News

Domestic Science & Life Skills Elective: A New Opportunity!

PCA intentionally strives to help each student in their spiritual development while giving them a strong foundation in core academic subjects. In addition, we offer a variety of electives which enhance the core curriculum and provide the very best high school experience.

Colleges and universities view electives as evidence of a well rounded education and indicators of who each student is as an individual.

This year PCA has continued to offer its standard electives of PE, Computer Science, Choir, Band, Psychology, Yearbook, Art 1, Art 2, AP Art, and has added specialty courses such as Creative Writing and Illustration (Seitz), Personal Finance (Kendrick), Life of Churchill (James Ugland), and an updated version of the age old “Home Ec” class renamed Domestic Science & Life Skills (Kristi Ugland).

“I wanted to offer a hands-on elective for students where they could learn fun and practical skills,” explained Ugland. “Academics are important, of course, but learning how to balance a budget, maintain a car, knit a scarf and cook an excellent meal are great skills to have too!”

 The students will engage in and experience a wide variety of lessons to help them succeed in life including multiple guest speakers and field trips into the "real world" for current and practical lessons. The class recently enjoyed an excursion to the Broad Street office of SouthState Bank where students learned about careers in banking, managing personal finances, and credit.

“I learned so much about the banking world,” said Junior, Ana Tyler. “I’ve even started to consider maybe having a career in banking or something similar! In Domestic Science class, I have learned the importance of being a well rounded person and how cool is it to think I could make homemade things for my family and friends after learning about knitting. I look forward to this period all day!”

 Mrs. Ugland says it's exactly the result she had envisioned, “This class encourages students to try new things and to become lifelong learners!”

Bring In The Band!

With their eyes glued to their instructor, the newest members of the 6th grade band eagerly awaited directions on how to properly begin putting together their instruments. It's the first step in learning to play in the PCA band this year.

“Each 6th grader at PCA is involved in either band or choir,” explained band director Mike Doll. “If the students choose band, we spend several classes learning about the various instruments and how each works and what they sound like. We bring in local experts to test the students for their aptitude on each instrument. Once the students meet with the experts, we help them to compare their top three choices to how they did when testing the instruments to see which one might fit them best.”

Once an instrument is decided, the next step is a "Jump Start" clinic where PCA brings in area professionals once again to work with each section of the band (flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, and percussion... teaching students the basics for their particular instrument: how to hold the instrument, how to breathe properly, how to make their first sounds, how to clean their instruments, and more.

The joy on the faces of the students as they tried out their instruments was that of pure excitement.

“It was cool that I picked up putting together the trombone pretty quickly,” said new trombone player, Rawls Karnes. “I’m most excited about learning to read music this year, and I also I discovered that a few of my aunts and uncles played the trombone as well!”

“My goal for this year is for our budding crop of young musicians to learn how to read music and how to play their instruments,” explains Doll. “More importantly, I hope they learn how they can use this gift of music to bless others and lead others in worship. Hopefully, one day, they will want to be a part of the worship ministry at their church. Learning to play an instrument and read music is not an easy task, but I want them to discover that hard work and effort will produce results.”