Sacred Heart Catholic School

SALISBURY — Sacred Heart Catholic School (SHCS) begins classes again on Wednesday, Aug. 24, starting with a full school day from 7:55 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SHCS will host parent orientations on Monday, Aug. 22, and student classroom visitations on Tuesday, Aug. 23.

Sacred Heart School is open to all children and is composed of many different nationalities and Christian affiliations.

The school campus is located at 385 Lumen Christi Lane with new educational facilities on a 100-acre campus. Approximately 210 students are enrolled in their prekindergarten (3- and 4-year- olds) through eighth-grade classes, with separate elementary and middle schools.

For 134 years, SHCS has educated students from Rowan, Davidson, Iredell and Cabarrus counties.

Staying current

Principal Frank Cardelle states, “We enjoy a long history, always offering academic excellence … with a traditional classroom model but also all current technology and educational trends.”

Curriculum integrates language, literacy, math, science, social studies and the arts, as well as social and emotional development, he said.

“We are super excited about our STREAM program — science, technology, religion, engineering, agriculture and mathematics — and have really focused our teacher enrichment workshops and conferences in these areas this summer. Our master gardening bio-shelter is complete and this fall we are adding a sensory garden for our younger elementary students.”

Sacred Heart School is fully district accredited by AdvancED of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Diocese of Charlotte. SHCS is also state certified by the Department of Non-Public Education and offers an advanced curriculum in language arts, math, science, social studies and computer technology. Other subjects include religion, Spanish, creative writing, handwriting, art, music appreciation, choir and daily physical education.

Middle school students are able to participate in electives such as advanced art, sports management, literary magazine, yearbook, math club and Dolphin TV.

Additional academic challenges offered include: math enrichment, Drop Everything And Read, Duke TIP, writing contests, geography bee, national Spanish exam, national history exam, junior Beta Club, Book It reading, spelling bee, state science fair, Lego robotics and chess club.

Sacred Heart also offers comprehensive tutoring in math/reading and Title I. The on-site after school care program (3 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily) offers homework tutoring for students of all ages.

“It takes a big heart to shape young minds,” says the Rev. John Eckert, pastor. “As educators, we want to help parents prepare their children to be successful in kindergarten, elementary, middle school and beyond!

“I am very proud of our academic record, but there is much more to raising children — they need to be nurtured spiritually, socially, physically and emotionally in order to have full adult lives. They also need to understand their role in helping one another and the importance of service.”

Traditions, faith

Sacred Heart School traditions and activities foster student growth: morning assembly (with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance), weekly Mass, Veteran’s Day program and breakfast, All Saints Day parade, Polar Plunge for the Special Olympics, Red Cross blood drive, parish food bank collections, May crowning, Christmas program, President’s Fitness Challenge, Relay for Life, Ghana missions, prayer pals at Genesis Eldercare, Arc Festival of Trees, Rowan Helping Ministries food drives and Beautiful Lengths, to name a few.

Athletics are a very integral part of Sacred Heart and include junior varsity teams (fifth and sixth grades) and varsity teams (seventh and eighth grades). Tyler Kulp, dean of middle school and athletic director, emphasizes that SHCS “offers 17 different teams where students can participate including soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis, cheerleading, golf, softball, cross country, baseball and track and field. Track and field is even open to grades first through eighth. We also offer elementary soccer, basketball and cheerleading clinics throughout the school year. Our cross-country trail was used by our local Girls on the Run team. Our new playground system was installed this summer. We want our students moving!”

For more information, call 704-633-2841 or visit www.salisburycatholic.org. Sacred Heart offers daily school tours and prospective family conferences. Sacred Heart has open enrollment and offers financial assistance to families in need. They also participate in the N.C. Opportunity Scholarship and N.C. child care subsidy programs.

Sacred Heart still has a few openings in their prekindergarten, kindergarten and first grade classrooms.