January 12, 2026

Dear Parents,

This year, we formally recognize the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, and we do so with gratitude for God’s blessings upon our nation and the principles upon which it was established. After forty years of combined service in the United States Marine Corps and in K–12 education, one reality has become unmistakably clear to me: the extraordinary scope of vision, scholarly acumen, and psychological and physical courage required of our Founding Fathers to sign our Declaration of Independence from England (an act akin to signing their own death warrants). Their decision demonstrated to the world that liberty is not conferred by rulers but endowed by our Creator and Lord.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people

whom he has chosen as his heritage!” — Psalm 33:12 (ESV)

The Declaration of Independence’s explicit acknowledgment of God-given rights, articulated 250 years ago, is the same foundation upon which our school operates today. Both the Declaration of Independence and Prince Avenue Christian School’s biblical worldview stand firmly on the belief that truth and moral order originate with God. From our conservative perspective, independence has never been understood as self-will, but as self-governance formed through faith in Christ, disciplined habits, and sound character. History has demonstrated that liberty is preserved not through excess, but through restraint; not through disorder, but through conviction. Accordingly, we teach our students to love and honor the Lord, to respect their parents, teachers, and one another, and to serve others faithfully (as the “salt and light”).

Whether in the classroom, on the stage, or on the court or field, we expect our students to demonstrate gratitude for the opportunities they have been given while also projecting courage and “grit” (laced with humility) when faced with adversity. We remind them the freedom we enjoy has been purchased by the blood of hundreds of thousands of Americans who wore our nation’s uniform and took an oath “…to defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies, foreign and domestic” and that it is sustained today by young men and women who voluntarily go into harm’s way as members of our armed forces to preserve our American way of life.

As we equip, train, graduate, and send our students into the world, we do so with the clear understanding that they will be tested. When those moments come, it is our prayer that they stand firm on our Christian faith and respond with conviction to a culture that presses against biblical truth. We are grateful for your trust and partnership as we carry out the responsibility God has entrusted to us in educating and discipling the next generation of leaders grounded in the truth of the Bible. At 250 years as a nation and 48 years as a school, this truth remains unchanged - lasting strength comes from ordering

life under the authority of God. I wish you a strong start to the second half of the school year.

With warm regards and in His service,

Col Seth Hathaway, Ed.D.

Head of School