Myers Park Traditional Elementary
A Strong Emphasis on the Basics
By Bea Quirk
three years. “My role is to introduce all students to a variety of art forms – drawing, print making, glass – so they can develop a love for art.” Myers Park also has a chess master on staff who teaches chess classes during the school day. His salary is paid for by the PTA. Notes Price, “Chess helps students develop analytical thinking and do problem solving on their own.” The teaching staff also gets high grades from all involved. “We have high-caliber teachers with many years of experience who genuinely care for their students,” Price says.
reading over the summer. During the last school year, Spirit Nights raised another $3,500. On these evenings, children and their parents met at local restaurants, with a percentage of the money they spent donated to the school PTA. Participating restaurants included Nothing But Noodles, Chick-fil-A and Jersey Mike’s. Still, members of the school community are proudest of the cooperation and synergy they are all part of. “It’s a combination of a dedicated staff, a very supportive PTA, hardworking students and lots of support from the administration,” Kinsela observes. “I also like it that we recognize all the students who work to achieve their own personal goals, whatever they may be. This way, every child succeeds, and it gives everyone the opportunity to feel proud about what they can achieve.” “It’s more a family here than anything,” McComb comments. “Everyone is happy here and enjoys what they do. The children are so interested in learning, and it is such a supportive community.”
“And on the very last day of school,” Kinsela says, “every staff member runs out to Radcliffe and waves good-bye to the students, who are all hooting and hollering. “I love my job,” she continues. “Myers Park is a happy place to be; it’s a great place to come to every day.”
Myers Park Traditional Elementary, located on Radcliffe Avenue abutting the Queens University at Charlotte campus, has been a Lane Price magnet school for Principal traditional learning since 1974 (the first traditional school in CMS). But its history of educating Charlotte children in the Three R’s – readin’, writin’ and ‘rithmetic – dates back to 1928. The school was renovated and enlarged in 2003.
PTA Support
Art mural created by students and displayed in school
to discipline to help students become positive members of society,” Price adds. “We also work to make our students into good citizens who are kind to one another.” Observes teacher Judy Kinsela, who began teaching at Myers Park in 1991, “When I started, it was about teacherled learning; we were also very phonicsbased. Still, math was investigationled, and science was discovery-base