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.

Electric violinist Mark Wood played with Bailey Middle School students Rachel Laminack (left) and Kelsey Tyo Tuesday night. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

String music on a high school stage rarely sounds like what concert-goers heard at W.A. Hough High School Tuesday night. Award-winning electric violinist Mark Wood led a student orchestra in string versions of songs ranging from “We Will Rock You” by Queen to Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” to “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay. Read the full story

A revolution is transforming string and orchestral music and if Mark Wood has his way, it will change the way strings are taught in schools as well. We need to prepare for a time when the classical orchestra “disappears into obilivion,” the electric violin pioneer says. Mr. Wood brings his “Electrify Your Strings” education tour to the Lake Norman area next week, including a concert Tuesday, Oct. 25 at Hough High. Read David Boraks’s interview with Mr. Wood and find out how to get tickets to the concert in THE GUIDE»

J.M. Alexander Middle School in Huntersville will have an interim principal when students return to classes later this month. JoElla Ferrell, a retired Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools principal, will be filling in indefinitely for Alexander Principal Jo Karney, who is out on medical leave. Also in this column, area schools’ open house and back-to-school events schedules, and CMS adds cricket to its 2011-12 sports program. Read the full story

Before school starts Aug. 25, Bailey Middle School families have the opportunity to chat with Principal Jennifer Dean in a casual, community “meet and greet” setting. Parents will have the chance to ask questions, learn more about the school and get to know Ms. Dean better.

WANT TO GO?

The Bailey Middle School PTSA invites parents to attend one of two coffee house meet and greets in the area:

• Tuesday, Aug. 9, 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Starbucks at Birkdale Village
• Thursday, Aug. 17, 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Dilworth Coffee House on Bailey Road.

W.A. Hough High School Marching Band members gear up for band camp next week. In other school news, CMS reminds families that all students must receive vaccinations before school starts, the North Mecklenburg High School team doctor offers $20 sports physicals, Tenders hosts a restaurant night benefiting Bailey Middle School, J.M. Alexander Middle’s PTSA hosts a back to school fair for new and returning students and families and Hopewell High grad Caleb White wins a $4,000 college scholarship. Read the full story

Students push off to start a canoe ride on Lake Norman during the Bailey Middle School Beach Blast Wednesday. (Christina Ritchie Rogers / DavidsonNews.net)

Bailey Middle School students and their families celebrated the end of the school year at the Lake Norman YMCA in Cornelius Wednesday evening. More than 400 people showed up for the “Beach Blast.”

Organized by Bailey family involvement chairwoman Shannon Domayer, guests enjoyed hotdogs, hamburgers, popcorn and sno cones, as well as activities such as canoeing, volleyball and inflatable water slides on the lake.

VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT ON CORNELIUSNEWS.NET

The Bailey Middle School seventh- and eighth-grade band performed Friday at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pa., and finished at the top of the competition. Also in this column, Davidson Elementary collects more than 2,000 books for Alabama tornado survivors; Davidson IB plans a closing ceremony Thursday, Davidson Day School raises more than $26,000 in a parking space auction and its students compete in a Math Olympiad. Read the full story