Cross Shield
Credits
Mark Koscak
Amber Dunnuck,
Steven Nauman
Jordy Whetsell
Mission
Truth, Beauty, and Goodness
Article by Ben Holland & Sam Adams
A common question that we receive in family interviews is, “What is truth, beauty, and goodness?” It’s an important question to answer, because if we cannot define those terms as a school, then we will never help our students to be able to define them biblically. At Providence Academy, we want to write those things in stone, so that our faculty, students, and families can live out their faith confidently in a world that seeks to redefine these terms for itself.
When speaking of truth, we define it as the Word of God and the incarnation of that truth is Jesus Himself. We always want to compare everything with this standard of truth. If the world defines something differently as “true,” and it does not line up with the Word of God, then we can confidently stand firm on what God says is true and deny the world’s definition. For example, if culture says that there can be more than two genders, we want to look to the Bible, which says that God created them male and female, and then we want to proclaim that Biblical truth. In our postmodern world which champions relativism and each person’s “truth,” we want our students to boldly stand for God’s truth.
When defining goodness, we believe that goodness is the actions of God through His creation, through His people, and through His Church in light of His truth. Our culture often seeks to redefine goodness, celebrating sinful actions as good, but again, we must take what culture says and compare it with biblical truth. Seeing instead that goodness is the action of God through His creation, people, and Church, we can
help our students to celebrate truly good things that glorify God.
And finally, when defining beauty, we believe that beauty is the majesty of God on display through His goodness in the light of His truth. Defining beauty in this way helps our students to see beauty as God does, to define it as He does, and to reject what worldly culture proclaims as beautiful.
These terms and definitions are the primary filter we use when making decisions as a school. “Is it true? Is it good? Is it beautiful?” If it is not, then it’s not a worthwhile endeavor for our school. We believe that these standards will help us to stay the course and glorify God as a school.
Head of School
Science
Article by Mark Koscak
A New Science Initiative at Providence Academy
At Providence Academy, we get excited about science! Through science, we learn God’s design, think His thoughts after Him, and understand our world. Recently, a small group of PA science enthusiasts came together to learn about a new strategic initiative in the science department. Under the leadership of Dr. Tony Moschetti, a PhD in Biochemistry, a published researcher, and the Chair of our Science Department, we will start an annual summer project that will allow a small group of our students to have a summer job doing university-level research.
We have selected five high-achieving students who will participate in a six-week immersive laboratory research project. These students displayed a high level of competency and interest in their science courses, and will earn a small stipend for their efforts.
This project aims to discover an enzyme that will ultimately break down plastics and prepares our students to:
• conduct research
• potentially publish in peer-reviewed journals at a post-secondary level
• pursue careers in scientific innovation
The cost of this project is $30,000 per year. To date, $24,050 has been raised, but we still need $5,950 for this summer. If you would like to support this new science strategic initiative, you can give online by using the QR code to the right. Please select the “Science Initiative” in the drop-down box of the giving form. Over the next five years, Providence Academy is seeking a business partner to provide a $30,000 annual sponsorship to sustain this program.
Health Week
Article by Shona Hoover
In April, Providence Academy celebrated Every Knight Healthy Week, an annual initiative that promotes health, wellness, and joyful stewardship of the bodies God has given us. Rooted in Psalm 139:14—“We are fearfully and wonderfully made”— the week emphasized that healthy choices can be fun, encouraging, and honoring to the Lord. Each day had a unique theme:
• Movement Monday energized the campus with extra time for physical activity and fun challenges to get everyone moving.
• Tech Break Tuesday challenged students and families to unplug from screens and enjoy meaningful connection, rest, or creative play.
• Wash It Wednesday was a highlight, featuring a visit from Dr. Anderson, a former Providence Academy student and orthodontist at Sturgill Orthodontics. She taught elementary students the importance of dental hygiene—alongside Louie, the beloved therapy dog, who stole the show.
• Thirst Quench Thursday reminded us to drink more water and care for our bodies by staying hydrated throughout the day.
• Fresh Food Friday ended the week with a celebration of nutrition, including classroom taste tests, conversations about healthy eating, and fun facts about fruits and vegetables.
Middle and high school students joined in with lunch-time wellness challenges, and P2 generously provided daily treats for faculty and staff. A Health Week Bingo Challenge kept students engaged across all grades, with prizes donated by local restaurants. We’re grateful to all who helped make this week a success, including our HOSA (Future Heath Professionals) student leaders, faculty, and special guests. Together, every knight was reminded that wellness is not about perfection but about honoring God through wise, joyful choices.
Louie & Dr. Anderson from Sturgill Orthodontics
Our new Guard Station was completed in January 2025.
Hot Dog Night
Providence Academy’s Annual Hot Dog Night continues to be a popular event for our community. Thank you to Food Lion for donating 1,000 hot dogs.
Fine Arts
Annie & Orchestra
Where hope shines and beauty takes center stage.
Knights Advance to State
Article by Coach Pitts
Providence Academy Participants in the 2025 State Tournament
Congratulations to the following:
• The varsity baseball team qualified for the state tournament for the third consecutive year. The team played exceptionally well and finished the season with an impressive record of 39-6-1.
• The girls’ track team also had two athletes qualify for the state meet. Jaydyn Johnston finished fourth in the 100-meter dash, and Hannah Robinson placed fifth in the 1600-meter run and fourth in the two-mile run.
• Dylan Robinson competed in boys’ state track meet, finishing sixth in the 1600-meeter and fifth in the twomile run.
• Noah Bailey competed in the state tennis tournament, winning his first match but losing in the semifinals.
2025 Student Achievements
Francesca Pechmann - Valedictorian
Congratulations to Francesca Pechmann who was Providence’s Valedictorian for the 2025 Graduating Class.
Brodie Fulks - National Merit Scholar/ Salutatorian
Congratulations to Brodie Fulks (12th grade), who has been selected as a National Merit Scholar. He also was Providence’s Salutatorian for the 2025 Graduating Class.
Ethan Tuell - Roan Scholarship Leadership Program
Congratulations to Ethan Tuell (12th grade), who has been selected for the 2026 Roan Scholarship Leadership Program. This prestigious leadership program at ETSU covers full tuition, room, board, and books, as well as unique out-of-the-classroom leadership training.
Skylar Olds - Quillen Honors Scholar
Congratulations to Skylar Olds, who was selected as a Quillen Honors Scholar from the ETSU Honors College and the Quillen College of Medicine. This competitive medical school preparation program scholarship was only awarded to fifteen freshmen and will also fund her study abroad program, summer enrichment opportunities, and research activities.
Avery Morgan - Stanford Law School Summer Program
Congratulations to Avery Morgan (11th grade), who has been invited to participate in an Intensive Law & Trial Program with Stanford Law School this summer.
Congressional Art Competition
Left: (from left to right) 1st Place: William McNeill, Honorable Mention: Annalise Burns, 2nd Place: Laurel Pearson
Right: William McNeill with Representative Diana Harshbarger
Turning Hearts Towards Truth, Beauty, and Goodness
The book of Malachi highlights a time when God will turn the hearts of fathers toward their children. Similarly, we are living in a day when God is turning the hearts of many parents. He is turning their hearts toward the education of their children. The result is a significant movement toward a God-honoring education.
Some say the turning point was in 1947, when Dorothy Sayers spoke about “The Lost Tools of Learning” at Oxford University. It took a while, but this speech led to the rebirth of classical Christian education in 1981 via three different and unrelated schools. By 1993, Providence Academy was the eighth school in the classical Christian rebirth and a charter member of the new Association of Classical Christian Schools (ACCS). In 2020, the ACCS had grown 100 times from its original three schools, bringing the total number of classical Christian schools to 300. The growth of this movement has continued to surge to new heights, with 550 ACCS schools in cooperation today.
Some would say the turning point for parents began with the revival in the homeschool movement, which started in the 1960s and 1970s. There are also many other promising trends that could be mentioned that highlight this turning point. At a deeper level, this movement of God reflects a turning towards creation order as parents become more intentional about nurturing their children in a way that recognizes the fear of the Lord as the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.
There is a wave of intentionality that is encouraging. It reflects a consistency that isn’t a formula for grace, and it isn’t a new pathway to
Turning Hearts
Article by Mark Koscak
salvation. However, it reflects a desire to raise children in a way that honors God at church, at home, and at school. It is an alignment of 30-40 hours per week that recognizes that the teacher, the content, and the foundation are all important aspects of training a child in the way he should go. I don’t know if this trend is a revival, a renaissance, or an awakening. The description of this growing movement isn’t important. The reality is important. This trend isn’t limited to parents, parties, or ideologies. This movement defies conventional wisdom, crosses man-made boundaries, refuses to bow to the threats of progressive history, and recognizes the role of parents in creation order. Even the government, through school choice, is bending to support this movement of God.
Like the men of Issachar, we need to understand our times. The rejection of truth, the focus on feelings, and the noble lies of our day are a part of the picture. All over America, God is turning the hearts of many parents toward the education of their children. All over America, many parents are moving their children to an education that recognizes and honors the God of all creation. All over America, parents are moving their children to an education that teaches truth, beauty, and goodness. In an era when the headlines trumpet one godless trend after another, it is a joy to know that God is on the move, unleashing a multigenerational movement.
Mark Koscak Development Director
Sponsors
