The five "councilors," who range in age from kindergarten to third grade, expressed their concerns about the havoc caused by mosquitoes at Monday's performance of "Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears."

So, it was the mosquito
who annoyed the iguana,
who frightened the python,
who scared the rabbit,
who startled the crow,
who alarmed the monkey,
who killed the owlet…
and now Mother Owl won’t wake the sun so that the day can come.

A cast of 27 from the McKinney Academy Performing Arts group brought this verse to life in skits Monday morning in Huntersville.

Dressed in elaborate and colorful costumes, the students performed the African-American folk tale, “Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears,” as told in the Caldecott Medal-winning book by Verna Aardema.  Read the full story

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Why is Cannon boys basketball coach Glen Taylor barefoot? Find out below. (Hint - it's for a good cause.)

School notes this week includes the heartwarming (or, rather, feet warming) story of Friday’s shoe drive at Cannon School, at which organizer Elizabeth Rubens of Davidson was overwhelmed by the results.

We also have news about the new aluminum can recycling bin at Community School of Davidson, and the times for two upcoming classes: an info meeting about summer travel to Europe this summer, and a college financial planning class.  See below for all that plus some sports scores and our regular calendar of event. Read the full story

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools said Sunday night schools will be closed on Monday, Feb. 1, because of the lingering effects of this weekend’s winter storm.

Most other area private and charter schools are now also reporting closings or delays.  We have a listing of closings below and will update it as we hear more confirmations from school officials.

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Local schools are joining the rush to send relief to earthquake victims in Haiti.  Find out below about how Elizabeth Rubens is collecting shoes by making the Cannon basketball coach go barefoot, and about Woodlawn and Davidson IB students selling hearts for Haiti.

Also this week, learn about spelling bee winners at Woodlawn, the Geo Bee champ at Pine Lake Prep, a group of visitors from China touring Cannon and a student educational trip to Europe this summer.  All that plus our school calendar of events (including when Davidson IB’s Future Cities team will go to nationals) are listed below.

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By ANN DOSS HELMS
The Charlotte Observer

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools on Wednesday began a hiring freeze for non-instructional jobs as officials braced for another bleak budget year. Teachers and principals will still be hired as vacancies occur. But Superintendent Peter Gorman said other school vacancies, such as assistant principals, may be put on hold to anticipate possible job cuts. Read the full story

RALEIGH – A team of eighth graders from Davidson I.B. Middle School came out on top Saturday at the North Carolina regional Future City Competition, at N.C. State University. It was the third straight year the school won the event, which is organized by professional engineers as part of National Engineers Week. VIDEO: See the winning entry, hear from a professional engineer about the event’s purpose and listen as the students explain their future city of Mamohatra. Read the full story