News from Scholars' Academy

Dr. Peine's Pen

The 2010-2011 Annual Fund Campaign

We are in the final week of our annual fund drive to provide operational funds for Metrolina Regional Scholars' Academy. As I look at our thermometers outside the building on this Saturday, October 23, I notice that we are about 1/3 of the way to our goal, and about 1/3 of our families have made pledges.

There are a couple of factors that might account for these numbers: 1) Economic conditions in the Charlotte area have not rebounded strongly enough for many of our families to make a financial commitment to the school; 2) Dissatisfaction with some aspect of your child's experience - unhappiness with a homeroom placement, program concerns, etc.

On the other hand, there are 309 reasons/factors to consider a contribution to the school for the 2010-2011 school year - and those 309 reasons walk through the school doors each morning at 8:15 - and for the most part they walk through the doors with smiles on their faces.

Your financial support provides an educational opportunity unlike any other for your highly gifted child. Classroom size is 20 students or fewer; the variety of enrichment classes is extensive - and within individual enrichment classes we have expanded student options; administrative expenses are low compared to other schools of our size; our curriculum automatically accelerates content for students; we have a physical home after 10 years. As with all charter schools, it is the facility issue that continues to create financial challenges for our operations. All of you have read that we need a substantial level of support as noted in the percentages from our donor base to secure funding from foundations and possible corporate sponsors.

For these reasons and for those 309 learners at our school each day, please contribute what you can to the 2010-2011 Annual Fund.

TDAP Update - All students in 6th grade are required to have TDAP immunizations. The school needs the report from the family physician that this immunization has been administered. Students who do not have the records to the school by October 28 will not be permitted to return to school after that date until the record has been provided.

Dialogue With the Director - If you have questions about operations, curriculum, or other topics of interest concerning the school, we invite you to attend one of the following informational Q & A sessions:

For parents of Discoverers (K, 1, & 2)
Monday, November 15

For parents of Investigators (3, 4, & 5)
Tuesday, November 16

For parents of Apprentice Scholars (6, 7, & 8)

Wednesday, November 17

All sessions will begin at 6:00 p.m. For organizational purposes, parents are encouraged to submit questions in advance to: director@scholarsacademy.org, however this is not a requirement for having questions answered.

For the earth,

Marie Peine, Ph.D., Director

director@scholarsacademy.org