Chris Bradfield (at left) and Ian Chesser.

Davidson can claim both of North Meck High’s semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship program.  Find out more below on how Chris Bradfield and Ian Chesser are connected to Davidson and what they consider the key to their academic success.

Find out also about this weekend’s performance of Edgar Allan Poe classic tales at Davidson Day, and the success of the Bailey Middle volleyball team.  Plus, our events calendar lists Friday’s holiday bazaar at Cannon School and a Nov. 8 charity golf tournament being organized by two Woodlawn School students.

NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS AT NORTH MECK

Among the 33 students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools who have been named 2010 semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship program are two from North Mecklenburg High School: Chris Bradfield and Ian Chesser.  The prestigious honor goes to 12th-graders based on their high test scores as juniors.

The North Meck semifinalists this year are Davidson residents and former classmates from Davidson Elementary. The two are also friends and share a fondness for taking standardized tests – both participated in the Duke “TIP” program as 7th graders, which allows top test scorers to take the SAT for extra practice.

“Standardized tests are nice and straight-forward,” explained Ian, and both he and Chris said they approach such tests as something fun to do rather than as a stressful chore.

While they have in common a Davidson background and a talent for test-taking, the two diverge in their other interests and hobbies.

Chris Bradfield (at left) and Ian Chesser, seen here on a street in the St. Alban's neighborhood, are both semifinalists for the National Merit Scholarship program.

Ian, the son of John and Jennifer Chesser, considers language arts to be his strength, enjoys photography, and is a member of the North Meck debate team and Amnesty International Club.    He cites debate teacher Christopher Rocca and retired World History teacher Bill Strong as his most inspiring teachers.  Ian attended Alexander Middle, though his mother is now on the staff of Davidson IB Middle.

Chris, the son of Greg and Carol Wilber Bradfield, is happiest in his math and science classes and lists math teacher Thomas Madre as his favorite.  Chris has been involved in Science Olympiad and plays trumpet and mellophone in the North Meck band.  He attended Davidson IB Middle School and is enrolled in the North Meck International Baccalaureate program.

The two are waiting to find out if they will be selected as National Merit finalists or scholarship award winners in the spring.  When asked about their academic success, both stressed the importance of fostering an early love of learning.

“I really, really like learning things,” Ian said.  “Even when I was young I always liked to do word games.  The best way to do well on tests is just to read books every day.”

While Ian was working on word games as a kid, Chris was penciling his way through math problems.

“When we’d go on trips, my mom would print out a sheet of math problems for me,” he recalled. “In school I didn’t always get the best grades, but when I like a class, I do well in it.”

We wish them both well in the National Merit Scholarship program.

EDGAR ALLAN POE AT DAVIDSON DAY

The theater department at Davidson Day will be performing a dramatization of dark and haunting stories just in time for Halloween.

Adam Brown, wearing goggles at the center, performs a scene from "Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe" (Photo courtesy Davidson Day)

“Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe,” is an adaption by Eric Coble of several Poe classics: “The Raven”, “The Fall of the House of Usher”, “The Pit and the Pendulum”, and “The Tell Tale Heart.”

“The production pays a chilling tribute to four of Poe’s most well-known gothic tales of terror,” said director Joanna Gerdy, who noted that this year is the 200th anniversary of Poe’s birthday.  He was born in Boston in 1809 and died in Baltimore in 1849.

The cast of six includes: fourth-grader Christina Catlett; sixth-grader Izzy Sophio; ninth-graders Adam Brown, Jason Chinuntdet and Ryan Guthrie; and 10th-grader Charlie Colley.

Performances will be Friday, Oct. 30, at 5 and 9 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 31, at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $5. The play will be performed in the school’s new auditorium.

The event will also feature a Poe-inspired art exhibit by art students and a a haunted graveyard filled with tombstones created by middle school students.

SPORTS SCORES

Bailey Bronco player Kelly Farmer #5 digs the ball while Emmily Cowie #19 and Maddie Lippy #9 come to assist in the Oct. 21 game against Bradley Middle. (Photo by Teresa Lippy)

BAILEY MIDDLE – The girls volleyball team is now 10-0 after defeating their arch-rival, Bradley Middle, on their home court Oct. 21.  The team, coached by Jill Martin, has four games left in their schedule, including a final home game at 4:45 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9.  The golf team, coached by Don Riehl, is also undefeated, posting a 5-0 record with two games left in the season.

DAVIDSON DAY – It’s tournament time! The school is a member of the five-school Southern Piedmont Athletic Association (SPAA), a conference in the NC Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA).

• The varsity boys soccer team ended their season Oct. 19 with a double-overtime loss to United Faith Christian Academy.  Senior Brian McGrath scored the Patriot goal off of a compination from Tyler Parrott and Eric Robinson.  All Conference honors for the SPAA went to Drue Allan, Omar Caldwell and Demond Gates for the 1st Team; and to Brian McGrath for the 2nd Team.
• The varsity girls tennis team has qualified for the NCISAA state tournament and will play this weekend at Barton College in Wilson, NC.
• The varsity volleyball team defeated Gaston Day but lost to Statesville Christian in SPAA tournament action Oct. 19 and 22nd.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

• THURSDAY, OCT. 29 – Bailey Middle’s Builders Club will host a community blood drive. The Bloodmobile will parked at the school from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
  

  He may not have much to offer in the way of plasma, but the skeleton in front of Bailey is a good reminder of the pre-Halloween blood drive.

• THURS. – FRI., OCT. 29-30 – Classes at CMS schools will not be in session to allow time for parent conferences.
• FRIDAY, OCT. 30 – Cannon Connections, the parent organization at Cannon School, will hold a holiday bazaar from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on the school campus.  Over 50 vendors will be on hand, selling crafts, jewelry, gourmet foods and more.  The free bazaar is open to the public.
• FRI.-SAT., Oct. 30-31 – Theater program students at Davidson Day will be performing “Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe.”  Shows are scheduled for 5 and 9 p.m. Friday and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday (Halloween).
• TUESDAY, NOV. 3 – Election Day ballots will include District 1 (north Mecklenburg County) on the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education.  Three candidates are running. Click here for more info.
• WEDNESDAY, NOV. 4 – The Davidson Day School Chorus will be giving a mini-concert at The Pines, starting at 4:30 p.m.
• SUNDAY, NOV. 8 – Two Woodlawn School 11th graders, Scott Murr and Darius Knott, will hold a charity golf tournament at the Mooresville Golf Course, starting at 9 a.m.  Entre fee, due by Nov. 5, is $40.  Proceeds will benefit the George Michael Murr Scholarship program, named for Scott’s father, a memorial fund that offers scholarships to the Davidson Lake Campus summer camps.  The golf tourney will feature prizes and a raffle.  Contact Scott Murr for more information.
• SATURDAY, NOV. 21 – Davidson Day will host an open house for families of prospective students from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in the school’s commons.  Davidson Day is a private prep school serving grades preK-12, located on Jetton Street in Davidson.  Teachers, administrators and current students will be available for interested families wanting to learn more about the school.

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