Discover is designed to stretch and grow students and encourage a love of learning. Discover provides opportunities to fulfill the school’s mission through exploration in academics, arts, outdoors, and athletics. Enrichment opportunities are also offered through various trips, community service, and internships. Participation in Discover is required for all High School students.
See some common questions and answers below, or call us at (423) 854-9819.
Discover 2024 will be during the first school week of November (4th-8th). However, depending on the trip or course you select, your dates of attendance may vary. If you choose to go on a trip, you can find those dates in the trip descriptions at the bottom of this page . Those will be the only dates that you need to attend. You will not have to return to school until November 11th if you go on a trip.
If you select an intensive course, internship, or service, you will be expected to be present Monday, November 4th through Thrusday, November 8th unless otherwise specified.
All students will be on a regular schedule beginning November 11th, 2023, no matter which option is selected.
All students in grades 9-12 must participate in a Discover trip or intensive course.
Discover days are considered academic days in our school calendar; thus the absentee policy is the same as any normal school day. However, any absence from Discover requires a doctor's note in order to be excused.
Once a student has been placed in a trip or course, changes may not be made. Therefore, it is imperative that the student and parent discuss cost options for Discover courses. Please do not sign up for a trip or course if all course requirements, including costs, cannot be met. No deposits or sign-up fees will be refunded.
Individual Discover courses will not be allowed. However, students are able to find service opportunities or internships on their own, but they must be approved beforehand.
All trips or courses require a non-refundable deposit at registration.
Due to grade level priority, course popularity and limits, not all students will receive their first choice. Students should be prepared to register for another trip or course if their first choice is filled.
Either full payment or a non-refundable deposit is required to register for trips. Deposit amounts differ according to the overall cost of the course. Different courses will provide payment plans with final payments due dates.
If the student is placed in a trip or course and decides to withdraw, the deposit will not be refunded. Thus, it is imperative that parents and students discuss Discover options before completing the registration form.
Trip insurance options will be available for most trips and will be encouraged.
Trip costs are for students. For most trips, adults wishing to register will pay a slightly higher rate. Contact the trip sponsor for specific information regarding the trip.
A student may select to participate in an intensive course instead of a trip. All students who do not register for a trip MUST select an intensive. Most information about course offerings are listed below, but other options may become available. Registration for intensives will begin in the fall.
Yes, parents may go on trips with students. However, due to the demand of trips and limited spots, only one parent may sign-up with a student. If spots are available once registration is complete, a second parent may request the open spot.
Parents who committ to going will be considered a trip chaperone and should be prepared to fullfill chaperone duties throughout the experience.
Trip selection will begin in February before Spring Break. Students will sign-up for trips and complete registration one week at a time per grade beginning with rising Seniors and ending with rising Freshman. Parents of those students registering for a trip with their student must register during the week the student they are traveling with is permitted to register. Sibling groups in different grades must still register during the appropriate week for their grade level as well. Spots are not guaranteed.
Once you have signed-up for a trip, the trip sponsor will contact you for next steps.
If you decide not to take a trip this year, you will have the opportunity to select an intensive course option, internship, or service opportunity. Most of these are listed below.
No, you do not have to select a trip. Students can elect to participate in an intensive course, internship, or service. If you do not select a trip, you MUST choose one of the other options.
Not necessarily. We've picked trips for this year in order to capture various focuses such as Arts, Ministry/Service, History, and Science. The trips could change from year to year, but some will likely continue to be options.
The goal of Discover is to offer a variety of trips, courses, and options every year, so families can prioritize what year might be the best option for them and their student. In the future, our hope is to offer more trip options as well.
We do ask that students not repeat the same trip twice.
Varsity Boy and Girls Basketball players should contact George Pitts.
Out of State Trips
Trip sign-ups will be open to rising Seniors first, followed by rising Juniors. Rising Sophomores and Freshmen will then be allowed to register. All trips will require a $200 non-refundable and non-transferrable deposit paid when you sign-up.
Italy
This year, we are excited to offer an overseas travel opportunity for rising juniors and seniors! Join Mrs. Anderson, Mr. Davidhizar, and Mrs. Stevenson on a nine day tour of the history, art, and culture of Italy November 1st-9th. After landing in Milan, our group will stop in Verona to see “Juliet’s Balcony” and then continue on to Venice. We will tour the main sights of Venice, including a gondola ride, and then head to the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence. There we will see Michelangelo’s David, Ghiberti’s Doors of Paradise, and Brunelleschi’s famous Dome. We continue our time in Tuscany with a stop in Pisa and Lucca, where we will take a cooking class at a traditional farmhouse. After Tuscany, we will travel to Rome, where we will tour the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, Roman Forum, Colosseum, and ancient Catacombs. From Rome, we will take a day trip to Pompeii to see how ancient Romans lived and the amazing effects of the eruption of Mr. Vesuvius.
This trip is capped at 55 students and parents, and because of the popularity of this trip, we ask that only one parent sign up to go per student until all rising juniors and seniors have had an opportunity to sign up. Parents going on Discover trips should expect to assist the teachers in keeping the students safe and follow PA field trip rules. The cost for this trip will be between $3525 and $3625, depending on the number of travelers, and will include breakfast at the hotel and dinner each day, as well as gratuities and entrances to sites listed on the itinerary. To sign up for this trip, please complete the registration and medical release forms after filling out the FACTS form and submit them to Mrs. Anderson.
Travel Dates: November 1st through November 9th
Cost includes: Most travel, some meals, all accommodations, most attractions and experiences.
Chicago Missions
Take a trip out of your comfort zone as we fly to the Windy City to serve in an urban setting! This trip will consist of ministry during the day and sightseeing in the evenings. We will be working with Breakthrough Urban Ministry (https://breakthrough.org/) by helping serve food to people dealing with poverty, packing lunches for children, cleaning facilities, working with people involved in their ministry programs, and doing whatever else may be needed. When we aren’t serving we will explore some of what makes Chicago unique including “The Bean,” deep dish pizza, Navy Pier, Moody Bible Institute, the Magnificent Mile, the Hancock tower, and more!
Travel Dates: November 2nd - November 6th
Cost includes: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner every day, Hotel, Transportation (including subway/bus in Chicago), Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier, Hancock Tower Pass, Architecture/History Boat Tour, Bulls or Blackhawks Game, and more!
Washington DC
Providence Academy is thrilled to host a trip to our nations capital! The dates are Monday, November 4th through Thursday, November 7th. This is a wonderful trip, and we always have a great time seeing our “National Treasures.” Sights included on the trip are Arlington National Cemetery, Museum of the Bible, National Archives, Holocaust Museum, United States Capitol, United States Supreme Court, Library of Congress, White House, Washington Monument, Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum, Mount Vernon, and the Spy Museum. This year we are using American Christian Tours. As a result. we will have our own tour guide(s) for much of the trip.
Travel Dates: November 4th - November 9th
Cost includes: Transportation, meals, accommodations, and experiences.
Sailing to Bahamas
This trip isn't for the faint of heart! Get ready for science and adventure to collide on this amazing exploratory trip as students learn to sail a ship from Nassau to the Bahamas. You'll spend your days learning how to sail, snorkel off the coast of the Bahamas, explore Saddleback Cay, and come face-to-face with marine life. View a sample itinerary here.
Travel Dates: Exact dates TBD-November 2024
Cost includes: Transportation, meals, accommodations, and experiences.
Yosemite
Love adventure, science and the great outdoors? Then this trip is for you! Join Mr. Randy Almanzor and Dr. Moschetti to fly west and camp, hike, fish, etc. Students will camp for 2-3 days. The last night will be in a hotel to clean up for the flight home. This trip will run November 4th through November 8th/9th (dependent on finalized flight information to come).
Travel Dates: November 4th - November 8th/9th (dependent on finalized flight information to come)
Cost includes: Transportation, meals, accommodations, and experiences.
Students who do not register for a trip will select an Intensive Course, internship, or service.
Intensive selection will open to Seniors and Juniors first and then to Sophomores and Freshmen. An email will be sent to parents when they can register their student. Fees associated with the course are due upon registration, and most courses have limited spots. Participation in Discover is mandatory. For general questions about Discover Intensive courses, internships, or service project opportunities please contact Principal Davidhizar.
Official Intensive offerings will be a available for final selection/sign up in the Fall.
For examples of possible opportunities we have offered in the past please see below:
Intro to Private Pilot Basic Ground School Course
Ground School is the first step in earning your private pilot’s license. Mr. Dan Moore, a flight instructor and certified tester with Dan Moore Aero, LLC in Elizabethton, and also a PA parent, is offering students the opportunity to begin the steps of getting a private pilot’s license. This intensive will be held at school for any student who is interested or curious about becoming a private pilot. Depending on the weather and the size of the class, there may be a trip to the Elizabethton airport for a flight in a private airplane. The cost is for the Ground School manuals which can be used if a student wishes to continue their training.
Intro to Spanish
Students will learn the basics of conversational Spanish. They will practice their new listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills through activities and games. Students will investigate the culture and geography of Spanish-speaking countries in the Western Hemisphere. On our last day, the class will go to lunch at a local restaurant.
Outdoor Adventure and Activities
Do you like to spend time outdoors? Do you like to hike and camp? This fall we will do a backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail (AT) from Carver’s Gap to Highway 19E (said to be one of the most beautiful stretches of the AT). We will spend the night at Mountain Harbour Hostel campsite, hike 15 miles over 2 days on the AT, overnight camp in the mountains, and much more!
Faith and Fitness
Are you looking for a fun, active intensive that focuses on your health and wellness? If so, this is the place for you! 1 Peter 4:9-11 says: "Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good 'stew'ards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." This intensive offers a combination of fitness classes, smoothie-making, devotional fellowship, dietary decision-making, and matters of the mind. We will blend each piece in a “stew” that allows us to lead full, healthy lives for the Lord, joyfully working to be good ‘stew’ards of His gifts and grace.
Robotics
During the Robotics Discovery Intensive, students will act as computer scientists, engineers, designers, and creative thinkers—all while having fun exploring and learning about STEM ideas and concepts with VEX Robots.
Students will work together to build their own “Clawbot”, solve various challenges, and develop and test winning game strategies. These activities are designed to ignite a love of STEM learning through engaging activities that blend creativity and imagination.
Learning Targets:
-Build and test a robot collaboratively.
-Use VEX software to create a code to control the Clawbot successfully.
-Collaborate to create coding and driver control strategies to score points in activities and win challenges.
ACT Prep
The ACT Test is the preferred college entrance exam used by universities in Tennessee for admittance, placement, and scholarship awards. Every graduate should want to make the highest score possible on this exam. In light of that, one of the intensives being offered is a preparation class to help students meet that goal. Time will be spent understanding the different types of questions in the different subject areas, learning test-taking skills, and practicing actual exams. The students will take at least 2 practice exams so they can understand the pacing of the test and get a feel for how long the test lasts.
In order to have plenty of practice and instruction, the class will meet Monday-Friday, 1/2 – 1/6, from 8:30 – 12:30.
Basics of Drama: Improvisation Workshop and Behind the Scenes
Looking for all actors, performers, speakers, or anyone who wants a great Discover week full of fun working on our dramatic skills! Using improvisation, we will focus on building confidence as a performer or public speaker though improv games and exercises. You will learn how to think fast on your feet and create stories from out of thin air. We will be finishing out the week with a short improvisation show. The skills we practice can be applied as a performer or just simply build more confidence doing class presentations.
In addition, we will spend some time learning about what goes on behind the scenes during a drama performance including set and lighting design, props and costumes. We will watch and analyze these subjects in several recordings of live theatre. I hope to see you there!
Choosing to Serve
Each of you has been given a gift to use to serve others. (1 Peter 4:10) The goals of Choosing to Serve are to give opportunities for students to use their gifts in their community and to open doors for students to serve others in humility and love. All participants are required to secure their volunteer position with organizations in the Tri-Cities area. You should plan on volunteering for a minimum of four hours per day for 4 days, or 16 hours total, and all work must be concluded by 3:00 PM daily. Students in this program are required to provide their own transportation to and from their volunteer projects. Mr. Almanzor can provide a list of organizations as suggestions, but students must be prepared to make all necessary arrangements for their volunteer time. Mr. Almanzor will have the paperwork to be filled out and returned to him as well as a document to keep track of your hours.
Diving Deeper with God – Spiritual Disciplines
We are constantly encouraging our students to go deeper in their relationship with God, but have you even wondered how you are supposed to do that? In this intensive we will explore, discuss, and practice different ways to go deeper in our relationship with God, known as spiritual disciplines. We will talk about and practice disciplines like prayer, worship, Scripture reading, memorization, testimonies, service, gratitude, creativity, confession, and silence. This intensive is designed to be intensely practical. We will discuss theology, but our focus will be on practicing the different disciplines that make up the Christian life which will give you tools that you can use now and throughout your life.
Internships
Internships will provide an opportunity for students to arrange a three-day program working with a professional in the Tri-Cities area. This program offers students an opportunity to join the workforce for a few days in an attempt to learn more about potential careers. Students may not intern at Providence Academy nor may they work for or with their parents. Participants are responsible for their own transportation and lunch costs.
Students must make all necessary arrangements with the sponsoring host by November 1.
Varsity/JV Basketball
All High Schoolers who are on the boys or girls basketball teams need to sign up for this intensive, unless you have already committed to a trip. Coach Burns and Coach Pitts have separate itineraries and costs for the boys and girls basketball team intensives.
Sponsors: Coach Pitts and Coach Burns
Participants: Basketball team members
Cost: Different per team