PARKER COUNTY —
Summer is quickly wrapping up, and two private schools in Parker County are already preparing for the emergence of faces to kick off the new school year.
Trinity Christian Academy had its opening day of school today, with an enrollment number of 495.
“We have more than 100 new students enrolled at TCA, so one of every five students is new,” chief administrator and secondary principal Michael Skaggs said. “We have about 70 new families joining the community and we give all of the glory to the Lord. We don’t pretend it's anything we’ve done.”
The school, which is celebrating its 20th year in existence, has a few new amenities, in the form of a new academic building and Barber Gymnasium, named after TCA founder Marsha Barber.
The project, which took about 18 months and was completed in May, was helped along by an anonymous $1 million donation last fall.
“We finished the new secondary building and Barber gym in late spring, and we had our first volleyball game in there [Tuesday] and won,” Skaggs said.
Another recent change came in the form of Barber’s transition from chief administrator to development director. Barber also has plans to retire at the end of this school year.
“There are lots of things to celebrate and with our growth, we’re excited for the new school year,” Skaggs said. “We’ve stuck with what works the last 13 years I’ve been here.”
Weatherford Christian School is also unveiling a new look, with renovations to the downtown campus.
“We’ve added a science lab to the elementary, and purchased and renovated a home that was part of that property, and turned that into a library and teacher workroom/breakroom,” Leslie Chalmers, WCS director of development, said. “We’re real excited about the new look taking place.”
The start time for both WCS campuses is 8 a.m. Thursday.
“We start a little earlier than some of the other schools, but that’s because it gets us a full week off for Thanksgiving and we finish the year before Memorial Day,” Chalmers said.
To inform parents and staff, the schools staged two open houses, with the elementary’s held Tuesday night.
“Once school starts, we’ll set a date for secondary parents to come and walk through the classrooms and follow the schedules,” Chalmers said.
Though overall enrollment has taken about a 20 percent hit from last year, Chalmers said the main hit was a 20-student graduating class.
“Everything else has stayed pretty true to the numbers,” she said. “We replaced the ones we lost to moving or transferring to public schools, and we were able to put on a rock-hard recruiting campaign this summer.
“We’ve enrolled about 40 students since last spring.”
The school is arranging a back-to-school bash Friday, weather cooperating, as an opportunity for families and staff to mix and mingle.
“We’re just looking forward to another great school year, and we’ve got the greatest groups of parents and support systems, as well as a highly-talented group of teachers that care about our students,” Chalmers said. “We’re ready.”
Local News
Private schools start this week
- Local News
-
-
Second arrest made in baseball bat beating
A second suspect has been arrested in connection with the Monday beating of a man who, deputies say, stopped along the highway to help a man he believed to be in trouble.
-
Weatherford Chamber officials tout benefits of membership
Weatherford Chamber of Commerce members are eligible for more benefits than they might be aware of.
-
Weatherford PD volunteers honored
The Weatherford Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association held its annual awards ceremony April 25, recognizing several members of the local community who have volunteered numerous hours to the Weatherford Police Department.
-
First Baptist Church of Dennis to host benefit concert
This Sunday, Memorial Day Weekend, the First Baptist Church of Dennis will be hosting a free concert to benefit Grace House Ministries.
-
Suspect Tasered after traffic stop, chase
A Weatherford man who was stopped late Tuesday over vehicle-related violations ended up being Tasered and taken to jail after he reportedly fled a deputy, according to the Parker County Sheriff’s Office.
-
Zonta’s sweet event Tuesday
Join the Zonta Club of Parker County for an evening of “Sweet Entertainment” this Tuesday at The Texas Opry Theater, 315 York Ave., in historic downtown Weatherford, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
-
ASK A MASTER GARDENER: Timely prunings will make for better mums
Garden mums are a perennial that will bloom twice each year if they are not pruned. However, the stems will be long and floppy and the flowers will be small. Timely pruning will greatly improve the appearance and the bloom of the plant.
-
Local Guild sends quilts to West nursing home residents
The Quilter’s Guild of Parker County has a long history of providing quilts to local organizations and individuals through it’s Comfort Quilt Program.
-
WCS student reads in nation’s capitol marking 224th inaugural anniversary of President George Washington
Madison Avery Flynn, daughter of Sean and Ashley Flynn, of Weatherford, and a first grader at Weatherford Christian School, participated in a historic event in the nation’s capitol on May 8th honoring President George Washington.
-
Local artists’ works on display
The Weatherford Art Association announced the Artist of the Month for April at their Monday meeting.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Second arrest made in baseball bat beating
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying
Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
Jersey Shore Open for Business
Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington
New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access
First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
