Legacy | A Publication of Lena Pope Legacy | Winter 2013 | Page 6

CHA Year Six!

Early Learning Center Year One!

By Vickie Sendejo

After a year of working with preschoolers at Lena Pope’s

family, we value and care for each other. This ensures a

Principal, Chapel Hill Academy

Early Learning Center, what have we learned?

classroom environment where every child feels safe and
can learn to their potential.

Anyone who knows me knows they will hear a great Chapel

They are precious and dear, precocious and funny. They

Hill Academy story about one or more of the 512 students

have angry outbursts and moments of sheer joy. They

Yes, every day is a busy day at the Lena Pope Early

on our campus. This is our 6th year and, like the students, we

are preschoolers! The past year has reinforced that as

Learning Center; but between the bending, cleaning,

have also grown in many ways.

important as learning their ABCs and 123s, our youngest

playing, and wiping of noses and tears, there is a whole

students must also be able to manage their emotions and

lot of learning going on. And with it, a whole lot of

We find that offering enrichment opportunities help our

reactions when things don’t go their way. This means

hugging, creating, exploring, laughing and loving in

students to grow intellectually and socially. To round out our

learning to get along with others, calming themselves,

an environment that gets sweeter each day. We know

“Specials” Team of Art, P.E., Reading, and Gifted and Talented,

using words to express their feelings and solving

firsthand we are impacting these young lives in such a

this year we have added a Math Specialist, Performing Arts

problems. Mastering such skills is essential in ensuring

powerful lasting way. We see it every day.

teacher and a full-time nurse. In addition to these and the

that they will not only be successful in elementary and

core academic classes, we also offer Computer Technology

high school, but in life. In fact, research supports that

and iPad learning. We also have several after school clubs,

one of the primary indicators of a successful elementary

including: Tae Kwon Do, Dance, Mad Science, Running Club,

student is their ability to work and get along with others.

Art Club, Show Choir, Flag Football, and more.
Vickie Sendejo prepares for “Pastries with the Principal”.

This summer, our Early Learning Center staff was very

I am proud of the team we have and the enthusiasm for

fortunate to receive training in an evidence-based

learning that touches these children each and every day.

behavior curriculum called Conscious Discipline.

Although the school year is still new, the halls of Chapel

Using the knowledge and skills learned at this

Hill Academy are already decked with projects and original

training, we are seeing classrooms transformed into

works that inspire every visitor. The excellent behavior of the

learning environments where children are able to take

students is impressive, too! Please come see us. I would love

responsibility for themselves and show compassion

to show off our students and our school!

for others. We call this “Our 66