Zack Scott (at far left) placed first overall and led his Woodlawn team to a win at the PAC-8 championships in cross country Oct. 6. Celebrating with Zack were teammates (from left after Zack Scott) Jack Kolls, David Keener, Forrest Daugherty, John Wacker and Joe Andry, all of Davidson.

Local runners dominated at the PAC-8 Middle School Conference Championships in cross country.  Find out about the winners below, plus learn of Children’s Community School plans to host a cross country tournament at Fisher Farm next week. 

We also have news of an upcoming CCS auction/BBQ social and a full calendar of school events, including next week’s flu shot clinic at Bailey Middle.

CCS Spartans host cross country tourney Oct. 20

The Children’s Community School “Spartans” will host its first-ever cross country running tournament Monday, starting at 4:30 p.m., along the trails at Fisher Farm Park in Davidson.

Seven schools in the Western Piedmont Athletic Association, including the undefeated Spartans (coached by Jessie Perkins), are expected to attend.  That will bring together about 115 runners from: CCS, American Renaissance Charter (Statesville), Carolina Christian (Locust), Lincoln Charter (Denver), Pine Lake Prep (Mooresville), St. Mark’s Catholic (Wilmington), and Sugar Creek Charter (Charlotte).

Spectators are welcome and volunteers are needed to help with parking, concessions and more.  Contact Kristin Harris to pitch in.

Woodlawn sweeps CC conference

Hefting the championship trophy awarded to Woodlawn were girls team members (from left): Sydney Bowman (Cornelius), Lauren Sapp (Mooresville), Hannah Gantz (Davidson), Clare Robinson (Davidson), Annie Wacker (Davidson) and Serena Barringer (Davidson).

Woodlawn School hosted six area middle school teams and defended its Cross Country title at the PAC-8 Conference Championship Meet held Oct. 6.

Woodlawn won first place in both team and individual competitions for boys and girls.  Breaking the finish tape for the boys was Woodlawn eighth grader Zack Scott, who finished the two-mile course in 13 minutes and 25 seconds.  The girls race was won by eighth-grader Annie Wacker, who was timed at 14:27.

Davidson Day placed second among the girls teams and third among the boys.  The top finisher among the Davidson Day runners was Aaron Seward, who placed second overall in the boys race with at time of 13:42.

Also competing at the event were teams from: Clearview Christian Academy, Christian Family Academy, North Hills Christian, Salisbury Academy, and Statesville Montessori.

While we’re on the subject of cross country running, it should also be noted that Woodlawn’s Sawyer Bowman, who leads the boys varsity team for the Trailblazers, has truly been blazing trails lately.  The sophomore has won four races this fall, set a new school record of 16:55 (the 12th fastest time in the county this season) for the 5K at a meet hosted by Charlotte Latin Oct. 1, and missed by a mere three seconds setting a new course record for Cannon School at their invitational Oct. 7 (his time of 17:18 was the second best ever).  Woodlawn’s top varsity girls’ team runner is Kathleen Elkins, who set a school record of 19:41 in the 5K with a third-place finish at at meet in Charlotte last month.

Town double booked on school issues

In a sign of just how busy things are at town hall these days, departments have scheduled two school-related meetings for the same date and time.  Thursday, Oct. 23 is the date of a follow-up on plans to combine a new community center with the expansion of the Davidson IB Middle, and the date of a community meeting with representatives of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to talk about new technologies available to track student and school performance.  Though both meetings were originally set for 7 p.m. at Town Hall, the IB planning charrette has been moved to the Davidson United Methodist Church.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

• Thursday, Oct. 16 - Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina’s 10th Congressional District will be speaking on education policy to students and teachers at Pine Lake Prep.
• Monday, Oct. 20 - Scholastic Book Fair opens at Davidson Elementary School.  The fair will run all week, 8:45 a.m. – 5 p.m. (except Friday, when it closes at noon) in the school gym.  There will be extended hours until 7 p.m Wednesday for a family pizza night, when pizza, drink and brownies can be purchased in the school cafeteria.  Visitors are welcome.
• Monday, Oct. 20 – Spartan cross country tournament at Fisher Farm Park (see above for more information)
• Tuesday, Oct. 21 - Representatives of North Mecklenburg High will be at the Bailey Middle School media center starting at 6 p.m. for an informational meeting on the International Baccalaureate program.
• Tuesday, Oct. 21 – Davidson Day , a private school located at 750 Jetton Street, will host a Fall Open House starting at at 6:30 p.m. for parents of students in grades pre-K through 12.  Families will be able to tour the school, meet teachers, enjoy free pizza, and get a peek at the new Arts & Athletics Center ready to open in November.
• Wednesday, Oct. 22 – Walk to School day for Children’s Community School.
• Wednesday, Oct. 22 – Bailey Middle School PTA-sponsored flu shot clinic will be held at the school, 7-10 a.m. The PTA is partnering with Flu Busters, a leading provider of on-site vaccinations, to hold the clinic.  Each vaccination will cost $30. Medicaid and Medicare Part B will be accepted from those who are eligible.  Participants will also be able to receive tips on staying healthy during the influenza season.  Schedule your flu shot on-line or call 1-866-FLU-BUST.  For more information, visit the Bailey Middle School PTA website.
• Thursday, Oct. 23 – Cannon School, a private school in Concord for students in grades K-12, will hold an open house Thursday, Oct. 23, starting at 7 p.m.  Families will hear from Head of School Matt Gossage and also be taken on tours of the campus.
• Friday, Oct. 24 - Children’s Community School, a North Carolina public charter located in Davidson on Griffith Street, will host the third in a series of ten open houses planned to introduce interested families to the school’s philosophy and registration process.  The Oct. 24 open house will start at 9:30 a.m. in the middle school gym.  Anyone interested in CCS, with a child entering grades K-8 in the upcoming school year, is encouraged to pick a convenient date to learn more about the school. (Click here to view all the dates.) To reserve a spot for a session, call the school at 704-896-6262, or send an email to info@ccsch.org.
• Monday, Oct. 27 – The Bailey Middle PTA will host a free class on internet safety, starting at 6:45 p.m. in the school’s media center.  The class will discuss how social networking can be used to stalk children, what safety precautions parents can take, and other parent concerns.  Babysitting will be available for those who RSVP by Oct. 23 to failedebbie@yahoo.com.  Light refreshments will be served.
• Saturday, Nov. 8 - Children’s Community School will host an auction and “BBQ Social” at Oehler’s Mallard Creek BBQ in Charlotte.  The event will feature live music by Davidson Express, raffles and more, with proceeds benefiting the school’s planned expansion into the high school grades.  Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased at the school.

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.