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Cedar Creek School prepares students for life4Staff ReportFounded in 1970, Cedar Creek School's original mission was to provide a superior educational experience to North-Central Louisiana students. That mission still guides this private, independent college-preparatory school.Principal Connie Bradford says, “Living up to our founders’ vision is a challenge. However,thi s school’s history is one of challenges met and goals exceeded. ”Commitment to educational excellence has made Cedar Creek School a recognized leader in Louisiana education. Its rigorous academic program is complemented by an ambitious program of co*curricular and extra-curricular activities that encourages each student to develop his or her potential intellectually, socially, and personally.This year’s senior class includes three National Merit Finalists and two National Merit Commended students. Fifty of its 59 members qualify for TOPS, and their class will top the $650,000 in scholarships accepted by 1999graduates.Bradford notes Cedar Creek students are accustomed to success in challenging, academic endeavors. This year, 12 students placed first in state literary rally, the Quiz Bowl team placed second in state, the Mathcounts Team placed second regionally, Junior Sarah Graffam took the top Overall Award in the regional Science Engineering Fair, and a number of students won writing awards.Bradford acknowledges everyone associated with Cedar Creek School is proud of the wide array of academic honors Cedar Creek students have brought to their school. She notes, however, that these honors are the natural outgrowth of the strong curriculum and the positive, achievement-focused atmosphere that permeates the school. “In our classes we encourage higher order think-ing skills from the earliest grades. Part of our success is that our students are accustomed to approaching academics this way.”According to Bradford, the year's outstanding academic achievements include the creative arts. The art department just mounted an impressive senior art exhibit, that included award-winning works. Thestrong program begins with daily fine arts instruction in elementary school.”She adds, “This is the sixth year for Southern Voices, our student literary journal that publishes the creative writing of high schoolers from 10 states, and the third year for Southern Voices Onstage, a dramatic production which Challenge Program students present to audiences across North Louisiana and Missis-, sippi.” ...A school devoted to developing the whole person necessarily encourages participation in sports.At Cedar Creek, .physical development is stressed from K-12. Student athletes strive to meetthe same standards of excellence expected in their classrooms.Bradford emphasizes the school’s commitment to excellence includes commitment to service.“We teach our students education is a privilege. With every privilege comes responsibility. The responsibility we try to instill in our students is twofold to achieve to individual potential and to give something back to the community.“Our Student Council raised over $3,000 for the Feed the Seniors program, and elementary students raised the most money in their region in the Jump Hope for Heart. Students supported blood drives, Toys for Tots, DART, Christmas Boxes to Bosnia, and a peer-tutoring program.”A dedicated faculty and small classes support a strong academic program. Bradford, says faculty members,“gp beyond.the regular class day in their concern for education and students. Cedar Creek is a community where teachers know every youngster both as a learner and a person.”Curriculum review and upgrade is ongoing, A progressive writing program was recently implemented in grades k-12.Year-long emphasis on faculty training in technology, three internet-accessible computer labs, and classroom computers demonstrate a commitment to preparingstudents for the future.Underpinning Cedar Creek’s success is strong parent support “When parents hero see something that needs to be done, they do not hesitate to help,”Asked how she sees her own role at the school as she nears the end of her first year in the principal’s office, Bradford says, “What impresses me about Cedar Creek School is its remarkable vision. Its founders did not wish merely to maintain the status quo. They sought to go beyond the status quo. I think thereis a lesson in that for me as well as for all associated with this school. We must settle for nothing less than the best educational experience possible for our students, and we must continue to extend our vision in order to guarantee that experience to a new generation of North Louisianians.”Leader photo by TY HINTONCedar Creek fourth graders Bailey Craighead (left), Dakota Doss and Sarah Knowles present their book reports and dioramas.
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