Prince Avenue Christian School places great value on co-curricular opportunities as an integral part of a student’s holistic college preparatory experience.
The term “co-curricular” is deliberately used in the place of “extra-curricular” because opportunities such as fine arts, athletics, academic team, and service organizations are an important part of a Prince education, not simply an extra activity.
Spiritual Retreat
Each year, Prince sets aside intentional time for the entire high school to step away from campus for a spiritual retreat. This retreat is designed to provide students with dedicated time for spiritual growth and building Christ-centered relationships away from the rigors of academics and co-curricular commitments.
Centered around a meaningful theme presented by a speaker, the retreat encourages students to reflect on their faith and how it shapes their daily lives. Small group discussions and fun recreation create opportunities for authentic conversation and lasting connections with classmates and faculty.
Community Ministry
Prince Avenue Christian School consistently looks for opportunities for the student body to minister to our community. Ministry opportunities are organized through school organizations, clubs, and classes, and all students are encouraged to participate. Some of these ministry opportunities are:
- Canned Food Drives
- Operation Christmas Child
- Letters to Service Members
- Empty Bowls
International Mission Trip
Each year the Prince Avenue Christian School senior class will take an international mission trip. On this trip, students have the opportunity to share the Gospel by giving out copies of the Bible, taking prayer walks, and ministering to the local population alongside the full-time missionaries of that area. Students are able to put into practice the lessons learned during their time at Prince Avenue and see first-hand how to apply their Biblical worldview in real-life settings. The international mission trip proves every year to be a life-changing experience for the students. For the last several years, the trip has been to Central America, and the trip meets the Community Service Hours required by the Christian Character Development Program.
Local Community Senior Mission
For those seniors who choose not to travel on the international mission trip, a local mission is served. Students work with community organizations in the Athens area to meet needs and complete ministry projects. As on the international trip, Prince Avenue students are able to put into practice the lessons learned during their time at Prince Avenue and see first-hand how to apply their Biblical worldview in real-life settings. The local mission meets the Community Service Hours required by the Christian Character Development Program.
National Honor Society (NHS)
The National Honor Society is a national recognition program for students in grades 10-12 who have excelled in academics, service, character, and leadership. Members must maintain a cumulative academic average of 95 or above, endeavor to be a Christ-like leader, and give of themselves in service to others. The school’s NHS charter states the purpose of NHS is “To create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools.”
National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)
National Junior Honor Society is a national recognition program for students in grades 6-9 who have excelled in academics, leadership, citizenship, character, and service. It provides an outlet for students to use their God-given gifts to serve in the community and in the school. Members must maintain a cumulative academic average of 95 or above, endeavor to be a Christ-like leader, and give of themselves in service to others.
National Beta Club
Beta Club is the nation’s largest independent, non-profit, educational youth organization and is open to students in grades 10-12. The club is committed to recognizing and promoting high academic achievement, rewarding and nurturing worthy character, fostering leadership skills, and encouraging service to others. Members must maintain a cumulative academic average of 90 or above and uphold the school’s honor code. Beta Club members elect new officers annually and participate in at least two service projects per year.
Chess Club
Blessed Chess brings together high school students and lower school students (grades 3–5) for twice-monthly mentoring sessions centered around the game of chess. Meeting on select Wednesdays from October through April, students enjoy friendly competition, mentorship, and community.
Lower school students may remain in the program through fifth grade, with open spots filled on a first-come, first-served basis each August. Blessed Chess continues to grow as students play simply for the love of the game.
Student Government
Student Government leaders are elected by their peers to serve as a liaison between the student body and the administration, to identify and organize opportunities for service projects both on and off campus, and to foster formation and continuation of school spirit and spirituality. Each high school grade has three student government members: President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer that are elected annually.
Barnabas Mentor
The overall goal of the Barnabas Program is to enhance and develop the community between lower and upper school students thus increasing unity among the body of Christ at our school. The course is called Barnabas which translated means “son of encouragement.” The program provides a platform for students who are sophomores, juniors, and seniors to learn about service by teaching and mentoring students in the lower school.
The Barnabas program began in 2008 through the vision of a former Prince Avenue student, Miss Anne Barron, who felt called to encourage the Prince upper school community to operate as Christ’s hands and feet while ministering to the socialization, spiritual, and academic needs of the lower school students. I Kings 22:13 states: “Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him saying, ‘Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Please, let your word be like the world of one of them and speak encouragement.’”
Some of the objectives of the high school students participating in this elective course include:
- Develop a plan to effectively minister to their lower school student’s needs both academically, spiritually, and socially
- Understand basic tutorial techniques used with young learners
- Engage in one-on-one communication with young learners to help their socialization skills
- Identify various learning styles and differences in young learners
- Establish and maintain long standing relationships with lower school students.
Interact Club
The Interact Club is a subsidiary of Rotary International and is a service club open to students in grades 9-12. The school’s Interact Club is sponsored by the Oconee County Rotary Club and engages in a variety of service projects during the year under the guidance and direction of the school’s faculty advisor. Interact Club Officers are elected annually providing new leadership opportunities for our school’s students.
- Jazz Band
- Pep Band
- District and All-State Band
- Fall and Spring Productions
- National Art Honor Society
- Literary Meet
- Art Festivals and Exhibits
- Music and Drama Workshops and Seminars
- Private Lessons
- Tri-M Music Honors Society
- International Thespian Society