Press release from FernLeaf Community Charter School:
Fletcher, NC – FernLeaf Community Charter School has suffered a total loss of its Creek Campus location following the catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. The storm brought unprecedented rainfall and destruction to the region last week.
FernLeaf is a Kindergarten through 12th grade school serving over 750 students with two campuses located in Fletcher, NC. The school’s Creek Campus was completely inundated by flood waters, washing the three main buildings off their foundations, condemning them. Additionally, the school’s educational materials, athletic fields and outdoor learning spaces have been destroyed, leaving a long and challenging road to recovery, including relocating more than 430 Kindergarten through 4th grade students who call the Creek Campus home.Seated on 26 acres with 1,200 feet of frontage on Cane Creek, the location was central to much of the school’s curriculum and focus on experiential and outdoor education. A commitment to utilizing time outside in both formal projects and informal exploration is a core component of the school’s mission, and the Creek Campus location gave younger students an opportunity to participate in meaningful work to study the extensive biodiversity of the area.“FernLeaf’s Creek Campus has been a fixture of our community for nearly a decade and the loss of this wonderful space is devastating,” said Michael Luplow, Executive Director of FernLeaf Community Charter School. “We are determined to rebuild and continue our mission of providing innovative, experiential and inspiring education to our community.”FernLeaf’s leadership is committed to ensuring the continuity of education for its students, despite the enormous challenges ahead.
The school is asking the community and supporters for their help with the recovery efforts. Details on how to help can be found here.
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