Unique civic learning opportunity for Charlotte-area teens

CHARLOTTE -  YouthCivics, a Kids Voting Mecklenburg program, offers Charlotte-area teens the opportunity to see civics in action.

YouthCivics is ideal for 10th-grade students in civics and economics classes as well as all teens with an interest in government, law, civics or public service. Community service hours are available for completing of the course and providing feedback.

Students will learn about and participate in government meetings, visit the Charlotte Observer to learn how the news is covered, meet with Mecklenburg County Board of Elections staff to better understand the election process and campaign finance, get a close-up view of the judicial system at the courthouse and explore career opportunities.
The class runs Wednesday, Nov. 10 to Dec. 14. Advance registration is required, and seats are limited. To register, contact Amy Farrell at info@kidsvoting.org or 704-343-6999, with the student’s name, school, grade and contact information. Students must pay a one-time course fee of $25, and scholarships are available. The fee covers dinner and materials each night. Visit www.kidsvoting.org for more registration and course information.

Davidson College hosting lecture series

Davidson College invites the public to attend the following upcoming lectures. There is no charge to attend.

• Psychology lecture: “Cognition in the Classroom: Applications of Cognitive Psychology to Education” by Elizabeth Marsh, associate psychology professor at Duke University. Thursday, Nov. 4, at 4 p.m. in the Hance Auditorium of Chambers Building. For more information, call 704-894-2445.

• Psychology lecture: “Illusions of Knowledge,” a presentation of recent experiments by Elizabeth Marsh, associate psychology professor at Duke University. Friday, Nov. 5, at 12:30 p.m. Sprinkle Room of the Alvarez College Union. For more information, call 704-894-2445.

• Chemistry seminar: “Use of Nanotechnology to Design Better Medicines and Vaccines” by Joseph M. DeSimone, director of the Institute for Nanomedicine at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Friday, Nov. 5, at 2:30 p.m. in Room B25 of Martin Chemical Laboratory. For more information, call 704-894-2307.

• Archaeology lecture: “History of the Ancient World” by Jeffrey Becker, assistant archaeology professor at Brown University. Sunday, Nov. 7, at 4 p.m. in the Semans Lecture Hall of the Belk Visual Arts Center. For more information, call 704-894-2281.

• Political affairs lecture: “Humanitarianism on Trial” by political science professor Ken Menkhaus. Wednesday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. in the Smith 900 Room of the Alvarez College Union. For more information, call 704-894-2095.

• Interdisciplinary studies lecture: “Remember Martin, But Don’t Forget Malcolm: Representations of Black History Month as Collective Memory” by alumna Phia Salter, assistant professor of psychology and Africana studies at Texas A&M University. Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. in Hance Auditorium of Chambers Building. For more information, call 704-894-2385.

• Bailey Middle School: Parents are invited to eat lunch with their children Friday, Nov. 5, for the school’s second Family Friday. Seventh-graders eat from 11:30 to 12:10 p.m., sixth-graders eat from 12:15 to 12:55 p.m. and eighth-graders eat from 1 to 1:40 p.m. … The PTSA encourages Bailey students to show their talent in dance, film, literature, photography, music or visual arts and enter the PTA-sponsored Reflections contest. Entries are due by Monday, Nov. 8. For more information, or to enter the contest, visit http://pages.cms.k12.nc.us/baileypta/reflections.html.

• Blythe Elementary School: The school meets for a Veterans Day assembly Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 7:45 a.m.

• The Children’s Schoolhouse: The school hosts an open house Saturday, Nov. 6.

• Community School of Davidson: The school hosts an open house Friday, Nov. 5, beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the elementary gym.

• Cornelius Elementary: The student council sponsors a canned food drive, running through Nov. 18. Donations benefit the Loaves and Fishes Food Bank.

• Corvian Community School: The school invites community members to play in a golf tournament Monday, Nov. 8, at Skybrook Golf Club in Huntersville. Golfers arrive at 9 a.m. Tee off is at 10 a.m. Participation is $90 per golfer. Proceeds go towards the school’s capital fund. To participate, or to sponsor the event, register online at corvian.org.

• Davidson Day School: The school is one of 15 finalists for the $100,000 grand prize in Bing’s Our School Needs contest. If it wins, the school would work to finish its theater with lights, sound equipment, curtains and more. The first 30,000 people who vote each day get a $3 DonorsChoose.org donation code to be applied to the classroom project of their choice. The winning school will be announced Tuesday, Nov. 9. To vote, visit ourschoolneeds.discoverbing.com. … The school hosts an admissions open house Thursday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. in the Davidson Day auditorium. For more information, contact the school’s admissions office at 704 237-5200 or admissions@davidsonday.org. … Lower School Head Mike Cerkovnik discusses the book “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us,” by Daniel Pink, at noon Tuesday, Nov. 9, in the Commons. The event is free and open to the public. … The Parent Council sells tickets for its “Drawing for Dollars” raffle at the front desk and at school events. Tickets cost $10, and the first place winner gets $1,000. A second prize of $500 and a third prize of $250 are also awarded. The drawing will be held Nov. 23 at school. Ticket holders don’t need to be present to win.

• Davidson IB Middle School: The school holds Club Day on Thursday, Nov. 4.

• Grace Covenant Academy: The school closes Friday, Nov. 5, for parent/teacher conferences. … The school hosts an open house Monday, Nov. 8.

• Hopewell High School: The school welcomes hypnotist Tom Deluca on Thursday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. in the school’s auditorium.

• Hough High School: The school’s band booster sells fruit now through Tuesday, Nov. 9, to raise money for the band program. It offers 20- and 40-pound cases of oranges, grapefruits, tangelos and orange/grapefruit mixes. Prices vary from $22 to $35, and fruit will be delivered in late November/early December. For more information, or to place an order, contact Karen Raboin at 704-363-6602 or nerkernc@yahoo.com. … The band has a fundraiser at Prosciutto’s Pizzeria, located in The Shops on the Green shopping center, 20920 Torrence Chapel Road, Cornelius, Nov. 17 all day. Owners Joel Pfyffer and his wife, Kelly, will donate a portion of the day’s proceeds to the band.

• Huntersville Elementary School: The Scholastic book fair runs through Thursday, Nov. 4.

• Lake Norman Charter: The school’s board meets Thursday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. … The PTO holiday wreath sale begins Friday, Nov. 5. … The school holds an informational meeting for parents of prospective students Tuesday, Nov. 9 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the middle school gym. For more information, call the middle school office at 704-948-8600. … Applications for the 2011-12 school year lottery are available at the middle and high school campuses, as well as on the school’s website, www.lncs.org. The deadline for applying is Jan. 31, 2011.

• Long Creek Elementary: The PTA board meets Thursday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. … The Chess club meets Fridays, Nov. 5,12 and 19 at 7:30 a.m. … The school leadership team meets Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. … Wednesday, Nov. 10 is fall picture make up day. … School closes Thursday, Nov. 11. … The school sends home report cards Friday, Nov. 12. … The school’s canned food drive begins Nov. 15.

• McKinney Academy: The school is accepting donations to benefit the Ada Jenkins Leaves and Fishes pantry now through Friday, Nov. 12.  McKinney students will prepare Thanksgiving meal bags that will be distributed later this month. Drop donations at the school to support this cause. Items: Canned vegetables, cranberry sauce, boxed mashed potatoes, boxed stuffing, canned yams, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss and Food Lion gift cards. … The school’s wellness committee presents a parent learning session, “Healthy Child, Whole Child: Taking control of your child’s health and well being,” Nov. 17 at 10 a.m. Special guest Dr. Russ Greenfield helps makes sense of available information regarding raising healthy children. His recommendations for healthy living are based on good science and honor the knowledge and intuition that parents have for their own children. RSVP on the school’s website, www.mckinneyacademy.com.

• North Mecklenburg High School: North Mecklenburg High School hosts its 32nd annual pig roast Friday, Nov. 5. Sponsored by the PTSA, funds raised will allow the association to provide student scholarships, teacher support and capital purchases, among other things. This year’s barbecue theme is “New Era... Same Attitude.” The PTSA invites the community to volunteer and to enjoy barbecue with the school on Nov. 5. You may also order food in advance for your party or office. For more information, contact northmeckbbq@gmail.com

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

• Ramah Christian Classical School: The school holds open houses Thursday, Nov. 4 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 12 from 1 to 2 p.m. at its location in Harvest Community Church, 13301 Eastfield Road, Huntersville. For more information, call 704-948-7333.

• Torrence Creek Elementary: The next All Pro Dads event, breakfast and a 45-minute program, is Friday, Nov. 5th at 8 a.m. RSVP to trainer2go@aol.com. … The welcoming committee leads a group tour Nov. 17 from 10 to 11 a.m. to introduce prospective parents and students to the school. To sign up, contact the school office at 980-343-0695. … The deadline for entries of creative works for the PTA Reflections program is Nov. 17. Contact Vera at verayue66@gmail.com for details.

• Woodlawn School: The school dismisses students at noon Friday, Nov. 5, for faculty in-service day.

– Compiled by Christina Ritchie Rogers