Dear Parents and Community Members,

Thank you for taking time to visit this site to learn about our school! At Waxhaw Elementary, we believe that every child can learn.  While test scores are just one way that measure accountability, there are many other factors that characterize a quality school.  Other indicators of school quality are important to parents and community members. This information is located in one place, on the North Carolina School Report Card.  This report card includes information about school and student performance, class sizes, attendance, school safety, instructional resources, and quality of teachers. Report card data will be available for each school, for each school district, and for the state's education system as a whole. Our school’s full Report Card can be found on the NC School Report Cards’ website at NC School Report Card.

My educational philosophy consists of three parts:  all students can learn when communication is consistent and proactive, all stakeholders are active members in each student’s learning, and a positive school culture is reflected in student achievement.  I can promise that you will hear from me each week about what is going on at WES or about exciting events that will soon take place.  I can also promise you that each one of you is a necessary active part in your child’s education (instructional support, volunteer opportunities, and PTSO). My final promise is that each one of your children will enter Waxhaw Elementary and see/hear a learning environment where there is positivity, compassion and a collaborative approach to instruction and social emotional learning. 

Now these things can’t happen without trust.  I always believe that in order to trust someone, you have to get to know them. So I am going to share some things so you can first get to know a little about me.  I have lived in North Carolina for the past 15 years with my wife, Anna who is a middle school science teacher, and my 14-year-old son, Joey.  Education has not always been my only career or my only passion. I took a detour for about five years into the world of culinary arts.  I attended a culinary school and worked as a cook and chef in England and Los Angeles.  It was there that I learned the importance of hard work, the necessity of building strong relationships and how a positive culture in the work environment can breed success. I also learned from that experience how much I missed working with children and teaching.

To help build community and trust at our school, we will be implementing The Ron Clark Academy House System. The RCA House System is a dynamic, exciting, and proven way to create a positive climate and culture for students and staff. The RCA House System will allow us to implement processes that promote student leadership and soft skills, foster character development, and build student-to-student and student-to-staff relationships, and school spirit.  At the beginning of our school year, each student will learn about what it means to be a member of each house, participate in house assignment ceremonies, begin earning house points and begin practicing the Essential 11.  The Essential 11 are fundamental characteristics that promote positive behavior and academic success strategies while providing a collaborative framework for students to connect with other students in our school community.

Sincerely,

Ernest Marcello, Principal