Crosby Scholars expands with F&M Bank’s help

The Rowan County Crosby Scholars program has grown impressively in its first three years, working in Rowan-Salisbury middle and high schools to encourage graduation and post-secondary education.

“With over 2,000 students enrolled, we’ve had to adjust our staffing model,” explains Jennifer Canipe, executive director.

“We have a goal of providing quality programming for all of our students and began exploring as a staff how best to accomplish that last spring,” Canipe continues.

Hiring coordinator positions for the middle and high school programs was ultimately deemed as intrinsic to the program’s success, leading to one of the biggest questions: where would they be housed?

The Crosby office is located in the F&M Professional building and the space is donated by F&M Bank.

“Having F&M Bank provide our office space for our first two years has been amazing – we count them as sustaining partners for our program,” Canipe shares, “but we were worried that our office wouldn’t be able to meet our growing staffing needs.”

Besides Canipe, Crosby staff members include: Jessica Vess, senior program director; Allison Lee, high school coordinator; Michelle Strong, middle school coordinator; Kirstin Meyerhoeffer, interim coordinator and Betsy Mowery, administrative assistant.

Fortunately for the Crosby Scholars program, F&M Bank once again came up with a solution.

“I called Steve Fisher, CEO of F&M Bank, and described our staffing growth and need for more office space,” Canipe states. “Steve got together with F&M tenant Don Sayers, and they big-heartedly came up with a plan for our office to expand.”

“The generosity shown by Don and F&M Bank is so appreciated,” Canipe shares. “We are truly blessed to have their support.”

 

Hanford-Dole Family Night

Hanford-Dole Elementary hosted its first Family Night of the year on Oct. 6.

Sabrina Eagle, school counselor, had Melissa Shue of the Terrie Hess House present a program on Prevent Child Abuse-Rowan to over 90 parents in attendance. Parents were given ways to keep their kids safe in a changing world.

While the parents were in the presentation, the students were invited to the gym for a “Movie and Popcorn.”  Communities In Schools site coordinators invited Western-Southern Insurance to work with parents to start an identification kit which would include fingerprinting  of the children at their homes.

All families were invited to stay for a dinner of pizza, chicken nuggets, salad, dessert and a drink.  Chick-fil-A, CiCi’s Pizza, Union Lutheran Church, Eagle Plumbing, Duane Eagle Electric, Hanford-Dole PTA  and school staff members contributed to the meal. The school’s PTA offered several baskets in a “Basket Raffle” that included a number of gift cards from area businesses.

Hanford-Dole is committed to engaging parents in school activities to keep them informed of the many ways that they can help their children at home.

 

Catawba College offering winter youth swimming

Back by popular request, Catawba College is offering a new winter session for youth swimming, Nov. 3 – Dec. 3.

The 5-week program is taught by Catawba College swimmers on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6:30 p.m. – 7:15 pm. The cost is $80 per participant.

The class needs at least 15 participants to make this session possible, so please sign-up by Oct. 30. Contact Michael Sever, head swimming coach at 704-637-4762 for the sign-up form.

There is also a youth competition swim program on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, and Masters Swimming on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Please contact Michael Sever for more information.

Proceeds support Catawba College swimming.