By Sarah Nagem
snagem@salisburypost.com
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. 18. An orientation for new students will be Aug. 15.
The school, located at 5801 Poplar Tent Road, Concord, is a private, co-educational school for students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
The school, which opened in 1969, emphasizes five core values: courage, teamwork, respect, integrity and passion.
School begins at 8:07 a.m. Aug. 18 for about 900 students enrolled.
Cannon School is a member of the National Association of Private Special Education Centers and the National 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.
Cannon will begin a new football program this fall. The school also has a new track, and it will host the 2009 North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association state track and field championships.
Other sports include basketball, swimming and volleyball.
Matt Gossage leads the school as headmaster.
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. 25.
A school open house will be from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Aug. 21.
Kindergarten orientation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Aug. 22.
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.thejustshalllive byfaith.com.
Gray Stone Day School
Gray Stone Day School will start classes on Aug. 20 from 8 a.m. until noon. Textbook pickup will begin after school.
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, Randolph and Iredell 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 Rocky River Conference in North Carolina High School Athletic Association. Gray Stone participates in all major sports, except football and wrestling.
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.
Students can still apply for the 2008-2009 school year, but the school has already reached its maximum enrollment number. There is a waiting list. Enrollment spots will open if students withdraw their applications or transfer.
Applications for the 2009-2010 school year are being accepted.
For more information, call 704-463-0567 or visit the Web site at www.graystoneday.org.
North Hills Christian School
North Hills Christian School will start classes again Aug. 21.
An orientation for 3K preschoolers through second graders will be 6-7 p.m. Aug. 19. Orientation for grades three through five will be 7:30-8:30 Aug. 19. Sixth-grade orientation will be 11 a.m. to noon that day, while orientation for grades seven through 12 will be 9-11 a.m.
A popsicle party for 3K and 4K preschoolers will be 11 a.m. to noon Aug. 18 at the school playground. A party for kindergarten students will follow from noon until 1 p.m.
North Hills Christian School is located at 2970 W. Innes St., Salisbury. It is a non-denominational Christian school that has operated for 42 years.
The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Association of Christian Schools International.
The school employs 45 faculty and staff members. Three faculty members have been teaching at North Hills for more than 25 years.
North Hills is still accepting applications for grades 3K through 12. Some classes have waiting lists.
This year’s enrollment is expected to exceed 280 students, a 10 percent increase from last year.
Before-school and after-school care is available.
Athletics offered at the school include basketball, golf, soccer, volleyball, baseball, softball and cross country.
Matt Mitchell is entering his second year as Head of School.
For more information, call 704-636-3005 or visit the Web site at www.northhills christian.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. 22.
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 and volleyball.
Middle school and high school students need to bring a King James Bible, No. 2 pencils, blue ink pens, a three-ring binder. For a complete supply list, go to the school’s Web site, www.rockwellchristian school.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 again on Aug. 20.
Last year, 205 students attended Sacred Heart. The student-teacher ratio was 9-8.
This school year, Sacred Heart has a new principal. Sister Annie Pagulayan, O.P. will take over at the school.
The school, located at 123 N. Ellis St. in Salisbury, welcomes all students, regardless of race or religion.
The school serves kindergarten through eighth grades on one campus.
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.
School traditions include weekly Mass, a fall festival, open house and Christmas programs.
Community service projects include Christmas caroling, a math-a-thon, volunteering at a homeless shelter and a blood drive.
Some of the school’s activities include book fairs, spelling and geography bees, field trips, class plays, yearbook and middle school dances.
Athletics at the school include girls and boys basketball and soccer, girls volleyball and tennis, and co-ed cheerleading, golf, junior varsity soccer and softball.
All students receive training in religious education, math, science, social studies, English/language arts, computer science, library, art, physical education and music.
Hot lunches are available for students every day through the parent volunteer program.
For more information, call 704-633-2841 or visit the Web site at www.salisbury catholic.org.
Salisbury Academy
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 and challenging 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, located at 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.
The school was established in 1940. It 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.
The school motto is “God expects something of me.” The school is aim is “Every child is a leader.”
Tuition is $275 a month for kindergarten through eighth grade and $80 a week or $320 a month for a full-day pre-K program for ages 3-5.
Jan Hefner is the new principal at the school.
For more information, call 704-633-1282 or visit the Web site at www.salisbury adventistschool.org.