The countdown is on! Charles Wright’s Parent Association is very busy preparing for the annual Wright Stuff Rummage Sale which is less than a month away on November 8 and 9. Here’s the report from Kari Whitney:

Wright Stuff has seen many new faces over the last few weeks! In addition to inviting everyone to stop by the Farmhouse to lend a hand, we’ve been inviting classes of parents in, grade-by-grade, to join us for a day, learn about the rummage sale, and enjoy each other’s company. We’ve been rewarded with new additions to our family of “Farmhouse Folk” that enjoy the thrill of the treasure-hunt. Look forward to your class invitation via newsletter or email! Read the rest of this entry »

The first wall of the new Language and Performing Arts Center went up this morning at Charles Wright Academy.  Just a few feet from the end of the Upper School’s West Wing now stands the east wall of the black box performance space.  The pace of construction has heightened the enthusiasm of CWA faculty.  Already 100% of the teachers in the Middle School have contributed to the capital campaign.  Lower School and Upper School teachers are jumping on board too and before long they hope to have 100% participation in these divisions as well. Read the rest of this entry »

Students and teachers weren’t the only ones returning to Charles Wright’s campus last week.  The parent volunteers who run the Wright Stuff rummage sale every fall are back sorting donations at the farmhouse near the exit to campus.  This year’s sale will be November 8 and 9 and all profits will go toward building the new Language and Performing Arts Center.  Organizers hope to raise more than $50,000 on this year’s sale.  It’s the region’s largest rummage sale.  Volunteers gather on Wednesdays and donations are accepted on the farmhouse porch all week. Read the rest of this entry »

The challenge of fitting in at school is taking on a literal twist this year at Charles Wright. With construction of the new Language and Performing Arts Center well underway, the campus is short three small classrooms and the portable drama shack. As they trickle back onto campus at the tail end of summer vacation, the Upper School faculty members are keeping their sense of humor about the whole experience. Read the rest of this entry »

The construction area around the new Language and Performing Arts Center grew a bit larger this morning as Rushforth construction began work on revising the Middle School / Upper School pick up loop and visitor parking. The road to this area on the west side of campus is now closed just beyond the tennis courts.

Access to the Upper School is now limited to the east entry doors and science wing. The main sidewalk between the Upper School and Middle School is closed.

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The West Wing of Charles Wright’s Upper School came tumbling down yesterday. Construction crews sliced through the building, right across the room most recently used as the English department’s office. To the west of that cut, they demolished in just a few hours the four smallest classrooms on campus and three tiny offices. The choir director’s office, English chair’s office, and study hall/music room/theater will saved, although their uses will change once construction of the new Language and Performing Arts Center is complete.

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Tacoma-based Rushforth Construction set up camp at Charles Wright this week.  The firm built CWA’s Lower School and now they’re starting work on the new Language and Performing Arts Center.  Work is well underway as crews prepare for demolition of the West Wing on June 27.  The most notable changes on campus so far are the disappearance of the old drama shack, installation of the construction office trailer, and arrival of a giant dumpster and a tall fence encircling the site.

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Today is the last day that the hillside west of the Upper School will look like this.  Tomorrow the portable known affectionately as the “Drama Shack” will be removed.  As soon as graduation concludes this weekend, demolition of the old West Wing and construction of the new Language and Performing Arts Center will begin.  Check back here over the summer for frequent construction updates with pictures and the occasional video.  Here’s one last look at this corner of campus before we get started….

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News from Kari Whitney and the Wright Stuff rummage sale team:

We celebrated the hard-working CWA maintenance staff at rummage this week, with the farmhouse crew providing treats of a southwestern nature for a yummy lunch. We eat well every week, but my favorite times are always the big potlucks.

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Yes, truly, only at Charlie!  The groundbreaking ceremony for Charles Wright’s new Language and Performing Arts Center was captured on video.  You won’t believe it ’til you see it. 

Click here to watch the entire student body join in making this event a great success in High Resolution or Low Resolution.

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