PCA Podcasts

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 t...

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 persona...

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 t...

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 cr...

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 itinerar...

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 PC...

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 e...

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 wor...

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 ath...

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-a...

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, Narni...

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 chall...

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...

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...

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 scho...

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...

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-cen...

  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 an...

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 i...

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 skill...

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...

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 quest...

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, an...

Steve Leavitt interviews Head of School Mike Runey about the Fall 2025 Parent Survey and the biannual Student Culture Survey (grades 5–8). They review community feedback praising PCA’s relational, Christ-centered culture and exceptional faculty while highlighting key strengths such as students feeling safe and proud to attend the school. The conversation also addresses primary concerns raised by p...

In this episode of Mondays with Mike, three Upper‑School small group leaders—Maeve (senior), Jaela (junior), and Donovan (sophomore)—talk about how their groups have built trust, practiced vulnerability, and supported one another. They share specific moments like a deep discussion at Brookwoods, a student chapel message on love, and a creative prayer board project that helped students feel seen an...