Several private and charter schools in the area are set to start classes. Here’s a roundup:
Cannon School
Classes will begin at Cannon School on Aug. 17. An orientation for new students will be Friday.
Located at 5801 Poplar Tent Road, Concord, Cannon is a private, co-educational school for students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
Cannon, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, emphasizes five core values: courage, teamwork, respect, integrity and passion.
School begins at 8:07 a.m. Aug. 17 for about 815 students enrolled.
Cannon School is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools and has received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and Southern Association of Independent Schools.
It has more than 90 full-time faculty members and offers small classes with a 1 to 10 teacher-student ratio.
The school is planning a series of events highlighting the 40th anniversary of its founding, including an Oct. 10 anniversary celebration.
Cannon’s football program looks to build on its JV squad’s undefeated inaugural season last year. Other sports include basketball, swimming and volleyball.
Matt Gossage is head of school.
For more information, call the school at 704-786-8171 or visit the Web site at www. cannonschool.org.
Faith Christian Academy
Classes at Faith Christian Academy will begin Aug. 24, a Monday.
A school open house will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 20.
Kindergarten orientation will be 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Aug. 21.
The school, located at 904 Chipola St. in Kannapolis, is a co-educational, religious-affiliated school that offers kindergarten through 12th grade.
The school’s affiliation is Free Will Baptist.
About 40 students attend Faith Christian Academy, which has 12 faculty members.
Before-school and after-school care is available for students enrolled there. Nursery school for children ages 6 weeks to 4 years is also available.
The school offers the A Beka curriculum for kindergarten through second grade and the computer-based Switched-on-Schoolhouse curriculum for higher grades.
Athletics are also offered at the school. Middle school and high school students can get involved in basketball, volleyball and other activities.
The school’s principal is Pamela Lewis.
For more information about Faith Christian Academy, call 704-933-7586 or visit the Web site at www.thejustshalllivebyfaith.com.
Gray Stone Day School
Gray Stone Day School will start classes on Aug. 20. Classes are 8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.
Gray Stone is located at 48380 U.S. 52 in Misenheimer, on the campus of Pfeiffer University.
Gray Stone is a regional charter school that provides college preparatory curriculum for grades nine through 12. It is a state-supported school, so there is no charge to any North Carolina resident. Students can attend for free.
The school serves about 300 students from Stanly, Rowan, Cabarrus, Montgomery, Mecklenburg, Davidson and Randolph counties.
Gray Stone students can use some Pfeiffer facilities, such as the G.A. Pfeiffer Library, athletic fields and the auxiliary gym. Students can earn college credits while enrolled at Gray Stone.
The school is a member of the Yadkin Valley Conference in North Carolina High School Athletic Association. Gray Stone participates in all major sports, except football and wrestling.
Gray Stone’s technology department offers one wireless laptop cart for use in most of the classrooms. There is also a small computer lab. Students may bring their laptops and work in most of the areas on campus or they have access to many other computers to use while in the facility.
In the fall, students can participate in boys cross country and soccer, and girls cross country, tennis and volleyball. Winter sports include boys and girls basketball, boys and girls swimming and cheerleading. In the spring, students can participate in baseball, golf, soccer, softball, tennis and track.
The school now offers a weekly writing lab and a math lab as a resource for students.
For more information, call 704-463-0567 or visit the Web site at www.graystoneday.org.
North Hills Christian School
North Hills Christian School (NHCS), a non-denominational co-ed Christian day school in Salisbury, is experiencing an influx of applicants this year despite a weak economy.
“We feel extremely blessed that the number of applicants for enrollment for 2009-2010 is significantly higher than this time last year,” said Matt Mitchell, head of school. “We expect that our total enrollment numbers for this year will far exceed last year’s total enrollment of 262 students for preschool through high school,” Mitchell said.
An additional 4K class has been added to accommodate increased preschool enrollment. “In our initial planning we did not anticipate that we would need a second 4K preschool class because of the economic climate,” Mitchell said, “but that changed as our waiting pool of applicants for preschool continued to grow.”
Space is available in the 4K program. North Hills’ preschool program features a full academic program and uses the A BEKA curriculum. The curriculum is biblically integrated. Additionally, the school offers before and after-school care.
Nikki Eagle, former NHCS 3K teacher and admissions coordinator, will assume all responsibilities for the school’s admissions department as director of retention and recruitment. “Mrs. Eagle has been at North Hills since 2004, and she is an important asset to our school,” Mitchell said. “She has done an outstanding job as a preschool teacher and in her recent role as admissions coordinator. She has played an important role in helping us increase our current enrollment and strengthening our retention.”
Angie Richard, director of advancement, will manage the school’s marketing communications programs and fundraising efforts.
NHCS is also expanding its academically gifted and special needs program, North Hills’ Academic Improvement Modification (AIM) program, with the addition of assistant Susan Link. “Adding Mrs. Link will allow us to increase the allotted time for the AIM director, Doris Plummer, to work with gifted, struggling and special needs students,” Mitchell said.
Link, who worked for NHCS as a preschool teacher last year, is dually certified and has a BA degree in early elementary education and special education from the College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, N.Y.
“There is a great need for a supportive high quality special needs and gifted program in our community,” Mitchell said. NHCS’s AIM is designed to assist students with physical and mental disabilities and diagnosed learning disabilities, as well as students who have been identified as academically gifted.
“Students are assessed and an individualized program is developed for each child to help him or her develop the tools and skills needed to succeed in the classroom and ultimately in life,” Mitchell said.
Gifted students are scheduled for enrichment activities such as math, history and cultural fairs, reasoning and research projects, strategy games, and more.
NHCS is the area’s largest private school and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). It serves students in preschool through high school. For more information, contact Nikki Eagle at 704-636-3005 at extension 108 or by e-mail at neagle@northhillschristian.com, or visit the school’s Web site at www.northhillschristian.com.
Rockwell Christian School
Classes will begin at Rockwell Christian School on Aug. 25. A school open house for the elementary grades will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 21.
The school, located at 401 Depot St., Rockwell, serves students in pre-school through 12th grade.
The school offers before-school and after-school care beginning at 6:30 a.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m.
Rockwell Christian School uses the A BEKA curriculum in elementary grades. The school uses the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum in the middle and high school grades.
Students can participate in athletics such as basketball, soccer, and volleyball.
Enrollment at Faith Christian is 130 with about 20 staff members.
Middle school and high school students need to bring a King James Bible, No. 2 pencils, blue pens and a three-ring binder. Students bring their lunches from home. For a complete supply list, go to the school’s Web site, www.rockwellchristianschool.com.
A registration fee must be paid before students begin school. If the school reaches its enrollment capacity, students will be placed on a waiting list.
For more information, call 704-279-8854 or check out the school’s Web site.
Sacred Heart Catholic School
Sacred Heart Catholic School will start classes on Aug. 20 beginning at 7:55 a.m.
About 195 students are enrolled in grades K-8.
This year, Sister Annie Pagulayan, O.P., will continue as the principal. Frank Cardelle is dean of students. The Rev. John Putnam serves as priest.
The school welcomes all students, regardless of race or religion. The new school campus is located at 385 Lumen Christi Lane (just off Jake Alexander Boulevard near the Crescent Golf Course community). Call 704-633-2841 for more information or visit the school’s Web site at www.sacredheartcatholicschool.org.
The school serves kindergarten through eighth grades on one campus. A pre-kindergarten class is planned for the 2010-2011 school year.
Sacred Heart Catholic School is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Diocese of Charlotte.
The school was established in 1882 as the Salisbury Catholic School. It got its present name in 1942. The school moved to its new campus on Aug. 4.
School traditions include morning assembly with prayer and the pledge of allegiance to the flag, weekly Mass, open house, All Saints Day Parade, a President’s Day Parade, Catholic School Week celebrations, The Lenten Dinner, a Christmas musical program, and many others.
Community service projects include Christmas caroling at the VA Medical Center, food collections for the homeless shelter and Meals on Wheels, fundraising for Duke Energy’s Share-the-Warmth program, the Arc Festival of Trees, Prayer Pals at Genesis Nursing Home, Locks of Love, volunteering at the homeless shelter, sponsoring and running a blood drive through the American Red Cross and others.
Some of the school’s activities include book fairs, spelling bees, field trips, class plays, science fair projects, powerpoint presentations (grades 3-8), Math-A-Thon and Math Olympian, yearbook, Battle of the Books and school dances.
Athletics at the school include JV (grades 4-6) and varsity (grades 7-8) girls and boys basketball and soccer; girls volleyball, fall tennis, cheerleading; co-ed golf, softball, track and field, and spring tennis.
The school offers an advanced curriculum in language arts, math, science and social studies, advanced computer technology, breakout classrooms for more small group instruction, religious education, daily physical education, Spanish, art and music. Guitar lessons, yearbook, drama classes, journalism, Battle of the Books and algebra I are offered to middle school students.
Hot lunches for students are prepared in the on-site kitchen every day.
Sacred Heart offers affordable on-site after-school care from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, which includes time for homework help.
For more information, call 704-633-2841 or visit the Web site.
Salisbury Academy
Salisbury Academy is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Greg Alcorn and operates under the leadership of Diane Fisher, head of school.†Director of curriculum and instruction is Dr. Jean Owen.†
The campus is located at 2210 Jake Alexander Blvd. N. near the intersection of Jake Alexander Boulevard and Statesville Boulevard. The kindergarten for 4- and 5-year-olds is located behind the main campus at 1801 Bellevue Ave.†
Salisbury Academy has 28 staff members and an optimum class size of 20 students. After-school care is offered at the school until 6 p.m. An active parentsí association and booster club provide support and enhance the school community.
The first day of school is Wednesday, Aug. 19 (half day for all students). The kindergarten will have a half day through Aug. 21, with grades 1-8 attending the full day.
New parent orientation is 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, and the Student and Family Drop-In is Monday, Aug. 17, from 4-6 p.m. Limited space is available for grades junior kindergarten through eighth.
Salisbury Academy provides quality, child-centered education to a diverse student body in grades 4K-8.
The co-educational, independent day school welcomes students to the 10-acre campus. Salisbury Academy seeks to enroll bright, ultimately college-bound students from all backgrounds.
The academy offers an integrated curriculum that provides a foundation in core subjects, balanced with hands-on learning activities and channels for creativity and self-expression. With close and supportive relationships among faculty and students, the academy provides an environment where children thrive and learn. Responsibility, respect for others, compassion and acceptance are fostered in the classroom.
In first and second grades, students concentrate on basic skills, especially learning to read. By third grade, they read to learn. In lower school math, students use manipulatives to strengthen concept understanding. In science and history classes, investigation and discovery replace memorization. Lower school students also take physical education, art, music, media and Spanish.
The middle school language arts curriculum aims to expose students to classical and contemporary master works in all genres. Poetry, grammar and written expression are taught throughout the year.
Eighth-graders take Algebra I, enabling them to pursue higher mathematics classes in high school.
Team sports include soccer, flag football, volleyball, basketball, golf, tennis, track and cheerleading.
Salisbury Academy is located at 2210 Jake Alexander Blvd. The Carter Kindergarten for 4- and 5-year-olds is located behind the main campus at 1801 Bellevue Ave.
After-school care is available.
Salisbury Academy is a member of the Core Knowledge Network and Foundation and the National Association of Independent Schools. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Independent Schools.
For more information, call 704-636-3002 or visit the Web site at www.salisbury academy.org.
Salisbury Adventist School
Salisbury Adventist School, 305 Rudolph Road, started classes Monday.
The school is dedicated to delivering a GREAT education, which stands for God-centered, results-oriented, environment that is safe and nurturing, aligned with national, state and Adventist standards and is a team effort.
Established in 1940, the school is accredited by the North American Division Board of Regents. Teachers have master’s degrees.
Students have opportunities to take part in community outreach projects, music, drama, public speaking, a national geography bee and a spelling bee. They also plan a cultural fair. This year, each child will represent a different country.
The school motto is “God expects something of me.” The school’s aim is “Every child is a leader.”
Tuition is $275 a month for first through eighth grade, with a 10 percent discount for a second child. Michelle Bullard is the new principal.
For more information, call 704-633-1282 or visit the Web site at www.salisbury adventistschool.org.