April 2021

IN THIS ISSUE: April Achievement Testing Academic Dean - Kendall Eley The Importance of Volunteer Service Hours Director of Fine Arts - LaMurl Morris It's a Great Day to Be a Wolverine! Athletic Director - Richard Ricketts

April Achievement Testing Academic Dean - Kendall Eley

Why do we give achievement tests?  If you have a child in kindergarten through ninth grades, you know that we have just completed achievement testing as many schools across the nation do each spring.  While it is not the case at Prince, many schools place a significant emphasis on these tests by practicing multiple forms and holding pep rallies. This “high stakes” mentality increases pressure and stress on students, parents, and teachers alike.  At Prince, we do not want achievement tests to lead to increased pressure or stress on anyone. We primarily use the results to evaluate the instructional methods, materials, and assessments that we use throughout the year.

As we consider the results, we primarily look at them as a whole and not individual student scores. We look for trends in the data. If we see a specific area or subject that shows a change, we view previous years and other grades to try and determine the cause of the change. The change could be due to teaching strategies, the makeup of the specific group of students, or a change in curriculum that has been implemented. Changes made to curriculum and instruction are usually the result of a review of the data by multiple people on the administrative teams and often from looking at data from multiple years.

We do want students to do their best. However, we view the results as a snapshot of their learning. The results of these assessments are not the sole data point we use in making decisions. As a parent, you may look at the results and see areas in which your child is strong academically as well as areas where he or she may need some additional practice or support.  We are happy to help you understand those results. This video may give you some assistance in understanding your child’s scores.

Achievement tests are good assessments to ensure that Prince students are prepared to be competitive with their counterparts from other institutions. We have been very pleased with the efforts of our students over the years on achievement tests. Our data from those, as well as SAT, ACT, Advanced Placement classes, dual enrollment college classes, and graduates all points to the fact that our students are given the tools and opportunities to be successful academically while here at Prince as well as when they depart for their chosen college and/or career path.

The Importance of Service Hours Director of Fine Arts - LaMurl Morris

Service is one of the components of our fine arts program. In addition to the curriculum, co-curricular activities, and travel, it is vital that students learn how their fine arts skills and gifts can bless other people and provide an avenue to share the Gospel. Through activities such as the Empty Bowls Auction, singing at retirement homes, presenting a Christmas variety show, and teaching at an Estonian camp, students continue to develop skills in the arts while communicating and showing Christ’s love to our community. Service is part of our school’s discipleship program, and all students are encouraged to be active in their churches and communities. Our high school students are required to complete 65 volunteer service hours to meet the graduation requirements of our school. These hours are broken up over the four years of high school in the following manner: 10 hours for freshmen, 15 hours for sophomores, 20 hours for juniors, and 20 hours for seniors (the senior mission trip automatically meets this requirement). Students can access the Volunteer Service Hours form here and may submit this form to club sponsors or Bible teachers. Volunteer service hours required by club membership count towards the school’s requirement for service hours. For example, National Honor Society members are required to complete 15 service hours each school year. These hours also count towards the school requirement.

As students apply for college admissions and scholarships, they should communicate their service hours and how they served. Admissions officers and scholarship committee members are looking for high school students who have served their communities and schools while pursuing high academic excellence and involvement in co-curricular activities. It is important for students to submit their service hours even when they have met their service requirements. Many scholarships are based not only on scholastic achievement but also on service and co-curricular involvement. Due to Covid challenges, the school did not require service hours for the 2020-2021 school year. If a student has completed service hours during this school year, the student is encouraged to submit those service hours. All service hours are tracked through FACTS. On May 16, students may begin serving volunteer hours for the 2021-2022 school year. Students have until May 14, 2022 to complete their required hours for the 2021-2022 school year.

Students and parents often ask where they can serve to earn volunteer hours. Opportunities outside of the school day to serve our school include assisting the PTF with used clothing sales, serving pizza at the Wolverine Growl Block Party, and helping lower school teachers prepare their room for the school year. Students can assist their local church by working in the nursery during worship services, singing on the worship team, helping with audio-visual needs in rehearsals and worship service, serving during Vacation Bible School, and other events. Local organizations such as the Sparrow’s Nest, Our Daily Bread, ACTS, Athens College of Ministry, and A Bigger Vision provide numerous opportunities for volunteers. Reading to a senior citizen, mowing the grass for a neighbor, babysitting for a young couple are examples of ways we can serve people around us. As Christians, service is not a requirement, but a way of life. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 4: 10-11. Let us not grow weary in serving our school, communities, and churches, and let us reflect the love of Christ as we serve one another.

It's a Great Day to Be a Wolverine! Athletic Director - Richard Ricketts

Fellow Wolverines: Last Wednesday, as I sat on the stage just before the ring ceremony for our football team, my heart and mind were filled with so many great thoughts and emotions. As I watched the players, staff, parents, students, and supporters fill their seats, a deep sense of pride and gratitude almost completely overwhelmed me. All the ups and downs of the history of Prince flashed before me. I thought back to the very beginning when my dad, Bill Ricketts, PABC children’s minister Ray Cearley, and so many others had a vision and heart to open Prince Avenue Christian School to help make an impact on our community. I remembered people like Bill Pevey, Wendall Murray, Danny Howell, and especially Col. Hathaway. The many people who worked tirelessly and helped make Prince what it is today crossed my mind as I sat there - a list far too long to write here.

I vividly thought back to the year we decided to join the GHSA. I remember those that thought we were crazy to even try. "How can you possibly expect to be able to compete?" were the words I often heard. As I sat there last Wednesday, I was full of pride and said to myself, "I wonder what those people think today!". I also thought back on the whole never-ending process of buying property, building athletic facilities, school buildings, and moving to our new campus. Now, a new middle school building is being started, and we are working on plans for future athletic expansion on new land that was just purchased. I thought about the sacrifices so many people made to make our dreams a reality - people who sold their homes, their property, and even their cows to make it happen. I thought about those at PABC who, without kids in the school, supported our efforts in such a selfless manner. I thought about the growth and successes of all our athletic and fine arts programs - all reminders of how far God has brought our school in such a short time.

I thought back to the year we decided to begin football. There were no facilities, no long list of great coaches or players, only a group of twenty-one kids and a few men including Brian Wommack and Joe Taylor who were just crazy enough to think we could make it work. Our first ever game at Madison County was so clear in my mind as I sat there last week. It almost seemed surreal as I watched our current football coaches and staff walk across the stage to receive their rings. How in the world did we get all these great coaches to Prince? I thought about coaches from the past who helped push our football program forward - men like Mark Farriba, Richard Bell, and Jeff Herron. I became emotionally grateful for our current football staff led by Greg Vandagriff. I watched our kids as they each walked across the stage to receive their rings and was so proud of them. For our seniors, winning the state championship was their reward for years of hard work, sweat, and determination. I was so very happy for them! Today at PACS we have such a great level of support and excitement. I just have to wonder what God has in store for us in the years to come. Because of God's blessings and the support of so many over the years, we can truly say, no doubt, "It’s a great day to be a Wolverine!".