Outside the Box – Kate Estes

On Thursday, the Panama City Renaissance School prepared and donated 155 sack lunches to the Panama City Rescue Mission.  The Mission feeds more than 150 men, women and children each day. The PCRS parents donated all of the food, which included 20 loaves of bread, 10 large packs of sandwich meat, 200 apples and bananas, 200 bags of chips and other snacks, 10 large packs of cookies, and a box full of other food items.  Several of the moms and students made 155 sandwiches, and the students in the After School Enrichment Program packed all of the lunches.  The kids set up an assembly-line, where each child would take a bag and put an item from each of 5 boxes inside.  They finished packing the lunches in 45 minutes!  The students were amazed to learn that there are people in our community who do not have enough food to eat.  They were excited to be helping to feed hungry people and were so generous.  One student stated that he thought everyone in Panama City who has extra food should give to the Mission.

If you’ve never seen 155 sack lunches (I know I hadn’t), they filled up 8 large boxes!  The Mission residents and staff were so gracious and grateful.  I had so many people come by to thank the school and shake my hand.  It was a wonderful experience for all involved.  The Mission is looking forward to partnering with PCRS for another community service project in the future.

Outside the Box – Juliann Talkington

As part of the science curriculum, the children in Ms. Fu’s and Ms. Maunter’s classes have “no right answer within limits” activities.  For this activity, each team was were given a bag with several items including straws and asked to create something that went continuously between the door jambs.  Some solutions used paperclips, straws and rubber bands.  Others included straws and tape.  Not only did the kids learn how to come up with ideas on their own, but also learned from their peers.  Science is creative and fun!

My first grader is in her 3rd year at the school, and my 4 year old is starting her second. Hearing my girls discussing the proper way to say their Mandarin Chinese, my 4 year old helping her older sister with her Spanish vocabulary, telling me they don’t want to leave when I come to pick them up, all of this is a testament to the amazing education they are getting in a wonderful, nurturing environment. It is definitely easier to put your kid on a bus in the morning and be done, but the 30 minute drive to get them to the school is worth every moment, and all the parents work well together to establish carpools and such to make the commitment as easy as possible. This school is worth every dime if you are willing to make the commitment!
Najla Magness

PCRS is the only school I found in Panama City that offered the tools my children will need to be successful in the ever changing global world they will face in the next 15 years. The school offers a small teacher to student ratio where kids get to be kids and learning is fun and exciting. My children are in the car before I get out of the door.
Submitted by a parent

My son is in PreK-3 at the PCRS. I was a little worried it might be too advanced or not fun for him, but he is thriving and loves school. His teachers are kind, patient and nurturing. And, I feel that he is really getting one on one attention. My husband and I are thrilled with the school and the quality of education our son is receiving.
Submitted by a K3 parent