Dilworth Elementary A well-oiled machine uniting 3 schools into a great neighborhood By Virginia Franco
Teeming with history , Dilworth Elementary has morphed once again following a transition just three years ago from a magnet back into a neighborhood school . Once news of the rezoning became final , families and staff Principal dove in , recalls Literacy Terry Hall Facilitator Meredith Parrish , to address challenges inherent with uniting students and families from three different schools , and to ensure quality education to those former students of Eastover , Irwin , and Selwyn Elementary Schools .
The staff that opened the school following its return to neighborhood status was handpicked , says Principal Terry Hall , and geared up to offer “ the best of the best ” with regards to innovative ideas designed to unite these disparate groups .
UNITING STUDENTS AND FAMILIES The school hit the ground running by introducing themselves as the Dilworth Dragons complete with Dragon Houses . When students and teachers arrive they choose a sorting stone assigning them one of four dragon houses . House members unite two times monthly to put together skits , create dragon house cheers , discuss character traits , and read as part of a reading buddy program . “ It ’ s been a great way to get the kids all together and promote team spirit ,” Hall says . It is also an ideal way to unite children across grades that otherwise may not have had an opportunity to interact .
If increased enrollment is an indicator of success it appears clear their efforts are working . The school has experienced year over year growth since its inception . “ We are now using classrooms we hadn ’ t before and are almost at capacity ,” Hall says . “ Much of our growth is in grades K-1 , which means we are attracting those families that may have opted for private schools previously .”
UNIQUE OFFERINGS AND A STRONG SENSE OF HISTORY Located in the heart of Dilworth in close proximity to downtown Charlotte , the school first opened its doors in 1904 . Although the original eight-room building no longer stands , today second graders learn in a portion of the building that dates back to the 1950s . Numerous additions and renovations later , students benefit from an inhouse partnership with the Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation , to whom the school leases space .
According to Hall , this unique partnership enables students to utilize a full-size gym , two large soccer fields , and eight tennis courts , and has enabled the school to offer after-school programs that range from sports offerings like Meredith Parrish Girls on the Run , yoga , tennis , and Soccer Shots , to academic pursuits like Odyssey of the Mind and Play Spanish .
“ These after school offerings are a win-win for
Parks and Rec and for the school ,” says Hall , and go a long way toward allowing families with working parents to have their children involved in extra-curricular activities .
PTA SUPPORT FROM THE GET GO PTA President Katharine Bolt is proud of the school ’ s PTA participation , and of the high numbers of mothers and fathers who have rolled up their sleeves since the school reopened as a neighborhood school . “ We came from three schools that we all loved ,” she recalls , “ but when we realized that this was going to be our ‘ new normal ,’ we did everything we could to ensure things were up and rolling when the doors opened .”
The school ’ s two and only fundraisers have remained hugely successful , and have allowed the PTA to fund everything from field trips to family festivals , hospitality to weekly readers , library books , and technology .
The SPARKS summer reading and math fundraiser raised $ 56,000 last year while helping to keep learning fresh over the summer . Students must obtain pledges for summer reading and math activities , and get rewarded when they return back to school in the fall for the amount of time
26 – My School Rocks !