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At Prestonwood Christian Academy, Middle School is more than a time of transition. It’s a season of discovering identity, deepening faith, and learning what it means to live out Christ-like character every day. Two programs, Pride of Brothers and Society of Sisters, play a vital role in shaping that journey.

Meeting six times each year, these gatherings give students the chance to pause from their daily routines and focus on spiritual growth and community. Through teaching, discussion, and prayer, students are challenged to think about how faith can be lived out in their friendships, classrooms, and families.

For the young men, Pride of Brothers centers on the motto, “Men speak truth, serve others, love deeply, endure joyfully, and walk humbly with the Lord.” Each session encourages boys to grow as leaders who model integrity, humility, and strength rooted in faith. They are reminded that real leadership means serving others and finding joy in following Christ.

For the young women, Society of Sisters offers a space to connect and be encouraged in their walk with God. Their motto, “Women live compassionately, give generously, walk humbly, speak with kindness, and love as the Lord loves,” serves as a reminder of the beauty of grace and the power of kindness. Through conversation and mentorship, girls are encouraged to reflect the heart of Jesus in the way they treat others and carry themselves.

One of the most meaningful aspects of these programs is the opportunity for parents to be involved. During these sessions, moms join their daughters and dads join their sons, creating moments of shared learning and reflection. These gatherings give families a chance to grow together in faith and to carry those lessons home, where conversations about leadership, humility, and service can continue long after the school day ends.

Together, Pride of Brothers and Society of Sisters build more than character. They strengthen families and faith. By learning side by side, students and parents are reminded that spiritual growth is a lifelong journey, one best walked together.

 

 

Prestonwood Christian Academy North's First Grade students transformed into young scientists during a fun, fall-themed learning adventure called The Great Pumpkin Investigation! With clipboards in hand, wide eyes, and curious minds, they explored how God designed pumpkins through a series of hands-on experiments.

The young investigators began collecting data by asking, "How tall is your pumpkin?" Using colorful snap cubes, they first made predictions, stacking the cubes as high as they thought their pumpkins might be. Once everyone had a guess, it was time to test! Each student carefully lined their tower of cubes next to their pumpkin to compare and measure, then recorded their findings.

Next, students examined the pumpkins' bright orange surfaces, counting the number of stripes and noticing how each one was unique. They also used pieces of string to estimate how round their pumpkins were, wrapping the string around and checking to see if their guesses matched the actual measurement.

It was then time to test weight. Students made thoughtful predictions about how heavy their pumpkins might be before placing them on a scale to see the results. Laughter and excitement filled the hallway as they used a hair dryer to see if a pumpkin could be blown over!

The scientists also rolled up their sleeves to take a look inside. They identified the parts of the pumpkin—the stem, rind, pulp, and seeds—and made one last prediction: How many seeds are inside? After scooping, sorting, and counting, they discovered just how many little treasures were hidden within.

Perhaps the most surprising experiment came with the question: Does a pumpkin sink or float? Most students hypothesized that a pumpkin would sink, and they were amazed when it was placed into a tub of water and floated right to the surface!

It was a day full of curiosity, creativity, and hands-on learning that these little Lions are sure to remember!

 

In Prestonwood Christian Academy North's Tech Theater class, Upper School students recently had the opportunity to explore a creative skill that brings characters to life under the spotlight—the art of stage makeup.

They were guided through the creative and technical sides of makeup design, learning how to create looks that not only fit a character, but also help tell the audience more about each character. They learned that makeup is about much more than beauty, it’s about storytelling. From a mustache that enhances a comedic role to a historically accurate look for a period piece, every element helps shape the world of the play.

The students also discovered how lighting and distance can dramatically change the way makeup appears on stage. Under the bright glow of spotlights, colors that seem bold up close can appear faded or even disappear entirely, while shadows and contours may appear exaggerated from the audience's perspective. Because of this, stage makeup requires a different approach than everyday makeup. The features must be defined more clearly, contrasts heightened, and every choice made with precision to fit the performance space.

The class also dove into the history of beauty trends, exploring how styles have changed through the centuries, from the powdered wigs and pale faces of 1700s France to the bold red lips of the 1920s and the polished glamour of the 1950s. By comparing portraits and film stills, students analyzed which makeup looks stayed true to history and which were adapted for modern audiences.

To bring the lesson to life, two student volunteers participated in a hands-on demonstration. One was transformed with old-age makeup, complete with wrinkles and shading that made them look decades older, while the other received a realistic black eye, learning how color layering and contouring can create depth and dimension.

The lesson gave students a new perspective on the role makeup plays in theater; how subtle design choices can support a character, define an era, and ultimately strengthen the story being told on stage.

This fall, Engineering students put their problem-solving and design skills into action during a "Punkin Chunkin'" competition. The project challenged students to design and construct launchers capable of sending pumpkins soaring across the field, all while exploring real-world applications of force, motion, and energy transfer.

Working in teams, students collaborated to brainstorm ideas, build prototypes, and make improvements based on testing data. Each design reflected a unique approach to the same challenge.

The event not only encouraged innovation and teamwork but also provided a memorable way to connect classroom concepts with hands-on experience.

While accuracy and distance determined the winners, the true success was found in the process itself. Punkin Chunkin’ gave students the opportunity to experiment, troubleshoot, and celebrate the engineering mindset — all while enjoying a crisp fall day and a few airborne pumpkins.

PCA Plano's First Grade students brought geography to life with a creative and colorful project: Pumpkin Globes. Using real pumpkins as their canvas, students painted continents and oceans, labeled key features, and explored how maps represent the world we live in.

The project served as a hands-on extension of their geography unit, helping students grasp the concept of a spherical Earth in a tangible way. Teachers guided discussions about the location of different continents, the relationship between land and water, and the uniqueness of God’s creation across the globe.

As students painted and labeled their pumpkins, they practiced observation, spatial awareness, and attention to detail. The room buzzed with curiosity as they compared their work, noticed patterns, and proudly shared what they learned.

Pumpkin Globes provided more than a fun seasonal activity, and it encouraged critical thinking, creativity, and a deeper understanding of the world.