David Broyles/The News
A parents line formed in front of Millennium Charter Academy Thursday instead of the usual car line as the school opened its doors for another school year.
David Broyles/The News
Charter Academy students Alexis Anderson, Mackenzie and Haley Hudson talk before classes begin at Millennium Charter Academy. Mark Hudson said Haley and Mackenzie were so excited to be going back to school they were up with beds made at 5:30 a.m.
David Broyles/The News
Nicholas Johnson talks with Amber and Ashley Murchland while in line at Millennium Charter Academy. The charter school began its school year on Thursday.
Millennium Charter Academy opened its school year with many parents and students taking advantage of a cool North Carolina morning to walk their children in rather that the usual car line that often forms at the school.
“This is the first time we have had more of a parent’s line than a car line,” said MCA Director of Development Lu Ann Browne, eyeing the growing number of parents and students lining up in front of the school Thursday.
Academy Fourth Grader Ryan Hawks said he was really looking forward to being back. Second Grade student Sydney Golding-Fort said the highlight of her summer was going to the Wet ‘n’ Wild park. When asked if she wanted more summer, Golding-Fort said the length of summer vacation was “just right.”
“Everything was great this summer for us. Mom’s ready for her (Sydney) to go back to school,” laughed Charles Fort, Sydney’s father. Dalton Collins, a seventh grade student and his brother, Parker, who is in fourth grade, said the summer was “good” but they felt it had felt “shorter than the last one.”
Parent Mark Hudson was there with his daughters, MacKenzaie and Haley. He said that MacKenzie was a “pro” at getting back in school. Haley was at the academy to begin kindergarten,
“They were both up at 5:30 this morning,” said Hudson. “They were so excited. They even had their beds made. Normally, they like to sleep in.”
Middle school student Dustin Cardwell pointed out this was his first year at the school.
“I really am looking forward to school here,” explained Cardwell. “This is better than most schools where I live.” Cardwell said he lives in the Pilot Mountain area.
The hallways inside the school were filled with parents and students waving to each other and making conversation before students went to advisory meetings or classes. The noises in the hallways decreased as classes began a short time later.
“I don’t ever remember a bad opening day,” said Browne. “Typically our faculty and staff are delighted to see school back. It’s such a different place with the student’s here.”
She said that the advisory periods at the opening of school started last year at the academy.
“It gives us a chance to focus on goals for our middle school students by breaking them up into smaller groups,” said Browne. “It gives us an opportunity to be with them in an environment where they may not have been comfortable bringing up some issues.”
She was also complimentary of academy students’ parents struggling with “cutting the apron strings.”
“I tell parents we will take good care of their children and I tell the parents they will be fine, in a few days,” said Browne.
Reach David Broyles at dbroyles@heartlandpublications.com or 719-1952.
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