2017-2018 Charlotte Preparatory Annual Report

3 Dear Parents: As we embark upon a new school year next month, I would like to take this opportunity to speak to you about our past achievements and future plans. The Board of Trustees has worked diligently to see Charlotte Prep thrive and we are excited and enthusiastic about the future. Thank you to our 2017-2018 School Board members for their service and dedication to our school and students. We started the year off with a new name and a chance to re-identify who we are and stand out in our com- munity. A true turning point for Charlotte Prep was the donation we received from the Elizabeth B. McGraw Foundation. The donation of $85,000 sparked new possibilities for our school. The Board had to start thinking bigger. We were tasked by our donors to put together a master plan with our vision for the future of Charlotte Prep. The plan has been completed and it includes a gymnasium with a stage, art room, music room, media center and a new building with additional classrooms. The Board is looking at how much this expansion will cost, the phases in which it can be completed and fundraising for a multimillion dollar pro- ject. A project of this magnitude will no doubt take hard work, perseverance, and a community of people working together toward one common goal; to make Charlotte Prep the best educational choice in and out of this ar- ea. I believe community is what Charlotte Prep is all about. We are very fortunate to have Mrs. Fear leading our community as Head of School. Her vision and dedication has helped our school grow at a rapid pace while retaining our core values. Mrs. Fear’s open-door policy for parents and students means all voices and concerns are heard. Our teaching staff works above and beyond to make sure every Charlotte Prep student is successful. The new sports program is bringing our students into the community in new ways and adds a new dimension to our school. Outreach to alumni continues to bring former students back to the Charlotte Prep community. As we look toward the future, we know that the foundation we have is strong. Our immediate challenge is… we are growing at such a fast rate that our master plan cannot happen fast enough. This year, we purchased a mobile classroom to house our art, music, and computer lab which opened up space for our new lower el class. We will very soon be at a point in the Montessori building where there will be a wait list to get into our school. Our promise to you is we will never sacri- fice quality for quantity. In the Delta classes, Mrs. Fear saw a need for an addi- tional remediation teacher to assist with math and other subject areas. We also saw the need for an assistant principal to help Mrs. Fear with all the extra tasks that come with a growing school. At the request of our donors, we also added a part time development and marketing coordinator to assist with fundraising and school marketing. All three positions were approved by the Board and have been filled. The Board recently revised our 5-year Strategic Plan, a year ahead of sched- ule. Copies can be seen on our website and in the front office. The Finance Committee, along with our Business Office Manager, has worked dili- gently all year to make sure our budget is kept on track and our books are well organized. In February, we received another $100,000 donation from the Eliza- beth B. McGraw Foundation to use for student scholarships. Our school raised over $80,000 between the annual event and the Day of Giving Challenge. Those fund are being used for many projects now and will also be used for future projects. A heartfelt thank you to all of our donors for believing in Charlotte Prep. It is a very exciting time to be at Charlotte Prep! There is not a better school in the area and we continue to grow and excel. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your board president. It truly has been an hon- or. Charlotte Prep will always be near and dear to my heart! Sincerely, Julie Bennett