List of 5 news stories.

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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.
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  Launch of Robotics Club for 2024-2025 School Year

  7/18/2024
  Competitions Planned with Teams from More Than 400 Schools Across the State
  
  Pinecrest Academy, a private PreK3-12 Catholic School in Cumming, will debut a Robotics Club for the 2024-2025 school year. The club is already off to a promising start, as students participated in “spring training," eager for their first robotics competition season that begins in fall 2024.
  
  During spring training, 19 students were introduced to key concepts related to computer programming, mechanical design, and teamwork. The club also assembled a team of coaches and parent volunteers, under the moderation of Mr. Carter Mayville, PreK3-8th Dean of Academics. Mrs. Mary Claire Klooster, a former computer science teacher at Pinecrest Academy, serves as coach.
  
  "We've been floating around the idea of a competitive robotics team for a while now, but thanks to the help and support of some dedicated families and students, we're ready to provide our students with this new outlet for their innovative spirit and collaborative ingenuity,” explains Carter Mayville, PreK3-8th Grade Dean of Academics.
  
  During the fall competition season, Pinecrest will field two teams. A 4th-6th grade team will participate in their first Lego League Challenge competition, and a 7th-9th grade team will participate in their first Tech Challenge competition.
  Pinecrest students will interact with robotics teams from over 400 public and private schools across Georgia. They will also interact with industry professionals and experts on the field of oceanography, as they use STEM and collaboration skills to explore "life beneath the surface of the ocean,” which is the theme for this coming season's robot games and innovation projects.
  
  “Robotics is not just about robots, gears and circuits, but rather about igniting curiosity, fostering new ideas, and growing through teamwork,” commented Dr. Blanca Snyder, PreK3-8th Grade Principal. “As we prepare to launch our inaugural competitive season, we are excited to see how faith inspires design thinking, further enriching and nurturing our Pinecrest students’ in all aspects of their integral formation!”