Dear PCA Parents & Friends,

We wholeheartedly lean on the assurance that God remains in control of this world. As a faith community amid uncertainty, may we be a people of hope, peace, and light in a world that can be so dim. In John 14:27, Jesus leaves his disciples with these words: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. " These difficult days could be a time of significant growth in our lives and school family as we give our uncertainties to God and remain committed to educating and equipping our young people. 

As Christian educators, we have been and will continue working faithfully to invest spiritually and academically in every student and family throughout the coming weeks. While we won't be gathering together in classrooms, we will be gathering together online. We have been preparing for remote learning in the event we cannot continue with face-to-face learning. Our teachers have been working to create online lessons that are academically robust and spiritually uplifting.

Education Continues
School Learning Management Systems, such as Rediker, Google Classroom, One Note, PASS, RightNow Media biblical video instruction with prompts, and Parent Portal exist to deliver remote education to our students during such events. 

Kindergarten through 6th-grade curriculum will occur through PASS and Rediker/Parent Portal.

Middle school and high school teachers will provide parents and students with curricular delivery unique to each discipline. Teachers will provide instructional videos, write and respond assessments, project-based lessons, technology learning links, written lesson delivery, art projects, and more. 

Your classroom teachers will be working virtually. The following are the details you need to know. 

Work Hours:
Teacher Virtual Office Hours, 9am-3pm. Your teacher can be contacted via their school email (firstname.lastname@plymouthchristian.org) during these work hours.

Lessons Plans:
Beginning this Monday, March 16, your teachers will be sending out a weekly educational plan to you. Stay tuned for a more detailed letter coming shortly regarding all e-Learning plans. 

Student Academic Honor Code 
We are finalizing a Student Academic Honor Code that will emphasize academic integrity and honesty as students work through their assignments. That will be emailed to families early next week.

Upcoming Trips & Events
The impact of these changes in the lives of our families is unprecedented, and we know that our students, especially our seniors, will be grieving the loss of many of their final milestones here at PCA. With that in mind, decisions have been made about our upcoming trips, beginning with the senior trip to Costa Rica.

The scheduled trip to Costa Rica for the week of March 29-April 4 has been canceled. However, our goal is to reschedule this trip before the end of this school year. Mr. Murray will be working with Joshua Expeditions. He plans to exhaust all possible scenarios to have this trip take place. Please stay tuned as we work through these details. 

The Washington, DC trip will be postponed until the 2020-21 school year. At that time, we will take both our sophomores and juniors. 

The Creation Museum trip for 8th grade will be postponed until the 2020-21 school year. At that time, we will take both our 8th & 9th-grade students. 

ExPlore Week refunds are being processed today and could take up to five business days until you see the return in your account.

Student Statesmanship Institute is being rescheduled for the 2020-21 school year.

Campus & Staff Availability 
Following the governor's directive, PCA will close beginning Monday, March 16. We are asking all students to take books, supplies, and needed materials home with them today, Friday, March 13. If your student is not here today or forgot a critical item, you will be able to retrieve it on Monday, March 16, between the hours of 9am-3pm or by appointment. After Monday, March 16, to make an appointment, please contact Mrs. Huntsman at caryn.huntsman@plymouthchristian.org .

We commit to providing communication every Tuesday and Friday from Caryn Huntsman and our school/church task force. You'll receive emails via Constant Contact. If you are not receiving those emails at this time, please contact Peggy Paulson at peggy.paulson@plymouthchristian.org .

After 3pm on Monday, March 16, staff and administrators will be working virtually from home. Phones from PCA will be forwarded to the respective staff members and offices. 
The following are the Virtual Office Hours and Contact Information: 

  • Elementary Office Hours: 9am - 3pm, 734-459-3505, x. 3125

  • Secondary Office Hours: 9am - 3pm, 734-459-3505, x. 3121

  • Caryn Huntsman: 9am-3pm, 734-459-3505, x. 3131

  • Ryan Batson: 9am-3pm, 734-459-3505, x. 3140

  • Matt Windle: 9am-3pm, 734-459-3505, x. 3198

  • Athletic Office: 9am-3pm, 734-459-3505, x. 3117

  • Dana Zambeck: 9am-3pm, 734-459-3505, x. 3118

  • Advancement Office: 9am-3pm, 734-459-3505, x. 3143

  • Business Office Hours: 9am - 3pm, 734-459-3505, x. 3195

  • Admissions Office Hours: 9am - 3pm, 734-459-3505, x. 3190

  • IT Hotline: Help Desk - helpdesk@plymouthchristian.org. Our IT department will work to respond within their office hours of 9am-3pm or within 24 hours. 

Spring Break
After thoughtful discussion with the PCA Administrative Team, Calvary Baptist Church Leadership, and a survey of PCA teachers, the decision has been made to leave our currently scheduled spring break of April 6-13 untouched. PCA will resume school on Tuesday, April 14. Our plan to provide robust online learning over the next three weeks will allow our staff and students the opportunity to enjoy this previously scheduled break week. 

Student Gatherings During This Time of Closure
The directive to close school for the next several weeks allows us to join the fight to slow the spread of this illness. By doing so, we are showing love for our community and respect for our government leaders. With that in mind, we have decided that no spring sports practices or robotics team workshops will take place until further notice. We ask that as a family, you talk with your students about the need to refrain from gathering with their friends and hanging out in groups. 

Admissions
The spring is a very busy time for our Admissions Office. We have already canceled our upcoming Open House on March 23, but please know that the admissions work will continue. Leanne Windle, Admissions Coordinator, will continue to call and email prospective families, and even provide them links to virtual tours. 

Facilities & Cleaning
George Huntsman, PCA's Campus Facilitator, is working with our cleaning company, Corporate Cleaning, on our plans over the next several weeks. They will be doing deep cleaning of all our rooms. In addition to this deep cleaning plan, before returning to school, our buildings will be disinfected by Corporate Cleaning using the Clorox 360 cleaning machine.

I will be praying for you all during these trying times. I look forward to seeing how God will use this very unusual time in the history of our school, our community, and the world for His glory!

In Him,
Caryn Huntsman
PCA Superintendent