Latin Supports Classroom Central

“We are an incredibly blessed school community,” stated Headmaster Arch McIntosh as students and teachers gathered in the Beck Student Activities Center on November 25 during the annual, all-school Thanksgiving Assembly. As sixth grader Grace Beuley expressed it during the invocation, we are thankful for our “health, laughter and friendship.”

The assembly also marked the culmination of Latin’s school-wide service project to support Classroom Central. Thousands of pencils, pens, sheets of paper and other school supplies were donated by students and their teachers to demonstrate their support for area public school students who lack these basic items. Upper School students also donated approximately $3,000. The students conducted a variety of fundraisers amid class competitions to support the service project. The fundraising effort began in August with a fun walk and run organized by Janis Watts and Mike Weiss for faculty and staff members.

Guest speaker Karen Calder, executive director of Classroom Central, thanked the Latin community for showing deserving students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg that their community cares about them. “I want a world that offers an equal opportunity to every student to learn,” she stated. “These school supplies won’t change the whole world, but they will change individual students’ worlds.” Lower School teacher Kelly Willis echoed the importance of equipping students with needed supplies. As a former public school teacher, she “shopped” in the Classroom Central store to make sure her students were prepared for class. She said, “A teacher can be more creative and interactive” when students have what they need to learn.

World premiere highlights Thanksgiving Assembly

The all-school Thanksgiving Assembly also marked the world premiere of a choral work commissioned for Charlotte Latin. “All Thy Gifts of Love” by David Brunner was performed by the CLS Legacy Singers, Upper School Concert Choir, and members of the faculty and staff. The work was commissioned by the Latin Arts Association and Friends of Music.