High School Summer Letter - July 23, 2022
Dear Pinecrest Academy High School Parents and Students,
We hope you’re enjoying a restful summer vacation. We’re looking forward to a busy school year ahead, full of all the curricular and extracurricular activities that make the high school experience so memorable. Before sharing some practical details to ensure a smooth start to the year, I want to first introduce our new High School faculty.
As you get to know our new faculty, you will see that each is particularly well-suited by education, experience, and background to our mission To Form Christian Leaders Who Will Transform Society. They will deliver rigor in the classroom, while understanding and supporting a Christian worldview of the human person. We are confident that these additions to our dedicated, outstanding current faculty will position Pinecrest Academy High School for tremendous growth and development in the years ahead.
Please join us in welcoming:
- Mr. Carson Adams, PE and Wrestling: Coach Adams holds a degree in Communications and New Media Studies from Mount Saint Joseph University in Cincinnati, OH, where he played football and helped lead the team to a 2018 Conference Championship. For the last two years, he has been a substitute teacher at Pinecrest Academy and an assistant football coach. He is pursuing his Masters of Education in Arts and Humanities. He will be the new Weight Training Coach for the High School and Middle School. Coach Adams will also be an Assistant Football Coach and the Head Wrestling Coach.
- Mr. John D. Barnett, History: Mr. Barnett holds a BA in Social Science Education from the University of Central Florida. He is AP certified in both Government and Economics. Mr. Barnett will continue to teach history in the middle school and will be assisting the high school by teaching AP Government and AP Economics. He is also a veteran of the United States Army Signal Corps. Mr. Barnett’s daughter Katie is in the 6th grade at Pinecrest Academy.
- Dr. Joseph Baxley, History: Dr. Baxley holds a BS in Physics from the University of Alabama, and both an MA and PhD in the History of Science from Notre Dame University. He has previously taught at St. Mary's College and the University of Notre Dame. He looks forward to teaching AP World, AP European History, and Modern World this year.
- Mr. Dario Mobini, Theology: Mr. Mobini holds degrees in both Theology and Philosophy from Franciscan University of Steubenville and The Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas - The Angleicum. Mr. Mobini has been involved in youth and young adult ministry, and education for the past 22 years in fields such as CYO, Young Life, Life Teen, Campus Ministry, and World Youth Days. As Editor of worldyouthday.com and as a freelance journalist, he has also contributed to news organizations such as EWTN, Catholic News Agency, The National Catholic Register, and Legatus Magazine. Mr. Mobini has been married to his wife Heather for 17 years and they have six children.
- Mrs. Anna Oshinski, English: Mrs. Oshinski holds a BA in English Literature and a BA in Secondary Education (summa cum laude) from Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame. Additionally, she holds a Master's in English Education (summa cum laude) from the University of Georgia. Mrs. Oshinski was recognized with the Grace Sullivan McGuire Award for Secondary Education at Saint Mary's College in 2019. She has been teaching and coaching in private education for the last few years. She will teach 9th Grade English. Pinecrest Academy extends heartfelt congratulations to Mrs. Oshinski who was married on July 16, 2022 to our Assistant Athletic Director, Jonathan Oshinski (Alumni Class of 2010).
- Mr. Frank Schafer, Math: Mr. Schafer is a graduate of both The United States Military Academy at West Point and the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is currently a US Army Officer: Special Forces: Army Ranger, 2002-Present, and has extensive training in mentoring and leadership. Mr. Schafer is the son of former Math Department Chair and one of our founding families, Mrs. Laura Schafer. He is very excited to become part of the Pinecrest Community.
- Miss Jacinta Tran, Math Support: Miss Tran is a Pinecrest alumna who will be offering Math support alongside Mrs. Kim Matthews for the 2022-23 school year.
First Day of School
Friday August 5, 2022 is a half day. Students will be dismissed at 11:30am. Homeroom begins at 7:45am. Homeroom assignments can be found on your student’s schedule in the Paladin Portal.
High School students are required to bring a laptop or tablet to class with them. A phone is not an acceptable device. Click here to read the Acceptable Use Policy which includes details on our Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy.
Teachers will provide a syllabus for students during the first week of school. The syllabus contains any additional supplies that may be required. All that is required for the first day of school is a writing implement, paper, and your approved device.
School Hours and Bell Schedule (click here)
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 7:45 am - 3:15 pm
Wednesday, 7:45 am - 2:30 pm
2022-2023 Academic Calendar
Please follow this link to see our latest calendar of events, holidays, and breaks.
High School Carpool
Students may be dropped off at the main entrance to the Our Lady of Fatima High School Building no earlier than 7:15am. Please note that the building will not be open until 7:30am.
The afternoon carpool line consists of two lanes in the main driveway in front of the High School. The lanes are one way, both in the morning and in the afternoon.
Lunch
Students may bring their own lunch or purchase lunch from the school. Registration for the lunch program is available on the resource page in the Paladin Portal or simply click here to access your account. Food delivery services like DoorDash, UberEats, etc. are not permitted during school hours.
Off-Campus Lunch for seniors will begin in August. Students must have a signed permission form on file. The form will be available for signature on August 8, 2022. Important Note: Students who arrive late to their 6th period class, even if it is a study hall or an elective, will not be allowed to attend the next scheduled off-campus lunch, no exceptions.
Parking
Students who have submitted a completed parking permit application are given their permit on the first day of school. Parking space assignments can be viewed in the Portal. Parking Permit applications will be made available beginning with our seniors (Class of 2023) the week of July 25, 2022. For questions about parking, please contact Mrs. Bohn.
The Paladin Portal, Student Schedules, Summer Work and General Information
The Paladin Portal is an interactive platform that can be accessed from the home page of the school website, allowing students and parents to view current assignments, grades, attendance, and special events. Please make sure to update personal information on the Paladin Portal. Contact Mrs. Rosemary Herbert if you need help logging in.
Student schedules can be found on the Paladin Portal. For all schedule questions, please contact Mrs. Amy Bowman.
Summer Work Assignments (click here) are on the Paladin Portal. All high school students are required to purchase their books. Please see our High School book list here.
School Uniforms
Uniform requirements can be found in the Paladin Portal under the resources tab. Please click here for the uniform at a glance. Uniforms need to be purchased through Mills Uniform Company. Gently used uniform items may also be purchased at the Paladin Shop on campus. If you have questions about the school uniform, please contact Mrs. Bohn. Note: The High School PE Uniform is required for 2022-23, including all Weightlifting classes.
New Student Orientation (Including all rising 9th Grade Students): Thursday, August 4, 1:00-2:30pm
All High School students new to Pinecrest, as well as all rising 9th grade students, are invited to meet in the High School Lobby.
New Parent Dinner
New parents (PreK3-12th) to Pinecrest Academy are invited to a dinner on Friday, August 5, 2022 at 6:00pm in the Lower School Gymnasium.
High School Curriculum Night
High School Curriculum night is Wednesday, August 10, 2022 from 6:30-8:00pm in the Upper School Gymnasium and Our Lady of Fatima High School Building. More information on this event will be forthcoming.
Parent-Student Handbook (Click Here)
The Parent-Student Handbook is found in the Paladin Portal under the high school community group. All high school students and parents are required to read and sign the handbook. Students will sign the High School Expectations during the first week of school, and then parents and students will receive notice to sign the handbook itself through the portal.
Graduation Fee
The graduation fee for this academic year is $300 per student, which includes the cost of caps and gowns and other related expenses. The fee must be paid in full by the end of the first semester.
AP Exam Fees
The Advanced Placement (AP) exam fee is $100 per course and must be paid by the end of the first semester. All students enrolled in an AP class are required to sit for their AP exam and pay the associated fee.
We are just a few weeks away from the start of another amazing school year at Pinecrest Academy. We look forward to welcoming your families.
Do All Things with Love,
Amy Bowman
High School Principal
Meg Bohn
High School Dean
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Our Mission: To form Christian leaders who will transform society
Our Motto: Semper Altius / Always Higher
Our Core Values: Charity, Humility, Excellence, and Mission
Our 2022-23 Theme: Do Everything With Love, based on 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
