Back to Prep - 2017-2018
Click to watch a special message from Head of School Eddie Mensah.
Greetings!

I hope you are having a great summer. Today, I had a wonderful visit from our very inquisitive kindergarten students who are on campus this summer. We laughed and joked, and they each took turns sitting in my chair. It was a pleasant, poignant reminder of why I do this work. I hope that your summer has been filled with a balance of rest, relaxation, and similar moments of joy.

 

This letter serves as a reminder that summer is drawing to a close and the new school year is nearly upon us. We look forward to seeing you at the Back to Prep Bash on Saturday, August 19. Please mark your calendar and look out for more details to come.

 

We have remained quite busy this summer. Thanks to the generosity of the community through gifts to The Prep Campaign, phase one in the construction of the Lower/Middle School playground is almost complete. I know the kids will be excited to use it this fall. There have also been renovations to Early School classrooms and a host of other important facility improvements. With the departure of WT Café, we are happy to welcome back FLIK as our food service provider. You will be able to get a taste of their cuisine at the Back to Prep Bash.

 

We are also excited to welcome these wonderful new members of the Charlotte Prep family:

 

  • Linda Clough - Early School Extended Day Teacher
  • Maggie Harris - 2nd Grade Lead Teacher
  • Michelle Johncock - 5th/6th Grade Math Teacher
  • Rubi Klich - Early School Extended Day Teacher
  • Evan Kurtz - Head of Middle School
  • Narada Lang - K-4th Grade Spanish Teacher
  • Tory Litton - Early School Extended Day Teacher and Montessori Intern
  • Andrea Monroe - Pre-Primary Assistant Teacher
  • Beth Omane - Pre-Primary Lead Teacher
  • Kara Vanni - 7th/8th Grade Spanish Teacher

 

You’ll soon be able to read about all faculty members in greater detail in the staff biography section on the Charlotte Prep website.  

 

As we go into the new academic year, we remain committed and on track to execute the 2020 Vision Strategic Plan and to build on the excellent progress we made last year. You will hear about many of the tactical elements of that plan in the fall and throughout the school year.

 

Last spring, I had the opportunity to chat with many of our faculty and staff to get their perspective on our evolution as a school. It was refreshing to hear so many of them share views that were congruent with my own vision for Charlotte Prep. As part of that vision, the school’s leadership team and I have adopted the theme of One Prep to guide our work for the year. Our goal is to deepen the sense of connectedness in our community, and I know that our efforts will have positive ripple effects on all facets of our school culture and experience. I look forward to your thoughtful participation.  

 

This year, you can look forward to a number of initiatives designed to move our vision forward. Among them are:

 

  1. Now offering Montessori Kindergarten as part of the Montessori Early School 3-year cycle, in addition to the traditionally-based Lower School Kindergarten
  2. Continued implementation of the Reading curriculum in Lower School
  3. The next all-school review of a core academic subject (Math and Language Arts being the most recent)
  4. Continuing improvement of school communications systems
  5. Enhanced online and social media presence
  6. Dean of Faculty tasked with helping to deepen connections and provide an enriched experience for faculty
  7. Divisional Diversity and Inclusion faculty representatives to help lead our efforts in that area.
  8. Parent Education Series revamped to encourage greater participation from our whole community

 

We are tremendously proud of the accomplishments we have made over the past several years and even more excited about how our work in the future will benefit both the children whom we love and the families whom we serve.

 

Our sadness about the impending end of summer is tempered by the prospect of the return of the smiling faces of your energetic children. I am sure that you are eager to hand them over to us! I wish you a peaceful rest of summer.

 

Sincerely,


Eddie Mensah
Head of School
Get Prepped for the Coming School Year
Read our back-to-school FAQ for details about Orientation, meeting your child's teacher, school and PE required wear, classroom assignments, signature-required forms, MS locker set-up, and other need-to-know information.
View your child's grades, homework, attendance, and other academic information on ParentsWeb, our secure online portal. If you're a new parent, click the button to learn how to log in. Questions? Contact Jeanette Stiles.
See You at the Back to Prep Bash, Aug. 19!
Come enjoy amusement rides, games, prizes, face painting, music, and food provided by FLIK (our new food service provider), and meet your child's teacher (ES: 8:30-10:00 a.m., LS: 10:00-11:00 a.m., MS: 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.).
Back to Prep Bash - Aug. 19 (10 a.m.-3 p.m.)
Back-to-School Events
Back To Prep Bash
Saturday, August 19
10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Please plan to come have fun reconnecting with old friends and making new ones! Hosted by the Parent Association .

Families are invited to meet teachers at the Back to Prep Bash. Teachers will be available at the Pavilion for "meet and greets" at the following times:


  • Early School: 8:30-10:00 a.m.
  • Lower School: 10:00-11:00 a.m.
  • Middle School: 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Orientation (Parents and Students )
Tuesday, August 22  


Early School
  • 8:30-10:00 a.m.: New Students (Classrooms)
  • 10:00-10:30 a.m.: Extended Day Students Optional Drop-in (Extended Day Cottage)

  • 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Returning Students and Parents (Gymnasium)

Lower School
  • 9:00-10:00 a.m.: New Families
  • 9:30-10:30 a.m.: All Families

Middle School
  • 1:30 p.m.: New Families (Mezzanine)
  • 2:00-3:00 p.m.: All Families (Gymnasium)


Technology Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Registration for 4th-8th Graders
Monday, August 21 and Tuesday, August 22
8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.  both days
Gymnasium Foyer

Students should bring their device with them to registration. If you have questions, please email Director of Technology Jeanette Stiles .

First Day of School!
Wednesday, August 23
School  hours are noted below. Please note: Before  School  Care opens at  7:30 a.m.; After School Care closes at 6:00 p.m.

  • Pre-Primary/Primary8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. for half-day students
  • TK: 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
  • Lower School8:15 a.m.-3:10 p.m.
  • Middle School8:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

New Parent Social
Friday, August 25 at 6:30 p.m.
Home of Bill and Sloane Mayberry

This wonderful adults-only evening event is hosted by the Mayberry family. Get together in a casual setting and meet other parents, school administrators, and members of the Board of Trustees. We look forward to welcoming our new parents!  Please RSVP today .

Parent Technology Meeting
Wednesday, August 30 at  8:30 a.m.
Computer Lab, 2nd Floor of the Fine Arts Building

New parents are invited to join us to find out how to navigate the ParentsWeb portal, My Prep, and more. For questions regarding technology at Charlotte Prep, please contact Director of Technology Jeanette Stiles .

Welcome Back Coffee with Head of School Eddie Mensah
Friday, September 1
8:00 a.m.
Dining Hall Porch

Curriculum Nights (Parents Only)
Please join us to visit classrooms, hear from your child's teachers, and learn about the educational program and plans for the coming year. Complimentary child care and pizza will be provided.

  • Early School - Tuesday, September 19 at 6:30 p.m.
  • Lower School - Wednesday, September 13 at 6:30 p.m.
  • Middle School - Wednesday, September 6 at 6:30 p.m.
This Week: Free Logo on Lands' End School Uniform Shirts
Receive our school logo applied free-of-charge on Lands' End school uniform polos and tees (school number: 900044371), July 31-August 7.

At checkout, use promotion code: FREELOGO
Meet FLIK, Our New Food Service Provider
Charlotte Prep is proud to introduce our new dining service provider: FLIK Independent School Dining. FLIK is a market leader in independent school dining, currently serving approximately 250 independent schools. Read a welcome letter from FLIK's president, more information about FLIK and our chef manager, and an FAQ about our new dining services.

Get a taste of FLIK's offerings at the Back to Prep Bash on August 19.
FLIK Independent School Dining