List of 5 news stories.

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  Ladies: Join us for Advent by Candlelight

  11/4/2024
  Come enjoy one of Pinecrest’s most cherished events, Advent by Candlelight, on December 8, from 5:00-8:00pm. Women of the community come together for an evening of fellowship, food, shopping, and inspirational music. Guest speakers are mother and daughter Elizabeth and Laura Matthews.
  
  Elizabeth is a mother of 12 and grandmother of 17. She’s a nurse who’s served from delivery to hospice care. Author of two books about the story of her autistic son (Precious Treasure and A Place for Me), she’s given conferences, TV and radio interviews, and mentoring on motherhood as a path to union with God and sanctity.
  
  Laura is a Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi in Atlanta. She just graduated with her master’s degree in psychology and serves as the Vocations Director. She has two podcasts, "For This Moment" and "Till it’s You,” where she speaks about joyfully living the mission and discernment following Jesus.
  
  Gather with other moms, friends, grandmothers, neighbors, PA alumni, and PA staff to enjoy the lovely candlelit atmosphere around decorated tables. Table hosts and guests can bring appetizers or a prepared light meal to share with tablemates. Wine is permitted; coffee and tea will be provided. Be prepared, before or after the event, to do some Christmas shopping with wonderful vendors selling beautiful hand-crafted items.
  
  Registration is open through Dec 2. To purchase a table as a Table Hostess: https://shorturl.at/eXuoA
  
  To purchase an individual seat: https://shorturl.at/1Iwih
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  John Paul Schafer Named Semifinalist in 2025 National Merit® Scholarship Program

  10/10/2024
  The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of more than 16,000 Semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit® Scholarship Program. Pinecrest Academy senior, John Paul Schafer, is among those named as Semifinalists.
  
  John Paul will have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million, to be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition.
  
  Over 1.3 million juniors entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors.
  
  More than 15,000 Semifinalists are expected to advance to the Finalist level, and in February they will be notified of this designation. National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists.
  
  National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced beginning in April and concluding in July.
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  More Than 300 Participate in International Rosary

  10/10/2024
  Pinecrest Academy’s International Rosary is a new, favorite tradition. The idea of an International Rosary originated in 2021 as an apostolate organized by Family Life, and this year, it had the support of a committee dedicated to organizing the event: Gaetane Auger, Natalia Calderón, Luiza Gaspar, Katrina Barrett, Father Michael O’Connor, and Sarah Gagnier.

   

  The vision of the International Rosary has always been to honor Mary by praying the rosary and to celebrate the different cultures that make up our Pinecrest community. New this year was the replication of processions held in many countries during which the Virgin Mary is carried on participants' shoulders.

    

  The decades of the rosary were prayed in English, in Spanish, and in Portuguese.

   

  After the rosary, more than 300 attended the accompanying International Food Festival. Twenty-five countries were represented, showcasing North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Country ambassadors represented their nationalities with delicious food and attire from their respective country.
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  Pinecrest Academy Named to 2024 AP® School Honor Roll

  10/7/2024
  College Board announced that Pinecrest Academy, a private PreK3-12 Catholic School, has been named to the Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) School Honor Roll, earning Platinum distinction.
  
  The AP® School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening access. Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness.
  
  Pinecrest had 89% of seniors who took at least one AP exam during high school, 82% of seniors scoring a three or higher on at least one AP exam, and 58% who took five or more AP exams. Twenty-one AP courses were offered during the 2023-2024 school year, representing 30 sections taught by 12 high school teachers at the school.
  
  Pinecrest Academy was also awarded the AP Access Award. Schools on the AP School Honor Roll may also earn the AP Access Award, recognizing schools that demonstrate a clear and effective commitment to equitable access to advanced coursework.
  
  "We are so honored to have received this AP Honor Roll Award, as we strive each year to provide every student with a college preparatory experience, which includes the successful completion of challenging AP courses," commented Amy Bowman, Pinecrest Academy High School Principal. "The Platinum designation from AP speaks to the excellence that our faculty strives for in delivering challenging content that prepares our students for college. Our Class of 2024 earned a 100% acceptance into the college/university of their choice. Since the school’s first graduating class of 2007, Pinecrest’s high school has maintained a 100% graduation rate every year.”
  
  “AP represents an opportunity for students to stand out to colleges, earn college credit and placement, and potentially boost their grade point averages,” said Trevor Packer, head of the AP program. “The schools have shown that they can expand access to these college-level courses and still drive high performance – they represent the best of our AP program.”
  
  About College Board’s Advanced Placement® Program
  College Board’s Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) enables students to pursue college-level studies—with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both—while still in high school. Through AP courses in 38 subjects, each culminating in a challenging exam, students learn to think critically, construct solid arguments, and see many sides of an issue—skills that prepare them for college and beyond.
  
  About Pinecrest Academy
  Pinecrest Academy is a private PreK3-12 Catholic school providing an atmosphere of academic excellence and critical thinking. Rooted in Catholic tradition and inspired by the goodness, beauty, and truth of the Christian worldview, our whole-person approach helps children discover and develop their God-given gifts. Pinecrest has been ranked the #2 Catholic High School in Georgia, the #12 Best Private High School in Georgia, and the #12 Best Private K-12 School in Georgia by Niche.com. Graduates gain acceptance into top colleges across the globe. The average class size is 15 students. Athletics and Fine Arts are part of a student’s experience. Students participate in service projects, supporting our mission to form Christian leaders who will transform society. Pinecrest serves Cumming, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Milton, Suwanee, and other North Atlanta areas.
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  Warren Tran Youngest Student to Pass Caltech A.I. Projects

  7/30/2024
  Professors at the California Institute of Technology invited Pinecrest junior, Warren Tran, to visit their AI and Robotics Lab and their NASA Jet Lab in July. The professors interviewed Warren because he was the youngest student to pass all 10 A.I. and Machine Learning projects after studying the Cal-Tech programs for one year. Warren represented PA well, as he wore his Pinecrest uniform every day during his three-day visit to Caltech.