Everything old is new again for Laing Middle

The students and staff at Laing Middle School might have moved to an old campus, but the space is new to them.

The school moved to the former Wando High School south campus and reopened as Laing Middle School of Science and Technology in the district's swing space.

"This is a rebirth for us," said Principal Deborah Price. "Everyone is excited."

The old Laing building on U.S. Highway 17 is expected to be listed for sale in mid-September.

With the move, temporary until a new Laing can be built near the site of Jennie Moore Elementary School, came a new title and programs, as the middle school became a magnet for technology and sciences. The district received a $40,000 grant to implement new programs, which include a creative writing course, a forensics course and a pre-engineering program that will ease students into the engineering track at Wando High School.

Along with math and science, Price said, teachers will focus on literacy and improving the achievement gap between African-American and white students.

In 2006, students from Moultrie Middle School and Mount Pleasant Academy moved into the former Wando High School called the Wando South campus.

The doors of a new Moultrie Middle School and Mount Pleasant Academy buildings opened this fall.

Price said she expects that Laing students will attend the school for three years before a new building opens. Price, who describes herself as the proud principal of the school, said she expected the move to the building to be a culture shock for students.

During the weeks before the first days of school, staff moved a marker honoring Cornelia Hancock, who opened the first Laing School in 1866, to the Wando site. The marker was a gift to the former Laing High School from the 1960 senior class.

Price also added Laing's maroon color scheme to the building so students found something familiar in the new/old halls.

An open house will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 8. The school is accepting new students until Sept. 10.

Meanwhile, students returned to Belle Hall Elementary School this fall to find teaching team Jeanne DeCamilla and Jane Fordham absent.

The retired and rehired teachers didn't receive positions at the school this fall, but will be teaching Brain Fit, a new academic after-school program to be held in East Shore Athletic Club's Fun Fit building on Johnnie Dodds Boulevard.

The program runs 3:15-5:30 p.m. and includes a unit of study, help with homework and one hour of physical activity. The two will teach a new topic each month. The program starts Sept. 8.

"We've taught long enough that we know what children get excited about," DeCamilla said.

Free transportation will be provided to East Shore Fun Fit from Belle Hall Elementary, James B. Edwards, Whitesides and Mount Pleasant Academy. More information is at www.esacfunfit.com.

Fordham said if the program is popular, they may expand it to East Shore Athletic Club's other Fun Fit locations. Fun Fit is the East Shore Athletic Club's program for children, and members may remain there after school until 6 p.m.

Reach Jessica Johnson at 937-5921 or jjohnson@postandcourier.com.