Knollwood Family Day

On Saturday, April 29 local English as a second language (ESL) families came together with teachers for a Family Fun Day.

The event was a collaborative effort between ESL teams from Knollwood Elementary and Southeast Middle, and was held outside Monte Sinai Church on Airport Road. Knollwood Elementary’s P.E. teacher lead outdoor games such as soccer, ladder ball, disc golf and kickball.

ESL teams planned the event and provided books and board games for families to take home. Families shared food for all to enjoy. There were about 100 people in attendance including students, parents and school staff members. Also in attendance were Shonda Hairston, principal of Knollwood Elementary, and Jennifer Lentz, principal of Southeast Middle.

Relationships among families and teachers were strengthened through this informal time of outdoor play and socialization. The event also provided parents a comfortable space to ask questions and discuss upcoming events within the school, such as ESL summer camp.

Southeast Principal Jennifer Lentz commented, “The Family Fun Day was a wonderful community experience and a positive event for Southeast and Knollwood families.”

Covenant Classical School builds new extension

Covenant Classical School will hold a ground dedication ceremony for a 15,000-square-foot building on May 11. The new building will almost double the classroom space of the current school. After months of planning, Jane Dearing and Stephanie Prince, co-heads of school, announce this historic event.

Covenant Classical School is an independent, co-educational day school providing a Christian and classical liberal arts education to students in grades K4 through 12.

“The new building will provide space for two well-equipped science labs, developmentally appropriate kindergarten rooms and 14 new classrooms to replace the current mobile units,” says Dearing.

Last summer, Dearing and Prince unveiled a “Strengthening Our Stakes” campaign focusing on continuing to expand the school and provide students an enhanced environment for an education which is biblically based and classically taught. The two heads of school have a shared vision for the school, including upcoming accreditation, excellent teaching staff and training, high academic standards, an enriching athletic program and an array of elective course offerings.

LaFave’s Construction of Landis was awarded the building contract, and financing has been provided by Aquesta Bank along with donations from friends and family of the school and a grant from the Cannon Foundation. The architect for the project is Morris-Berg of Charlotte.

Covenant Classical School is located at 3200 Patrick Henry Drive in Concord. For more information, see the school’s website: www.covenantclassical.org.

Hanford-Dole Book Club

Kaye Hirst, former director of the Rowan Museum, was the guest reader at Hanford-Dole’s quarterly first grade Book Club. Hirst read the book, “Giraffes Can’t Dance” to all the first grade students.

She was quite animated while reading the book, sharing the meanings of words, comparing how all the jungle animals were different, how everyone can “dance” when they find the music they love. Feelings of embarrassment and being bullied were discussed when Gerald the Giraffe, with his long neck and skinny legs, couldn’t dance like all the other jungle animals.

Hanford-Dole’s Book Club is sponsored by grants from Target Stores, Schneider Electric and Communities in Schools of Rowan County. Fran Simpson, CIS site support specialist, did a parent presentation for the parents in attendance. She shared how parents can help their children with thinking skills, questions to increase comprehension and having the student explain their opinion or view.

Hanford-Dole and Communities in Schools are committed to engaging the parents in school activities to better prepare students and parents to work together with the school.