Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2014 13:22:31 -0400
From: connectnc.net
Subject: Braggin rights
It seams all the larger schools with more affluent neighborhoods to fill their PTA coffers get all the praise in this county . I have something to say about Chatham Central High School .
My daddy was in the first graduating class to go there 4 years after it opened in 1958 /59 school year I grew up hearing stories of Wilbur Walker and Mr. Brookbank and several other teachers that were left in the hearts of the kids who graduated there learning not only reading , writing and higher math but how to live with others and responsibility . That generation had pocket knifes that were needed in various vocational classes and some of the boys had shot guns hanging proudly in their pickup rear windows . No one got shot , no one got assaulted , boys would have a fist fight to be made to shake hands and take responsibility afterwards without turning into gang bangers or going to jail . Teachers were respected and parents actually parented their kids . If you got in trouble at school you got in twice as much trouble at home . They never saw a sheriff unless it was in passing a wreck or teaching some kind of safety class .
I was fortunate enough to be taught by Mr. Walker before his retirement , Mr. Smith and Mr. Dixon . Polly Yows efforts put Chatham Centrals Concert Choir on the national map of excellence singing for everyone from local families to the president . Julian Smith also put CCHS on the national map winning all sorts of FFA and horticulture awards through his many years of dedicated service to our school and county . I was in the 25th graduating class of 1983 . My class has had doctors , lawyers , IBM engineers and every manor of public servant and profession you can name come from it . We were taught responsibility and respect for others and the fact if we applied ourselves we could change the world .
I was given full custody of my children and it was an uphill battle with a combined 80 plus days of absent and tardy arrivals between the two . Bonlee Elementary teachers worked with me to put the kids back on track with passing grades . As time passed they improved and were average students by the time they graduated the 8th grade . When my daughter Chelsie arrived at CCHS she was invited to join AVID along with several sports she loved . The teachers helped encourage her and AVID molded her into an excellent student . Her grades reflected the level of excellent education and instruction she received there as well as her own hard work . Chelsie was awarded several scholarships adding up to a full ride paying for her college at UNCG . My son was a different story as he would often struggle with his social skills and his grades would fluctuate up and down with his drive to do or not his school work . CCHS was a life changer for Tristan as it gave him the environment he needed to flourish and grow not only as a person but as a student . He never played sports or was a team player at anything . The coaches worked with him in football and finally wrestling and weight lifting . He would for the first time in his life stick with a sport and be a team player . His high school transcript was nothing less than amazing with him finishing in the top few in his class . He earned one of the hardest scholarships to gain the Teaching Fellows which is paying for his college career now . He has a perfect 4.0 GPA and is on the Chancellors and Deans list at UNCG . Tristan continued on with his weightlifting after CCHS to break 3 national records in weight lifting last year , and all 5 national records last weekend in his 198 weight class .
Mr. Stensland is an outstanding principal who has continued to lead the school in excellence . CCHS often has test scores higher than local and many state schools . There have been students who went on to become teachers who returned to educate our kids at CCHS . Its a treasure to our community and we are very lucky to have the staff and educators who tirelessly and consistently teach our children to give them the opportunity to go out into the world and be all they can be . I felt compelled to brag because of what CCHS has done for my family , my children and myself . I have two boys who will start CCHS this fall and as a parent I am excited as to how they will grow as individuals and students while attending school there . Goodnite Mark 😉