PCA Podcasts

What does learning feel like as students approach graduation? In this final episode of our four-part series, Mike sits down with three Upper School juniors—Emma, Fletcher, and Judah—and science teacher Mrs. G.

Together, they explore challenging academics, deeper thinking, learning through correction, and growing responsibility for their faith and relationships. Emma shares her experience with college-level biology, while Fletcher reflects on the lasting influence of Dr. Ray Gamble.

Hear how students are growing as scholars, leaders, and followers of Christ—and learning to maximize their God-given potential as they prepare to impact the world...

As first-quarter report cards arrive and parent-teacher conferences approach, Mike sits down with Tammy Treadwell, PCA’s Math Department Chair, to discuss student growth and learning. Tammy celebrates strong achievement while sharing how our math team is strengthening foundational skills, connecting learning across grades, and helping students understand not just how to solve problems, but why their reasoning works. They explore the habits that build confidence—practice, perseverance, seeking help, and communicating mathematical thinking—and offer practical ways families can encourage learning at home and partner with teachers as students continue growing in mathematical understanding and confidence throughout their years...

On this episode of Mondays with Mike, lower-school students and teacher Mrs. Brouse join the conversation to share what learning looks and feels like at PCA. Host Mike listens as fifth-graders and younger students describe academic milestones — from Ivan working on two-step equations with parentheses and Clara tackling two-digit by two-digit multiplication, to students typing multi-page personal narratives and mastering “super sentences.”

The conversation highlights classroom strategies that support growth: productive struggle balanced with targeted help, the use of timers and teacher aides, peer support (shout-outs to students like Adeline), and concrete routines to build independence — turning homework...

What does learning feel like when you’re four? Mike visits PCA’s Butterfly classroom and then sits down with teacher Betsy Hickey to listen more closely. From learning to separate from Mom and Dad, form letters, move, play, share, and make friends, to beginning to understand who God is, this episode offers a joyful glimpse into how much growth is taking place in these earliest formative years.

On this episode of Mondays with Mike, host Mike sits down with two PCA middle school students — Colin, a seventh-grader from Newark, and Olivia, an eighth-grader from Dover — to listen rather than lecture. The conversation explores what they are learning right now, the struggles that make them think more deeply, and how teachers and classmates help them grow.

Topics covered include academic challenges and breakthroughs: Olivia describes wrestling with Civil War timelines and how understanding causes and contexts helped the pieces fall into place; Colin shares how seventh-grade math (negative numbers and new rules) pushed him to seek...

Hello PCA families and students. In this episode Mike reflects on returning from a 35th West Point reunion and the powerful perspective reunions provide: a longer view of how God shapes lives through relationships and formative years.

Topics covered include the role of classmates, teachers, coaches, and leaders in spiritual and personal formation; how ordinary and extraordinary moments alike contribute to growth; and the similarities between the formation at West Point and the intentional Christian formation pursued at PCA.

The episode celebrates school life and community moments — from homecoming to the Truman Way 5K, Dig Pi...

Hello PCA community — this episode walks listeners through PCA’s revitalized Homecoming Week and how the school is shifting the event from a traditional alumni weekend into a multi-generational community celebration. Mike hosts Nate Paul and Megan Tuttle (both PCA parents and Homecoming organizers) describe what families can expect Friday through Saturday and the ways Homecoming is designed to help families feel at home on campus.

Topics covered include the Friday family festival: school spirit day with themed dress-up, pep rallies, food trucks, bouncy houses, face painting, yard games and evening athletics (men’s and women’s soccer...

In this episode we explore what leadership truly means at PCA — beyond titles like prefect or Student Life Council member — and how students are entrusted with real responsibility for their peers and the school culture. Host interviews Mrs. Ellen Sporko (Director of Leadership), Student Life Council member Anatoly (Anna), and prefect Noah Hastie to hear firsthand what stewardship, long-term projects, and culture-building look like in practice.

The conversation covers where Anna and Noah serve (senior class culture, small-group leadership, spiritual life events such as CU at the Pole, Brookwoods, and broader student programming), challenges they didn’t expect...

In this episode we explore what leadership really means at PCA — not as a title but as real responsibility for people and culture. Mike interviews Mrs. Ellen Sporko, PCA’s director of leadership, alongside student leaders Anna (Student Life Council, senior-class lead and small group leader) and Noah (upper school spiritual life prefect). Together they unpack how students are given authority over service areas, long-term projects, and the daily shaping of school culture.

The conversation covers concrete examples and events the leaders help run — Senior Sunrise, Brookwood, See You at the Pole and worship nights — and explains school s...

In this episode Mike Runey, Head of School, reflects on what true growth in school looks like — not merely aging, grades, or completed assignments, but growth in knowledge, confidence, judgment, and faith. The host shares a recent moment in Lower School Chapel, where students displayed joy, engagement, and meaningful interaction with teachers, illustrating the heart of Christian education.

Topics covered include the balance of challenge and support in the classroom, examples from the upper school where 9th and 10th graders are tackling demanding new history courses, and how teachers provide guidance, feedback, and encouragement so students can me...

In this episode Mike Runey, Head of School at Portsmouth Christian Academy, reflects on brief but meaningful conversations with parents and how those moments point to the heart of PCA’s educational philosophy. Using the three guiding words—Known, Challenged, Contributing—Mike explains what learning and formation should feel like for students from Pre-K through graduation.

Mike opens by describing parents’ responses on opening day and shows how teachers and staff build trust so children feel welcomed and loved. He then lays out PCA’s central conviction that Jesus Christ is Lord over all learning, which means education...

In this episode Mike Runey, the head of Portsmouth Christian Academy, reflects on the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, exploring why events we remember deeply are often history to our students and how faithful memory should be passed on. He shares personal perspective as a former Army officer and military family member, and connects national grief to the local PCA community.

Topics covered include: the lasting impact of 9/11 on the country and military families; the personal story of Tom McGuinnis — a Navy veteran, airline pilot, PCA parent who died on American Airlines Flight 11 — and how his life beyond his...

Good morning, PCA. In this episode the Head of School, Mike Runey, welcomes families to the new 2026–27 school year and to today’s open house, sharing a hopeful, practical preview of what students, parents, and staff can expect. The host speaks from campus and invites listeners to walk the halls, meet teachers, and imagine the growth ahead.

Topics covered include the threefold summer preparation that has taken place: 1) readying the physical places (classrooms, fields, stages, and communal spaces) where relationships and learning happen; 2) strengthening academic programs and asking intentional questions about how students can be challenged, supported, and...

Join Nate Paul and Head of School Mike Runey for the fourth summer episode of Mondays with Mike as they recap key conversations from this summer and preview the new school year at PCA. Nate and Mike reflect on themes covered in recent episodes — academic coherence, survey insights, and the traits of excellent teachers — and connect them to three core promises the school makes to families: every child will be known, challenged, and increasingly prepared to go beyond PCA.

The episode highlights PCA’s annual core value of Christ-centeredness grounded in Colossians 3:16–17, explaining what that looks like across c...

PCA community, welcome back to Mondays with Mike.

In this episode Nathan Paul (PCA’s marketing director and chief storyteller) sits down with Head of School Mike Runey to unpack the results from the spring family, student, faculty, and alumni surveys. They explain why the school conducts regular surveys, how leadership interprets the voices of the community, and why broad participation matters for charting school priorities.

The conversation highlights the strengths the community affirmed: a Christ-centered culture, caring teachers and coaches, strong relationships, meaningful opportunities for students, and a sense that students are known and en...

Join Nate Paul, PCA’s Marketing Director and chief storyteller, and Head of School Mike Runey on Mondays with Mike as they explore how PCA is intentionally aligning curriculum and instruction across grade levels. This episode dives into the distinction between clarity and coherence in education, and why building a dependable “staircase” from preschool through graduation matters for every student.

Mike and Nate discuss the school’s recent work to shore up a Christ-centered program—how PCA teaches faith and character across subjects, not just in chapel or Bible class—and the importance of supporting teachers so they can tea...

Hello, PCA families. In this opening episode of a four-part Monday series, Head of School Mike welcomes returning and new families as PCA prepares for the 26-27 school year, shares a personal reflection following his daughter’s wedding, and frames the year as a shared beginning that requires faithfulness, encouragement, and community.

Mike explains the purpose of the series — not a run of announcements but a candid conversation about the kind of Christian school PCA is called to be. He previews upcoming episodes (next week: what strong teaching and learning should look; week three: a review of fami...

Hello, PCA families and friends. In this episode we reflect on one remarkable week at Portsmouth Christian Academy: Baccalaureate for our seniors, an eighth-grade milestone, commencement for the Class of 2026, and our inaugural Academic Showcase. These events are presented as windows into the same story — students rooted at PCA, formed over time, and sent to their next faithful steps.

We profile the Class of 2026 (45 seniors): 92 college acceptances, more than $780,000 in merit scholarships to the schools they plan to attend, 143 earned college credits, and nearly 12,000 hours of service during their upper school years. Beyond the statistics, we discuss th...

In this solo message to PCA families, Mike reflects on Memorial Day, asking listeners to pause and remember the men and women who died in service to the nation. The host distinguishes Memorial Day from Veterans Day, frames remembrance in a Christian context, and urges gratitude, humility, and prayer as proper responses to the sacrifices that made our freedoms possible.

The episode connects personal and national memory to the study of history, describing the host's reading of David McCullough's 1776 and encouraging a clear, balanced approach to the nation’s founding: honoring courage and sacrifice while honestly naming fl...

In this episode we recap PCA’s spring musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, with director and creative lead Miss Melissa Weisberg and three members of the cast and crew: Isaac (who plays Joseph), Chloe (one of three narrators), and Lucy Arico (dance captain). The conversation covers why the show matters to the PCA community, how the production was adapted to begin on campus, and the creative team behind it, including music and choreography support from Mrs. Conant, Mrs. Sporko, and Mrs. Vino.

The episode explores practical production details: the large cast of 58, the show’s uniq...

Good afternoon, PCA families. In this episode the Head of School offers a heartfelt message of gratitude following Teacher Appreciation Week, reflecting on the deep relational work of Christian education and how a faithful school community shows up for students and staff.

Topics covered include Teacher Appreciation Week activities—meals, notes, volunteers, and the welcoming culture our teachers create—and how those ordinary acts reveal the steady presence and partnership that shape the school. The speaker emphasizes that teaching is more than content delivery; it’s long-term formation of mind, heart, body, and soul.

We hear a...

In this episode, host Mike Runey talks with Portsmouth Christian Academy U.S. History teacher Mr. Pierre-Luc Rivard and two eighth graders, Lily and Abhi, as the class of 2030 prepares to arrive in Washington, D.C. for their annual educational trip. The conversation explores how months of classroom study come alive when students visit the places where American history was made.

Guests and itinerary highlights include access to the U.S. Senate gallery (arranged with Senator Maggie Hassan), visits to the National Archives to see founding documents, the Capitol, Holocaust Museum, Korean and Vietnam memorials, the Vietnam...

Join Mike and Steve Howe, PCAs Director of Operations, for a timely spring safety update as campus activity ramps up. This episode covers key policy changes, on-the-ground concerns, and ways families can partner with the school to keep students safe during the busiest season of the year.

We explain the updated animals-on-campus policy: unauthorized pets (including dogs) are no longer allowed at PCA events. The episode details how the change will be communicated (signage at fields and entryways), how staff will handle incidents (gentle reminders from school employees), and what parents should do if they spot a...

Good afternoon, PCA families. In this episode a member of PCA leadership (Head of School/Campus Leader) delivers a post‑Easter message that ties the theological truths of Good Friday and the resurrection to the everyday work of parenting and school life. The speaker reflects on how the cross and the empty tomb make honest responsibility and extending grace possible for children and families.

The episode covers the realities of living in community: friction, misunderstandings, and real hurt that can show up in hallways, group chats, teams, and friendships. Concrete examples are used to illustrate how conflict of...

In this episode of Mondays with Mike, three PCA juniors—Alex Child, Brooke Leger, and Riley Tuttle—join the host to reflect on a winter-break missions trip to Puerto Rico. They describe serving local communities, participating in Spanish-language worship, and building cross-cultural relationships that challenged and expanded their understanding of faith and service.

Topics include the power of worship (Alex recalls a moving Spanish service), bold acts of compassion (Brooke and a friend praying for and giving a bracelet to a woman they met), and witnessing young leadership and vulnerability (an underclassman, Aris, leading a powerful reflection). The...

Hello PCA families — Join PCA’s winter student-athletes as they reflect on a season of competition, growth, and faith. In this episode, host interviews four athletes: Emma (sophomore swimmer who qualified for State on her first event), Josie (sophomore swimmer and State competitor), Ava (senior basketball player who broke the school’s all-time scoring record), and Catarina (senior winter track athlete who ran relays at States).

The conversation covers season highlights — from team camaraderie and unforgettable moments (like a playoff-team hug on an opposing court and back-to-back relay teamwork at States) to the excitement of qualifying for and comp...

Happy Monday, PCA community. In this episode we sit down with three students who took part in the New Hampshire Educational Theater Guild’s 2026 Festival — Viola (senior actor and set designer), Sarah (9th-grade actor and costume assistant), and Richard (10th-grade lighting designer). Over a tight, competitive weekend their ensemble of about a dozen students prepared, performed, and struck a one-act play under strict five-minute set/strike rules and adjudication across acting, design, and tech.

The conversation walks listeners through the rehearsal timeline, the stress and triumph of a misplaced prop box that almost derailed their performance, and the...

Join PCA's read-a-thon recap featuring four enthusiastic students—Xander, Quinn, Timothy, and Sarah—and Mrs. Donna Collins, the lower school librarian. In this episode they celebrate a month-long read-a-thon that engaged students across grades, with hundreds of books read and thousands of minutes logged. Listeners will hear students share favorite series and genres (Dragon Masters, Warriors, Narnia, Greek mythology, mysteries, picture books), personal reading spots (couches, under a Lego shelf, beds, cars), and why they love certain books.

Mrs. Collins explains the read-a-thon format and goals: exploring new genres with a reading map and strengthening library skills thro...

This episode is a heartfelt address from Mike Runey about the central role teachers play in a Christian school community. There are no external guests — it’s a solo message that reflects on memorable teachers, the daily influence of educators, and why investing in teachers matters for students’ formation.

Topics covered include the personal attention teachers give students, the importance of challenging students to grow, and the five key ingredients of great teaching: deep subject knowledge, clear expectations, thoughtful feedback, real relationships, and a faith that informs classroom life. The episode emphasizes that many pivotal learning moments don’t...

Hey, PCA families. This is Mike and it's Monday and you and I should all be on vacation by the time you're hearing this. I'm here with Jordan Heckelmann, our upper school principal. In this episode Mike and Jordan close out a deep dive from the State of the School series and focus on what our recent graduates are doing and how PCA is preparing the next 1,000 grads.

We review data from the classes of 2023–2025: over 100 seniors from the accepted to over 200 colleges and matriculated to over 50 different two‑ and four‑year institutions. Nine of ten of these...

In this State of the School follow-up episode recorded around President's Day 2026, the host sits down with Dr. Carrie Booth, Lower School Principal, to explain how Providence Christian Academy uses assessment data to inform instruction without letting numbers define students. They frame data as a “flashlight” — a focused tool that illuminates where learners are at a moment in time and guides next instructional steps.

The conversation covers the primary assessment tools PCA relies on: the NWEA MAP (referred to on campus as NEWA) for reading and math and its RIT scoring system, DIBELS for K–2 foundational literacy, and how...

In this episode host Mike sits down with Lois Blatchley, PCA's middle school principal, to explore the school’s educational vision for grades 6–8 and how whole-child formation shows up in daily life. Lois — who has served as dean of women in the upper school, a board chair, and a long-time leader in Christian education — brings a wide perspective on guiding students through the pivotal middle school years.

Mike and Lois discuss why middle school matters: it’s not merely a phase to get through but a bridge where students develop emotionally, socially, academically, and spiritually. They talk about lead...

Join host Mike and guest Steve Howe, PCA's Chief Operating Officer, for a candid conversation about campus safety during winter months. This episode frames safety as a posture, not a checklist, and focuses on the everyday choices that keep children, staff, and neighbors safe as families arrive, park, and depart.

Topics covered include on-campus speed limits (10 MPH on Seabourn Drive, 5 MPH in lots), the particular risks of speeding and distracted driving, reduced visibility from snowbanks, icy parking lots due to limited salt and sand, and unsafe shortcuts during busy pick-up and drop-off times. Mike and Steve describe...

Ready to join PCA’s biggest community event on March 21? This Saturday morning gathering brings neighbors, families, and staff together to celebrate, connect, and raise vital support for our variable tuition program. Admission is free; breakfast tickets and tables are available for purchase.

The funds raised directly support families with varying financial needs so students can access a Christ-centered education. Nearly half of PCA families receive some form of variable tuition, and this auction helps ensure every child feels welcomed and valued.

Attend to bid on exciting items and experiences, donate goods or services, sponsor th...

In this episode Mike talks with Nate Hasty, PCA’s Director of College & Career Guidance, about how the school helps students discern their next steps—not just where they can get admitted, but where God may be calling them to serve and grow. Nate brings a background in student ministry and higher-education admissions and explains how those experiences shape his approach to guiding students and families.

Key topics include the difference between a prestige- or resume-driven process and a calling-centered approach, how PCA balances high academic expectations with spiritual and personal formation, and the team’s effor...

As our nation marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day and looks ahead to America’s 250th year, this episode tells a lesser-known story from the Korean War—one that reveals both the promise and the pain of our national journey.

Mike sits down with his father, retired U.S. Army Colonel Dennis Runey, to reflect on the Army’s first full integration in combat. Through the story of a fellow soldier who lived it firsthand, we hear how Black and White soldiers learned to fight, trust, and live as brothers under fire—only to face the sobering reality...

On this episode of Mondays with Mike, Nate and Mike Runey lead a timely mid‑year review as the first semester closes. They explore three central ideas for PCA families—growth, mastery, and excellence—and explain why now is a good time to reflect on a child’s academic trajectory.

They define growth as the measurable trajectory a student makes over time, mastery as grade‑level competence (when skills like multiplication facts move into long‑term memory), and excellence as the discipline to pursue constant improvement rather than mere comparison with others.

The hosts discuss how curricul...

Good afternoon, PCA community. In this episode Nate Paul and Head of School Mike Runey discuss returning from winter break and the important academic season ahead. They explain how the winter months—though quieter on the surface—are a powerful period of deep, rooted academic growth and development for students.

Mike highlights PCA’s educational vision (the five “lanes” or pentathlon approach) and emphasizes that midyear is an ideal time for parents and teachers to assess progress, embrace healthy academic challenge, and encourage revision, perseverance, and cross-disciplinary thinking. He reassures families that struggle can signal real growth and that t...

A good Monday, peace, safe families.

As we head into Christmas week, this episode meets you where you are and introduces Chaplain David Moore from Portsmouth Christian Academy. David shares his journey to PCA, his role focusing on the middle school, and how he quietly walks the halls—listening, praying, noticing, and being available to students and staff.

David describes the real, thoughtful questions students are asking about faith and theology, the pressures they carry from social media and school, and the ways teachers and the Holy Spirit are present and active in their lives. He...

Happy Monday from PCA: in the week before Christmas break, a group of young PCA musicians share how they discovered music, prepared for All‑State auditions, and balanced lessons, school, and extracurriculars.

The students describe the audition process — learning repertoire in advance, sight‑reading on the spot, and for vocalists, memorizing excerpts — and reflect on practice routines, coaching, and the excitement of audition day.

They talk about growth, competition, and community: 14 students auditioned and nine were selected, and many describe how the music program and teachers at PCA support collaboration and development across choirs, orchestra, theater...