Rick Wormeli to speak at Cannon School

Cannon School will host Rick Wormeli — a writer, teacher and coach of educators — at 7 p.m. Tuesday at its Poplar Tent Road campus in Concord. The program, presented by the Maria DeHaas Speaker Series, is free and open to the public.

Wormeli will present “Sure Footing in a Shaky World: Best Practices in Today’s Classrooms That Stand the Test of Time,” during which the advanced-age version of Wormeli in the year 2075 A.D. travels through a time vortex back to the current year. As his older and younger selves, Rick reminisces about the teaching and learning practices of today that will stand the test of time through 2075. 

Audience members will have the opportunity to participate in breakout sessions facilitated by Cannon School leaders to engage in conversations about the mission-aligned issues people value most about learning.

For more information and to register, visit www.cannonschool.org/speakerseries.

National Book Award finalist Danez Smith to visit Pfeiffer

Pfeiffer University will host National Book Award finalist Danez Smith for a reading in the Henry Pfeiffer Chapel at 7 p.m. Monday.

The program, sponsored by the Piedmont Institute for Communication, Music and Art and Pfeiffer’s English department, is free and open to the public.

A book signing will follow Smith’s performance. The university will have copies of the author’s latest release, “Don’t Call Us Dead,” as well as the 2015 collection “Black Movie” for sale. Cash and credit cards will be accepted.

Smith, a black, gay American poet, writes about personal topics such as love and loss, as well as HIV and broader issues including sexuality, violence and race. The winner of a multitude of awards, including a 2017 National Endowment for the Arts grant and the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Poetry, Smith’s work blends the performance of slam poetry with the craft of prose.

Compelling and incendiary, Smith’s latest book is considered by many to be one of this year’s most important releases.

Large groups are welcome. Bus parking will be available, though groups of more than 25 are asked to notify the university about their attendance. For questions, contact Marissa Schwalm at marissa.schwalm@pfeiffer.edu.

Brightwood College to host Halloween Spooktacular

Brightwood College in Charlotte will host a Halloween Spooktacular from noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 28 on campus, 6070 E. Independence Blvd. The program is free and open to the public. It will feature refreshments, trunk-or-treating, a costume contest, bobbing for apples, a gummy bear and whipped cream eating contest, a doughnut eating contest, campus tours, program displays and a free health fair. Prizes including Amazon gift cards will be given.

Pfeiffer University to host ‘Lights on Afterschool’ event

The Francis Center for Servant Leadership and Faith Formation at Pfeiffer University invites the community to join them on the Misenheimer campus for Lights on Afterschool on Thursday, Nov. 9 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event is an afternoon of service for youth and their families at Pfeiffer’s hunger relief garden that will feature fun activities, games and interactive learning.

The event is a partnership between Pfeiffer University, AmeriCorps VISTA and NC Campus Compact. Parents are encouraged to register their youth for the event. Registrations can be made online at pfeiffer.edu/franciscenter.

Ribbon cutting held for DCCC enrollment bus

Davidson County Community College hosted a ribbon-cutting to announce its new “enrollment bus.”

The DCCC enrollment bus is intended to be a critical tool in how the college plans to reach beyond its campus and go directly to prospective students. By targeting key gatherings and locations throughout the community, the college plans to use the mobile recruitment vehicle in efforts to engage prospective students and help them learn about opportunities at the college. Visitors to the bus can even jump-start the admissions process on site, with the help of college staff members.

The DCCC enrollment bus is scheduled to appear at local libraries, high schools, and community functions. The bus features three computer stations, a digital display screen, and meeting space for prospective students.

The bus was partly funded by the John M. Belk Endowment.

Cannon School unveils mission statement

On Oct. 12, Cannon School revealed its new mission statement to faculty, staff, students and families. The statement is the culmination of a process that involved Cannon’s administrators, trustees, faculty, staff, students and parents. Throughout the process, the group asked questions about the school’s purpose, motivation and legacy.

Together, the answers shaped the new mission statement: “Cannon School nurtures relationships at the heart of learning and engages the learner in a journey of growth.”

Cannon school officials believe the mission statement defines the school community as one that nurtures all relationships to engage each individual learner in finding his or her own path to growth.