charlotte latin school
Fast Facts
2015-16
We invite you to learn why we love Latin. Charlotte Latin School welcomes your interest in our School! To request information or to receive answers to admission questions, please call the Admissions Office at 704.846.7207, or you may send an e-mail request to the Admissions Office at admissions@charlottelatin.org. Open houses are held annually in the fall; however, campus visits and tours may be arranged by contacting the Admissions Office. For general information, please email inquiries@charlottelatin.org.
Thank you!
Charlotte Latin School
1
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Our Shared Mission Our mission is to encourage individual development and civility in our students by inspiring them to learn, by encouraging them to serve others, and by offering them many growth-promoting opportunities.
Charlotte Latin School
2
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Who we are •
Charlotte Latin opened its doors in 1970 with 425 first through ninth graders. The 50acre campus consisted of two buildings. Today, the 122-acre campus serves more than 1,400 students.
•
Charlotte Latin School is a fully accredited, independent, coeducational, non-sectarian, college-preparatory day school serving students in transitional kindergarten through twelfth grade.
•
Charlotte Latin is jointly accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Southern Association of Independent Schools, and by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The School is a member of the National, Southern, and North Carolina Associations of Independent Schools.
•
More than two-thirds of our faculty members hold advanced degrees.
•
The School actively promotes diversity among its faculty, staff, and student body. International exchange students routinely attend the School.
•
Approximately 3,700 alumni are members of the Alumni Association.
•
The average pupil-teacher ratio is 10 to 1.
•
Our teachers average 20 years of classroom experience.
•
The staff and faculty include college counselors, counseling professionals, learning resource specialists, nurses, and certified athletic trainers.
Charlotte Latin School
3
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Inlustrate Orbem Translated from the Latin, this phrase means “Enlighten the World” and is the motto displayed on Latin’s crest.
Charlotte Latin School
4
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Our guiding philosophy Charlotte Latin is committed to nurturing the whole child by providing a balanced learning environment that promotes the growth of each student’s mind, body, and spirit. Our academic program is built upon a flexible curriculum that challenges the capabilities and engages the talents of our students. We encourage active learning through problemsolving techniques and through worthwhile and relevant learning experiences in all areas of study. The School’s faculty and administration work closely with each student to help him or her obtain a functional and meaningful education by adopting rigorous yet realistic goals. We assist our students in developing self-confidence, self-direction, a mature and responsible character, leadership skills, and respect for oneself and others. Charlotte Latin School does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational programs, admissions policies, financial aid policies, employment practices, or other schooladministered programs.
Charlotte Latin School
5
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Governance Charlotte Latin is governed by a Board of Trustees, which is comprised of volunteers who determine the School’s policies and serve as guardians of the School’s mission.
Charlotte Latin School
6
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Our Honor Code: Honor Above All Honor is an uncompromised standard at Charlotte Latin School. The Honor System, implemented and monitored by the students and faculty, reflects Latin’s emphasis on personal integrity, trust, and respect for one another. The principle of honor is sustained throughout our School community by encouraging honorable behavior by example and by our willingness to acknowledge and promote that commitment among our peers. Our students adhere to the following Honor Pledge as a condition of enrollment: “As a member of the Charlotte Latin Community, I am responsible for upholding and promoting honesty, trust, respect, fairness, and justice in all venues of School life. To maintain personal integrity, I will not cheat, lie, steal, or plagiarize. I will do my best to raise awareness of the importance of honor for the purpose of making Latin a better place to learn and work. I understand the Charlotte Latin School Honor Code and will uphold my HONOR ABOVE ALL.�
Charlotte Latin School
7
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Core Values “Honor Above All” Charlotte Latin embraces the development of personal honor as a lifelong pursuit in the building of character. What is right and honorable is valued above all else. Adherence to the Honor Code is required from all members of the School community. We honor one another and our personal gifts and accomplishments. Commitment to Excellence The quest for excellence that has characterized Charlotte Latin since its founding extends to all aspects of School life and is viewed as the effort to do one’s best and to seek to improve continually. This quest embodies the boundless spirit that characterizes our School community, and it is grounded in our commitment to create an exceptional environment for teaching and learning. Leadership Charlotte Latin encourages the development of leadership as a lifelong characteristic of our students and adheres to the concept of service to others (servant leadership) as the ideal model that best meets the needs of our School community, our nation, and the world. Respect for Oneself and Others Charlotte Latin holds that mutual respect is the foundation of our School community, and that our respect for others leads us to serve them and to embrace diverse peoples and cultures. Personal Responsibility Charlotte Latin requires each person to be accountable for his or her actions. We all share responsibility for the welfare of the greater School community. Moral Courage Charlotte Latin leads by example and our members are willing to do what is right and true through the courage of their convictions in spite of possible consequences or the opinions of others. Morally courageous people are willing to admit their mistakes, to address injustice, and to uphold the principle of “Honor Above All.”
Charlotte Latin School
9
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Cum laude
When Charlotte Latin received its Cum Laude Society charter, it was the youngest school in the U.S. to be so honored. The Cum Laude Society recognizes scholastic achievement in secondary schools for the purpose of promoting excellence, justice, and honor.
Our Love of Learning •
Charlotte Latin subscribes to an educational approach that is traditional in design yet innovative in implementation.
•
The U. S. Department of Education has three times named Latin a “Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.”
•
Charlotte Latin is the youngest school to have received a Cum Laude charter.
•
Eighteen Advanced Placement examinations are offered in the following subjects: Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Computer Science, English, Environmental Science, European History, French, Latin, Music Theory, Physics, Psychology, Spanish, Statistics, U.S. Government, and U.S. History. Eighty-eight percent of the members of the Class of 2015 took at least one AP examination, achieving a mean score of 4.29 on a 5-point scale.
•
The Class of 2015’s average SAT score was more than 400 points above the 2014 national average.
•
One hundred and fifty-six Latin students have been named National Merit Finalists since 1989.
•
Twenty-one Latin students have been named Morehead or Morehead-Cain Scholars in the School’s 45-year history.
•
During the 2013-14 school year, 20 seventh grade students were recognized for their outstanding performance on the SAT or ACT. Sixteen seventh graders received state recognition, including one student who was recognized at the Grand Recognition Ceremony at Duke University.
•
The Lower School’s standardized test scores are some of the highest in the nation among both public and private schools.
• In the last 16 years, seven Lower School teams, seven Middle School teams, and 15 Upper School teams proceeded to the Odyssey of the Mind World Competition. In 2014, an Upper School team placed second in World Finals. •
For 18 of the last 20 years, Charlotte Latin Upper School students placed first in chemistry events at UNC-Charlotte’s SuperCompetition. In 2015, Charlotte Latin’s chemistry team placed first among independent schools, and individual Latin students placed first in three categories among all students who competed.
Charlotte Latin School
11
2015-2016 Fast Facts
•
Middle School teams have competed in the eCybermission competition sponsored by the U.S. Army for the last ten years. In 2009, a sixth grade team, “Dragonface,” won the National Championship. In 2013, “Deep Thinkers,” a sixth grade team, placed first in North Carolina and first in the Southeast region. In 2014, a seventh grade team placed first in North Carolina and first in the Southeast region and was one of four seventh grade teams to compete for the national title. In 2015, a sixth grade team placed first in North Carolina while an eighth grade team placed second. Through the program, Latin students have received $126,500 in U.S. savings bonds.
•
Latin’s forensics team holds charter membership in the National Forensics League, the nation’s oldest and largest speech and debate honor society. The Middle and Upper School programs offer competition opportunities at the local and national level, featuring annual tournaments at Emory, Harvard, Yale, and Wake Forest universities, among others. Students participate in a variety of events including Congressional Debate, Dramatic Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, Extemporaneous Speaking, Humorous Interpretation, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Original Oratory, Policy Debate, and Public Forum Debate. Members of the team have qualified for the national competition for an impressive nine consecutive years and earned individual state championships in 2013-2015.
•
In the Mecklenburg County Soil and Water Conservation District 2015 Contest, a sixth grade student placed first in the essay contest while another sixth grader took third place in the poster contest.
• In the You Be the Chemist Challenge, a Middle School student placed first in the State and represented North Carolina at the national competition in 2012 and again in 2013. In 2014, two eighth graders took second and third place honors in the state competition. •
The Hawk Eye, Latin’s student newspaper, and the Eyry, Latin’s yearbook, routinely receive awards from the NC Scholastic Media Association, including “All North Carolina” and The Tarheel Award. Both publications have also been cited by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.
•
The Upper School journalism class launched Hawk Eye TV in 2014. In 2015, Hawk Eye TV was named “All North Carolina” in the North Carolina Scholastic Media Association (NCSMA) 2015 High School Journalism Awards, TV News Division. Hawk Eye TV also received two distinguished Individual Awards: first in the Feature News category and first in Sports reporting.
•
In 2014, a Middle School team won both the car design and the car race competitions in the North Carolina Middle School Science Quiz Bowl.
Charlotte Latin School
12
2015-2016 Fast Facts
• Upper School student delegates annually attend the N.C. Junior Classical League Convention, and as a group, placed first in 2013 and 2015 and second in 2014 in the overall competition. Classics students also regularly earn top national honors on the National Latin Exam, the National Greek Exam, and in the CAMWS translation contest. •
The Middle School Sumo-Bot Team placed first in the 2015 Watauga Sumo-Bot Competition hosted by the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Appalachian State University.
• Twenty-six Latin seniors were accepted to universities that in 2014-15 admitted less than 20 percent of applicants. • Among the prestigious scholarships Latin’s students have been offered in recent years are the Morehead-Cain and Pogue Scholarships at UNC-Chapel Hill, the Jefferson Scholarship at the University of Virginia, the Belk and Bryan Scholarships at Davidson College, the Benjamin N. Duke Scholarship at Duke University, the Danforth, Ervin, Stamps, Rodriguez and Moog Scholarships at Washington University, the Chancellor’s and Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarships at Vanderbilt University, the Woodruff Scholarship at Emory University, and the Robertson Scholarship at UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University. • By graduation, members of the Class of 2015 reported receiving 160 merit-based scholarships, worth more than $7.67 million. Twenty-eight students were each awarded more than $100,000.
For detailed curriculum information, visit www.charlottelatin.org/academics
Charlotte Latin School
13
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Ryan Love ’14
Latin Arts Association The Latin Arts Association includes the Friends of Music, Friends of Theater Arts, Friends of Visual Arts, and Friends of Creative Writing.
Our Creative Inspiration •
Charlotte Latin students have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of offerings in the arts as key components of a balanced education.
•
Study in the visual arts is available in all grades. Artwork by Latin students is continually exhibited throughout the campus as well as in the Charlotte community, including exhibits at The Mint Museum of Art, The Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Spirit Square, the Carillon Building, and the McColl Center in uptown Charlotte.
•
Over the past 27 years, Latin art students have received more than 1,700 regional honors, 51 national medals, and three Presidential Commendations for visual artworks in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and Congressional Art competitions. In the last ten years, Latin students have won 12 American Vision Awards and 27 Best in Category Awards. Fifty seniors have received special recognition for their portfolios, with two receiving Best Portfolio in the regional competition. Seven pieces of art by Latin students have been featured in national publications.
•
Classroom/vocal music and an introduction to Orff instruments begin in Kindergarten, and instrumental music (wind, strings, and percussion) is offered in the fifth through the twelfth grades. Transitional Kindergarten through third grade students present a music and movement performance every year as a feature of Grandparents’ Day, fourth grade students participate in an annual music performance, and each fifth grade student participates in chorus as well as band or orchestra and performs in a combined fifth grade concert. In addition, more than 50 percent of fourth and fifth grade students opt to participate in the annual Lower School musical.
•
Music Theory classes are available for Upper School students who wish to pursue an indepth study of music.
•
More than 30 percent of Upper School students perform with the CLS Concert Choir, Wind Ensemble or Orchestra. More than 300 students in the fifth through eighth grades participate in performance-based music ensembles. Latin’s ensembles regularly receive superior ratings in their respective North Carolina music performance adjudication events.
•
Music students previously participated in goodwill music tours to China and Russia, performed on the Carnegie Hall stage in New York City, and represented North Carolina at the 2013 National Festival of the States in Washington, D.C., which was a component of the Sesquicentennial Commemoration of the American Civil War.
Charlotte Latin School
15
2015-2016 Fast Facts
•
The Latin Theater Program touches the lives of children at every grade level, offering opportunities for students to grow creatively as performers on stage or through the craft of technical theater. Middle and Upper School students may participate in drama classes and productions, and students from all three divisions can elect to participate in theater workshops.
•
In the 2014-15 season, the Upper School Theater department presented Rhinoceros and The Secret Garden, which featured the work of more than 100 students on-stage and behind the scenes. In addition, 13 seniors directed their peers in Senior One Acts, a student-produced, one-act play festival. Upper School Theater Lab students created original works through improvisation and playwriting. The Middle School drama elective allowed students to improve their public speaking skills and self confidence through improvisation, pantomime, and scene work. Seventy-seven students participated in the Middle School productions of Shrek, Jr. and IA Fairy Tale Christmas Carol. More than 90 fourth and fifth graders sang, danced and acted in Alice in Wonderland, Jr.
• Middle and Upper School students participate in the Creative Writing Club and the Performance Poetry Club. These clubs offer leadership development opportunities for young writers to lead writing workshops for peers, to work with professional poets in Charlotte and also writers from CLS Alumni in the Arts, to collaborate with peers on writing projects, to practice effective public reading and performance skills, to submit their writing to the Blue Review literary publication, to host Words Matter Open-Mic Readings during fall and spring semesters, and to help host the Blue Review Coffee House at the end of each year. •
Visiting artists and musicians routinely conduct workshops on campus, and students in all divisions attend cultural activities in the Charlotte community.
•
Each year, students win regional and national recognition in the Scholastic Art & Writing Competition. Latin’s students have earned multiple Governor’s Awards for excellent writing on the regional level as well as multiple American Voices Medals and Gold Medals on the national level. These award-winning students also have been published multiple times in Scholastic’s Best Teen Writing, a national publication, and have been honored on stage at Carnegie Hall as outstanding young writers.
Charlotte Latin School
16
2015-2016 Fast Facts
•
Latin’s visual arts and engineering students collaborate to create projects, an example of the School’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) curriculum.
•
The Latin Arts Association serves as an umbrella organization and supports the School’s fine arts, performing arts and creative writing programs. This organization has commissioned original works of music whose premiere performances were presented by Latin’s vocal and instrumental music students.
To view Charlotte Latin's Student Showcase, visit www.charlottelatin.org/arts
Charlotte Latin School
17
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Leadership The development of leadership skills among Latin’s students is so important to Headmaster Arch McIntosh that he periodically co-teaches a leadership class. Offered exclusively to seniors, the class meets in the Headmaster’s Conference Room where students study the lives of famous leaders, analyze the qualities and styles of leadership, and engage in lively and thoughtful discussions. Leaders from many walks of life, including business and industry, religious groups, and education, visit the class often to share their insights and advice. The concept of servant leadership, where a person gives of himself or herself for the benefit of others, also is considered.
Our Development of Leadership •
Charlotte Latin School’s commitment to leadership development is as old as the institution itself. The School’s founding documents express an educational philosophy that calls upon graduates to practice good citizenship, thereby establishing an expectation that each person will make a contribution to the welfare of others. This commitment is reflected in the School’s strategic plan, which states, “CLS students will be inspired to be lifelong learners, independent thinkers, and morally responsible leaders who are committed to contribute to their community and the world.”
•
By remaining true to its roots as a school that is traditional in design yet innovative in implementation, Charlotte Latin is building upon its liberal arts foundation to offer a comprehensive and multidisciplinary leadership development program that promotes cultural competency, global studies, service learning, and experiential learning opportunities to develop students’ critical thinking and collaborative skills. Most importantly, Latin believes that every person has the potential to lead, and the School encourages each student to lead by making a positive difference in a life pursuit that is inspiring to him or her.
•
Students in all grades have many opportunities to demonstrate and develop their leadership skills. As the “big kids” in Lower School, fifth grade students learn to serve as positive role models for younger students, a key aspect of their leadership development journey at Latin.
•
Older students may serve as officers of their classes and clubs, as captains of their teams, as representatives on the Student Council in the Middle and Upper Schools, and on the Honor Council and Honor Council Advisory Board in the Upper School.
•
Charlotte Latin regularly sends representatives to local, regional, and national leadership conferences and training sessions. The College Center makes it a priority to identify a wide range of worthwhile leadership opportunities for students.
•
Latin’s student athletes may participate in SALT (Student-Athlete Leadership Team) to promote sportsmanship, foster school spirit, and practice their leadership skills.
•
Latin is fortunate to benefit from the leadership provided by many alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends of the School who serve in organizations such as the Board of Trustees, Board of Visitors, Parents’ Council, Booster Club, Latin Arts Association, Alumni Governing Board, Parents of Alumni Association, and on many committees and special task forces. Volunteers from the Latin community also take leadership roles in the School’s fundraising campaigns. Their involvement is indicative of the strong commitment and connection to the School that is fostered by the Charlotte Latin community. Charlotte Latin School
19
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Global Awareness
Charlotte Latin’s Model United Nations Club participates in conferences across the country such as the pictured event at John Hopkins University where Latin’s students represented the West African nation of Ghana. Model United Nations (MUN) is an educational simulation and academic competition in which students learn about the United Nations, international relations, and diplomacy while honing their research, debating, and writing skills. Students’ participation as delegates also develops their leadership, teamwork, and critical thinking skills.
OUR COMMITMENT TO CULTURAL COMPETENCE •
Charlotte Latin actively fosters an interest in the people and cultures of the world and therefore takes a comprehensive approach to developing cultural competence. The Latin community recognizes and embraces the many benefits and social responsibilities of living in a diverse community and diverse world.
•
The Director of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs works with various committees, organizations, and student clubs to implement strategies for promoting an inclusive environment. Through special programs, events, and educational opportunities, the School lives out its commitment to cultural competence.
•
Programs that promote cultural competence include, but are not limited to, events hosted by the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, The Parents’ Council Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, the Global Partners Committee, The Mosaic Club, Kaleidoscope, the Global Studies Program, the Sister School Program, and the International Exchange Program.
•
Charlotte Latin School actively recruits families and employees who reflect Charlotte’s diverse population.
Charlotte Latin School
21
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Sister Schools Far from learning about the world only in their classrooms, Latin’s students travel the world to meet new people and learn about their lives and countries. Latin’s campus also welcomes students from our Sister Schools in Argentina, China, France, Germany, Italy, South Africa and Spain, who share their cultures with the School community. Our students live with the families of our Sister Schools, and over the years have served as cultural ambassadors, performing choral and instrumental music pieces for and with Russian and Chinese students. During these experiences, they learned to appreciate different c ultures and to celebrate the humanity that all people share. La Catedral de Sevilla, in Spain
Our Reach Around the World •
Charlotte Latin’s Global Studies Program is designed to cultivate students’ global competencies and to nurture their interest in the people and cultures of the world. The School’s comprehensive, TK-12 program engages students through a variety of transformative learning opportunities.
•
Lessons, activities, and special events are conducted at each grade level to teach the concept of global citizenship. For example, Lower School and Middle School students learn about the world through the art, music, and language curricula. The Global Partners committee, which is sponsored by the Parents’ Council, annually engages Lower School students in a series of activities that focus on a foreign country. Recent countries that were studied include China, Australia, and France. Lower School classes also are establishing partnerships with schools in other countries, such as Moldova, which has a longstanding relationship as a “Partner in Peace” with the state of North Carolina. In the Middle School, sixth grade students explore the world through a comprehensive Humanities curriculum that culminates in the annual International Festival. Middle School students also have the opportunity to participate in summer cultural enrichment trips to England and Costa Rica.
•
The Upper School’s four-year history requirement includes a two-year World History course for the ninth and tenth grades. Electives in the realm of global studies are offered on a rotation of courses such as American Foreign Policy, History through Art, Human Rights, Historical Conflict, and World Religions.
•
The Upper School History Department sponsors the World Quest Club, which participates in the World Affairs Council of Charlotte’s Academic World Quest competition. Students also may participate in the Model United Nations program in which they represent nations across the globe at conferences. Latin students have participated in conferences at Johns Hopkins University, Boston College, and Appalachian State University, among others.
•
Latin’s Upper School International Exchange and Study Abroad programs create an awareness and understanding of the world’s rich diversity. The School has hosted exchange students from more than 25 countries, and Latin also actively participates with eight international Sister Schools to provide cultural exchange programs for students to study abroad. These visits include home stays with families on both sides of the exchanges.
Charlotte Latin School
23
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Service Society The Charlotte Latin Service Society was created to encourage students to participate in the Community Service Program and to recognize those students who have made significant community service contributions. To be inducted into the Service Society, a four-year student must perform 150 hours of service. Students who transfer into Latin will have their hour requirements prorated. The level of student involvement in the CLS Community Service Program is gratifying, with thousands of hours of service being contributed annually.
Charlotte Latin School
24
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Our Outreach Into the Community •
In fulfilling the School’s community outreach mission, Latin students of all ages volunteer in age-appropriate service activities. Older students volunteer with such organizations and programs as Autism Charlotte (iCanBike and After School Immersion Enrichment), Blessings in a Backpack, Habitat for Humanity, Loaves and Fishes, Mecklenburg County Teen Court, N.C. Special Olympics, and Urban Ministry. In addition to Latin students founding or organizing their own unique service programs, they also volunteer with area hospitals, host dances on the Latin campus for physically and/or mentally disabled adults through the Nevins Center, and tutor young children in conjunction with such organizations as the Freedom School Partners Afterschool and CHAMP programs. Latin students also have fostered a meaningful relationship with Lansdowne Elementary where they volunteer in various aspects throughout the school year.
•
The annual all-school service projects have addressed hunger, shelter, water, and medical needs both locally and internationally.
• Latin students participate in service-related mission trips within the continental U.S. and abroad. •
Latin is the first independent school in the country with a senior class that funded and built a Habitat for Humanity House. The Latin community has funded and built five Habitat houses over the past 19 years and annually assists with local builds for Habitat. In 2016, Latin will send volunteers to work with Habitat El Salvador for the fifth time in eight years.
•
The Upper School Service Society recognizes student participation in volunteer activities, which is truly voluntary and not a graduation requirement. Members of the Class of 2015 completed more than 15,000 combined hours of service.
•
The Middle School Student Council organizes and promotes service projects for grades six through eight in addition to the grade-level service learning initiatives. The Lower School Service Club also implements service projects.
•
Many of Latin’s special events are open to the community and/or other schools and their teachers. These events include guest lectures, sports activities, musical concerts, art exhibits, and May Day Play Day, the annual School carnival.
Charlotte Latin School
25
2015-2016 Fast Facts
HawksQuest The Hawks Quest team challenge course is composed of ropes elements that provide students with a variety of group experiences. The course is designed to develop team-building, promote leadership, encourage problem-solving, and enhance a sense of community.
Charlotte Latin School
26
2015-2016 Fast Facts
our quests in EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION • Students in all grades are encouraged to learn through projects and classroom activities that reinforce and apply their academic studies. •
Charlotte Latin’s Hawks Quest Program provides experiential learning opportunities to students of all ages through a series of customized indoor and outdoor initiatives. A key component of the experiential learning process is “challenge by choice,” whereby appropriate risk taking occurs as the student groups navigate real and perceived obstacles. This active engagement creates an environment for strategizing, planning, and group implementation.
•
The Hawks Quest Program is based on a three-step philosophy of “Do, Reflect, Apply.” The “Do” component is the actual experience and is followed by time to “Reflect,” which is tailored to each group’s experience. The “Apply” component has long-term impact as students incorporate the lessons they have learned in their own lives.
•
The School’s entrepreneurial program teaches core academic disciplines, such as verbal and written communications, while also providing Upper School students with opportunities to learn about economics and how to create a business plan as they research and develop a product or service for “the real world.” Culminating in a capstone project, the program helps students develop the confidence to follow a passion and to achieve a concrete goal, characteristics that define effective leadership.
•
The Hawks Quest team challenge course is composed of approximately 18 distinct elements consisting of telephone poles, wire cables, wooden platforms, and ropes connected in various configurations. The importance of safety, respect, commitment, and responsibility is reviewed by students prior to each visit to the course, which was designed and installed by a firm accredited by the Association for Challenge Course Technology.
•
Through the LatinRedde Program, adult members of the School community, including alumni, parents and parents of alumni, are actively participating in classes that offer students real world, experiential learning opportunities. By sharing their expertise, these volunteers model leadership in a wide range of careers and interests for Latin’s students.
•
Extracurricular activities such as Odyssey of the Mind, e-Cybermission, and other academic challenges engage students and foster creativity, collaboration, and innovation.
Charlotte Latin School
27
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Sportsmanship In 2013 Charlotte Latin School, in conjunction with all schools in the CISAA, adopted the CISAA Sportsmanship Code, which includes guidelines for all participants in the athletic experience – the student-athletes, spectators, coaches, and administration.
Charlotte Latin School
28
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Our Physical Pursuits Charlotte Latin fields teams in the following sports: baseball, basketball, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, ultimate, volleyball, and wrestling. Club sports also are available. •
Latin’s athletic program is built upon a foundation of physical fitness and good sportsmanship. Latin sponsors 69 athletic teams in 12 girls’ sports, 11 boys’ sports, one coed sport, and four intramural teams. Approximately 80 percent of students in grades 7-12 participate in at least one sport.
•
Middle School students participate in an intramural sports program that promotes team play and healthy competition.
•
Latin’s athletic teams continue to enhance the School’s winning record, which includes 156 state championships and recognition eight times as runner-up and 16 times as winner of the coveted Wachovia/Wells Fargo Cup.
• Eighty Upper School students were named All-Conference in various sports, and 47 were named All-State athletes during the 2014-15 school year. •
During the 2014-15 academic year, Latin students in grades 9-12 who participated in a team sport maintained an average 3.59 GPA. Latin’s athletic program is supported by an outstanding athletics complex, which includes: A 50,000-square-foot arena/
Seven playing fields
activities center
An Olympic-quality natatorium
Three gymnasiums
Six tennis courts
A 1,450-seat football stadium
Cross-country and ropes courses
An all-weather track
A dedicated wrestling room
For more information,visit www.charlottelatin.org/athletics
Charlotte Latin School
29
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Mascot
Latin’s mascot is the “hawk” in honor of the majestic birds that continue to soar over the campus.
Our Treasured Traditions •
Latin values its partnership with parents and offers many avenues for them to stay involved in their children’s education. The Board of Trustees, Board of Visitors, Parents’ Council, Booster Club, Latin Arts Association, grade-level parent liaisons, Latin Fund and New Family Division volunteers, and other volunteers contribute invaluable time and leadership that enrich Charlotte Latin School.
•
The rich texture of the Latin experience results from the myriad traditions that are eagerly anticipated by our School community. Among them are the back-to-school family event, Convocation, Daddy Does Kindergarten, Book Fair, Holiday Concerts, Grandparents’ Day, May Day Play Day, Baccalaureate, and Commencement.
•
Latin is a lifetime experience. An active Alumni Governing Board guides the activities of approximately 3,700 alumni, providing a pathway back to Latin regardless of how far from Charlotte life may lead them. The Parents of Alumni Association was founded in 2014.
•
Latin alumni remain engaged in the life of the School through a wide variety of events such as Alumni Reunion Weekend and Homecoming.
For more information, visit www.charlottelatin.org/alumni
Charlotte Latin School
31
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Monumental Hawk The world’s largest bronze sculpture of a hawk has a 16-foot wingspan and weighs 2,900 lbs. It was sculpted by Jon Hair and was a gift from Irwin and Carol Belk. The Monumental Hawk was dedicated on May 13, 2006, and is proudly perched on Latin’s campus.
Our Financial Strength • Charlotte Latin is committed to sound management and a conservative fiscal philosophy. This financial strength is a key indicator of quality and satisfaction among Latin’s students, their families, and the faculty and staff. Latin’s strength is a result of a School community that shares a deep commitment to fund philanthropic investment that advances education through excellence in instruction. •
The generosity of Latin’s parents, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, and friends supports Latin’s endowment, annual operating budget, curriculum and program enhancements, and campus facilities.
• The Latin Fund is the School’s annual appeal that supports the School’s operating budget and currently makes up approximately four to five percent of total revenue. Participation from the entire community, including current and alumni families, has resulted in impressively strong rankings among independent school peers but, more importantly, has strengthened relationships among members of the School community. This strong network leads to enhanced opportunities for Latin’s students, alumni, parents, and faculty. • Periodic capital campaigns are conducted to ensure the implementation of the campus master plan in alignment with the academic priorities identified in the School’s strategic plan. In 2008, the School successfully concluded the Foundation for the Future Campaign to fund campus improvements including enhancements to the Claudette B. Hall Lower School, the Horne Performing Arts Center, and South Campus athletics facilities. •
Charlotte Latin’s endowment, which totals $29.5 million (as of April 2015), also benefits from generous gifts, both restricted and unrestricted. The endowment supports tuition assistance for students and professional development opportunities for faculty and staff members.
• Charlotte Latin provides tuition assistance and scholarships to qualified students through designated endowment funds and funding provided by individual gifts, foundations, and bequests to the School. Examples include the Hearst Foundation Scholarship, the Edward E. Ford Foundation Scholarship, the R.T. Dooley-Matthew 25 Scholarship, the Collins Lower School Fund, the Charlotte Latin School Scholarship, the SOAR Scholarships, the Malone Endowment, and the Elizabeth Price Van Every Bequest. • Charlotte Latin is the only school in North Carolina to be named a Malone Scholar School. As a result of this honor, the School received a $2 million endowment to fund scholarships for academically qualified students.
Charlotte Latin School
33
2015-2016 Fast Facts
•
The School has been the beneficiary of many meaningful and generous gifts that have supported progress that would not have been possible without the interest and investment of Charlotte Latin’s donors. Donor-driven funds, which support the School’s mission and strategic goals, help Charlotte Latin prepare students to lead lives of consequence.
For more information, visit www.charlottelatin.org/giving
Charlotte Latin School
34
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Charlotte Latin School
35
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Picturesque Setting The unique beauty of Latin’s campus can be found among its gardens, sculptures and tranquil setting. Our 122-acre campus is truly inspirational.
Charlotte Latin School
36
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Our Exceptional Environment For Learning •
The facilities on Charlotte Latin’s 122-acre campus in southeast Charlotte are valued in excess of $53 million. The campus encompasses 14 major buildings, including a 17,630-square-foot media center, a 740-seat auditorium, and a 13,275-square-foot dining hall.
• The Horne Performing Arts Center was expanded and renovated in 2011 to include Thies Auditorium, Anne’s Black Box Theater, state-of-the-art band, orchestra and choral rooms, an acoustically perfect practice module, and music classrooms. •
Athletic facilities on campus include three gymnasiums (including the Beck Student Activities Center, a multipurpose center that features an arena, a fitness center, an indoor track and a wrestling facility), a 1,450-seat stadium, an all-weather track, six tennis courts, seven athletic fields, and a 22-lane natatorium, which is operated by Swim MAC Carolina and is the only facility of its type located on the campus of a Charlotte-area independent school.
•
The Hawks Quest ropes challenge course opened in 2013. The course offers leadership and team-building opportunities that enhance the School’s commitment to experiential education.
•
Although the facilities are outstanding, the unique beauty of Latin’s campus can be found among its 22 gardens, numerous sculptures by world-renowned artists, and tranquil, park-like setting. Our campus is truly inspirational.
For more information and an online campus tour, visit www.charlottelatin.org/welcome
Charlotte Latin School
37
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Critical thinking
Latin students learn underlying mathematics and science principles, then apply them by designing, coding, and building projects. Critical thinking skills are developed when our students re-engineer a product to do something new and innovative.
Charlotte Latin School
38
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Our Science and Technology Connections •
Charlotte Latin is committed to the ethical and appropriate use of technology as a tool for instruction and research. A wide range of curriculum opportunities prepares Latin’s students to develop their analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Charlotte Latin’s Digital Citizenship Policy and its supporting practices are reviewed with students throughout the school year to reinforce the importance of using technology safely, ethically, and productively. Parents also receive resources and support from the School, including presentations by experts in technology instruction, so they are better prepared to help their children make healthy choices about their use of technology. • A campus-wide, fiber optic backbone supports administrative and academic local area networks and connects all buildings to the Internet via a dedicated 300 MBPS line for high speed data transmission. Wireless connectivity is available across the campus. •
Charlotte Latin School is the first high school in Charlotte, and one of the few secondary schools in the United States, to house a Fab Lab. This exceptional “maker space” meets the high standards developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and provides the foundation for Latin’s participation in an international consortium of researchers, engineers, computer scientists, and other professionals and academicians who collaborate on projects.
• STEAM education is a priority at Latin, advanced by a multidisciplinary curriculum that offers students hands-on opportunities to use their creativity and skills to develop innovative solutions. From creating virtual reality environments and replacing a truck’s combustion engine with a battery-powered engine to studying robotics and designing environmental sustainability projects, Latin’s students learn to harness the power of math and science to innovate. • One of Latin’s engineering teachers received an Outstanding STEM Educator Award from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in conjunction with Discovery Education for his work with public school teachers in promoting robotics education. Another engineering teacher was cited for his leadership at a SOM BOT competition. • Charlotte Latin’s mobility initiative integrates technology into the curriculum to enhance instruction. The School’s 1:1 iPad program in the third through twelfth grades promotes communications, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration to encourage students to partner actively with their teachers as they study lessons and create Charlotte Latin School
39
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Digital citizenship Charlotte Latin is committed to the ethical and appropriate use of technology as a tool for instruction and research.
Charlotte Latin School
40
2015-2016 Fast Facts
content. • An integrated computer curriculum is taught by a computer specialist in all Lower School grades. Portable wireless laptops and iPad labs, along with additional computers and Internet access in every classroom, provide a strong foundation for the application of technological skills in all areas of instruction in the Lower School. •
Middle School computer instruction integrates many applications (including spreadsheet use, creation of multimedia presentations, desktop and Web publishing, and Internet search techniques) into academic projects. Programming and engineering electives are available for interested students.
• Upper School students may elect to take courses such as Hardware and Software Configurations and Digital Media Design Production. Students who take select computer science courses may opt to prepare for Windows and Apple professional certifications. • Multimedia production resources enable students to produce original content from videos to presentations. The Upper School journalism class launched Hawk Eye TV in 2014, which was cited for excellence in television news production by the North Carolina Scholastic Media Association (NCSMA) 2015 High School Journalism Awards. The Multimedia/Digital Video Club members produce work that develops their creativity and technical skills as they highlight aspects of School life. • The Media Center serves as a learning center and information hub for the School, providing many resources for the School community. Students and parents may access an online catalog, as well as many subscription databases encompassing thousands of periodicals and reference books, from school or home. • Latin’s website, www.charlottelatin.org, serves as an information resource and communications tool for prospective and current families, alumni, other constituents, friends of the School, and the community at large. MyLatin, the internal passwordprotected section of the website, serves many of the School’s day-to-day instructional and communication needs for students, parents, alumni, and faculty/staff.
Charlotte Latin School
41
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Professional development Faculty members are always encouraged to continue their studies and their professional growth with the aid of professional development funds.
Charlotte Latin School
42
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Our Dedicated Faculty • Latin’s educational experience is built upon the foundation of a strong relationship between students and their teachers. Each student is known as an individual by the faculty and is valued for his or her talents and interests. • The School is committed to inspiring a lifelong love of learning. Generous professional development funds are available to teachers so that they may continue their studies and sustain their passion for teaching, including attending workshops, traveling abroad, and pursuing advanced degrees. • Charlotte Latin is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding educators for the benefit of our students. Careful research is conducted, including national searches, classroom teaching demonstrations on campus and in-depth interviews, to ensure that the best candidate is selected for rare faculty openings. • Charlotte Latin provides a competitive compensation package for its faculty, including partial tuition remission for their children who are enrolled at Charlotte Latin School. Faculty and staff members also have the option of enrolling their children ages six weeks to four years to The Nest, the early childhood education center located on Latin’s campus.
For employment details, visit www.charlottelatin.org/campuslife
Charlotte Latin School
43
2015-2016 Fast Facts
College Acceptances The following colleges and universities accepted members of the Class of 2015:
The University of Alabama*
Hampton University
Amherst College* Appalachian State University*
University of Richmond Savannah College of Art and Design* Scripps College
Haverford College High Point University
University of Arizona
Rhodes College
Gordon College Hampden-Sydney College
American University
Sewanee: The University
Auburn University*
Hofstra University
of the South*
Bates College*
College of the Holy Cross*
Skidmore College
Belmont University*
Indiana University at Bloomington
South Carolina State University*
Berry College (Ga.)*
James Madison University*
University of South Carolina*
Birmingham-Southern College*
University of Kentucky*
University of South Florida*
Boston College*
Lafayette College*
University of Southern California*
Lehigh University*
Southern Methodist University*
Boston University
Lewis & Clark College
Brown University*
Southwestern University Spelman College
Louisiana State University*
Bryant University
Loyola University, Chicago
Bucknell University*
University of St. Andrews, Scotland
University of California at Los Angeles
University of Maryland, College Park*
St. Olaf College
Carleton College
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Stanford University*
Carnegie Mellon University
Mercer University
Stevenson University
Case Western Reserve University
Miami University, Oxford
Susquehanna University
College of Charleston*
University of Miami
Syracuse University
University of Chicago*
University of Michigan*
University of Tennessee, Knoxville* Texas Christian University*
Christopher Newport University
Middlebury College
Claremont McKenna College*
University of Mississippi*
Clemson University*
Mount Holyoke College
Tufts University
Colby College
The College of New Jersey
Tulane University
University of Colorado at Boulder
New York University
Vanderbilt University*
University of Connecticut
The University of North
University of Vermont
Cornell University*
Carolina at Chapel Hill*
Villanova University*
Davidson College*
The University of North
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Trinity University
University of Delaware
Carolina at Charlotte
and State University*
Denison University*
The University of North
University of Virginia*
University of Denver
Carolina at Greensboro
Wake Forest University*
Dickinson College
The University of North
Washington and Jefferson College Washington and Lee University*
Duke University*
Carolina at Wilmington*
East Carolina University
North Carolina State University*
Washington College
University of Edinburgh, Scotland
Northeastern University*
Washington University in St. Louis
Elon University*
Northwestern University*
Wellesley College*
University of Notre Dame
Wesleyan University*
Ohio University*
Western Carolina University*
Emory and Henry College Emory University* Florida State University University of Florida Fordham University* Fort Lewis College Franklin and Marshall College*
The Ohio State University
Wheaton College (Ill.)*
Ohio Wesleyan University
Wheaton College (Mass.)
University of Oregon
Whitman College
Pennsylvania State University,
Williamette University
University Park
College of William and Mary*
Franklin University, Switzerland
University of Pennsylvania*
Wofford College*
Furman University*
Pepperdine University
The College of Wooster
Princeton University
Worchester Polytechnic Institute
University of Puget Sound
Youngstown State University
George Mason University The George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology* The University of Georgia* Gettysburg College
Purdue University Radford University Randolph-Macon College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Charlotte Latin School
44
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Services
Bus service
Transportation is an important consideration for many parents; therefore, we assist our families with their transportation arrangements. In keeping with this philosophy, Latin has established the following bus routes using thirteen full-size (34 to 48 passenger) buses: Carmel Presbyterian Church Christ Episcopal Church Covenant Presbyterian Church Freedom Park Harris YMCA Myers Park Country Club Myers Park United Methodist Church Providence United Methodist Church Trinity Presbyterian Church Westminster Presbyterian Church
Bus pickups in the morning are made at 7:45 a.m. All buses arrive at the School between 7:55 and 8:00 a.m. In the afternoons, the buses leave campus at 3:20 p.m. (except the Kindergarten bus, which leaves campus at 1:45 p.m. and stops at Christ Episcopal Church). Extended Day students may go home on the appropriate 3:20 p.m. bus. Students participating in after-school activities may ride the 5:30 or 6 p.m. activity bus, which stops at Trinity Presbyterian Church and Christ Episcopal Church. An activity bus that is designated for only Lower School students who participate in an after-school program leaves the campus at 4:30 p.m.
Charlotte Latin School
45
2015-2016 Fast Facts
Extended Day program
The Extended Day Program at Charlotte Latin School is a 5-Star licensed program serving children in preschool through grade five. This program offers children a safe, nurturing environment that is filled with engaging activities that promote emotional, social, and physical development. The day consists of crafts, indoor and outdoor recreation, and quiet study time. Extended Day services are offered after school until 3:10, 4:30 or 6:00 p.m. on a one-, two-, three-, four-, or five-day-a-week schedule. Fees are based on the number of days attended. Drop-ins are welcome pending available space. SOAR afterschool enrichment options also are available for an additional fee.
Food service
Breakfast and lunch are served in Shelton Hall for grades TK-2 and in Founders’ Hall for grades 3-12 on all full days of school. The food service is provided by Flik Independent School Dining, specializing in offering tasty and nutritious meals for independent school students. Menus are available online. A pre-paid debit system is available for all students, but is required for TK-grade 5 students. Parents may use online software to review food purchases and may use credit cards to maintain positive account balances. Students also may bring their lunches from home.
The Nest
The Nest, Charlotte Latin School’s 5-Star early childhood program, provides quality care and enrichment for children between the ages of six weeks and five years. The classrooms provide a nurturing environment where learning through play and exploration enhances social, emotional, and academic development in the early years. Enrollment is separate from Charlotte Latin School’s admissions process. For more information,visit www.charlottelatin.org/campuslife/TheNest
Charlot te L atin School
46
2015-2016 Fast Facts
School calendar
Each year, Charlotte Latin publishes a three-year calendar that provides a broad framework for planning purposes. A final, annual calendar is published each year by August 1. The School annually observes the following breaks: • Labor Day
• Winter Break
• Fall Break (October)
• Spring Break
• Thanksgiving Break
• Easter Break
• Christmas / Holiday Break
• Memorial Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday
• Summer Break
In addition, student holidays are generally observed on the first day of major Jewish holidays. Special days off for Division-specific purposes, such as parent-teacher conferences and teacher workdays, are announced each year.
School hours TK/ Kindergarten
Grades 1-8
Grades 9-12
8:10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
8:10 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.
8:05 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.
Summer Programs
Charlotte Latin’s Summer Programs offer a wide variety of arts, enrichment, and sports camps for Lower and Middle School students. Most camps, with the exception of outof-town field trips, are conducted on the campus and are open to Latin’s students and children from the community. For more information,visit www.charlottelatin.org/SummerPrograms
Charlotte Latin School 47 2015-2016 Fast Facts
Charlot te L atin School
48
2015-2016 Fast Facts