As our nation marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day and looks ahead to America’s 250th year, this episode tells a lesser-known story from the Korean War—one that reveals both the promise and the pain of our national journey.

Mike sits down with his father, retired U.S. Army Colonel Dennis Runey, to reflect on the Army’s first full integration in combat. Through the story of a fellow soldier who lived it firsthand, we hear how Black and White soldiers learned to fight, trust, and live as brothers under fire—only to face the sobering reality of re-segregation upon returning home.

This conversation does not rush to resolution. Instead, it invites us to remember honestly, reflect faithfully, and consider what it means to love our neighbor as individuals made in the image of God.

On this episode of Mondays with Mike, Nate and Mike Runey lead a timely mid‑year review as the first semester closes. They explore three central ideas for PCA families—growth, mastery, and excellence—and explain why now is a good time to reflect on a child’s academic trajectory.

They define growth as the measurable trajectory a student makes over time, mastery as grade‑level competence (when skills like multiplication facts move into long‑term memory), and excellence as the discipline to pursue constant improvement rather than mere comparison with others.

The hosts discuss how curriculum and rigor work together: curriculum is the course your child runs (teacher, material, sequence) and rigor is built into that course. Growth shows where students are on the course; mastery is assessed on a continuum (needs support, proficient, exceeding, exceptional).

Practical examples across grade levels are given: early grades focus on language and motor fluency, upper elementary emphasizes revision and stamina, middle school builds workload management and independence, and upper school demonstrates mastery through honors, AP, and dual‑enrollment work and capstone projects.

They also describe supports and interventions (like Mosaic) for students who need help and options for challenging those who are ahead, emphasizing the importance of getting the order right—cultivating growth and character first so mastery and achievement follow without exhausting the student.

Finally, Nate and Mike underscore that all of this takes place in a Christ‑centered environment: PCA aims to prepare students academically and spiritually for the next step in their calling, helping families and teachers walk alongside each child toward flourishing and readiness for future challenges.

Good afternoon, PCA community. In this episode Nate Paul and Head of School Mike Runey discuss returning from winter break and the important academic season ahead. They explain how the winter months—though quieter on the surface—are a powerful period of deep, rooted academic growth and development for students.

Mike highlights PCA’s educational vision (the five “lanes” or pentathlon approach) and emphasizes that midyear is an ideal time for parents and teachers to assess progress, embrace healthy academic challenge, and encourage revision, perseverance, and cross-disciplinary thinking. He reassures families that struggle can signal real growth and that teachers are intentionally guiding students through this stretch.

Looking ahead, Nate and Mike describe how steady work through Q2 builds momentum into Q3, where students consolidate skills, complete deeper projects, and gain confidence that leads into a fruitful spring quarter. They also connect this seasonal rhythm to PCA’s long-term goals for stable, generational growth and invite families to upcoming midyear updates and a state-of-the-school presentation in early February.

The episode closes with gratitude for teachers, parents, and students, and a reminder that winter at PCA is a season of faithful, steady growth academically, spiritually, and personally.

A good Monday, peace, safe families.

As we head into Christmas week, this episode meets you where you are and introduces Chaplain David Moore from Portsmouth Christian Academy. David shares his journey to PCA, his role focusing on the middle school, and how he quietly walks the halls—listening, praying, noticing, and being available to students and staff.

David describes the real, thoughtful questions students are asking about faith and theology, the pressures they carry from social media and school, and the ways teachers and the Holy Spirit are present and active in their lives. He emphasizes partnership between school and families, and how PCA supports spiritual formation alongside academic growth.

This conversation offers a calm, encouraging window into how hope is showing up for kids—often quietly, sometimes slowly, and always with care—and invites parents to feel confident that their children are seen and supported as they enter the Christmas season.

Happy Monday from PCA: in the week before Christmas break, a group of young PCA musicians share how they discovered music, prepared for All‑State auditions, and balanced lessons, school, and extracurriculars.

The students describe the audition process — learning repertoire in advance, sight‑reading on the spot, and for vocalists, memorizing excerpts — and reflect on practice routines, coaching, and the excitement of audition day.

They talk about growth, competition, and community: 14 students auditioned and nine were selected, and many describe how the music program and teachers at PCA support collaboration and development across choirs, orchestra, theater, and worship team.

With holiday concerts approaching, the students share favorite pieces they’re performing, including My Lord Has Come, an a cappella Deck the Halls arrangement, and Sleigh Ride, and they encourage younger students to join the rich, supportive fine‑arts community.

Steve Leavitt interviews Head of School Mike Runey about the Fall 2025 Parent Survey and the biannual Student Culture Survey (grades 5–8). They review community feedback praising PCA’s relational, Christ-centered culture and exceptional faculty while highlighting key strengths such as students feeling safe and proud to attend the school.

The conversation also addresses primary concerns raised by parents and students: academic rigor in higher-level STEM courses (especially math and physics), difficulty finding qualified STEM teachers, clarity and consistency around grading and rules (including dress code enforcement and the headphone policy), and questions about dual-enrollment credit value.

They discuss student well-being and behavioral culture, acknowledging reports of bullying, the limits of on-campus counseling, and plans to partner with local Christian counseling providers. The school’s responses include recruiting national firms to hire skilled Christian STEM teachers, partnerships with Ethos and Colorado Christian University for advanced courses, work on grading clarity and consistent policy enforcement, professional development for staff, and facility improvements to support play and movement.

Mike and Steve close by thanking parents, students, and faculty for honest feedback, asking the community to pray and help identify qualified STEM teachers, and reaffirming PCA’s commitment to listening and improving school programs and culture.

In this episode of Mondays with Mike, three Upper‑School small group leaders—Maeve (senior), Jaela (junior), and Donovan (sophomore)—talk about how their groups have built trust, practiced vulnerability, and supported one another. They share specific moments like a deep discussion at Brookwoods, a student chapel message on love, and a creative prayer board project that helped students feel seen and prayed for.

The leaders also describe challenges of guiding conversations after chapel, how mentors and group members step in, and the ways small groups have shifted the school’s culture toward greater care and outreach. Each student closes by offering a short prayer request for their group during the Advent and Christmas season.

This conversation highlights quiet acts of faith, peer discipleship, and the real-life impact of student leadership on community and spiritual growth.

Join Mike and Upper School Principal Jordan Heckelmann as they reflect on a fall semester of growth, leadership, and community just before Thanksgiving break. This episode highlights academic moments like a lively Socratic seminar on The Crucible, an advanced Spanish 5 literature course, inquiry-based chemistry labs, and creative projects in church history.

Jordan shares how teachers model curiosity and adapt new learning into the classroom, and how students are rising to academic challenges with perseverance and critical thinking. He also describes spiritual formation across the school, including development of small group leaders, spiritual renewal days with extended worship and prayer, and new practices like breath prayer.

The conversation celebrates student-led initiatives—a Thanksgiving feast born from student ideas, a student-led night of worship, increased senior leadership, and stronger cultural buy-in across events like homecoming and retreats. These examples show students taking ownership of their faith, community, and learning.

Jordan closes with gratitude for the Lord’s work in the community, thankful parents, faculty, staff, and student leaders, and optimism for continued growth through the rest of the school year.

In this episode Dr. Carrie Abood, Lower School Principal, shares fall highlights and expresses Thanksgiving gratitude. She reviews how the school has embraced the core value of a compassionate community through chapel, kindness initiatives, and classroom projects.

Dr. Abood describes student leadership growth—especially among fifth graders—with examples like athletic involvement, Operation Christmas Child, and a new lower-school student representative group. She also highlights signature programs such as the speech meet, shepherding and reading buddies, and the responsive classroom approach that supports social-emotional learning.

She praises the teachers’ dedication, collaborative professional development, and commitment to both academic and spiritual formation. Academic progress is tracked with assessments like NEWA and DIBELS, with focused work on writing, reading comprehension, and math groupings.

Preparing students for transitions, particularly fifth graders moving toward middle school, includes executive skills training, increased responsibility, and leadership opportunities. The episode closes with Dr. Aboot giving thanks for the school community and praying for rest and growth for families over Thanksgiving.

In this episode, PCAP director Harley Tuttle shares highlights from the fall preschool program during Thanksgiving break. She discusses moments of gratitude, new friendships, and children’s excitement about learning.

Harley describes how teachers use a Christ-centered foundation—daily prayer, Bible stories, and intentional conversations—to help children notice God in creation and practice caring for one another. She gives examples like a gratitude wheel and a child asking classmates to pray for a sibling.

The episode also explores intentional, play-based teaching: learning centers, provocations that provoke curiosity, early literacy and numeracy skills, and rich socio-dramatic play. Harley emphasizes social-emotional growth, problem-solving, and preparing older preschoolers for kindergarten with confidence and practical skills.

She closes by expressing thanks for the committed teaching team, preschool families, and joyful students, noting the program’s recent recognition and praying a blessing over the community.