Lachlan Johnson

A half-dozen students from Woodlawn School traveled to National History Day in College Park, Md., last week, and one – eighth grader and Davidson resident Lachlan Johnson, finished 11th in the nation with her documentary video about Depression-era photographer Marion Post Walcott (watch it below) . Also below, news about new coaches at Cannon School, Bailey High’s new principal, and the need for international student host families at Davidson Day School. 

WOODLAWN STUDENTS EXCEL

The Woodlawn students had advanced to the national event, held June 15-19, by placing first or second in various categories at a state competition in May.

The competition requires students to submit projects in one of several categories: research paper, video documentary, website, exhibit, or performance. This year’s was “The Individual in History: Actions and Legacies.”

Woodlawn students have been to the National History Day competition before, but Lachlan was the first ever to make it to the finals. She advanced in the Junior Individual Documentary category with her documentary about a Depression-era photographer, Marion Post Walcott. You can watch “Marion Post Walcott: Documenting the Depression” below or on YouTube.

Besides her 11th place, she also won a special prize – the History of Agriculture and Rural Life Award. Only one of these awards is given out nationally each year and it comes with a $200 cash prize.

Also, 8th grader Joe Andry’s website “Orville and Wilbur Wright: The Men Whose Dreams Took Flight” grabbed 12th place in the Junior Website competition.

Woodlawn School is a private K-12 school off Presbyterian Road, just north of Davidson. See more about its National History Day participants on the school website.

NEW COACHES AT CANNON

The private Cannon School in Concord made a couple of appointments recently to its athletics staff.

Jack Warren was hired as head girls’ basketball coach. Mr. Warren has more than 29 years of coaching experience, including 24 years as a head coach, and was the 2008 South Carolina Independent School Athletic Association (SCISAA) 3-A Coach of the Year. He comes to Cannon from Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia, S.C., where he led the girls’ varsity team to the 2008 SCISAA 3-A state finals.

“Cannon School’s growth, stimulating academic environment, high athletic expectations, and support make it a great fit for me professionally,” Mr. Warren said in a press release. “I look forward to getting in the gym, meeting the girls and their families, and contributing to the Cannon community.”

Cannon’s girls finished 12-16 in 2008-09, their first-year as a member of the highly-competitive Charlotte Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA). The team was led by star Krista Gross, who will attend UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall on a full basketball scholarship.

Cannon School also announced that it has promoted Tony Delgado to be the head boys’ varsity soccer coach. Mr. Delgado coached Cannon’s junior varsity in fall 2008 and directed the team to an undefeated season with a 10-0-3 record. It finished first in the Charlotte Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA) during Cannon’s first season in the highly-competitive conference.

“I’m excited about utilizing my playing and coaching experience to work with these passionate and hardworking student-athletes,” Mr. Delgado said. “I look forward to continuing the success of the soccer program.”

Delgado has coached soccer since 1996 at local soccer leagues, including FC Carolina Alliance and North Meck Soccer Club. He played in premier soccer leagues in his native Peru before coming to the United States in 1989 to play professionally with the New Jersey Eagles of the American Soccer League.

DAVIDSON DAY SEEKS HOST FAMILIES

International students will be visiting Davidson Day School during the 2009-10 academic year, and the school is seeking local families to host them during their stays.

The school, at Griffith and Jetton streets in Davidson, has partnered with ASSE International Student Exchange Programs. Several students have selected DDS and are awaiting host families, and more could be placed this summer.

If you’re interested, please contact Anne Buechler, director of admission, as soon as possible, at 704-237-5223.

BAILEY HIGH HAS A LEADER

In case you missed our June 19 report, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has named a veteran administrator as the first principal at the new Bailey Road high school in Cornelius, which is to open for the 2010-11 school. Read more in that June 19 report.