Report from Linda Boice

I want to report on a very good City Center Academy Open House which took place last Friday. Our development director, Ann Hart, and her new assistant, Chante Smalls (CCA, Class of '98), turned my classroom into a welcoming reception area with snacks, hot cider and cold drinks, flowers and candles. A very inviting atmosphere.

Thirteen families came, including two sets of twins, and besides some faculty and our principal, Ray Withers, seven of our older students were on hand to act as guides. They were splendid --- poised and gracious and busy interacting with the young visitors while parents talked with the staff. Before they left most of the families had registered their teens for pre-admission testing.

The most encouraging part of a very encouraging evening was the answer one father gave when we asked how they learned about CCA. He has been a coach of a neighborhood basketball team, and one of our CCA boys had been on the team. The young man is Andre Hardy, last June's valedictorian. The father stated that they had seen such a change and so much maturing in Andre that he and his wife wanted to check out the high school which Andre had attended.

What an affirmation that what we are doing is truly making a difference for some young lives.