CALENDAR OF EVENTS     

Theatre Teacher Joanna Gerdy Featured in the Charlotte Observer
The Charlotte Observer selected Joanna Gerdy to highlight in a feature story on the incredible work she has done with the arts both here at Davidson Day and throughout the Carolinas. Joanna has assembled a tremendous body of work during her 15+ years in the arts; and this accolade is very well deserved. Click here to view this great piece.

Annual Fund
Board of Trustees - 100%. Faculty/Staff - 100%. DDS Families - 39%.

The holidays are a time of giving and there are so many worthy and needy causes out there to support. But please remember our school and your child’s teachers this holiday season with a gift to the Annual Fund that will support the educational programs your child is experiencing each day. Our Trustees and Faculty have led the way with their demonstration of 100% support, and we hope that our DDS parents will follow their lead and donate to Annual Fund as well.

Keep in mind that you may donate to the DDS Teacher Professional Development Fund in honor of your child's teacher.  Such a donation will count toward your Annual Fund gift, and we will send a special card to your teacher stating you have made such a gift.  Please click here for a DDS Holiday Gift Form. Gift Forms received by Monday December 14th will have cards delivered prior to Winter break; those received by December 18th will have cards mailed out for delivery prior to Christmas.

Thank you to the following who have already given:

New Installment of Bonnie’s Blog
“What’s wrong with happy students?” Find out by clicking here to read the new installment on Headmaster Bonnie Cotter's Blog.  

Inclement Weather Hotline: (704) 237-5252
In preparation for the upcoming winter season, we would like to announce a new weather hotline that you can call to get late-breaking school delay/closing information. Information will be posted no later than 6:00am.

In addition, we will be posting our delay/closing status on WSOC-9, WBTV-3, and WCNC-6 as well as on our website and via email.

Picture this: All Roundabout photos will now be posted on SmugMug
Would you like some photos of Casino Night, Christmas in Davidson, or tonight’s Show Choir performance?  Now it’s easy for you to get a print or share it by email with your friends and relatives. We’re now automatically uploading all photos from each week’s newsletter onto our SmugMug photo sharing page: http://davidsonday.smugmug.com.

To ensure the security and privacy of our children, a password is required to visit this page. All DDS families should have received a password via email last spring. If you did not receive it or if you are a new DDS family, please contact Lisa Morgan at lmorgan@davidsonday.org. 

Alumni Weekend Coming in 2010
Saturday January 9th will feature our Homecoming Event for our first Alumni Weekend.  All families and students are invited to celebrate with our alumni by coming to a fun cookout and tailgate party before the evening’s basketball games. Other exciting activities are also being planned. Please save the date and plan to join us on the 9th. For more information, please contact Anne Buechler at abuechler@davidsonday.org.


Dress Down Week Begins on Monday
In celebration of the holidays and in an effort to raise funds for various community service groups in our area, next week (December 14-18) will be Dress Down Week!

Students and faculty who participate will be asked to donate $1 each day for the privilege of "dressing down" each day. Or better yet, bring $5 in on Monday and you’re covered for the entire week. The money collected each day goes to benefit the following non-profit organizations:

Monday, Dec. 14-  Ada Jenkins Center (Davidson)
Tuesday, Dec. 15- Cornelius Animal Shelter (Cornelius)
Wednesday, Dec. 16- Urban Ministry Center (Charlotte)
Thursday, Dec. 17- Mooresville Soup Kitchen (Mooresville)
Friday, Dec. 18- Lydia's Loft (Huntersville)

Lunch Program Update
Lunch menus for January are now available. Please download them from the links below:

Early Childhood Lunch Menu
LS/MS/US Lunch Menu

Due to the holiday schedule and the short school session in December, lunch menus were made available on December 9th and are due back on Thursday, December 17th by 8:30 a.m. for Early Childhood and Lower School, and by 9:30 a.m.  for Middle and Upper School. Hardcopy menus are available at the magazine rack located by the front desk.

Prior to completing your child’s lunch menu please do the following:

• Review any external school activities that may affect your child’s lunch selection on the calendar located on the parent portal.
• Make a copy of the lunch menu for yourself.

Any questions or concerns, please contact the Food Service Manager @ 704-877-0748

Girls on the Run (GOTR) Gearing for Spring Time
Spring Season Registration for GOTR @ DDS is now upon us.  This program will be offered to young girls in 3rd, 4th & 5th grades and strives to promote healthy eating, living and the importance of taking care of the body and gaining self esteem.  Twice weekly training sessions at DDS will culminate with a 5k run in Charlotte alongside all other participating schools.  If your daughter is interested in joining this program, please plan to attend or have her attend our brief meeting on Tuesday, December 15th at 7:45 am in Danielle Cusick’s Kindergarten classroom. Space is limited to 15 girls.  Please visit www.gotr.org to learn more about this exciting program now being offered at Davidson Day School.

Helpful Green Tips From US Students to Families for the Holidays

• Reuse gift bags and bows
• Reuse old cards and bows to make homemade Christmas ornaments
• Use energy efficient lights and decorations
• Turn off your Christmas lights at night or limit lights using a timer
• Email family and friends rather than sending letters
• Buy local and economical gifts
• Use newspaper to wrap presents
• Turn off the lights when you are not in a room
• Play in naturally light areas so you don't have to turn on the lights.
• Do your holiday shopping early to avoid both stress and traffic pollution. You can also save gas this way.

Academic Enrichment Center

Important After School Information
Another session of After School Enrichment Programming will begin in January after we return from Winter Break. Click here to learn more about our exciting program offerings. Registration forms will be going home in backpacks and will be available online and in the front lobby. Please contact Candy Mazze at 704-237-5281 or by email at cmazze@davidsonday.org for more information.

Upper School News

Sophomore Tommy Bruce Makes Eagle Scout
Congratulations to Tommy Bruce for his promotion to Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Only 2% of all Boy Scouts attain Eagle Scout and he joins the ranks of some famous Scouters like astronaut Neil Armstrong and film maker Steven Spielberg.

Tommy states that he is passionate about being a scout because he loves the moral code it provides and it teaches great leadership. He also loves helping other people. Great work, Tommy!

Candy Grams and Yearbook Sales
Yearbook staff will be selling candy grams again this holiday. Cost is $1 each or 5 for $4.  They will be delivered next Friday, December 18th. Yearbook staff is hard at work to create a wonderful yearbook for all to enjoy. Please support their efforts by purchasing your candy gram this holiday using cash, check or your Patriot Account.  For more information, please contact Amy Hallman at ahallman@davidsonday.org

Also, it’s not too late to order yearbooks! If you have not yet ordered your yearbook, please email Amy Hallman at ahallman@davidsonday.org to charge it to your Patriot Account before the year's end.

More Volunteers Needed for Angel Tree
The Upper School is sponsoring an Angel Tree to aid local families through the Ada Jenkins Center.  If you would like to participate, please remove an Angel from the tree, sign your name in the register next to the ornament number, and then bring in a gift costing under $35 by Monday December 14th. Each gift will help make a needy child’s Christmas a memorable one. We have chosen to help 24 children this year. Each child has three ornaments on the tree, which means we need 72 gifts to deliver! Thank you for your support.  

Alesia Griesmyer Selected for National Geographic’s Daily Dozen
Senior Alesia Griesmyer had a photo selected for National Geographic's Daily Dozen photo display. Of the 500 submissions received per day from around the world, only 12 are selected each day.  Congratulations Alesia for your fabulous photo (and Mr. Cotter for all your inspiration.)  View the photo (goat picture - Daily Dozen Week 2) at http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/your-shot/daily-dozen

College Counseling News

College Planning Events in January
There will be two events in January for college planning.  For Juniors, an important program on College Planning will take place on Wednesday, January 6th in the Commons from 6:30-8:00 p.m.  For seniors, a program on Financial Aid Planning will take place on Thursday, January 7th in the Commons from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Students and parents are encouraged to attend. 

The registration deadline for the January 23rd SAT exam is Tuesday, December 15th.  Registration at www.collegeboard.com.  Please contact Ms. Rand if you have any questions at mrand@davidsonday.org or at (704) 237-5222.

Middle School News

DDS Middle School Students Battle Other Area Schools
The MS Battle of the Books team is gearing up for the district competition at Charlotte Country Day on March 9th.  The Battle of the Books team reads a preset list of 27 books and competes in a quick recall type competition with questions from any of the 27 books. The winning team advances to the district competition, and then will go on to the regional competition on April 9th. We are very proud of our team of great readers:  Jessica Kingma, Jessica Riou, Emma Brennan, Hannah Wolter, Aaron Augustine, Nell Buechler, James Rees, Rachel Bringewatt, Jake Bringewatt, and Lucas Chirino.

MS Students Make Their Academic Spring Choice
On Wednesday, the 7th and 8th grade students made their choices for their 2nd semester language arts and science classes.  The students have three choices for language arts and three choices for science.  Please click here a description of all the available classes.  If you have any questions, please contact Dana Gillis at dgillis@davidsonday.org.

Update on MS Butterfly Project
On Tuesday, 5th and 6th grade students painted ceramic butterflies in memory of a child who perished in the Holocaust.  Each student received a certificate with the name of a child from France or Poland.  The goal of the project is to remember the past, act responsibly in the present and promote a more peaceful future.

Volunteers from the Levine Jewish Community Center explained that many schools from around the region have participated, and that 1200 butterflies have been created so far.  Plans for a monumental sculpture which will incorporate the thousands of butterflies are in the works and our students will be invited to the unveiling upon its completion. 

Lower School News

LS Students Showcase Their Art at the Davidson Library
During the month of December, stop by the Davidson Public Library and check out several winter trees painted by our talented 3rd graders.  Congratulations to featured artists:  Tristan Black, Jawdat Abulhaj, Jack Ransom, Morgan Scott and Sarah Chinuntdet.  Also on display is the special cut-out snowflake design created by our 1st graders to adorn this year's holiday card from Davidson Day.  Keep your eye out for it in your mailbox.  ‘Tis the season!

Early Childhood News

Eaglets Explore Celebrations From Around the World
This week, the Eaglets have explored many different celebrations from around the world.  For crafts, they made snowmen, jingle bells, reindeer, Hanukkah candles, and evergreen trees from Germany. They also made poinsettias from Mexico, greeting cards from England, and stockings from the USA.  The children will present all of their crafts to their parents on December 18th as a gift.

Sports News

Athletic Calendar
Look at Davidsonday.org/athletics for next week’s schedules.

MS Boys Start Season With Two Very Spirited Games
The Middle School Boys Basketball team competed extremely hard in losses to the Community School of Davidson and Southlake Christian Academy.  Our team of 5th-8th graders played two very skilled 8th grade teams and improved dramatically between the first and second games.  Coaches Brown and Whaley eagerly anticipate the beginning of league play when the team returns from the holiday break

MS Girls Fall to Southlake - Begin Home Season on Monday
The 5th-6th grade Girls Basketball team combined with our 7th and 8th grade girls to play a fun, competitive game against a talented team from Southlake Christian Academy.  The team begins their league season Monday at home with a 4:00 pm home battle against Sacred Heart School.  It is our last home game of 2009, so please plan on being loud and coming out in force to support our team.

Video Tapes Available for Sale for All Davidson Day Basketball Games
Would you like your own copy of Rashun Davis' three quarter court shot?  Would you like to see DaQuan Hayes' dunk?  How about a Katie Burr three point shot?  All of these can be yours, and you can support the Davidson Day athletics program.  Please email Mr. Buechler at kbuechler@davidsonday.org for more details.

Patriots Athletic Club

New Spirit Wear is In!
New shipment, new design!  A brand new stock of Davidson Day T-shirts, hoodie sweatshirts, hats, mugs, coolers, blankets and chairs are now available.  Check out the Patriots Athletic Club Spirit Wear Store outside the concession stand after school on Mondays and Wednesdays or before most home basketball games.  You can stock up on a great DDS holiday gifts for the whole family!

Parent Council Corner

Walking Wednesday Reminder
Mark your calendars for December 16th when we will be walking our students to school for Walking Wednesday. This month’s theme is Holiday Spirit. All walkers are asked to wear their own holiday spirit wear for the walk and the rest of the day to show their support for this great program. We meet at the Sadler Square shopping plaza/The Egg at 231 Griffith St in Davidson, and at 7:45 am we will “walk and roll” to school with Santa Claus. All adult walkers are invited for coffee after drop off at The Egg. Let’s keep the numbers growing and have a great turnout for Santa Claus. For more information please contact Laurie Dennis at davidlauriedennis@gmail.com.


Parent Council Meeting
Mark your calendars for our second evening Parent Council Meeting! It will be held on Wednesday, January 6th beginning at 5:30 pm in the Commons. To accommodate our working families and everyone’s busy schedules, we will be providing childcare and a light dinner. This meeting will be in addition to our regular morning meeting at 8:30am that same day. We hope to see everyone there.

If you are planning to attend our evening Parent Council Meeting, please RSVP Kelly Spiggle at kspiggle@yahoo.com.