Prestonwood Christian Academy (PCA) Plano celebrated the opening of a new working studio for Upper School students in film, broadcasting and photography to explore the art of storytelling through media communications. In the new studio, PCA students will become creators of meaningful messages instead of passive receivers of them.
PCA leaders ceremoniously cut a ribbon celebrating the newly renovated space. “When you have an opportunity like this studio opening, that provides students and staff to be on the forefront of communication, you are able to equip the next generation to be world class impactors,” said Prestonwood Christian Academy School System Superintendent, Dr. Michael Goddard. “We are so thankful for parents and sponsors who invest in the next generation where it matters most, like this media studio. Our students will be the next generation of influencers with a Biblical Worldview being their priority.”
The studio provides kinesthetic learning opportunity for Communication Arts programming available to more than 400 Upper School students. The studio includes acoustical tiles that also serve as backdrops for filming, four lighting areas which include backlights and color-changing LEDs, a green screen track, podcast station, TriCaster lighting console, and new paint and carpeting.
“As the Communication Arts Program continues to grow and expand offerings for students, it has been not only a dream but a real need for Prestonwood Christian Academy to build a studio for students in Film, Broadcasting and Photography,” said Mrs. Meg Parker-Wilson, Director of Communication Arts for the System. “We are humbled by and grateful for the donors who caught the vision for present and future Lions whose passions lie within these disciplines. Our mission is to inspire our students to be creators of meaningful messages not just passive receivers of them and now they can do this in ways they never could before!”
PCA’s Communication Arts curriculum is a difference factor which exists to train students to be intentional storytellers who think critically about their message, creatively engage their audience, and effectively use communication to transform the culture for Christ.
“Each of us has a unique story inspired by the greatest of all storytellers—God,” said Mrs. Parker-Wilson. “Based on this truth, curriculum and faculty aim to inspire and train students how to use various mediums of communication to transform the culture even beyond their primary education experience.”
“We want to thank our donors, the Harley and Strawbridge families, for helping us raise the funding needed to provide this state-of-the-art studio space,” said Dr. Goddard. “The PCA family always responds generously to make plans a reality in order to avoid incurring any long-term debt.”
Prestonwood Christian Academy is made up of six schools serving students across the Dallas Metroplex and virtually throughout the world. More than 2,000 students are enrolled at four campuses: PCA Plano (Pre-K3 through 12th Grade), PCA North in Prosper (Pre-K3 through 11th Grade with first graduating class of 2023), PCA Hybrid (a three-day in classroom/two-day at home program) and PCA Online. St. Timothy Christian Academy in Plano serves students with learning differences and The King’s Academy provides a Christian education to students in South Dallas. The PCA School System has been recognized as having one of the strongest Christian education programs in the country providing intentional biblical worldview training and integration. PCA places great value on the growth of students’ spiritual health in addition to their scholastic endeavors and co-curricular activities. Tantamount to its Spiritual Development plan is PCA’s rigorous Liberal Arts academic program. From the first graduating class in 2002 through the class of 2021, graduates have been offered more than $154.6 million in scholarship for academics, arts and athletics from universities and other institutions of higher learning. PCA is now enrolling for the 2022-23 school year. Go to prestonwoodchristian.org/admissions for more information.