With a goal of meeting the needs of academically talented children, the Effinger School was created. And, on Sept. 7, the school will open for students in grades kindergarten through five.

Rebecca Cunningham, who served on the Steering Committee, is stepping into the role of principal, bringing with her 20 years of experience in education. She also has a vested interest as a mother: Her three children will be attending the Effinger School.

On Aug. 11, a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrated the upcoming opening of the school, which is located at the Walnut Grove Baptist Church on Cold Harbor Road in Mechanicsville.

Cunningham, who has been involved in the planning process from the beginning, said it has taken about a year to reach fruition. The school will operate under the umbrella of the Children’s Learning Center at the church.

“A small group of parents came together and really gave a lot of thought to how we could design a school that would meet the needs of academically talented children,” she said.

The benefit, she said, comes with smaller class sizes. “We’re looking for 10 to 15 [students in a classroom].”

With certified teachers, “We’re intertwining the Virginia SOLs (Standards of Learning) and a rigorous curriculum developed by the William and Mary Center for Gifted Education. That curriculum really focuses on higher order thinking skills and problem solving.”

Cunningham said the school is attracting students that have been homeschooled, as well as those from public and private schools. “It’s really a choice to see if this school meets the needs of the child,” she said.

“We’re pretty excited about what we’re doing,” she added. “We believe that these children are going to be the doctors, the lawyers, the solvers of economic problems – they’re going to be very influential people and so we’re beginning their education with that goal in mind, so all of our focus is on having them think, read, write, analyze and work cooperatively to solve problems.”

As for the students, she said “I believe that they are excited because the school allows them to accelerate their studies so if they master the SOL or the objective they can continue to move, so they have accelerated pacing and depth of learning.”

She said the school will provide students with the opportunity to pursue an independent research project focusing on their particular interests, hobbies and strengths.

“The independent research projects will result in a product or a demonstration that they can share with other people. An example of a project could be that he builds a Lego device that can navigate underwater, on land or in the air. Then he has to demonstrate his device at Parent Information Night and explain the benefits of owning his device. This is a good project for a future engineer,” Cunningham said.

Students at the Effinger School will study English, math, social studies, science, art, music, physical education and world languages. Those courses are in addition to the independent research project.

Cunningham said she is excited about the world languages course, which also will provide insight into other cultures.

“We’re offering a tailor-made educational plan for each child that will be developed between the parents, the teacher and the child,” she said.

With five teachers on staff, registration is now under way and, according to Cunningham, “People are very interested in what we’re doing.”

Cunningham’s experience includes serving as a high school principal and she holds a doctorate in education.

She said her children are “excited about the opportunity for independent research projects; they’re excited to learn another language. I think they’re very excited to be able to move at a pace that works for them, so if they need extra help, they can slow down; if they understand it, they can continue to move.”

“It has been unique to see education from a parent’s point of view,” she added.

As they continue to fill teaching positions, Cunningham said they are “looking for people who are very patient, who encourage children to question and think, and who can guide the children to think at upper levels and produce work, which will demonstrate that the children can think at a higher level.”

The Effinger School’s association with the Walnut Grove Baptist Church prompts praise from Cunningham. She said Michele Moore of the Children’s Learning Center had been especially cooperative in the school’s development. “She has been wonderful,” Cunningham said of Moore.

Cunningham also thanked the church pastor, the Rev. Drexel Rayford, and trustees Bob Jeter, Charlie Rasnick, Alan Fearnow and Jack Tuck for their help.

On the county level, Deborah B. Coats, who represents the Mechanicsville District on the Hanover County Board of Supervisors, “helped us make sure we have the proper paperwork,” Cunningham said.

An open house for interested parents and children will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1, at the Walnut Grove Baptist Church, 7046 Cold Harbor Road, Mechanicsville.

Tuition for the 2010-2011 school year is $350 per month ($4,600 per year), with a $400 acceptance fee upon enrollment.

For more information on the William and Mary Center for Gifted Education, visit http://cfge.wm.edu/.

For more information on the Effinger School for Academically Talented Children, visit www.EffingerSchool.com. The telephone number is 305-3667.