Get ready for that first school bell to ring –students in Davidson are preparing to return to the classroom, if they aren’t there already. We have news from the first school in town to officially kick-off the 2008-09 school year, Children’s Community School, plus an interview with new Bailey Middle principal Jennifer Dean, and a construction update on the Davidson Day arts and athletics facility. Plus, our school calendar lists start dates for all the local schools.

Bailey Middle starts school with a new principal

Jennifer Dean is the new principal at Bailey Middle School.

Jennifer Dean took over the helm of Bailey Middle this summer, following the retirement of the school’s first principal, Angela Baucom. Ms. Dean sat down with DavidsonNews.net to talk about her background and her goals for Bailey.

Click here to view a profile of her and learn about how she has handled budget cuts that stripped the school of one of its three assistant principals, what she knows about the new high school planned for next door, her interest in getting kids to walk to school and how she became – for a second time – a Bailey leader.

“I feel very blessed to come back to Bailey,” she said.

Honk if you’re ready for school!

While you may have noticed school buses rumbling through town this week on practice runs, the first Davidson school to actually open its doors to students was Children’s Community School, a K-7 charter school on Griffeth Street.

Beth Kemp, who teaches grades 2-3, held up a "go" sign to direct cars picking up children Tuesday after the first full day of school at Children's Community School.

Kids started out with a half day Monday and then showed up for their first full day of official school on Tuesday.

“It was really great!” said Assistant Director Kevin Green as the car line formed behind him Tuesday afternoon.

The school continues to expand, and this year opened to seventh graders. Mr. Green said the new grade was added without a hitch.

This school year, Children’s Community will be joining in the town’s “Walk to School Wednesdays” program, with plans to have a drop-off point at a nearby park so that kids can enjoy at least a periodic walk into school. The school will also be working to find space in Davidson for a high school facility.

“This building will work for us through the eighth grade,” Mr. Green said.

The new Arts & Athletics center at Davidson Day. (Photo by Paul Cotter.)

Davidson Day center soars over Griffith Street

Driving along the Jetton Street round-about it’s hard not to be distracted by the construction project at Davidson Day. The school’s new Arts & Athletics center is taking shape and on target to be completed by mid-November. The 14,180 square foot facility adjoins the school’s existing building and will include a new gym for basketball and volleyball as well as a performance hall for theater and music.

The school plans to work with the Town of Davidson to make the center available for community sports and arts events. Read more in our previous coverage, “School breaks ground for arts/athletics center.”

Calling all volunteers!

Davidson Elementary School is seeking volunteers to help out with its media center. Volunteers shelve books, check books in and out and otherwise assist the media center specialists. Volunteer Coordinator Jackie Noble said volunteers help keep the library open to individual students while the staff specialists are busy working with classes. Volunteers typically work one hour shifts. Help is particularly needed during the morning rush, from 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m., but shifts are also available through the end of the school day at 3:30 p.m.

To find out more or to volunteer, contact Ms. Noble at 704-987-9545 or email her at jacob97@bellsouth.net.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

• Wednesday, Aug. 20 – Open house, 4-5:30 p.m., at Bailey Middle School for new sixth graders.
• Thursday, Aug. 21 – Open houses for: Bailey Middle, grades 7-8, 5-6:30 p.m.; Davidson Elementary, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., all grades; Davidson IB Middle, 6-7:30 for new sixth graders (this includes time for picnicking from 6-6:30 p.m.), and from 7:30 – 8:30 for 7th and 8th graders.
• Thursday, Aug. 28 – Open house for current and incoming students at Davidson Day. See the school’s website for specific times.
• Thursday, Aug. 21 – First day of school for McKinney Academy, a private school on Armour Street serving grades K-4.
• Monday, Aug. 25 – First day of school for all public schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district, including Bailey Middle, Davidson Elementary, Davidson I.B. Middle and North Mecklenburg High School. (This is also the beginning of the fall term for Davidson College.)
• Tuesday, Sept. 2 – First day of school for Davidson Day and Woodlawn School and also for the new local charter on Hwy. 115, Pine Lake Prep.

Send calendar items and press releases about local school news to us at lauriedennis@bellsouth.net . Don’t forget to include a contact phone number, in case we have questions.