GET READY FOR KINDERGARTEN 9 PRIVATE SCHOOL PREP 30 ANXIOUS ABOUT COLLEGE? 44 #WINNING AT SOCIAL MEDIA 52 DIRECTORY OF PRIVATE, CHARTER, MAGNET & REGIONAL BOARDING SCHOOLS 60
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Navigating SCHOOLS
2016 /17
in Durham, Orange & Northern Chatham Counties
A Parent’s Guide to Pre-K through Post-Grad
NAME
Ethan AG E
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HO B BY
Defending His Goal I N S PI R ED BY
Coach Robertson F AV O R I T E T H I N G
Post-Game Pool Parties F AV O R I T E P L A C E
Boulder Park
This place is made for me. When he’s not playing JV Soccer at Woods Charter School with his friends, you’ll find Ethan chillin’ in the pool at the Briar Club, or hanging in the hammocks in Discovery Park. Luckily, his grandparents found the perfect home nearby, so they can watch him grow up. Whether mountain biking on the trails, or defending his team’s winning streak, Briar Chapel is definitely made for Ethan—see how it’s made for you at BCNC.com . AWA R D -W I N N I N G G R E E N H O M E S R A N C H - S T Y L E V I L L A S A N D C U S TO M H O M E S F R O M T H E LOW O O O s — s
David Weekley Homes • Fresh Paint by Garman Homes • Garman Homes Homes By Dickerson • Saussy Burbank • Terramor Homes Encore by David Weekley Homes – 55+ neighborhood
888.240.4755 • Brokers Welcome • Just south of downtown Chapel Hill on 15/501 Newland Communities is the largest private developer of planned mixed-use communities in the United States. With our partner, North America Sekisui House, LLC, we believe it is our responsibility to create communities for people to live life in ways that matter most to them. www.newlandcommunities.com | www.nashcommunities.com NNP-Briar Chapel, LLC (“Fee Owner”) is the owner and developer of the Briar Chapel Community (“Community”). Certain homebuilders unaffiliated with the Fee Owner or its related entities (collectively, “Briar Chapel”) are building homes in the Community (“Builder(s)”). Fee Owner has retained Newland Communities solely as the property manager for the Community. North America Sekisui House has an interest in one of the members in Fee Owner. Newland Communities and North America Sekisui House are not co-developing, co-building, or otherwise responsible for any of the obligations or representations of any of the Builders, and shall have no obligations to any buyer regarding a home purchase from a Builder. Purchasers of homes from any of the Builders waive any claims against Newland Communities and/or North America Sekisui House arising out of their purchase transaction. Actual development may vary from developer’s vision. No guarantee can be made that development will proceed as described. Prices, specifications, details and availability of Builder’s homes are subject to change without notice. 2016 © Briar Chapel. All Rights Reserved. Briar Chapel is a trademark of NNP-Briar Chapel, LLC, and may not be copied, imitated or used, in whole or in part, without prior written permission. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.
MCHD is celebrating 40 Years, thanks to the commitment of our teachers, our parents, and our extraordinary students!
Igniting PASSION and CURIOSITY for lifelong LEARNING
www.mchdurham.org An AMS and SACS accredited school for children 18 months-6th grade
S E N IO R V IC E P R E S ID E N T , P U BL IS H IN G Rory Kelly Gillis rory@durhammag.com P U BL IS H E R Kem Johnson kem@durhammag.com E XE C U T IV E E D ITO R Amanda MacLaren amanda@durhammag.com C R E AT IV E D IR E C TO R Kevin Brown A R T D IR E C TO R Sarah Arneson E XE C U T IV E E D ITO R , CHAPEL HILL MAGAZINE Jessica Stringer
Merit Scholarships Available Drop-in Visits Wednesdays 10:15AM New Payment Plans! ••Grades Grades K-12 K-12 ••Custom-Designed Custom-Designed Instruction Instruction ••10:1 10:1student/teacher student/teacher ratio ratio ••Mastery-based learning Mastery-based learning
A S S IS T A N T E D ITO R Laura Zolman Kirk S T A FF P H O TO GR A P H E R Briana Brough GR A P H IC D E S IGN E R Christy Wright D IGIT A L CO N T E N T MA N AGE R Morgan Weston E D ITO R IA L IN T E R N S Julia Baker, Dylan Bedell, Roisin Bermingham, Melina Casados, Matt Couch, Rachel Greene, Lauren Moody, Tatiana Quiroga, Anna Stone, Marin Wolf CO N T R IBU TO R S Amanda Abrams, Phill Powell, Virginia Robinson, Laura Tierney, Jill Warren Lucas and Caitlin Wheeler
ADVERTISING Melissa Crane melissa@durhammag.com
OPENHOUSE HOUSEDATES: DATES: OPEN
Sunday, Sunday,October October 2, 4, 2016, 2015, 2-4 2-4 PM PM Saturday, February 4, 2017, 1-3 PM Saturday, January 30, 2016, 1-3 PM Saturday, March 4, 2017, 1-3 PM Saturday, March 5, 2016, 1-3 PM
Kem Johnson kem@durhammag.com Karli Kittine karli@chapelhillmagazine.com Stacie Luders stacie@durhammag.com
CORPORATE P R E S ID E N T / C E O Dan Shannon danshannon@durhammag.com CO O Ellen Shannon BU S IN E S S MA N AGE R Amy Bell D IR E C TO R O F D IGIT A L ME D IA Lauryn Colatuno D IR E C TO R O F S P O N S O R S H IP A N D D IGIT A L S A L E S Thorne Daubenspeck MA R K E T IN G MA N AGE R Chelsea Rush A D MIN IS T R AT IV E & O P E R AT IO N S A S S IS T A N T Caroline Kornegay E V E N T S CO O R D IN ATO R Grace Beason D IS T R IBU T IO N Charlie Hyland
Navigating Schools is published by Shannon Media Inc., the parent company of Chapel Hill Magazine and Durham Magazine. 919.933.1551 durhammag.com chapelhillmagazine.com
where bright minds and open hearts meet
Trinity School of durham and chapel hill
Come visit us! Tour and Information Sessions from October–January 4011 Pickett Road, Durham | 919-402-8262 | trinityschoolnc.org | Grades TK–12
Trinity is an independent Christian school for students in grades Transitional Kindergarten–12.
2016 NAVIGATING SCHOOLS
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PHOTO BY BRIANA BROUGH
Navigating SCHOOLS
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Facts & Figures
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About Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Durham Public Schools, Orange County Schools and Chatham County Schools and their superintendents. Plus, an education glossary and information on kindergarten registration.
Parents Who Inspire These moms and dads go above and beyond for area children.
Know and Tell Three education gurus offer tips for families of young children who are tackling the transition to school.
Changing Gears How do you know when it’s time to switch schools? We share insight from local experts and a success story.
Private School Prep A step-by-step process for applying to private schools from the Triangle Independent School Consortium.
50 Years of Friends One of the founders of Carolina Friends School in Durham reflects on the institution’s more than 50 years of existence.
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Grade-A Teachers
Meet Chapel Hill Magazine’s and Durham Magazine’s best educators, as voted by our readers, and a quick look at a few of our educational nonprofits.
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Seasonal Family Fun Each season brings new adventures to share with your little ones in Chapel Hill and Durham.
Most Likely to Succeed Famous alumni from Durham and Orange counties.
Managing College Apprehension Six tips for students and parents, plus advice from a recent high school grad on writing college essays.
#Winning at Social Media Three power plays to help your teen positively utilize social platforms.
Educators Beyond the Classroom Lessons learned from music instructors, coaches and afterschool tutors.
Directory of Private, Regional Boarding, Charter & Magnet Schools
Explore a school where curiosity and the curriculum carry students from the creek on campus to magical adventures on other continents.
That school is Carolina Friends School. An independent school for students ages 3 to 18, founded on Quaker values, located on a wooded, 126-acre campus, CFS offers a STEAM-rich curriculum to over 500 students. Our academic program is designed to activate and engage young minds, leading our students toward successful lives and a positive global impact. To learn more, visit cfsnc.org.
Carolina Friends School
We Believe Teachers Change Lives
Tours begin fall 2016. Join us! Serving students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 • www.da.org/tours • 919-493-5787 2016 SCHOOLS DA NAVIGATING magazine Navigating Schools alterD.indd 1
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FACTS & FIGURES
FACTS and FIGURES
CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO CITY SCHOOLS 7th 8th
AVERAGE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
Elementary Middle High
519 706 1,210
AVERAGE CLASS SIZE
19 18 20 22 20
K 1st 2nd and 3rd 4th and 5th 6th
21 19
STUDENT-TO-TEACHER RATIO
Elementary
21:1
CLASSROOM TEACHERS
Total
748
County, Polk County, Johnston County and Hickory City Schools. He graduated with an undergraduate degree and master’s in elementary education at Western Carolina University and has obtained advanced degrees from Appalachian State University as well as a doctorate in education administration from UNC-Greensboro. Dr. Causby started his career as a teacher and coach before transitioning to principal and then superintendent.
FAST FACTS
TEACHER ASSISTANTS
Total (grades PreK-5) 225
Graduates earned $10,062,892 in scholarships in 2016 84% of graduates enrolled in college
SUPERINTENDENT
Graduation rate is 91.0%
Dr. Jim Causby will serve as interim superintendent for CHCCS this year, replacing Dr. Thomas A. Forcella who retired after serving the district five years in July 2016. Dr. Causby is a native North Carolinian who has served 27 years as a superintendent in four districts including Swain
86.1% of students proficient on ACT * The 38% of teachers with advanced degrees Per pupil expenditure - $11,348 49 National Merit Finalists in 2016
*Since 2013, all public high school students in the state of North Carolina are required to take the ACT their junior year.
ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOLS AVERAGE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
Elementary Middle High
489 583 1,175
AVERAGE CLASS SIZE
K 1st 2nd 3rd & 4th 5th 6th
15 18 19 22 18 22
7th 23 8th 22 STUDENT-TO-TEACHER RATIO
Elementary 14:1 Middle 13:1 High 16:1 CLASSROOM TEACHERS
Total
549
TEACHERS’ AIDES
Approx.
120
Dr. Todd Wirt, the 2016-2017 president of Central Carolina Regional Education Service Alliance, comes to Orange County Schools after serving as the assistant superintendent for academics in Wake Public Schools. Before Wake County, he was in Mooresville Graded School District, where he served as executive director of secondary education as well as principal of Mooresville High School from 2007 to 2011. Prior to that, Dr. Wirt served as a middle and high school principal and assistant principal and teacher in the Alamance-Burlington School System.
FAST FACTS Graduation rate is 88%.
60.1% of students proficient on ACT
Offers International Baccalaureate Programmes, award-winning wood-working classes and agricultural sciences Has a 1:1 Technology Initiative (elementary, middle and high school students have a Chromebook or iPad)
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DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS AVERAGE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
531 635 835
Elementary Middle High
AVERAGE CLASS SIZE
19 16 18 19 15 24 22
K 1st 2nd 3rd 4th & 5th 6th & 7th 8th
STUDENT-TO-TEACHER RATIO
K-2nd 19:1 3rd-8th 20:1 9th-12th 24:1 CLASSROOM TEACHERS
Approx. 2,400 TEACHERS’ AIDES
Total 560
New Hope Elementary School in Orange County, N.C. After six years as associate superintendent for academic services with DPS, he was superintendent of Franklin County Schools from 2004 to 2009. He joined the staff of the Children’s Defense Fund to become coordinator of the Cradle to Prison Pipeline Campaign in 2009. In July 2010, Dr. L’Homme was named superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., leading 96 schools that served more than 27,000 students. Dr. L’Homme and his wife, Margaret, have three daughters and four grandsons.
FAST FACTS Northern High principal Matt Hunt was a finalist for the 2016 North Carolina Principal of the Year
SUPERINTENDENT
Graduation rate is 80.7%
Dr. Bert L’Homme returned to Durham Public Schools in July 2014 as superintendent. He began his education career as a special education teacher in Washington, D.C. He served as principal of City Lights, a school for at-risk students in Washington, and
48.7% of students proficient on ACT Hillside High School produced two Gates Millennium Scholars and a Coca-Cola Scholar Four DPS middle schools named 2016 Schools to Watch by The National Forum to Accelerate MiddleGrades Reform: Carrington, Lakewood Montessori, Rogers-Herr and Githens
CHATHAM COUNTY SCHOOLS AVERAGE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
Elementary Middle High
620 600 663
AVERAGE CLASS SIZE
K, 1st, 2nd & 3rd 4th 5th 6th
18 22 21 22
7th 23 8th 21 STUDENT-TO-TEACHER RATIO
Elementary Middle High
15:1 16:1 20:1
CLASSROOM TEACHERS
Total
598
SUPERINTENDENT Dr. Derrick D. Jordan became interim superintendent of Chatham County Schools on September 1, 2013, and was sworn in as permanent superintendent on March 6, 2014. Dr. Jordan joined the Chatham County Schools team in 2008 as the director of secondary education. A former middle and high school English teacher, Dr. Jordan was a high school principal in eastern North
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Carolina prior to joining the Chatham team. His school typically met or exceeded state and national goals and was ranked twice by U.S. News and World Report as one of the best high schools in the nation. Dr. Jordan earned a bachelor’s in English from North Carolina Central University, a master’s in School Administration from East Carolina University, and a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Policy from the UNC-Chapel Hill, where he was elected as a Jackson Scholar by the faculty.
FAST FACTS Dual-language program in four schools Early College or Chatham School of Science & Engineering, a partnership with Central Carolina Community College, opened in August 2016 with 30 science and engineering students 100% AVID College Acceptance Rate Graduating seniors from 2015 earned more than
$12 million in scholarships 2015 Milken Award Winner
State Biology Teacher of the Year for 2015 went to Jordan-Matthews High School’s Jessica Sandel Graduation rate is 87.3% 69.4% of students proficient on ACT
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FACTS AND FIGURES
Get in Touch Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools 750 S. Merritt Mill Rd. Chapel Hill, N.C. 27516 919-967-8211 chccs.k12.nc.us
Orange County Schools 200 E. King St. Hillsborough, N.C. 27278 919-732-8126 orange.k12.nc.us
Durham Public Schools 511 Cleveland St. Durham, N.C. 27702 919-560-2000 dpsnc.net
Education
GLOSSARY CHARTER SCHOOL
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
Charter schools are supported by public tax dollars, but their charters release them from standard public school administration regulations. Frequently, they’re governed by a private board of parents or community members or private education service firms. They are tuition-free and non-religious, and they can hire instructors with at-will contracts, negotiate personnel salaries or hire non-certified teachers. The law requires 50% of charter school teachers to be licensed.
These schools have the freedom to serve their distinct individual missions through their own philosophies, values and approaches to teaching.
COMMON CORE STANDARDS A set of national grade-level goals that students are taught and then assessed for math and language arts knowledge, like being able to multiply two-digit numbers or write a paragraph. The standards build in complexity as students advance through grade levels, and state and local municipalities decide how they are to be implemented.
DUAL-LANGUAGE PROGRAM Aiming for bilingualism, these programs introduce students to curriculum taught in two languages, most commonly English and Spanish, although there are programs in the area that offer English/Mandarin Chinese and English/French.
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MAGNET SCHOOL Magnet schools are public, lottery application-based elementary, middle or high schools that aren’t associated with any particular neighborhood. They frequently have additional funding for supplies, teachers and students, and many are known for unique programs, such as language immersion or a focus on health care or the arts.
MONTESSORI A style of teaching named after the Italian educator Maria Montessori in which children teach themselves and have more control over how to use their time and what topics they want to explore. Classrooms are often composed of children of many ages and grades.
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FACTS AND FIGURES
Chatham County Schools 369 West St. Pittsboro, N.C. 27312 919-542-3626 chatham.k12.nc.us
Everything You Need to Know About
KINDERGARTEN
R
egistration for public kindergarten opens in December through March of each year (check school districts for specific dates). Typically, the magnet and yearround calendar schools register first, followed by the traditional calendar schools a week later. If you are unsure for which school you are zoned, contact the school enrollment office (919-560-2059 in Durham and 919-967-8211 ext. 28268 in Chapel Hill/ Carrboro). Parents can also determine their zone online. Admission and enrollment for private schools begins earlier, and it will be different for each school. On average, the admission process begins in early January with some programs notifying parents of acceptance by the end of February. Be mindful of your child’s age when considering a kindergarten program as well. Some private schools offer transitional kindergarten programs for children who will be too young for public kindergarten by the start of the school year. Check with individual schools if you are interested in this option. To enroll in public kindergarten, a child must be 5 years old by August 31 of that academic year. You will need your child’s birth certificate, proof of residency, immunization records and a health assessment form completed by your physician to complete enrollment.
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PHOTO BY BRIANA BROUGH
PHOTO BY BRIANA BROUGH
PARENTS WHO INSPIRE
Mas caption (and photo) TK. Mas caption (and photo) TK.
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Mas Sato credits his wife, Jeannine, for encouraging him to read to their children Anna, 9, and Kenji, 6. 2016 NAVIGATING SCHOOLS
Parents Who
INSPIRE THESE MOMS AND DADS GO ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR CHILDREN, FROM STARTING LITERACY CAMPAIGNS TO CREATING COMMUNITY FAMILY FORUMS TO SPEAKING OUT ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC EDUCATION
By Amanda Abrams
One for the Books
F
athers and men have a unique opportunity to develop their kids’ brain architecture,” says Mas Sato. “Male input and voice and stimulus are really important.” He should know. Besides being the father of two and a masters student in speech pathology at N.C. Central University, Mas is the founder of a new initiative called Read to Me Dad. Designed to encourage father-child bonding over books, the campaign took a giant step forward when Mas was awarded an Albert Schweitzer Fellowship recently, which focuses on community service projects. “Our mission has been to help dads read to their kids even if they
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PARENTS WHO INSPIRE
struggle with their own literacy and to ultimately break the cycle,” explains Mas, who lives in south Durham. The fellowship helped him partner with the Durham Literacy Center and Achievement Academy of Durham to target dads, particularly young ones, who might need some help. Using an established curriculum, tutors read books with the fathers, who then learn how to retell the stories to their children. “So you’re targeting two generations,” Mas says. “And supporting parents to do this positions them to be lifelong educators of their kids – and creates a social bond, too.” Mas emphasizes that the initiative – which is about to launch a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for books the fathers can take home – isn’t meant to be preachy. It’s just about sharing tools and knowledge. Mas himself credits his wife, Jeannine, with helping him understand the value of his role with Anna, 9, and Kenji, 6. “She really pushes me to be involved; she’s always encouraged me to read to the kids,” he says. “I think it was really important to my bond with my kids, but I’m not sure if I would have done that on my own if I hadn’t been given that nudge.”
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2016 NAVIGATING SCHOOLS
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121 W. Woodcroft Pkwy, Durham, NC 27713
2016 NAVIGATING SCHOOLS
TOP DENTISTS
John R. Christensen DDS, MS, MS
Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Felicia V. Swinney DMD, MS Pediatric Dentistry
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PARENTS WHO INSPIRE
Dawn Wilson and her son, Miles, were among dozens of demonstrators who rallied in support of increased public schools funding at the State Capitol in June.
A Walk to Remember
I
t’s tough, if not impossible, to have a conversation with Dawn Wilson without feeling energized. Dawn, who lives in north Durham and works in education, is one of several dozen activists who spent two days this June walking from Durham to Raleigh to demand increased education funding. Starting at Neal Middle School and sticking to back roads, the group overnighted at a church before finally arriving at the Capitol. Dawn had close company: Miles, her 11-year-old son. “My son was the only kid on our march to walk both days,” she says. “He’s sort of my tagalong. I said, ‘Miles, this is what’s going on.’ He said, ‘I want to go, too.’” The group arrived at the Capitol hoping to meet with Gov. McCrory and convince him to put some of the state’s surplus funds into education. “Our kids need so much,” Dawn says; she’s passionate about the topic. “To see them when they come to school
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hungry, not having the basic things they need, like health care, their parents working two to three jobs … we can’t reach any of these kids until we take of their basic needs first.” When neither the governor nor his staff met with the marchers, they blocked traffic on a main street and prepared to be arrested. That was the hardest moment for Dawn. “When I got arrested, I saw Miles crying. I kept yelling from the street, ‘I’m OK, Miles, I’m going to be OK.’” She was released later that day and able to get back to her busy life: divorced mom, part-time grad student in student counseling, instructional assistant at Morehead Montessori – the same institution she attended as a kid – during the school year. She hopes her actions will benefit North Carolina. They’ve already benefited her son. After Dawn was released from jail, he told her, “I’m so glad I did this. This was the best experience ever.”
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Chapel Hill Eyecare WINNER
BEST OF CHAPEL HILL 2016
Exceeding our patients expectations with personalized care and attention to detail!
Dr. Laurel Gropper Dr. Scott Sikes
Voted Best Optometrist and Best Place for Glasses! 235 S. Elliott Rd Chapel Hill, NC 27514 919.968.4774 www.chapelhilleyecare.com
International Montessori School is a multilingual community of learners, academically and socially prepared to thrive in our dynamic world with a sense of curiosity, compassion, and confidence.
Serving children 3 years old to 6th grade with a choice of French, Spanish, or Mandarin Chinese immersion tracks • Offering an authentic Montessori curriculum in a multi-age environment for each language: Primary (3-6 year olds), Lower Elementary (6-9 year olds), and Upper Elementary (9-12 year olds) • Full immersion classrooms led by Montessori-trained native and near-native speaking teachers
Schedule a visit today! 919.401.4343
www.imsnc.org
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3001 Academy Rd., Bldg. 300, Durham, NC 27707 15
Jayme Warischalk, at left with her daughter, says the Chapel Hill/ Carrboro Mothers Club is open to all kinds of parents from all kinds of families.
Mom.com
L
ike many other first-time moms, Jayme Warischalk was surprised how lonely she
felt after her daughter was born two years ago. But she found the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Mothers Club on Facebook, and that made all the difference. “I decided to attend an event, the annual spring cookout, and walked away from that with three new friends,” she remembers fondly. So when the club’s president resigned, Jayme, who lives in North Forest Hills and works fulltime as an editor, threw her hat in the ring to take over. “I wanted to maintain the community for other moms,” she says. Running on a platform that emphasized service and families – as opposed to exclusively moms – Jayme got the job and took over in May. She’s made good on her promises. The club, which was founded in 1999, still provides play dates
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and Moms Night Out activities for its members, but these days it presents service opportunities, too. Club members cook dinner for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill every month, and Jayme recently organized a back-toschool supply drive. At the same time, she’s focused on redesigning the club’s website, which is currently “very girly,” as she puts it. “We don’t want to exclude families. There are stay-at-home dads, there are dad-dad families, there are all kinds of families.” When she’s not heading up the club, Jayme likes to practice yoga, spend time on Chapel Hill’s nature trails and relax at the pool with her daughter and husband, Nick. As president, she’s just redirected the group’s energies. After all, with more than 2,000 active members, the club was poised to be a force for good.
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CELEBRATING
37 YEARS IN THE CHAPEL HILL COMMUNITY
Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment. - Dr. Maria Montessori
NOW ENROLLING: TODDLER • PRESCHOOL • ELEMENTARY
1702 Legion Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27517 • 919.929.3339
Please contact admin@mdsch.org or visit our website at mdsch.org for more information
“Our son loves to learn again.” The Hill Center serves K-12 students who are struggling academically— especially those with learning differences or attention issues—through our School Year, Summer, Tutoring, and Teacher Training programs.
www.hillcenter.org 2016 NAVIGATING SCHOOLS
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2015 NAVIGATING SCHOOLS
KNOW and Tell
THE TRANSITION TO PRESCHOOL OR KINDERGARTEN CAN MAKE PARENTS AND KIDS FEEL ALL THE FEELINGS. TAKE A BREATH AND READ ON – THREE LOCAL EXPERTS HAVE SOME GREAT TIPS FOR FAMILIES OF LITTLE ONES. By Virginia Robinson
AMY LATTA is a local early childhood educator, most recently at The Goddard School in Chapel Hill. She also serves Durham, Orange and Chatham counties as an affiliate leader for the North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children (NCAEYC).
Meet the Experts
MARTHA ROCKAWAY is the pedagogista, co-founder and owner of Sounds and Colors Child Development Center in Hillsborough. She has nearly 30 years of experience in education.
PATT SCHWING taught at Epworth Preschool in Durham for 18 years and has now been with Durham Public Schools for 10 years as an instructional assistant, interventionist and classroom teacher. She teaches at Creekside Elementary and recently won Best Teacher in Durham Magazine’s annual “Best of Durham” issue. (Learn more about her on page 34.)
How should parents prepare a child for preschool/kindergarten? AL Academically, the parents can offer real-world experiences to make learning exciting as the children show interest. It’s important to follow your child’s example and incorporate their natural curiosity into the activity being done. For example, a parent whose child is interested in construction can read books about trucks, pointing out words and letters. They can count construction vehicles on the road while driving or toy trucks while playing. It’s
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PRESCHOOL PREP
important not to push the child too hard; children learn best through play and should experience learning as a positive experience before starting school. MR Parents can help prepare by providing children with opportunities to talk about what preschool is like. Being very positive about what this experience will bring to their lives in terms of getting to know new friends, being able to participate in group learning experiences, having the opportunity to explore, create, investigate and learn a lot with the guidance and support of their teachers. Presenting to your child the school’s daily schedule and navigating with him/ her how the day will go is important; that way your child will have an idea of what to expect. An example: “I will drop you off at 7:45, and then you’ll play with your friends and teachers, at 9 a.m. you will have your morning snack, etc.” This should reflect your child’s school daily schedule … PS The kindergarten day is busy and challenging and it will take students time to develop the focus and stamina required to learn how to read and write. Expect your child to be tired at the end of the day, especially at the beginning of the school year.
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What kind of time should a parent devote to homework help, PTA, screen time? MR Preschoolers should not have to do any homework, and screen time should be avoided during school days at this very early age. Daily reading at home is more than enough to support kindergarten readiness. Sharing your talents to spend time with children at school is a great way to get involved. For example, if you are a musician, talk to the school’s director and schedule a “share your talent” moment to allow the children to enjoy a special music experience. PS This is a personal choice determined by family activities and needs. We do have kindergarten homework at Creekside, which reflects what is covered in class and should take no more than 15 minutes to complete. Students will require assistance with instructions but should be able to do the work themselves. We also ask parents to read with their child for 15-20 minutes a night – a great bedtime ritual I used with my own children. AL It’s helpful for a parent to spend as much time as they can helping their child with homework while also allowing them to maintain independence and
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National Blue Ribbon School since 2012
Pre-K through Grade 8 Established 1909 | Durham
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immaculataschool.org
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PRESCHOOL PREP
gain confidence. Children should try the homework first, and then know that they can seek help from a parent while mastering skills. Be encouraging and patient with them. An empowering phrase to use with children is, “You did it!”
What should a parent do if their child has special needs? PS Parents know their child best and can be valuable advocates in the school setting. Communicate with your student’s team any information you deem important – issues in the home setting that may affect behavior in school, sleep issues, responses to various situations, etc. The more teachers know about your child, the quicker we can respond to their needs. AL Having a child with special needs can be a challenging situation, but there is plenty of help available. The diagnostician can be a great resource for strategies and therapists. Often, the school system will have their own resources and on-site therapists to help children succeed in school. For younger children, there are several inclusive schools in the area with smaller ratios so that the teachers and therapists can work more closely with children with special needs.
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MR Become very knowledgeable about their child’s particular needs, and meet with the school’s director to create a differentiation plan that will support the child’s development. Involve a specialist if needed. Monitor implementation of the plan created, and make as many accommodations as needed based on outcomes.
What are some things to think about if a family must move mid-year? AL Moving, while exciting, is a challenge for everyone. Talk positively with the child about the move, focusing on what will be the same and what will be different. Look at the area with Google Maps and explore fun things to do together. Your child may show their feelings in different ways or they may not show them at all. Be patient and acknowledge the child’s feelings and be honest with them about your own so they have a model for how to handle their emotions. An example is, “I see you’re feeling scared; it’s OK to feel that way. It’s a big change for me, too.” Use a calm and soothing voice to remind them that you’ll still be a family and you’ll still be there for them. During the move, be patient and give your child plenty of choices. What do they want to take with them? What do they want
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Children’s Boutique WINNER
BEST OF CHAPEL HILL 2016
919 967 2919 www.puddlebaby.com Galleria • 400 S. Elliott Rd. Located next to PURPLE PUDDLE Erin Casey Photography
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PRESCHOOL PREP
to give away? Which color would they like their room painted? Having control of a few things helps the child feel more in control of the larger situation. PS If your family is moving out of town mid-year, please inform your child’s teacher of the target date. By midyear, students have bonded with one another and the classroom has developed a “family” atmosphere. It helps both the student who is leaving and the peers to have time to say goodbye and perhaps create a keepsake to take along to their new home. MR Start talking to the child about this new event, and present it to him/her as a great opportunity to learn about new places, new friends and new adventures. Be very positive about it! Create role plays with your child, imagining how this would be, and show excitement about it. And, of course, do thorough research about the type of school you want your child to attend.
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When and how should a parent consider transferring their child, for any reason, in preschool, elementary, middle, high school? AL Sometimes parents may not feel that a school or class is the right fit for their child. The child may be falling behind, having social issues, or the class material may not be challenging enough for them. Before transferring, parents should talk to their child about problems they have and work together to find solutions. If that doesn’t work, parents can talk with the child’s teacher and principal for any strategies they can try together. It is best for them to be honest about what the child is going through while also willing to listen in a two-way conversation. Then parents can make an informed choice about whether to stay through the end of the year or make a change in the middle if needed. No matter which choice parents make, they should talk with their child and help them understand the changes that are about to happen. As with any change, children need patience and reassurance from their parents.
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Kind thru Teergarten nth (expan Grade d Specialty classes in Art, Music,Technology, PE, Spanish, and Performing Arts • PLTW (Project Lead the Way) courses in all grades • One-to-One technology initiative in Middle and High School • Small class sizes and project based learning
to 11th ing for the grade 20 academ 17-2018 ic year)
We are a public charter school serving students in Hillsborough, Chapel Hill, Durham, Mebane, and surrounding areas.
Eno River Academy (formerly Orange Charter School) utilizes a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) approach to curriculum delivery.
K-8 Campus: 920 Corporate Drive, Hillsborough, NC High School Campus: 1220 NC Hwy 57 North, Hillsborough, NC
919-644-6272 • enoriveracademy.org
Are YOU signed up for our weekly enewsletter? Get it in your inbox every Thursday! Use it to plan your weekend. Get the latest in restaurant and retail news. Enter ticket giveaways. Go to durhammag.com or chapelhillmagazine.com to subscribe. 2016 NAVIGATING SCHOOLS
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PHOTO BY ALICIA STEMPER
Avery Stemper on move-in day at Appalachian State University.
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Changing
GEARS HOW DO YOU KNOW IT’S TIME TO SWITCH SCHOOLS, AND HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT IT? WHAT FACTORS COME INTO PLAY TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR YOUR CHILD?
By Jill Warren Lucas
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HAPEL HILL HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCES SOME OF our state’s most college-ready students. But if there is one thing Avery Stemper learned there, he would not be among them. The eloquent 18-year-old attended for two years, unenthusiastically completing assignments and making few friends. “It’s a good place for a lot of people,” he says. “But I didn’t like the social environment, and I didn’t feel like the classes were helping me get to where I wanted to go.” With support from his parents, Avery transferred to Middle College High School at Durham Technical Community College, a magnet program that accepts students from Durham, Orange and Chapel Hill-Carrboro public schools. “He essentially went from
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CHANGING GEARS
merely surviving to actually thriving,” says Alicia it was included in this year’s U.S. News & World Report’s list of best high schools. Donna Hudson, Stemper, one of his parents. Avery appreciated the program’s flexible schedule director of student assignment for Durham Public and academic rigor. And he felt a stronger connection Schools, encourages parents to take an active role with classmates, many of whom felt similarly in their child’s education, starting with elementary disconnected from their high school peers, sometimes programs that might nurture their particular talents. due to race, gender or socioeconomic differences. If parents perceive a barrier to their child’s success, “I earned 44 college credits and didn’t pay a penny they should speak up. Often, she says, a problem that for them,” says Avery, who intends to graduate from seems insurmountable can be resolved with a meeting Appalachian State in three between the family and school years with a business major administrators. and German minor. “I also Of course, not all situations can gained a certain maturity,” he be fixed with a meeting. Donna says. “Maybe that would have says 95 percent of elementary happened anyway, but I am school transfer requests are Especially in bigger more willing to accept and be made because of hardships like high schools, some happy with myself as a person.” childcare needs. When seats at kids get lost. They other schools are available, the Mary Gratch has seen plenty feel invisible, like system makes every effort to fulfill of comparable success stories. they don’t matter. A requests so a student can receive “There are a lot of students smaller, nontraditional before- or after-school attention who feel disenfranchised, or from designated caregivers. who have trouble with the school can really While local magnet school standard rules of the public work for students deadlines passed months ago, school system, who suddenly who do not thrive in Donna says it is possible for some become highly motivated in a traditional setting. late requests to be processed other settings,” says Mary, if the hoped-for school has an educational consultant – Mary Gratch exhausted its application pool who worked for 20 years as a and is not yet at capacity. This guidance counselor in Chapel means that current and newly Hill and Carrboro. “Then arrived students may yet squeak you have students who have into the school their parents their hearts set on a particular want. “We’re all in the business of children,” Donna college and suddenly realize they’re taking all the says. “If we can make something happen that will help wrong classes to get in. Options like Middle College our students and families, we will.” really help.” Identifying struggling students and figuring out ways Darcy Berger, who counsels clients at the Center to help them achieve is a signature role for guidance for Psychology and Education in Chapel Hill, says the counselors. But reduced resources and increased challenge of ensuring the best academic outcomes enrollments have made this a vexing challenge for for a student can take a toll on families. It’s important even the most dedicated counselors. for parents to not just sympathize but to engage their “Especially in bigger high schools, some kids get child in achieving a solution; in effect, to make it a lost,” Mary says. “They feel invisible, like they don’t teachable moment in problem solving. “Not all parents matter. A smaller, nontraditional school can really work have the means to make a change to a private or home for students who do not thrive in a traditional setting.” school,” Darcy says. “My advice is to say, ‘What can we Mary cites Chapel Hill-Carrboro’s Phoenix Academy do to make it better?’ It’s a skill, and they need their parents to help. It’s one of the best lessons a parent High School as a strong example. With a structured, can teach their child.” cooperative environment and a cap of 45 students,
“
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2016 NAVIGATING SCHOOLS
YMCA Camp Cheerio!!!
(for Christmas!)
YMCA CampWhat Cheerio! is
Camp Cheerio?
Located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, just a 2 1/2 hour easy drive from Chapel Hill and the Triangle area. Cheerio is a YMCA camp located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We serve children from ages 7-15. What is there to do? • Rock-climbing • Canoeing • BB Shooting • Archery • Arts and Crafts • Frisbee Golf • Hiking • Have Fun!
What is Camp Cheerio?
Cheerio is an overnight YMCA camp located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We serve children from ages 7-15, with one and two week sessions.
What is there to do? Rock climbing Canoeing BB Shooting Archery Arts and Crafts Frisbee Golf Hiking Have Fun!
www.campcheerio.org For more information: campcheerio.org CallFor ormore email Shane Brown: information:
Make Those Summer Plans Now and Give Them a Christmas Gift They’ll Never Forget!
Contact the camp office 336-869-0195 or 336-869-0195 shane@campcheerio.org director@campcheerio.org
www.triangledayschool.org Durham, NC 919.383.8800
Information Sessions for 2016-2017 Morning Information Sessions, 9am-10:15am Lower School: Oct 5, Nov 2, Dec 7, Jan 11 Middle School: Oct 19, Nov 9, Dec 14, Jan 18
Evening Information Sessions*, 6pm-7:15pm All Grades: Oct 25*, Dec 6*
*Free childcare provided Application deadline for all grades: Tuesday, January 31, 2017
2016 NAVIGATING SCHOOLS
Transitional Kindergarten through 8th Grade As a warm and welcoming community devoted to academic excellence, Triangle Day School ignites
intellectual curiosity, fosters compassion and integrity, and nurtures creativity, inspiring confidence in each student to lead a life of purpose.
Small School. Big Hearts. 29
Private School
PREP
CATHY CLEMENT OF THE TRIANGLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL CONSORTIUM CLEARS UP SOME OF THE COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND GIVES AN OVERVIEW OF THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS
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P R I VAT E S C H O O L P R E P
SCHOOLS OF THE TISC Carolina Friends School Cary Academy Duke School Durham Academy The Hill Center Immaculata Catholic School The Montessori School of Raleigh
The Raleigh School Ravenscroft St. David’s School St. Timothy’s School Triangle Day School Trinity Academy of Raleigh Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT A few mistaken beliefs about private schools:
PHOTO BY MICHAEL BARLEY
Private schools are only for elite/wealthy families. Many have very good financial aid programs that can help make tuition more affordable for families.
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OMPOSED OF ADMISSIONS
Private schools are not concerned about diversity or inclusion. All members of the TISC strive to promote diversity in their school. For instance, Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill has a specific vision statement on diversity that is rooted deeply in its mission. It also has a board-led committee to support and promote its goals. “Independent schools like Trinity think about inclusion and diversity in terms of creating a shift in organizational culture,” says Adrienne Davis, Trinity’s diversity coordinator. “This year, for example, Trinity School is providing learning opportunities for faculty, staff, students and parents to learn about race and identity.” All private schools require uniforms. Some do, but there is often freedom or a difference among grade levels. They are only for students of a certain faith. Many have faith as a part of the program, chapel etc., and students may be required to attend, but most have an open-door policy.
the current school year, plus any copies of standardized
professionals from Triangle area schools, tests and a teacher recommendation form. the Triangle Independent School • Students then come in for an admissions test and Consortium (TISC) evolved out of the possibly an interview. desire of the member schools to work collaboratively in an effort to ease and enhance the admission process • Some schools require the students to participate in class for either one or two days. “It’s for us to get to for the students, families and schools involved. Cathy know each child, get a feel for their personality and Clement of St. Timothy’s School, one of TISC’s what they already know,” Cathy says. “If they are a officers, shares an easy, step-by-step guide to how the successful candidate, then we know where to start admissions process works for most private schools, them when they enter school.” though they may vary slightly with each school: • Once the students have completed those steps, • Parents typically come by for a tour or open house to get a feel for the school, or they inquire with the school and are sent a packet of information.
• Supply report cards from the previous two years and
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the director of admissions will go to the admissions committee and discuss each student candidate. If they are accepted, then they are informed on a common notification date for the TISC schools in that area.
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P R I VAT E S C H O O L P R E P
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50 Years of FRIENDS FOUNDED ON QUAKER VALUES – RESPECT FOR ALL AND PEACEFUL RESOLUTION, AMONG OTHERS – THE CAROLINA FRIENDS SCHOOL STRUCK A CHORD WITH TRIANGLE RESIDENTS AT ITS LAUNCH MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO AND CONTINUES TO THRIVE TODAY.
I
N 1964, DURHAM’S CAROLINA FRIENDS
School (CFS) began with about a dozen kindergarten students, one teacher and two volunteers. It now enrolls more than 500 students, from kindergarten to high school, and employs close to 100 staff members on its extensive 100-acre campus. Two of the visionaries behind the school are husband-and-wife team Peter and Martha Klopfer. We asked Peter to reflect on CFS’s half century of service to the community’s children.
What drove you and the other founders to start CFS? The immediate impulse was our unwillingness to have our children raised in a segregated environment: [Nearly] all the local schools … were segregated.
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What attracted you to CFS’s location when you were first looking? The land on which the school began was part of our farm, an isolated and neglected bit of Orange County that we had bought cheaply. We wanted to locate along the Durham-Chapel Hill Highway, but lacked the resources to buy that more costly land. So, we used what we had and hoped for the best. (Recall that the roads between U.S. 70 and Erwin were unpaved then and often impassable.)
Are parents still choosing CFS for the same reasons they chose it 50, 30 or even 10 years ago? Originally, the school’s major draw was the fact that it was the first school in North Carolina to open its doors
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P R I VAT E S C H O O L P R E P
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1 Peter and Martha Klopfer in 2004. 2 Martha in her 1960s classroom. 3 A Lower School classroom in the 1960s. 4 The Lower School, CFS’s first main campus building, in the ’60s. 5 The 1992 addition to CFS’s original Lower School building.
to all children, in the belief that racial, religious and economic diversity among students and staff was, in and of itself, a valuable contribution to one’s education. In recent years, CFS’s commitment to resolving many of the problems seen in conventional schools – problems stemming from prejudice, intolerance, state-mandated testing, etc. – along with CFS’s high academic standards, has become a major attractant.
CFS recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. What achievement within the school are you most proud of? I must insist that not one of us has, individually, any grounds for pride. CFS has developed as it has through the efforts of the entire school community. We do take satisfaction, however, in knowing that CFS is upholding the 300-year-old tradition of Quaker education, as exemplified in the school’s vision statement.
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What makes a good educator, in your opinion? Obviously, familiarity with the subject to be taught and a zeal to communicate one’s knowledge to others. No less important is a degree of empathy that makes one take pleasure in the growth and development of one’s students. And, finally, a deep commitment to actions that leave the world and one’s community a better place.
What advice do you have for parents considering private schools for their children? Parents interested in an independent school for their children should visit the school, spend time in several classrooms and converse with the students and teachers. No one school will necessarily be suitable for every child. – as told to Laura Zolman Kirk
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PHOTO BY BRIANA BROUGH
Grade-A
TEACHERS DURHAM MAGAZINE AND CHAPEL HILL MAGAZINE READERS DUBBED CREEKSIDE ELEMENTARY KINDERGARTEN TEACHER PATRICIA SCHWING AND CARRBORO ELEMENTARY FIRST-GRADE TEACHER ELLEN MANNING THE BEST INSTRUCTORS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS. HERE’S WHY:
In the Schwing of Things Patricia Schwing (pictured left) is “the kindergarten teacher parents dream of their child getting,” according to Creekside Elementary mom Rhonda Woodell. The Durham teacher carved a moment out of her time to chat with us: Why did you become a teacher? I think I’ve always been one. My biological parents were foster parents, so there were four biological kids and four foster kids, always. When we got a new foster child, the older kids were responsible for getting them into the routine. So that was always a part of my life – I was always teaching somebody something.
Tell us about one awesome teaching moment you had this past year. [To explain autism to my students], I turned on a boombox with one set of music, the computer with another, flashed something on our ActivBoard, had on a third set of music, and then I went over to the corner and started giving the kids directions on how to play a game. And then I turned everything off and said, “This may be what students with autism are experiencing, and when they get overwhelmed, remember they’re hearing all these different
2016 NAVIGATING SCHOOLS
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BEST TEACHERS
things and they’re just as smart as anybody else. They’re processing things but in a different way.” You could see my students’ little light bulbs go on.
What’s your most laughable “teacher fail” moment? This is a good one! I make mistakes every day! I hope I’m not being recognized for being perfect because I’m not, and it’s important for the kids to see that. Anyway, I’m from Hawaii, and on Halloween you can dress up as your favorite character, so I dressed up as Lilo from “Lilo & Stitch.” So I get dressed in the dark, early in the morning, put on my black leotard and pants over it (because I was going to change into my hula skirt at school). When it came time at school to change, I didn’t even look, took my pants off and realized I had put on pantyhose! You could see right through it. Fail! I ended up wearing the skirt over the pants, obviously, but it was pretty funny.
What classroom staples can you not live without? Scotch tape for everything, Sharpie markers, my pointer stick with the plastic hand, which I’m always losing. And in this day and age, my SMART Board remote control because we use that constantly now. These are Digital Age children, so it’s all part of one motion: I do my thing at the easel, on the board and then grab that remote control. – as told to Virginia Robinson
Building a Foundation “If you have ever had a child enter kindergarten, you know how much worry and stress goes along with that. After meeting Patt and [instructional assistant] Jesse Gilbert, my anxiety melted away – I had hit the teacher jackpot that first year! As a parent, I could not have asked for more loving, kind, knowledgeable and supportive teachers. I could go on about all the wonderful things Mrs. Schwing taught my daughter in kindergarten, but I’d like to share a different
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story. My daughter had a hard time starting first grade. Of course, I knew she missed her little slice of heaven, but it was a difficult transition for many reasons. Patt knew exactly how to help. She insisted my daughter come down in the mornings before school to ‘help’ the new kindergarteners. Patt went above and beyond to ensure my daughter found her love of learning again. It meant everything to our family, and we will always be grateful for that unforgettable foundational year.” – Lori Hanks
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TEACHERS OF THE YEAR
Fill-in-the-Blank Test Ellen Manning – voted the top educator in Chapel Hill/ Carrboro – shares some of her thoughts:
E
llen (pictured above) grew up across the globe, living in Latin America and Europe. The world she loved the most was the natural one, and through various outdoor adventure and learning companies she realized her innate passion for teaching. “I’ve been a teacher all of my life,” she explains, “but as an environmental educator and park ranger for some of the time.” She ultimately went back to school to earn an elementary education degree, moved to North Carolina and has taught school locally for 12 years. Ellen currently teaches first grade at Carrboro Elementary. She lives with her husband, Mark Barroso, and daughter, Natalie Barroso, in northern Pittsboro.
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BEST TEACHERS
The biggest misconception about teaching is that ... You can’t let the child within your own self out when you are teaching. I share my passion for dancing with my kids; I play my guitar and harmonica and recorder all the time, and we get our wiggles out with interactive music and dance.
19 years old and at Emory University in Georgia studying writing and literature.
When I’m not teaching, I’m ... Walking my dog in the woods, out on Jordan Lake with my husband on our boat, or going to music festivals and dancing to live music with friends.
A piece of wise advice I’ve received from one of my young students is ...
A moment in my career that I’ll never forget is ...
To let the mystery be.
When I had a Karen refugee student in second grade. He had just moved to this country from Burma and spoke no English. He did not read or write in his own language. He had lived in a refugee camp his entire life. At the end of the year, with hard work and perseverance on his part, I moved him through nine reading levels to proficiency by the time he went to third grade. I have never been so proud of a student. – as told to Jessie Ammons
My favorite day of the school year is ... Valentine’s Day. We have a weeklong post office that the kids work in to mail cards to each other. On Valentine’s Day, they open all their cards. It’s so much fun.
The student I’ve kept in touch with longest ... Is from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, now
Educational Nonprofits BOOK HARVEST Providing books to low-income children in central North Carolina, this Durham nonprofit helps encourage academic success, early development of vocabulary and a healthy imagination. bookharvestnc.org TABLE This food-centered nonprofit provides healthy food to hungry children from preschool to middle school ages in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, as well as programming to promote healthy living and eating. tablenc.org EAST DURHAM CHILDREN’S INITIATIVE (EDCI) Focusing on the children and families within the EDCI Zone, a 120-block area in East Durham, the organization immerses children in a network of services to achieve high school, college and career success. edci.org COLLEGE ADVISING CORPS This Chapel Hill-based organization works to increase the number of first-generation students entering college who come from low-income or disadvantaged backgrounds by positioning recent college graduates as advisors in local schools. advisingcorps.org 38
KIDZNOTES With offices in both Durham and Raleigh, Kidznotes uses free orchestral training to transform lives and communities through music. kidznotes.org BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF DURHAM AND ORANGE COUNTIES Having recently merged into one large organization from smaller groups around the area, Boys & Girls Clubs of Durham and Orange Counties utilizes its summer camp, after-school and athletic programming to inspire and enable young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. durhambgc.org KIDZU CHILDREN’S MUSEUM Located in University Place in Chapel Hill, this museum – dedicated to inspiring children to learn through play – offers multiple themed, hands-on exhibits and special programming. kidzuchildrensmuseum.org PTA THRIFT SHOP Serving the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area for more than 50 years, this nonprofit resale business benefits Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. ptathriftshop.org THE WALKING CLASSROOM The Walking Classroom is a Chapel Hill-based national initiative to get kids out of the classroom and exercising while receiving instruction through custom-written, kid-friendly podcasts. thewalkingclassroom.org 2016 NAVIGATING SCHOOLS
PHOTO COURTESY S E A PUPPET SONAL FAMILY FUN PAPERHAND INTERVENTION
PHOTO COURTESY MUSEUM OF LIFE AND SCIENCE
Seasonal
FAMILY FUN Spring
Summer
UNC SCIENCE EXPO
AMERICAN DANCE FESTIVAL, CHILDREN’S SATURDAY MATINEES
Awaken your child’s inner scientist with this Chapel Hill street fair that boasts more than 100 STEM activities including experiments, demonstrations, behind-the-scenes tours and more! April; ncsciencefestival.org
DURHAM BULLS BASEBALL Take the whole family out to the ball game, where there’s always something for the kiddos: give a giant hug to Wool E. Bull, dress up for Star Wars Night, catch some Friday night fireworks and run the bases. April-September; durhambulls.com
EARTH DAY FESTIVAL AT DURHAM’S ROCK QUARRY PARK Environmental fun for everyone with a green market, Earth Day parade, sustainability expo and Kids’ Zone. April; dprplaymore.org
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Specially curated to spark the interest and imagination of children, this series of three, one-hour shows is held at the Durham Performing Arts Center and followed by free kids’ parties. June-July; americandancefestival.org
DUKE HOMESTEAD’S PORK, PICKLES & PEANUTS Celebrate the history behind North Carolina’s food culture with educational cooking demonstrations plus barbecue and pie contests. July; dukehomestead.org
PAPERHAND PUPPET INTERVENTION AT UNC’S FOREST THEATRE Arrive early for a good seat at this incredible display of puppet artistry and storytelling. August-September; paperhand.org
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Fall
Year-Round Best Bets
CLYDEFEST
FARMERS’ MARKETS
Chatham County’s outdoor arts festival for children 10 years of age and younger encourages creativity and imagination. September; chathamarts.org
CHAPEL HILL’S FESTIFALL ARTS FESTIVAL Check out this handmade artwork market with live performances on queue and children’s activities aplenty. October 2, 2016; chapelhillfestifall.com
Both Durham and Orange counties host a multitude of vibrant farmers’ markets, offering fresh produce, meat and eggs year-round at most locations. Seasonal kids’ activities, demonstrations and tastings are also regularly offered. Check the websites below for dates. Durham Farmers’ Market durhamfarmersmarket.com
South Durham Farmers’ Market southdurhamfarmersmarket.org
PUMPKIN PATCH EXPRESS AT MUSEUM OF LIFE AND SCIENCE
Durham Roots Farmers’ Market durhamrootsfm.wix.com/home
Hop aboard the museum’s railway to its on-site pumpkin patch, where visitors are invited to pick out the perfect pumpkin, run through the hay maze, dive into the corn crib, make a craft and more! Weekends in October; lifeandscience.org
Chapel Hill Farmers’ Market thechapelhillfarmersmarket.com
Carrboro Farmer’s Market carrborofarmersmarket.com
Eno River Farmers’ Market enoriverfarmersmarket.com
Serving as a companion to North Carolina’s Comicon, The Carolina Theatre in Durham hosts this comic and superhero movie marathon. Nov. 11-13, 2016; carolinatheatre.org
Hillsborough Farmers’ Market hillsboroughfarmersmarket.org
Southern Village Farmers’ Market svfarmersmarket.com
Winter
Chatham Mills Farmers’ Market chathammillsfarmersmarket.com
Fearrington Village Farmers’ Market fearringtonfarmersmarket.com
Pittsboro Farmers’ Market pittsborofarmersmarket.org
COMIQUEST FILM FESTIVAL
‘HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS’ All your favorite characters from Dr. Seuss’ tale come to life at the Durham Performing Arts Center for this hit holiday musical. Nov. 29-Dec. 4, 2016; dpacnc.com
‘THE NUTCRACKER’ Jump into the holiday season with this classic tale performed by the Carolina Ballet at UNC’s Carolina Performing Arts Dec. 3-4, 2016 and at Durham Performing Arts Center Dec. 9-11. The Moscow Ballet takes to The Carolina Theatre’s stage Dec. 14-15, 2016. carolinaperformingarts.org; carolinatheatre.org
TOUCH A TRUCK With several events around the year at different locations – such as Northgate Mall and The Streets at Southpoint in Durham and University Place in Chapel Hill (touchatruckchapelhill.com) – there are plenty of opportunities for your little ones to experience up close the mastery of modern-day machines.
KWANZAAFEST The African American Dance Ensemble’s free fest at the Durham Armory includes a Children’s Village featuring arts and crafts, as well as dance and drumming classes. Jan. 1, 2017; africanamericandanceensemble.com
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PHOTO COURTESY OF BSA TROOP 39 CHAPEL HILL
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PHOTO BY JOSH HOFER
Rhiannon Giddens
Most Likely to
SUCCEED A FEW FAMOUS ALUMNI FROM DURHAM AND ORANGE COUNTIES
Durham André Leon Talley is a Hillside graduate and ruler
of the fashion scene: Formerly the American editor-at-large of Vogue magazine and currently the contributing editor and podcast host for the brand. Also a Hillside graduate, Shirley Caesar is an 11time Grammy Award-winning gospel singer. Lowell Oakley is a 2014 Durham Academy (DA) alum who performed on NBC’s 2015 season of “The Voice” after graduation, where he was a finalist. Steve Wilson started his football career at Northern High School, playing defensive back and wide receiver. From there, he played for Howard University (where he returned as head coach later in his career), and then for the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.
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Christina Hammock Koch is an alumna of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM)
in Durham and a NASA astronaut. Although she hasn’t been in space yet, she is qualified for a future assignment. Another NCSSM alum is Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter and musician Rhiannon Giddens, one of the founders of Carolina Chocolate Drops, who just recenlty released her first solo album. Loretta Lynch, the 83rd U.S. Attorney General, is an alumna of the former Durham High School. DA grad, doctor and assistant professor of medicine at UNC, William Fischer is a leader in the fight against Ebola. Alumna of Jordan High School, Carly Fiorina has been a hot topic recently as a Republican primary
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Sarah Dessen
PHOTO BY BRIANA BROUGH
PHOTO BY KRISTIN PRELIPP, KPO PHOTO
Chris Rosati
candidate for president, and previously served as the CEO of Hewlett-Packard. Also an alumnus of DA, Geoff Lamb made his way back to North Carolina to start Big Boss Brewing Company in Raleigh in 2006. Chris Rosati – the visionary behind Inspire MEdia Network, a Durham-based nonprofit that funds and films people doing good works in order to spread happiness – is a 1989 graduate of DA, too.
Chapel Hill Chapel Hill High School (CHHS) grad and best-selling young adult author Sarah Dessen built her career in Chapel Hill, attending UNC-Chapel Hill (where she later taught classes) for a degree in creative writing and working odd jobs around town while writing her first few books. She remains a Chapel Hillian. Also a product of Chapel Hill High, fashion designer Alexander Julian is a thought- and businessleader in Southern menswear. His trademark style can be found in many places, from sports teams (That
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argyle on UNC-Chapel Hill’s basketball uniforms? That’s all Alexander.) to local businesses to the national level; his designs are a part of the permanent collection at the Smithsonian Design Museum. Yet another CHHS alum is radio announcer for the Carolina Panthers Mick Mixon, a role he has held for more than a decade. Actor and – you guessed it – CHHS alum Clark Gregg is probably best known for his role as Phil Coulson in the Marvel franchise, but has also lent his voice to the animated TV series “Ultimate Spider-Man” and starred alongside Christine Campbell in “The New Adventures of Old Christine.” This might be an obvious one, but CHHS grad and singer/songwriter James Taylor is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as well as the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and a five-time Grammy Award winner. He has a bridge named after him over Morgan Creek. Anoop Desai graduated from East Chapel Hill High School in 2004 and UNC-Chapel Hill in 2008. His star rose that same year as he became a finalist on the eighth season of “American Idol.”
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Managing College
APPREHENSION SIX TIPS FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS
By Caitlin Wheeler
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ANAGING ANXIETY THROUGH THE INTENSE college search process – including visiting campuses, filling out forms, talking to other parents, writing essays and so on – benefits from planning, a focused approach and a network of friends, family and educators. Included here are specific suggestions for students and parents – “Parents often have more anxiety than students about the college transition,” cautions Cara Rousseau, the manager of social and digital media strategy at Duke University – that will help you weather (and even enjoy) the process. Among the tips: Visit local colleges on a free weekend this fall or spring. Write your essay about an activity or a friend that makes you smile (take advice from one recent high school grad in the sidebar on page 51). If you can’t stand taking tests, apply to a college that doesn’t require the SAT. Make your application reflect your best self—and then do the research to find the college that wants exactly that person. In this way, you can take advantage of whatever new
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ideas college consortiums come up with without having to rely on them for your mental health. Here, some more ideas from experts and experienced parents:
Be Organized, Plan Ahead – Way Ahead Psychologist Dr. Nina Solanki of Lepage Associates Psychological & Psychiatric Services in Durham suggests staying organized as a basic stress management strategy. “Freshman year is a great time to make yourself a calendar,” she says. “Plan out high school course requirements and mark important test dates.” Darla Phillips, who has a daughter at Clemson, and another who is a freshman at UNC-Chapel Hill, couldn’t agree more. “We weren’t really thinking about the overall picture” until her second daughter’s junior year, she says. “She planned to take a SAT review course after her fall sport was over, but then we couldn’t get her into a class until March. By then she was studying for the ACT at school, madly cramming for her AP exams, and taking the SAT course on the side. And of course there was prom.” Darla says she is more proactive and organized with her son, a freshman at Jordan High School.
Choose Activities You Enjoy Dr. Solanki suggests that freshmen start exploring extracurricular interests – not for colleges but for themselves. “It’s important for [their] self-esteem to have something going on other than grades and school,” she says. “You may not be the best soccer player, maybe you’re just out there to get exercise, but it’s a great way to be involved and to meet people. Open yourself up to new experiences. Take an art class. You don’t need to be an expert. The point is to learn something about yourself.” Elizabeth Everett, who has 20 years of independent school counseling experience, including five years as co-director of college counseling at Durham Academy, adds: “Choosing activities based on how you think you
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want to present yourself to colleges is doing yourself a disservice. The most sophisticated application readers see right through this premeditated approach to a high school career.” Libby Dondero, who graduated in May from Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill, is grateful her counselors at Trinity gave similar advice. “They advised us to get involved with stuff we’d actually enjoy,” she says. “Stuff we’d actually want to do, potentially through high school and into college. I’ve always enjoyed sports, so I ran cross-country and track. I loved it, and keeping busy really helped me stay organized with school work.” Libby is considering participating in club swimming at University of Virginia, where she enrolled as a freshman this year.
Be Realistic Dr. Solanki tells her high school clients to maintain open communication with their parents. “It’s common for kids to feel as if there is pressure for them to go to a certain school or type of school,” she says. “To make assumptions like this can lead to unnecessary stress. I always tell kids to talk with their parents in order to get an understanding of the true expectations.” It’s equally important, she adds, for students to voice their own expectations. “Parents need to be open to compromise,” she says. “Every parent has certain desires or dreams for their children. But what worked for them might not work for the child. College is a time for the child to come into their own.” Parents and students can also reduce needless stress by being realistic about the colleges that suit the student’s academic strengths. Darla says she and her daughters started making lists of colleges during junior year, once they had test scores and a clear academic record. “We had a couple of ‘reach schools,’ but also several that were absolutely attainable,” Darla says. “You’ve got to manage expectations,” Dr. Solanki says. “It’s great to have goals and dream schools, but it’s important to be flexible.” And for students not wanting to think about college at all? Elizabeth suggests college visits. Seeing the schools, she says, “helps plant the seed of college as a potential reality.”
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A Place for
EVERYBODY
F
ORTY YEARS AGO, A GROUP of colleges attempted to help students manage stress by introducing the Common Application, which allows students to apply to any number of Common App schools with a single application. In the mid-2000s, some colleges tried to reduce student anxiety by making SAT/ACT scores an optional part of an application. In 2015, 50 colleges decided that permitting students to build an online “locker” of their academic and extracurricular work, starting in ninth grade, would reduce senior-year frenzy. In 2016, another coalition of colleges signed on to a proposal to emphasize community service rather than competitiveness in admission determinations. Today there are more than 700 Common App schools, more than 800 schools no longer require the SAT, more than 90 schools have agreed to use the Coalition Application (the online locker concept), and 50-plus colleges signed the proposal to emphasize community service. There is a vast array of more than 5,000 colleges and universities in the U.S., ranging from community colleges to land-grant universities to beauty schools to online academies to post-secondary institutions, which operate as businesses to the Ivy League, according to the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU). Simply put, there is a school out there for everybody. Try to relax.
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Make the Best of Social Media, Peer and Parental Pressure “It’s hard not to compare yourself to what you see on social media,” Dr. Solanki says. “Just remember people only post their best selves online. Focus on what will be the best fit for you and your strengths. Surround yourself with supportive friends.” Libby found social media hard to ignore during college applications. She says that everyone posts test scores and acceptance letters. On one college’s Facebook page, a student posted that they’d received a certain SAT score and gotten in, and then another student posted that they’d received the same score and didn’t get in. “It was confusing,” Libby says. At the same time, Libby has taken advantage of the best aspects of college websites and blogs. She recently joined the Facebook page for the University of Virginia, class of 2020. “It’s been super helpful because I’m out of state and didn’t know anyone going,” she says, “and now I’ll have some familiar faces. It’s where I met my roommate.” Cara manages the “Devil’s Advocates,” a team of 30 students who control the @Duke student accounts, including YouTube, Snapchat and Tumblr. “Social media is a great platform for conversations with prospective and admitted students,” she says. “Our team can give much more realistic, up-to-the-minute advice on what daily life is like. It really eases new students’ anxieties.” Cara says that she has gotten calls from colleges around the country interested in setting up similar programs. She is also proud of Duke’s prospective parent Facebook page. “We’ve got a wonderful, wonderful community of current Duke parents who encourage and advise parents of incoming students,” she says. One of the recurring messages among parent peer groups is that “parents need to be cognizant of how their questions or comments can affect those to whom they’re directed,” says Elizabeth. “I’ve had several conversations with parents who have a no-college talk policy except with two or three of their closest friends. One of the biggest favors a parent can do
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for their college applicant-age child is to model how to maintain friendships and a social life that doesn’t revolve around college admissions talk.” (For more tips on optimal methods for utilizing social media, turn to page 52.)
Ask Questions, Save Money “Talk to people,” says Dr. Solanki. “Parents, teachers, older friends, guidance counselors. There’s no need to figure it all out on your own.” This can be especially true for financial aid and scholarships. Students and parents often make false assumptions about who can or cannot receive scholarships or aid. “They aren’t going to come and find you,” says Sarah Battersby, scholarship and donor services officer at Triangle Community Foundation (TCF), of the abundance of scholarships available for college-bound students. “There are
so many need-based, talent-based and merit-based scholarships out there, but you’ve got to do the research and track down the ones that fit your profile.” TCF alone has 50 funds, and last year awarded more than $700,000 to 172 area students. Many of their scholarships are targeted either to students who might not otherwise have access to higher education (first-generation Americans or low-income students), or to those who have excelled academically and need financial help. They also offer scholarships for demonstrated commitment to community service. Spending a little time looking into possible scholarships is definitely worth it. Also ask for details about the application policies at all the schools on your list. For Darla, the hardest part of the process was waiting for her second daughter to hear from colleges. Her oldest daughter had applied to UNC-Charlotte’s rolling admissions and got accepted almost right away in early fall. “As soon as you get that first admission, dream school or not,
Free cash. (Yes, really.) R E G I S T E R
T O D A Y
Recent Durham, Chapel Hill/Carrboro, and Orange County high school graduates who enroll at Durham Tech can get up to $500 a semester for four semesters. Something you can take to the bank – literally. durhamtech.edu/connectfunds
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you know you’re not going to be at home with your parents,” Darla says. Her second daughter had to wait until late January to hear from UNC. “It was awful not knowing, and not being able to do anything while we waited and waited,” she says. “My son will definitely apply to an early response school.”
For more information, see: Triangle Community Foundation trianglecf.org College Foundation of North Carolina CFNC.org College Board Collegeboard.org The Common Application commonapp.org Coalition for College Access (Coalition Application) coalitionforcollegeaccess.org
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Stress Relief Tips “Engage in fun and relaxing activities on a regular basis,” recommends Dr. Solanki. “Listen to music. Talk with friends.” Though she cautions: “If you notice your stress is intense and constant, or if you start to feel like you can’t get your work done, or if you can’t sleep or your appetite changes, then it might be time to consult a professional.” Libby recommends going at your own pace and trusting yourself: “Just don’t worry about what other people are saying. I’d heard the essay was super stressful, but for me, it wasn’t at all. It was only 500 words, not some five-page research paper. Also, trust your gut. I noticed that friends who always wanted to go to big schools have ended up at big schools, and vice versa. They explored a lot of options and they all ended up back with their original gut feeling.” Sarah stresses never take rejection personally. “I hate sending rejections,” she laments. “We make our choices based on the very specific nature of our scholarship requirements. It doesn’t mean you’re not absolutely fantastic.” 2016 NAVIGATING SCHOOLS
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Essays that
STAND OUT ADVICE FROM A SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT
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N THE FALL OF 2015, DURHAM ACADEMY’S Veronica Kim applied to Stanford, UNC-Chapel Hill, Harvard, Williams College and Yale. She was accepted to four out of the five: Stanford – where she now attends — UNC, Williams and Harvard. Her high school workload, which she already considered heavy, paired with the pressure of the college application process created stress for Veronica – as it does for most high school seniors – but her support systems at school and at home kept her grounded. And, if she’s being honest, Veronica says the writer in her had a lot of fun with the essay component of the process. She shared her thoughts on how others about to begin their own college applications can strive to stand out in their essays.
“Do not be afraid to love things. Whatever you may love – be it music or sports or books - love it unapologetically and freely. My loves in life are words, literature, language and journalism. These are not, by any standards, ‘cool’ activities. Nor are they particularly relatable. But I’ve honestly become so much more comfortable in myself because I’ve discovered my love for these things. And colleges love it. Seriously. There’s a difference between writing about something just because you think that a college will want to read an essay about it and writing about something because you just can’t not write about it. Colleges want to see you get excited about things. They want this excitement to be tangible, real and so much a part of you that it is impossible to separate your identity from it. Don’t let your worry about your reputation (or whatever insignificant insecurity) stand in your way. It’s just an amazing feeling to find that one thing that makes your heart beat a little faster.” – as told to Laura Zolman Kirk
I HAVE A VOICE
AND IT’S
RESPECTED. ____________ Maddison W., 9th grade ____________
It takes courage to be the new girl. Maddison discovered that her voice matters and she gets to use it every day. At Saint Mary’s we believe in the greatness of girls. That’s why we offer AP and honors courses, leadership opportunities, arts and athletics, community service and real-world experiences — so every girl can find her voice and has the confidence to use it. The possibilities are endless.
WHERE WILL YOU FIND YOUR COURAGE? OVERNIGHT & VISITATION DAYS October 27 - 28 SHADOW DAYS September 27 | October 11 | November 11
Serving girls, grades 9-12, boarding and day in Raleigh, N.C. www.sms.edu | 919.424.4100 | admission@sms.edu 2016 NAVIGATING SCHOOLS SMS1617_Ad_6x4_Maddison_Wrap.indd 1
To register, call the Admission Office at 919.424.4100. FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE
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#WINNING at Social Media By Laura Tierney
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T’S A GAME THAT MORE THAN 40 MILLION TEENS AROUND THE country play every year. Some play for likes, for views, for compliments and for causes. When they use platforms in positive ways, I call this winning the game of social media. So, as a parent, how do you coach your son or daughter to win that game rather than lose it? The key to success is to share the “do’s” of social media rather than only harping on the “don’ts.” Consider how the winningest men’s college basketball coach develops successful teams and players. Mike Krzyzewski doesn’t consistently lead his team to victory by only sharing the plays that they should never, ever run. He teaches them the most powerful plays. Social media is no different. So here are three power plays to help your child win at social media.
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No. 1
Encourage your child to follow positive role models.
Start by seeing who they follow on their favorite platforms and apps – celebrities, brands and friends. In November 2015, Common Sense Media found that teens in the U.S. spend about nine hours using media for enjoyment every day. That’s potentially more than a child’s classroom education. It’s not outlandish to suggest that who they follow is also who they’re admiring and, perhaps, emulating. Do these people align with your child’s core values? No? Well, it’s time to get other role models inducted into their feed. Fill those threads with positive influences who will fuel confidence and aspirations.
No. 2
Encourage your child to share positive posts.
Then encourage your child to share positive updates about themselves, their life, their ideas, and their dreams. Eleven-year-old Marley Dias is an excellent example of using social for good. Marley set a goal of collecting 1,000 books about black girls by the start of February, so she created the #1000blackgirlbooks Twitter campaign. She has far exceeded her goal, with almost 4,000 books and counting.
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No. 3
Get in the huddle
Social media is not something that deserves only an hour discussion once a year. This is an active relationship that parents and educators must initiate and champion on an ongoing basis. Huddle up on a weekly basis to keep your child away from cyberbullying, from devaluing their self-worth and from messaging strangers, and invest the necessary time to coach them on the positive plays of social media. Consider the long-term win of these plays. You teach your child a lesson with a lifetime value. Game on. Laura Tierney is the founder and president of The Social Institute, a Chapel-Hill based organization that helps schools succeed at social media. She has navigated the emergence of social media since she was 13 years old and now coaches U.S. Olympic athletes, schools, parents and thousands of teens each year on using social media in positive and powerful ways. Learn more about her social media coaching at thesocialinstitute.com.
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EDUCATORS Beyond the Classroom TEACHING MOMENTS WITH A MUSIC INSTRUCTOR, JUMP ROPE COACH AND AFTERSCHOOL SCIENCE TUTOR
By Phill Powell and Amanda MacLaren
Tuning In The real gifts of music lessons are not just in the notes
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HE PATH OF DRUMMER-NOW-MUSIC TEACHER Russell Lacy began at the N.C. School of the Arts where he trained as a classical percussionist, then to New York’s Queens College, where he earned his M.F.A. And now he’s back in Durham, where he shares his musical gifts with kids ages 6-18 at Russell Lacy Music. His approach to teaching young students, however, is anything but classic. At first, it’s all about the music. “Whether they’re playing Bach, Led Zeppelin or Charlie Parker, there are certain fundamentals about how to play an instrument and play it well,” Russell says. He and his staff teach drums, guitar, bass, piano, saxophone, clarinet, flute and voice. “But even though most of our students will not become professional musicians,” Russell says, “something really important happens when you learn a skill [and] craft – like learning the notes, for example. [It’s] then you begin to be able to manipulate that craft to your own musical, artistic and personal means. That ability breeds a confidence and understanding of how learning something well can be empowering, and that is the impact we [try to] have on our students.” Heather Garrett, whose rising eighth-grader takes lessons there,
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PHOTO BY BRIANA BROUGH
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Clay Bourguignon, 18, learning the drums from Russell Lacy. 2016 NAVIGATING SCHOOLS
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points out another source of the magic. “It’s so good because it’s so unusual,” she says. Kids can relate personally to Russell. He’s still relatively young. Plus, “he played with some pretty cool cats in New York. And he’s also this really vibrant, creative entrepreneur,“ she adds. “It results in an approach that works incredibly well with kids who are excited about learning music in a young, different way.” Heather praises the ensemble program band that includes her daughter, Blaire. It rehearses, assembles sets and performs gigs. “Now they’re writing their own music!” she reports. The “ensemble” approach is key to his students’ development, Russell says, regardless of their abilities or future musical path. “The sense of community is important,” he adds, “and turns the learning experience into a fun club. The more community you have, the more you’re going to grow as a musician.” – PP
Jumping for Poise and Pride Coach Ray Fredrick’s jump-ropers do not skip the life lessons
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PHOTO BY BRIANA BROUGH
“R
OPE ARTISTRY” IS A BETTER term than “jumpingrope” for the stunning feats performed by the 150 Bouncing Bulldogs, the innovative afterschool program that doubles as an internationally renowned sports team. Truly, the kids are not just jumping rope, but performing complex tricks – many of them downright astounding: Seven kids jumping rope at once using the same rope; jumpers flying and flipping with ninja-like precision. Leading the program is Coach Ray Fredrick, a retired Chapel Hill P.E. teacher who has become the John Wooden of jump rope, with a shelf of trophies and awards to prove it. But Ray wants to put his team’s athletic skills in perspective: “During a period of time when we are facing issues of childhood obesity and a need for effective leadership, [we strive to] offer a clear and proven system for helping kids become healthy in mind, body and spirit,” he says. “This approach builds life skills including communication, discipline, goal-setting, responsibility, self-motivation, teamwork and commitment.” Athletics and exercise, of course, are still the most obvious aspects of the award-winning program. “We train six days a week from September all the way to the end of June,” he says. “By overtraining and conditioning the body, it keeps our kids from getting injured.” Participants also gain poise, thanks to a busy performing schedule of 100-plus shows per year. “If you can put a young person in front of an audience on a consistent basis, it builds confidence,” Ray says. There are other benefits, like when kids become teachers, as
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Coach Ray Fredrick leads his Bouncing Bulldogs through more than 100 shows every year.
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Evelyn Sanchez-Garcia and her tutor, Surya Ravichandran, discussing lipids during a study session at the Emily K Center.
Bouncing Bulldogs’ peer leaders. The program also instills life lessons about hard work and giving back, he says. The greatest of these benefits, though, may be pride. Ray reports that during a recent international competition, the peak experience was hearing the Bulldogs’ hometown repeatedly announced following victories: “Chapel Hill … Durham … North Carolina … U.S.A.” “That meant so much to our program, that
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we always represent the community,” Ray says. “Because it’s the community that’s supported us all these years.” This year, the Bouncing Bulldogs program had its biggest year: 150 kids from 27 area schools and 19 different countries. Since 1985, some 5,000 local families have participated. “We don’t take that for granted,” Ray adds. “We’ve been very blessed for each family to have picked our program.” – PP
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Study Buddies
Talking
For an Emily K Center volunteer tutor and her high school pupil, learning is a two-way street
STRATEGY
VELYN SANCHEZ-GARCIA, 16, WASN’T so sure about biology. Her shyness made her hesitant to ask questions in class at J.D. Clement Early College High School, where she’s a junior. But that was before she met Surya Ravichandran through the Scholars to College program at the Emily K Center. The Durham nonprofit’s mission is to help students achieve in school and ultimately gain entry to and graduate from college, which it has been successfully doing for the past 10 years. Last year, 100% of seniors in the program graduated from high school and enrolled in college, and also earned more than $1.5 million in scholarships and grants. Surya learned about the possibility of tutoring at the center from friends during undergrad at Duke, where she graduated from last year with a degree in biology. “I was really interested in helping kids with the college process,” Surya says. “I have an older sister and I always felt very pampered by having her advice throughout my life. I think with a little bit of push, a lot of kids can reach their potential. The Scholars to College program is the perfect thing.” She tutored Evelyn over a semester, beginning last January. Evelyn credits Surya for easy explanations that makes science much easier to understand, and for helping her build confidence to be able to “ask the right questions during class.” “She’s an awesome tutor,” Evelyn says. “Now I’m starting to really like biology and enjoy it much more than I have ever before.” “When she first started she was very nervous about her own aptitude with biology,” Surya concedes, “but I’ve never heard someone ask me so many ‘why’ questions. At first it was, ‘Why?’ Well, it was just how I learned it and it was taught to me. It kind of made me learn anew, because I would be like, ‘Oh yeah, why is that?’ And we’d think through it together; I could see her mind evolve, piecing things together. It’s rewarding to have a student
Launched in the fall of 2016, Game Plan: College is the Emily K Center’s newest program. Open to ninth- through 12thgraders in Durham County, students can benefit from free college-focused workshops and one-on-one advising sessions that are flexible, with hours established based on student availability. Meant to provide all the information students need while planning and preparing for college or professional certificate programs, Game Plan: College targets students who are from families with unmet financial need, will be the first in their families to attend college or identify with a traditionally underrepresented racial group.
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who’s been so willing to learn and evolve over the course of the semester.” Now, Evelyn is torn between following two career paths: she wants to be a doctor – a heart surgeon – or an engineer. It’s an encouraging thought for Surya, who is currently applying to medical schools herself. “Oftentimes, girls are discouraged from pursuing STEM careers because of hindrance from accelerated math programs, etc. at ages as early as middle school,” Surya says. “As a girl who is currently pursuing science, I realize that I was lucky to have a lot of mentorship throughout my life and parents in STEM fields. However, that is not always the case for girls growing up and something that can hopefully change in the years to come!” At least where Evelyn is concerned, Surya is a part of that solution. – AM
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SCHOOLS DIRECTORY
A Comprehensive Directory of
PRIVATE, REGIONAL BOARDING, CHARTER and MAGNET SCHOOLS PRIVATE SCHOOLS DIRECTORY
CAMELOT ACADEMY 809 Proctor St., Durham 919-688-3040 camelotacademy.org
ACTON ACADEMY DURHAM 1201 W. Woodcroft Pkwy., Durham 919-241-3411 actonacademydurham.org
Focus Features individualized instruction, mastery-based learning and parental involvement. Grades K-12 Total Enrollment 120-130 Student/Faculty Ratio 10:1 Yearly Tuition $10,300 - $13,950; Merit scholarships for academically gifted students Special Requirements Reading and math assessments and two-day student visit. Application fee is $50.
Focus We use an innovative project-based approach to prepare students for the 21st century. We equip students with the skills, experiences and tools to passionately pursue academic excellence and change the world. Grades K-8 (expanding to high school in 2018) Total Enrollment 12 (and growing) Student/Faculty Ratio 6 to 1 Yearly Tuition $9,750 Special Requirements Application fee of $50, interview for middle school students. BETHESDA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1914 S. Miami Blvd., Durham 919-598-0190 bcacrusaders.org Focus Partners with Christian families to help equip students academically, socially, physically and spiritually. Grades K-8 Total Enrollment 195 Student/Faculty Ratio 15:1 Yearly Tuition Elementary, $6,585; Middle, $7,266 Special Requirements Student testing and parent interview.
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CARDINAL GIBBONS HIGH SCHOOL 1401 Edwards Mill Rd., Raleigh 919-834-1625 cghsnc.org Focus A college preparatory school of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh that aims to form men and women of faith, service and leadership in church and community. Grades 9-12 Total Enrollment Approx 1500 Student/Faculty Ratio 13:1 Yearly Tuition $10,340-$14,340 Special Requirements Previous school records, testing, application, recommendation and an essay.
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SCHOOLS DIRECTORY
CAROLINA FRIENDS SCHOOL 4809 Friends School Rd., Durham 919-383-6602 cfsnc.org Focus A vibrant and inclusive learning community inspired by Quaker values that empowers students to think critically, creatively and independently. Grades Pre-K-12 Total Enrollment 500 Student/Faculty Ratio 9:1 Yearly Tuition $11,860-$19.960 Special Requirements Families should apply the year before they would like to enroll their child – by Jan. 4 for Pre-K through lower school first year and by Jan. 15 for lower school second year through upper school. A written application, teacher recommendations, transcripts (for Upper School applicants), parent tour, parent interview and student visit are required. CARY ACADEMY 1500 N. Harrison Ave., Cary 919-677-3873 caryacademy.org
CHAPEL HILL COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL INFANT AND TODDLER SITE 110 N. Elliot Rd., Chapel Hill 919-942-0220 infantandtoddler110@gmail.com Focus The CHCP mission is to partner with families of children from diverse backgrounds to respect and honor childhood, celebrate independence and support children as they learn and grow through play. NAEYC Accredited and has a Five Star License. Grades Infant-2 years. Total Enrollment 28 Student/Faculty Ratio Infants, 3:1; Toddlers, 4:1; 2-y/o, 6:1 Yearly Tuition Tuition rates vary, depending on age and enrollment status; Half day, three-quarter day or full day options. Special Requirements None CRESSET CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 3707 Garrett Rd., Durham 919-489-2655 cressetchristian.org
Focus A college preparatory school integrating the best of traditional education with new and emerging technologies. Grades 6-12 Total Enrollment 760 Student/Faculty Ratio 9:1 Yearly Tuition $21,320 and new student fee is $2,000 Special Requirements Entrance exam, student visit/ interview, transcripts and teacher recommendation. Applications for 17-18 school will be online in September 2016.
Focus Cultivates the heart of each student to educate, nurture and help shape their character in a Christcentered environment grounded in the truth of God’s word. Grades Infant-12 Total Enrollment 275 Student/Faculty Ratio Infant, 5:1; Toddlers: 2-y/o, 9:1; 3-y/o, 10:1; 4-y/o,12:1; Elementary, 10-15:1; Middle/High School, 15-20:1 Yearly Tuition $7,740 - $9,720 Special Requirements Student and parent interview, previous records, visit and application.
CHAPEL HILL COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL 106 Purefoy Rd., Chapel Hill 919-942-3955 chapelhillcoop@yahoo.com
DUKE SCHOOL 3716 Erwin Rd., Durham 919-416-9420 dukeschool.org
Focus The CHCP mission is to partner with families of children from diverse backgrounds to respect and honor childhood, celebrate independence and support children as they learn and grow through play. NAEYC Accredited and has a Five Star License. Grades Pre-K Total Enrollment 55 Student/Faculty Ratio 2-y/o, 6:1; 3-y/o, 7:1; 4- and 5-y/o, 8:1 Yearly Tuition Tuition rates vary depending on age and enrollment status; Half day, three-quarter day or full day options. Special Requirements None
Focus Students leave Duke School with the ability to think independently and critically and prepared to take their place in the global community in which collaboration and strong communication skills are essential. Grades Three-Year-Olds to 8th Grade Total Enrollment 485 Student/Faculty Ratio Preschool, 8:1; Grades K-4, 12:1; Grades 5-8, 12:1 Yearly Tuition Visit website for details. Special Requirements Admissions application, student assessment, candidate profile, parent visit and tour. First consideration deadline is in January.
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DURHAM ACADEMY Preschool and Lower school: 3501 Ridge Rd., Durham Middle school: 3116 Academy Rd., Durham Upper school: 3601 Ridge Rd., Durham 919-493-5787 da.org Focus Strives to provide an education that will enable students to live moral, happy and productive lives. Grades Pre-K-12 Total Enrollment 1,202 Student/Faculty Ratio 10:1 Yearly Tuition $13,880-$24,040 Special Requirements Assessment or entrance exam, which varies by grade level. Interview required for grades 9-12. DURHAM NATIVITY SCHOOL 1004 N. Mangum St., Durham 919-680-3790 durhamnativity.org Focus Provides a learning environment for eligible boys, supporting them in their personal, social, moral and intellectual development, and positioning them to be successful at an independent college preparatory high school. Grades 5-8 Maximum Enrollment 60 Student/Faculty Ratio 15:1 Yearly Tuition None Special Requirements Open house. EMERSON WALDORF SCHOOL 6211 New Jericho Rd., Chapel Hill 919-967-1858 emersonwaldorf.org Focus Encourages and promotes independent thinking and social responsibility, as well as academic and artistic excellence. Grades Pre-K-12 Total Enrollment 260 Student/Faculty Ratio K, 8:1; Grades 1-12, 10:1 Yearly Tuition $4,950-$17,370 Special Requirements Meeting with parents and child, plus classroom visit. GORMAN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY AND EARLY LEARNING CENTER 3311 E. Geer St., Durham 919-688-2567 gormanchristian.org Focus Serves as partners with parents in providing an education consistent with the Bible. Grades K-8 Total Enrollment 100 Student/Faculty Ratio 12:1 Yearly Tuition K-5, $6,438; 6-8, $6,676 Special Requirements Administrator meets with parents and child. Early Learning Center Weekly Tuition: 2 year-olds, $189; 3-4 year-olds, $176
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HAW RIVER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 2428 Silk Hope Gum Springs Rd., Pittsboro 919-533-4139 hawriverchristian.org Focus A nonprofit, interdenominational private school providing an excellent Christian and classical education. Grades Junior K-Grade 10 (adding one grade per year) Total Enrollment 81 Student/Faculty Ratio 1:6 Yearly Tuition Phonics (JK/K), $4,500; Grammar, $5,500; Logic/Rhetoric, $6,000 Special Requirements Four-part admissions process includes tour with classroom observations, application, academic screening, and family interview. IMMACULATA CATHOLIC SCHOOL 721 Burch Ave., Durham 919-682-5847 immaculataschool.org Focus Views learning as a lifelong endeavor to grow spiritually, intellectually, socially, aesthetically and physically. Grades Age 3.5-Grade 8 Total Enrollment 465 Student/Faculty Ratio PreK-K, 9:1; Grades 1-2, 12:1; Grades 3-5, 13:1; Grades 6-8, 22:1 Yearly Tuition $6,447-$8,559; Varies depending on grade level and parishioner status. Special Requirements Entry test, copy of student’s permanent records and current teacher recommendations. (Application and teacher recommendations are available online.) Application fee is $100. INTERNATIONAL MONTESSORI SCHOOL 3001 Academy Rd., Bldg. 300, Durham 919-401-4343 imsnc.org Focus A nonprofit Mandarin Chinese, Spanish or French-language immersion school that aims to promote bilingualism at all ages and improve communication across cultural boundaries. Grades Age 3-Grade 6 Total Enrollment 100 Student/Faculty Ratio 9:1 Yearly Tuition Half day, $9,035; Three-quarter day, $12,110; After School Care, $2,920. Scholarships available. Special Requirements Parent interview and observation. JUST RIGHT ACADEMY 4723 Erwin Rd., Durham 919-932-0360 justrightacademy.org Focus Provides structure without rigidity for K-12 special needs students who struggle in a traditional environment. Grades K-12 Total Enrollment 60 Student/Faculty Ratio 3:1 Yearly Tuition $20,050 a year with a $500 materials fee; Limited financial aid available. Special Requirements School visit. Application fee of $50.
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SCHOOLS DIRECTORY
LEGACY ACADEMY 515 E. Winmore Ave., Chapel Hill 919-929-7060 lachapelhill.com
MI ESCUELITA SPANISH IMMERSION PRESCHOOL 405 B Smith Level Road, Chapel Hill 919-969-7949 miescuelitanc.org
Focus Students are actively involved in multi-sensory activities inside and out, including art, music, language and foreign language, brain power and physical activities designed to be both fun and nurturing. Kindergarten, after-school and camping programs for children up to 12 years also offered. Five Star licensure and NAEYC accredited. Grades 6 weeks-12 years Total Enrollment 100 Student/Faculty Ratio Infants, 4:1; 13-24 months, 5:1; 25-36 months, 8:1; 37-48 months, 9:1; 4-5 years, 12:1; 6-12 years, 14:1 Yearly Tuition Varies by age and program. Special Requirements Consultation required. Registration fee of $150.
Focus To create an integrated community by providing high-quality educational programs that honor diversity and encourage understanding through Spanish language immersion activities for Spanish-speaking and Englishspeaking children, their families, friends and neighbors. Grades Ages 1-5 years Total Enrollment Approximately 50 children Student Faculty Ratio 1-2 yrs. class, 5:1; 2-3 yrs. class, 8:1; 3-4 yrs. class, 9:1; 4-5 yrs. class, 12:1 Yearly Tuition $392-$1,421; varies by class. Check website. Special Requirements None
LERNER JEWISH COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL OF DURHAM 1935 W. Cornwallis Rd., Durham 919-286-5517 lernerschool.org Focus The Lerner School approach integrates Jewish studies through an authentic academic curriculum; fostering learning of Jewish values and traditions while building a diverse and caring community - one child at a time. Grades Preschool; Age 2-Grade 5 Total Enrollment 130 Student/Faculty Ratio 9:1 Yearly Tuition Flexible tuition is offered for elementary and 5-day preschool students. Tuition ranges from $4,925 - $16,385 for elementary, and $4,500 - $15,865 for preschool. Tuition is based on multiple schedule options: 5-day and 3-day; Half day (1pm); Full Day (3pm); Extended Day (6pm) and Early Care from 7:30am. Special Requirements Admissions application, parent and student visit, teacher recommendations and screening process. LIBERTY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 3864 Guess Rd., Durham 919-471-5522 lbcdurham.org Focus Aims to bring each student to a knowledge and relationship with Jesus Christ and prepares the student for a life of service while providing academic training. Grades Pre-K-12 Total Enrollment 200 Student/Faculty Ratio Pre-K-5, 18:1; Grades 6-12, 18:1 Yearly Tuition $3,900; $6,350 (2 children); $8,150 (3 or more children) Special Requirements Entry test and interview.
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MONTESSORI CHILDREN’S HOUSE OF DURHAM 2800 Pickett Rd., Durham 919-489-9045 mchdurham.org Focus Montessori education. Grades 18 months-Grade 6 Total Enrollment 140 Student/Faculty Ratio Toddler (18 months-3 years), 6:1; Preschool, 11:1; Elementary, 12.5:1 Yearly Tuition $4,200 - $15,330 Special Requirements Required visit for parents. MONTESSORI COMMUNITY SCHOOL 4512 Pope Rd., Durham 919-493-8541 mcsdurham.org Focus Students learn in a vibrant Montessori community where together, through the dynamic and relevant curriculum, they are guided toward self-discovery and the realization of their unique contributions to the world. Grades 18 months-Grade 8 Total Enrollment 215 Student/Faculty Ratio Toddler (8 months-3 years), 6:1; Ages 3-4, 11:1; Grades 1-3, 12:1; Grades 4-6, 13:1; Grades 7-8, 8:1 Yearly Tuition Toddler (Half Day), $10,454; Toddler (Full Day), $14,345; Ages 3-4, $9,821; Kindergarten, $13,712; Grades 1-3, $13,853; Grades 4-6, $14,240; Grades 7-8, $16,664; Before Care/Late Day Care options available Special Requirements Family interview; Applicants for grades 1-8 come for three-day classroom visit. „
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MONTESSORI DAY SCHOOL 1702 Legion Rd., Chapel Hill 919-929-3339 mdsch.org
PRIMROSE SCHOOL AT HOPE VALLEY FARMS 702 Juliette Dr., Durham 919-484-8884 primroseschools.com/schools/hope-valley-farms
Focus Offers a faculty-operated school, a well-equipped learning environment and an enriched Montessori curriculum to meet the needs of children with a wide range of abilities. On-site aftercare also available. Grades Toddler-Grade 6 Total Enrollment 72 Student/Faculty Ratio 10:1 Yearly Tuition $8,950 - $10,350 Special Requirements Interview process includes a general evaluation and a meeting with parents. Threeday visit for elementary.
Focus An accredited private preschool that provides a premier educational child care experience. Partners with parents to help children build the right foundation for future learning and life. Grades Infant-Pre-K Total Enrollment 158 Student/Faculty Ratio Infant, 1:4; toddler, 1:6; early preschool (ages 2-3), 1:8; preschool (ages 3-4), 1:10; pre-K (ages 4-5), 1:13; school-aged children (ages 5-11), 1:14 Yearly Tuition $1,005-$1,442 Special Requirements $150 pre-registration fee.
MONTESSORI FARM SCHOOL 2400 Broad St., Ste. 2, Durham 919-732-5026 montessorifarmschool.com
QUALITY EDUCATION INSTITUTE 800 Elmira Ave., Durham 919-680-6544 qeidurham.org
Focus Special emphasis on nature study and activities including gardening and animal care. Grades Pre-K-K Total Enrollment Up to 22 Student/Faculty Ratio 11:1 Yearly Tuition Pre-K, $7,000; Kindergarten, $8,500 Special Requirements Contact the school and set up an appointment to visit.
Focus A student-centered learning community with a rigorous curriculum and clearly defined standards of performance and high expectations. Grades Pre-K-5 Total Enrollment 49 Student/Faculty Ratio 12:1 Yearly Tuition $7,500 Special Requirements Placement test.
MOUNT ZION CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 3519 Fayetteville St., Durham 919-688-4245 mzcadurham.org
THE SCHOOLHOUSE AT GREENWOOD 806 Christopher Rd., Chapel Hill 919-918-7802 theschoolhouseatgreenwood.com
Focus Prepares students for college or technical school, as well as for obtaining employment upon graduation from high school. Grades K-12 Total Enrollment 250 Student/Faculty Ratio 15:1 Yearly Tuition PreK, $155/week; Elementary and Secondary, $500/month; Boarding, $12,000 Special Requirements Application and fee; $150 for day students and $500 for boarding students.
Focus To provide an intellectual education at the preschool level and, to expect only what a child is able to do according to his/her developmental readiness. Grades Preschool. (Birth–6 years) Enrollment: 11 Student/Faculty Ratio 1:4 Tuition: Call for information Special Requirements Children are accepted year-round, depending on available space.
PINEWOODS MONTESSORI SCHOOL 109 Millstone Dr., Hillsborough 919-644-2090 pinewoodsmontessori.com Focus Children are taught traditional academics as well as basic life skills and social awareness. Grades Pre-K-6 Total Enrollment 101 Student/Faculty Ratio Toddler, 12:2; Preschool 11:1; Elementary, 20:2 Yearly Tuition Toddler and primary half-day: $4,200$5,700; Extended day: $6,600; Lower elem.: $7,300; Upper elem.: $8,300 Special Requirements Scheduled observation recommended before submitting an application.
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ST. THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC SCHOOL 920 Carmichael St., Chapel Hill Lower school: 919-929-1546; Middle school: 919-929-2241 stmcsnc.org Focus Provides an education for each child in a Godcentered environment. Grades Age 3-Grade 8 Total Enrollment 412 Student/Faculty Ratio 3-y/o, 7:1; 4-y/o, 10:1; Grades K-3, 25:2 (teacher and assistant); Grades 4-8, 25:1 Yearly Tuition 3-y/o (3 Day), $3,800; 3-y/o (5 Day), $6,330; PreK 4-year-olds, $6,330; K-8, $7,450 - $9,690 Special Requirements Application, $200 application fee, test scores, report cards, feedback from previous teachers, birth certificate, baptismal certificate, letter from Catholic parish (if parish tuition rate), health form and immunization record.
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SCHOOLS DIRECTORY
SOUTHPOINT ACADEMY 7415 Fayetteville Rd., Durham 919-405-2080 southpointacademy.org
TRINITY SCHOOL OF DURHAM AND CHAPEL HILL 4011 Pickett Rd., Durham 919-402-8262 trinityschoolnc.org
Focus Prepares students to become ethical, wellrounded and self-sufficient citizens by providing a worldclass education in a nurturing Christian environment. Also offers a 10-week summer program. Grades K-5 Total Enrollment Less than 50 Student/Faculty Ratio 10:1 Yearly Tuition $5,500 Special Requirements Tour, application, meeting with administrator and student testing.
Focus Trinity School helps students discover and strengthen their gifts and become who God has called them to be. Rich and vibrant faith is the foundation for a deep education, with excellent academics, outstanding fine arts programs and competitive athletics. Trinity is a community that celebrates wonder and curiosity and fosters engagement with deep questions – a place where bright minds and open hearts meet. Grades Transitional K-12 Total Enrollment 530 Student/Faculty Ratio Lower school, 10:1; Middle school, 7:1; Upper school, 8:1 Yearly Tuition $10,920-$19,950 Special Requirements Check website for complete details, application deadlines and open house dates.
THE HILL CENTER 3200 Pickett Rd., Durham 919-489-7464 hillcenter.org Focus Transforms students with learning differences into confident, independent learners. Grades K-12 Total Enrollment 170 Student/Faculty Ratio 4:1 Yearly Tuition K-12 (half-day), $18,750; Grades 9-12 may choose to enroll for two hours ($14,525) or one hour ($10,725). Special Requirements Application and interview required. TRIANGLE DAY SCHOOL 4911 Neal Rd., Durham 919-383-8800 triangledayschool.org Focus As a warm and welcoming community devoted to academic excellence, Triangle Day School ignites intellectual curiosity, fosters compassion and integrity, and nurtures creativity, inspiring confidence in each student to lead a life of purpose. Grades Transitional K-8 Total Enrollment 200-210 Student/Faculty Ratio 9:1 Yearly Tuition $11,935 - $15,135 Special Requirements Student visit and assessment.
WILLOW OAK MONTESSORI CHILDREN’S HOUSE 886 Hamlet Chapel Rd., Pittsboro 919-240-7787 childrenshouse.willowoakmontessori.org Focus Willow Oak Montessori strives to assist children in achieving their unique potential as responsible global citizens by nurturing self-confidence and independent decision making in a stimulating, creative, and diverse Montessori community. Grades Pre-school. (3–6 years) Enrollment 42 Student/Faculty Ratio 1:11 Tuition $5,640/year
REGIONAL BOARDING SCHOOLS DIRECTORY ASHEVILLE SCHOOL 360 Asheville School Rd., Asheville 828-254-6345 ashevilleschool.org Focus Students live in a nurturing community where faculty and students genuinely know one another. The school offers a rigorous co-ed college preparatory program for students who represent 20 states and 16 countries. Grades 9-12 Total Enrollment 285 Student/Faculty Ratio 4:1 Yearly Tuition Boarding, $51,735; Day, $31,130 Special Requirements Separate interviews for both parents and child required. SSAT exam, full application, Math and English recommendations, transcript and testing also required. For more information, email admissions@ashevilleschool.org.
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NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS 1219 Broad St., Durham 919-416-2825 ncssm.edu Focus The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics is a public, residential, coeducational high school for juniors and seniors from across North Carolina who have high intellectual ability and commitment to scholarship. NCSSM is pioneering opportunities for generations of innovators to challenge the limits of what’s possible and power the ideas that shape our lives. Grades 11-12 Total Enrollment 680 residential, 800+ enrolled in Distance Education programs (online program and interactive videoconferencing) Student/Faculty Ratio 8.5:1 Yearly Tuition NCSSM is tuition free. There are no fees associated with applying, being accepted to or attending. Special Requirements Application requirements at ncssm.edu/apply. SALEM ACADEMY 500 E. Salem Ave., Winston-Salem 336-721-2643 salemacademy.com Focus Fosters the intellectual, spiritual, social and physical growth of young women. Offers 16 Advanced Placement courses, competition in 11 sports, a comprehensive fine arts program and technology, advising and co-curricular programs. Grades 9-12 Total Enrollment 175 Student/Faculty Ratio 7:1 Yearly Tuition Boarding, $45,060; Day, $22,380 Special Requirements Application process includes teacher recommendations, testing, an interview and transcripts. SAINT MARY’S SCHOOL 900 Hillsborough St., Raleigh 919-424-4000 sms.edu Focus This independent, Episcopal, college-preparatory, boarding and day school is dedicated to academic excellence and personal achievement for girls. Grades 9-12 Total Enrollment 263 Student/Faculty Ratio 8:1 Yearly Tuition Boarding, $51,250; Day, $25,750. Need and merit based financial aid available. Special Requirements SSAT exam required.
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ORANGE/CHATHAM COUNTY CHARTER SCHOOLS DIRECTORY ENO RIVER ACADEMY (FORMERLY ORANGE CHARTER SCHOOL) 920 Corporate Dr., Hillsborough 919-644-6272 orangecharterschool.org Focus Utilizing a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math (STEAM) curriculum model to build upon a 17-year tradition of academic and artistic excellence. Grades K-10. Grades 9 and 10 will be located at 1220 NC Highway 57 N, Hillsborough. Total Enrollment 320 Student/Faculty Ratio 20:1 Special Requirements Application. Initial enrollment based on lottery; students are waitlisted once slots are filled. THE EXPEDITION SCHOOL 437 Dimmocks Mill Rd., St. 33, Hillsborough 919-245-8432 theexpeditionschool.com Focus Our mission is to embrace the natural curiosity of children and empower them to become innovative problem solvers and community builders, and to provide excellent education through an experiential, project based, and STEM focused curriculum. Grades K-7, 2015-2016; K-8, 2016-2017+ Total Enrollment 290 Student/Faculty Ratio Grades K-4, 1.5:19; Grades 5-8, 1:22. Resource and other non-classroom teacher and teacher assistant staff not included in ratio. Special Requirements To apply to a charter school, students must be domiciled in NC. Must apply during open application period in order to be eligible for the lottery held each spring. WILLOW OAK MONTESSORI CHARTER SCHOOL 50101 Governors Dr. #170, Chapel Hill 919-240-7787 charter.willowoakmontessori.org Focus Willow Oak Montessori strives to assist children in achieving their unique potential as responsible global citizens by nurturing self-confidence and independent decision making in a stimulating, creative, and diverse Montessori community. Grades 1-6 and expanding Enrollment 180 and growing Student/Faculty Ratio 1:15 Special Requirements Application, initial enrollment based on lottery; students are waitlisted once slots are filled.
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SCHOOLS DIRECTORY
WOODS CHARTER SCHOOL 160 Woodland Grove Ln., Chapel Hill 919-960-8353 woodscharter.org
EXCELSIOR CLASSICAL ACADEMY CFA 4100 N. Roxboro St. 919-213-8585 excelsior.teamcfa.school
Focus Emphasizes academic excellence and parent and family involvement in the academic environment. Grades K-12 Total Enrollment 510 Student/Faculty Ratio 16:1 Special Requirements Preference given to children of faculty and siblings of current students. Other applicants are chosen through a lottery system. Once spots are filled, the remaining applicants are put on a waitlist.
Focus To provide excellence and equity in education by developing in every student a foundation of knowledge, a practice of reason, a quality of eloquence and a habit of virtue, to prepare each student for a lifetime of learning and citizenship. Grades K-5 for the 2016-2017 school year. The school will add a grade each year to grow to K-12. Total Enrollment 360 Student/Faculty Ratio 1:18 Special Requirements Open application and enrollment. If more applications are received than the allotted number of spots for each grade, a random lottery is conducted for all vacant spots.
DURHAM CHARTER SCHOOLS DIRECTORY CARTER COMMUNITY 1955 W. Cornwallis Rd. 919-797-2340 carterschool.org Focus “College prep begins in kindergarten.” Our mission is to prepare children for college and other productive lifelong learning experiences, beginning in kindergarten. Grades K-8 Total Enrollment 285 Student/Faculty Ratio 17:1 Special Requirements Application. Students accepted on a first-come first-serve basis. Students are waitlisted once all slots are filled. CENTRAL PARK SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN 724 Foster St. 919-682-1200 cpscnc.org Focus CPSC has a progressive, project-based, and rigorous curriculum that integrates the arts, while encouraging curious exploration and discovering how to learn. Class communities are developed based on trusting communication, collaboration and problem solving. Emphasis is on teaching the whole child in order to develop safe, supported, challenged and engaged students. CPSC Middle School empowers all students to become ethical, caring, and critical democratic citizens. We are dedicated to creating a diverse, safe, and supportive community where our students can take risks, grow, and explore their unique strengths and interests. Grades K-8 Total Enrollment 543 Student/Faculty Ratio 14-21:1 Special Requirements Application. Tours are strongly encouraged and are offered from October through March.
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HEALTHY START ACADEMY 807 W. Chapel Hill St. 919-956-5599 healthystartacademy.com Focus Strives to help its students grow, especially in math and reading. Encourages parent involvement. Promotes a child-centered curriculum with a safe and structured academic environment. Grades K-8 Total Enrollment More than 350 Student/Faculty Ratio 16:1 Special Requirements Application. Lottery is used for admission. KESTREL HEIGHTS SCHOOL High school: 4700 S. Alston Ave.; Middle and elementary school: 4900 Prospectus Dr. 919-484-1300 kestrelheights.org Focus Teaches the Paideia philosophy of hands-on teaching versus lecturing. Grades K-12 Total Enrollment 1,100 Student/Faculty Ratio 17:1 Special Requirements Application. Lottery for available student slots occurs the first Friday in March.
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KIPP DURHAM COLLEGE PREPARATORY 1107 Holloway St. 919-973-0285 kippenc.org
VOYAGER ACADEMY 101 Hock Parc Ln. 919-433-3301 voyageracademy.net
Focus Our mission is to empower all of our students with the skills, knowledge, and character necessary to succeed at the colleges of their choices, strengthen their communities and fight for social justice. Our extended school day allows us to focus on character education, college-prep academics and extracurricular activities. Our target population is students who will be first generation college students. Grades 5 and 6; Will add one grade level each year to become 5-8 Total Enrollment 180 Student/Faculty Ratio 23:1 Special Requirements None.
Focus Project-based learning. Grades K-12 Total Enrollment 1,350 Student/Faculty Ratio 20:1 Special Requirements Entry is by lottery only. Applications accepted online Jan. 1 - Feb. 28. Lottery is held in March. School serves students of all ability levels.
MAUREEN JOY CHARTER SCHOOL 107 S. Driver St. 919-908-1600 joycharter.org Focus Provides the academic and character skills necessary to succeed in high school, college and the competitive world beyond. Grades K-8 Total Enrollment 636 Student/Faculty Ratio Grades K, 16:1; Grades 1-3, 22:1; Grades 4-8, 24:1 Special Requirements Application and blind lottery. REACHING ALL MINDS ACADEMY 2703 Holloway St. 919-596-1899 reachingallminds.com Focus Reaching All Minds Academy is an elementary charter school with a S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) focus. Grades K-5 Enrollment 225 Student/Teacher Ratio 18:1 Special Requirements None. RESEARCH TRIANGLE CHARTER ACADEMY 2418 Ellis Rd. 919-957-7108 researchtrianglecharteracademy.org Focus Curriculum is built around a strong emphasis on math, reading, science and social studies – the foundation for college readiness. Grades K-8 Total Enrollment 686, goal of 716 Student/Faculty Ratio Kindergarten, 20:1; Grades 1-8, 26:1 Special Requirements Lottery.
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DURHAM PUBLIC MAGNET SCHOOLS DIRECTORY (Public schools; no tuition) Special Requirements for all DPS Magnet Schools: Students who wish to attend a DPS magnet school must apply during the magnet application period January 2017. Parents and students interested in learning more about the programs offered can go to magnet.dpsnc. net. You can also attend the annual Magnet Fair on Saturday, November 5, 2016, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Southern School of Energy and Sustainability. At the fair, you’ll be able to survey 23 elementary, middle and high school magnet programs as well as the Career-Technical Education pathways available at the high school level. You can talk to school staff, parents and students, and decide which schools you’d like to tour. (Note: For student-tofaculty ratios, contact each school individually.) BURTON INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE MAGNET ELEMENTARY 1500 Mathison St. 919-560-3908 burton.dpsnc.net Focus The school’s International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) is a high-quality program of international coursework developed and authorized by world renowned International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). The IB Programme is designed to help develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world. Grades K-5 Total Enrollment 344 CITY OF MEDICINE ACADEMY 301 Crutchfield St. 919-560-2001 cma.dpsnc.net Focus A small learning community and national model designed to educate and train students to work in the field of health services and medical care. CMA provides coursework and field opportunities focused on the healthcare industry with an emphasis on rigorous and relevant learning experiences. Grades 9-12 Total Enrollment 296
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SCHOOLS DIRECTORY
CLUB BOULEVARD INTEGRATED ARTS & HUMANITIES MAGNET ELEMENTARY 400 W. Club Blvd. 919-560-3918 clubblvd.dpsnc.net Focus Seeks to develop students within a humanitiesrich environment. The instructional program promotes deep understandings and meaningful connections to the community and the world. All students are inspired to achieve their highest potential through a variety of instructional practices and integrated thematic studies. By weaving the visual and performing arts and an indepth study of the humanities into all content areas, the school fosters dignity, creativity and academic achievement. Grades K-5 Total Enrollment 492 DURHAM SCHOOL OF THE ARTS 400 N. Duke St. 919-560-3926 dsa.dpsnc.net Focus Emphasizes student development through rigorous academics and strong visual and performing arts programs, encouraging students to see the connections among different subjects. N.C. School of Distinction, and ranks in US News and World Report’s Top 1% of public schools in the nation and ranked Top High School in North Carolina. Grades 6-12 Total Enrollment 1,639 EASLEY YEAR-ROUND ELEMENTARY 302 Lebanon Circle 919-560-3913 easley.dpsnc.net
Homeschool Help DIMENSIONS FAMILY SCHOOL 706 Ninth St., Second Floor, Durham 919-564-6832 dimensionsfamilyschool.org Focus A family-centered, community-oriented educational nonprofit that supports parents and students in their individual educational journeys. Dimensions provides families with support in their homeschooling journey, mixing the strengths of a vibrant, multi-faceted school community with the individual, family based strengths of homeschooling. Dimensions provides members with the resources they need to direct their own learning, including materials, classes, clubs, professional development and social opportunities. Parents retain control of and responsibility for their students’ educational path and outcomes. Grades Preschool through high school Total Enrollment: 80 families Student/Faculty ratio 9:1 Tuition Program membership is $80 per month for a family. Visit the school website for additional information. Special Requirements None. Dimensions welcomes all homeschoolers.
HILLSIDE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE HIGH SCHOOL 3727 Fayetteville St. 919-560-3925 hillside.dpsnc.net
Focus The school aims to provide its students with high-quality, engaging instruction in a safe, nurturing environment that promotes higher-level thinking, creativity and skills to be productive citizens. Grades K-5 Total Enrollment 583
Focus The school offers a wide range of Advanced Placement courses and the International Baccalaureate Programme. The science department maintains an active relationship with several Research Triangle facilities. The school is also the site for a specialized Business and Finance Academy. Students may study electronics, engineering and childcare through the Workforce Development courses, as well as traditional business classes. Grades 9-12 Total Enrollment 1,305
GEORGE WATTS MONTESSORI MAGNET SCHOOL 700 Watts St. 919-560-3947 watts.dpsnc.net
NEW TECH HIGH SCHOOL 3727 Fayetteville St. 919-560-9183 newtech.dpsnc.net
Focus The school’s mission is to prepare students to be responsible, productive students who have a sense of personal fulfillment and a feeling of love and respect for others. The most important goals for each child are to develop confidence for learning, maintain the desire to learn and obtain the knowledge and skills to support growth. Grades Pre-K-5 Total Enrollment 350
Focus A small, innovative, STEM high school designed to offer an alternative to the traditional high school experience and provide students with a uniquely different learning environment. This environment is enriched with a one-to-one computer-to- student ratio, Project-Based Learning instructional model and a small school environment designed to build positive working relationships with teachers and fellow students. Grades 9-12 Total Enrollment 225
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SCHOOLS DIRECTORY
HOLT YEAR-ROUND ELEMENTARY LANGUAGE ACADEMY 4019 Holt School Rd. 919-560-3928 holt.dpsnc.net Focus A program magnet school on a year-round calendar, the school is committed to integrating excellent and innovative instruction in language and global studies with a curriculum that incorporates linguistics, literature, culture, arts and core studies. Grades PreK-5 Total Enrollment 653 JAMES E. SHEPARD MAGNET MIDDLE SCHOOL 2401 Dakota St. 919-560-3938 shepard.dpsnc.net Focus International Baccalaureate - Middle Years Program that offers a rigorous curriculum that prepares students for high school and college-level academics. Features foreign language study, law-related education and a substantial use of technology. Grades 6-8 Total Enrollment 512
JD CLEMENT EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL 1801 Fayetteville St. 919-560-2696 echs.dpsnc.net Focus Located on the campus of N.C. Central University, Early College High School students may leave with sufficient college credits to enter a four-year, liberal arts program as a junior. Early College High Schools focus on students for whom a smooth transition into postsecondary education is challenging: low- income students, minority students, English Language learners, and first-generation, college-bound students. Grades 9-12 Total Enrollment 354 LAKEWOOD MONTESSORI MIDDLE SCHOOL 2119 Chapel Hill Rd. 919-560-2894 montessorimiddle.dpsnc.net Focus A peaceful, nurturing community where adolescents grow academically and socially through the mastery of real life skills and knowledge. Students are encouraged to become independent thinkers, engaged learners and positive contributors to our society by showing responsibility for each other and the world around them. Grades 6-8 Total Enrollment 302
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SCHOOLS DIRECTORY
LOWE’S GROVE STEM MIDDLE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY 4418 S. Alston Ave. 919-560-3946 lowesgrove.dpsnc.net Focus A Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) school with a particular emphasis on the infusion of technology. The school offers specialized “Techways” including Digital Media Technology, Robotics and Design Technology, Environmental Technology and Arts and Kinesthetic Technology. Grades 6-8 Total Enrollment 671 MIDDLE COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL 1616 Cooper St. 919-536-7203 mchs.dpsnc.net Focus Located on the campus of Durham Technical Community College. Students complete high school requirements while acquiring credit toward an associate degree, a four-year college or an industry certification credential. Grades 11-12 Total Enrollment 159 MOREHEAD MONTESSORI SCHOOL 909 Cobb St. 919-560-3954 morehead.dpsnc.net Focus Through a partnership with students, families and community, the school promotes the academic, social, emotional and physical growth of all students using developmentally appropriate hands-on activities to cultivate strengths and celebrate differences. Montessori teachers help children become independent and selfdirected in their learning by giving enough assistance to guide and challenge, while allowing ample room for individual discovery. The Montessori model assumes that all children want to learn, and it respects the individual’s style and pace of learning. Grades Pre-K-5 Total Enrollment 221 NEAL MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING AND DESIGN 201 Baptist Rd. 919-560-3955 neal.dpsnc.net Focus Provides opportunities for all students to experience highly engaging coursework in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Grades 6-8 Total Enrollment 784
2016 NAVIGATING SCHOOLS
PEARSONTOWN YEAR-ROUND ELEMENTARY 4915 Barbee Rd. 919-560-3964 pearsontown.dpsnc.net Focus Students are empowered to become critical thinkers, self- directed lifelong learners, quality producers, collaborative workers, community contributors and responsible citizens. Grades K-5 Total Enrollment 801 R.N. HARRIS INTEGRATED ARTS/CORE KNOWLEDGE MAGNET ELEMENTARY 1520 Cooper St. 919-560-3967 harris.dpsnc.net Focus The school teaches reading, writing, math, science and history skills through exciting, comprehensive units based on the Core Knowledge curriculum developed by E.D. Hirsch and fused with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. The Core Knowledge curriculum offers students a broad base of shared knowledge through the study of Africa, Egypt, early civilization, the empires of the Mayan, Inca, Aztec, Greek and Roman people, The Middle Ages, the Renaissance, China, Japan and India. Students examine masterpieces from literature, art and music, bringing the content areas to life. Grades Pre-K-5 Total Enrollment 345 ROGERS-HERR YEAR-ROUND MIDDLE SCHOOL 911 W. Cornwallis Rd. 919-560-3970 rogersherr.dpsnc.net Focus Students benefit from a smaller class size and a highly trained faculty that focuses on students’ needs so they can attain the knowledge and skills needed to stay competitive in high school and beyond. Grades 6-8 Total Enrollment 636 SANDY RIDGE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS MAGNET SCHOOL 1417 Old Oxford Rd. 919-560-2695 sandyridge.dpsnc.net Focus Through the arts, the school supports the development of the whole child so that all can reach their full potential. Students will cultivate the skills and experiences necessary to thrive in 21st century society. Grades Pre-K-5 Total Enrollment 594
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THE SCHOOL FOR CREATIVE STUDIES 5001 Red Mill Rd. 919-560-3535 scs.dpsnc.net
W.G. PEARSON STEAM MAGNET ELEMENTARY 3501 Fayetteville St. 919-560-3988 pearson.dpsnc.net
Focus The school follows a year-round calendar and its theme centers on applied creativity, media, design and communication arts. Grades 6-12 Total Enrollment 526
Focus All students are nurtured through a menu of engaging electives in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM). Grades K-5 Total Enrollment 520
SOUTHERN SCHOOL OF ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY 800 Clayton Rd. 919-560-3968 southern.dpsnc.net Focus All students attending Southern School of Energy and Sustainability will select one of the following four small schools in which to complete his or her high school requirements. They are: The School of Biomedical Technology, The School of Business Management and Sustainability, The School of Technology or Engineering and The School of Architecture & Construction. Grades 9-12 Total Enrollment 1,389
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