2000-2006

While the first few years were filled with new experiences and the usual teething pains, by the third year the entire CA community was settled in and forging ahead with new events, traditions and most of all academic innovation and growth. Of those in the “first of many” category – history came alive in both the MS and the US. Seventh graders turned back time to the year 1000 and held a bazaar where each student became a merchant from different cultures selling the goods of eight different professions. At the same time, in the US, The Renaissance Fair exploded on the quad with King Burdick holding court. The nonsense and fun of Charger Cup began starting an intense Blue & Gold rivalry that has continued to this day. Eric Grush began his Jazz on the Quad and Pops on the Quad concerts – evenings of music and family relaxation as blankets and picnic baskets flourished while listening to our talented musicians. Sara Mizelle began a popular annual event in the form of the International Festival which grew into the International Café in the upper school and eventually the Ubuntu Festival throughout the school. All the fun wasn’t just for the students as the faculty and staff became ridiculously competitive in the annual X Games tug-of-War!

Community service and involvement grew dramatically as the entire CA family became involved in a wide variety of volunteer activities such as the Ronald Macdonald House, the Yam Jam, Service for Servicemen, Helping Hand Mission and several Food Bank organizations. Today, our CA community regularly assists with over 55 charity organizations. The number of hours donated by students, parents, faculty and staff is extraordinary!

We were awarded the Presidential Blue Ribbon Award in 2004.

These years also brought many changes and unique events and celebrations. The most memorable event must be the commencement ceremonies for Cary Academy’s first graduating class on May 23, 2000. Held in the sunshine, on the quad, founders the Goodnights’ and the Salls’ watched with the pride that everyone felt as those first 38 seniors received Cary Academy diplomas.

These years also saw three of our teachers win a national Innovator award in 2001, the building of the SEA and the extension of the Fine Arts Center in 2003. We were awarded the Presidential Blue Ribbon Award in 2004. These years also brought a large number of wonderful visitors such as Marion Jones, Nobel Laureate, Peter Soni and Steve Forbes and poet Phillip Shabazz who has come for a week every April since 2001 to teach and instill in our sixth graders a love of poetry.