Luke 2:52: And
Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Our mission
is to partner with families to enable students to know Jesus grow in Him in the
following ways:
Spiritually - By
developing a personal relationship with Christ as Savior.
Emotionally - In the
fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace patience, gentleness, and self-control.
Physically - Growing strong
and healthy through the understanding that the body is a temple of the Holy
Spirit.
Socially - Focusing
on Christ-centered relationships, reaching outside of self to have a positive
impact on family, friends, and community
Intellectually - Gaining
knowledge and skills that will enable each student to Glorify God through
education, career, and family.
Enrollment
Parents and
students should be committed to the PCA mission and Statement of faith before
enrolling. You are welcome to discuss any of these tenets with us to determine
if you are able to fully support this partnership.
PCA will
generally enroll students who are average or above average in ability and
achievement. If we believe we have the resources in staffing and facilities, we
will do our best to accommodate special needs. Please be aware, however, that
resources are limited, and if we cannot fully serve your child, we will
recommend enrollment in another setting with necessary resources and staff.
An admissions
exam and interview are required, along with reference checks, to determine a
student's potential for success at PCA.
Pittsburgh Christian Academy admits students of any race, color,
national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and
activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It
does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
national and ethnic origin in administration of its hiring policies,
educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship, athletic, and other
school-administered programs.
Curriculum
PCA offers a
full curriculum that will prepare each student individually for a chosen career
path in higher education, trades, business, ministry, arts, or other chosen
fields.
In addition
to regular course work, we will work to enhance opportunities through
vocational and technical partnerships, dual enrollment, and ŕ la carte classes
for home schoolers.
Our
curriculum consists of these main components:
1. Biblical
World View: Courses are taught with the understanding that God is the
creator of each discipline, and that all knowledge points to God as the
Creator. Students will have opportunities for prayer and spiritual growth
throughout each school day.
2. Base
knowledge: These skills are needed for everyday life, and will be taught
each day
- Mathematics
and Technology
- English,
Reading, Grammar, and Writing
3. Core
Knowledge: This instruction is necessary for additional life skills and
higher education. Core classes will be taught at least three days per week:
- Science
- Language
- Social
Studies
4. Specialties:
Students should devote a large portion of their time to areas of personal skill
and gifting. This can include focused study, technology, creative arts, athletics,
music, and more. Time will also be allotted for creative self-directed
application (See enterprise projects, page 6).
Grades Pre-K through 5
Students will
receive classroom instruction at or above grade level in the appropriate Math,
Reading, Writing, Spelling, History, Bible, and Language skills. Special
attention will be given to emotional and social development through
instruction, playtime, and peer interaction.
Elementary
students will also receive special weekly instruction in Art, Music, PE, and
Language.
Middle School
and High school students will be enrolled according to ability and achievement
in each subject area. Some course offerings may be adjusted due to class size
and students entering the school at differing levels. The general grade by
grade track is as follows:
Grade 6
Math 6 or
Pre-Algebra
English 6 /
Grammar / Writing: Regular or Accelerated
Social
Studies
Life Science
Bible 6
Spanish
Grade 7
Pre-Algebra
or Algebra 1
English 7 / Grammar
/ Writing: Regular or Accelerated
Social
Studies
Physical
Science
Bible 7
Spanish
Grade 8
Algebra 1,
Intermediate Algebra, or Honors Geometry
English 8 /
Grammar / Writing: Regular or Accelerated
Social
Studies
Earth Science
Bible 8
Spanish
Grade 9
Algebra 1,
Geometry, Honors Geometry, or Honors Algebra 2
English 9 /
Writing: Genre or Honors Genre
American
History
Biology
Bible 9
Spanish 1
Grade 10
Algebra 2,
Honors Algebra 2, or Honors Trigonometry
English 10 / Writing:
Western Literature or Honors Western Literature
Western
Civilization
Chemistry
Bible 10
Spanish 2
Grade 11
Consumer
Math, Honors Trigonometry, or Honors Calculus
English 11 /
Writing: American Literature or Honors American Literature
Conceptual
Physics or Honors Physics
American
History
Bible 11
Spanish 3 or
Forensics
Grade 12
Math: College
Algebra, Honors Calculus 1, or Honors Calculus 2
English:
College English 101 or British Literature
Science:
Environmental Science, Forensics, or Anatomy
Spanish 4,
Botany / Zoology, or Honors Physics 2
Bible 12
Economics and
Personal Finance
Electives
All middle and
high school and students should choose and prioritize the following electives.
Students will choose by prioritizing any electives they would like to take,
with 1 being the most desired, 2 being second, etc. Based on class size and
availability, we will attempt to enroll each student in as many of their top
choices as possible. Students should number at least 1 through 5.
__ Christian
Service
__ Bible
Quizzing
__ Gym / PE
__ Personal
Fitness
__ Choir
__ Painting
__ Drawing
__ Piano
__ Creative
Writing
__ Worship
Team
__ Voice
__ Bible
Study
__ Home
Economics / Cooking
__ Marketing
__ Spiritual
Emphasis
__ American
Sign Language
__ Sports
Theory, Coaching, and Officiating
Students
should also list any additional questions or requests regarding their schedule.
Enterprise Projects
An enterprise
is defined as a project or undertaking, typically one that is difficult or requires
effort. Each student in grades 6 through 12 will choose and conduct their own
enterprise project. The projects may also be offered to younger grade levels if
deemed appropriate by the teacher.
The project
should make use of individual skills, gifts, and interests.
Much of the
work for the enterprise should be done on a Chromebook or on paper, so that
work can be done during a quiet time at school or on a cyber day. However, the
project can include additional components such as producing audio / video or
building a physical product.
The following
are potential enterprise projects:
- Write a
novel
- Write a
screenplay
- Develop a
portfolio of artwork
- Design
puzzles or games
- Produce a
comic book
- Write and
comment on sporting events
- Research
and comment on political or social issues
- Design a
physical product
- Write
lyrics or poetry
- Research a
scientific subject, unsolved mystery, conspiracy, historical event, or Biblical
subject
- Learn a
programming language using w3schools.com
- Code a
program or game
- Develop a
live website and domain
- Write
devotionals or Bible Study materials
- Any other
creative endeavor that can be conducted on a computer and / or paper
At any time,
each student should be conducting at least one active enterprise. At any time,
a given project can wrap up and a student move on to a new one.
Students will
periodically discuss projects with parents and an advisor in order to share
content and brainstorm on additions to the enterprise.
There will be
opportunities to discuss projects and to present projects to one's class and
present in additional venues. However, a presentation is not a requirement, and
there is no requirement to display the work publicly.
Enterprise
projects will be the main component of some cyber days. For cyber days where
this is the focus, online classes will be replaced with this individualized
work.
Students will
share what they are doing with their parents and advisors.
Course credit
will be given for enterprise projects.
GPA Calculation and Class Rank
GPA
is currently computed per the quality points listed
in the
following table.
There may be some adjustment in these weightings
as the curriculum is further developed and transcripts received from previous
schools:
|
Letter Grade |
% Range |
Weighted Quality Points |
Unweighted Quality Points |
|
A+ |
99-100 |
4.5 |
4 |
|
A |
92-98 |
4.5 |
4 |
|
A- |
90-91 |
4.25 |
3.75 |
|
B+ |
88-89 |
3.75 |
3.25 |
|
B |
82-87 |
3.5 |
3 |
|
B- |
80-81 |
3.25 |
2.75 |
|
C+ |
78-79 |
2.75 |
2.75 |
|
C |
72-77 |
2.5 |
2 |
|
C- |
70-71 |
2.25 |
1.75 |
|
D+ |
68-69 |
1.75 |
1.25 |
|
D |
62-67 |
1.5 |
1 |
|
D- |
60-61 |
1.25 |
0.75 |
|
F |
0-59 |
0 |
0 |
Homework
The amount of homework assigned should be
well balanced and appropriate for grade level. We prefer that teachers assign
useful practice exercises and valuable research assignments instead of an
excessive amount of busywork. Homework time will vary per student, but the
general goal is that most students’ average workload will not exceed one hour
per night. Special assignments and projects may create an exception to this
recommendation, but these should be assigned with ample lead time. Advanced
course work may also require more than one hour of work per night.
With a focus on quality over quantity,
it is our expectation that teachers will normally collect homework and grade it
based on neatness, completeness, correctness, and quality.
Dress Code
Dress code is
often subjective. Parents and students, please do your best to keep dress code
from becoming an issue. We believe that students can meet the following
guidelines in clothes they already own and like.
Come to
school dressed ready to work, learn, and glorify God. If your clothing meets
the following three requirements, you will do very well with our dress code:
- Comfortable
Clothing
should be appropriate size and generally somewhat loose fitting.
Clothing
should be clean and well maintained (not torn).
Clothing
should cover your shoulders and be appropriate length.
Dress for the
weather. Layers including sweatshirts or sweaters are a good idea so you can
adjust to changing temperatures.
Footwear
should be comfortable and should have a back. If needed for PE, you should wear
or bring athletic shoes.
- Casual
Khakis,
joggers, and jeans are permitted.
Appropriate
length cargo or khaki shorts are permitted.
Sweatpants
will be permitted on certain days.
You are also
permitted to dress up for special occasions, and there will be special dress up
and spirit days.
- Conducive to learning
Clothing
should be generally simple and noncontroversial.
Clothing
should not promote musical groups, shows, political slogans, or other
contentious messages.
It is a good
idea to have extra clothing available for athletics, work activities, or
outdoor activities.
Hair should
be clean and well kept, and for boys a reasonable length.
Piercings
should be kept to a minimum, and you may be asked to conceal them, along with
any tattoos. For any nose or body piercings, wear small studs instead of rings
or hoops.
If you are concerned that an item might not be in dress code, it is better to
wear something else. Additional requirements may be given to any student who
consistently pushes the boundaries of this dress code.
Electronic Device Policy for Grades 6 - 12
The average individual in the US now owns several interned connected devices,
and most are required to use at least one device during working and university hours.
Many who work also sit in meetings where the use of a device would be
inappropriate.
We believe that students should begin learning to carry their devices, use them
as a tool when helpful, and eliminate their distractions when appropriate.
1. Students are permitted to carry cell phones or electronic devices. During
“down time” (see point 7), students are permitted to use them appropriately but
sparingly.
2. During
instructional time, devices must be turned off and put away. They may be kept
inside a closed case, backpack, or locker. They may not be kept inside a pocket
or anywhere else that could be visible or accessible. In other words, students
should not be aware of messages or notifications they receive during
instructional time. Wearable devices such as an Apple Watch must be set to a
mode that will not receive or send notifications during class time.
3. During
school hours, unless special permission is given, devices may not be used to
photograph or to record audio or video. Other students should expect a
reasonable amount of privacy during school hours, and audio or video recording
will violate that privacy.
4. Social
media usage during down time may be monitored or removed.
5. All
content accessed on all devices should be appropriate for school.
6. If devices
are needed for a specific usage such as research, they may be permitted by the
instructor and then returned to their enclosed case or bag.
7. What
constitutes “down time” (bus? homeroom? class change? lunch?) will be clarified
by teachers and administrators as the policy progresses and according to grade
level.
8. We believe
this policy will help to train students to use their devices properly in the
work force and in higher learning. However, a student who goes beyond the proper
usage may be required to leave all devices with the office at the beginning of
the school day.
Statement
of Faith
Pittsburgh Christian Academy is a non-denominational
Christian school dedicated to help Christian parents fulfill their Biblical
mandate to educate their children in the Lord. To that end, all subjects are
taught from a Christian worldview. Bible classes will train students to study
Scripture, to interpret it accurately, and to apply its truths to every area of
life.
Students are encouraged to discuss
questions of doctrine with their parents and church leaders, partners with the
Christian school in equipping them for righteous living.
Pittsburgh Christian Academy focuses on
these essential elements of the Christian faith:
1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired and the only infallible,
authoritative Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16).
2. We believe in one Triune God,
eternally existent in three coequal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Eph.
4:3-6; Matt. 3:16-17; Jn. 20:21-22)
3. We believe in the deity of our Lord
Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His
vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection
from the dead, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His
personal and physical return in power and glory (Jn. 1:14; Jn. 10:30; Is. 7:14;
Matt. 1:23; Heb. 4:15; Jn. 2: 1-11; Mk. 7:31-37; Lk. 24:5-6; Jn. 3:16; Lk.
24:50-53; Mt. 24:30-31).
4. We believe in the necessity of
regeneration by the Holy Spirit for salvation because of the exceeding
sinfulness of human nature, and that men are justified by faith in the shed
blood of Christ and that only by God’s grace through faith we are saved. (Rom.
3:23-26).
5. We believe in the resurrection of
both the saved and the lost: they that are saved to the resurrection of life,
and they that are lost to the resurrection of damnation. We believe in the
Spirituality of believers in Christ. (Mt. 25:31-46).
6. We believe that all human life is
sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in
all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or
mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through
natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human
life. (Ps 139)
7. We believe God has ordained
marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman,
and Himself (Gen. 2: 18-25; 1 Cor. 7:2-5). We recognize that marriage is
between a biological man and a biological woman (Heb. 13:4).
Expected Behaviors
All PCA
Students, staff, volunteers, parents, and guardians are expected to follow
these principles:
-
Be Present
-
Be Respectful
-
Be Kind
Conflicts
should be resolved according to the principles outlined in Matthew 18: 15 – 18,
with the appropriate help and disciplinary guidance of instructors and
administrators.
All members
of our community should show continual progress in the following
characteristics:
Christ-Centeredness
PCA is a
Christ-centered school. We seek to know Jesus, be led by His Word and Spirit,
and be shaped by the Gospel.
Discipleship
We are
distinguished by Christ’s redemptive discipleship. A disciple imitates and shares
the mindset of the Savior (2 Cor. 3:16). Our teachers exemplify the
Christ-centered life, teaching all subjects within the authority and context of
Christ as preeminent and transforming all Creation, including our lives. We
foster prayer for and with one another as we draw closer to Christ and our PCA
family.
Academic
Focus
Jesus sets
the standards for excellence and with Him as our example, we offer distinctive
academic programs from a Biblical perspective. Students learn to think
critically and creatively, to communicate ideas, and to cooperate with one
another within a biblical worldview.
Community
Outreach
We are a
relational community in which every member is known and loved. We endeavor to
form purposeful partnerships with teachers, students, our families, and local
churches. These relationships nurture and encourage our students through
Biblical teaching and Christ-like examples. Our goal is to see students become
servants of Christ in the school, the church, the community, and the world.
Outside Behavior
The actions of students, staff, and parents outside the school and church walls
reflect our faith in Christ and our testimony to others. These actions can and
do affect what happens in the school. If outside actions are shown to affect
instruction or unity within the school community, these issues are open for
discussion with students and parents alike.
Discipline
Most
behaviors that require disciplinary action will be handled with a requirement
of additional work, a corrective action, and / or a lunchtime, recess
detention. More serious issues may require suspension or expulsion, and these
will be administered in cooperation with the parent. Final decisions regarding
disciplinary actions rest with the school administration.
Make-up Work
It is the responsibility of students to
make up work after an absence. Each teacher will communicate a make-up policy
and expectation and will also assist in clarifying work that needs to be
completed.
Cheating and
Plagiarism
Students who cheat or
plagiarize will be receive a
zero
on the work
involved, and the parents will be notified. Repeat offenses may result in more
serious consequences.
For a given class or assignment, the teacher should clarify the amount of help
a student may receive, such as the following possible expectations:
a)
None: Students may receive no
help and must do all work on their own
b)
Assistance allowed: Students may
receive some level of assistance from fellow students or from parents or
teachers
c)
Work together: Students
may work together and may check answers
In cases where assistance is allowed,
this does not include copying answers from another student’s paper. Generally,
the helper should be actively assisting or explaining, but not freely giving
out answers.
For academic papers, students should
plan to turn in a digital version, and this version may be run through
plagiarism checking software. This will prepare students for college level
scrutiny of their work.
Absences
Parents must call the school
or send an email the office with the reason
for
a student’s absence, expected late arrival or early dismissal. Please do so before 8:15 so the student will be listed as such on the attendance roster.
If consistent absence or lateness becomes a problem, remediation or discipline may
be necessary. Please be aware that we are required to follow state and local
guidelines for truancy reporting.
School Hours
8:30 am to 2:20 pm
After Class
Hours on Campus
When students are on campus after class hours to attend a specific school event or designated activity,
they are
to remain at the site of
the event or activity,
for
safety and security reasons. Both students and parents should know in advance the time and the place of the activity and the expected time of completion.
PITTSBURGH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY does not provide after school care, and it is the responsibility of the parent to ensure the students depart from the facility in a timely manner at the end of
scheduled classes or activities.
The facility closes at 3:00 pm daily. Students remaining on campus
after this time must have permission from
administration and must be participating in an
authorized PCA
activity.
Driving Privileges
Students and parents, remember at all times that there may be other students in the parking lot before and after
school. Traffic around the school can be busy and safety must be maintained
at all times. The following are
guidelines should be observed:
-
The pedestrian always has the
right of way.
-
Reckless driving will not be tolerated
-
Students
will need permission from administration to go to their cars during school
hours without the permission of the administration.
-
Students will
observe parking regulations.
-
Students may only drive or
ride home with other students that are their siblings except
when
the administration approves the transportation for
an extremely special condition (such
as a normal
carpool approved by both sets of parents, when
their children do not live in a district
that provides transportation.)
-
Student
drivers must complete an authorization form.
Off-Campus Trips
In order for a student to participate in a
school-sponsored
trip, a parent must sign the permission slip provided
by the school on the
student
information sheet.
Accidents or Illnesses
In the event of an accident or illness at school, every attempt will be made to contact parents.
Please make sure that all contact info is updated. There are times, however, when
situations develop and neither
parents nor the individual designated can be reached. At these times, it will be the responsibility
of the administration to determine the course of
action to be taken.
Athletics
- Fall Sports:
Volleyball (Girls)
Soccer (Boys and Girls)
Fall Sports camps begin in August
- Winter Sports:
Basketball (Girls)
Basketball (Boys)
- Spring Sports:
Spring sports will be determined based
on interest level and league openings. Possible Considerations are Baseball,
Golf, Girls Softball, and Boys Volleyball.
Fundraising
The administration must approve all general fundraising activities.
School Office
The School Office will be open from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM on regular school days.
The voice mail system is available for calls when the office is not open or at
times when all the office’s phone lines are busy. Classroom teachers must grant
permission for any student to go to the office (unless the student is arriving
late).
Medical Screenings
All students in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are required by law to be screened
yearly for height, weight, vision, and hearing. This will be scheduled and
performed by the local district nurse without prior parental notification. If
families prefer to have the screenings done at their own expense by private
physicians, they may do so by submitting a written request stating their intent
to have it done privately to PCA as close to the first day of school as
possible. As per vaccination status, please follow Allegheny policies regarding
and exemptions.
Student Medication Policy
Please communicate to the PCA office regarding any medications your child may
need to take during the school day. Please be sure that the plan for
administering the medication is communicated in writing or via email. Under no
circumstances should any medication be made available to another student.
Snow Days and Delays
If it is necessary to
close the school due to weather or other emergency, students should plan to
continue their cyber / service day work so that they will receive credit for
the school day.
On days of
inclement weather, all delay and closing information will be conveyed via
message service.
You may
follow your local district schedule, even if the PCA announcement is different.
For example,
· If your local
district announces a two-hour delay, your children will be picked up two hours
later than their normal pickup time.
· If your local
district is closed but PCA is open, you may wish to transport your child to and
from school that day. If you are unable, the day will not be counted as an absence.
· If PCA is on
a two-hour delay, classes begin at 10:30 AM.
·
If PCA is on a delay but your school district is not delayed, your
child’s bus will come at the normal time. PCA Staff
members will be in the building when students arrive.
Please look
for notifications throughout the morning because sometimes a delay can turn
into a cancellation if conditions worsen.
There may be
times when the weather causes an early
dismissal at PCA. The individual school districts make the decision as
to when to pick up students for an early dismissal. We will attempt to contact
every parent of students in Grades KR-5 to make sure that someone will be home
early to greet the child. Students in Grades 6-12 will be responsible to get
into their own homes and their parents/guardians will not be called.
Parental Commitment to
PCA
As a
Pittsburgh Christian Academy parent
or guardian, I agree:
1. That I am in support of an
educational environment here my child will be instructed as a disciple of
Christ and according to the Statement of Faith outlined in this handbook.
2. To fulfill my financial obligations
to
PCA
3. That I am responsible for any damages my child may cause to school or
church property.
4. To support and abide by Pittsburgh Christian Academy policies. I affirm that I am in agreement with the policies outlined in the Family Handbook.
5. To support school personnel,
programs
and activities with
prayer and communication, and
where possible, to serve as a volunteer in various
capacities.
6. To allow my child to be photographed or videotaped for
public relations and/or training purposes, or to send
the school a waiver
to
the contrary.
7. To direct any grievances
through the proper channels
according to the principles outlined in
chapter eighteen of
the gospel of Matthew.
____________________________________________________ ____________________
Parent Signature Date