October 31, 2023
By BARTON HENLEY
Rutherford County Schools
Christiana Elementary is in full swing with their before- and after-school clubs this year.
“Our goal is that each student would be able to find an extracurricular activity that every one of our students can participate in no matter their skill level,” says Principal Chris Lafferty. “We want everyone to find a place here.”
Currently, the school offers archery, art, chess, and cooking clubs as extracurricular options for its students.
Gracie Romero — fifth-grader at Christiana — is a member of the archery, chess, and cooking clubs.
“I like going to the different clubs because I get to try new things and be around different people,” Romero said.
Archery is the biggest club Christiana currently offers with nearly 10 percent of its student population participating.
Fifth-grader Hadley Lewis said she has previously seen her brother compete in archery and knew she wanted to do the same.
“I have learned a lot from my coaches,” Lewis said. “I’ve learned how to shoot and how to anchor from my coaches and my brother.”
Archery coach Tyler Mingle spoke on the investment from students and parents alike to the archery program.
“Parent buy-in is incredible here. Over the last three years every student has purchased their own personal bow,” Mingle said. “Overall, our school has completely bought into what we are doing. Last year, one of our teachers found out that a student was not able to afford a bow so one of our teachers anonymously gifted one to them.”
Assistant archery coach James Steiner talked about the success he has seen in students since the beginning of the school year.
“The improvement and successes have been amazing,” Steiner said. “We have seen kids who did not know how to shoot a bow at first becoming some of our best shooters.”
Steiner — fifth-grade teacher at Christiana — also serves as the Chess Club coach as well.
“Chess helps teach the students strategy and decision making,” Steiner said.
Joining the Cooking Club was an easy decision for fifth-grader Jake Garrett.
“I love learning how to cook and getting to go home and do it,” Garrett said. “It also makes my parents jealous that I get to eat yummy food.”
Teachers Cheryl Sciacca and Stephanie Bennett said they have taught their culinary students how to prepare deviled eggs, s’mores, and caramel apples.
“We want the kids to have life skills they can use on a daily basis,” Sciacca said. “We taught them how to core an apple at our last meeting.”
Teacher investment across all Christiana Elementary is present in every club.
Joni Stuart is in her third year at the school.
She hosts a weekly meeting with students who are interested in growing their creativity through art.
“It refreshes me every week. They come in so excited to be at Art Club and learn,” Stuart said. “They are so eager. Their creativity inspires me each week.”