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.