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Catholic News Herald

Serving Christ and Connecting Catholics in Western North Carolina
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081781 schoolsCHARLOTTE — Three schools in the Diocese of Charlotte are seeing transformations in preparation for the new school year, which begins Aug. 22.

At Christ the King High School in Huntersville, a two-story classroom expansion project is nearing completion.

The approximately 27,000 square feet of new construction will more than double the school’s total square footage – making room for a growing enrollment expected to top 310 students this fall.

“This summer is a very exciting time at Christ the King Catholic High School,” says Dr. Carl Semmler, principal.

The new two-story building includes a cafeteria, large multipurpose room for drama and band, a fabrication shop, three science classrooms and eight general purpose classrooms to accommodate Christ the King High School’s growing student population.

Among other things, the additional classroom space will be used for art, industrial design, theater, music, guitar, chemistry, biology, earth science, environmental science, information technology, cyber communications and the traditional liberal arts subjects. The building will also have multiple common areas for students to work collaboratively.

Two classrooms in the existing building are also being repurposed for use as an administration office, as previously the school did not have designated administrative offices. That space will include a new vestibule, main office, administrative offices, guidance offices and a conference room.

A new 12-inch water main has also been installed to improve water pressure to the school.

The high school is also being updated with a number of school safety features which include door lock card readers, a double locked vestibule, security cameras and direct communication to first responders.

“We have also received funds from our Silver and Blue Fund and an anonymous donor which will enable us to install two new scoreboards, update our field goals, top dress our athletic fields, create additional parking and equip a current classroom with the infrastructure to become a fitness center this October,” Semmler adds.

The estimated $11 million project, which is being funded through the Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools capital fee, is expected to be completed by Labor Day weekend.

That won’t be before school starts on Aug. 22, but school and diocesan leaders are putting in place plans to temporarily locate students as needed in the existing building until the new building is finished.

“In the meantime we have been working with faculty, staff, administration, the superintendent’s office and the office of properties in order to locate and equip all of the necessary learning spaces in the original building,” Semmler says. “This will get us through these first couple of weeks of school.”

In Charlotte at Our Lady of the Assumption School, a new 2,400-square-foot “cafetorium” space awaits students at the beginning of the school year.

A $450,000 grant from a private donor is funding the project, as well as the conversion of the school’s existing library into a STEM lab that includes audiovisual room updates and a new “Makerspace” at the school that will provide students a creative space to learn through making.

“Our focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) will continue to drive our school program over the next few years,” Principal Allana Ramkissoon explains.

“Improvements to our gym will also be quite noticeable as it now includes a permanent space for drama and music productions. In addition to these physical improvements, we have injected about $115,000 worth of hardware, software and network upgrades to enhance digital learning.”

Ramkissoon says many of these improvements were made not just with students in mind, but the whole community’s needs.

“Working with the parish to ensure that all students have equal access to the curriculum and that everyone’s needs are met is an important part of the school’s mission. We are very excited about the changes and upgrades to various aspects of our school. We believe that continuous improvement is the key to success,” she says.

“We are also grateful to the Diocese of Charlotte and the generosity of an anonymous donor who made these program enhancements possible,” she adds.

At Sacred Heart School in Salisbury, students will also find a new “Makerspace” classroom. It has been named “The Cranium Cove,” harkening to the school’s mascot, a dolphin, one of the smartest mammals and which lives in coves.

“We are so excited about this new classroom,” says teacher Erin Brinkley. “Everything is on wheels and teachers can manipulate this room for their own classroom learning. We have been so fortunate to have an investor who believes in constructive education.”

The new “Makerspace” features everything from bottle caps and cardboard, to screwdrivers and power tools, to Little Bits coding and Rigamajigs, to microscopes and goggles, to a green screen and an editing station, to a high-level 3D printer, and even a Lego Wall.

Principal Tyler Kulp says, “Sacred Heart School has been around for 136 years. We support great traditional learning styles, but definitely embrace new innovative learning trends in education. Just like our students, our faculty’s minds continue to grow. We want to continue to develop in ways that we educate.”
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter