LELAND, N.C. — It was an exciting day for more than 950 students going back to school at the Charter Day School in Leland.
- The school focuses on classical curriculum like Latin in fourth grade, cursive writing and teaching history as early as the first grade
- It also has a pledge the students take to be respectful to themselves and others
- The brand new building has four classrooms and two intervention rooms
Traffic was backed up as parents dropped off their children, who attend the school that focuses on classical curriculum like Latin in fourth grade, cursive writing and teaching history as early as the first grade.
Besides the curriculum, the Charter Day School, which is managed by the Roger Bacon Academy also has a pledge the students take to be respectful to themselves and others. Headmaster Laurie Benton says that is what really sets the school apart.
“Our school pledge is very unique. It teaches our students to follow a set of rules we go back to. To be virtuous in all their deeds, to be obedient and loyal to those in authority. So it is teaching them those traditional values, which are sometimes lost in those traditional schools.”
The kindergarten class was especially excited, as the 120 some students were welcomed in to a brand new building, with four classrooms and two intervention rooms. School officials say all the buildings are leased from The Roger Bacon Academy, including the new one.
“The hallways smell new, new paint, new carpet. They're all excited. The teachers have nice big classrooms for kindergarten, this is something we haven't had in the past,” said Benton.
The construction began in January. Next year, the building will be used by the same children who will be going to first grade, and by then, Benton expects a new building to be finished for the incoming kindergarten class.
Charter Day School is in its 18th year of enrollment educating kindergarten through eighth grade. It is a tuition-free, public school serving families across Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, and Pender Counties.