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Pinecrest Academy Middle School boys recently spent time with children at the Easter Seals Early Intervention Preschool in Roswell.

Each school year, Pinecrest Academy, a private Catholic School in Cumming, organizes an “Apostolic Blitz Day,” where middle school students take a break from the classroom and spend a day, off campus, serving others in the community.  

This year’s Apostolic Blitz Day was Friday, October 29.  The day began with a student Mass at 8 am after which middle schoolers boarded chartered buses, school vans, and parent-driven vehicles to begin their day of service in and around Forsyth County. 

Pinecrest Academy Middle School Girls recently visited with residents at Tara Plantation in Cumming, GA

Students served the following organizations: Chestnut Ridge Assisted Living (Cumming), Forsyth County Senior Center (Cumming), Head Start Early Intervention Preschool (Elm St., Samaritan Dr.- Cumming), Head Start Early Intervention Preschool (Buford), Easter Seals Early Intervention Preschool (Roswell), White Oaks Assisted Living (Cumming), Sarah Cares Adult/Senior Day Care (Johns Creek), Sheltering Arms Early Intervention Daycare and Preschool (Duluth), No Longer Bound (Cumming), SMARTA International Preschool (Cumming), Tara Plantation Assisted Living (Cumming), and 40 Days for Life (Atlanta).

Girls in Mrs. Patricia Torrey's 7th grade class visited SMARTA International Preschool. Upon arrival, the girls were each paired with a child, singing songs with them in Spanish, distributing snacks, and assisting with arts and crafts.  During story time, students Ana Paula Sanchez and Steffi Harrisson read books in Spanish, while Maddie Brabrook read a book in English. Many of the girls received goodbye hugs from the children. “I cannot begin to express what an amazing experience this Blitz Day was for me as a parent chaperone,” said Teresa Quattrocchi.  “It was wonderful to see our girls so lovingly open up to children they did not know, and how well they bonded in such a short time.”

During another “Blitz” visit, 7th grade boys visited Sarah Cares Adult/Senior Day Care, where the students spent time talking with residents and entertaining them with music and Bible skits.  “After their visit, the boys spoke of their experiences with authentic excitement, mentioning residents they spent time with by name and sharing how much fun they had,” said Ms. Grethel Hoffmaister, a middle school teacher at Pinecrest.  “There was so much happiness, both for the day care participants and for our students.  It was a joy for me to see the formation our boys receive at Pinecrest come to fruition and put into action.”

Apostolic Blitz Day directly supports the purpose of Pinecrest Academy, which is “to form Christian leaders who will transform society.” The school implements the “Integral Formation” method of education, which focuses on the complete development of all dimensions of the person: intellectual, human, spiritual and apostolic.

In addition to Apostolic Blitz Day, Pinecrest encourages continual service throughout the year via programs like Challenge Club for girls and Conquest Club for boys.  Both organizations focus on the spiritual growth of students, which fosters opportunities for apostolic service to the community and beyond.  Seniors at Pinecrest participate in an annual mission trip each spring as a ‘finale’ to the years of service they have been a part of during their Pinecrest career.

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