The rare T-Rex tooth is 6 3/8 inches long and was found intact, in Montana.

Here’s one for all you dinosaur fans: A rare Tyrannosaurus Rex “point tooth” from a skeleton found in Montana will be on display Wednesday during a “Night at the Museum” open house at Davidson Day School.

The Night at the Museum runs from 6-7:30pm at the school, 750 Jetton St. The evening also is a chance to learn more about the school’s curriculum. Read the full story

Davidson Day School junior quarterback Will Grier announced Wednesday that he has committed to play at Florida after he graduates in 2014. Meanwhile, another Patriots’ standout and one of his favorite targets – wide receiver Jordan Young – plans to play at Cornell University next fall. Story in SPORTS»

Students at Davidson Day School held a Veterans Day ceremony Friday. (Laura Woods/Davidson Day School photo)

Davidson and Cornelius will host Veterans Day observances on Monday, Nov. 12, which is a federal holiday. The Cornelius event will be at the Veterans Monument at Rotary Plaza, behind Town Hall. Davidson will host a program on the Village Green.

CORNELIUS

Monday, Nov. 12, 11am, Cornelius Veterans Monument at Rotary Plaza, behind Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Ave., Cornelius – Join the Town of Cornelius and the American Legion Post 86 at in a program to honor veterans and those currently serving in the Armed Forces. Info: www.cornelius.org

DAVIDSON

Monday, Nov, 12,, 11am, Davidson Village Green, Main Street and Concord Road, Davidson – Veterans Day Ceremony, with keynote address by Mayor John Woods, music by Community School of Davidson Chorus and band, a Davidson Police Department color guard, and placing of a wreath of remembrance.

Public schools, banks, post offices and federal offices will be closed for the day.

DAVIDSON DAY HONORS VETS

Davidson Day School students in grades 2 to 12 observed Veteran’s Day on Friday with an observance that included music by the pep band and the students sang “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” “Grand Old Flag,” and “The Star Spangled Banner.” Also during the observance Christopher Graham, Director of Facilities and Gulf War Veteran spoke to the students.

“From the mountains of Korea to the deserts of Iraq, in my mind, my mission, my directives where crystal clear. Protect and serve this country so that these people can live free. Where by which, kids of all ages can go to school in mornings such as this one to pursue all their dreams,” Mr. Graham said.

Mr. Graham served from 1988-1992 in Iraq.

“This was a great event. Sometimes we do not realize how lucky we are to be free. There are people that made sacrifices for my freedom and I thank them for that,” said 10th grader Cameron Caldwell.

BAILEY MIDDLE OBSERVES THE DAY

In honor of our local veterans, Bailey Middle School held its second annual Veterans Celebration on Friday morning in the Bailey gym. The special program featured the Hough High School Drill Team, and Bailey’s own Middle School Band, Orchestra, and Chorus.

Samuel Baez was the guest speaker. Mr. Baez served two tours of duty with the Army in Iraq and is now a CTE (Career and Technical Education) teacher at Bailey.

Kendell Berry

Davidson Day School trustees announced Thursday they’ve picked interim leader Kendell S. Berry as the new permanent Head of School.

Mr. Berry, the former headmaster at Evansville Day School in Evansville, Ind., had been interim head of school since July. He replaced former head of school Bonnie Cotter, who left in July because of what the school said at the time were “fundamental disagreements” over the direction of the school. Read the full story

Kendell Berry, the former headmaster of Evansville Day School in Evansville, Ind., will serve as interim head of school at Davidson Day School starting Thursday, July 19. He has more than 30 years of educational, managerial and administrative leadership in independent education – as a teacher, coach, dean, business manager and head master. Mr Berry replaces former head of school Bonnie Cotter, who leaves because of “fundamental disagreements” on the school’s current and future direction, according to the board of trustees. Read the full story

Noel Freidline

By CHRISTINA RITCHIE ROGERS
DavidsonNews.net

Jazz musician Noel Freidline, 45, just accepted his first ever full-time job. A pianist, vocalist, writer and arranger, he has had as many as seven part-time jobs at one time – big ones, like performing with the Charlotte Symphony, at jazzfests and on Broadway – but never a full-time “9-to-5” kind of gig.

All that will change in August, when he joins Davidson Day School faculty as Upper School Music Director. He plans to develop a unique, contemporary curriculum that combines live performance with contemporary musical study and skills.

“We need to do for the instrumental program what Glee has done for choral music,” he said. And he is just the man for the job, Head of School Bonnie Cotter said.

“We’ve been on the lookout for someone like him for a few years,” she said. He has “robust capabilities” and an “offbeat approach” that will reach all students, even those that might be on the fringes of a typical ensemble, she said.

Mr. Freidline was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and 2009 and Best Musical Director by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas. He has taught music at the college level, and is the leader of the Noel Freidline Quintet (NFQ), established in 1992, whose 2002 recording “Four Nights at the Slammer” landed them on the national jazz radio charts for 12 weeks. Mr. Freidline has written and recorded music for ESPN, ABC and the Walt Disney Co., with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football, the NBA All-Star Game, and SportCenter. In 2011 he received the Blumenthal Performing Arts Association Center Stage award in recognition of his excellence in service to the arts.

So with such success in the world of part-time playing and performing, what was it about the Davidson Day job that piqued his interest?

The job appeals to him for two reasons, Mr. Freidline said: first, his three children attend Davidson Day, and he wants them to have the best music program possible. And second, “it’s a wide open opportunity,” he said – one where he can develop a nontraditional program that is “hip,” “cool,” and attracts students.

A few years ago while in Huntington Beach, Calif., for a gig, Mr. Freidline witnessed first-hand a cutting edge music program at a public high school. He saw students working at recording kiosks and making videos – real-world skills needed to succeed in the contemporary music scene, he said. He also met Jamie Knight, the music director responsible for the innovative music program.

So when presented with the opportunity to develop a music program at Davidson Day, Mr. Freidline reached out to Mr. Knight, who agreed to partner with him.

“Hopefully we can build something that will attract students,” Mr. Freidline said, and one of the best ways to attract students to music is to make it relevant for them.

“I think it’s like anything else – once you can find something that they like, you show them the secrets of it,” he said. For example, once they learn how chords work, teach them a song they already know and like.

“Bach used the same 12 notes that Led Zeppelin did,” he said.

The school will continue to offer its band program, under the direction of Jessica Phipps, and Mr. Freidline looks forward to working with her. But “there’s a lot of talent that doesn’t necessarily fit into the traditional band music scene,” he said, such as guitar. And he wants to develop a program with options for musicians of all kinds.

“Music is in everybody’s soul, and we want to give all students an outlet for it,” Ms. Cotter said.

Mr. Freidline describes his concept as “School of Rock meets Glee,” with an emphasis on performance as well as musical aptitude. He has wanted to be a musician ever since he was 10, and hopes to foster the same passion in the students at Davidson Day.

“It is an absolute privilege to be able to participate in the world of music,” Mr. Freidline said, “and I’m so lucky to be doing it.”

Cannon School and Davidson Day School graduated their classes of 2012 this month, and other area high schools are preparing for their graduation ceremonies – including W.A. Hough High School, that will graduate its first senior class June 9. See below for details and a schedule of local graduation ceremonies. Meanwhile, Bailey Middle School plans a Beach Bash for students and families, Hough Boosters plan a golf tournament to benefit the school’s athletics, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library offers online summer reading programs for students and adults. Read below for details. Read the full story

Davidson Day School on Friday introduced Joel Justus as its new men’s basketball coach and dean of student life. Justus, who has coached at Elon University and Woodberry Forest School in Va., was hired after a national search to replace former coach Ron Johnson. Story in SPORTS»