Carolina Day School celebrates athletic wins and outreach efforts

Carolina Day Girls Cross Country Wins State Title

Pictured left to right: Senior Annie Dephouse, eighth-grader Olivia Sutter, junior Ralene Kwiatkowski, sophomore Kathleen Norton, eighth-grader Annabelle Shutlz, eighth-grader Peyton Jenkins, senior Eliza Van Wye

The Carolina Day girls cross country team won the NCISAA 2A Cross Country State Championship meet in Charlotte on October 30, 2015. Junior Ralene Kwiatkowski covered the 3.1-mile course at McAlpine Greenway Park in a season-best time of 18 minutes, 31.30 seconds for her second state cross country championship in three years. Kwiatkowski won her first state title as a freshman. Kwiatkowski's 18:31 was the best time of the weekend on the course, including the two NCHSAA regionals held the next day. Joining Kwiatkowski for All-State honors were Carolina Day eighth-grader Olivia Sutter (third, 19:03.20) and sophomore Kathleen Norton (ninth place, 20:09.60). Other scoring runners for the Wildcats were eighth-grader Annabelle Schultz (20th, 21:11.60) and senior Annie Dephouse (56th, 22:52.80).

“Coach Brian Rannie and I have been lucky to work with this talented group of young ladies who thrive off of collective success,” said Mark Driscoll, Carolina Day School cross country coach and All-WNC Cross-Country Girls Coach of the Year. “Through long-term goal setting, focused training, and race-day grit, these young ladies were able put together their best team performance of the year at the meet that mattered the most.”

The Lady Wildcats' won the state title for the second year in a row, and added the eleventh NCISAA Championship title earned by the girls cross country program. The team took on the 2015-16 season with determination and a new-found knowledge of their strengths.

“It’s more than fair to say that are accomplishments are consistent with our success in this sport over the last 15 years,” said Carolina Day School Athletic Director Steve Henry. “Great coaching, great competitive kids, great school yields student-athletes with a commitment to success and continuous improvement.”

The Carolina Day School boys cross country team also finished strong by earning the ninth spot in the NCISAA Championships.

Keys Passed to Habitat Partner Family

 

Representatives from Carolina Day School, Christ School, and Asheville Christian Academy came together for a special key passing ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Habitat for Humanity Student Build Project and to present the Wolfe family with keys to their new home.

“We are here not only to commemorate the end result of the 2015 Habitat Student Build, but the collaborative effort that led to its success,” said Carolina Day School junior Annalise Mangone. “Over the past year, we have united the forces of three schools, Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, and most importantly Trish Wolfe, to build a safe, happy home with her family.

The key passing ceremony included members of each school’s leadership team passing the house key from one person to another, ending with Trish Wolfe and her two sons. Six-year-old old Quentin was so excited to receive the key, he held it up proud with squeals of excitement. 

“The Carolina Day School family wishes the Wolfe family a long and prosperous life journey filled with happiness,” said Mangone. “May your successes always surpass any troubles in the way, and may this house serve as a token of our unending support.”

The Student Build Project raised $55,000 to fully sponsor the house and provide student volunteers and adult chaperones to help build it.

“We are celebrating the work put into both fundraising and building the home carried out by Carolina Day, along with Christ School, and Asheville Christian Academy,” said Carolina Day School junior Madeline Smith. “We would like to thank all of the students for their help. We may be competitors on the field or in the gym, but our successful collaboration demonstrates to the qualities we hold most important: those of charity, kindness, and a desire to help the greater community.”

The students teamed up to increase awareness of poverty housing issues and civic participation, provide experiential education to support academic coursework, and offer a service learning opportunity.

“We speak for last year’s student leaders involved in the build as well as our entire school when we say it was an honor to take part in this project,” said Smith. “Additionally, we look forward to all that the future holds, both in Trish’s life and with our plans to continue this collaboration of forces over the coming years.”

Trish Wolfe is a licensed practical nurse and certified nursing assistant employed at Mission Hospital. After completing Sweat Equity, Homebuyer Education and purchasing a Habitat house, her next goal is to attain her Bachelor’s Degree in nursing. Wolfe’s 16-year-old son is a successful student and likes science and architectural drafting. He anticipates attending college following high school graduation. He and his 6-year-old brother look forward to having their own room and better living conditions.

In Wolfe’s Habitat for Humanity application letter, she says, “I hope for the opportunity for a better home and environment where, as a family, we can build, grow, and live to draw us closer through the years. I’m grateful for this opportunity to better provide for my children; it’s a blessing.”

Habitat for Humanity is a worldwide homeownership nonprofit that works with qualifying families to build new homes. Habitat’s mission is to provide a “hand up” rather than a “hand out.” Part of the agreement between Habitat and the partner family is that the family pays low monthly payments and assists with construction. The value of homeownership has been reinforced through many studies which find that secure housing leads to more stable households. A Habitat for Humanity house is not only a building, it’s a safe, affordable family home.