News

Exploring College Options Virtually

This year’s Junior Class College Tours trip looks a little different than usual. Due to COVID restrictions, colleges are turning away from in-person tours and instead, jumping onto Zoom in order to bring their university and all it has to offer into PCA.

The 2021 Virtual College Tour began last week with a 3-hour session that included:

• a discussion of types of colleges (state university, liberal arts, Christian)

• Virtual tours of Clemson, Furman, and North Greenville Universities

• Clemson Zoom meeting with an Admissions representative and student tour guides

• navigating college websites

• preparing an elevator speech and a resume to begin a College Application File

“Intentionality is the key to finding the right college fit,” according to Academic Counselor Sally Pascutti. “Our goal is to give students context for making choices about majors, careers, learning environments, financial commitment, and admissions. I am thankful that colleges have created ways for us to do that when we cannot visit campuses as a group.”

The Virtual College Tours will resume on February 15 & 16 and tentatively will include visits with the University of South Carolina, Wofford College, and Anderson University. Students will also hear from college campus ministries and professionals in popular career clusters as well as participate in an application essay workshop.

Lower School Goes To Mars!

People have long wondered what it would be like to visit Mars, and this year Mrs. Peek’s STEM classes may have an opportunity to do just that.

Currently, a NASA rover by the name of Perseverance is on its way to Mars, scheduled to make a landing on February 18. As students prepare for the landing of the rover, they will be participating in lessons that will focus on different activities each week.

Week One: Mars VideoWeek Two: Design Rovers
Week Three: Mars Scavenger Hunt / Code a Rover
Week Four: Make Mars Helicopter (via the Computer)
Week Five: Celebrate the Landing (Hopeful for a successful landing) 

Ms. Peek says that doing these types of STEM activities, “encourages students to be involved with exciting scientific achievements happening in the world. This also gives them a hands on approach and connection to the Perseverance mission. They are getting the chance to hear from members of the team that built this rover.”

With opportunities such as this, it is no wonder PCA students continue to shoot for the stars (and planets) in all that they do.