Parents gripped their kids’ hands Monday as the wide-eyed, backpack-toting youngsters arrived at Gary’s 21st Century Charter School to kick off the first day of school in Northwest Indiana.
At this K-2 building, one of three 21st Century schools in Gary, parents began arriving about 7 a.m. with their children in the school’s navy blue polo shirts.
The school, at 556 Washington St., sits in the heart of Gary’s downtown, across from the towering, hollowed-out legendary City Methodist Church.
Principal Janelle Williams and assistant principal Marcus Hurt greeted kids as they slowly emerged from cars.
The school set up a “Welcome back to school” sign for photos outside the building and parents flocked to get a last-minute picture.
Felecia Day brought her son, Brandon Meredith, 6, to begin his first-grade year. Her older son, Jeveah Day, is a freshman at the charter’s high school at 1440 E. 35th Ave.
Day is happy with the school.
“The teachers really get them ready for the future, not just today,” she said in reference to the school’s aggressive approach to offering college credit courses that lead some to degrees by the time they graduate from high school.
Day herself is a graduate of Gary Middle College, operated by the GEO Foundation, the same nonprofit that oversees 21st Century Charter. It caters to dropouts, ages 16 to adults.
Day found her own future there and a high school diploma. She’s now a phlebotomist at Methodist Northlake Hospital in Gary.
James Hobbs brought his son, Imari Wilkes, 6, to start his second year at the school.
“He’s shy when he’s around new people,” said Hobbs, who’s a security guard.
He said the school is close to home and he heard good reviews about it.
“We’re happy and that’s why he came back.”
Tomika Dunagan, of Gary, brought her daughter, Erika-Sarah King, 5, and cousin, Legacy Randolph, 5, to begin their school careers in kindergarten.
Both girls sported clear, pink-strapped backpacks with the required supplies tucked inside.
Dunagan also has another child at the 21st Century high school.
“I like this curriculum. I like the 1-on-1 individual assistance they get.”
Pete Morikis, who’s spent most of his career in traditional public schools, including the Gary Community School Corp. and Griffith Public Schools, is beginning his third year as executive director.
“I love working in the city of Gary,” said Morikis, who’s never worked at the charter school until 21st Century.
“It’s a great experience, there is a lot of academic freedom and good support.”
Morikis also favors the early August start, despite competition from the Lake County Fair and sun-filled carefree summer days.
“It gives us a longer runway with more instruction time,” he said.
The earlier start allows for longer breaks during the year, Morikis said, including a week at Thanksgiving.
“All our classrooms have live teachers and K-5 teachers and a paraprofessional are in every classroom,” he said. In some cases, it reduces the teacher-student ratio to 15 to 1, he said.
To address the state’s new absenteeism law, Morikis said the charter added a new community outreach coordinator, Tennille Foster, who previously worked at the Gary Community School Corp.
As the clock edged closer to the start of school, parents began disappearing and students gathered in the gym/multi-purpose room for breakfast.
Michelle Brantley moved to Gary from Chicago three years ago and her child, Ishara, 7, has been a student since kindergarten.
“It’s a great school, they mentor here and they’re always hands-on with the kids,” she said.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
NWI first day of school
Lake County
Aug. 11: East Chicago
Aug. 12: Hanover Community
Aug. 13: Highland, River Forest, Lake Station, Hobart, Hammond, Crown Point, Lake Ridge, Griffith, Merrillville, Tri-Creek, Lake Central, Munster, Whiting
Porter County
Aug. 13: Boone Township, Duneland, East Porter, Porter Township, Union Township, Valparaiso
Aug. 18: Portage Township
Charter schools
Aug. 4: 21st Century Charter, Gary
Aug. 7: East Chicago Urban Academy
Aug. 11: Charter School of the Dunes, Aspire, HIAT, Steel City Charter (K-3), all Gary
Aug. 12: Gary Lighthouse, Steel City (4-6), East Chicago Lighthouse
Aug. 13: HAST, Steel City (7-11), Hammond
Aug. 14: Steel City (12)
Aug. 18: Thea Bowman, Gary
Aug. 19: Discovery, Porter
