SEASONAL FAMILY FUN 6 BEYOND THE BABY SHOWER 10 KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS 16 MY CHILD IS INTERESTED IN … 20 DESTINATION STORY HOURS 36 POWER PARENTS 56 SCHOOLS DIRECTORY 70 PRESENTED BY &
your
family
2017/2018
magazine
Including
LIFE’S A PICNIC
Taking a break from their busy schedule, the Rhee family relaxes at New Hope Church Camp and Conference Center in Chapel Hill. Page 12
NAME
Salvador AG E
40 RELISHES
Nature HO B BY
Hiking WO R KO UT RO UTI N E
Keeping up with lan GOAL
Be his hero Briar Chapel residents enjoy trails and Pokeberry Creek.
This place is made for me. Most of Salvador’s existence revolves around entertaining lan, making Briar Chapel the ideal home. Whether riding bikes, dinosaur hunting by Pokeberry Creek, family walks on the trails, or being awed
by the starry sky at Constellation Park, each day provides a new adventure. Briar Chapel is definitely made for Salvador—see how it’s made for you at BriarChapelNC.com . TO U R O N E O F T H E B E S T- S E L L I N G COMMUNITIES IN THE TRIANGLE H O M E S F R O M T H E $ 2 0 0, O O O s — $ 9 0 0,0 0 0 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
888.241.4430 • 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 EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY • 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 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. See www.briarchapelnc.com for full terms of use. Actual development may vary from developer’s vision. No guarantee can be made that development will proceed as described. 2017 © Briar Chapel. All Rights Reserved.
Today
She’s already capable of more than you realize.
Tomorrow She’ll be capable of more than you can imagine.
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GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Christy Wright and Jean Carlos Rosario-Montalvo EDITORIAL INTERNS Hannah Blackburn, Ashley Cruz, Ann Fitts, Lora Griffiths, Connie Jin, Lindsay McConnell, Tia Nanjappan, Emily Padula, Kristi Piechnik, Zoe Pharo and Lauren Wilkinson CONTRIBUTORS Amanda Abrams, Chantal Allam, Michele Kisthardt, Virginia Robinson, Caitlin Wheeler and Matt White
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Your Family Magazine is published by Shannon Media Inc., the parent company of Chapel Hill Magazine, Chatham Magazine and Durham Magazine. 919.933.1551 durhammag.com chapelhillmagazine.com chathammagazinenc.com 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
For forty years, we’ve been delivering research-based, individualized instruction in reading, writing and math to struggling learners in our School Year, Summer and Tutoring Programs.
Tours and information available at www.hillcenter.org
Discover how The Hill Center can be a solution for your family.
20% OF ALL STUDENTS LEARN DIFFERENTLY. WE CAN HELP.
3200 Picket Road Durham, NC 27705 admissions@hillcenter.org (919) 489-7464
Be who you are...
Discover who you can be. Join us! Tours and information sessions starting in September. Drop-in visits on Tuesday 8:00 AM | 919-383-8800 | triangledayschool.org
A co-ed, independent school in Durham serving students from Transitional Kindergarten through 8th grade 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
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PHOTO BY BRIANA BROUGH
Bouncing Bulldogs Ragan Copeland, Kenneth Cato and Anna Furlong in their new gym. See page 20 for more.
6
Seasonal Family Fun
10
Beyond the Baby Shower
12
Mark your family’s calendar with these annual events Gifts for new parents
Balancing Act
Local parents share how they manage work and family
16
Where to Eat
20
Hobby Town
30
32
Our staff shares favorite kid-friendly restaurants
No matter your kiddos’ interests, our community has you covered
All in the Family
Volunteer with the whole family at the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill Photographer Tamara Lackey is on a mission to help kids across the globe
Read With Me
42
Local Lit
4
Mr. A
51
Give Back
52
‘Pipeline for Success’
56
Power Parents
62
Tackling Tuition
66
Facts and Figures
70
Directory
THE COVER
The Big Picture
36
46
Jordan High School’s Stuart Albright inspires students through publishing Support these wonderful book-focused nonprofits
Durham Nativity School administrator and former students share their experiences These moms and dads go above and beyond for kids A guide to making private school affordable
About Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Durham Public Schools, Orange County Schools and Chatham County Schools, plus an education glossary and kindergarten guide Of Private, Regional, Boarding, Charter and Magnet Schools
Check out these unique story hours in our area
Children’s and young adult books from our community’s authors and illustrators
Photo by Briana Brough
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
College – without the debt.
Personalized instruction. Affordable education.
Recent Durham, Chapel Hill-Carrboro, and Orange County high school graduates can receive up to $500 per semester for two years – or four semesters – with Durham and Orange counties’ ConnectFunds Scholarships.
durhamtech.edu/connectfunds 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
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FESTIVAL FOR THE ENO
BOO-TANICAL
Seasonal Family Fun MARK YOUR FAMILY’S 2017-18 CALENDAR WITH SOME OF OUR FAVORITE ANNUAL EVENTS
Fall LATINO FIESTA AND SOCCER CHALLENGE September The championship game of a Durham Parks and Recreation soccer tournament is the main event for this festival at Rock Quarry Park in observation of Hispanic Heritage Month. Enjoy authentic foods, music, a family fun zone and a Duke Men’s Soccer meet and greet! durhamnc.gov
PEPPERFEST September Support local farmers and celebrate the beauty of peppers at Abundance NC’s annual fest, typically held at the Great Meadow Park at Briar Chapel. Sample a wide variety of pepper-centric dishes and beverages, plus check out the kidfocused educational programming. pepperfestnc.org
CENTERFEST ARTS FESTIVAL September Presented by the Durham Arts Council, this signature arts event celebrates its 44th year in central downtown Durham with live music, dancing, a kids zone and more than 100 visual artists. centerfest.durhamarts.org
FESTIFALL October 1, 2017 This handmade art market in downtown Chapel Hill features live performances and children’s activities aplenty. chapelhillfestifall.com
XTREME HAUNT
October At Xtreme Park Adventures in Durham, thrill-seeking young adults and teens can take a ride on 40-foot military trucks for a real-life zombie hunting experience, try an extra-spooky zip line in the dark, face a challenge in the mini escape rooms on-site and more across the 50-acre park. xtremeparkadventures.com
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2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
SEASONAL FAMILY FUN
KWANZAAFEST DRUM CLASS
PITTSBORO SUMMERFEST
PUMPKIN PATCH EXPRESS
PITTSBORO FALL STREET FAIR
Weekends in October Hop aboard the Museum of Life and Science’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 crafts and more! lifeandscience.org
October 28, 2017 Rain or shine, expect plenty of arts, craft, carnival foods, live music and more! pittsboronc.gov
THE LITTLE MERMAID October 17-22, 2017 Join Flounder, Sebastian and Ariel under the sea in a production inspired by one of Disney’s classics at the Durham Performing Arts Center. dpacnc.com
HALLOWEEN PHANTASMAGORIA October 27, 2017 Experience Duke Homestead with surprises lurking around every corner during this Halloween-themed event for all ages. dukehomestead.org
BOO-TANICAL October 27, 2017 Get creative with the little ones at North Carolina Botanical Gardens’ pumpkin-carving contest, plus crafts, critters, treats and more. ncbg.unc.edu
PAPERHAND PUPPET INTERVENTION AND HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARADE October 29, 2017 Enjoy a 45-minute show for all ages at Southern Village in Chapel Hill with a Halloween costume parade around Market Street following the show. southernvillage.com
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
NC COMICON: BULL CITY November 10-12 Comic book lovers gather at Durham Convention Center to participate in all new exhibits, panels and workshops at this three-day show. Kids age 9 and under are free. nccomicon.com
Winter CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT December 1 and 8, 2017 Duke Homestead decks the halls in 1870s fashion for the holidays, and costumed interpreters lead a candlelit tour around the historic property. dukehomestead.org
HOLIDAY PARADES December, various dates Durham, Pittsboro, Hillsborough, Chapel Hill and Carrboro each offer their own community parade with widespread holiday fun for all ages. Plus, check out tree lighting schedules and other seasonal events on the communities’ websites. durhamnc.gov; townofchapelhill.org; townofcarrboro.org; hillsboroughnc.gov; pittsboronc.gov THE NUTCRACKER December, various dates Leap into the holidays with this classic tale performed by Carolina Ballet at UNC’s Memorial Hall Dec. 2-3, 2017, and the Moscow Ballet on The Carolina Theatre’s stage Dec. 1314, 2017. carolinaperformingarts.org; carolinatheatre.org
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SEASONAL FAMILY FUN
DURHAM BULLS
IRA DAVID WOOD III’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL December 14-17, 2017 Kids will adore Theatre in the Park’s musical comedy that’s been a Triangle tradition since 1974! And plan a day trip to Raleigh for Theatre in the Park’s A Charlie Brown Christmas. Dec. 1-10, 2017. dpacnc.com; theatreinthepark.com
SOLSTICE CELEBRATION LANTERN WALK December 21, 2017 Craft with your kiddos beforehand and take handmade paper lanterns to Hillsborough Arts Council’s evening gathering along the Riverwalk. hillsboroughartscouncil.org
KWANZAAFEST 2018
January 1, 2018 The African American Dance Ensemble’s free fest includes a children’s village featuring arts and crafts, as well as dance and drumming classes. africanamericandanceensemble.org
Spring COMMUNITY EGG HUNTS March, various dates As with other holiday celebrations, most communities in the area have an annual egg hunt at one (or more!) of the local parks. durhamnc.gov; townofchapelhill.org; townofcarrboro. org; hillsboroughnc.gov; pittsboronc.gov
NC SCIENCE FESTIVAL April 1-30 2018 Awaken your child’s inner scientist with this series of science events taking place all over the the Triangle including a major science street fair that boasts more than 100 STEM activities at UNC. ncsciencefestival.org
CARRBORO OPEN STREETS April Experience Carrboro’s streets in a new way – car-free, as they 8
NC COMICON
are closed down for biking, dancing, walking, yoga and more – all to encourage community building. townofcarrboro.org
DURHAM BULLS BASEBALL
April-September Take the family out to a ball game, where there’s always something for the kiddos: climb around Wool E. World’s playground, dress up for Star Wars Night, bring your pup to Bark in the Park, catch some Friday night fireworks and run the bases. durhambulls.com
EARTH DAY FESTIVAL
April Environmental fun for everyone at Durham’s Rock Quarry Park with a green market, Earth Day parade, sustainability expo and kids’ zone. dprplaymore.org
Summer
BIMBÉ CULTURAL ARTS FESTIVAL May Celebrate African and African-American culture at this free, family-friendly, 49-year-old festival. Entertainment includes the African American Dance Ensemble, along with arts and crafts, traditional African fare and a family fun zone. durhamnc.gov
AMERICAN DANCE FESTIVAL’S CHILDREN’S SATURDAY MATINEES June-July Dance performances specially curated to spark the interest and imagination of children, this series of three, 1-hour shows is held at the Durham Performing Arts Center and followed by free kids’ parties. americandancefestival.org
OUTDOOR MOVIES June-August Durham Parks and Recreation puts on the Rock the Park
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
SEASONAL FAMILY FUN
PORK, PICKLES & PEANUTS
PAPERHAND PUPPET INTERVENTION AND HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARADE
free movies and concert series. Southern Village regularly offers Movies on Market, and Town of Chapel Hill’s Movies Under the Stars series occurs weekly. dprplaymore.org; southernvillage.com; townofchapelhill.org
FESTIVAL FOR THE ENO July Enjoy live music, a beer garden and food trucks while little ones play on the banks and in the water of the beautiful Eno River. enofest.org
July Celebrate the history behind North Carolina’s food culture with educational cooking demonstrations, plus barbecue and pie contests, at Duke Homestead. dukehomestead.org
PITTSBORO SUMMERFEST July The downtown comes alive with delicious food, games, contests, live music, a bicycle parade and much more. pittsboronc.gov
PAPERHAND PUPPET INTERVENTION August Arrive early at UNC’s Forest Theatre for a good seat at this incredible display of puppet artistry and storytelling. paperhand.org
PAGES 6-9 FESTIVAL FOR THE ENO PHOTO BY SUNSHINE SCOVILLE; PITTSBORO SUMMERFEST PHOTO BY NINA MERKLINA; DURHAM BULLS PHOTO BY BRIANA BROUGH; NC COMICON PHOTO BY TJ CARR; PAPERHAND PUPPET/HALLOWEEN PHOTO BY JAKE ARGENT
WE BELIEVE YOU BELONG HERE
COME FOR A TOUR!
www.da.org/tours
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
Serving students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 919.493.5787 admissions@da.org
9
Beyond the Baby Shower 6 THOUGHTFUL GIFTS TO HELP NEW PARENTS WHEN THEY NEED IT MOST
,
By Virginia Robinson
SOMETHING TO CHEW ON Babies and parents alike need options for entertaining curious minds. Give the little ones two gifts: a colorful book that’s both soft and crinkly (and filled with unicorns – all the rage among the newborn set), and a bright, chewy stroller toy that’s shhhhh…quiet when baby needs to be. Chewbeads Silicone Car Seat & Stroller Toy, $15, and Jellycat Unicorn Tails book, $16.50: Ali Cat Toys in Carrboro
A ROCKING ROBE Especially if a new mom is nursing, it’s nice to have a comfortable and beautiful robe to wear at home or in the hospital. This one from For Alma Home in Durham strikes the right balance between practical and pretty. PJ Harlow Shala knit robe, $85
A LITTLE SPARKLE In the hustle and bustle of life with a newborn, it’s easy for mothers to feel, well, a bit bedraggled. Light Years Jewelry in Durham and Chapel Hill carries these sweet studs that are sophisticated, shimmery, and astrologically spot-on – just choose the set that corresponds to baby’s zodiac sign! Little Charm studs, $10 10
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
MEALS, MADE Resist the urge to make a casserole by giving a gift card for a family meal at The Root Cellar in Chapel Hill (and soon Chatham County). It will free up valuable freezer space and give mom and dad a chance to choose a delicious dinner without messing up the kitchen. There’s even a paleo option! Gift Card for Family Meals, $125-250
BREAKFAST BITES Most meal trains focus solely on dinner, leaving exhausted parents to fend for themselves come morning. Lisa Woodward of Weaver Street Market suggests these High Protein Holiday Spice Apple Muffins for a quick morning boost that can be eaten one-handed. Recipe at weaverstreetmarket.coop.
You’ve Got to Have Friends More than just about anything, new parents need other new parents. There are a number of wonderful groups in our area for all kinds of moms and dads, and Chapel Hill/Carrboro Mothers Club and Durham Mothers Club are great places to start finding your community. chapelhillmothersclub.org and durham-mothers-club.org
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
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PHOTO BY SOPHIE LACKEY
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2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
Callie, Howard, Margaret, Aidan and Susannah Rhee, pictured here at the New Hope Church Camp and Conference Center in Chapel Hill, make time to be outside with one another on the weekends. Picnic supplies, including a Manta cooler and RICE dishware and storage containers, courtesy of Parker and Otis in Durham.
Balancing Act LOCAL PARENTS SHARE HOW THEY MANAGE WORK AND FAMILY
,
By Laura Zolman Kirk Photography by Briana Brough
H
oward Rhee, the managing director
of student and alumni affairs at Duke University’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative in Durham, and Margaret Rhee, a private practice psychotherapist in Carrboro, have their hands full with Aidan, 11, Callie, 8, and Susannah, 3. On top of getting the kids to McDougle Middle School, Carrboro Elementary School and Little House Playschool every morning, there are plenty of after-school
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
13
Q & A
activities to keep straight, too. Aidan is a red belt in ninjutsu martial arts, practicing at Chapel Hill Quest Center, and he also takes guitar lessons from Eric Haugen at Creative Music Studios in Carrboro. Callie is in the Shooting Stars class at Chapel Hill Gymnastics and takes violin lessons from Yolana Murrell in Chapel Hill. We asked the Rhees about parenting in our area and how they balance work, family, relationships and fun. What do you love most about being a parent in this community? It’s small enough that it’s manageable but large enough that there are lots of resources. For example, we recently signed up Aidan for Ultimate Frisbee classes [with
trip to Harris Teeter for groceries. We have a babysitter who has been with us for seven years who helps us about 10 hours a week (mostly weekday hours), and helps take the kids to lessons. On weekends, we spend most of our time together as a family, but we also get time to be independent. We trade out free time, where one parent can go off and do their own thing, like go for a run, or visit with a friend, then the other gets similar time away. This keeps things balanced, and makes us carefully choose which individual activities are really important.
Do you have any advice for new parents? Parenting is rewarding and challenging. When we first had Aidan, we both tried to hang on to our pre-kid Carrboro Recreation lifestyles (i.e. playing & Parks], and we soccer, going out had Callie attend the with friends, etc.) UNC Gymnastics but now that we summer camp. Both have three, we’re are fantastic, high more comfortable Family time for the Rhees means outdoor time. quality and fewer with the idea of Some of their favorite spots include Bolin Forest than 10 minutes away being “parents.” That in Chapel Hill, Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham from our home. In doesn’t mean it’s easy (where Howard and Margaret were engaged addition, we have the – our assumption and married), North Carolina Botanical Garden, unusual fortune that is that “every day UNC’s arboretum and quad, or just going for a we have Margaret’s something will walk around Carrboro and Chapel Hill. office, Susannah’s happen,” whether it’s Favorite restaurants for the family include preschool and Callie’s someone forgetting Pizzeria Mercato, Acme Food & Beverage Co., elementary school to bring homework, Glasshalfull, Carrburritos, Mediterranean Deli, [all] on two blocks or someone gets an Al’s Burger Shack, Talullas, Mellow Mushroom of the same street in illness that needs a and bartaco. You can often find Howard and Carrboro. A lot of doctor visit, or one Margaret grabbing coffee at either Open Eye great families come to of the kids is upset Cafe or Weaver Street Market in Carrboro. the Triangle for the about something great universities and that happened work opportunities, during the day. The and stay for the quality of life and the strong normal day is chaotic and usually requires some form community. of improvisation. It helps that we can talk through the challenges of the day. The kids seem to get a semblance The big question: How do you balance work of “independence” around 4 years old (after potty and parenting? training), and so the physical needs are a lot less around It’s hard! We think carefully about the new [that time]. commitments we take on and say no to a lot of Also, sometimes life is difficult, and it can be really opportunities. helpful to have a trained professional supporting you We have a weekly date night, which gives us a chance and your mental health. Seeing a therapist can be a to reconnect. Usually we go to a restaurant in Carrboro great way to process the big changes going on in your or Chapel Hill and sometimes end with the “romantic” world.
Rhees About Town
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2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
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2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
15
Where to Eat WTIH KIDS BIG AND SMALL
,
By Laura Zolman Kirk
W
here do you eat with your kids?” We posed this question to our staff whose children range in age from young toddlers to college age. “Taking a kid out is always tough!” says Senior VP of Publishing Rory Gillis. “I think my kid is pretty well behaved for a 1-and-a-half-year-old, but she likes to talk loudly, drop food, giggle and repeat the same word over and over and over.” So, where can Rory’s daughter, Rowan, be her chatty self while Mom and Dad, Devin, enjoy a nice meal, too? On the flip side, where is it cool in our community for older kids to dine with their folks? The parents – and grandparents! – of Chapel Hill Magazine, Durham Magazine and Chatham Magazine have some insights.
ELMO’S DINER Carrboro and Durham “Oh man. I know everyone will say this, but Elmo’s is so great for kids. We go there for emergency pancakes or when we just don’t want to make dinner. My boys, Eli, 6, and James, 2, share a large order of sweet potato or pumpkin pancakes, and each get a side order of turkey sausage ... which they dip in the whipped cream that comes with the 16
pancakes, because kids are weird.” – Briana Brough, Chief Visual Officer and Director of Photography “Caydon, 8, and Miles, 2, like the pancakes, sausage and spaghetti.” – Kevin Brown, Creative Director
TYLER’S RESTAURANT & TAPROOM Carrboro and Durham “There’s something on the menu for our whole family – even our picky eaters. My kids – Trevor, 19, Ole, 13, Emily, 11, Sophie, 10 – love Tyler’s sweet potato fries!” – Heather Johnson, Chatham Magazine Associate Publisher
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
TK TK TK photo TK from Bri for main art (likely the Parlour) ... PHOTO MAY EXTEND ACROSS BLEED DEPENDING ON SIZE AND COMPOSITION).
Briana Brough’s sons James Ferrell, 2, and Eli Ferrell, 6, enjoying some Locopops at NanaTaco. PHOTO BY BRIANA BROUGH
NANATACO Durham “NanaTaco and The Original Q Shack are our favorite lunch spots with Rowan. Rowan will eat anything on the menu! And, they serve enough food that you can share your plate without having to get her a plate of her own.” – Rory “We also love NanaTaco. They’re incredibly kid-friendly, and Mama can get a margarita with her tacos. My older son loves their chili-rubbed pork butt taco (with guacamole and nothing else!) and my youngest devours their rice and black beans (and usually ends up wearing them, too). I usually 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
give in and get them each a Locopop at the end, which buys me five minutes to finish my meal in peace.” – Briana
BUNS Chapel Hill “My son, Jack, is only 18, but he has a full, luxurious beard that makes him appear older. He likes to head to Franklin Street with us and try to pass himself off as a college student bumming a free meal off his parents. That way, he’s not embarrassed to be seen with us. We hit up Buns for the burgers, but they are really just an excuse to order the cheese fries. The grilled cheese with bacon is also a hit.” – Christy Wright, Graphic Designer 17
W H E R E T O E AT
PHOTO BY KEVIN BROWN
THE PARLOUR Durham “My kids beg to go there for a special treat, and the staff is always so patient letting them try a few flavors before deciding.” – Briana
ANGELINA’S KITCHEN Pittsboro “When we go to Angelina’s Kitchen, Angelina knows what my kids will and should eat. She feeds them fresh chicken bites, hummus (made in-house) with Screech Owl Greenhouse’s cucumbers, pita points and Chatham County blueberries!” – Heather
OVAL PARK GRILLE Durham “I hate traditional kid menus: burger, hot dog, chicken fingers, buttered noodles ... I think kids have a better palate than we give them credit for! One of my favorite kids’ dishes ever was at Oval Park Grille. I don’t know if they still do this, but we sat down and they brought out a small dish for my daughter that had slices of oranges, avocado, grapes, grilled chicken. Colorful, delicious and simple!” – Rory
VENABLE ROTISSERIE BISTRO AND MAGONE ITALIAN GRILL & PIZZA, Carrboro and Chapel Hill
Kevin Brown’s son Miles at Elmo’s in Durham, before getting his hands on some pancakes.
More Durham Favorites from Caydon & Miles Brown NOSH’s pizza Picnic’s mac-and-cheese, grilled cheese and barbecue The Little Dipper’s fondue True Flavors Diner + Catering’s mac-and-cheese and fruit Lucky’s Delicatessen’s hot dog Parker and Otis’ grilled cheese and fruit
“These restaurants have proven to be kid-friendly restaurants. The staff members have always been friendly, accommodating and fun when I take my grandkids out for dinner. Some have gone so far as to learn each of the kids’ names and their favorites!” – Amy Bell, Business Manager
GUGLHUPF BAKERY, CAFE & RESTAURANT AND SCRATCH Durham “Guglhupf and Scratch are our favorite Durham brunch spots. It is loud enough that no one minds Rowan’s loud talking, and there is outdoor seating so she can run around when she is restless, and there are plenty of food options 18
that she loves! We always order an eggs Benedict, farmer’s omelette and pancakes on the weekend and share. At Scratch, Rowan will eat a full adult order of cheesy grits till the very last spoonful!” – Rory
SALADELIA CAFE AND JUJUBE Durham and Chapel Hill “I think older kids are into healthy dishes. We dine with our daughter, Tessa, 23, at Saladelia and Jujube, two of her favorites.” – Kem Johnson, Senior Account Executive
PONYSAURUS BREWING Durham “Ponysaurus is the perfect place to grab a beer and hang with other parents.” – Rory
VIRLIE’S GRILL Pittsboro “There are nice big tables so my kids can spread out. We always run into our neighbors, and inevitably somebody slips the kids a few quarters to play the Claw Toy Grabber machine! For food, my kids like the Mickey Mouse pancakes complete with M&M faces.” – Heather 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
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A 126-Acre Wooded Campus A creek winds through main campus, set among farms and pastures, minutes from downtown Durham or Chapel Hill. We also have Early School campuses by Duke and UNC. 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
Carolina Friends School
a pre-K to grade 12 independent Quaker day school serving the greater Durham-Chapel Hill area www.cfsnc.org | 919.383.6602 19
HOBBY TOWN
Hobby Town NO MATTER YOUR KIDDOS’ INTERESTS, OUR COMMUNITY HAS YOU COVERED
,
By Laura Zolman Kirk Photography by Briana Brough
20
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
HOBBY TOWN
Bouncing Bulldogs jump ropers Ella Winslow, Lena Berry, Shalini Stockmans, Caroline Kahwati, Jessie Foday and Maya Gilliom.
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
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HOBBY TOWN
p sports q We are fortunate to have many specialized sports complexes and team leagues to help kids expend some energy and learn leadership and discipline skills along the way. Complexes like Baseball Rebellion (currently based in Hillsborough, but planning to move to Durham soon), Bull City Gymnastics, OC Gymnastics in Hillsborough and Chapel Hill Gymnastics offer coaching and space to help your child improve on their skills. Get some practice in during the off-season with team leagues. Start by looking at your local parks and recreation department or YMCA. A few other fun local options include Fusion Lacrosse, Rainbow Soccer and Triangle Ultimate (ultimate frisbee). There’s also the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Pacers Youth Running Club for boys and girls ages 7-18 and the Bouncing Bulldogs, as seen on the previous page, which
offers jump rope classes for all ages. Orange County SportsPlex in Hillsborough features a skating rink, hockey leagues for young’uns and a pool. For young basketball fans – specifically Carolina basketball fans – check out the Carolina Basketball Museum on UNC’s campus.
p dance q In addition to the children’s Saturday matinees during the American Dance Festival (ADF) in the summer (learn more in our roundup of seasonal family fun on page 6), ADF’s Samuel H. Scripps Studios in Durham also offers a range of classes, workshops and camps for all ages and levels. Dance with your little one – starting with infants – or introduce your movement-focused kiddo to ballet, hip-hop, jazz, modern dance and much more. Other dance studios in Durham include Barriskill Dance Theatre School, Bellan Contemporary Dance Theatre, Dance Theatre South, Encore Academy
Sakarah Hall-Edge balances Khyler W., 10, on her hip and reaches out to Sumi Farrell, 10, held by Sheldon Mba. Oakley Gaddy, 8, sits on his shoulders and Dahlia Louis, 9, balances on his other hip. The young girls are students at ADF’s Samuel H. Scripps Studios.
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2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
HOBBY TOWN
PHOTO BY NATALIE RAMBALDI
Carolina Friends School’s Jason Manning steps in front of a Green Hope High defender to make a catch during a Triangle Ultimate match.
of Dance, Nina’s School of Dance and Ninth Street Dance. For a comprehensive list, pick up the latest Durham Magazine Visitors & Relocation Guide. And in the Chapel Hill, check out Ballet School of Chapel Hill, Renner Dance Company, Studio A DanceArts and Triangle Youth Ballet.
p Arts & Crafts q The ArtsCenter in Carrboro and Durham Arts Council
both offer a wide range of arts opportunities, including metalsmithing, photography, jewelry, fiber arts, ceramics, dance, design and performing arts. The ArtsCenter also welcomes art-loving kindergarten through fifth-graders in an arts-based after-school immersion program.
Nonprofit creative reuse center The Scrap Exchange in Durham challenges youngsters to use their imagination 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
The ArtsCenter hosts ArtsCamp programs every summer.
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HOBBY TOWN
PHOTO COURTESY CAROLINA TIGER RESCUE
in the Make N Take Room and Design Center, which are regularly offered as open studios for a small fee. Workshops and seasonal programming are also available for more directed fun. Businesses like Carrboro’s Glazed Expectations, Durham Arts Council’s Clay Studio at Northgate Mall and HappymessART Studios in Durham provide the tools for your kids to create with new mediums.
And, for ever-changing exhibitions and a selection of regular kids’ art programming, Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University and Ackland Art Museum at UNC are great places for your young artist to find inspiration.
p Animals q If your little one is a budding zoologist, our area has plenty of opportunities for him or her to see animals up close. The largest and Caprichio shows off at Carolina most diverse collection of lemurs live Tiger Rescue. right in our backyard at the Duke Lemur Center in Durham, which offers Little Lemur tours for children younger than 8 years old, a Lemur Keeper for a Day program and even Painting with Lemurs. Book your tour or event ahead of time, as they tend to fill up fast. If big cats are more your thing, look no further than Pittsboro’s Carolina Tiger Rescue, where you can witness lions, servals, cougars, caracals, ocelots and, of course, tigers. They offer a reading hour/book tour every month (check out page 36 for more info), as well as a range of public tour, private tour and camp options. Museum of Life and Science in Durham hits the mark for kiddos interested in space, sound, science, insects (butterflies, especially) or dinosaurs – it’s the perfect place to spend the day exploring (the Hideway Woods exhibit is
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Duke Lemur Center.
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
HOBBY TOWN
STars Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is a must for the space-savvy little ones
in your life. Exhibits introduce kids to the purpose of the planetarium, and a host of planetarium shows revolve around themes from black holes to Galileo, to Science Live! Programs that demonstrate experiments right before your very eyes. For a special look at the stars, check out one of the center’s off-site skywatching adventures.
PHOTO BY KATI HENDERSON
PHOTO BY JOE PEDIT
a must). The wide variety of animals is one of their main attractions. The Explore the Wild exhibit features black bears and lemurs. Carolina Wildlife has woodchucks, skunks, alligators and more. And, at the farmyard, you can meet alpacas and miniature Hereford cows. A significant addition are the museum’s four endangered red wolf pups, who were born in April 2017. It’s been a joy to watch these little guys grow from fuzzy balls of fluff to teenage wolves. Barnyard friends like the Beltie cows at Fearrington Village in Pittsboro can also be found at 1870 Farm in Chapel Hill, Hux Family Farm (goats galore) in Durham, Blue Whistler Farm in Durham and Funny Girl Farm in Durham.
p nature q Heavy hitters in this category would certainly be the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill and the Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham, which both 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
Sarah P. Duke Gardens.
offer educational programming throughout the year. The Botanical Garden recently opened their Children’s Wonder Garden filled with hands-on activities, while Duke Gardens offers gardening open hours, nature navigator programs, storytimes and other activities to engage your little ones. 25
HOBBY TOWN
Kidzu Children’s Museum in Chapel Hill also recently opened up a children’s garden outside its University Place space, which features an interactive wooden beehive and plenty of opportunities to get your hands dirty.
Other neat spots to take your nature-loving explorers include the Coker Arboretum on UNC’s campus, Eno River, Jordan Lake and Triangle Land Conservancy’s long list of Orange, Durham, Chatham and Wake County nature preserves like the new Brumley Forest Nature Preserve. Schoolhouse of Wonder in Durham offers camps during the summer but also day-long field trips for groups, preschool naturebased exploration programs and weekend family adventures based on various themes.
Every April, the Piedmont Farm Tour invites families out
into the countryside to meet farmers and try stellar local grub. Their guide, available online, will point you to the sites with the greatest child appeal. And, finally, visit Maple View Farm in Hillsborough and treat
Midway Community Kitchen instructor Kelly Knapp demonstrates recipes for campers.
yourself to farm-fresh ice cream. Follow the farm on social media for the latest on their family-friendly and educational events.
p CULINARY q Southern Season’s Cooking School and Midway Community Kitchen, both in Chapel HIll, regularly offer
kid-focused cooking classes throughout the year. Midway 26
and C’est si Bon in Chapel Hill also offer summer cooking camps. And C’est si Bon features foodie teen getaways to Europe and within North Carolina, the latter of which includes a stay at The Inn at Celebrity Dairy in Siler City. Farmers markets like Durham Farmers’ Market, Carrboro Farmers’ Market and Chapel Hill Farmers’ Market regularly supply kid-geared educational programming, along with local food fests like Abundance NC’s Pepper Festival in September. 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
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!
Make Those Summer Plans Now and Give Them a Christmas Gift They’ll Never Forget! 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
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: Contact the camp office 336-869-0195 or 336-869-0195 shane@campcheerio.org director@campcheerio.org
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HOBBY TOWN
The Durham Children’s Choir.
p music q On rainy days or days too hot to be outside (we have many here) – or just any old day with nothing planned – Notasium in Durham offers a great interactive, musicbased play space designed to interest kids of all ages. It’s an awesome area for siblings to utilize while brothers and sisters take part in music lessons – from banjo, to bassoon, voice to drum and beyond – at Notasium’s music school. Other programs where the musically inclined can hone their craft include Chapel Hill School of Musical Arts, High Strung Violins & Guitars in Durham (check out an Instrument Petting Zoo), Girls Rock NC in Durham, Russell Lacy Music in Durham, School of Rock in Chapel Hill and Cary, Let There Be Rock School in Durham, Durham Children’s Choir or the Piedmont Youth and Family Orchestra.
p volunteer q Many local nonprofits like Meals on Wheels, PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro, Ronald McDonald House in Durham and Chapel Hill and others will allow children to volunteer alongside their guardians. Check out The Triangle Nonprofit & Volunteer Leadership Center (formerly Volunteer Center of Durham), an
organization that can connect you and your child with a nonprofit volunteer opportunity that best suits your interests. 28
Neil, 11, Siena, 8, and Hannah Joshi, 5, accompanied by mom Kelly, volunteer with PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro.
p Trucks q Many groups in the Triangle, like the Junior League of Durham and Orange Counties and Boy Scout Troop 39 in Chapel Hill, put on Touch A Truck events at local spots a couple times a year for kids to get acquainted with fire trucks, helicopters, bulldozers and more! 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
CELEBRATING
38 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 For more information please contact admin@mdsch.org or mdsch.org.
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Each Primrose school is a privately owned and operated franchise. Primrose Schools® and Balanced Learning® are registered trademarks of Primrose School Franchising Company. ©2017 Primrose School Franchising Company. All rights reserved. See primroseschools.com for ‘fact’ source and curriculum detail.
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Tania, Jackson, Sofia and Wes Talman at the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill playground.
All in the Family A NEW VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AT THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF CHAPEL HILL GETS THE WHOLE FAMILY INVOLVED
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By Chantal Allam
F
or years, Legend Oaks resident Tania Talman searched for ways she, her husband, Wes Talman, and her children could volunteer together as a family. Finally, she found the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill, a nonprofit that provides a “home-awayfrom-home” for families with seriously ill children close to the facilities they need. “It was then that I realized the House is a natural place for both adults and children to volunteer,” she says. Tania got her willing kids – Sofia, 12, a seventh-grader at Margaret B. Pollard Middle School, and Jackson, 9, a fourth-grader at Perry Harrison Elementary School – to pitch in. “They ended up planting the flowerbeds by the new community house and helping with the playground,” she says. “They loved it.” That’s how she came up with the idea for Families Helping Families a new program aimed at bringing families together through philanthropy. 30
Developed in coordination with the House’s Senior Director of Development George Marut, the program has two components: spending a minimum number of hours volunteering and committing to a financial donation. Since its inception, 28 families have joined the program. “If a family likes to cook, they can elect to pick up groceries and cook a meal at the House,” Tania explains. “If a family likes to garden, they can help maintain the flowerbeds. The activities can be completely open and driven on what the families enjoy doing and their skill sets.” “Families interested in learning more should contact George for ideas and information on how to get started,” Tania says. Her daughter, Sofia, adds, “It’s really fun to help people going through tough times. It makes me realize how fortunate I am. It’s also good to help sick kids and their siblings feel normal again.” 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
For SPILLS and CHILLS,
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AROUND-THE-CLOCK EXPERT CARE is RIGHT HERE. Whatever the emergency, our pediatric expertise is available to you 24/7. With a team of specialists and subspecialists on call, we provide you exceptional care when it matters the most.
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The Big Picture PHOTOGRAPHER TAMARA LACKEY IS ON A MISSION TO HELP KIDS FAR AND WIDE
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PHOTO BY SOPHIE LACKEY
E
ver since I thought about wanting to have a family, I knew I wanted it to be [through] a combination of adoption and birth. Then I met Steve, and it turned out he was adopted. I thought, ‘OK, that’s interesting.’ We agreed to birth, adopt, birth, adopt. We had Sophie, and I loved being pregnant. Then we were excited to adopt, and our first adoption was our son, Caleb, who is now 13. We adopted him at 9 months old from Ethiopia. We lived in the orphanage while finalizing everything, and it struck me what a gift it is to have family, how 150 million kids don’t have that. That’s the first time I started taking more photographs of children waiting for families to help showcase them better. That kind of got us started in this charitable work. We also realized there are so many amazing kids – why go back to birth? In 2008, we adopted Ana Elisa, now 12, at age 3 from Ecuador. Then in 2014, we met our soon-to-be fourth child in Ethiopia. When we met him, he was 4-and-a-half. He is now 7-and-a-half. We’re three years into the process of bringing him home. It’s a heartbreak, this wait, this broken system. We try to go back to see him every six months. Around the time we met him, we were sitting there thinking, ‘We keep putting money into charitable organizations, not knowing
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
Tamara at one of the orphanages in Ethiopia that her family supports.
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
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TAMARA LACKEY
PHOTO BY SARA HARRIS
The Lackey family – Caleb, Steve, Ana Elisa, Tamara and Sophie.
where it goes. The bottom line is, we are deeply passionate about supporting children waiting for families. Why not put together an organization where we find tangible projects and 100 percent of the funds go directly towards these efforts?’ We started Beautiful Together and got official designation in 2015. So far, we have finished 10 projects. One project is “Build An Orphan Feeding Kitchen.” We partnered with a grassroots feeding ministry in Ethiopia, took photographs, did interviews with children in the program, built a fundraiser, received a generous response and went shopping in Addis Ababa for kitchen appliances, a water filter and food. Another effort is the “Liberation Fund.” There are many orphans who will never be adopted for no other reason than there wasn’t a closed loop on getting them into the orphanage. Our fund hires investigators to go in and just do an orphan verification status to give them a chance at having a family.
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One of the things that I want people to know is, it doesn’t matter if a child is born to you or they are adopted, you love them the same. I hear, ‘It’s so wonderful that you adopt.’ I’m like, ‘Are you kidding me? You know how much I’ve gotten out of it? It’s one of the most amazing mutual deals there is. I get to expand my family and my heart, and they do, too.’” - as told to Chantal Allam
TAMARA LACKEY, with her
husband, Steve, founded Beautiful Together, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of children living in extreme poverty, foster care and orphanages. They have four children: Sophie, 15, Caleb, 13, Ana Elisa, 12, and a 7-and-a-half-year-old boy, who is currently in the process of being adopted from Ethiopia.
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
NO LIMITS ON LEARNING —
YOU CAN GO AS FAR
AS YOU WANT ____________ Mia G., 10th grade ____________
It takes courage to think for yourself and Mia loves every chance Saint Mary’s gives her to do it. With AP and honors courses, world languages, a rich arts program, 11 sports, leadership opportunities and realworld experiences, your curiosity is piqued and your imagination inspired as you learn to think critically, collaborate and make connections — the possibilities are endless. WHERE WILL YOU FIND YOUR COURAGE?
OVERNIGHT & VISITATION DAYS November 9 - 10 & January 15 - 16 SHADOW DAYS October 6 & December 1 To register, call the Admission Office at 919.424.4100. FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE
Serving girls, grades 9-12 Boarding and day in Raleigh, N.C. www.sms.edu | 919.424.4100 admission@sms.edu Find out more about Mia at www.sms.edu/mia
Read With Me CHECK OUT THESE UNIQUE LOCAL STORY HOURS
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Photography by Briana Brough
C
ommitted to literacy, these businesses, nonprofits and libraries go above and beyond to provide exciting programming for our children. Story hours can be found amongst butterflies and honeybees at outdoor spaces like Chapel Hill’s Honeysuckle Tea House or Durham’s Funny Girl Farm and Sarah P. Duke Gardens. Local bookstores, coffee shops and libraries, of course, are great spots to gather for regularly programmed literary adventures as well.
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2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
READ WITH ME: STORY HOURS
Tobin Bearliner, 2, Tobin’s babysitter, Brianna Albritton, Violet Leehr, 4, and Violet’s mom, Sarah Leehr, listen in as Claire Peterman reads at a Honeysuckle Tea House Story Corner in Chapel Hill in July. 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
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READ WITH ME: STORY HOURS
A trip to Funny Girl Farm’s monthly storytime would be incomplete without a breeze through of the goodies available at the farmstand.
HONEYSUCKLE TEA HOUSE STORY CORNER Thursdays, Chapel Hill Breathe in the herb-scented air as one of Honeysuckle’s own tea slingers reads classic and contemporary children’s stories from the outdoor stage. Afterward, parents can mingle – iced tea in hand – with plenty of room for the little ones to roam.
SARAH P. DUKE GARDENS NATURE STORYTIME Thursdays through Nov. 16, 2017, Durham Enjoy a nature-themed story in the gardens followed by a related activity or walk.
JOHNNY’S GONE FISHING KIDS STORIES & SONGS Tuesdays, Carrboro Parents, take a coffee and biscuit break while children enjoy stories and sing-alongs. Afterward, play with toys and games in Johnny’s “living room,” or explore outside when the weather is nice.
FUNNY GIRL FARM STORYTIME Saturdays (about once a month), Durham While not a weekly occurrence, storytimes at Funny Girl Farm are not to be missed. Sign up for the farm’s newsletters 38
to stay up-to-date on themed story gatherings like “Insects on the Farm” and “Touch a Tractor.”
COCO BEAN COFFEE SHOP KID’S STORY + CRAFT HOUR Tuesdays, Chapel Hill Kids, get cozy with complimentary hot chocolate for a weekly story and craft, while Mom and Dad recharge with a caffeinated beverage and vegan treat!
KIDZU CHILDREN’S MUSEUM STORYTIME Tuesdays and Fridays, Chapel Hill Let your kiddo’s imagination run wild at these storytimes that include activities, crafts or songs, too! Afterward, check out the museum’s engaging exhibits.
MCINTYRE’S BOOKS CHILDREN’S STORYTIME Tuesdays, Pittsboro Join Children’s Book Buyer Sarah Carr for a uniquely curated storytime for babies, toddlers and preschoolers at Fearrington Village’s local bookstore. Visit the goats and cows next door when it wraps up.
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
Jump in on the Fun
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PHOTO BY J CALDWELL
READ WITH ME: STORY HOURS
Young students from Nuestra Escuelita-LEAP, a Spanish/ English immersion preschool in Durham, enjoy Bilingual Storytime at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, a program co-presented by Durham County Library.
THE REGULATOR BOOKSHOP PRESCHOOL STORYTIME Wednesdays, Durham Amy Godfrey, who has 10 years of experience as a children’s librarian, brings the fun with energetic, musical storytimes.
FLYLEAF BOOKS PRESCHOOL STORYTIME & ACTIVITY Thursdays, Chapel Hill An art activity follows this weekly book-centric gathering.
BILINGUAL STORYTIME Monthly Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University and Durham County Library combine forces to offer this unique story
hour settled in the galleries of the Nasher and followed by a discussion and hands-on art making.
TIGER TALES TOUR Monthly After an engaging story time and an animal-themed craft at Carolina Tiger Rescue in Pittsboro, kids and their guardians are invited to head out to the sanctuary to see the big cats up close. 40
AN OPEN BOOK A trip to the library is always a great bet, as their calendars are packed with story times for kids, toddlers, babies and families Chapel Hill Public Library chapelhillpubliclibrary.org Durham County Library durhamcountylibrary.org Chatham County Public Libraries chathamnc.org/government/ departments-programs/library Chatham Community Library chathamcommunitylibrary.com Orange County Public Library orangecountync.gov/departments/ library
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
where bright minds and open hearts meet
Come visit us! Tour and Information Sessions from October–January 4011 Pickett Road, Durham • trinityschoolnc.org • 919-402-8262
Trinity is an independent Christian school for students in grades Transitional Kindergarten–12. Navigating Schools2017Ad.indd 1
8/29/17 8:31 AM
Dr. Annelise Hardin Specializing in dentistry for infants, children, adolescents and those with special needs.
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
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Local Lit THE LATEST CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG ADULT BOOKS TO COME OUT OF OUR THRIVING LITERARY COMMUNITY
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By Tia Nanjappan
WILLIAM’S WINTER NAP By Linda Ashman The author, who lives in Chapel Hill with her family, writes a heartwarming tale of a little boy who goes to sleep one winter night only to hear a knock at the door from a chipmunk who needs a place to sleep – the first in a long line of hibernating animals to join William in bed. Young children will enjoy this wintertime story that teaches the importance of kindness.
THE UNICORN IN THE BARN By Jacqueline Ogburn For years, the locals at Chinaberry Creek have spoken about a fabled white deer that roams the grounds. Then, a young boy sees it and realizes that the “deer” is actually a unicorn. Middle school students will be enamored with this touching tale by Durham author Jacqueline Ogburn about how the ordinary can become extraordinary.
SAM THE MAN & THE RUTABAGA PLAN By Frances O’Roark Dowell In this second installment of the series by the Durhambased author, protagonist Sam gets stuck with the rutabaga as his science project focus. At first, the vegetable is unappealing, but Sam quickly grows attached. This series is perfect for elementary school students. 42
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
READ WITH ME: LOCAL LIT
CHARLOTTE THE SCIENTIST IS SQUISHED By Camille Andros The Chatham-based author, who has a bachelor’s in health science and works as an EMT, writes to inspire young girls to enter the STEM field. Charlotte, a female rabbit, is a serious scientist who has too many ideas for experiments and not enough space to conduct them in a house packed with her many brothers and sisters. To solve her problem, she gets innovative!
PLANTING HOPE By Susie Wilde and Peg Gignoux in collaboration with children from Smith Middle School and Rogers Road Community Center The title of this book reflects both the mission of PORCH – a nonprofit organization that aims to alleviate local hunger in Chapel Hill – and the moral of its story, in which a girl and her seed unite a divided garden. The book was written in collaboration with children in the community and teaches how one small seed can spread a larger message.
THE HOLE STORY By Daniel Wallace The UNC English professor and established author tells the whimsical story of a hole and its journey to find its place in the world. Young children and young-at-heart adults alike will enjoy this book about self-acceptance and the importance of embracing the cosmos. Proceeds from the book benefit Book Harvest, a Durham nonprofit dedicated to putting plenty of books in the hands of young people, regardless of their family’s income.
JAKE THE FAKE KEEPS IT REAL By Craig Robinson and Adam Mansbach; art by Keith Knight Illustrated by Carrboro-based artist Keith Knight, “Jake the Fake Keeps it Real” takes an age-old theme – “stay true to yourself ” – and reinvents it through the eyes of Jake, who believes he has faked his way into a unique performing arts school. Middle-schoolers will learn how to keep it real through a series of twists and turns. 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
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READ WITH ME: LOCAL LIT
LET’S PRETEND WE NEVER MET By Melissa Walker The Chapel Hill native, who has dabbled in children’s books before, makes her first foray into tales meant for middle schoolers. The book, about a sixth-grader who moved to Pennsylvania in the middle of the school year, expresses all the emotions that adolescent girls experience as they navigate friendships, the need to fit in and how to do the right thing.
ONCE AND FOR ALL By Sarah Dessen The Chapel Hill-based author’s latest book is ideal for teenagers going through their first heartbreak. Louna, the main character who has always played it safe, works for her mother’s wedding planning company the summer before she goes to college. She meets a young boy with whom she develops an unlikely friendship and realizes that true love looks nothing like what she expected.
CECIL AND THE BIG WAVE By Adam W. Jones The Chapel Hill resident tackles the subject of bullying through Cecil, the smallest ant at his park, who struggles with other ants that are making fun of him. To get away, he hides in a cave at the beach where he meets his Uncle Juba, who teaches him how to feel good about himself and not to worry about what others think.
LORD OF MONSTERS By John Claude Bemis The second book in this Hillsborough author’s “Out of Abaton” series draws from the fairy tales he read as a child as well as the swampy lands where he grew up on the North Carolina coast. Expect talking foxes, cats and gnomes, as well as a horde of monsters. Perfect for young readers eager for adventure.
JIMMY FOR THE CITY By Derek Rhodes The Durham Academy and Duke University alumnus writes an inspiring tale about a 14-year-old boy who runs for city council. “It’s the book I always wanted [growing up],” Derek says. There are a number of kid-to-president stories, but not many that center around local government. 44
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
National Blue Ribbon School since 2012 PreK-8 | Est. 1909 | Durham
Explore the Possibilities Discover Immaculata’s rich diversity, modern classroom technology, STEM curriculum and hands-on learning, arts program, vast extracurricular activities, and so much more! To experience the Immaculata Way of Life in person, attend an information session and tour on one of the three dates listed at 10:00am.
immaculataschool.org
Thursday, November 16, 2017 Friday, January 19, 2018 Tuesday, March 13, 2018 RSVP to the Director of Admissions murrayb@icdurham.org
Mr.
A
JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER STUART ALBRIGHT IS ALSO AN AUTHOR, PUBLISHER AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, A MENTOR TO HIS STUDENTS
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By Caitlin Wheeler Photography by Briana Brough
W
alking into Stuart Albright’s classroom at Jordan High School, the first thing you notice are the book jackets covering the wall. This is not surprising, given that Stuart is an English and writing teacher. Up close, the book jackets – from “Officer Love’s Jurisdiction” to “Lyrical Gold” to “Sing Me This Song” – look like any books you would find at Barnes & Noble, professionally typeset and beautifully designed. But each novel, memoir and anthology on the wall was authored by one of Stuart’s students. Stuart started McKinnon Press in 2005 as a vehicle for his own debut book, “Blessed Returns,” a memoir of his 46
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
READ WITH ME: STUART ALBRIGHT
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
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READ WITH ME: STUART ALBRIGHT
post-graduate summer spent teaching at a rough inner-city school in Camden, New Jersey. He was amazed at how easy it was to self-publish an extremely professional product, and as a teacher, his immediate reaction was to share what he had learned with his class. “I was blown away by how excited they were,” Stuart says about introducing the concept for the first time. The result was a collection of the students’ best stories, “Unlocking Room 413: A Creative Writing Class Discovers the Power of Words.” Since that first collection, Stuart has made publishing his students’ work the hallmark of his lauded teaching career. He was a Durham Public Schools Teacher of the Year in 2006, a recipient of a 2008 national Milken Educator Award, which called his work “pioneering,” and the recipient of a UNC Distinguished Young Alumni Award in 2013. The impact of his work on a wide range of students at Jordan is clear. He has encouraged hesitant writers, allowed students to take Stuart’s students have written a total of 50 anthologies and 40 novels. ownership of a serious, in-depth project, and he has provided a safe space for students to share doing what I’m doing now for the Times. I wrote four personal stories. profiles in the last two days!” “He was the reason I went to Jordan,” says Emily Stuart’s classes are not just for future journalists. Palmer, a former student who switched out of her Lilli Morris is currently in the third year of a chemistry districted school in order to take Stuart’s novel-writing Ph.D. program at Cornell. Despite being more math and class. “I had always loved writing,” says Emily, who is science inclined while at Jordan, she begged her way into currently a reporter for The New York Times, “but I had no Stuart’s class her senior year. “People told me that it was a discipline. I just wrote when inspiration struck. Mr. A had course I had to take before graduating.” Lilli appreciated us working like disciplined athletes. He suggested putting the chance to improve her writing, but she valued the aside certain hours and sticking to it every day. And he overall experience even more. “He created an amazing followed up – even when I had to finish my novel over environment where we were learning from one another,” the summer he checked in to make sure I was working. she says. “It was a totally unique class, with sophomores That discipline he taught us is the only way I got through from regular English sitting next to seniors who’d taken writing my thesis at UNC. It is the only way I could be two English [Advanced Placement] classes. 48
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
FOR
Chapel Hill Eyecare Favorite Place VOTING for Glasses US YOUR
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READ WITH ME: STUART ALBRIGHT
It was such a diverse group. People you might never have read and was taking Stuart’s class because he was “curious spoken with around campus, but in that classroom, we all to try looking at the world through the eyes of someone had one another’s back.” with a totally different perspective,” he says. For Stuart, finding a common ground between students “A big part of the appeal is that writing is something with racial and socioeconomic differences was his primary you can really commit to,” Aidan says. “It’s rewarding to goal as a teacher. Growing up outside of Charlotte in a do something you can put a lot of effort into. And then to “gritty” town divided by a railroad track, he had found see it published is great.” that playing football for his public high school provided The cost of Stuart’s publishing program is surprisingly that kind of rare neutral zone. low. Advances in self-publishing technology means that After attending UNC, where he studied English and there is no up-front cost – publishing online is free. “It creative writing, Stuart went just costs money to buy a copy of on to Harvard for a master’s the book,” Stuart says. “We try to in urban education, then he buy books in bulk to keep the cost accepted his first teaching as low as possible, and then students position at Jordan. “I wanted can sell them to friends and A big part of the that level of diversity,” he says. family. The novels are all available appeal is that writing “It’s a neat mixture of students on Amazon. Students own the is something you can that is reflective of our society.” copyright to their work, and they really commit to,” Aidan Stuart’s first attempt at get the royalties. It can be a moneysays. “It’s rewarding connecting with some of his making venture.” to do something you harder-to-reach students was Stuart has seen the success of the can put a lot of effort through coaching football. writing and publishing program at into. And then to see it “Football was the reason Jordan with hundreds of students some of those kids were in over the past 11 years. It is only published is great. school at all,” he says. more recently, as he has given Former Jordan High School With writing, he has found presentations at conferences in student, Aidan Keaveney another way to encourage those North Carolina and beyond, that same students. In Stuart’s most he has realized the uniqueness of recent book, “A World Beyond his program. Now Stuart hopes Home,” he writes about one of his former students, a to share what he has learned with the broader Durham player on the football team. The student was also, Stuart community by educating teachers and opening his press explains, “a local gang member and [had] almost killed to students throughout Durham Public Schools. He is somebody.” working overtime to find grants and private donations in “Being in that writing class helped steer him away order to put his plan into practice. from all that,” Stuart says. “He read the sometimes “I’d love to publish collections of teacher essays along heart-wrenching and sometimes uplifting stories of with student novels and short story collections,” he says. his classmates, and it turned him outward. He stopped “Maybe poetry collections as well. Maybe we’d have thinking about himself and became an incredibly competitions.” empathetic person.” Indeed, he was nationally recognized Stuart plans to continue teaching classes at Jordan for his commitment to community service during college, while expanding the reach of his program. He and his where he played football and majored in creative writing. wife live in Durham, in walking distance of Hope Valley He is now on a university football coaching staff. Elementary, where Brett, his 7-year-old son, is enrolled. “The class is its own community,” says former Jordan His younger son, Cason, will start next year. Stuart loves student Aidan Keaveney, who took the class last year. Durham. His sole novel, “Bull City,” is a murder mystery “By the second month it feels like you’ve gone through taking place in, of course, Durham. “Durham has been some crazy experience together, and now we’re just all the perfect place to try something innovative,” Stuart says. friends.” Aidan is now a junior at the North Carolina “People here are open to new ideas.” School of Science and Mathematics, but he loves to
“”
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2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
READ WITH ME: STUART ALBRIGHT
Give Back Read2Me: Tailgate Stories started in one
neighborhood in Carrboro in 2009 and gradually expanded into 25 neighborhoods across the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools’ system. It promotes the power of reading and aims to improve students’ literacy rates by facilitating reading events throughout the summer, featuring parents, police officers, teachers and more. Book Harvest is a Durham nonprofit that helps
children gain access to books. By removing barriers to book ownership, Book Harvest strives to make every household rich with books. Volunteers in the community can participate by donating books, running a book drive or volunteering at events. Chatham Reads is a nonprofit formed in collaboration with Chatham County Schools and Chatham Education Foundation that works to tackle literacy
growth in Chatham County. Help the cause by donating books for projects like the book baskets and little libraries around town.
Based out of Chapel Hill, Augustine Literacy Project seeks to improve the literacy rates of low-income teens and children who struggle with reading and writing. They do this with the help of volunteers who provide free, long-term, one-on-one tutoring. The Durham Literacy Center’s Youth Education
Program serves about 40 out-of-school teens and young adults each year, providing one-on-one tutoring to prepare students to take GED tests and focusing on building real world skills. You can help by donating funds, supplies or your time by becoming a tutor. El Centro Hispano’s Durham and Carrboro-Chapel
Hill offices offer a structured, preschool experience for youngsters in both Spanish & English as well 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
PHOTO BY KRISTIN PRELIPP, KPO PHOTO
HELP SPARK A LOVE OF READING IN OTHERS WITH THESE LOCAL NONPROFITS
Book Harvest founder Ginger Young wants every child to have the solace of books.
as tutoring through afterschool homework help for children in grades K-12 in Spanish & English and a daily lesson in reading and math. The East Durham Children’s Initiative (EDCI) – which focuses on the children and families within the EDCI Zone, a 120-block area in East Durham – promotes literacy and academic achievement through several programs, including: Hill Reading Achievement Program (HillRAP), in which trained tutors provide specialized reading instruction to struggling students for short periods outside of the classroom at Y.E. Smith Elementary; Books on Break, which combats summer learning loss by providing a new string backpack and 10 self-selected books to elementary school students on free or reduced lunch at the start of summer; and the Reading Rangers program, providing books and volunteers to offer extra literacy assistance to Y.E. Smith students during instructional time. 51
‘Pipeline for Success’ DURHAM NATIVITY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR AND FORMER STUDENTS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AT THE TUITION-FREE MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR BOYS
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By Amanda Abrams Photography by Briana Brough
D
rivers racing north on Roxboro Street might not notice the boys in French blue dress shirts and striped ties milling about near the sidewalk, or the sign at the intersection with East Trinity Avenue that reads “Durham Nativity School.” But those familiar with the institution say it’s one of the city’s littleknown treasures. An independent middle school established in 2002, Durham Nativity School (DNS) has a mission of supporting low-income boys all across the city. Tuition is free, class sizes are small (each grade has roughly 15 students), and service and faith components are woven into the curriculum. Most important, graduates are assisted in applying to and paying for attendance at private high schools and then college, which the vast majority attends. The school’s tiny size and laser-focused mission creates a close community of students, alumni, faculty and staff that they say serves as a supportive second family. Maura Sullivan, director of admissions, who’s been with the school for 15 years: “This is our 16th year. It was started by my father, Joseph Moylan, who was a lover of education. He thought the model was fantastic; it has an extended day and an extended year. This is the first year we’re offering fifth grade. We have very, very high expectations. We hold the boys in high regard. It’s not one strike, you’re out – these are middle school boys, after all. We cultivate them as learners. There’s time in the afternoons 52
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
DU RH A MLateef N AT I Mitchell. VITY SCHOOL BACK ROW Former Durham Nativity School (DNS) students Julian, 13, Amir, 13, and FRONT ROW DNS students Kelvin, 12, and Alex, 12, with former student David, 12, and DNS Director of Admissions Maura Sullivan.
Tamara at one of the orphanages in Ethiopia her family supports.
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
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D U R H A M N AT I V I T Y S C H O O L
Lateef shakes the hand of former student Julian as he enters one of the DNS classrooms.
for homework help, to cultivate their study skills. Usually they come in about two grades behind. When they leave in eighth grade, we would like them to be above grade level. There’s a lot of expectation of parents, too; they sign a parent agreement. We’re always looking for a capable learner who might have that drive to be self-motivated and a self-starter. The kids are referred by parents, churches, teachers. It’s grassroots recruitment. At the Compare [Foods supermarket], if I see a mom with a kid who seems the right age, I’ll talk to her about the school. My Uber driver this past summer told me he had a son, so I asked how old he was, and then I asked, ‘Do you know where he’s going next year?’ I gave him my card, and now his son is in our fifth-grade class.”
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Lateef Mitchell, community engagement coordinator with the East Durham Children’s Initiative as part of Americorps-Public Allies; enrolled at DNS in 2002: “I was born with ADHD; I was doing well in school but needed the teachers to slow down. My mom said, ‘We need to find a place where you can get that undivided attention that you deserve.’ She got on the computer, found DNS, and they said, ‘Come to an open house at the Durham County Library.’ We went, and they told us about college preparatory schools, which of course intrigued my mom. They helped us with the application process. Once it started – I believe there were about 15 to 20 of us in the school; it was very small. We stayed at school till about 7 at night. We came from rougher neighborhoods, and they wanted to make sure we had something constructive going on. They’d partnered with the YMCA 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
D U R H A M N AT I V I T Y S C H O O L
and we played ball, swam; they opened up this network of opportunities for us. And this was in the first year. It was such a different style. Uniforms – shirt and tie, black belt, black shoes – all boys. It was tough academically. They said they wouldn’t cut any corners. They did have to play catch up with some of us, but they caught us up. The challenging part was the expectation on us. But we grew. Every DNS man understands challenges. It’s one of the things they try to teach: success, integrity, hard work and being upstanding. I ended up going to Guilford College. I was prepared for the writing intensive because of my background at DNS. The different things that DNS teaches you come back at different times in your life. It’s really a pipeline for success. I have friends who are in prison; I come from a background where those people exist. I don’t associate with that negativity and crime, but I do offer resources to anyone who wants it. DNS taught me that: No judgment, just love.” Aaron Harrington, currently performing as Tom Collins in the touring production of “Rent”; enrolled at DNS in 2003: “It wasn’t nearly as tough to get used to as I’d imagined. We all clicked pretty instantly and became a tight-knit family. We were so small [that] you really knew everyone there; there was nothing to be nervous about. That also helped with the curriculum because if there was any time you didn’t understand anything, you were comfortable enough to go to your professors – and that was conducive to learning. It definitely helped me become more of a people person. It helped me speak to people in a certain way – for example, shaking hands. We learned how to have a firm handshake, look someone in the eye and say, ‘Hi, how are you?’ Being respectful. It was all packaged; they didn’t just develop the curriculum, they developed you, as a man, a young black man in Durham. And that was amazing, because I’m now able to comfortably speak to just about anyone. And of course it’s developed even more as I grew up and went to different schools and met different people, but that spark was developed there. DNS was all about teaching – it taught a lot more than just would be learned in the classroom. My teachers all cared about my wellbeing, and you could feel that, and that made you comfortable very quickly. I still keep up with my teachers. Just about all of them have come to see me in this play, and a few of my schoolmates as well.
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
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When I say it’s tight-knit, it’s tight-knit.” 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
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Power Parents THESE MOMS AND DADS FROM ORANGE, DURHAM AND CHATHAM COUNTIES GO ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR KIDS, WHETHER THEY ARE DONNING A GECKO COSTUME FOR A PEP RALLY, DEMONSTRATING TAEKWONDO MOVES WITH THEIR FAMILY OR TEACHING IN OUR SCHOOLS
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Photography by Briana Brough
Morris Grove Mom
I
f you’ve got a kid at Morris Grove Elementary, chances are you’ve met Stacey Lange, but you might not have known it was her. She’s the one standing out in the bus lane before school – wearing the school’s gecko costume. But Stacey wasn’t content with the costume that was mistaken for a frog so she raised enough money for a custom suit. She’s committed to suiting up until her youngest leaves elementary school, and then she’ll donate it to Morris Grove. That alone could cement Stacey’s dedication, but she doesn’t stop there. “Our teachers spend more time with my children during their waking hours than I do during the school year so how can you not support them and their efforts?” she asks. “If I can add my enthusiasm and energy to help them out, absolutely.” Whether she’s serving as room 56
parent, planning a teacher appreciation breakfast or presiding over a PTA meeting, Stacey is all in for helping the school. “I’ll be at the elementary school until 2023,” she says. “I’m not going anywhere. Put me to work.” Stacey’s own parents set the standard for involvement. Her mom coached soccer, her dad coached softball and both were involved with the PTA. “When my kids got to elementary school, I thought, “Of course you join the PTA – that’s what you’re supposed to do,” she recalls. “It just has snowballed from there as far as all the different activities that I’ve gotten involved in.” You’ll find her on the field coaching her youngest two in soccer, preparing for University Presbyterian’s vacation Bible school in the summer or planning the next neighborhood get-together. And you can 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
Stacey Lange with her kids, kids from Morris Grove Elementary and teams she coaches – Woodpeckers (soccer), Blackbirds (soccer) and the Yankees (baseball) and players from previous teams.
bet she’s adding in some fun to whatever she’s doing from leading the neighborhood Halloween parade to running a dance party-themed soccer practice. Her drive to be involved stems from the knowledge that her oldest is 10 and has eight years left at home. “When you think about it like that, it’s such a short amount of time so yes, I’m going to dress up as the mascot and high-five the kids as they get off the bus. And yes, I’m going to coach that team because I’ve got the energy and I think I’m going to make it fun,” she states. “Or I’ll dress up as the shark [mascot for swim team] and jump off the diving board because it’s fun.” – Jessica Stringer 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
STACEY LANGE
President, Morris Grove Elementary School PTA, Volunteer and Coach Raised in the Philadelphia suburbs, Stacey graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in English literature and language. She briefly lived in Durham while her husband Brian was in graduate school at Duke before heading north again. “Then the opportunity came up to move back and we thought, ‘You know what, let’s go plant our flag.’” So six years ago, the family – which now includes Carter, 10, Campbell, 7, Colby, 5 and goldendoodle Hogan – landed in Lake Hogan Farms.
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POWER PARENTS
Black Belt Bunch
A
bout five years ago, Adam Wenzlik accompanied his children to a birthday party where the kids were all invited to learn some martial arts moves. “I was sitting there watching our kids, and it looked like they were having so much fun,” Adam remembers. “The kids looked excited, but it also seemed like a good source for concentration and discipline. I called my wife and said, ‘We’ve got to do this!’” The entire family began taking taekwondo lessons together. Today, they all have their first-degree black belts and will be going for their second-degree black belts in November. To expose other children to the martial art, Adam and his daughter, Jacqueline, 11 – and sometimes wife Kathryn Bailey and son Noah, 10 – have given demonstrations at The Hill Center and Forest View Elementary School, schools his daughter attended. With music in the background, they’ve performed a skit that shows off different taekwondo moves, including kicks, punches, boardbreaking and a series of choreographed movements in unison. For Adam, exploring sports and exposing others to the joy of moving one’s body is nothing new. The Durham family medicine doctor also coaches youth soccer and basketball with Hillandale Sports Association and Durham Parks and Recreation. “I think you learn a lot of good skills from sports, not just from team sports but also individual ones – to push yourself, budget time, sportsmanship, all kinds of things,” he says. He acknowledges that it’s hard to be a parent, have a full-time job and still find time for community service and other interests, but he tries to include his family whenever he can. “I enjoy it so much because I can do it with one or both of my kids, and sometimes my wife, too,” Adam says. “We make it as much of a family activity as possible.” That’s also been the case with his efforts at The Hill Center, which both Noah and Jacqueline attended (they now attend the Duke School and Camelot Academy, respectively). The center helps children who learn differently, using small class sizes and personal relationships to help students who might otherwise struggle academically. But because of its cost, many students who might benefit from the programming aren’t able to access its services. That’s ultimately why Adam decided to get involved in the Hill Mile, the center’s biggest fundraising event – but it didn’t hurt that he loves to run. He convinced his practice, Bull City Family Medicine and Pediatrics, to become one of the event’s sponsors. The office also set up a booth on the day of the run to conduct health screenings. The whole family participates in the run – which raised $55,000 this past April – as do many of his office’s staff members. Perhaps Adam’s focus on physical health isn’t surprising for someone who spends his days thinking about wellness. “I try to help people out, help them feel better,” Adam says. “And if I can lead by example and encourage them to stay fit and healthy, I do.” – Amanda Abrams 58
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
The family who slays together stays together. Adam with wife Kathryn, son Noah, 10, and daughter Jacqueline, 11.
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
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Faculty Family
E
very September, David and Ellen Hamm and their four daughters approach the changing season with a slightly out-of-place holiday greeting. “The first day of school is our ‘Happy New Year’,” says Catherine Oldham, the Hamms’ youngest daughter and a teacher and reading specialist at Pittsboro Elementary School, where she recently won 2016-2017 Teacher of the Year. 60
“It’s like spring, a new beginning,” says David. “Whatever your trials and tribulations – and all your accolades – from the previous year, you kind of start a clean slate in the new year. The vast majority of jobs out there are not like that.” Every fall since 1979, children returning to school in Chatham have been greeted by at least one member of the Hamm family. David and Ellen started that year as elementary school teachers. As Ellen taught at Virginia Cross Elementary and then at North Chatham Elementary, David bounced from Pittsboro Elementary, 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
POWER PARENTS
The Hamm family, clockwise from left: Sadler Hamm, 8, Allison Andrews, Taylor Andrews, 1, Catherine Oldham, Audrey Jean ‘AJ’ Oldham, 5, Anderson Hamm, 6, Melissa Hamm, Elizabeth Hamm, David Hamm, Haley Andrews, 3, and Ellen Hamm.
to an assistant principal position at Siler City Elementary to principal positions at Bonlee Elementary and back to Pittsboro Elementary. Their four daughters grew up with teaching as the family business. Today, both Catherine and her sister Elizabeth Hamm work at Pittsboro Elementary. “During the summers, we would spend lots of time in the classroom with my mom, helping her get her classroom together,” says Catherine. “Or my dad would hire us to run the copier during the summer to make handbooks for the teachers. He would pay us by taking us out to lunch or buying us a new board game at the end of the summer.” 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
David retired from active teaching in 2007 and has served on the Chatham County Schools Board of Education since. Ellen retired in 2009. A third Hamm sister, Allison Andrews, spent four years as a teacher assistant at Perry Harrison Elementary before moving to the Chatham County Council on Aging – a job, says David, for which her time in the classroom was good preparation. “I ask her, ‘how are things going,’” says David. “She says, ‘You think little petty things would happen between fiveyear-olds. The same things happen between 80-year-olds.’” As the number of teachers in the Hamm family grew, so did the school system they work in. In 2000, Chatham enrolled close to 7,000 students, according to North Carolina state records. In 2009, the number was just under 8,000. Last year, it was over 8,700. “The problem is, you do not build schools predicting the future, you build schools after you’re already in trouble,” says David. “You don’t go to the tax payer, ‘well, we think there’s a need.’ And that’s how we’re going to be behind.” Still, says David, he meets parents every year who move from nearby counties into Chatham with schools in mind. “We’re the best kept secret,” David says. “We’re not Wake County, we’re not Chapel Hill, we’re pretty even keel.” If you add it all up, the Hamm family has given more than 80 years to Chatham County classrooms, specifically. The senior Hamms are on 52 years and counting, including David’s time on the Board of Education. Catherine is in her 12th year of teaching, Elizabeth is in her seventh as a teacher assistant, Allison worked for four years before switching to senior work and a fourth Hamm sister, Melissa, worked for six years in Chatham County Schools before moving to the Alamance-Burlington School System where she now serves as a lead teacher for formative assessment. And this year, Chatham classrooms will see yet another family member: Catherine’s daughter Audrey Jean Oldham, 5, is a kindergartener at Pittsboro Elementary. “We told her, ‘you’ll see granddaddy in the halls sometimes,’” says David, who will occasionally stop by schools to catch up with colleagues. “It’s going to be interesting to see how she responds.” “You have to look at your future from a historical perspective,” says David. “The schools provided my livelihood, my retirement and put all my kids through school. That’s why I feel an obligation to stay interested and keep working [for the school system].” – Matt White 61
Tackling Tuition A GUIDE TO MAKING PRIVATE SCHOOL AFFORDABLE
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By Michele Kisthardt
T
here are a lot of education options available to families in our area, from private to public, magnet to charter, and then there’s homeschooling, too. It all comes down to, “What will be best for my child?” If that answer is an independent school, then you must look at the full picture: Private schools vary by size, academics, athletics and other extracurricular programs, and they also differ in price. Figuring out how to approach tuition at a private school, like any major purchase, requires plenty of advance planning and research. To help you navigate the process, we’ve put together some tips from private school administrators in the area.
director of admissions as well as see our learning environments firsthand,” says Katherine Scott, communications coordinator at Carolina Friends School in Durham.
COMPARE TUITION PLANS
School tuition varies widely, depending on the school and grade level. Primary grades can range from $3,500 to nearly $14,000 annually. High school tuition can come with a price tag that’s over $20,000 per academic year. Duke School Lower School Director Nicole Thompson says affording a private school education is a challenge for many families. “When you look at independent schools, it’s as much or more than college,” she says. “In this market, it’s cheaper for families PLAN AHEAD when their kids go to college at Carolina or Start considering school choices and financial State, for instance,” she says. If a school requires aid about one year in advance. “Admissions the Independent Most schools use a third party (Tuition Aid and financial aid happen concurrently at School Entrance Data Services, TADS, is the most common every school, so parents should explore Exam, or ISEE, in this area) to analyze families’ financial various school options about 8 to 10 months resources like situations, taking into account a family’s before they want their child to attend that A Plus Test Prep income, savings, assets and liabilities, as well as offer tutoring school,” says Durham Academy Admissions options. any special circumstances. Director Victoria Muradi. Need-based tuition, often called indexed or To begin, visit school websites regularly for flexible tuition, is a grant that doesn’t have to updates on tours and information sessions in be repaid. Schools stress that their admission decisions are order to visit classrooms, explore the campus and learn more confidential and independent of the need for financial aid in about the school. consideration for admission. “The visit allows families to ask questions directly to our
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TACKLING TUITION
“No one should eliminate themselves from the financial aid process,” Nicole says. “Paperwork is just a couple hours of your time and a small fee. It’s worth that effort and time.” The percent of the student body that receives aid varies by school, ranging from about 7 percent to nearly a quarter of all students. Dr. Timothy Hall, director of operations and academics for preK-12 at Thales Academy, where 7 percent of students receive aid, says financing isn’t as much of a challenge for families at Thales: “We are an affordable private school model. Tuition for students in K-5 is $5,300; $6,000 per student in grades 6-12.”
CONSIDER OTHER RESOURCES Be certain to explore other options beyond need-based aid, including merit and other types of scholarships. Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill offers community scholarships for students of color. Scholarship winners receive up to $2,500 toward tuition. Thales Academy’s Luddy Schools Scholarship offers tuition assistance for students in hardship. The North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship is a state-funded scholarship 64
that was adopted to offer lower income families the opportunity for a private education. Families who meet the application requirements are entered into a lottery that awards scholarships up to $4,200 per student per academic year at participating schools, of which there are many in the Triangle. “I have witnessed families downsize their homes, move closer to the school of their choice, develop additional means of income, reduce luxuries and make other lifestyle changes in order to make funding a private education a priority,” says Haw River Christian Academy Principal Kelly Butler. Kelly also notes it’s not uncommon to see grandparents aiding in the financial commitment. Another option she suggests is for parents to look into seeking employment at the school. “Depending on a school’s personnel policy, parents may receive a [tuition] discount or full coverage as a staff member,” she says. Regarding the affordability of private school tuition, “Yes, it is a sacrifice for many families,” Victoria says. “Because most of our families [at Durham Academy] highly value education, they are willing to make that sacrifice.” 2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
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FACTS & FIGURES
Facts and Figures ON OUR AREA PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS
CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO CITY SCHOOLS AVERAGE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
STUDENT-TO-TEACHER RATIO
499 711 907
Elementary Middle High
AVERAGE CLASS SIZE
20 23 22 18 19 20
K-3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th
Elementary
21:1
CLASSROOM TEACHERS
Total
748
TEACHER ASSISTANTS
Total (grades PreK-5) 225
assistant superintendent of Scotland County Schools, and director of teaching and learning for Currituck County Schools. Along her career journey, she also served as a principal and assistant principal, high school science teacher and athletic coach. Dr. Baldwin received her bachelor’s degree in biology from George Mason University. She went on to obtain a master’s degree in school administration from East Carolina University and a doctorate in educational leadership and administration from the UNC-Wilmington.
FAST FACTS
Graduates earned $10,062,892 in scholarships in 2016
SUPERINTENDENT
84% of graduates enrolled in college
Dr. Pamela Baldwin began her tenure as superintendent in April 2017. She has enjoyed a successful career in public education spanning over 17 years in North Carolina. Prior to joining Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, she served as superintendent of Asheville City Schools,
Graduation rate is 91% 86.1% of students proficient on ACT * The 38% of teachers with advanced degrees Per pupil expenditure is $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
476 579 810
AVERAGE CLASS SIZE
K & 1st 2nd 3rd – 6th 7th & 8th
18 19 20 25
STUDENT-TO-TEACHER RATIO
549
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.
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FAST FACTS
Elementary 14:1 Middle 13:1 High 16:1 CLASSROOM TEACHERS
Total
TEACHERS’ AIDES
Approx.
Dr. Todd Wirt, the 2016-17 president of Central Carolina Regional Education Service Alliance, came 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
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Graduation rate is 89.1% 64% 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)
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
CHATHAM COUNTY SCHOOLS AVERAGE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
Elementary Middle High
583 518 622
4th 5th 6th 7th 8th
19 18 17 16 19
AVERAGE CLASS SIZE
CLASSROOM TEACHERS
K 17 1st 16 2nd & 3rd 17
Total
740
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 UNC-Chapel Hill, where he was elected as a Jackson Scholar by the faculty.
FAST FACTS
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 Carolina prior to joining the Chatham team. His
Dual-language program in four schools (Siler City Elementary School, North Chatham Elementary School, Chatham Middle School and Jordan- Matthews High School)
Early College opened in August 2016, housed at Chatham School of Science and Engineering, a partnership with Central Carolina Community College 100% AVID College Acceptance Rate Graduating seniors from 2015 earned more than
$12 million in scholarships Graduation rate is 86.7%, above the state average 11th in the state for overall ACT composite
DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS AVERAGE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
Elementary Middle High
531 665 895
AVERAGE CLASS SIZE
K-2nd 3rd & 4th 5th & 6th 7th 8th
20 22 21 22 21
STUDENT-TO-TEACHER RATIO
K-2nd 3rd-4th 5th-6th 7th 8th 9th-12th
20:1 22:1 21:1 22:1 21:1 22:1
CLASSROOM TEACHERS
Approx. 2,243
FAST FACTS Graduation rate was 82.1% for 2016
City of Medicine Academy, J.D. Clement Early College High School and Middle College at Durham Technical Community College all earned a 100% on-time graduation rate
The National Center for Urban School Transformation named R.N. Harris Integrated Arts/Core Knowledge Magnet School one of 27 winners of the 2017 America’s Best Urban Schools Award Lowe’s Grove Middle Principal Dr. Tekeisha Mitchell was named the 2017 Administrator to Watch by the N.C. Association for Middle Level Education (NCMLE).
SUPERINTENDENT
Aaron Beaulieu began serving as interim superintendent of Durham Public Schools (DPS) in October 2017. Prior to this appointment, he had been the DPS chief financial officer since 2013. Beaulieu brings more than 25 years of experience working for school districts in North Carolina.
The School for Creative Studies, Morehead Montessori Elementary and Lakewood Montessori Middle were recognized by the Magnet Schools of America for 2017. The School for Creative Studies and Morehead Montessori both earned the prestigious “Magnet School of Excellence” designation – the highest category bestowed by the national organization – and Lakewood Montessori Middle was deemed a “Magnet School of Distinction.”
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FACTS AND FIGURES
Education Glossary CHARTER SCHOOL
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
Charter schools are supported by public tax dollars and are authorized by the State Board of Education, but their charters release them from standard public school administration regulations. Frequently, they’re governed by a private board of parents, 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.
Independent in finance and governance, 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 the ability 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 and English/French.
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.
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
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Orange County Schools 200 E. King St. Hillsborough, N.C. 27278 919-732-8126 orangecountyfirst.com
Durham Public Schools 511 Cleveland St. Durham, N.C. 27702 919-560-2000 dpsnc.net
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Kindergarten
Chatham County Schools 369 West St. Pittsboro, N.C. 27312 919-542-3626 chatham.k12.nc.us
919.933.1551
$38 for 2 years | Durham & Chapel Hill, each $24 for 2 years | Chatham Magazine durhammag.com • chapelhillmagazine.com chathammagazinenc.com
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egistration for public kindergarten opens in December through April of each year – check school districts for specific dates. Typically, the magnet and year-round 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, 919-967-8211 ext. 28268 in Chapel Hill/ Carrboro, 919-542-6095 in Chatham County and 919-732-8126 ext. 12512 in Orange County). Parents can also determine their zone online. Admission and enrollment for private schools begins earlier, and it will be different for each school. Be mindful of your child’s age when considering a kindergarten program as well. 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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2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
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A Comprehensive directory of Private, Regional Boarding, Charter Magnet
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Schools
PRIVATE SCHOOLS DIRECTORY ACTON ACADEMY DURHAM 1201 W. Woodcroft Pkwy., Durham 919-241-3411 actonacademydurham.org 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 18 Student/Faculty Ratio 9 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, $6,717; Middle, $7,411 Special Requirements Student testing and parent interview. BRIGHT HORIZONS CHILDRENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CENTERS Durham locations: 2352 So-Hi Dr.; 10 T.W. Alexander Dr.; 1012 Slater Rd.; 4205 Capitol St. 877-624-4532 brighthorizons.com Focus Our exceptional early education and preschool empower children from infancy on to become confident, successful learners and secure, caring people. We strive to grow young readers, scientists, artists and explorers who are engaged and curious. Our programs invite children to approach school and academics with skills, confidence and a drive for excellence. Grades Infants-Pre-K Total Capacity Varies per location Student/Faculty Ratio Varies per location Yearly Tuition Varies per location
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CAMELOT ACADEMY 809 Proctor St., Durham 919-688-3040 camelotacademy.org Focus Features individualized instruction, mastery-based learning and parental involvement. Grades K-12 Total Enrollment 130-140 Student/Faculty Ratio 11:1 Yearly Tuition $10,400-$14,350; Merit scholarships for academically gifted students Special Requirements Reading and math assessments and two-day student visit. Application fee is $50. 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 1562 Student/Faculty Ratio 14:1 Yearly Tuition $10,495-$14,495 Special Requirements Previous school records, testing, application, recommendation and an essay. 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 4:1 in Early School; 9:1 in Lower, Middle and Upper Yearly Tuition See website for tuition range Special Requirements Priority and tuition assistance consideration is given to applications completed in January the year before enrollment; see website for dates and details. A written application, teacher recommendations, transcripts, parent tour, parent interview and student visit are included in the admissions process.
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
CARY ACADEMY 1500 N. Harrison Ave., Cary 919-677-3873 caryacademy.org
DUKE SCHOOL 3716 Erwin Rd., Durham 919-416-9420 dukeschool.org
Focus A college preparatory school integrating the best of traditional education with new and emerging technologies. Grades 6-12 Total Enrollment 755 Student/Faculty Ratio 9:1 Yearly Tuition $22,400 and new student fee is $2,225 Special Requirements Entrance exam, student visit/ interview, transcripts and teacher recommendation.
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 3-year-olds to 8th grade Total Enrollment 490 Student/Faculty Ratio Preschool and kindergarten, 8:1; grades 1-4, 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.
CHAPEL HILL COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL 106 Purefoy Rd., Chapel Hill 919-942-3955 chapelhillcoop.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 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 CHAPEL HILL COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL INFANT AND TODDLER SITE 110 N. Elliott Rd., Chapel Hill 919-942-0220 chapelhillcoop.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; Three-quarter day or full day options. Special Requirements None CRESSET CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 3707 Garrett Rd., Durham 919-354-8000 cressetchristian.org Focus Cultivates the heart of each student to educate, nurture and help shape their character in a Christ-centered environment grounded in the truth of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s word. Grades Infant-12 Total Enrollment 250 Student/Faculty Ratio Preschool 5:1; Lower School 9:1; Upper School 10:1 Yearly Tuition $7,980-$9,960 Special Requirements Student and parent interview, previous records, visit and application.
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
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 1,230 Student/Faculty Ratio 10:1 Yearly Tuition $14,530-$25,170 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 $5,099-$17,891 Special Requirements Meeting with parents and child, plus classroom visit. Â&#x201E;
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SCHOOLS DIRECTORY
EMPOWERED MINDS ACADEMY 1217 Holloway St., Durham empoweredmindsacademy.com Focus Empowered Minds Academy is a small, nontraditional independent school where students are coached to become independent learners who cherish freedom and take responsibility for their learning experience; where Africancentered content and culture are valued; where our learners are nurtured to discover their gifts, their passions and their purpose. Our students are active participants in the design and execution of their education, while engaged in real-world apprenticeships and project-based learning, with an emphasis on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math). Grades K- 8 Total Enrollment 12 Student/Teacher Ratio 6:1 Yearly Tuition $5,000 Special Requirements Enrollment application with $35 fee, interview, school visit, and previous records. 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; Early Learning Center Weekly Tuition 2 year-olds, $189; 3-4 year-olds, $176 Special Requirements Administrator meets parents and child. HAW RIVER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 2428 Silk Hope Gum Springs Rd., Pittsboro 919-533-4139 hawriverchristian.org
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 500 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 studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 Frenchlanguage immersion school that aims to promote bilingualism and improve communication across cultural boundaries. Grades Age 3-Grade 6 Total Enrollment 100 Student/Faculty Ratio 9:1 Yearly Tuition Half day, $9,400; Three-quarter day, $12,595; After School Care, $3,035. Scholarships available. Special Requirements Parent interview and observation. LEGACY ACADEMY 515 E. Winmore Ave., Chapel Hill 919-929-7060 lachapelhill.com
Focus A nonprofit, interdenominational private school providing an excellent Christian and classical education. Grades Junior K-11th grade (adding one grade per year) Total Enrollment 90 Student/Faculty Ratio 1:9 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.
Focus Students are actively involved in multisensory activities inside and out, including art, music, language, math, science, brain power and physical activities. Classrooms, gardens and playgrounds are designed to be both fun and nurturing. Five Star licensure and NAEYC accredited. Kindergarten, afterschool, summer-camp for children up to 12 years also offered. Grades 6 weeks-12 years Total Enrollment 115 Student/Faculty Ratio Infants, 5:1; 13-24 months, 6:1; 25-36 months, 9:1; 37-48 months, 10:1; 4-5 years, 13:1; 6-12 years, 14:1 Yearly Tuition Partnerships: Duke, UNC, UNCHC. Varies by age and program. Special Requirements Consultation required and registration fee of $150.
HOPE CREEK ACADEMY (Formerly Just Right Academy) 4723 Erwin Rd., Durham 919-932-0360 justrightacademy.org
LERNER JEWISH COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL OF DURHAM 1935 W. Cornwallis Rd., Durham 919-286-5517 lernerschool.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 $20,650 a year with a $500 materials fee; Limited financial aid available. Special Requirements School visit and application fee of $50.
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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one child at a time. Grades Preschool (Age 2)-Grade 5 Total Enrollment 135 Student/Faculty Ratio 9:1
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SCHOOLS DIRECTORY
Yearly Tuition Flexible tuition offered for elementary and 5-day preschool students. Tuition ranges from $4,000$16,875 for elementary; $4,500-$16,350 for preschool. Tuition is based on multiple schedule options: 5-day and 3-day; Half day (1 p.m.); Full Day (3 p.m.); and Extended Day (6 p.m.). 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 The mission of Liberty Christian School is to be an effective instrument of God. Together with Christian parents and the church, the school seeks to educate children and young people so that they may grow and mature into perceptive and caring Christians who will have a transforming influence on the world. Liberty Christian’s goal is to guide children towards an understanding that God is at the center of every pursuit of knowledge. 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. MI ESCUELITA SPANISH IMMERSION PRESCHOOL 405 B Smith Level Rd., Chapel Hill 919-969-7949 miescuelitanc.org 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 $408-$1,478 per month; varies by class. Check website. Special Requirements None 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, 12:1 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 220 Student/Faculty Ratio Toddler (18 months-3 years), 6:1; Ages 3-6, 12:1; Grades 1-3, 12:1; Grades 4-6, 12:1; Grades 7-8, 8:1 Yearly Tuition Toddler (half day), $10,977; Toddler (full day), $15,062; Ages 3-4 (half day), $10,313; Ages 3-4 (full day), $13,917; Kindergarten, $14,398; Grades 1-3, $14,546; Grades 4-6, $15,095; Grades 7-8, $17,664; Before Care/Late Day Care options available. Special Requirements Family interview; Applicants for grades 1-8 come for a classroom visit. MONTESSORI DAY SCHOOL 1702 Legion Rd., Chapel Hill 919-929-3339 mdsch.org 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 65 Student/Faculty Ratio 10:1 Yearly Tuition $9,550-$10,850 Special Requirements Interview process includes general evaluation and meeting with parents. Three day visit for elementary. MONTESSORI FARM SCHOOL 2400 Broad St., Ste. 2, Durham 919-732-5026 montessorifarmschool.com Focus Montessori with special emphasis on nature study and activities including gardening and animal care. Grades Pre-K-K Total Enrollment Up to 24 Student/Faculty Ratio 8:1 Yearly Tuition Pre-K, $7,500; Kindergarten, $9,000 Special Requirements Contact the school and set up an appointment to visit. Available spots go quickly, and they are typically full by March for the following fall. MOUNT ZION CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 3519 Fayetteville St., Durham 919-688-4245 mzcadurham.org Focus Prepares students for college or technical school, and for obtaining employment upon graduation from high school.
For information on grade levels, enrollment, student/faculty ratios, tuition and special requirements, see website.
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SCHOOLS DIRECTORY
PINEWOODS MONTESSORI SCHOOL 109 Millstone Dr., Hillsborough 919-644-2090 pinewoodsmontessori.com
ST. THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC SCHOOL 920 Carmichael St., Chapel Hill Lower school: 919-929-1546; Middle school: 919-929-2241 stmcsnc.org
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: $4,400-$5,900; Extended day: $6,800; Lower elementary: $7,500; Upper elementary: $8,500 Special Requirements Scheduled observation recommended before submitting an application.
Focus Provides an education for each child in a God-centered environment. Grades Age 3-Grade 8 Total Enrollment 375 Student/Faculty Ratio 3-y/o, 7:1; 4-y/o, 10:1; Grades K-4, 25:2 (teacher and assistant); Grades 5-8, 25:1 Yearly Tuition PreK (3 and 4-year-olds), $6,760; K-8, $7,950â&#x20AC;&#x201C;$10,340 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.
PRIMROSE SCHOOL AT HOPE VALLEY FARMS 702 Juliette Dr., Durham 919-484-8884 primrosehopevalleyfarms.com 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 Capacity 158 Student/Faculty Ratio Infant, 1:4; toddler, 1:6; early preschool (ages 2-3), 1:9; preschool (ages 3-4), 1:10; pre-K (ages 4-5), 1:13; school-aged children (ages 5-11), 1:14 Yearly Tuition $1,025-$1,463 Special Requirements $150 pre-registration fee / $50 Supply Fee QUALITY EDUCATION INSTITUTE 800 Elmira Ave., Durham 919-680-6544 qeidurhamnc.org Focus A student-centered learning community with a rigorous curriculum and clearly defined standards of performance and high expectations.
For more information on grade levels, enrollment, student/ faculty ratios, tuition and special requirements, see website. THE SCHOOLHOUSE AT GREENWOOD 806 Christopher Rd., Chapel Hill 919-259-2520 theschoolhouseatgreenwood.com Focus To provide an intellectual education through brain development using four languages at the preschool level: ASL, English, Mandarin and Spanish. Teach and expect only what a child is able to do according to his/her developmental readiness. Organic home cooked meals. Grades Preschool (birth-6 years) Enrollment 12 Student/Faculty Ratio 4:1 Yearly Tuition Call for information Special Requirements Children are accepted year-round, depending on available space.
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SOUTHPOINT ACADEMY 7415 Fayetteville Rd., Durham 919-544-5652 southpointacademy.org Focus Prepares students to become ethical, well-rounded and self-sufficient citizens by providing a world-class education in a nurturing Christian environment. Also offers a 10-week summer program. Grades K-5 Total Enrollment 50 Student/Faculty Ratio 10:1 Yearly Tuition $5,500 Special Requirements Tour, application, meeting with administrator and student testing. THE HILL CENTER 3200 Pickett Rd., Durham 919-489-7464 hillcenter.org Focus Transforms students with learning differences into confident, independent learners through a half-day school year program, tutoring and summer programs. Total Enrollment 170 Student/Faculty Ratio 4:1 Yearly Tuition K-12 (half-day), $19,300; Grades 9-12 may choose to enroll for two hours ($14,950) or one hour ($11,050). Special Requirements Application and interview required. TRIANGLE DAY SCHOOL 4911 Neal Rd., Durham 919-383-8800 triangledayschool.org Focus A warm and welcoming community devoted to academic excellence that 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 $12,295-$15,580 Special Requirements Student visit and assessment.
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
SCHOOLS DIRECTORY
TRINITY SCHOOL OF DURHAM AND CHAPEL HILL 4011 Pickett Rd., Durham 919-402-8262 trinityschoolnc.org 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 $5,680-$20,750 Special Requirements Check website for complete details, application deadlines and open house dates. 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 11:1 Yearly Tuition $5,750
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 21 states and 14 countries. Grades 9-12 Total Enrollment 288 Student/Faculty Ratio 4:1 Yearly Tuition Boarding, $54,900; Day, $32,375 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.
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS 1219 Broad St., Durham 919-416-2825 ncssm.edu Focus The nation’s first public residential high school focused on science, technology, engineering and math. NCSSM challenges and inspires talented students from across North Carolina through a residential campus, online program, summer STEM enrichment programs and distance offerings for schools and educators. 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, $46,200; Day, $23,080 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 Established in 1842, this independent, Episcopal, college-preparatory, boarding and day school offers integrated, hands-on programming focusing on the habits of a lifelong learner – critical thinking, communication and character, and includes AP and honors courses, world languages, an extensive arts program, 11 sports, leadership curriculum and opportunities for real-world experiences. Grades 9-12 Total Enrollment 273 Student/Faculty Ratio 8:1 Yearly Tuition Boarding, $53,350; Day, $26,750. Need and merit based financial aid available. Special Requirements Application, three written recommendations, a transcript from the applicant’s current school, SSAT scores and an on-campus interview at Saint Mary’s. Contact admission@sms.edu for more information.
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ORANGE/CHATHAM COUNTY CHARTER SCHOOLS DIRECTORY ENO RIVER ACADEMY (Formerly Orange Charter School) K-Grade 6, 920 Corporate Dr., Hillsborough Grades 7-11, 1100 NC Hwy 57 North, Hillsborough 919-644-6272 enoriveracademy.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-11 Total Enrollment 532 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., Ste. 33, Hillsborough 919-245-8432 theexpeditionschool.com Focus Embraces the natural curiosity of children and empowers them to become innovative problem solvers and community builders, and to provide excellent education through an experiential, project-based, STEM-focused curriculum. Grades K-8 Total Enrollment 340 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 Strives to assist children in achieving their unique potential as responsible global citizens by nurturing selfconfidence and independent decision making in a stimulating, creative, and diverse Montessori community. Grades 1-7 and expanding Total Enrollment 210 and growing Student/Faculty Ratio 1:15 Special Requirements Application, initial enrollment based on lottery; students are waitlisted once slots are filled. WOODS CHARTER SCHOOL 160 Woodland Grove Ln., Chapel Hill 919-960-8353 woodscharter.org
DURHAM CHARTER SCHOOLS DIRECTORY CARTER COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL 1955 W. Cornwallis Rd. 919-797-2340 carterschool.org Focus â&#x20AC;&#x153;College prep begins in kindergarten.â&#x20AC;? 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 are accepted on a first-come, first-served 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 594 Student/Faculty Ratio 16-23:1 Special Requirements Application. Tours are strongly encouraged and are offered from October through March. DISCOVERY CHARTER 501 Orange Factory Rd., Bahama discoverycharterdurham.org Focus Discovery Charter School is a STEAM-based (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) middle school that uses experiential and blended learning strategies to help students become critical thinkers, creative problem solvers, and collaborative learners. Grades 6-8 Total Enrollment 528 Student/Faculty Ratio 17:1 Special Requirements Application. Students are selected by a lottery. A wait list is maintained for the remainder of the academic year. For more information, email bgraham@ discoverycharterdurham.org.
Focus Emphasizes academic excellence and parent and family involvement in the academic environment.
For more information on grade levels, enrollment, student/ faculty ratios, tuition and special requirements, see website.
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SCHOOLS DIRECTORY
EXCELSIOR CLASSICAL ACADEMY CFA 4100 N. Roxboro St. 919-213-8585 excelsior.teamcfa.school
MAUREEN JOY CHARTER SCHOOL 107 S. Driver St. 919-908-1600 joycharter.org
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-6 for the 2017-2018 school year. The school will add a grade each year to grow to K-12. Total Enrollment 490 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, random lottery is conducted for vacant spots.
Focus Provides the academic and character skills necessary to succeed in high school, college and the competitive world beyond. Grades K-8 Total Enrollment 640 Student/Faculty Ratio Grades K, 16:1; Grades 1-3, 22:1; Grades 4-8, 24:1 Special Requirements Application and blind lottery.
HEALTHY START ACADEMY 807 W. Chapel Hill St. 919-956-5599 healthystartacademy.com
Focus Reaching All Minds Academy is an elementary charter school with a S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) focus. Grades K-6 Enrollment 266 Student/Teacher Ratio 18:1 Special Requirements None
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: not open for 2017-2018; Middle and elementary school: 4900 Prospectus Dr. 919-484-1300 kestrelheights.org Focus The only Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Beacon school in the state that focuses on academics, culture and enrichment. Grades K-8 Total Enrollment 820 Student/Faculty Ratio 17:1 Special Requirements Application. Lottery for available student slots occurs the first Friday in March. KIPP DURHAM COLLEGE PREPARATORY 1107 Holloway St. 919-973-0285 kippenc.org
REACHING ALL MINDS ACADEMY 2703 Holloway St. 919-596-1899 reachingallminds.com
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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the foundation for college readiness. Grades K-8 Total Enrollment 713 Student/Faculty Ratio Kindergarten, 20:1; Grades 1-8, 26:1 Special Requirements Lottery. VOYAGER ACADEMY 101 Hock Parc Ln. 919-433-3301 voyageracademy.net 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. Â&#x201E;
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 5-7; Will add one grade level each year to become 5-8 Total Enrollment 270 Student/Faculty Ratio 23:1 Special Requirements None.
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DURHAM PUBLIC MAGNET SCHOOLS DIRECTORY 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 350 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 318 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 in-depth 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 1,697
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EASLEY YEAR-ROUND ELEMENTARY 302 Lebanon Circle 919-560-3913 easley.dpsnc.net Focus The school aims to provide its students with highquality, engaging instruction in a safe, nurturing environment that promotes higher-level thinking, creativity and skills to be productive citizens. Grades K-5 Total Enrollment 561 GEORGE WATTS MONTESSORI MAGNET SCHOOL 700 Watts St. 919-560-3947 watts.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 345 HILLSIDE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE HIGH SCHOOL 3727 Fayetteville St. 919-560-3925 hillside.dpsnc.net 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 1,236 NEW TECH HIGH SCHOOL 3727 Fayetteville St. 919-560-9183 newtech.dpsnc.net 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-toone 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 207
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SCHOOLS DIRECTORY
HOLT YEAR-ROUND ELEMENTARY LANGUAGE ACADEMY 4019 Holt School Rd. 919-560-3928 holt.dpsnc.net Focus 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 652 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 444 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, our 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 340 LAKEWOOD MONTESSORI MIDDLE SCHOOL 2119 Chapel Hill Rd. 919-560-2894 montessorimiddle.dpsnc.net Focus 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 292 LOWE’S GROVE STEM MIDDLE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY 4418 S. Alston Ave. 919-560-3946 lowesgrove.dpsnc.net
Grades 6-8 Total Enrollment 610 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 154 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 self-directed 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 226 NEAL MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING AND DESIGN 201 Baptist Rd. 919-560-3955 nealmiddleschool.weebly.com Focus Provides opportunities for all students to experience highly engaging coursework in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Grades 6-8 Total Enrollment 786 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 790
Focus A Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (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.
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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 311 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 studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs so they can attain the knowledge and skills needed to stay competitive in high school and beyond. Grades 6-8 Total Enrollment 617 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 590 THE SCHOOL FOR CREATIVE STUDIES 5001 Red Mill Rd. 919-560-3535 scs.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 596
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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 1,422 W.G. PEARSON STEAM MAGNET ELEMENTARY 3501 Fayetteville St. 919-560-3988 pearson.dpsnc.net 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 474
Homeschool Help DIMENSIONS FAMILY SCHOOL Durham: 706 Ninth St., Second Floor; 984-219-2284 Chatham: 15 Nota Rd., Moncure; 919-542-5727 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 studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; educational path and outcomes. Grades Preschool through high school Total Enrollment: 80 families Student/Faculty Ratio 9:1 Yearly Tuition Program membership is $80 per month for a family. Visit the school website for additional information. Special Requirements None. Dimensions welcomes all homeschoolers.
2017 YOUR FAMILY MAGAZINE
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