14 - FCA Breakfast
  • September 20 - Booster Club Meeting
  • September 27 & 28 - Picture Days
  • September 28 - FCA Breakfast
  • October 11- PSAT Testing
  • October 11 - End of 1st Quarter
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