We’d like to offer our gratitude to all of our sponsors, host committee, and those who purchased tickets for our yearly fundraising concert. Thanks to you, we raised $60,000 for Durham Nativity School!

Watch our students in the self-made promo they submitted to WRAL regarding our upcoming Kirk Whalum Fundraising Concert…If selected, it will run Saturday, April 28, 2012 between 6 and 7 a.m.! Read more about the fundraising concert…

By Dr. Dan Vannelle, Head of School

“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. It’s not who you are, it’s who you can become.”

Each spring we welcome a new group of fifth graders to Saturday Academy, the first step in our admissions process. The young men are vying for a spot in the fall’s sixth grade class. Many are reluctant, some are timid, a few are fearful. The thought of attending an all boys’ school from 7:45 in the morning to 6:00 in the evening, completing two plus hours of homework each day and wearing a uniform that consists of a French blue shirt and striped tie is not particularly appealing to a ten year old. The truth be told practically all are here because Mom, Dad or perhaps Grandma insist.

Each spring we prepare also to send off our eighth graders to independent high schools like The Asheville School, St. Andrews and Durham Academy. They leave us excited, confident and prepared to face the challenges that lie ahead. Also each spring we revel in the news that our graduates who are now high school seniors are enrolling in colleges such as NC State, Elon and Cornell.

These are the same reluctant, timid and fearful young men that showed up for Saturday Academy a few years ago. What’s changed? Time for sure, but more that that. They have tasted knowledge, been challenged to do and be their best, been held accountable for their effort and attitude. They’ve been knocked down; they’ve gotten up. They have worked very hard. They’ve persevered; they’ve been transformed.

“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. It’s not who you are, it’s who you can become”.

DNS student Ifedayo in a photo taken by David Brower

DNS has been fortunate over the years to have wonderful partnerships with many area media organizations, but none more important to us than our relationship with WUNC 91.5. They have [strictly speaking: "it has"] been exemplary in its support of many initiatives and events we have sponsored Station personnel have even offered hands-on, direct communication to our students.

Frank Stasio (The State of Things) visited our school to talk to the students about the radio business. From these visits and other partnering opportunities, David Brower, Program Director, had the idea to offer our students a chance to learn even more about the radio business through a DNS Radio Club. Several times a month, seven students visit the studio and work with David and learn the “ins and outs” of the business including: creating a program concept, writing the copy, perfecting actual in-studio recording, editing, and adding music.

“It’s been a real thrill to have the DNS students visit WUNC each week,” Brower says “It’s one of the highlights of my week.”

Our students have recorded and broadcast two shows, a Thanksgiving family related message and a humorous show about learning to tie a necktie. Their next show will be entitled “Epic Fails”. We are sworn to secrecy about the content, so when it becomes available on-air, we will provide a link to our website.

It’s not hard for us here to place a value on having partners like WUNC 91.5. They are invaluable to our school and students! Listen in and find out for yourself!

by Ricky Oliver ~ DNS School Social Worker

I was sitting in a meeting with the Latino/Hispanic parents and the meeting was completely in Spanish. I sat there bewildered wanting to participate and feel a part of the group, but I didn’t understand what was going on; I couldn’t understand the language. My intern, who is bilingual in English and Spanish, interpreted for me, but sometimes she would forget to share with me what was being said. Finally I stood up and told the parents how I felt and I apologized to the parents that they felt the same way in the PEP meetings and the Parent-Teacher Conferences. I think they accepted my apology.

The meeting that took place with the Latino/Hispanic families was a result of an interesting meeting that occurred between my intern and me. In the Fall of 2011 during a supervision meeting, my intern, Sarah Campbell (she’s getting her Masters in Social Work at UNC), asked me some thought-provoking questions about Durham Nativity School’s service to Latino/Hispanic families. “Do Latino/Hispanic parents feel comfortable interacting with faculty and staff and English speaking families at DNS?” “Do Latino/Hispanic parents understand the policies at DNS?” “Are there interpretation and translation provided for the Latino/ Hispanic families at DNS?” From this discussion was birthed the Latino Cultural Competency Task Force at DNS.

The Task Force members include Ricky Oliver (school social worker), Sarah Campbell (social work intern), Maria Calvopina (parent), and Sherolyn Patterson (parent). During the first meeting the Task Force adopted this mission statement: “The Latino Cultural Competency Task Force exists to identify issues affecting the holistic care of Latino students and families at Durham Nativity School and suggest ways to address those issues.”

The Task Force created a survey to elicit feedback from the Latino/Hispanic parents and from the feedback that we received we had a meeting with the Latino/Hispanic families (the meeting mentioned at the beginning) to discuss the results of the survey and other concerns. The meeting was excellent and it was incredible to see parents that were normally quiet and shy to be so vocal and speak with such passion and energy. They came alive because they understood what was going on; they understood the language.

Based on the Latino/Hispanic concerns we have diligently sought after volunteers that can interpret in Spanish at the PEP meetings, home visits, and Parent-Teacher Conferences. For a while our search looked bleak, but just recently Dr. Moylan referred the Task Force to a group of interpreters from his network and board member Diane Evia-Lanevi had some connections the produced several interpreters for the school.

The Task Force is continuing to meet as a group and have meetings with the Latino/Hispanic parents. Some of our goals include the following: a) Spanish translation of the Parent Handbook, b) Spanish translation of report cards, c) Latino/Hispanic representative on the PEP Executive Board, d) hire a part-time, bilingual, preferably Latino/Hispanic employee to provide translation and interpretation skills and cultural competent communication with families – just to name a few.

Durham Nativity School is an exceptional school and indeed is a work in progress. Becoming a culturally competent community so that we can better serve all of our families is one of the ways in which DNS is progressing towards excellence.

Durham Nativity has become the 366th school from eleven Southeastern states, the Caribbean and Latin America to be accredited by the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS). The accreditation is the culmination of a year-long process validating our “commitment to excellence, demonstrating the dedication to our mission and to a reflective and engaging continuous improvement process.”

Monday March 5th

6:00pm