Carlisle School opens new location

The Carlisle School’s new Danville campus celebrated its grand opening Thursday at the former Colonnade Room on Piney Forest Road.

Simon Owen-Williams, headmaster of the Carlisle School campuses, talked about the decision to move the school to its new location.

He said the Carlisle School outgrew the space it had used at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany and school leaders began considering several properties.

“In April, we were wondering where our new home might be,” Owen-Williams said.

In June, the decision to purchase the old Colonnade Room had worked out well, with the contractor, school director Neal Meyer and staff members working hard all summer to have the school ready for students for the fall semester.

Owen-Williams said he marveled at the group of educators under Meyer who worked to “make a dream a reality.”

A group of students from the Martinsville campus, the Madrigal Singers, sang the national anthem at Thursday’s ceremony.

During classroom tours, visitors could see students from age 2 through second grade enjoying educational group games; a child playing a “game” that teaches children about the main food groups; kindergartners studying language skills on computers; and children enjoying the new playground that replaced the parking lot behind the building.

Toni Nuckols, the kindergarten teacher at Carlisle School, said the computer software she uses teaches language arts skills and students take turns using one of two computers in her classroom. There also is a computer lab, where all 16 kindergarten students can get on computers at the same time twice a week.

Jennifer Curtis, who has a son in kindergarten, said she brings him to the school from Providence, N.C., every day.

Curtis said she decided on the school after meeting Meyer and seeing how the teachers interact with the students.

“Those teachers embrace each child,” Curtis said. “They love (children) as much as I do.”

She said her son likes to get to school early, and reads and spells to her during the drive. Curtis credits his enthusiasm with the attention he gets at the school.

“The small setting here caters to what each child needs,” Curtis said.

Meyer said there are 53 students in attendance now, with three more in the process of enrolling.

She said she hopes the school grows as the children grow, but can’t say now whether grades will be added next year or if more classes will be added for the current grades.

“It’s too soon to say what the need will be,” Meyer said. “We’re really excited with where we are now, and will decide later on (in the year) exactly how and when we will grow.”