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Families get a sneak peek at Cloverleaf Elementary
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Published: August 10, 2009
A small group of children sat along the sidewalk at Cloverleaf Elementary School on Sunday, eying the blue and green playground equipment for the first time.
The large slides, puzzles and different climbing apparatus looked like fun.
Yes, they were ready for the new school to open.
First, however, they wanted school officials to cut the big white, green and blue ribbon off the playground for the third- through fifth-graders so they could try it out.
More than 300 people turned out to tour the new school on Sunday.
"We are excited," said John Mott, whose sons John Jr., Jeremiah and Josiah will attend the new school this year. The school combines students from Ebenezer and Northview Elementary Schools, and has scores of out-of-district students as well.
Cheryll Gibson transferred her 7-year-old son Blythe from Third Creek Elementary to Cloverleaf because the new school had more of a technology and math emphasis.
She said her son excels in those areas, and she believes he'll do well in the new school.
Parents and teachers really seemed to enjoy the new facility, praising the school's hallways and standalone cafeteria and gym.
Principal Wayne Harwell said parents and children might be ready to get in, but the school isn't quite finished.
Parents were allowed to look around the cafeteria, the gym and poke their head into a classroom. They had to imagine the rest of it.
Among other things, the cafeteria tables haven't been delivered, the library is being unpacked and teachers haven't had a lot of time inside the school to set things up.
First grade teacher Pam Godfrey and teaching assistant Charlotte York were touring the school to try to find where everything was on Sunday.
"It's beautiful," Godfrey said. "We are a bit overwhelmed because it's so much bigger than it was at Northview."
The women agreed it would be a challenge to keep all the new floors and furniture spick and span. The construction crew is still going through the final punch list to make sure everything is ready by Aug. 24, when school starts, Harwell said.
"We'll be ready in two weeks," he said. "Yes, without a doubt."
Cloverleaf Parent-Teacher Organization president Karen Shea said the new playground equipment for all grade levels was made possible through a $30,000 gift from the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation, a $10,000 grant from Wachovia, $10,000 raised by the PTO and a matching grant from Iredell-Statesville Schools.
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