News

A Stunning Stage Production Brings Narnia To Life!

Three days of thunderous cheers and applause were heard from sold out crowds to the Middle School cast, as well as Director Jenni Brown, for incredible performances last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe".

The actors wowed the audiences on stage, but there was also a lot of activity backstage that was truly awe-inspiring.

Responsible for getting their costumes on and their make-up done, students alongside wonderful parent volunteers and PCA staff came together to bring each character to life. 

A behind the scenes glimpse backstage would show Mrs. Beaver putting on Mr. Beaver's make-up before applying her own. You would see the White Witch making sure her eye make-up was just right before turning to Tumnus to ensure she had the right amount of white spots on her face. You would witness parents taking the fresh faces of students and turning them into the works of art as they transformed into the characters of Aslan and Fenris Ulf.

Goblins painting themselves green, a mother helping turn her daughter from a school girl into the prim and proper young woman that is Susan, were among the amazing transformations. And Lucy, after making sure her braids were knotted tight, took over the colorful application of the unicorn's make-up.  

You would hear the words, “Does anyone need a tail pinned to them?” being called across the choir room turned costume and make-up department, and nervous laughter coming from the actors.

“I am very proud of the way my students handled themselves during the performances,” said director Jenni Brown. “After working through some opening night jitters they worked together as a team and pulled out a win! They supported and encouraged one another behind the scenes and onstage and that made me smile. I also thought the 7th graders did a great job with the commercials and their parts as the two armies. I am so blessed by the way God gives me joy through my students."

These highly anticipated productions aren’t just made up of the amazing talents one sees onstage, but the village that it takes to make these live works of art truly shine. Between rehearsal hours, makeup time, costume ideas and the organization and orchestration of all, a big standing ovation and Bravo goes out to the staff, students, and talented director Jenni Brown!

Promoting Literacy With Read Across America Week

Lower School students recently participated in the nationwide “Read Across America Week”. This annual event is celebrated the week surrounding March 2nd, the birthday of Dr. Seuss, and was created by the National Education Association in hopes of encouraging elementary students and teenagers to read!

This year Lower School participated in its very own spirit week, with each day focusing on the joy of reading while dressing in costume. Students came to school in Crazy Socks, 30th Anniversary shirts, matching outfits on Twin Day, crazy and fun hats for Hat Day, and they rounded off the week by dressing up as their favorite book character.

The activities in the classrooms were just as colorful and exciting as the outfitsl Several Kindergarten and 1st grade classes had older students come read with them, while Mrs. Shockley's kindergarten class read the Cat in the Hat and did a story map/retell before creating their own Dr. Seuss hats!

Mrs. Snook had guest readers come to her classroom every day including ECBC Pastor Buster Brown, Seacoast Pastor Greg Surratt, and PCA Art Teacher and author Nicole Seitz.

At the end of the week, the kindergarten classes hosted a Literacy on the Lawn, an event that was special for all involved. “Each child brought in a book or two that they could read to their parents,” explained kindergarten teacher Alex Alford. “What the students didn’t know was that their parents were bringing a surprise book wrapped for the students that they could read together over lunch!”

The goal of the week was to celebrate and encourage a life of literacy. Through the mentorship of our older students, the commitment of parents to emphasize reading, and the thoughtful, creative lessons of our faculty, PCA's desire to foster a love of learning was evident each day of the week.