Message from our Superintendent

For 65 years, God has been writing a story at PACA—one far greater than any of us could have imagined. It is a story of faith and courage, of sacrifice and service, of a community that believes deeply in the transforming power of a Christ-centered education. It is a story built—quite literally—by the generosity of families, missionaries, alumni, parents, teachers, and friends who gave sacrificially so that children could grow in wisdom, knowledge, and love. We stand today on the shoulders of people who believed PACA should exist. And now, that legacy continues—because of you. A Legacy Rooted in Mission From the 1960s through the 1990s, PACA served primarily the children of American missionaries. But when the global missions movement shifted toward the “10/40 Window,” the missionary presence in Brazil declined dramatically. Most schools would have struggled—or closed. But God had a different plan for PACA. He brought us families—Brazilian and international, Christian and non-Christian—seeking the kind of high-quality, Christ-centered education that only PACA could offer. Our waiting list grew year after year. Parents longed for the safe, loving, faith-filled learning environment they knew PACA provided. In a city of 22 million people, with very few Christian schools—and even fewer Christian, international schools—the opportunity before us has never been greater. And yet, for decades, we believed that zoning restrictions made it impossible to grow. We believed we could not expand our mission to nurture and prepare young people—rooted in Biblical truth—to impact their world for Christ. A Miracle in 2022 Everything changed in 2022. Experts confirmed that the assumptions we had lived under for 30 years were wrong. We could build again. A door that had seemed locked for decades suddenly swung open. This discovery was a defining moment—one that would shape PACA’s future for generations. We immediately partnered with RGA Architects to design a bold Master Plan—one that would allow PACA to grow from 320 students to 700 while preserving the beauty, safety, and “oasis feel” that has touched so many lives. But with a US$12 million Master Plan ahead of us, we had to take a first step of faith. “Zero Build” — A Step of Courage With creativity, drywall, rearranged spaces, and careful stewardship, PACA launched a “Zero Build” initiative—adding classrooms where demand was highest without constructing new buildings. And God blessed it. •We have already doubled 6 classes, impacting 400 students today. But we have reached the absolute limit. To strengthen Christian discipleship, to improve the student experience, and to open our doors to more families, we must now build. We no longer want lack of space to be the reason a child—or their siblings—cannot join PACA. The Master Plan: Building PACA’s Future Together The Master Plan is a visionary 10-year project that will unify, modernize, and expand the entire campus while preserving PACA’s DNA: •An 800-seat auditorium •New classrooms for middle school, high school, art, music, and STEM •A reimagined library •Covered outdoor learning areas •A redesigned preschool integrated into the main campus •A parking structure and classrooms beneath the soccer field •A modern welcome center •Secure, controlled campus access •And a beautifully integrated, green, open-campus design Every building is designed with sustainable, cost-saving systems: •Water reuse •Photovoltaic panels •Smart HVAC •Natural ventilation and sun protection •Fully connected digital infrastructure But every great journey begins with one faithful step—and we need you for the first one. Phase 1: 15 New Classrooms — Where the Future Begins Today we launch our three-year capital campaign to fund Phase 1 of the Master Plan, which includes: Elementary Expansion •4 classrooms between the mini-campo and teacher housing •Enabling us to double every Preschool–5th grade class next year Secondary Expansion •11 classrooms behind the pool area •Meeting the growing demand of 500+ students Construction Cost: •Elementary: 260 m² × US$1,000/m² = US$260,000 •Secondary: 2,000 m² × US$1,000/m² = US$2,000,000 Outfitting (desks, chairs, AC, projectors, whiteboards): •US$540,000 Total Phase 1 Cost: US$2.8 million These classrooms are the key to welcoming the students God continues to send our way. They will allow us to grow, to disciple, and to prepare the next generation of Christ-followers and leaders for His Kingdom. Giving Tuesday 2025: A New Chapter Begins Giving Tuesday—a global celebration of generosity—will mark the official kickoff of our campaign. And like PACA’s founders in the 1960s, we once again invite our community to step into God’s story: A story of faith. A story of sacrifice. A story of love for children and for future generations. We cannot build without you. We were never meant to build without you. We Need You We are looking for people who love PACA—people like you, who have been shaped by this school or who have watched their children grow here—to partner with us in funding Phase 1. We ask you to join us, prayerfully and financially, by choosing a giving commitment that reflects your love for this mission. Whether your gift builds a classroom, equips a learning space, or invests in sustainable systems that lower long-term costs—every gift helps PACA take the next step. Together, we can: •Strengthen Christian discipleship •Improve the student experience •Expand access by building new classrooms •And ensure PACA continues its mission for the next 65 years God is moving. We trust He will provide through His people—just as He always has. God is at work. With deep gratitude and great hope, Stephen Meier Superintendent Pan American Christian Academy