News

Exploring The Exciting Connection Between Magnetism & Electricity

Our high school Physics class had great excitement as they explored the fascinating connection between magnetism and electricity. Guided by Science Teacher, Marcia Siebert, juniors and seniors utilized project based learning to deepen their understanding through a variety of experiments and building electromagnets, simple motors, and a working telegraph. They also utilized online simulations to aid in their understanding of electrostatistics, static charge transmission and series and parallel circuits. 

Mrs. Siebert emphasized the persistence students displayed throughout the projects and the payoff afterwards, “It was wonderful to see the students persevere and press through the struggle with the materials, but then having the ‘ah-ha’ moments when they saw a breakthrough as everything came together.” She further shared how she was encouraged by the way students embraced the learning process and rose to the challenge, “I was so impressed by the way students engaged in challenging material and were able to experience the thrill of learning.”

Senior Evan Seay further emphasized how meaningful this was to him, “I love getting to apply what we learn through experiments. For example, seeing the coil in the battery when it gets electromagnetic force from the battery, and then causing the coil to spin."

The biblical integration in this lesson was clear, the intricacies of magnetism and electricity remind us that it is Jesus, as Colossians 1:17 teaches us, that holds all of these things together. We engage in science because God is the Designer and Sustainer of our world.

Celebrating Achievements & Excellence During Black History Month

Throughout the month of February, in a variety of methods and settings, students at Palmetto Christian Academy fostered vibrant celebrations learning about Black History Month, weaving it seamlessly into various academic disciplines. Middle School Math Teacher Sasha Heiney, who took part in leading this emphasis, explains how students were able to celebrate Black History Month in her class. 

"My 7th and 8th grade students embarked on a mini-project highlighting black mathematicians who made profound impacts on the world of mathematics. Students selected a person of their choice, researched them and learned about that person’s biography and achievements in the field of mathematics, and then made a poster to share their findings."

Students say this was a meaningful learning experience. Will Chandler was blown away learning about David Blackwell, “David Blackwell was brilliant and an insightful mathematician. It was interesting to learn how he contributed to probability theory and information theory.” Millie Ralph also gained appreciation for black mathematicians, “I learned about Morgan Ray who gave women a greater voice within the society among African American mathematicians.”

Kara Karnes, a history teacher at PCA, expresses delight in integrating Black History Month into her classes. She led students through a study encouraging students to dive into both familiar and lesser-known stories of contributions of Black Americans. This project not only informed but kindled excitement among students as they continually discovered new historical figures.

Elle Hinson emphasized the broader perspective gained, recognizing the diverse achievements of African Americans and their enduring impact on the fabric of America: “In this project we were able to read and learn about the many diverse achievements of different African Americans and the fundamental contributions and impact they had on America.”

Palmetto Christian Academy's commitment to such interdisciplinary, engaging initiatives during Black History Month ensures a holistic and enriching educational experience for its students. PCA remains committed to honoring the past and actively shaping compassionate and informed Christian leaders for the future.