Dear PCA Families, Faculty & Staff, Alumni, Grandparents, and Friends,
On the eve of Winter Break, I reflect and marvel at all that the amazing work and growth of your children as well as our teachers and staff. There is no doubt we have done this only through God's grace, protection, and provision. We continue to learn as we go, in the most unusual of circumstances and environments in recent years. Yet we are so thankful to be together, committed to the same common purpose, growing and learning as a community. If you haven't yet, I encourage you to check out the 100th day of school video below!
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ANNUAL PARENT SURVEY
In preparation for next year, we ask you complete PCA's MID-YEAR FEEDBACK SURVEY. Please submit one for each child; it will take about 10 minutes to finish. Your input will help shape our efforts next year. We want to have over 200 responses; so far we have just over 100. The survey will remain open through the end of next week, and we will update you on the survey results in mid-to-late March.
2021-22 KEY DATES CALENDAR
To help with your planning for the upcoming school year, we are happy to release the 2021-22 Key Dates Calendar to you. For a list of next year's key dates, including the first and last days of school, vacation dates, and holidays CLICK HERE. |
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HEALTH HIGHLIGHTS
Slides from this week's Health and Safety update are HERE. Keep safe on your winter break! Please review the NH travel guidance. See you on your return!
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2,665 additional health screening submitted within the past week (54,474 to date)
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6 additional people answered "Yes" to possible symptoms in the past week
- 1 additional person answered "Yes" to travel outside New England in the past week
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1 additional answer of "Yes" to potential or confirmed exposure to COVID in the past week
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0 positive COVID tests reported in the past week in the PCA community (41 known to date)
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HOPE HIGHLIGHTS
The hope of Christ is the greatest hope of all. For many in the Christian faith, the tradition of Ash Wednesday took place this week. It marks a call to repentance and the start of Lent, the 40 days before Easter.
Sharing the hope of Christ to others is a great joy as well. And we sure love to receive it back, too! The digital photo to the right was sent to PCA from Cornerstone VNA after our students and families provided them with handmade valentines and chocolates for Valentine's Day. Two of the Hospice nurses thanked the PCA community "for all of your wonderful kindness" and for being "such joy spreaders."
I pray that your family and you will have a safe, restful Winter Vacation next week. May you be encouraged and refreshed in every way. Know we at PCA are praying for you, and we are thankful to God for you.
Together with you in Christ,
Mike Runey
Head of School
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A special "Thank You" to our five sponsors who have helped make it possible to underwrite expenses and ensure the highest possible benefit will go to families who otherwise could not afford PCA!
Legacy Sponsors:
Eagle Sponsor:
Mission Sponsor:
If you would like to learn more about how to become a PCA Sponsor, CLICK HERE
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We’ve just learned that the State of Maine has a Children’s Scholarship Fund (MCSF) available to qualified Maine residents. The goal of MCSF is to maximize educational opportunities to Maine families.
To learn more about the program’s guidelines and to apply, or to donate to the MCSF, please visit http://www.mecsf.org/.
Applications close on Friday, April 30.
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Submit your weekly total minutes HERE every Friday and keep on reading!
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Friday, February 19 from 4:00-6:00 pm
PCA's Upper School students are welcome to join us for a time of toboggan races, snowman building, a bonfire, hot cocoa & cookies and, most of all, a time of laughter and fun before the upcoming Winter Vacation! Please contact Kathy Towle with questions. |
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Tomorrow!
Saturday, February 20 at 8:00 am
Upper School: Bld 2 Library
All PCA dads are encouraged to join us for a time of prayer and fellowship each month. Please contact Gene Watson with questions. |
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February 20 through February 28
The PCA campus will be closed during the last week of February for Winter Vacation. Enjoy this special time off with your family!
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College Board is hosting three more virtual events for high school students to connect directly with college admissions representatives and take action on the most important steps for college. This is intended for high school juniors and sophomores. The dates are based on the region of schools you wish to explore. CLICK HERE for more information and to register.
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Wednesdays from 8:15-9:15 am
Calling all PCA moms, aunts, and grandmothers: we have two prayer groups of Moms in Prayer and would love to have you join us! The Upper School group meets in the Board Room of Runey Hall; the Lower School group meets in the Recording Studio (Room #256). Please contact Stacey Hornbeck with questions.
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Share Your HeART: Giving, Caring, Sharing
Submission Deadline:
Friday, March 5 at 4:00 pm
All PCA students, parents, grandparents, employees, and alumni are welcome to submit an art piece for this year's Annual Auction Juried Art Contest! Our art contest raises thousands of dollars each year for our Variable Tuition program. CLICK HERE to download a registration form. The upcoming Winter Vacation is a great time to work on your masterpiece! Please contact Susie Stevens with questions.
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Order Deadline:
Sunday, March 7 at 11:59 pm
The spring athletic season is right around the corner! From shirts to sweatshirts, to hats and pants, show your school spirit by wearing PCA apparel. Ordered items will be delivered to PCA approximately three months after placing your order. Contact Erin Kniphfer with questions.
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Thursday, March 11 at 6:30 pm
This is a presentation by the Center for College Planning (NH) that will be offered here at PCA. This session is intended to educate the student and family about the college admission process. Students and parents of juniors and sophomores are strongly encouraged to attend. READ MORE.
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Voting Deadline: Friday, March 12
Please consider nominating PCA in the "Best of NH"so we might build awareness for our mission to serve the Seacoast through Christian education! Though there is not a specific field for schools, this year's ballot includes a special field to nominate businesses that went above and beyond to serve customers through the challenges posed by COVID-19 (The ballot is a bit long, but only needs to be filled out once, and most fields are not required-- special attention to fields #65 and #119).
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Thursday, March 18 at 6:30 pm
Troiano Hall
If you have a student heading off to college as a freshman for Fall 2021, this presentation is for you! We encourage you to bring your student's award packages with you. Components of the financial aid award package, including federal student loans, grants, and scholarships will be discussed along with how to analyze what your student was offered. Sample award letters will be provided if you have not received an award letter yet. Contact Tara Hatfield (ext. 153) with questions.
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Friday, March 19
One of our favorite activities during the cold winter months is our annual Luau Lunch! All Upper School students are encouraged to wear jeans and Hawaiian shirts. More information coming soon!
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Saturday, March 20
from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Register HERE for the upcoming free Destination College workshops and virtual college fair. This event is for high school juniors and their parents/guardians. Contact Tara Hatfield (ext. 153) with questions. |
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Happening in just 4 weeks!
Saturday, March 20, 2021
Hurry! Limited availability to enjoy a delicious breakfast delivered to your door! Click the image to read more. Be sure to mark your calendar and join us during this year's Annual Auction. Similar to last year, our Annual Auction will be held online again; it will not be an academic day, and students will not be on campus. LEARN MORE about the event including how to donate, how to bid, and more. Please contact Elizabeth Nanda with questions.
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Order Deadline: Sunday, March 21
Don't miss the opportunity to purchase this important keepsake of your child's school year! Order your child's copy for $35 HERE. Please contact Daphne Corso (ext. 127) with questions. |
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Wednesday, March 24
Next month, our four-year old PCAP students will be participating in the school's beloved, annual Kapok Tree presentation. The "critters" will take their parents and grandparents on a special journey through PCAP's very own rain forest and will tell the importance of protecting those forests. The presentation is based on Lynne Cherry's book "Kapok Tree." More info will be coming soon. Please contact Harlee Tuttle (ext. 113) with questions. |
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Now through April
For the next several Saturdays, Restoration Church will be providing boxes of food to families in need. If your family would like to volunteer to help distribute boxes, please contact Scott Roy; Upper School students can earn Service Hours for the time they spend helping. The address is 80 Rutland Street, Dover, NH, and distribution will begin at 11:00 am. Please share this information with people in need who may benefit from this program. |
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Coming Soon!
There may still be snow on the ground and in the forecast, but PCA's Summer Eagle Camp will begin in just a few more months! Stay tuned for full program details.
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New positions have been recently added.
For a list of all of our current employment opportunities or to download an application, CLICK HERE.
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Portsmouth Christian Academy | 603.742.3617 | pcaschool.org |
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