Ballantyne Magazine covers news, events, real estate, restaurants, shopping, health, schools and business in the upscale Ballantyne Area of Charlotte, NC.
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Parents Megan and Christopher Kubala coach their son David and his Science Olympiad team at Hawk Ridge Elementary. Q continued from page 77 became intrigued with the game, and she agreed to assist parent Gary Zukowski, who now runs the chess club at Ballantyne Elementary. Today, the Endhaven club boasts 140 children who also participate in weekend competitions in and out of state. Reicht volunteers 10 to 20 hours per week and gives credit to three other volunteer chess club mothers: Kim Snider, Blessy Marin and Ify Kalu. Reicht's dedication to her children and others is a key reason why Ballantyne's schools excel, say local principals. While some may argue that higher income levels here account for the success of local schools, talk to any FALL 2010 principal and they'll assure you: it's the committed parents who make the difference. "Parental involvement in schools establishes a partnership between the school and the home," asserts Kathleen Fox, principal of J. M. Robinson Middle School. "Research has found a clear alignment between parental involvement and students' academic success." Steve Drye, principal of Elon Park Elementary, concurs. "There's no way this school would be where it is without parent involvement," he says. "We've had a core group of parents since we started, especially in our PTA, who has always stepped up. And it's not just the money they've raised. The tremendous number of volunteer hours is a major factor in our success." Coaching the Science Olympiad Team Megan and Christopher Kubala were busy Ballantyne parents drawn into their children's school when they offered to coach the Science Olympiad team at Hawk Ridge Elementary. "Our son David has a passion for science, so we thought this would be a terrific opportunity to get more hands on," Megan says. From January to May, the two traded off one afternoon after school every week helping the "Glider Kids," researching aeronautics to help the team build balsa-wood planes. "We'd never done this before, but our kids got so much out of it," she CELEBRATING TEN YEARS 2000-2010 continues. "The most amazing thing was to see intellectual pursuits rewarded." The couple loved it so much they've volunteered to do it again this year. At Ardrey Kell High, Steven Babcock is one of many parents who commit countless hours during the autumn to the Mighty Knights Marching Band Booster Club. "We're known as the 'Pit Crew,'" he laughs, explaining that before each game or competition he and 15 other dads become logistics experts, staging heavy stationary instruments like keyboards and bass drums. "We rush it out on the field, then off the field, breaking it down and stowing back in the band room." Babcock also belongs to BALLANTYNE MAGAZINE 79