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CMS In Focus: Building School Spirit From Scratch
This week, WFAE has gone inside CMS as the new school year gets underway - the infrastructure challenges, the threat of school closures, the challenge of teaching with limited resources. Two brand new high schools opened this week, too. And that got us thinking about tradition and school spirit.
Most of us went to schools where students had been singing the fight song for generations and the athletic teams had a history of state championship wins.
What's it like to go a school with none of that history? The two new CMS high schools basically have to build school spirit from scratch. How is it done?
WFAE's Julie Rose tried to find out.
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CMS In Focus: Hundreds Of Unused Trailers Sticking Around At Schools
Today is the first day of school in districts throughout the Charlotte area.
This week we've been going inside CMS schools to see how teachers have been preparing for the year in the midst of budget cutbacks.
WFAE's Scott Graf speaks to the person who oversees CMS construction and buildings - Guy Chamberlain, associate superintendent for auxiliary services.
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CMS In Focus: Teachers Get Ready For Students Amid Budget Cuts And Talks Of Closings
Teachers have a lot to juggle to get ready for their students. There are bland classrooms to transform into places kids can learn, teaching strategies to share, and lessons to prepare.
There's also a lot of uncertainty to contend with as the school board begins to plan for next year's budget. Another round of layoffs is expected next year and closing schools has been suggested as a way to save money.
At Bishop Spaugh Middle School in west Charlotte, teachers know they're being closely watched. But their minds are on more immediate demands. Budget cuts or not, kids are coming back to learn tomorrow. WFAE's Lisa Miller reports:
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CMS In Focus: Former Student Gives Back-To-School Lesson
School starts Wednesday at most districts in the area. This week on Morning Edition, WFAE goes inside CMS schools and visits with teachers and administrators.
There are the continuing budget challenges, of course. Fewer teachers, fewer supplies and, even several fewer administrators. Some schools may close next year.
WFAE's Lisa Miller visited Bishop Spaugh Middle School in west Charlotte. She wanted to see how its teachers are dealing with change while preparing for the new year. That preparation included an important reminder of how much teachers can influence students.
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Random Act Of Operatic Culture
Over the last 20 years, attendance has declined for cultural mainstays such as the opera, symphony and ballet. That's according to a study by the National Endowment for the Arts, and it's led the Knight Foundation to go on the offensive with a guerrilla-style initiative to bring the arts literally to the people.
The strategy debuted Tuesday in Charlotte at the noontime farmer's market in South End.
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Breaking Ground On A New Way To Help Charlotte's Homeless
The Urban Ministry Center broke ground today on what will be the city's first apartment building dedicated to housing people who are chronically homeless. The concept had skeptics - and vocal opponents - when it was first proposed. But now $10 million has been raised for the project and WFAE's Julie Rose reports on how support for it has grown.
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Young Filmmakers Go 'Airborne'
A couple of Myers Park High School students have caused a stir among their peers this year with a series of superhero movies. The first two films debuted to rave reviews in their school auditorium. Hundreds of kids turned out.
But this Sunday, the 18-year-old moviemakers who fancy themselves a younger version of the Coen Brothers are hoping for a wider audience with a free screening of episode three in their superhero series at the Epicentre Theater Uptown.
WFAE's Julie Rose has their story:
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Before banking, there was wrestling
Before Charlotte was ever known as a banking giant, it was known as a wrestling city. As in professional wrestling. In fact, for many, it was THE center of the pro wrestling world. Matches full of suplexes and throws into the turnbuckle were regular events at places like Memorial Stadium and the Charlotte Coliseum.
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Free Popcorn And A Movie? Just Another Day On Jury Duty
It's Juror Appreciation Week in Mecklenburg County, so court officials are offering free popcorn and movies to liven up the long wait for potential jurors. But if you didn't know better you might think every week is Juror Appreciation week at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse.
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