Woodlawn School, Summit Coffee helping Ada Jenkins

DAVIDSON – Summit Coffee, located on Main Street in Davidson, is working with Woodlawn School to collect canned food during the town’s Christmas in Davidson holiday event Dec. 2, 3 and 4.

“We CAN for Ada” is a communitywide canned food drive benefiting the Ada Jenkins Center, a nonprofit that provides health and human services to residents in Davidson and the surrounding area. Woodlawn School students and parents will be collecting canned goods as well as $1 donations to buy hams and turkeys outside Summit Coffee from 6 to 9 p.m. each night. The school’s families also will collect cans during the Christmas in Davidson parade on Dec. 4.

Service learning is an integral part of the Woodlawn School curriculum, and students at each grade level commit to a full year of service working with a particular community organization. This year, Woodlawn’s seventh-graders are devoting their service projects and time to the Ada Jenkins Center. For more information about the drive, visit www.woodlawnschool.org.

Daschle among upcoming Davidson College lecturers

DAVIDSON – Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle will speak at Davidson College Dec. 1, one of several people offering free lectures at Davidson College. The public is welcome at all three lectures:

• Were You Phenomenal Today? Demonstrating Excellence in Leadership and Service, with Bill Ferguson, a Davidson graduate who also ran for State Senate in Maryland; Thursday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m.; Smith 900 Room of Alvarez College Union. For more information, call 704-894-2122.

• Work of United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, with Jina Moore, journalist for the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting, who interviewed civilians in several African countries on effectiveness of the five-year-old commission; Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.; Smith 900 Room of Alvarez College Union. For more information, call 704-894-2440.

• Joseph T. Wearn Lecture on public policy, with Daschle, the former U.S. senator from South Dakota; Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m.; Duke Family Performance Hall. For more information, call 704-894-2248.

Hough’s JROTC holds 5K for fitness Saturday

Hough High School’s JROTC Booster Club is organizing a 5K Fun Run/Walk for Fitness, and they want the community to take part. Held at Hough High School on Saturday, Nov. 20, it is a charitable event to support the Hough High School JROTC program’s field trips and training events for cadets.

Register for the event online at www.sportoften.com.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools receives district accreditation

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools received district accreditation from AdvancEd, the world’s largest educational network, last week.

A quality assurance team from AdvancEd spent a week in the district, interviewing hundreds of principals, teachers and students. Team members went to 36 schools and interviewed six members of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, 327 administrators, 215 teachers, 39 support staff, 229 parents, community and business partners and 193 students.

“We are very pleased to have our district’s achievements and hard work recognized by AdvancEd,” Superintendent Dr. Peter Gorman said in a news release. “It’s particularly significant that the team from AdvancEd recognized our continued achievement despite our financial challenges.”
Charlotte-Mecklenburg was the first large urban district in the country, and the first in North Carolina, to win accreditation more than a decade ago. To earn the distinction, a district must meet standards in seven areas: vision and purpose; governance and leadership; teaching and learning; documenting and using results; resources and support systems; stakeholder communications and relationships; and commitment to continuous improvement.

The AdvancEd team will issue a report on its findings within 30 days.

Other News

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: Schools are closed Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 24 through 26, for Thanksgiving.

• Bailey Middle School: The school’s National Junior Honor Society holds a canned food drive through Friday, Nov. 19, to benefit Loaves and Fishes food pantry. The students ask people to donate canned fruit, 100 percent fruit juice, pork and beans, peanut butter, canned meat and soup. No glass containers. The homeroom that collects the most items earns a doughnut party.

• Barnette Elementary: The school hosts a math and reading night for students in kindergarten through second grade Thursday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m. … Students compete in a school-wide spelling bee Dec. 3 at 7:45 a.m.  … Students with last nameS starting with A through K audition for the musical “The Aristocats” on Dec. 6 in the music room. Students with last names starting with L through Z audition Dec. 7. … The PTA board meets Dec. 6 at 6 p.m.

• Blythe Elementary School: The school holds a blood drive Thursday, Nov. 18, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

• Cannon School: Junior kindergarten students enjoy a Thanksgiving feast with their parents in their classrooms Friday, Nov. 19, at 11 a.m. … Seventh- and eighth-grade students attend a social event Friday, Nov. 19, from 3 to 6 p.m. in Taylor Hall. … Lower-school students perform a holiday concert Monday, Nov. 22, in Boswell gym. …  Students in junior kindergarten through sixth grade invite their grandparents and special friends to school Tuesday, Nov. 23. … The school closes Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 24 to 26, for Thanksgiving.

• The Children’s Schoolhouse: The school closes Wednesday, Nov. 24, for a teacher workday, and Thursday and Friday, Nov. 25 and 26, for Thanksgiving.

• Cornelius Elementary: The student council’s canned food drive for Loaves and Fishes food pantry continues through Friday, Nov. 19. … Tender’s restaurant in Cornelius holds a Cornelius Elementary night Thursday, Nov. 18, from 3 to 9 p.m., with part of food purchases going to the school’s Parent-Teacher Organization. … The school holds its Character Ed and Spirit Day assemblies Friday, Nov. 19. Kindergarten, first and second grades meet at 9 a.m. and third, fourth and fifth grades meet at 10 a.m.

• Corvian Community School: The school dismisses at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24, and closes Thursday and Friday, Nov. 25 and 26, for Thanksgiving.

• Davidson Day School: The Parent-Teacher Organization meets in the media canter Thursday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m. … The Parent Council is selling raffle tickets for Drawing for Dollars at the front desk and school events. Tickets cost $10, and the first-place winner gets $1,000, with $500 for the second prize and $250 for third. The drawing takes place Tuesday, Nov. 23, at school. Ticket holders don’t need to be present to win.

• Bradley Middle School:  The school’s fall book fair continues through Friday, Nov. 19. … Students sign up for basketball Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 17, 18 and 19, during lunch.

• Grace Covenant Academy: Elementary students enjoy Thanksgiving parties Friday, Nov. 19. … The school is closed the week of Nov. 22 for Thanksgiving. … The school holds an online book fair now through April. Anyone buying books at the website www.booksforfunds.com using the school’s code, 46323, entitles Grace Covenant to get 20 percent of the purchase amount or a 40 percent book credit, which the school will use to expand its library and purchase more Accelerated Reader tests.

• Hopewell High School: The school holds a ninth-grade parent conference night in the media center on Thursday, Nov. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. Ninth-grade core subject teachers will attend to talk to parents. For more information, contact Dean of Students Craig Smith at craig.smith@cms.k12.nc.us.

• Huntersville Elementary School: The school hosts an appreciation brunch for custodial and cafeteria staff Friday, Nov. 19, at 9:30 a.m.

• Lake Norman Charter: Get applications for the 2011-12 school year lottery at the middle and high school campuses and the school’s website, www.lncs.org. Students must apply by Jan. 31.

• Lake Norman Christian: Students wear western clothing to school for Western Day Friday, Nov. 19. … The school closes Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 24 to 26, for Thanksgiving.

• Long Creek Elementary: The Chess Club meets Friday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 a.m. … The school is collecting canned food this week. … The school plans a family game night Thursday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m.

• McKinney Academy: Students will give a Thanksgiving Day presentation Tuesday, Nov. 23, at the school to demonstrate their public speaking skills. Chef Charles will provide a Thanksgiving Day feast following the event. … Students sing at the Christmas in Davidson holiday event Dec. 3 at 6 p.m.

• North Mecklenburg High School: The school’s bands will perform their annual Holiday Concert on Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium. The concert is open to the public and admission is a toy for the school’s toy drive.  The bands will perform traditional holiday music, including the first movement of the Holst Winter Suite, Ukrainian Bell Carol and Sleigh Ride.

• Pine Lake Preparatory: The school is now accepting enrollment applications at its  website, www.pinelakeprep.org.

• Ramah Christian Classical School: The school closes Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 24 to 26, for Thanksgiving.

• Torrence Creek Elementary: The school’s welcoming committee hosts a group tour Dec. 3 from 10 to 11 a.m. for prospective parents and students. To participate, contact the school at 980-343-0695.

• Woodlawn School: The school closes Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 24 to 26, for Thanksgiving.

– Compiled by Christina Ritchie Rogers