A Grandparent's Perspective on PCAG

As “Nana” to three of Palmetto Christian’s finest young students, I am so excited about the learning experiences of John, Will and Sarah Grace at Palmetto Christian Academy. I do the pick-up about four days each week. My first question each day is always the same. “Who had a great day today?” The response is always a very enthusiastic, “I did!” Then they talk over each other telling me the events of the great day had by all.

John is in third grade. He has just rediscovered how much he likes math. Mrs. Sprouse has been staying after school each Tuesday and Wednesday for Math Facts, a thirty minute math enrichment time for the elementary children. As I write this, John is reading some research at my house on General Nathaniel Greene. He has an oral report due on Thursday. He is required to be in costume and provide his own props. John is learning his Bible verses in Latin. He loves Latin.

Sarah Grace is our second grader. She is taking world history. As part of that class, she has participated in an archaeological dig, learned the countries of Eastern Europe, the former USSR, the Middle East, and Africa. She sings them, and she can find them on a map. John and Sarah Grace are being taught the parts of speech as the foundational skill for writing. I am always amazed that my second and third graders can identify prepositions and their objects! They also participate in the Junior Master Gardeners program. They are rooting bulbs and growing various plants in terrariums. Quinn Mack built a greenhouse on the campus for the school’s use.

Will is in K-4. He loves school. He enjoys Mrs. Kim and all of his classmates. He loves doing his homework each night while the big kids work on their assignments. Mrs. Kim is so great at encouraging him to do new things. He is growing every day.

Their parents moved them to Palmetto Christian in search of a more challenging curriculum. They found it. As wonderful, fun and exciting as the curriculum is, the best part to this Nana is the emphasis on teaching from a Christian world view. It is a focused, intentional effort to teach critical thinking from a Christian perspective. The faculty prays with and for our children.
Parents (and even Nana’s) are welcomed on the campus, and we are encouraged to bring our gifts and talents to share with the students. I go each week and do a Bible story for the K-4 & K-5 classes using my flannel boards. There are always other parents on campus doing all sorts of tasks. I love the environment. I love watching how the older students treat the younger children. I love that all of the faculty know all of our children and interact with them.

I am so grateful that God has led our family to Palmetto Christian.

Sharon Harwell