PCA North Life Stories

Prestonwood Christian Academy North welcomed a special guest recently for an author visit, bringing together Lower School students for an engaging and interactive literary experience centered around storytelling, creativity, and the writing process.

The visiting author, Jerri Maddox, who also serves PCA North as a speech language pathologist, introduced students to her Runner Rabbit Character Adventure Series, a collection of stories following a rabbit named Runner as he travels through seven national parks across the United States. Through his journey, Runner encounters wildlife, faces challenges, and learns important lessons about character, perseverance, and growth. Maddox also shared that she used her PCA North speech students as early "test readers" during the development of her books, inviting their feedback on characters, dialogue and more.

Throughout the presentation, students actively participated by helping Maddox "pack" for Runner Rabbit's journey. Together, they discussed essential items for outdoor travel such as food, water, tents, flashlights, compasses, ropes, and even a Bible, which she highlighted as a guiding source of direction and wisdom. The conversation naturally led into a broader discussion about character and decision-making, which is a central theme in her books.

Maddox shared how Runner Rabbit's journey through national parks like Yellowstone is designed to help readers feel immersed in nature while learning about animals, geography, and personal growth. She also explained that each book in the series represents a different stage of Runner's journey, with each stop introducing a new "character jewel" symbolizing traits such as patience and perseverance.

A key focus of the visit was encouraging students to see themselves as potential authors. Maddox reminded students that there is no age requirement for writing a book and shared examples of young authors who have already published their own stories. She encouraged students to draw from their own interests, whether in sports, animals, history, or other passions, and to use research and creativity to bring their ideas to life.

For more information about featured author Jerri Maddox, visit www.gorunnerrabbit.com to explore purchase options, animated book access, and preview materials for vocabulary, writing, and reading comprehension support.

It was a special day at Prestonwood Christian Academy North as the school celebrated student-athlete Jaden Matthews for signing his Letter of Intent to continue both his education and athletic career at the next level.

Jaden, who has been part of the PCA North track and field program since his Sophomore year, will be heading to Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas to compete in track.

"Jaden has always had his heart set on the Lord," said Head Track Coach Michael Roach. "The way he works doesn’t simply reflect his goals, but his commitment to Christ. That's what he puts first every single day. I have no doubt he will continue that example at Ouachita Baptist. I'm incredibly proud of the athlete and the young man he has become."

Jaden's journey at PCA North has been marked by steady growth and impressive performances across multiple events.

As a Sophomore, he spent most of the season competing at the junior varsity level before earning a spot on varsity just ahead of the district meet, where he recorded a long jump of around 16 feet.

By his Junior year, Jaden had made a big leap, consistently jumping 18 to 19 feet while also competing in the 200-meter dash and the 4x200 relay. He placed second at district, fourth at regionals and finished seventh overall in Class 2A in the state in the long jump.

His Senior season has been his strongest yet. Jaden has reached jumps of 19 and 20 feet, tying the school record and setting his sights on breaking it at the regional meet on April 30. He claimed the district title in the long jump and also contributed to top-three finishes in the triple jump and the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams. He finished the meet with the highest point total among all boys competitors, earning the Boys High Point award.

Over the course of his time at PCA North, Jaden has become one of the program's standout contributors, known for his versatility, work ethic and ability to step up in big moments. His impact on the track and on his teammates will be felt long after he graduates.

The Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools State Academic & Speech Competition is always a highlight of the spring semester, and this year was no exception. Seventeen students from PCA North traveled to Waco to compete among some of the best private school students in Texas, and they represented our school with excellence, determination, and poise.

Over the course of three days, our students competed in a wide range of challenging academic and speech events, including TAPPS Math, Advanced Math, Calculator Applications, Number Sense, Lincoln Douglas Debate, Ready Writing, Literary Criticism, Solo Acting, Duet Acting, Prose Interpretation, and Poetry Interpretation. Each event required not only skill and preparation, but also the confidence to perform and think critically under pressure.

We are especially proud of the students who placed at the state level.

Pierce Holt, a Senior, and Henry Mitchell, a Sophomore, earned first place in Duet Acting, delivering a performance that stood out for its precision, chemistry, and emotional depth. Their achievement reflects countless hours of rehearsal and a commitment to excellence.

Conner Esty, a Senior, captured third place in Poetry Interpretation, demonstrating a powerful ability to bring written words to life with clarity and expression.

Tofunmi Kare-Opaneye, a Junior, earned seventh place in Solo Acting, showcasing strong stage presence and character development in a highly competitive field.

Izzy Peters, a Senior, had an outstanding showing across multiple academic events, placing sixth in Ready Writing and sixth in Literary Criticism, a testament to both creativity and analytical skill.

While we celebrate these individual accomplishments, we also recognize the dedication of every student who competed. Representing PCA North at the state level requires discipline, courage, and a willingness to grow, and each of our 17 competitors exemplified those qualities.

Competitions like TAPPS provide students with opportunities to sharpen their God-given talents, think deeply, communicate effectively, and pursue excellence in all areas. We are grateful for the hard work of our students and the guidance of our teachers who invest so faithfully in their success.

Congratulations to our entire Academic and Speech team on a remarkable showing at state. We are proud of you!

PCA North is proud to announce that our Art Team has won the TAPPS Art State Championship for the third consecutive year! The competition featured 22 categories spanning visual art, photography, digital media, physical art, multimedia, and art history. Awards were given to the top eight entries in each category, with first place earning 10 points, second place earning eight points, and third through eighth place receiving 6-1 points respectively.

This year, PCA North earned an impressive 216 points across 21 events with a total of 75 entries. Represented by 32 talented student artists, the Lions, under the direction of Mrs. Judy Seay, delivered an outstanding showing, with 35 entries placing in the top eight. An additional seven students received Honorable Mention recognition for their work.

The Lions secured the state title with first place finishes in 10 categories and second place finishes in six categories, clinching their third consecutive championship.

Individually, several students delivered exceptional performances, each earning more than 30 points at the state competition:

• Individual High Point Champion (TAPPS 2A): Addie Millsaps, 37 points
• 2nd Individual High Point Champion (TAPPS 2A): Daphne Peters, 36 points

"Winning  three consecutive TAPPS Art State Championships is a remarkable feat that should never be taken for granted," Upper School Principal Greg Wright said. "This sustained success is a combination of our North Upper School students using their God-given talents and being coached by the very best art teacher, Mrs. Judy Seay. Mrs. Seay goes above and beyond, spending countless hours to ensure that our art students are successful. I am very proud of our PCA North Art Program and we give All Glory to God!"

A complete list of the Lions who contributed points toward the State Championship team finish can be found below:

Individual State Champions | 10 points

Daphne Peters: 2d Mixed Media

Daphne Peters: Relief

Daphne Peters: Art History

Addie Millsaps: Painting

Addie Milsaps: Color Drawing

Gracie Kachuriak: Sculpture

Hannah Luder: Applied/Industrial Design

Matias Gonzalez Hernandez: Communication Design

Noah Pettett: Pottery, Ceramics & Plastic Arts

Wyatt Pointer: Senior Portfolio

 

2nd Place Winners | 8 points

Addie Millsaps: 2d Mixed Media

Cain Geiser: Senior Portfolio

Ethan Elliott: Relief

Gracie Weeks: Art History

Noah Pettett Short: Film-Animation

Wyatt Pointer: Printmaking

 

3rd Place Winners | 6 points

Gracie Kachuriak: Pottery, Ceramics & Plastic Arts

Hannah Luder: Fashion Design, Textile Arts & Jewelry Design

Keira Vanderlaan: Art History

Wyatt Pointer: Printmaking

 

4th Place Winners | 5 points

Daphne Peters: Communication Design

Gracie Kachuriak: Applied/Industrial Design

Addie Millsaps: Senior Portfolio

 

5th Place Winners | 4 points

Addie Millsaps: Color Drawing

Braelyn Stewart: Art History

 

6th Place Winners | 3 points

Ethan Elliott: Senior Portfolio

Sadie Obholz: Art History

 

7th Place Winners | 2 points

Hannah Luder: Computer Rendered Art

Gracie Kachuriak: Relief

Layla Matthews: Senior Portfolio

 

8th Place Winners | 1 point

Daphne Peters: Drawing – Black & White

Briley Rich: Color Drawing

Gem Floyd: Photography – Black & White

Keira Vanderlaan: Photography – Color

Layla Matthews: Art History

 

Honorable Mention

Hannah Luder: Computer Rendered Art

Hannah Luder: Applied/Industrial Design

Hannah Luder: Senior Portfolio

Gracelyn Shirley: Fashion Design, Textile Arts & Jewelry Design

Layla Matthews: Fashion Design, Textile Arts & Jewelry Design

Julianna Holifield: Painting

Max McAdams: Pottery, Ceramics & Plastic Arts

 

Prestonwood Christian Academy North 5th Grade students recently welcomed Captain Brad McBride, a Southwest Airlines pilot, as part of the airline's Adopt-A-Pilot Program — an initiative that connects professional pilots with classrooms across the United States to inspire students through aviation-themed learning and mentorship.

Since launching more than 25 years ago, Southwest's Adopt-A-Pilot Program has impacted more than half a million students nationwide. The program blends STEM education with character development and real-world career exploration while introducing students to Southwest's F.L.I.G.H.T. values.

During his visits to PCA North, Captain McBride gave students an inside look at life as a commercial airline pilot. He shared details about daily flight operations, scheduling, reserve pilots, and the teamwork required to keep flights running safely and on time. Students learned about airport security procedures, cockpit instruments, flight speeds, and how pilots navigate between cities across multiple time zones.

Captain McBride also walked students through his own flight routes, showing photos from cities he visited and explaining how pilots manage long travel days, overnight stays, and healthy routines while on the road. His real-world examples helped bring geography and math concepts to life as students calculated flight times, compared distances, and identified the longest and shortest legs of his trips.

A highlight of the experience was the hands-on science instruction, where students learned how airplanes fly through interactive experiments. Captain McBride introduced key aviation concepts such as lift, thrust, drag, and weight, and demonstrated Bernoulli's principle using everyday materials. Students practiced forming hypotheses, observing results, and drawing conclusions as they tested airflow with paper strips, balloons, cups, and a ping-pong ball.

Captain McBride encouraged students to stay curious, ask questions, and engage fully in the learning process. By connecting classroom lessons to real-world aviation applications, his visits helped students better understand how science, math, and engineering work together in practical and exciting ways.

Through the Adopt-A-Pilot Program, students not only gained a deeper understanding of aviation and STEM concepts, but also experienced firsthand how classroom learning connects to future careers and the world beyond school.