Among 7th graders at Community School of Davidson presenting designs Friday for building eco-friendly homes were (l-r): Luke Stasky, Brady Koch and Adam Daily.

Community School of Davidson is chock full of news these days.  The seventh-grade class held an expo on designing green homes Friday, the first graders learned about being a team player from three members of the Davidson College men’s basketball team last Thursday, and the charter will break ground for its new high school campus this Sunday. 

We have reports on all those activities, along with news of AP Scholars at Pine Lake Prep, top test takers at Davidson Day, and sports scores.  Plus our calendar lists upcoming school events.

GREEN HOUSE EFFECT

How would you design your eco-friendly dream house?

CSD's Black Box Theater was transformed into a Green Home Expo Friday.

That’s a question seventh-graders at Community School of Davidson took on this fall as part of a science unit on alternative energy.  Students heard presentations from local green home experts, conducted research, drew floor plans and scale drawings, wrote brochures and used artistic flair to create models of that perfect green home.

“I do think they were able to apply so much information,” said science teacher Kimberly Smith.

Friday, seventh-graders filled the school’s “Black Box Theater”  with their construction projects, inviting the public to tour through the school’s first-ever Green Home Expo.

“A ‘green’ home usually has better insulation, lasts longer, and is eco-friendly,” wrote Megan Perkins and Maggie Steranko in their brochure.  “Though the up-front cost is higher than other homes, throughout the years of living in it, the amount of energy you save will make up for it.”

Sophie Katon displayed the home she designed together with Megan Rosenthal. The house has solar panels on the roof and would pipe in water from a lake out back for a heating and cooling system.

The student designs featured cork and bamboo flooring, carpets made from recycled materials, rooftop gardens, triple-paned tinted windows, and lots of solar panels and mini wind turbines.

An insulation product known as ICF, or Insulating Concrete Forms, was also popular.

“We chose ICF because it’s very green,” explained Jonathan Pugliese of the home he designed together with partner Michael Keller. “It uses recycled styrofoam.”

Students spoke knowledgeably about this and various other kinds of unusual energy technologies, creating models that may represent the future.

“I hope to have a house like this when I grow up,” said Sophie Katon of the 1,999.8 square foot (the project limit was 2,000) home she designed with Megan Rosenthal.  “I personally think 20 years from now, most people will have more eco-friendly houses.”

WILDCATS TALK CHARACTER AT CSD

Bryant Barr found a circle of new pint-sized friends at CSD. (Photos by Debbie Thrasher)

First graders at Community School of Davidson got a local taste of what it means to be a hero.  As part of a unit on famous American heroes that focused on such national icons as Wilma Rudolph and Jackie Robinson, the students also got a visit from three Davidson College men’s basketball team members.

Sophomore forward Frank Ben-Eze, senior guard Bryant Barr and senior forward Will Archambault spend Thursday talking about their college studies and career aspirations, and also showing off their dribbling and dunking skills.

“The biggest message that they gave to the students was to believe in yourself and, with practice, you can do anything you want to do,” said first-grade teacher Debbie Thrasher.

Mr. Barr presented the class with one of his practice jerseys, which Ms. Thrasher promptly incorporated into a math lesson about place values.

Sitting in first-grade-sized chairs and taking questions were (l-r): Will Archambault, Bryant Barr and Frank Ben-Eze.

PINE LAKE PREP RECOGNIZES THREE AP SCHOLARS

Three students at Pine Lake Preparatory have earned recognition of their exceptional achievement on the College Board’s Advanced Placement Exams.

Andrew Plaissance and James Tiller both earned AP Scholar With Honor awards for having an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. In addition, Izak Christiaan Van Dyk qualified for the AP Scholar award by completing three or more AP Exams with grades of 3 or higher.

Through 37 different college-level courses and exams, AP offers the chance to earn college credit or advanced placement and in the college admissions process. Each exam is developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers. The College Board is a not-for-profit membership organization whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity.

DAVIDSON DAY ANNOUNCES SIX TIP STUDENTS

Davidson Day has six middle school students who have been invited to take preparatory college entrance tests through the Duke TIP program.

The six students, who all qualified by scoring in the 95th percentile or higher on grade-level tests, are: Emma Brennan, Duncan Hammond, James Morris, Dillon Nels, James Rees and Jessica Riou.

SPORTS SCORES

BAILEY MIDDLE – The school’s golf team will be competing at several meets held in Davidson’s own River Run golf course.  The Broncos will play Sept. 30 (Coulwood), Oct. 14 (JM Alexander), Oct. 21 (Martin), and Oct. 27 (Ranson Middle).

DAVIDSON DAY – The girls varsity tennis team (4-2-0) scored an 8-1 win over Lake Norman Charter Sept. 22 at the River Run Country Club.  The boys varsity soccer team (3-6-2) defeated Metrolina Christian Academy Monday on the Patriots’ home field.

NORTH MECK HIGH – The Vikings football team defeated Lake Norman Charter 24-20 at Homecoming Sept. 25.  The next home game for North Meck is Friday, Oct. 30, when the Vikings will face Mooresville.

WOODLAWN – The middle school golf team placed 7th among 21 teams at the NC Middle School Championships, held Sept. 26 at Badin Inn Golf Club in Badin, NC.  Eighth grader William Gordon led the Trailblazers with a two-round score of 151, good for 9th place in the individual standings.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

• THURSDAY, OCT. 1 - Davidson Elementary School will hold its 7th annual Tigers on the Prowl Kickoff Event on Thursday, Oct. 1, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at McEver Field, which is directly across from the school.  Students will participate by class according to a schedule which parents can consult on the PTA website.  See our previous coverage: “Tigers on the Prowl Kickoff.”
• SUNDAY, OCT. 4 – Community School of Davidson will break ground for its new high school starting at 6:30 p.m. at the future high school location: 404 Armour Street. See our previous coverage, “Community School to add high school.”
• WEDNESDAY, OCT. 7 – Walk-to-School Wednesday for Davidson Elemetary School.
• FRIDAY, OCT. 9 - Classes will not be held at Woodlawn to allow time for teacher training.
• SATURDAY, OCT. 10 - McKinney Academy will hold its first-ever golf tournament, starting with a shot-gun start at 1 p.m. at the Birkdale Golf Club in Huntersville.  Fee of $80 covers golf fees and a buffet afterwards.  For more information and the registration form, check the McKinney golf tournament webpage.
• MONDAY, OCT. 12 – Davidson Day and Woodlawn will be closed for Columbus Day.
• MON. – TUES., Oct. 12-13 – Classes will not be held at McKinney Academy to allow time for parent conferences.
• WEDNESDAY, OCT. 21 – Davidson Elementary will hold a Book Fair and Pizza Night, ending at 7 p.m.  The book fair runs the entire week.
• THURSDAY, OCT. 29 – CMS’s Parent University program will host a seminar, “The Social & Emotional Needs of Gifted Students,” 6:30-8 p.m. at Bailey Middle.  This free event will discuss how parents can help students succeed, but avoid problems with overachieving and perfectionism.
• THURS. – FRI., OCT. 29-30 – Classes at CMS schools will not be in session to allow time for parent conferences.

Send us your news

Have school news you want to share? Send calendar items and press releases about local school news to us at: lauriedennis@bellsouth.net