Palmetto Christian Academy of Greenwood News

We'll be here for you!

2009-08-27T22:18:00.001-04:00

At Palmetto Christian Academy of Greenwood we are building a strong institutional foundation so that the school will be able to provide a challenging Christian educational experience not just for the current generation of students, but for generations to come.

This begins with the board's commitment to focus on issues that are future-oriented and global for our organization. We refuse to be reactive or micromanage. We are choosing to measure and evaluate outcomes that we really care about. These include the spiritual, physical, social and educational growth of our students.

Financially, we are not taking on debt that exceeds an amount that can be reasonably serviced through future budgets. This requires discipline and a commitment to see enrollment continue to grow.

Educationally, we believe that a school is its teachers. We are blessed to have an exceptional faculty that can mentor as well as teach our children effectively. Our faculty is setting a high standard for parental expectations.

We also believe that a school is its parents. We are sensitive to the needs of parents who ultimately are responsible for the education of their children. We take seriously the trust we are given. We welcome parent (and grandparent) involvement in all aspects of school life. Our strong base of parental support and volunteer help is important for our success as a school.

When you are ready for us to be a part of your child's future, we'll be here for you.

First Year Firsts

2009-05-13T09:33:00.002-04:00

As we approach the end of our first academic year, I look back on the many “firsts” that we’ve experienced as a school with amazement and appreciation of God’s goodness to us. Here are just a few of those “firsts”:

First Family: We are blessed with an outstanding group of pioneering parents, students, and teachers. It’s amazing to me that 41 bright students with supportive parents and 12 experienced faculty, including our principal, have come together to begin a tradition of rigorous academics and warm Christian mentoring.

First Monuments to God’s Gracious Provision: We are thankful for the provision (in chronological order) of a dedicated Steering Committee, our principal, our facility (we are blessed to share Hyde Park Baptist Church’s building), our faculty, our finances (over $40,000 in donations and the ability to start with limited debt), our library (over 2600 books), and many other provisions.

First Year Extracurriculars: We have been able to offer sports. The PCAG Lions have competed in cross country, intramural basketball, and tennis. Other activities have included our successful Robotics Club (Team Data qualified for the State Championship meet), Junior Master Gardeners, Chess Club, students participating in Spelling Bee and Geography Bee (congratulations on your first place finish, Ian Burch!), art classes, and participation in community arts and enrichment programs.

First Year Traditions: Some of our early traditions include our Fall Middle School/High School retreat, Non-Prom Prom, publication of our first yearbook, The Legacy, the week-long Middle School camping adventure at Nantahala and Pisgah, the High School caving trip in Tennessee, High School lunch-out, and chapel programs.

First Board: Our parent-elected board is dedicated to governing and leading at a level that I have not experienced on many other community boards. The board has taken a disciplined approach to keep in touch with its constituency, to maintain a future-oriented agenda, and to evaluate and measure only those things that really matter in the life of the school. The board is committed to keeping its focus on proactive global policy issues and to evaluating its own performance.

First Graduate: We’re proud of Carolyne Cain, who will walk the stage on June 4th as our first graduate. She plans to attend Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, and pursue a nursing career.

Thanks to each of you who have walked this road of faith with us during our first year.

Randy Cain MD, Board Chair

Elementary English is.......FUN !

2009-03-17T22:25:00.001-04:00

Shurley English is a wonderful curriculum! English concepts are set to music and children love learning while they sing. It helps children memorize the parts of speech and their definitions. We are currently learning the 51 prepositions. My students can sing the song and write each word. Recently the students learned all of the helping verbs, subject pronouns, and possessive pronouns. I canʼt imagine the struggle they would have had if it werenʼt for the jingles.
The curriculum encourages students to become good writers. It simplifies the writing process by breaking it down starting out step by step, sentence by sentence. The students learn how to write expository, persuasive, descriptive, and narrative paragraphs and essays.

There are so many aspects of the curriculum that teach children to be clear and definitive speakers and writers. Using this curriculum at Palmetto Christian Academy has been enlightening and fun for the kids. I would recommend it to anyone. Be prepared to be surprised by the concepts your child will learn!

Mrs. Donna Dejeu
Elementary English
Palmetto Christian Academy

Geography Bee

2009-02-11T21:41:00.001-05:00

ACSI Geography Bee

We are excited about participating in the very first ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) Geography Bee in the Southeast region! Students in grades 3-8 will test their knowledge on April 27th when they travel to Landrum, South Carolina, for this special event.

Geography is a part of our school-wide curriculum. As we study and learn about the world and peoples that were created by God, we learn more about God Himself. All of creation reflects the handiwork of God and points us back to who He is and what He has done.

In 1994 the National Council for Geography Education developed six elements that include eighteen standards for a comprehensive study of Geography. These National Geography Standards coupled with Biblical Geography Benchmarks serve as a guideline for our Geography Bee preparation.

Over the next two months we will make a concerted effort to boost our geography skills as we prepare for this event. We plan to learn much and have fun in the process.

Mrs. Nancy Sprouse
Elementary Teacher

A Grandparent's Perspective on PCAG

2009-01-18T22:46:00.002-05:00

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

PCAG School Board's First Annual Retreat

2008-12-06T22:42:00.002-05:00

The weekend of November 21-22, 2008, your school board went on an overnight retreat to Hickory Knob State Park. The retreat was funded by the board members. The weekend was characterized by cold weather, good food, hard work, lots of good interaction, and board members focused on learning how to do their jobs well.

The purposes of the retreat were board orientation, education and planning. On Saturday afternoon, we had our first official board meeting. Dr. Phil Graybeal, a consultant who spends most of his time working with Christian school boards, helped us understand how to function effectively as a board. We want to do our jobs as board members excellently, and take our responsibilities seriously.

Dr. Graybeal left us with the following thoughts for the board as it seeks to give leadership to the school:

1. Set the standard for excellence clearly from the beginning.

2. Understand that school excellence begins in the boardroom.

3. Assess the things you care about most.

4. Let the staff do their job.

5. Foster learning communities at every level.

6. Plan to spend next year’s money next year.

7. Calculate tuition and fee rates to cover all operational expenses.

8. Develop committed donors early in the game.

9. Earn your accreditation as soon as possible.

10. Be good stewards of people’s volunteer time.

11. The best recruitment technique is to keep those you have.

12. Lead with relationships rather than rules.

13. Remember that a school is its teachers.

14. Hear from God …and trust God.

Please pray for your board as they seek to lead faithfully and wisely as we together pursue “A Love for God, A Passion for Learning.”

Randy Cain MD,
School Board Chair
Palmetto Christian Academy of Greenwood

Junior Master Gardener Program Begins This Month!

2008-09-10T14:11:00.004-04:00

Palmetto Christian Academy of Greenwood is pleased to announce that it will be offering the Junior Master Gardener program for enrolled students in grades 1-12 beginning in September. The eleven session course will cover eight different educational topics and two gardening projects. The teaching concepts include the importance and uses of plants, plant classification, plant parts, plant needs, plant growth, plant processes, seed propagation and vegetation propagation.

PCAG is thankful to parent and master gardener Linda Halsey for her leadership with this course. Mrs. Halsey states, “My desire is to pass along to the next generation of botanists the passion I have for God’s creation. Plants are great teaching tools for students of all ages to learn His love for us by observing His intricate and complex designs (in the plant world).”

Builder Quinn Mack with Mack Construction and engineer Mike Goss with Structural Components Systems Incorporated have developed a new 216 square foot prototype greenhouse which uses rain water for irrigation. The trusses for the greenhouse are on site at the school and construction will begin soon.

Visit the National Junior Master Gardener website at www.jmgkids.us for more information about this national program.

Why Latin?

2008-08-29T12:45:00.002-04:00

I was asked to write a blog on why students should learn Latin. More generally, I believe, the question was, “Why Latin?” And it’s a good question. Latin is not technically a ‘dead language,’ though it may as well be. It does have some modern users, the most famous, of course, being the Vatican and the Roman Catholic Church. Certainly, classical professors will know Latin in order to read famous Roman poets, orators, and the like. But why learn Latin unless you are going to work in the Vatican or become a professor of the classics? Only a relative handful of people speak it, and English has become the lingua franca of the modern world. Other language study may seem unnecessary at first glance.

First glances, like first impressions, are often deceiving. I believe there is not a single language, and perhaps, no single subject, that any student can study that will enhance his or her general studies more than Latin (of course, having a good grasp on English should go without saying). Studying Latin is beneficial to students even of elementary school age in numerous ways, but we can mention only two here without making this blog too long. First, Latin has had a profound impact on English vocabulary. There are thousands and thousands of words which come from Latin with little mutation. Knowing some of these in the original language can help us understand our own English words. At the same time, study of Latin can increase English vocabulary significantly. If you look at the previous sentence, eight words come from Latin (including the word “Latin”). That’s eight out of twelve in just that sentence alone. Think, also, of the legal, medical, or scientific fields (to name only a few). Much of their terminology comes from Latin directly. Knowing Latin before professional training begins can only be to the benefit of the student.

Second, most students in private or public education will begin learning a foreign language in high school. Almost all of these students will study one of the Romance languages. The Romance languages are those languages which have descended directly, with more or less purity, from Latin. French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian are the most widely spoken of the Romance languages. Mastery of one can actually greatly aid study of the others. The study of Latin, however, increases basic knowledge of any of them. Latin is the grammar and vocabulary base for all five of the languages. If the student wishes to study German, even here there is some aid from our friend Latin. While not sharing much in common with German, Latin nonetheless introduces the student to languages which rely heavily on inflection. An inflected language is one in which the forms of words are morphed to give them new meaning. For example, the word “God” in Latin can take several forms, depending on its function in the sentence. “Deus” is the way you would write “God” as the subject, but “Deum” is the way you would write “God” as the direct object. German is also an inflected language, so learning how a morphing language works can aid the student in this way as well.

By no means do these two reasons exhaust the benefits of learning Latin, but I believe they are compelling enough to stand as sufficient answers to the question “Why Latin?” A better question might be, “Why not Latin?”

Mr. Matthew Gore; Teacher of Latin and Logic at Palmetto Christian Academy of Greenwood

"No way....my kids won't wear school uniforms."

2008-08-22T22:28:00.002-04:00

We are the parents of three children who now attend Greenwood’s newest school, Palmetto Christian Academy of Greenwood (PCAG), whose students wear school uniforms. As our family prepared for school this summer and discussed the school with other families in the community we heard many parents say “My child won’t want to wear a uniform and I do not want to fight that battle.” Our doubts about the uniform policy began to build. Had we made a mistake? Was the uniform battle one we were willing to fight? The school policy was set so we knew we would have to bite the bullet and go with uniforms if our children were going to attend PCAG.

Our first pleasant surprise was how much money we were saving on back to school clothes as we bought the PCAG uniforms both online and at local retailers. Simple golf shirts and khaki shorts and pants are much less expensive than jeans and designer t-shirts. It is also much easier to pick out clothes when the options are limited to simple color choices of golf shirts and khaki colored shorts versus blue colored shorts. The kids were a little more accepting of the idea of school uniforms when we explained about how much money our family was saving.

The second big surprise was how easy it is to pick out clothes on school nights. The choices were easy, “What color golf shirt for tomorrow kids?” That was it. Decision made…..time for bed. The battle melted away before our eyes. The kids did not protest because they knew that all the other students would be wearing the same style clothes.

The third surprise was how much the children enjoyed being dressed like all the other students in the school. Our children are developing a certain esprit de corps and have quickly resolved themselves to the fact that being a student at Palmetto Christian Academy means you will wear a comfortable uniform of golf shirts and khaki shorts or pants. We have experienced no complaints since school has begun from our three kids about their school uniforms. Life is good!

School uniforms at Palmetto Christian Academy have resulted in three things for our family. First, we have saved significantly on back to school clothes purchases. Secondly, the time spent picking out what clothes to wear to school has been reduced to virtually nothing. Thirdly, it has helped our children develop pride in their school and contentment about their appearance. “Yes, our children do wear school uniforms and we love it!”

God's Blessings

2008-05-26T15:07:00.001-04:00

Palmetto Christian Academy of Greenwood was conceived in the minds of several families over the past two years, but serious and formal work began in July of 2007. Although many people have put in a lot of volunteer hours to see the school become a reality, there are so many things that are clearly God's blessings that we could have never planned or worked hard enough to provide on our own. Some examples include:

A well qualified and capable administrator being available at the right time for work on the school to begin.

A motivated and like-minded steering committee rapidly developed.

A facility (Hyde Park Baptist Church) that perfectly meets the needs of the school provided just at the right moment.

A healthy sized library donated.

A donation of $20,000 for a computer system which will include 15 to 20 laptop computers operated through a secure and safe wireless network.

A hard working contractor volunteer to lead our facility preparations.

Many donors who have given thousands of dollars without any solicitations made on our part.

Many volunteer who have helped with painting, cleaning, decorating, library organization, curriculum planning, etc.

An experienced and motivated core of faculty members.

God's blessings are evident in so many ways - we give Him all praise and glory for PCAG and its’ future.

Our main challenge currently is to have enough students to make the budget less challenging. We have a great core group of students already enrolled. Many others have expressed their intentions or interest in enrolling, but are not officially included until applications are in and fees are paid. If you are considering PCAG for your child's future, please apply sooner rather than later, so that we can hire appropriate faculty and order curriculum in a timely way. Please pray with us for God to provide the students He wants to be at PCAG for the next academic year. And join us in praise to Him for His many blessings.

Accreditation

2008-05-15T21:39:00.001-04:00

“I want to enroll my child in Palmetto Christian Academy but I am concerned that the school is not yet accredited.” This is a legitimate concern for parents as they seek to provide the finest educational opportunities for their children. Will Palmetto Christian Academy graduates be at a disadvantage due to the school’s lack of accreditation in the early years? I contacted the admissions offices of several schools, including Clemson University, Lander University, Furman University, and the University of South Carolina. In each case I was told that the accreditation or lack of accreditation of the high school issuing the transcript is not considered when evaluating a student for admission. Each college publishes its admissions requirements on its website. For the most part the requirements are similar with regard to courses required. Palmetto Christian Academy’s college preparatory curriculum meets and exceeds these requirements. Our students will be fully prepared to be attractive to colleges and universities as competitive applicants.

Accreditation is important. The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) defines accreditation as “ . . . a process—a self-study and analysis, a comparison to established standards, an assessment of a school’s mission, a commitment to quality education, and a willingness to be accountable. Christian schools can use all of these components of the process to reach toward their goal of excellence in education.” Because accreditation is a process we will not be accredited in August when we open our doors. However, it is our goal to be accredited by ACSI, the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA), as well as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Each of these agencies has its own requirements and standards. Some require a minimum number of students; others require the school to be in operation for a specific length of time. We will apply to begin the process as soon as we meet the eligibility requirements for each agency.

Joan Gore, Principal

English Curriculum

2008-05-13T09:56:00.001-04:00

Palmetto Christian Academy’s motto is “A love for God, a passion for learning.” We seek to challenge our students to think and learn using tools which have been proven effective. We want our students to develop a passion for learning and to become life-long learners. Our principal, Joan Gore, and a committee of parents and teachers have been researching curriculums which are effective, motivating, and creative.

Shurley English is such a curriculum. The committee has selected Shurley English for K-5 through 8th grades. Shurley stands out among other curriculums according to a wide variety of research done in the past thirty years. Shurley English contains all of the key elements necessary to promote language development for effective communication and successful participation in society. The Shurley method merges a strong foundation of basic skills with writing. It also engages students in the learning process in a “brain-friendly” manner.

The program has been effective with students who have different learning capacities and styles. Teachers and students have expressed an enthusiasm for learning English through the Shurley method. The curriculum is creative, fun, and motivating. First graders are introduced to grammar through musical jingles used to teach the definitions and the functions of the parts of speech. The curriculum uses steps to relate a definition to a concept, a concept to a skill practice, and a skill practice to writing and editing. Multi-sensory group work is also a feature of Shurley English. It encourages teacher-student interaction and provides immediate feedback and ongoing review of learned concepts. Perhaps the best result of all is that students apply what they learn to writing. Please visit the Shurley English website at http://www.shurley.com/new/index.jsp to preview the curriculum.

Shurley English is one example of the kind of curriculum to be used at Palmetto Christian Academy. We want to enable and encourage our students to love God and develop a passion for learning. To that end, our curriculum committee will continue to seek the best available tools to be used in our classrooms.

Upcoming Open House!

2008-04-24T11:44:00.004-04:00

Palmetto Christian Academy is having its second open house on Tuesday, April 29th from 3:00PM to 8:00PM. The open house is a drop-in format which will give you the opportunity to tour the school and talk with our staff, steering committee, and even future students in a relaxed and informal climate. Parents can preview examples of our proposed curriculum with samples of textbooks available.

Enrollment is growing and the steering committee has been encouraged by the community response. The school website is having a large number of new visitors every week (we get those stats from Google) which indicates that people are seeking more information about the school. It is an exciting time at Palmetto Christian Academy! Enrolled students have been talking about athletic teams and are already developing a sense of school identity and pride.

At the open house will be examples of the school dress code. Dress codes have been a hot topic lately in the community of Greenwood with some of the public schools considering the implementation of school uniforms. Palmetto Christian Academy students will get to wear golf shirts and khaki shorts, pants or skirts. One of the most frequent comments we have heard from students already enrolled about the dress code is "That's what I will be wearing? It looks a lot like what I already wear. I am not sure why it's called a uniform." That is exactly the point. Our dress code is quite reasonable and should make shopping for school clothes much more hassle free.

Please join us on Tuesday afternoon and evening for our second open house!

Prayer for Palmetto Christian Academy

2008-04-09T09:27:00.000-04:00

After you pay your taxes on April 15, please join us at our school location at Hyde Park Baptist Church to pray (and fast, if you feel led) for our school. We strongly believe that the future of this school is in God’s hands. We want to let Him know of our dependence on Him in a corporate way. We also want to set the example for our children in all that we do that all that we have comes from Him. All successes are of Him. All difficulties come to us from His hand for our good and His glory. You can pray at anytime, but we will be specifically meeting together at 8am, noon, and 6pm at the school for prayer together.

What will we pray about? First, we have much to be thankful for: for a committed and likeminded group of parents who have been working hard to establish the school; for our Principal, Joan Gore, and all the abilities she brings to her position; for Hyde Park Baptist Church, and their openness to work with us; for those who have registered their children; for those who are supportive of the school; for those who have donated time, helped with painting, donated books, computers, and funds for the benefit of the children in our school; for an excellent core of committed and talented faculty.

Secondly, we want to ask God for wisdom for our Steering Committee and Mrs. Gore as they set the course for the school for years to come; for continued enrollment growth; for the school to actually become the kind of institution we envision; for God to be glorified through our efforts; for the myriad of details that will need to fall into place between now and august.

Please join us April 15 for a day of prayer (and fasting).

Open house, prayer and computers!

2008-04-04T11:33:00.004-04:00

Palmetto Christian Academy has scheduled a second open house for Tuesday April 29th from 3:00-8:00PM. The staff and steering committee were very encouraged with the response from our initial open house in March. Many of those who attended the first open house have been sharing the vision of the school and encouraging other parents and students to seriously consider what PCAG has to offer. The April 29th open house will give potential students and parents the opportunity to meet our principal, teachers, steering committee, parents of enrolled students and students already enrolled in the school. The feedback from the last open house was very positive from both parents and students. The items commented about the most were the quality of the facilities and the academically challenging curriculum.

Other tidbits:
1. The school purchased two large desktop computers this week, each with a one terabyte hard drive to serve as the cornerstones for the school's computer system. The Computer Committee has decided to purchase Dell laptops incorporated into a wireless network for library and classroom use. Internet safety will be hardware and software based. Allowing our students use of the internet is important however we need to insure their safety.

2. There will be corporate prayer on Tuesday April 15th at 8:00 AM, 12 Noon and 6:00 PM for the school and the community. Please join us as we seek God’s wisdom and guidance for PCAG. The prayer time will be held in the school chapel.

3. The response from parents about school uniforms has been overwhelmingly positive. Please see our uniform policy on the website.

4. Now that enrollment is moving forward, thoughts are turning towards the fielding of athletic teams this fall. Remember to purchase your PCAG decals and T-shirts to show your support of our Lions!

Faith formation and the school

2008-03-27T17:40:00.001-04:00

The family is the primary setting in which faith formation takes place. It is in the context of the family that children first experience love, trust, and forgiveness. A newborn baby experiences love as he looks into his mother eyes as she feeds him. A crying child learns to trust when parents respond to her cries with comforting arms and soft words. A first-grader receives forgiveness after she disobeyed her Mom and ate the cookie before supper. As parents care for their children, they act as models of our heavenly Father’s love for them.

The church also plays an integral part in faith formation. It is in the church where children learn to worship God with other members of the body of Christ. The church provides a setting in which children can hear the stories of God’s faithfulness to his people, both from Scripture and from members of the congregation. Children also learn what it means to be part of the family of God and share in the joy of true worship.

What role does the Christian school, specifically Palmetto Christian Academy, play in the spiritual formation of children?

In Joining Children on the Spiritual Journey, Catherine Stonehouse writes;
The spiritual journey is not a path separate from the rest of life . . . . It is the path of everyday living where God meets and walks with us, where we respond to God with our whole developing self. . . . Every portion of the journey is important because what we learn and who we become along each section of the way influences what we see, hear, and become in the future. Those who walk with us also contribute to how we experience the journey.

Faith formation, or the spiritual journey, is not limited to the home and church. It is a process that goes on 24/7, 365 days a year—and it is influenced by everything we hear, see, do, and experience. Palmetto Christian Academy is a school where mature believers will come along side their students and model the love of God. It is here, in this extended family, that students will learn that God so loved them that he created the heavens and earth for them and sent his son to die for their sins. They will explore that creation and unpack its many treasures in the classroom. And they will experience the life-changing impact of living and learning with others, their PCA family, who seek to “bring every thought captive to Christ.”

School uniforms

2008-03-12T22:31:00.002-04:00

Palmetto Christian Academy is developing a school uniform policy that will be fashionable and will still maintain a sense of discipline and moderation. Many children would choose to wear similar clothes even without such a policy. Our uniform plans include a variety of solid colored polo shirts, and khaki or blue pants, shorts, or skirts. We will have examples at our open house tomorrow!

School uniforms can be controversial. Parents may have mixed feelings. Younger students usually accept them without concern. Older students may not like them. Research on the benefits of school uniforms has provided mixed results. The various study methods have been subject to criticism. However, professional educators have generally demonstrated support for school uniforms, and parents have benefited from the reduced cost of clothing for their children through uniform policies.

A survey of 755 principals by the National Association of Elementary School Principals in 2000 demonstrated that educators recognize positive effects of having a school uniform policy in the following areas:
The school’s image in the community
Classroom discipline
Peer pressure
School spirit
Concentration on schoolwork
Student safety

If your child resists attending a school with a uniform policy, we would recommend helping them to see that making decisions for their education is a parental responsibility that they can learn to accept. This may be an area in which your children could grow in maturity as they accept parental decisions about which school is best for them to attend.

School Culture

2008-02-29T10:28:00.002-05:00

Often experiencing the culture or atmosphere of a place tells you more than any written description. This Blog entry is an attempt to put in words our desire for the culture of Palmetto Christian Academy of Greenwood.

We are planning for this school to be much like we want our homes to be; a place where each person is appreciated for who they are, where grace reigns and forgiveness is quickly given, where laughter is often heard, and where expectations for students are high. The “About Us” tab on the PCAG website has a “Spiritual Formation” section that says a lot about what kind of students we want to develop at our school.

James Drexler, in his book Schools as Communities describes such a school:
"A Christian school that is pursuing God's kingdom and purposes will do the following:
-Reflect and imitate unconditional love instead of conditional love based on human achievements.
-Celebrate the wholeness of each student instead of holding to a 'constricted, learning-machine view of students.'
-Offer through its curriculum a deep and rich appreciation for all facets of humanity instead of appreciating just high scores on standardized tests.
-Provide a community with meaningful and supportive relationships instead of keeping people rushed, fragmented, and fearful.
-Inspire calm instead of a constant striving and business.
-Be deeply rooted in the wisdom of God instead of 'hydroplaning on the shallowest understandings of the purpose of life.'
-Advocate higher expectations, humility, and the peace of God instead of superficial definitions of the Christian life.
-Encourage a life of obedience, gratitude, honesty, and hope instead of a life of self-indulgence, self-serving, and self-importance."

Pray for us and join with us as we strive to provide such an environment for our children.

Tuition and Financial Aid

2008-02-25T11:36:00.002-05:00

Setting tuition levels for Palmetto Christian Academy of Greenwood has been a significant challenge for the Steering Committee. While striving to set the tuition at a level many families could afford, we still need funds to recruit and retain high quality teachers. The budget for the school is what drives the cost of tuition. Our budgetary priorities are:

1. Recruit and retain high quality faculty. We want to provide our teachers with a respectable income and benefits package. While recognizing that teaching in a Christian school is a calling, we believe that the laborer is worthy of proper support. Even with a competitive salary, teachers are still making a sacrifice when they choose to teach at a Christian school over other career choices.

2. Financial Aid. All tuition income and undesignated gifts to PCAG will be subject to a financial aid tithe. Ten percent of these funds will be designated for financial aid.

3. Discipline in budgeting. The budget is built on tuition income, not donations. Donations will be used to defray start-up costs and provide non-budgeted extras to enhance the school’s educational goals.

4. Affordable tuition. We seek to make tuition as affordable as possible in light of the considerations listed.

The average yearly tuition for PCAG is approximately $5000 ($500 monthly for ten months). If the school has 100 students, there will be $50,000 available for financial aid! We are using an outside agency, Family Financial Needs Assessment (FFNA), to evaluate individual families’ needs for financial aid. This allows families to keep their financial affairs private. FFNA will report to our principal what percentage of tuition should be covered by financial aid for each family that qualifies. Only our principal, or the Financial Aid Coordinator, will know which students receive financial aid.

Quality Christian education at PCAG may be more affordable than you think! Please contact Mrs. Gore at 554-6272 to inquire about Financial Aid.

Seeking wisdom

2008-02-22T08:49:00.002-05:00

As we travel down this road of starting a new Christian school, we have a strong desire to get it right. We want a school that challenges young minds to be full of curiosity and wonder as they learn of history, math, art, and the world around them. We want them to be exceptional observers and communicators. We want them to think of their role in this world as living and loving in response to a God that has shown them great mercy. The enormity of this task is humbling.

In an effort to get it right, we have asked advice of three seasoned Christian school administrators and consultants, as well as the board chair of a young and very successful Christian school in a neighboring state. We asked those that have traveled this path before, “What is it that makes a successful school?” The advice they gave was very similar.

Here is a sampling of their advice to us:
1. Clarify ends or goals– what you want as your end product – what kind of students will you produce? Clarify who your moral owners are – to whom will you listen and respond?
2. Assess your movement toward your goals – have a strong commitment to assessment.
3. As a board, keep your focus on global objectives and policies, don't get distracted. Pull together in the same direction.
4. Have clarity about roles and boundaries between faculty, administration and the board.
5. Hire quality faculty. Fund and reward excellence.
6. Pay attention to relationships – if staff members don’t get along, it will cause problems.
7. Trust in the Lord – not in your means or successes. Pray often over every decision.

We are committed to following the advice we have been given. Please join with us as we develop a school where students have “A love for God and a passion for learning.”

Randy Cain
Steering Committee Chairman

A new member of the PCAG family

2008-02-19T09:00:00.003-05:00

It is with great pleasure that I welcome a friend and colleague Mr. Jim Fyock to the PCAG family. Jim has a wealth of knowledge and experience in Christian education and strong teaching and administrative credentials that will help make Palmetto Christian Academy an outstanding educational organization. His dedication to Christ and excellence in education is obvious to everyone who knows him. I am thankful to the Lord for bringing Jim to PCAG to serve in whatever capacity he is needed. Jim will be establishing the social studies and history curricula.

As the excitement continues to grow concerning the opening of PCAG this fall, I will continue to inform you of the outstanding faculty and staff God brings to our school to teach your children. To God be the glory.

Principal Joan Gore

The furniture is here!

2008-02-17T18:26:00.005-05:00

The new office furniture for Mrs. Gore's office arrived today along with many new tables for the elementary wing. A real trooper, our principal has been working out of a temporary office at the school until her office could be renovated and furniture purchased. The principal's position at PCAG is a busy one of interviewing teachers, processing student applications, talking with parents as well as all the other details of starting a new school. A well equipped office will go a long way to helping her be more efficient.

The elementary tables will be set up later this week. Please stop by the school and see how things are shaping up. The next big task is meeting with our computer consultants to plan the school computer system. Now that we have a committement from one of our donors, we will soon be purchasing new laptop computers and other supplies for the school. Thank God for His provision and faithfulness!

The paint is drying!

2008-02-16T22:09:00.004-05:00

Wow! What a busy week at Palmetto Christian Academy. Quinn Mack of Mack Construction has been supervising the updates and renovations of our new facility at Hyde Park Baptist Church. The Elementary Wing had a complete facelift including the renovation of two bathrooms. The school office is also ready to go. This week new furniture will be purchased for the office. Painting and renovation of the school library was completed today. A very spacious room, the library will house our new collection of over 1,000 books. The shelves will be moved in this week and the books will be organized.

Grading equipment was brought in to level the fenced elementary play area. New seed will be scattered soon to make sure we have a lush playarea for our students. Playground equipment will be the next agenda item for this area!

Stop by the school to see the changes. Also plan on attending our open house on March 13th. We are busy lining up teachers and enrolling students! We are grateful to God for how He is blessing this endeavor and may it be to His glory.

Caution....wet paint!

2008-02-13T17:22:00.001-05:00

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” We have been humbled and awed as God has met every need of Palmetto Christian Academy in ways beyond anything we could have imagined. He has blessed us with a new home, faithful friends and supporters, and new friends at Hyde Park Baptist Church who have opened their doors to us and welcomed us as brothers and sisters.

The last few days have been busy with paint, paint, and more paint! Members of the Steering Committee as well as many friends and even some future students are polishing their remodeling skills. We have been painting rooms, laying tile and replacing sinks. We are on target for our open house on March 13th. Teachers are being hired and students are signing up. We know that there is a lot more work to do, but it is such a joy to see the school begin to take shape.

Please continue to pray for Palmetto Christian Academy and the teachers and students the Lord will bring to us. “To our God and Father be glory forever and ever.”

Palmetto Christian Academy has a home!

2008-02-04T00:36:00.000-05:00

Palmetto Christian Academy of Greenwood is pleased to announce its new location, Hyde Park Baptist Church. The Steering Committee of the school has entered into an agreement to lease the church’s facilities located at 330 Deadfall Rd. in Greenwood. We are very excited about our relationship with Hyde Park. The congregation has been warm and welcoming. The facilities are beautiful and will be an excellent home for the school. The facility has over 20,000 square feet of space which includes a full size gym/multipurpose room that will be used as a cafeteria as well as for gym class, sporting events, and school assemblies.

While members of the church will serve as advisory members on the facilities committee, the school board will be elected by the parents. The school has five core values which the steering committee has decided on: teaching foundational Biblical truths (interdenominational); developing the mind of Christ in our students; challenging our students to achieve their highest academic potential; maintaining accountability among parents, teachers, and administration; and practicing integrity.

Enrollment for the 2008-09 school-year opened in January and we already have received a good number of student and teacher applications. We plan to have an open house within the next few weeks to give parents and students an opportunity to tour the facility. Applications for both students and teachers are available on the web site, www.pcagwd.org or by calling the school office, 554-6272.

Library Books

2008-01-30T23:24:00.000-05:00

PCAG now has a library! Thanks to the Ray family of The Alcoves in Abbeville who donated over one thousand books to the PCAG library. Several of our steering committee members spent the day arranging and reviewing the selection. We have purchased several book shelves to be used in the library at our new location. The selection of books ranges from K-4 story books to challenging books about biochemistry for our high school students. Check back in the next week for some new developments with PCAG!

Professionalism

2008-01-21T17:57:00.000-05:00

A Word from Our Steering Committee Chair on Board Professionalism

We as a Steering Committee see this school as a resource we are developing not just for our own children, but we intend to develop a strong foundation that will be a resource for many generations of families in the Greenwood area. Our Principal, Mrs. Joan Gore, is working very hard to provide a strong faculty and school policies that will serve the school and its families for many years. The Steering Committee is also working hard to make sure its method of doing business as a fledgling board sets a foundation that will serve future classes of our elected School Board well.

We see the makeup and practices of the School Board as critical to the long-term success of Palmetto Christian Academy, and as a result, we are educating ourselves on the best practices of school boards. An effective board must educate itself and evaluate its own performance regularly.

We recently reviewed some of the conclusions of Chait, Holland, and Taylor in Improving the Performance of Governing Boards. They conclude that the most effective governing boards of educational institutions practice the following six competencies:

1. The board understands and takes into account the culture and norms of the organization it governs.
2. The board takes the necessary steps to ensure that trustees are knowledgeable about the institution, the profession, and the board’s roles, responsibilities, and performance.
3. The board nurtures the development of trustees as a working group, attends to the board’s collective welfare, and fosters a sense of cohesiveness.
4. The board recognizes the complexities and subtleties of issues and accepts ambiguity and uncertainty as healthy preconditions for critical discussion.
5. The board accepts as a primary responsibility the need to develop and maintain healthy relationships among major constituencies.
6. The board helps the institution envision a direction and shape a strategy.

In response to some of the training we have received, we are beginning to plan our meeting agendas around our institutional distinctives. This will help us maintain focus on our core values as we make decisions and plan for the long term health of Palmetto Christian Academy. As we begin succession planning in anticipation of an elected board in the fall of 2008, we are developing a culture of professionalism and best practices for our board.

- Randy Cain MD
Chairman of the Steering Committee

Registration for students is open!

2008-01-14T22:05:00.000-05:00

Palmetto Christian Academy of Greenwood is now accepting applications! Student applications can be downloaded from the Admissions page or you may call the school at 554-6272 to have an application mailed. The Admissions page contains information which will help you through the process.

The steering committee is committed to making tuition affordable to as many students as possible and has designated 10% of the budget for financial aid. If you would like to apply for financial aid, please call the school for a financial aid application. Financial aid recommendations will be made by a third party, Financial Family Needs Assessment (FFNA). All applications for financial aid should be submitted to FFNA by April 30. Based on their recommendations, awards will be made by mid-June. Students do need to be enrolled in Palmetto Christian Academy in order to apply for aid.

We are excited to take this next step in our journey! We still have many miles to go, but we look forward to traveling on with families that share our vision of education that nurtures students academically and spiritually. Please continue to pray for wisdom for us and for parents and teachers who are considering joining Palmetto Christian Academy in this endeavor.

No Slowing for the Holidays

2007-12-29T15:30:00.000-05:00

Palmetto Christian Academy's Principal and Steering Committee have been busy over the the last two weeks of December preparing for the 2008-2009 school year. Listed are a few of the tasks that have been completed or are very close to being completed:

1. Establishing the school budget.
2. Setting tuition costs - check the website soon.
3. Accepting applications for new teachers.
4. Touring facilities and working towards an announcement about our new location.
5. Establishing the school's various committees which are listed on the website.
6. Meeting with community leaders to discuss the vision and goals of the school.
7. Curriculum research and receiving sample materials.

January will be very busy as the school begins to accept applications from students and begin registration for Fall 2008.

Palmetto Christian Academy is thankful for the encouragement and support from the local community. We trust and pray that you had a very meaningful Christmas and will have a wonderful New Year.

Quality over quantity

2007-12-14T17:44:00.000-05:00

At our last steering committee meeting, we wrestled with the budgetary and financial implications one of the pieces of advice we have been given: “Do not be overzealous about building a large student enrollment your first year. Be more concerned about bringing together a quality group of parents, students, and teachers who will help your school establish a positive, Christ-honoring reputation in your community….It is better to enjoy a modest success than to experience a colossal failure.”

To this end, we’re building a budget based on a first years’ enrollment of 60, but we’re praying for 100 students for the first year – which would make a tight budget much easier to manage!

Continue to pray and communicate with us about the possibility of your children being a part of this school.

A Word from the Steering Committee Chairperson

2007-12-11T22:37:00.000-05:00

As the steering committee for Palmetto Christian Academy of Greenwood, we are committed to best practices as an organization. We want to develop an organizational culture of achieving high standards. We want to develop institutional integrity, transparency and accountability. That is why we have charged our principal, Joan Gore, with developing all academic programs according to the accreditation standards of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

We hold ourselves as a steering committee to similar standards. To this point, we have brought in three different consultants to help us as a fledgling board evaluate our plans and efforts as we develop this school – two were experienced educators, another a local expert on nonprofit boards. We have another consultant scheduled to talk to us about board governance structures in February.

As we walk down this road, we also use a manual published by ACSI, appropriately named How to Start a Christian School Manual. In the first chapter, it lists 8 steps to take to start a new school:
1. Seek prayerful direction.
2. Develop a study committee.
3. Take all necessary legal steps.
4. Develop a clear statement of the school’s philosophy of education, a statement of faith, and a mission statement.
5. Select an administrator and staff.
6. Analyze options for school facilities.
7. Begin promoting your school.
8. Follow sound financial policies.

We’ve worked hard and put in many hours to get to this point, and I’m glad to report that we’ve done all 8 steps in anticipation of enrollment beginning 1/15/08 (except for hiring additional staff). Outside of the steering committee, many others have been helpful in serving on school committees and encouraging us with prayers and enthusiasm.

We’re encouraged and moving forward!

Randy Cain MD
Chair - Palmetto Christian Academy Steering Committee

Location, location, location

2007-12-09T22:14:00.000-05:00

It has been a busy week for the Palmetto Christian Academy Facilities Committee. We toured three area churches which are in discussion with us about use of their facilities for the school. The response of these churches as well as the others we have visited has been very encouraging. The willingness of local congregations to open their doors for Palmetto Christian Academy is a testimony to their faithfulness to use the gifts God has given them in service to others. It is also a reaffirmation of the steering committee's vision to establish a non-denominational, parent led Christian school in the Greenwood area. Please continue to pray for wisdom as we work out the details and finalize plans for the 2008-2009 school year.

An Update from the Steering Committee

2007-11-29T15:04:00.000-05:00

The Palmetto Christian Academy Steering Committee is busy with preparations for the 2008-2009 academic year. Current projects include:

Finalizing the school budget, tuition and teacher salaries. Teacher salaries should be competitive and will offer a benefits package. We realize that competent teachers with a passion for education will be the backbone of the school. An appropriate salary package should help us attract and retain quality teachers.

The Facilities Committee is working on several potential sites for the school and hope to make an announcement soon. Initially we will have a temporary site with plans to purchase a facility or property at a later date.

The Fundraising/Public Relations Committee is involved with fundraising plans and formulating an advertising budget. It is important for us to share the vision of Palmetto Christian Academy with the community.

The Curriculum Committee is forming to look at various curricula. We want a challenging elementary and college prep curriculum that emphasizes Christian values and thought.

Athletics is an important part of the school experience, so preparations are under way to begin an athletics program and booster club. Stay tuned for more information on the Lions' athletic programs.

We hope this gives you a quick snapshot of what is going on behind the scenes at Palmetto Christian Academy. School applications are now available online! Please Email or call the school for questions or if you are interested in a volunteer or teaching position.

Welcome to PCA of Greenwood's Blog

2007-11-08T19:44:00.000-05:00

A great way to keep up with the news at Palmetto Christian Academy is to visit our blog. Leave us a note or ask a question. We love feedback and to share with you.