Davidson Elementary students presented research projects at the school’s math fair Tuesday and top presenters received awards and honorable mentions for their work. Meanwhile, students at W.A. Hough High plan a “Ping Pong Ball” to raise money for Special Olympics, Davidson Day School’s Robotics team takes second in the game table category at the state competition, and three Bailey Middle School Band Members perform in the District Honors Band. Also, Bailey Middle needs snack food donations for homeless children, and both Cannon School and the Jewish Community Center plan college admissions information sessions. Read below for details. Read the full story

CORNELIUS – Bailey Middle School was briefly put on lockdown late Friday morning while police from Cornelius and Huntersville searched for a man who lived in the area who reportedly was threatening to harm himself.

The lockdown was brief, and the man eventually was located unharmed in Huntersville, near N.C. 73 and Mayes Road. He was hospitalized, according to Huntersville police.

Parents of Bailey Middle students were alerted about the lockdown Friday afternoon in a automated telephone call from the school.

A group of 3 to 5 year olds laughed with their teacher Friday. Students at Davidson Montessori range in age from 2 to 6. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Andrea Cruz Solano founded the school in January 2011. She's planning an open house Saturday, Jan. 28. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Every morning at the Davidson Montessori School on South Street, 3-, 4- and 5-year-old students spend a little time practicing letters, sounds and spelling. Teacher Andrea Cruz Solano encourages them, even the youngest, as they reach into a box and pull out wooden letters to spell out words like ham, pan, sad and fan.

The sounding and spelling are a precursor to writing, something the program emphasizes, Ms. Cruz Solano says.

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Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools has been in the headlines over the past couple weeks week for two different reasons. The district posted school progress reports that included incorrect information about students on track to graduate. Then, on Monday police found the principal of Northwest School of the Arts dead in his garage. Police have confirmed he committed suicide. Psychologists and social workers flooded the school to help students deal with their grief. CMS held a press conference Wednesday to talk about these events. Lisa Miller of our news partner WFAE was there, and talked with local “All Things Considered” host Mark Rumsey about the district’s responses. Read more or listen to their conversation below: Read the full story

Pine Lake Preparatory will have its own football team starting next school year, the school’s Booster Club announced this month. Meanwhile, the W.A. Hough High PTSA will benefit from a Barnes & Noble book fair starting Thursday, Davidson Elementary seeks volunteers for special student/parent nights, and J.M. Alexander Middle School IB students take another state Future City title. Also, North Mecklenburg High School will host an IB open house, and North Meck principal Matthew Hayes received special recognition from the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce last week. And, CMS has begun planning its 2013-14 calendar, Cannon School students won writing awards, St. Mark Catholic School will observe Catholic Schools week, and both Cannon and the Levine Jewish Community Center offer college admissions advice. Read below for details. Read the full story

From left, Bobby Cashion with John Bradford, David Peete with Robert Reed, and Matthew Hayes with Duke Energy's Tim Gause. (Deborah Young Studio photos)

Lake Norman Chamber has given North Meck High School principal Matthew Hayes its annual Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award, for his work at the school and in the community amid rapid change. The award was one of several handed out at the chamber’s annual meeting last Thursday, Jan. 19, at Havana Banquet and Ballroom in Cornelius. John Bradford, owner of Park Avenue Properties, was named Business Person of the Year. And Huntersville town planner David F. Peete was picked as the chamber’s 2011 Volunteer of the Year. Read the full story

The J.M. Alexander Middle School Future City team celebrated after winning the N.C. championship and qualifying for a trip to the national championship. (Rachel Stewart photo)

A team of eight graders from the J.M. Alexander Middle School IB program on Saturday won the North Carolina Future City Competition at N.C. State University in Raleigh. Their alternative-energy powered “future city” of Mahali Kuwa, South Africa, was judged tops among more than two dozen schools.

It was the fifth straight year a north Mecklenburg International Baccalaureate team won the competition, continuing a tradition that began when the IB program was housed at Davidson IB Middle School. Read the full story

Thanks to the dedication of a group Pine Lake Preparatory parents, the charter school will have its own football team next school year and brings on former Davidson College coach Jay Poag to train the future middle school, junior varsity and varsity teams.

“Football completes a school, really,” said Pine Lake Prep parent Calvin Carter. “It’s been the missing link.” Full story in SPORTS >>