Mount Pleasant Magazine July/August 2020

151 www.CharlestonSchoolDirectory.com | www.MountPleasantHomes.com | www.ILoveMountPleasant.com P almetto Christian Academy was established in 1992 as a ministry of East Cooper Baptist Church with three teachers and 25 students. Today, PCA has emerged as one of the area’s leading Christian schools, offering unparalleled education for more than 700 students from preschool to grade 12. After more than 25 years of consistent growth, PCA will soon expand with a spacious new Student Life Center – a 44,000-square-foot facility – which will include a much larger gymnasium, two science labs to accommodate multiple disciplines and a new technology center, promoting innovation and collaboration among students. “We will also expand our math and Bible offerings with additional, larger classrooms in this building,” said JD Zubia, headmaster. The new Student Life Center is about much more than providing extra space. The facility will offer opportunities to serve new families who are seeking a Christian education for their children. “Our mission statement describes our unique approach to education,” said Zubia. “We equip our students with all of the academic disciplines they need, but with biblical integration that gives them a lens to assimilate information and make good decisions.” PCA teaches students to pursue Jesus Christ passionately through Bible classes, chapel services and the mentorship of teachers, so that they will learn Christian truths and be guided to their purpose. “We believe that our students’ ability to impact culture will result from developing a distinctly Christian worldview. Through community service, we are able to show our students the practical application of the biblical truths they are learning,” explained Zubia. PCA’s primary focus is on the growth of students and equipping teachers with the tools needed to deliver individualized instruction and meet students where they are on their journey. “Each teacher works to create a classroom environment in which students feel safe, loved and capable,” said Dr. Myra Finneran, director of curriculum and instruction. “Teachers go above and beyond to help students reach individual goals. In addition, the PCA administration places great value on education innovation and growth, and that’s demonstrated through the addition of new STEM programs, such as coding and robotics, as well as the integration of technology in every classroom.” A new facility featuring the latest technology, an increased commitment to community service and an applied growth mindset for both faculty and students are just a few exciting things happening at PCA. “I’d like new residents to know that PCA is a school that places Christ at the center of all we do,” said Zubia. “We don’t believe that a Christian School is one that simply has added Bible classes to the offerings — it is a school that seeks first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, knowing that all things will be added unto them (Matthew 6:33).” To learn more about Palmetto Christian Academy, visit palmettochristianacademy.org . Independent Schools BY STACY E. DOMINGO Combining Education with Christian Values PALMETTO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY