Friday, May 7, 2021
Dear PCA Families, Faculty & Staff, Alumni, Grandparents, and Friends,
What an amazing week coming-off of a much-needed Spring Break. We are definitely taking more and more steps along the path to normal! Several highlights:

  • Teacher Appreciation Week: Thank you to the parents, students, churches, and ministries that went above-and-beyond to honor our dedicated teachers. We thank you, and we thank the Lord for our dedicated, talented teachers. So good to gather in small groups and fellowship!
  • Accreditation visit complete: PCA completed a rigorous, three-year re-accreditation process with an intense, focused visit by an outside accrediting agency. This process provides the basis for our continued school growth and improvement while affirming our strengths. Thanks for parents, students, and faculty who spoke with the visiting team.

  • 8th Grade Adventure-trips: Due to COVID restrictions, we had to cancel our Washington D.C. trip. Yet, in the spirit of "what CAN we do?" our 8th Grade has embarked on more local adventures. It is so good to see these amazing young men and women grow and thrive together.
  • Sport and Fine Arts in full swing: Kaitlyn Shawnee (Class of 2022) led our Women's Softball Team in our home opener, striking out 15 and crushing two home run herself. Upper School Track teams continue to break records; Men's Volleyball Club Team has begun--a first; and our spring musical, "Little Mermaid," has moved into final production stages in the main gym/stage area on a nightly basis: costumes, places, lights, action! There is so much good happening across the school in the arts and athletics, with many of the students participants in both Fine Arts and Athletics-- examples of PCA's well-rounded education.

  • National Day of Prayer: as a school, we joined with millions of others across our country yesterday to pray for our country--an annual practice in America since 1952. In normal years, this day is powerful, but it was even more so this year in light of the past year for our country. Our students and teachers reading scripture and praying together moved all of us in spirit as we sought the Lord humbly yet confidently on behalf of our families, churches, government leaders, educators, military, and those in the arts, media, and culture. Despite the separation, your children and grandchildren helped us connect all of us who were gathered in classrooms and assembly halls across the campus and even beyond.
HEALTH & SAFETY HIGHLIGHTS
We are seeing a healthy student body on campus this week--thanks for all helping us return well from Spring Break! We also continue to see a steep decline in severity and spread of COVID across the Seacoast and New England.

We are meeting this week and next with staff and faculty to review end-of-school year protocols, as well as looking at next August safety layers we anticipate having in place. These are all in light of New Hampshire's transition from "Safer at Home 2.0" to "Best practices" and revised Department of Education guidance documents.

Please join me for a Health and Safety Town Hall on Monday, May 17 at 6:00 pm on TEAMS. Please provide any questions you would like me to address that evening HERE no later than Wednesday, May 12.

Please note the most recent PCA data below:

  • 2,823 additional health screenings submitted within the past week (78,256 to date)

  • 4 additional people answered "Yes" to possible symptoms in the past week

  • 6 people answered "Yes" to international travel or via cruise ship in the past week

  • 0 additional answers of "Yes" to potential or confirmed exposure to COVID in the past week

  • 0 positive COVID tests reported in the past week in the PCA community (62 known to date*)
*Includes 7 additional positive cases that were reported immediately prior to vacation,
as well as 1 that was reported during vacation)
HOPE HIGHLIGHTS 
On this weekend, we thank the Lord for the incredible gift of mothers and the blessings of motherhood. To all of our PCA mothers and grandmothers, we thank you for, by God's grace, strength and creative power in and through you. We thank you for bringing each of us into this world. By the Lord's continued love, kindness, and strength, in and through you, we thank you for nurturing us throughout all of our years. We praise God for you, as we are reminded that Jesus also had a very special relationship with his mother. I was struck that even upon his final moments on the cross, Jesus thought of his mother and ensured she was cared for, even as Mary cared for Jesus the Messiah (John 19:25-27). Happy Mother's Day!

Together with you in Christ,
Mike Runey
Head of School
  • Help putting together the students' paper quilts. Please contact Susie Stevens if you are able to help.

  • Volunteers for the Lower School's Field Day on June 7. Please contact Abby Monahan if you are able to help.
BoxTops is making it easier to earn money for PCA, including ability to set weekly scan reminders and easy way to find bonus offers. LEARN MORE.
Three of PCA's varsity athletes had a fantastic week! Congratulations to junior Kailtyn Shawney for helping swiftly defeat Pittsfield (7-0) by throwing an impressive 15 strikeouts and 2 homeruns!

Congratulations to senior Liza Corso (3200m) and sophomore Brianna Malone (800m) who each won their events against a field of elite athletes from around the State! Under very windy conditions, the girls ran great races with Brianna winning her race in personal record time of 2:23.50. Liza won her race in 11:28.45. Each girl ran the fastest time by any girl in NHIAA Division 3 this season. They will be competing in another elite level meet on Friday May 7 at Coe-Brown. Go, Eagles!
ATTENTION:
Parents with 3+ current PCA students!
Wednesday, May 12
from 8:30-9:30 am in Troiano Hall
There are multiple families at PCA this year which have 3 or more students currently enrolled. Mike Runey and our principals would love a time to meet with these families over a cup of coffee. Come join us for a time of fellowship after the morning drop-off! No RSVP necessary.
Saturday, May 15 from 9:30-11:30 am
High school students who are interested in obtaining a nomination to a United States Service Academy from the NH congressional delegation are welcome to attend the upcoming Virtual NH Military Service Academy day. Please contact Senator Shaheen's Office at 603-647-7500 or email RSVP@shaheen.senate.gov to register for the event.
Saturday, May 15 from 5:00-10:00 pm
The 2021 prom is coming next weekend for our Juniors and Seniors. The event will be held at the Portsmouth Country Club! The Grand March will commence at 5:00 pm sharp; parents are allowed to attend the Grand March if wearing a mask. Dinner and festivities will be held from 6:00-10:00 pm. This year's them is “A Night in Paris Masquerade.” Please contact Kathy Towle with questions.
Monday, May 17 at 6:00 pm
Parents are welcome to join Mike Runey during our latest Town Hall Health Update meeting where we will be discussing health-safety protocols for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year, as well as anticipated adjustments for the upcoming school year.


Or call in (audio only)
Phone Conference ID: 607 990 20# 
Attention Parents of current 5th, 6th,
and 7th graders!  
Thursday, May 20th at 8:30-9:00am
Lower School Library
Join Dr. Carrie Abood and Jordan Heckelmann, Upper School Principal, for coffee and conversation on how we are enhancing the Junior High program at PCA and building new connections to our Upper School. Time will also be devoted to fellowship and an opportunity for parents to share feedback. No RSVP is necessary.
Updated Location
Thursday, May 20 through
Friday, May 28
Families are encouraged to stop by the Upper School buildings' lobbies to view our Upper School art students' work. Please contact Moriah Mazzochi with questions.
Thursday, May 20 at 7:00 pm
Friday, May 21 at 7:00 pm
Saturday, May 22 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm
Main Gym
Disney's "The Little Mermaid" is coming to the PCA Stage! See our Junior High and High School students bring this beloved tale to life, with 4 LIVE performances, including a matinee. To purchase tickets and learn more information about our production, please visit our website: http://our.show/portsmouthchristianacademy/thelittlemermaid
Friday, May 21 through Thursday, May 27
It's almost Book Fair Time at the Lower School! Stay tuned for more info about this special event coming next month. Please contact Rachel Tolley with questions.
Friday, May 21 from 8:00- 10:00 am
All PCA volunteers are invited to join us in the Main Gym where our students and faculty will be celebrating YOU, our wonderful volunteers! The students will be hosting a special chapel in your honor; please join us afterwards to enjoy a breakfast buffet donated by our faculty and staff to show their appreciation for your hard work. To help save time that morning, you can HEALTH SCREEN USING THIS LINK.

Please RSVP-- you won't want to miss this!
Saturday, May 22 at 8:00 am
All dads within the PCA community are welcome to join us tomorrow morning outside the Upper School buildings. We will start the day with prayer and pancakes, followed by some outdoor painting of the garage and athletic sheds. We're hoping to have at least 12 dads on site that morning. Contact Gene Watson (ext. 154) with questions.
Wednesday, May 26 at 6:00 pm
Troiano Hall
Spread the word! Know friends or family who are exploring what school might look like this fall? PCA's Upper School Open House is coming next month! Guests will explore a place for high schoolers to grow, thrive, and maximize their potential. They will get a chance to tour PCA's waterfront campus, meet our teachers, and get an in-person feel for what makes PCA's high school go above and beyond to prepare each student for his or her future. SIGN-UP HERE.
Thursday, May 27 at 6:30 pm
Main Gym
Families are welcome to join us for our Upper School Spring Concert; we ask that families please be limited to 3 guests. The dress attire is "Concert Attire." Students should arrive by 6:00 pm to their designated classroom to warm-up. To help save time that evening, you can HEALTH SCREEN USING THIS LINK.

The concert will be livestreamed for those who would like to watch from a distance.

Please contact Carroll Stevens with questions or if you would like to request to bring an additional guest.
Monday, May 31
The PCA campus will be closed on Memorial Day. Please pause to remember and honor those military personnel who sacrificed their lives to protect ours.
There is so much to celebrate as we enter the "wrap-up" season of the 2020-21 school year! CLICK HERE to see when and where your child's End-of-Year Class Picnic and Awards Ceremony will be.
Monday, June 7
The Lower School will be celebrating its annual Field Day next month-- a time of outdoor games and fun. If you would like to help volunteer at this special event, please contact Abby Monahan.
Summer is almost here!
PCA's Summer Eagle Camp is approximately one month away! READ MORE about our various programs and to register. Please contact Jodi Karnes (ext. 160) with questions.
Employment Opportunities
For a list of all of our current and anticipated employment opportunities or to download an application, CLICK HERE.
Portsmouth Christian Academy | 603.742.3617 | pcaschool.org