Robert Carrington (at center), currently at Vance High, talked with parents and students at Bailey Middle about his new role as band director for the new William A. Hough High School.

Robert Carrington of Vance High was a judge Tuesday at Bailey Middle’s band concert.  Parents, however, were more interested in him as the newly-named band director for William A. Hough High School.  He is one of many teachers who have been hired to staff the new school.  We have a report on that, plus boundary concerns for North Meck related to this fall’s opening of Hough High.

In other matters, we have reports on Pine Lake Prep‘s work to collect donations for victims of Haiti’s earthquake, Davidson Day‘s blood drive Thursday, a Miss Clemson contestant with Davidson ties, and several calendar items.

PARENTS MEET WITH HOUGH HIGH PRINCIPAL

“It’s nice to have this support,” said Hough High Principal Terri Cockerham to a room overflowing with parents at the first Hough High parent meeting Tuesday evening, held in the library of Bailey Middle.

The focus of the night was deciding between forming a PTA or a PTO to coordinate parent involvement programs (the group picked PTA), but attendees also learned about plans for opening the new high school on Bailey Road.

Dr. Cockerham said registration is currently underway at both Hopewell and North Meck High for students who will be transferring to Hough High, set to open in August.  Registration will move to the feeder middle schools, Bradley and Bailey, after the spring break for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.  Registration information is also available on the Hough High website.

“We are getting overwhelming interest in coming back from private schools” to enroll at Hough, Dr. Cockerham said.

The school is also “almost completely staffed,” though Dr. Cockerham said final teacher position numbers may be trimmed by budget cuts currently under consideration by the school board.  Latin is also likely to be cut, though Dr. Cockerham said it might be possible to add Latin in 2011.

“I am very pleased with the quality of teachers I’ve been able to pick up,” she said.

The school’s website lists Pam Aiken as the new assistant principal and the following faculty as department chairs (with the school they are currently at in parenthesis):

• Eric Whiteside (Northwest School of the Arts), English
• Alice Hansen (Hopewell), science
• Jennifer Hudak (Vance), math
• Jeff Joyce (Northwest School of the Arts), social studies
• Donna Davis (Garinger), business education
• Amy Kelleher, Exceptional Children
• Heather Gerhart (Spanish), foreign language instruction
• Ginny Downey (Northwest School of the Arts), fine arts
• Jennifer Chesser (Davidson IB), media specialist
• Timothy Queen (North Mecklenburg), physical education/health

Dr. Cockerham said meetings with parents about curriculum will likely be held toward the end of March.  However, she did tell the gathering that Hough High will open with AP classes, a ROTC program, foreign languages (French, Spanish and possibly German, depending on student interest during the registration time this spring), a full arts offering (chorus, band, orchestra and art classes) and more.

The school is projected to open with 1,450 students in grades 9-11. Hough High will add grade 12 in its second year, at which point enrollment is expected to be about 1,750.

PARENT GROUP CONCERNED ABOUT NORTH MECK BOUNDARIES

At about the same time that parents were meeting at Bailey to learn about the new Hough High, another meeting was being held across town to discuss the negative impact opening Hough could have on North Mecklenburg High School.

Denis McDowell, a parent in Huntersville, has set up a blog (www.northmeckparents.com) and organized a meeting Tuesday evening at Harvey’s Bar & Grill to talk with other parents about his concerns.  Specifically, Mr. McDowell would like to see at least one of the following changes made in how the North Meck boundaries have been altered to make room for Hough High:

• Move the existing northern boundary to I-73 (Sam Furr Rd.) to reduce the number of current North Meck students being moved to Hough High School.
• Move the northern boundary south to include more Huntersville residents and mitigate the impact to southeast Huntersville families.
• Adopt one of the other two plans of three presented during the public discussion period in 2009. These would have a less negative impact on North Meck High School. Option number 3 would also serve to reduce the overcrowding at West Charlotte High School.
• Leave the southern boundary where it currently stands and allow North Meck to become a smaller school.

DAVIDSON DAY HOSTS BLOOD DRIVE THURSDAY

Davidson Day will host a community blood drive from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Thursday at the school campus along Griffith Street.  The blood drive supports the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas, which provides 95% of all blood to the 14 major local hospitals including all CMC branches, all Presbyterian branches, and most of the other major hospitals. To make an appointment during the drive, contact Charles Coddington at ccoddington@davidsonday.org.

PINE LAKE PREP COLLECTS DONATIONS FOR HAITI

Pine Lake Preparatory is in the midst of a community wide collection project, “Let’s Help Haiti,” for collecting emergency response items to send to Haiti. The public is invited to join the project, aimed at helping homeless children suffering from the aftermath of the Jan. 10 earthquake.  Collection will continue through Saturday at the trailer located on the Upper School gravel parking lot, at 1639 Mecklenburg Highway in Mooresville.

Drop Off Times are: weekday mornings from  7:15 – 8:30 a.m.; weekday afternoons from 2 – 6:00 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, and from 2-3:45 p.m. Thursday; Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

The following are being collected: Insect repellant (OFF!), 10 lb. bags of rice, bags of beans, 12 oz cans of tomato paste, 1 liter bottles of cooking oil, diapers, solar lights, new shoes (all sizes in men’s, women’s, and children’s), children’s cough/cold medicines, fever reducer/pain reliever, antibiotic ointment (Neosporin), hydrocortisone cream, Tylenol, ibuprofen, antacids, Imodium, water, non-perishable foods, peanut butter, pop-top cans of food, deodorant, soap, toothpaste/ toothbrushes, blankets, air mattresses, bed sheets, sleeping bags, hand crank flashlights, tarps, sheets and tents.

DAVIDSON RESIDENT WINS AT MISS CLEMSON CONTEST

Hillary Gruce

Hillary Gruce, a 2008 graduate of Cannon School, recently won the Miss Congeniality title while representing the Sigma Kappa sorority in the 2010 Miss Clemson University Pageant.

Gruce is the daughter of John and Patty Gruce of Davidson. At Clemson, Gruce made the President’s List and the Dean’s List and is part of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She also is an active volunteer. This summer, the sophomore biology major plans on studying abroad in Costa Rica, where she will help underprivileged families receive medical attention. After graduation, she plans to pursue a medical degree.

SPORTS SCORES

The Bailey Middle girls basketball team, coached by Ed Black, was the co-conference champion, together with Bradley Middle.  The Broncos finished their season with a 13-1 record.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

• THURSDAY, MARCH 11 – Davidson Day will host a blood drive from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.  on the school campus on Griffith Street.  See above for more details.
• THURSDAY, MARCH 11 – Davidson IB Middle will host a Talent show, starting at 6:30 p.m.  In lieu of tickets, aueicnee members  are asked to bring shampoo, soap, deodarant, toothpaste, diapers or other toiletries.  All proceeds wil benefit Ranson Middle School and the Ada Jenkins Center.
• SATURDAY, MARCH 13 - The Davidson College mathematics department will host “March MATHness” an event for 6th-9th grade math teachers and students Saturday, March 13, 10 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. at the college’s Chambers Building. Lunch will be provided. RSVP online by going to www.davidson.edu/outreach. (Note this event has been expanded to include the middle school level.)
• TUESDAY, MARCH 16 – McKinney Academy and McKinney Care Academy will host an open house for prospective parents, starting at 10:30 a.m.  Call the school at 704-895-9664 to RSVP.
• TUESDAY, MARCH 23 – Davidson Elementary will host its fifth annual Artfest, from 6 – 8:15 p.m., transforming the school hallways into a public art gallery with an estimated 1,000 pieces of student artwork.  The school’s honor chorus will perform starting at 7 p.m. in the gym.  Student created ceramic pots and gift baskets will be auctioned from 6 – 7:30 p.m.  All proceeds from the event benefit the school’s PTA.
• THURSDAY, APRIL 1 - Davidson Day School photography instructor Paul Cotter will lead, “Click: A Photo Class for Adults” from 4-5:30 p.m. in room 408 of DDS. The topic for this class, which costs $25, will be “Understanding shutter, aperture and ISO.” Child care options are available. Contact Mr. Cotter at pcotter@davidsonday.org or call the school at 704-222-6493.

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