October 12, 2023
Falcon Soccer
By: Cooper Wingate
Soccer has quickly become a fan favorite sport at the NCLA. The boy’s soccer team added to their win column, improving their conference record to 5-3 after Thursday night’s shutout over Piedmont Classical. Maintaining dominance throughout the entirety of the game, Thursday’s game gives the Falcons back to back conference wins at home.
Junior Ethan Parker led the offense, scoring an electric set of goals and making intense plays on defense. Parker discussed the game after, saying, “I’m proud of the team, everybody came to play . . . we’re all happy.” 
The team had four other goalscorers, including juniors Elhias Leon and Donovan Roberts, sophomore Will Bovender, and freshman Kenan Truhe. “It was a great game,” Leon told our reporters when asked about the team effort. The team’s will to win is obviously a priority for the players; “I would rather have a goal than a working car,” Roberts said after his car broke down post match.
The team has faced a very strong schedule with more exciting matchups to come. Currently ranked 4th in the conference and 11th in the region, our boys team has provided outstanding performances all across the board and continues to face tough competition every match.
Their next home game is against Millennium Charter Academy on October 10th. Show up and show out with support for your Falcons!
November 16, 2023
NCLA Alumni
By: Cooper Wingate
Earlier this year, the NCLA celebrated its 10th anniversary. In honor of this, the Falcon Leader has decided to cast a spotlight on an alumnus from the school’s first graduating class. This week, our esteemed graduate is Caylee Wingate Cantrell, class of 2017; “I began attending the NCLA the first year it was created, when I was in 9th grade. . . NCLA had a wider variety of courses to prepare us for college and we were able to be creative in making our own clubs and activities.”
When Cantrell first came to the NCLA, the main building (our current elementary building) had not yet been constructed and the school was being run out of a small church in Kernersville; “We had to make use of every space at the Bridge. We even used hallways for dance class and storage rooms for Civil Air Patrol. Moving to the new building was bittersweet. We had so many great memories at the Bridge, but were all so excited to be in a bigger space.”
After graduating in 2017, Cantrell was accepted into North Carolina State University. She spent 6 years at NC State, obtaining both a Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work, graduating Magna Cum Laude; “These qualifications allowed me to begin pursuing my Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist, and Licensed Clinical Social Worker licensures.” She credited the NCLA with helping her prepare for her further education, saying that the senior project, “prepared me for the research and writing I would be doing in college.”
With just 32 people in her graduating class, Cantrell’s peers quickly became like a family to her; “Having a small class allowed us to build close relationships; it really felt like I had 31 siblings.” This bond was further strengthened through Extended Day, a now defunct program where students could stay after school for a couple of hours to finish homework or just have a place to hangout with friends; “It was really fun getting to spend extra time with my best friends at the end of every day.”
Cantrell is now using her education and qualifications to help rehabilitate those in need in her community; “I now work on an Assertive Community Treatment Team, where I provide therapy to clients with schizophrenia and substance use disorders.” The NCLA has produced a plethora of successful graduates and Caylee Cantrell is just one of many Falcon alumni that are still working to better their community.