For the next 9 weeks the seniors will be partnered with a fellow classmate to complete the unit on marriage and family.  The seniors were assigned to a socioeconomic status which they will have to work in and base their budgets on for the wedding, honeymoon, and month-to-month living expenses for the first year of "marriage."
 
The students kicked this off with a speed dating session to find their student partner.  The next 9 weeks will be broken down into three stages: dating (1 week), engagement/pre-marital counseling (3 weeks), and marriage.  During the week on dating we will talk about the purpose of dating.  For engagement, we will talk about what goes into a marriage.  Finally, we will begin marriage with the Senior Wedding, a tradition here at Pine Tree Academy.  During this segment, we will discuss what it means to be married, have a family, and be a parent.  This will culminate with the baby project, for which the students will carry around a 10 lb. sack of flour for a week.
 
Because in a relationship "what's mine is yours and what's yours is mine," and because a relationship must be a cooperation between the two individuals as one, the student partners will be dependent on each other for their grades.  If one slacks off, both fail.
 
The purpose of this project is not to scare students away from relationships or parenting - in other words this isn't a scared straight program to deter teen pregnancy.  The purpose of this project is to give the students a fuller understanding of dating, relationships, and marriage, and how to foster a relationship that lasts based on love that is patient, kind, and selfless.
 
I'm excited about starting this with the students and the students are feeling pumped as well.  Please pray for the students as they complete their projects that they would understand what and who "true love" truly is.

-Jonathan Gantt, Bible Teacher

In the beginning of February, the Pine Tree Academy’s Girl’s Varsity basketball team had the amazing opportunity to attend the Andrew’s University Cardinal Classic.  It was such a great experience.  I am so incredibly grateful to our coaches, our parents, and our gracious sponsors for making it possible for us to go (and I’m pretty sure all my teammates would second that).  

It was the first time PTA had ever been able to attend the annual basketball tournament located in Berrien Springs, Michigan, and I couldn’t have asked for a better set of friends/teammates to participate with.  Over the six days we spent traveling and playing basketball, we grew so much as a team.  Together, we faced tough competition on the court, relaxed in the hot tub, had tons of laughs, toured the university’s campus, met new people, won the tournament sportsmanship award and most importantly, became better friends with one another.  

Although our season eventually came to an end after a difficult loss in the Maine State Tournament once we returned home, I truly believe the bonds we formed during our journey to Michigan were what held us together as a strong, loving, and supportive team.  Throughout the entire season, and especially at the AU Cardinal Classic, we learned that no matter what, win or lose, we always stick together. 

This basketball season will be one of the top memories of my senior year because the players on the team were not just teammates.…but now people I will always call my sisters.

WAU features a Sports-Acrobatics Exhibition Team. The Acro-Airs have performed across the country and for a variety of venues. The team does performances at schools and community events where they spread the message of healthy living including abstaining from drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Washington Adventist University's Acro-Airs also perform Half-Time shows for NBA games. They have performed at games for the Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, and others. A recent performance was at the "Discover Strathmore Open House 2009", which was sponsored in part by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Baily Circus.

The Acro-Airs include a former Pine Tree Academy graduate, Daniel Pierre-Louis.  After their gymnastics show, they held a gymnastics clinic for Pine Tree Academy elementary students.

Students in Spanish II are learning about Spain's equivalent of hiking the Appalachian Trail, walking "El Camino de Santiago", known in English as "The Way of Saint James."  Part eco-vacation and part contemplative pilgrimage, individuals have been making this trek across Northern Spain for centuries.  Originally it was undertaken by Catholic pilgrims, but now-a-days the pilgrims hail from many religions. All seek an escape from the rush of modern living.  Here on el camino one can contemplate the important things of life.  

During this week Spanish II students have watched short YouTube clips of individuals on el camino , but the special treat today was to skype with Sammy, a student at Pacific Union College, who hiked a portion of el camino  last year.  Many questions were asked.  "How much did lodging cost?" "What's your best memory?"  "Is el camino safe?"  "Would you do it again?" 

Sammy challenged PTA teens to undertake the trail with the mindset of pilgrims of old: a spiritual mindset. He told them, "Amongst our group of 14 hikers, myself and one other determined to enter in to the spirituality of the experience.  We would purposely drop back from the others.  Nature and the slow pace gave us head-space to talk about the some of life's big questions.  The lack of rush meant we could walk in silence or explore ideas at length, as we desired.  Of all my experiences in Spain, walking "El Camino de Santiago" is one of the few I wouldn't have done without!"

A word of caution to parents:  At least half the class admitted by the end of the skype session that walking el camino now has a place on their bucket list!

A Month-long Celebration of Freeport’s Arts & Culture

Freeport has a wealth of artistic and cultural organizations presenting music, theater, fine art, dance, puppetry and more throughout the year. FebFest reveals this hidden cultural treasure by feature arts and culture in a month-long festival at a time of year when people need a very good reason to get out of the house and fight the winter doldrums. Locals and visitors alike will all be surprised and pleased with the variety and depth of Freeport’s cultural offerings.  Pine Tree Academy Band and The Coastal Winds - Freeport's Community Band including The Pine Tree Academy Bell Ringers all participated in concerts during this month long event.