Penn Woods Classical Academy Convocation 2025
Author: Rebecca Pettigrew, Board President, Penn Woods Classical Academy
Nervous excitement abounded on the evening of August 27th, 2025 in a beautiful gymnasium in the South Hills of Pittsburgh: On that evening, Penn Woods Classical Academy came together for the very first time to celebrate the opening of its inaugural year with a formal Convocation Ceremony. Under the direction of its Head of School, Dr. Eric Stennett, and with a full faculty of K-6th grade teachers and four co-curricular teachers of Art, Music, Latin and Physical Education leading the children in procession, the families and friends and Board of Directors of the Academy gathered together to pray in gratitude for the graces that had brought them to that happy moment: from an idea shared between moms in 2020 to a full-fledged Hillsdale Candidate Member PreK-6 school in a beautifully refurbished school building with 89 children attending in the Fall of 2025. Surrounding the gathering was a picturesque semi-circle of 12 banners announcing the virtues which the Academy will aspire to learn and practice until they become “Habits of the Heart”: Faith, Charity, Gratitude, Prudence, Fortitude, Humility, Justice, Moderation, Responsibility, Wisdom, Courage, and Friendship.
Over the course of Spring and Summer the children and parents had multiple opportunities to gather for fellowship, helping to ease some of the nerves about coming to a new school, and this proved helpful in this first formal gathering. With a great sense of decorum and solemnity, the children began the ceremony, processing in with their teachers, leading with the Word of God, carrying a Bible, and with an American Flag. Some of the children read Psalms and led the Pledge of Allegiance, others carried sunflowers and banners representing the Liberal Arts curriculum, and the assembly sang traditional Christian hymns. Dr. Stennett addressed the students and families with a prayer of Thanksgiving and a charming video was shown in which many of the children were featured, reciting W.A. Dromgoole’s poem, “The Bridge Builder” as a creative and touching thank you to the Board of Directors for all that they did to bring the school to fruition. Dr. Stennett led a call and response with the children in which they – and also their families – committed to the Mission of Penn Woods Academy. Afterward guests gathered for a cookie table reception, fueled with excitement and prayerful hope for the school year.
It is the hope of the Academy that such a convocation will annually serve as a way to renew Penn Woods students and families in their shared commitment to grow in Christian discipleship and moral and civic virtue together, for the glory of God and the expansion of His Kingdom!
