Elevated Education

PHOTO SUBMITTED Students in Anne Donadio’s first grade class at Cove Creek School follow along during a math lesson.

Elevated Education

School Options Offer Variety to Families

BY KAYLA LASURE

As education and the modes of learning have been on the minds of many across the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic, Watauga County continues to provide various educational avenues for children and adults.

Families continue to move to the area for quality educational opportunities. The area offers options in and around Boone for early childhood, public/private and higher education.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Boone officials and nonprofits have really pushed in the last few years to continue to improve early childhood education opportunities for local children. One of the agencies at the forefront of this work is the Watauga County Children’s Council.

The Children’s Council offers family support, early literacy programs, child care technical assistance and professional development as well as community outreach. Additionally, the agency launched a local accreditation program for child care centers in 2019 to increase the quality of their programs

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and the compensation for their lead teachers. The agency — along with others involved in a stakeholder group — helped to launch the Early Childhood Education and Development Fund in 2020 to improve child care quality, accessibility and affordability.

Two early childhood education programs that the Children’s Council oversees are the NC Pre-K program as well as its bilingual preschool.

The NC Pre-K program is for 4-year-old children and can be provided in classrooms in the public schools, licensed child care centers or Head Start programs. Students enrolled in NC Pre-K typically attend a full school day — about six and a half hours — for a full school year. NC Pre-K is offered in all eight elementary schools in the Watauga County Schools system.

For more information on the Watauga NC Pre-K program, visit www.thechildrenscouncil.org/nc-prekindergarten.html.

The Children’s Council also offers a bilingual preschool called Diverse Unified Appropriate Learning School — or DUAL School. The classroom serves 3- to 4-year-olds and has both students who speak English and those who speak Spanish, and supports growth in both languages. Tuition for the program is based on a sliding scale.

To learn more about the DUAL school, visit www.thechildrenscouncil.org/dual-school.html or email sophie@thechildrenscouncil.org.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Watauga County Schools is home to more than 4,600 students who attend classes at one of the system’s 10 schools

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served by approximately 750 employees (about 425 teachers). The district is made up of eight schools serving students in grades K-8, one consolidated high school and the Watauga Innovation Academy — a cooperative high school that allows students to earn high school and college credit simultaneously.

Watauga County Schools is consistently ranked among the best public school systems in the state of North Carolina. In recent years, each of Watauga County’s schools met or exceeded growth standards set by the state of North Carolina, according to the school system. WCS also ranks as a top academic contender statewide, scoring in the top five for end-of-grade testing and netting the top spot region-wide in six testing categories. In recent years, the system brought home some of the best composite ACT and SAT scores in the state.

WCS was recently named an “accomplished district” by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards — given to school districts in which 20 percent or more of teachers have achieved National Board certification.

The system is home to two North Carolina Green Schools of Excellence — Watauga High School and Cove Creek School. The designation recognizes schools that show the highest level of commitment to a sustainable campus and environmental education curriculum.

Students in Watauga County Schools have access to arts, music and outdoor education programs. Elementary and middle school students have physical education classes everyday and a variety of exploratory options, from programming to robotics.

No admission is charged to out-of-county enrollees, and Watauga High School is open to homeschool students who wish to dual enroll. Homeschool students can earn high school and college credit by attending classes at WHS, or virtually through the North Carolina Virtual Public School. Watauga County Schools began offering an all-remote online learning option through its Watauga Virtual Academy due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information, call (828) 264-7190 or visit www. wataugaschools.org. Follow Watauga County Schools on social media @wataugaschools for updates on school operations.

CHARTER SCHOOL

Families looking for a charter school experience should explore Two Rivers Community School — a free public charter school that serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The school takes an approach to learning as an adventure into academics, the community and the natural world. Director Natalie Oransky stated that the school currently has 180 students enrolled with one class per grade with about 20 students in each class. Classes have certified teachers with an assistant placed in classrooms for kindergarten through third grade.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 ate, learning is differentiated and learning is shared. Oransky said that this means students are actively engaged in their learning, especially through in-depth projects called learning expeditions — similar to a unit of study but delving deeper into topics.

Oransky said Two Rivers’ teachers take a compassionate approach to discipline, using mistakes as opportunities for learning rather than as behavior that should be punished. She added that school leaders emphasize students being compassionate, inclusive members of their community. Teachers recognize that students learn at different rates and work to meet their different needs for learning. Additionally, the Two Rivers community believes in the power of working together, so teachers allow opportunities for students to collaborate within and between grade levels.

The school can serve any student who is a North Carolina resident, but primarily has students from Watauga, Ashe, Avery, Wilkes and Caldwell counties. The window for enrollment opens in March and April when the school offers open houses. For more information on Two Rivers, visit trcsboone.org.

MONTESSORI SCHOOLS

The Montessori Method uses student-led and self-paced learning that is guided, assessed and enriched by knowledgeable and caring teachers, the leadership of their peers and a nurturing environment, according to the American Montessori Society. The method seeks to help growth for youth in all their cognitive, emotional, social and physical development. The area is served by two Montessori schools —Mountain Pathways School and Mary’s Montessori School.

Mountain Pathways School is a Montessori community that fosters respect and a lifelong love of learning by nurturing the spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical well-being of its students, according to Mountain Pathways Director Lindsey Holderfield. Holderfield added that Mountain Pathways has delivered Montessori education for more than 30 years serving children who go on to love learning and to become the most well-adjusted, contributing community members. Mountain Pathways’ lead teachers hold accredited Montessori certifications, and classrooms are filled with authentic Montessori materials.

Mountain Pathways School serves about 50 students, in mixed-age classrooms ranging from toddler (18 months old to 3 years), primary (3-6 years old), elementary (6-12 years old) and middle school (12-14 years old).

Mountain Pathways has open enrollment and takes applications year-round. To apply, visit www.mountain-pathways.org.

Mary’s Montessori School was established in 2002 by Mary Willis. The half-day school meets five days a week with a curriculum that focuses on sensorial topics, practical life tasks, self care, math, language, art and science. The school takes in students who are ages 2 and a half to 5 years old. For more information on Mary’s Montessori School, visit www.marysmontessori.com.

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CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Grace Academy is a private K-8 Christian school serving approximately 133 students from about 86 families, according to Headmaster Roy Andrews. While most of these students are from Watauga, the school also serves students from Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, and Wilkes counties. Andrew said the school’s 14 faculty and three staff members find “great joy in bringing peace to families via our special blend of collaborative classical education resulting in student transformation.”

Instruction of subject matter — such as language arts, history and science — takes place through a Biblical worldview at Grace Academy. The school operates in a classical model, and a student’s learning is considering to go through stages. Educators teach through the grammar stage for grades K-5 (devoted to the learning of fundamental facts and rules of each subject), and the dialectic stage for grades 6-8 (focusing on how to analyze, reason, question, evaluate and critique).

Grace Academy will soon be accepting applications for the 2021-22 school year. The school’s Spring Kindergarten Round-up event at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church traditionally occurs in February or March. Grace Academy officials can also schedule private tours for prospective students and their families throughout the school year. Appointments can be made by emailing office@graceacademyboone.com or giving the school office a call at (828) 773-7830. For more information, visit www.graceacademyboone.com.

HOMESCHOOL

According to the N.C. Department of Administration, 523 homeschools were registered in 2019-20 with an enrollment of 891 students in Watauga County. Several resources in the area lend a hand to homeschooling families, such as Wildwood ALC, Kinderwood/Imagine Bilingual and the High Country Christian Home Schoolers.

Wildwood ALC (Agile Learning Community) is a nonprofit, mixed-age, self-directed education program unique in the high country. The nonprofit serves children ages 7-16. Wildwood allows young people to be leaders of their learning in order to be prepared for an ever-changing world. Wildwood is an optional experience for homeschooling families and is not a school responsible for any educational testing or curriculum.

“Research indicates that people learn best when they are self-motivated and free to pursue their interests,” said Co-Director Rebekah Canu. “At Wildwood, everyone is both a teacher and a learner, regardless of age. It’s a place where young people practice leadership and develop self-awareness, a sense of purpose, and crucial communication skills.”

Visit www.wildwoodalc.org to learn more about Wildwood ALC. Contact wildwoodagilelearning@gmail.com for COVID-19-related schedule changes and updates.

Also serving homeschooling families is Kinderwood/Imagine Bilingual — a half-day school program serving children ages 4 and a half to 12 years old. The program added a bilingual

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component starting with the 2018-19 school year to mirror work staff were already doing, but also offered in Spanish. Classes are divided into a 4-and-a-half to 6-year-old class, a 6- to 9-year old class and a 9- to 12-year old class.

A staff of five helps to support eager learners, encourage independence and nurture the whole child. The program values outdoor education, individuality, respect, creativity and acceptance. Children at Kinderwood/Imagine Bilingual learn through group lessons, independent work and imaginative play. Children are able to learn at their own pace with the guidance of the teacher, according to the organization.

“We strive to provide a unique learning experience in the community and an atmosphere where children can succeed academically, socially, emotionally, spiritually and personally,” according to Kinderwood/Imagine Bilingual.

For more information about Kinderwood/Imagine Bilingual, visit www. imaginebilingual.com.

Offering support to those in the homeschooling community is the High Country Christian Home Schoolers. HCCH stated that it firmly believes that the best way to fulfill the command of Deuteronomy 6:4-8 is through home education, and allowing parents the best environment to disciple their children through spiritual, moral and academic training grounded in scripture.

“Once a family makes the important decision to homeschool, HCCHS believes it is the group’s privilege to encourage the family to continue, mature and succeed in their journey,” stated HCCHS.

HCCH does not contact the N.C. Department of Non-Public Education in order to establish homeschools, but rather offers resources once one is established. The group aims to create lasting relationships and long-term commitment to Christian home education in the lives of its member families. It does so through support group meetings, fellowship opportunities and field trips. The organization offers “Thoughtful Thursdays” classes, art, public speaking, music and other activities. Interested

PHOTO SUBMITTED Owen White, Alyssa Maxon (facilitator), Addison Schoychid and Owen Canu perform a worm dissection at Wildwood ALC.

families can learn more at www.hcchs. com.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Those looking for higher education opportunities in Boone are able to access two-year programs through Watauga campus of the Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute as well as four-year degrees and postgraduate at Appalachian State University.

CCC&TI’s central location is in Hudson with a satellite campus in Boone that features six buildings for students and instruction. The community college started offering educational opportunities in Watauga in 1973 and opened the current Watauga Campus in 1998. The community college offers adult education courses such as high school equivalency testing, family literacy or English language acquisition.

CCC&TI offers day, evening and online programs designed to fit any schedule or lifestyle, according to the college. Students can choose from more than 75 curriculum programs and a wide variety of continuing education and adult education programs such as accounting/finance, business administration, culinary arts, early childhood education, emergency medical responder, information technology and nursing.

According to the college, CCC&TI has served more than 200,000 students and awarded approximately 25,000 credentials, degrees, diplomas and certifications. A complete list of programs offered at CCC&TI can be found at www. cccti.edu.

Appalachian State University was founded in 1899 and is one of 17 campuses within the University of North Carolina system. Approximately 20,023 students — including both undergraduate and graduate — enrolled at App State for the 2020-21 school year.

App State offers 150 bachelor’s degrees and 70 graduate programs. The university includes six undergraduate colleges such as the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Fine and Applied Arts, Reich College of Education, Walker College of Business, Hayes School of Music and the Beaver College of Health Sciences. The Cratis D. Williams School of Graduate Studies serves as the graduate school program for App State.

The campus includes approximately 30 academic buildings, a 210,000-square-foot library, approximately 20 residence halls, three main dining facilities and 11 recreational and athletic facilities. For more information about App State, visit www.appstate. edu.