There’s nothing amateur about the kids in School Notes this week – in fact, they seem poised to make national headlines as old pros.  We bring you news of a Davidson Elementary fifth-grader-turned-national-reporter, Julia Desmond, who has just joined the Scholastic Kids Press Corps; and also Davidson Day second grade speed racer Caleb Tate who is burning up go-kart tracks across the country.

All that, plus the background on the Davidson College senior, Billy Powers, who is behind Sunday’s charity concert to benefit children with special needs, and a calendar of upcoming school events.

DAVIDSON FIFTH GRADER IS SCHOLASTIC REPORTER

Among the list of 37 kids from across the country selected as new reporters for the Scholastic Kids Press Corps is one name from Davidson: Julia Desmond.

Julia Desmond, seen here in the halls of Davidson Elementary with her official Scholastic press pass and notebook, is keeping an eye out for news stories.

The Davidson Elementary fifth grader will be writing news from a kid’s perspective and be published on the Scholastic website and possibly in the Scholastic News classroom magazine, a national publication.

Julia, who lives in the River Run neighborhood and is the daughter of Alan and Jaletta Desmond, has already gotten her feet wet in the world of journalism, writing for her school’s Tiger Times newspaper last year.  She is currently a member of the Yearbook Club.  She said she is interested in journalism but hopes to be a fiction writer.

Julia was chosen to join the Scholastic Kids Press Corps in part based on her application report on Davidson’s own Soda Shop.  In the news report, she writes about going to “the green” with her fifth grade friends on Fridays and then heading across the street to get a milkshake and fries at the Soda Shop.  Julia also interviewed the store’s owner, Deborah Caudle.  Here’s an excerpt quoting Ms. Caudle:

“When I first walked in to The Soda Shop, I was just a customer going with one of my friends,” Caudle smiles, looking into space as if remembering something. “It was the October of 1992, and I remember telling her: ‘This place is so neat! I’d just love to own it one day.’ But I didn’t really think I ever would. It was just so cool; I didn’t think anyone would ever sell it. But, someone did! It was just one of those things that was meant to be, you know? I didn’t have to struggle to get the restaurant; it just happened. I’ve owned this place for 18 years now, with 18 employees. Apparently, 18’s my lucky number.” Caudle laughs. “My favorite thing about owning this restaurant is being able to let it grow. The menu, for instance. It is 3 times bigger than it was when I bought The Soda Shop. And it didn’t used to be open on Sundays, either. The first day I did open it on a Sunday, I didn’t think that there would be more than 3 people here. But people lined up down the street!

“I call myself “The Keeper”. Well, it is what I do! I keep the restaurant going smoothly. I make sure the menu expands—but doesn’t get too weird—and that the customers are always satisfied.”

Julia has already submitted some story ideas and is awaiting her first reporting assignment.  You can check out her reporter bio and follow the work of her and other Kid Press reporters on the Scholastic website.

DAVIDSON COLLEGE STUDENT ORGANIZES SPECIAL KIDS CONCERT

A Davidson College student devoted to helping children with autism has organized a choral concert Sunday that will benefit PTA-Too, a Davidson Elementary School organization for families with special needs children.   Here’s an excerpt from the Davidson College press release on the event:

Three Davidson College a capella groups will perform at Sunday's charity concert.

Billy Powers, a senior from Darien, Conn., has worked with special needs children steadily since seventh grade. At Davidson he has created a new community service organization and rallied about a dozen fellow students to join and commit to regularly mentoring special needs children at Davidson Elementary School.

Now Powers is taking another step by organizing a concert with Davidson College’s three student a cappella ensembles on Sunday evening, Nov. 15, to raise money to help local autistic children. The concert will celebrate the gifts that children with special needs can offer the community, and will inform others about the challenges these children face.

There is no charge to attend the event, which begins at 5 p.m. in Duke Family Performance Hall, but donations will be accepted. To reserve a seat, e-mail davidsongenerals@gmail.com. If tickets remain on the evening of the concert, they will be available at the door.

Powers is president of The Generals, an all-male group that will perform. The other performers are the all-female Delilahs and the mixed gender ensemble, Androgyny.

Powers said, “Parents of exceptional children are often faced with tremendous obstacles to overcome and few options. We hope the proceeds of the concert will provide opportunities for their children, at no cost, to enroll in programs and services to help them reach further.”

RACING IS SERIOUS BUSINESS FOR SECOND GRADER

Caleb Tate (Photo courtesy of Davidson Day)

Davidson Day student Caleb Tate is burning up the go-kart track this racing season. Earlier this month, the speedy second grader from Huntersville participated in the WKA Grand Nationals for go-karts at Lowes Motor Speedway in Concord. This was Caleb’s 11th race after placing second in his last go-kart race in New Castle, Indiana. “I love to race,” said Caleb, the son of Chuck and Melissa Tate. “My mom and dad have both been racing for a long time, so it’s in my blood I guess.” It appears that Caleb isn’t stopping with performing on the big stage this year. On December 28th, he will be racing at the Daytona International Speedway.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

• FRIDAY, NOV. 13 - Davidson Day will kick off its basketball season with “Midnight Madness,” open free to Davivdosn Day families.  The doors open at 11:30 p.m.
• SUNDAY, NOV. 15 - Woodlawn School will host an admissions open house starting at 1 p.m.  Interested family can meet in the new Woods Hall building and learn about the Woodlawn programs and admissions process.
• SUNDAY, NOV. 15 - Davidson College will host a charity concert to benefit PTA-Too, which serves special needs students at Davidson Elementary and other schools.  The concert will feature three a capella groups, performing from 5-6 p.m. in the Duke Family Performance Hall.  Donations will be accepted at the door.  To reserve a free ticket email the college or PTA-Too coordinator Jeni Cooper.  (See above for more details.)
• WEDNESDAY, NOV. 18 – Walk to School Wednesday for Davidson Day.
• WEDNESDAY, NOV. 18 - Davidson Day School will kick off its 2009-10 Lecture Series with a breakfast talk by Michael Cerkovnik on the book “The Talent Code” by Daniel Coyle, which looks at the neuroscience of how to improve talent in such areas as sports, music and academics. The talk , which starts at 8:30 a.m., is free and open to the public. Mr Cerkovnik is a developmental psychologist and attorney who currently serves as the lower school and middle school division head at Davidson Day School.
  

  Trying out Chinese calligraphy at last year's International Night for Bailey Middle.

• THURSDAY, NOV. 19 – Second annual International Night at Bailey Middle.  This event will run from 6:30 – 7:30 and feature international music, performances and food.
• 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.
• WED. – FRIDAY, NOV. 25-27 - Thanksgiving holiday break for most area schools.

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