The show choir from Voyager Academy High School in Durham rocked the house at the recent conference of the North Carolina Public Charter Schools Association. Their medley from the Broadway play Hairspray included dance, amazing vocals, and great choreography (photo below). That’s not just my opinion—they are the 2015 North Carolina Show Choir Champions from a state competition hosted by William Peace University. What talented young adults!
Leadership Academy for Young Women also caught my attention during the conference—it is on track to open in 2016 as the first all-girls charter school in North Carolina. The grades 6-12 charter school is already “rockin’” by introducing fourth grade girls in their community in New Hanover County, North Carolina, to a series of full, fun-filled days of learning about technology. The fourth grade girls are specially chosen by principals of four district public schools because of their desire to learn. The technology series was developed by the University of North Carolina Wilmington in collaboration with the start-up charter school. What a creative way to interest young girls in STEM and create a market for a new charter public school!
Leadership Academy for Young Women co-founder Judy Girard describes the school this way. “It is a STEM curriculum. It is a whole girl approach, meaning it’s not only academic but [meets] their emotional needs [and] their physical needs, and it is college prep,” she said.
The school is associated with the Young Women’s Leadership Network of 11 schools around the country. This network, established for 20 years, has a 96% graduation rate, with 95% of the girls going to college.
Yes! Just keep on rockin’ . . . .
