By JONATHAN COX
CorneliusNews.net

The four-year graduation rate for Charlotte Mecklenburg high school students reached a record 85.2 percent in 2013-14, up 4.2 percentage points from the year before. The individual graduation rates at local high schools W.A. Hough and Hopewell increased slightly, while the graduation rate at North Mecklenburg High School saw a dramatic increase of 4.3 percentage points. The statistic tracks the percentage of entering ninth graders who graduated with their classes four years later. 

It was the fifth consecutive year the district’s graduation rate increased, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools said. In 2008-2009, CMS reported a graduation rate of just 66.1 percent. With 85.2 percent of students graduating this year, Mecklenburg County is now ahead of the national average, which was 80 percent in 2012 (the most recent year for which statistics were available). CMS also beat the North Carolina average graduation rate for the first time in five years.

This was the first year graduates were required to complete only 24 credits during high school, instead of the previous year’s requirement of 28 credits. Ann Clark, Associate Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, said the change was aimed not at lowering the bar for graduation, but at giving students the freedom to choose more electives.

Heath Morrison

In a statement, CMS Superintendent Heath Morrison applauded the higher graduation rate.

“The graduation rate is an important indicator of our success as a district. Graduating from high school is essential to ensure that our students succeed in the workplace of tomorrow. It is encouraging that our graduation rate continues to rise – and it is also a testament to the dedication and effectiveness of all of our employees. We will continue to push forward and will not be satisfied until every child graduates prepared for a better tomorrow.”

ALL N. MECK SCHOOLS GAIN

All three of north Mecklenburg’s high schools saw gains last year.

Hopewell High School on Beatties Ford Road in Huntersville saw a 1 percentage point increase in the graduation rate, to 87.5 percent.

The graduation rate at W.A. Hough High School remained steady at 92.4 percent, after declining by 4.9 percentage points in the 2012/13 school year. Hough High Principal Laura Rosenbach said the slight increase in the graduation rate may be owing to new programs – such as the ninth grade academy and college prep program AVID.

Rosenbach also said that since the class of 2014 was the first to include students who had studied at Hough through all four years of high school, it was likely that earlier statistics on graduation rates were unreliable.

” Last year was representative of four years of hard work at Hough,” she said.

Meanwhile, the rate at North Mecklenburg High, on Statesville Road in Hunterville rose more dramatically, by 4.3 percent, to 92.3 percent.

SUB-GROUPS IMPROVE

The gains included big jumps in all student sub-groups, CMS announced.

All subgroups have increased in the four years since the 2009-10 school year, but the most dramatic gains have come in the the Asian, black, and Hispanic subgroups, narrowing the gap between white, Hispanic, and black students by roughly 12%.

• White students, up 8.1 percentage points, to 93.0 percent.
• Asian students, up 11.3 percentage points, to 87.7 percent.
• Hispanic students, up 20.0 percentage points, to 74.6 percent.
• Black students, up 20.9 percentage points to 82.5 percent.

“We are very encouraged to see the graduation rates rising in every subgroup – especially the two-digit gains we’re seeing in black and Hispanic student graduation rates,” Morrison said. “This is the way we close gaps: All groups move ahead but the groups that are lagging move ahead at a faster rate – and that’s precisely what is happening in CMS.”

RELATED LINKS

Download a presentation from CMS about the graduation rates. (PDF)

Check the school-by-school graduation rates,

The National Merit Scholarship Corp. said Wednesday that 16,000 high school students nationwide have been named semifinalists in its 60th annual scholarship program, competing for 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth about $33 million. The semifinalists include students from several public and private schools in the Lake Norman area.

About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to be finalists, and more than half will win a shcoarhop, the corporation said.

About 1.4 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2013 Preliminary National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Semifinalists now must submit an application that lists their academic records, community activities, leadership abilities, employment and honors and awards.

Winners will be announced this spring and summer. Here’s a list of local semifinalists:

CANNON SCHOOL – Logan Foster
W.A. HOUGH HIGH SCHOOL – Via Savage, Sean Stewart
COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF DAVIDSON – Adam Cosgrove
DAVIDSON DAY SCHOOL – James Rees
WOODLAWN SCHOOL – Meredith Simpson, Joseph Andry
NORTH MECK HIGH SCHOOL – Anika Agarwal
SOUTHLAKE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY – Austin Olivier
LAKE NORMAN HIGH SCHOOL – Christopher LaMack
NC SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND MATH – Aaron Lucander, Blake Creighton, Uday Uppal
HOME SCHOOL-DAVIDSON – Martha Gerdes
HOME SCHOOL-HUNTERSVILLE – Harrison Seitz

See a full list of North Carolina semifinalists here (PDF)

Officer Amanda Lawing works her beat in the cafeteria at Hough High. (Jonathan Cox/CorneliusNews.net)

By JONATHAN COX
CorneliusNews.net

Cornelius police officer Amanda Lawing’s beat is the halls and classrooms of W.A. Hough High, where she has worked as a School Resource Officer for the past year. Her duties include providing security and – if necessary – enforcing the law, but she says that she also tries to be a role model for the students she serves and protects.

“We’re there to give them the positive side of law enforcement,” said Lawing. “A lot of these kids, they only know us as the people who arrest them, take them to jail, write them tickets – but that’s not all we do.”

Lawing came to the Cornelius Police Department after six years in the Army reserves, and after a year on the job she applied for the School Resource Officer position. She was chosen out of six applicants and assigned to Hough after training at National SRO school.

North Carolina state law requires police officers to be stationed in high schools and middle schools, partly to serve as a deterrent to potential shooters. “We go through a lot of training for active shooting scenarios,” Lawing said.

With a police officer patrolling the halls, students are also less likely to misbehave. “If students see us around the hallway or in the cafeteria,” Lawing said, “they’re a lot less likely to fight each other, or do things they shouldn’t be doing.”

While discipline is part of Lawing’s job description, she also tries to build relationships with students. In just a year and a half working at Hough High, Lawing said that she has earned enough students’ trust that they feel safe speaking to her about abuse or mistreatment:

“A student who has been traumatized or abused, they’re more comfortable talking to me – someone who interacts with them in the hallway, high-fives them, and goes to their sporting events – than they would be talking to a police officer they’ve never met,” she said.

Hough High Principal Laura Rosenbach agreed that Lawing’s rapport with students encourages them to speak up about abuse: “She enables the kids to approach her if they have problems,” she said.

SUSPENSION OR CITATION?

Lobbyists with the organization Youth Justice NC have said that stationing police officers in schools leads to the criminalization of student behavior, with students being funneled into the criminal justice system instead of being dealt with by the school’s disciplinary system.

In North Carolina, anyone over the age of 16 is prosecuted as an adult, meaning that an arrest would go on a high schooler’s permanent record, affecting job opportunities for the rest of his or her life.

Lawing said she’s careful not to cite a student for behavior that Hough High School’s disciplinary system can deal with, and always warns first offenders before issuing a citation. As an SRO, she has discretion to decide when a fight crosses over from a student scuffle into criminal public affray.

“If this is the first time the student has [fought], I’ll give them a warning,” she said, “but if they’re a repeat offender I might have to give a citation.”

“A lot of the issues can be handled by the school administration, though, where I don’t have to charge them,” she added. Often, she collaborates with administration on dealing with problems.

“We work collaboratively all the time,” Rosenbach said.

Statistical studies of schools in the Southeast have shown that SROs can be an effective deterrent to crime. A 2009 article by Matthew Theriot in The Journal of Criminal Justice found that schools experienced a 52.3 percent decrease in the rate of arrests involving assault charges when an SRO was stationed at a school, as compared to schools without SROs.

Lawing said she rarely, if ever, has to make an arrest. Compared to other Mecklenburg County Schools, she said that the students at Hough are “remarkably well behaved.”

When problems do arise, Lawing hopes that a timely warning from her can encourage students to abide by the law in the future: “These kids at this age are making the decisions that are going to affect their future,” she said.

Officer Lawing keeping watch at lunch at the Hough High cafeteria (Jonathan Cox/CorneliusNews.net)

Students circled the flagpole at Lake Norman Christian School for prayer on Wednesday. (Anisia Tellefsen photo)

DAVIDSON – The entire student body joined staff and parents outside Lake Norman Christian School on South Street Wednesday for the annual “See You at the Pole” ceremony. It’s a tradition that began in 1990 in Texas and has since spread nationwide.

Board member and parent Geoff Gibbs took a school photo. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

The gathering around the school flag pole before school included prayers for the town, state and nation as well as music. “It’s celebrated by about 20 million students nationwide, at Christian schools and mostly public schools,” Head of School Wes Johnston said.

“It’s a celebration of some Supreme Court cases that balanced out freedom of speech with the establishment clause of the Constitution,” he added.

Lake Norman Christian opened in 2008 and has held classes in the former Davidson IB Middle School on South Street since January 2012 under a lease with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools.

With a new school year now under way, Johnston said enrollment is at 106 students.

Chairman Ken Jones added that high school enrollment is up 66 percent this year. “A nice surprise,” he said.

RELATED LINKS

Lake Norman Christian School website, http://www.lakenormanchristian.org/

More about See You at the Pole, http://syatp.com/

Lake Norman Christian School’s fall 2014 school photo. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Students from Hough, North Meck, Cannon and other area high schools are among more than 1,600 African American high school seniors chosen as semifinalists in the 51st annual National Achievement Scholarship Program. The designation means they’re in the running for about 800 Achievement Scholarship awards totaling $2.5 million to be awarded next spring.

About 80 percent of the semifinalists are expected to be named finalists in the privately financed academic competition. The National Achievement Scholarship Program started in 1964 to recognize and reward academically promising black students nationwide

Semifinalists were chosen from among more than 160,000 high school juniors, in part based on their scores in the 2013 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Semifinalists are named within geographic regions and are the highest-scoring program entrants in the states that make up each region.

To become finalists, students now must submit detailed applications, including information about academic records, participation in school and community activities, leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards.

About 1,300 finalists will be notified in January, and they’ll be eligible for 700 one-time scholarships of $2,500 and 100 business sponsored Achievement Scholarship awards, most renewable for up to four years. Winners will be announced publicly in April.

After this year, the National Achievement Scholarship Program will become part of UNCF, the nation’s largest minority education organization. UNCF will carry on the name and legacy of the National Achievement Scholarship Program through a newly designed program for college graduates, the National Merit Scholarship Corp. said.

Here’ a list of area semifinalists:

CANNON SCHOOL – Oluwadara Tokunboh

W.A. HOUGH HIGH SCHOOL – Jordan Eggleston, Reagan Walker

NORTHWEST SCHOOL OF THE ARTS – Nia Moore.

NORTH MECKLENBURG HIGH, – Danyale Calhoun

SOUTH IREDELL HIGH – Nyatefe Mortoo

RELATED LINKS

See a full list of North Carolina semifinalists

State Sen. Jeff Tarte talked to Christine Hoy’s fifth grade class at JV Washam Elementary School Wednesday. (David Boraks/CorneliusNews.net)

On Tuesday, Tarte talked to several fifth grade classes at JV Washam Elementary School in Cornelius.

In the classroom of Christine Hoy, he answered questions such as whether he ever wanted to be president (no), what he thinks about Barack Obama (“He’s the president, so we should respect him”) and who he is supporting in the Senate race between Republican Thom Tillis and Democratic US Sen. Kay Hagan (“Thom Tillis and I are old friends. We used to coach youth baseball together”).

Tarte is seeking re-election on Nov. 4, facing Democrat Latrice McRae.

HUNTERSVILLE – The pastor of Southlake Presbyterian Church and the CFO at Southlake Christian Academy have resigned amid allegations of financial mismanagement. The Charlotte Observer reports that Wayne Parker, SouthLake’s CFO and former head of school, resigned Sept. 5, and Pastor Wade Malloy resigned last week. (LINK: Oct. 16, 2014, Charlotte Observer, “Finance officer, pastor resign amid financial probe at SouthLake Christian Academy in Huntersville”)

CONCORD – Cannon School will host an admission open house on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, for families seeking to explore educational opportunities for students in junior kindergarten through grade 12. The event begins at 1pm on Cannon’s 65-acre campus at 5801 Poplar Tent Road.

Visiting families can tour the campus, learn more about the admission process and learn from teachers, students and leaders what learning looks like in the life of a Cannon student. At Cannon School, students learn to adapt and innovate in the face of new challenges both inside and outside the classroom. They become deep learners, nurtured by caring and accomplished teachers.

Interested families may register to attend at www.cannonschool.org/openhouse.

For parents unable to attend, Cannon also offers “Walk-in Wednesdays” to accommodate busy schedules. The Admission Office provides campus tours each Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon, no appointment necessary. Interested parents may also contact the Admission Office at 704-721-7199 to arrange an individual tour around their availability.

Woodlawn’s barn, with the classroom building to the right. The school plans to add two classrooms

Woodlawn School plans to add classrooms and athletic facilities as enrollment increases by 15 percent next year. The school also announced this week the appointment of Angela McKenzie as the Assistant Head of School. 

Woodlawn plans to break ground this spring on the first phase of a three-pronged expansion. The school hopes to add two classrooms near the Garden Shed and a renovated playground area by August 2015, followed by the addition of an eight-lane track, regulation-sized soccer field, and fieldhouse during the 2015-16 school year.

By the end of the expansion, the school will also have constructed an additional building behind Van Buren Hall and added locker rooms and showers to the red barn to accommodate a growing middle and high school student body. The master plan also includes a performing arts space and new upper school facility as well.

The new facilities will allow for increased enrollment. The school is aiming to enroll 229 students in grades K-12 next year – a 15 percent increase over this year.

Along with the planned expansion, the school announced the appointment of Head of Intermediate and Middle Schools Angela McKenzie as the Assistant Head of School. In a press realease, Woodlawn school said, “Angela’s accepting responsibility for additional operational tasks will allow us to focus our search for a head of school candidate with significant experience in school advancement.”

Woodlawn will hold an open house on Nov. 12, offering tours for K-5th grade from 5:30-6:30pm, and for 6-12th grade from 7-8pm. Drop-in tours are available every Thursday at 9am, or can be made by calling Callie Donnelly, Director of Admission, at (704) 895-8653.

Woodlawn School is an independent K-12 school at 135 Woodlawn School Loop, Mooresville, NC 28115

RELATED COVERAGE

June 24, 2014, “Woodlawn picks Shirley as interim head of school”

June 5, 2014, “Woodlawn says goodbye to class of 2014“

Heath Morrison

UPDATE: CMS firms Morrison is leaving Thursday

Our news partner WFAE-FM spoke to several school board members Monday. They said they couldn’t comment on the situation, but they didn’t seem to be caught off guard.

School board member Ericka Ellis said she won’t say anything until Morrison makes a statement of his own.

An announcement was expected as early as Monday afternoon, WBTV, Channel 3, reported Monday.

Morrison came to CMS in 2012 from Reno, Nevada. That year he was named national Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators.

Morrison is in the third year of a four-year contract that pays $288,000 a year, not including bonuses.

Check back with wfae.org on this developing story.

AUDIO REPORT

WFAE education reporter Lisa Worf discusses Heath Morrison resignation reports during 2 p.m. newscast. Click the play button to start. Can’t see the player or hear the audio? http://cpa.ds.npr.org/wfae/audio/2014/11/WorfMorrison.mp3 (MP3, 1 min, 41 sec)

RELATED COVERAGE

http://corneliusnews.net/blog/tag/heath-morrison/

Heath Morrison

“While serving as superintendent is an honor and privilege, it requires a singular and unwavering focus. Recent events have challenged that focus, and I must now rededicate myself to my family, most especially my mother,” he said in the statement.

CMS said Deputy Superintendent Ann Clark will be interim superintendent while the district seeks a replacement.

The school board will call a special meeting Thursday at noon to discuss a separation agreement, CMS said Monday evening

Morrison came to CMS in July 2012 from Reno, NV, where he was suprintendent of the Washoe County schools. He was picked from among three finalists, and had been that year’s national Superintendent of the Year, chosen by the American Association of School Administrators.

Morrison began his career in Maryland, working in Charles and Montgomery counties as a teacher and administrator, before taking the Reno job in 2009. Other finalists for the job were CMS administrator Clark and Memphis City Schools leader Kriner Cash.

Morrison is in the third year of a four-year contract that pays $288,000 a year, not including bonuses.

MORRISON STATEMENT

Each day for the past two and a half years, I have been driven by a singular focus: “Every child, every day, for a better tomorrow.” It has been an incredible honor to lead the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools on a journey to go from good to great. Not great for accolades and honors, as CMS has been awarded them, but great for 145,363 reasons — our amazing students.

I am so proud of what our district has accomplished for the students of this community. Our graduation rate reached 85.1% this year, exceeding the state average, with all groups of students improving. Scores on end of grade and end of course assessments improved and exceeded the state average for the second year in a row; close to 83% of our students met or exceeded growth. SAT scores improved and more students are taking honors and Advanced Placement classes.

With unprecedented community support, we launched our brand new strategic plan, “For a Better Tomorrow,” last year. In that plan, we pledged to have every child become college and career ready and a champion of his or her own learning by focusing on six core goals. We are creating exciting pathways for teacher and principal development and growth, ensuring we are focused on employee engagement throughout our district. We have initiated new ways to unite with our parents and created bold business, civic, and faith-based partnerships to help our students. We have completed an extensive security project to make our schools safer at the same time as we have delved into areas of social-emotional learning and cultural competency. Each school will be going through a transformation process, with some schools already focusing on opportunity culture and personalized learning. We have launched a number of new school options to ensure every parent has at least two quality CMS options for their children. Indeed, much has been accomplished.

It is because I am so proud of our school district and humbled by the accomplishments of our employees, that it is so difficult for me to announce that I am stepping down as the superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools effective Thursday, November 6th. This has been the most difficult professional decision of my career. It has been with deep reflection and prayer that I have decided this is what I must do. While serving as superintendent is an honor and privilege, it requires a singular and unwavering focus. Recent events have challenged that focus, and I must now rededicate myself to my family, most especially my mother. When I first started here in CMS, I was excited about having my professional career closer to her, however I can’t give my job the full attention it needs while making sure I address her needs at this critical time. During drives back and forth, I have been thinking about the demands of this position. There are the anticipated challenges such as developing a budget, promoting the district’s interest in the upcoming legislative session, and exhausting every avenue to reward our employees for the work they do. There are also always unanticipated challenges, which is why this job demands full attention and focus. Roy Disney once said, “It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.” While I understand the meaning of this quote, when your values are in conflict with your obligations, these decisions are still wrenching.

I am so optimistic about the future of CMS. I am exceptionally grateful to the Board of Education for giving me this opportunity and thank them for their leadership and support during my time as superintendent. I am grateful to the incredible executive team that serves this district, and I appreciate each and every one of these talented leaders. Next, I wish to thank our community for the support they provide to CMS and the way they have supported me as superintendent. I believe in the saying that it takes a village, and in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, our community support is one of our most precious resources. Finally, I am constantly inspired by our teachers, principals, and support staff. They are true heroes who dedicate themselves to the most noble of endeavors — educating every child, every day, for a better tomorrow.

With appreciation and deep respect,
Heath

CMS ANNOUNCEMENT

Heath E. Morrison to resign as superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Board of Education to call special meeting to act on separation agreement

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 3, 2014 — Heath E. Morrison will resign as superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools on Thursday, Nov.6. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education will hold a special called meeting at noon to take action on a separation agreement which is not yet finalized.

“We appreciate Heath’s time and his contributions to the district and this community over the past two and a half years,” said Mary McCray, chairperson of the Board of Education.

“I am exceptionally grateful to the Board of Education for giving me this opportunity and thank them for their leadership and support during my time as superintendent,” said Heath Morrison, superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Please click here for a full statement from Dr. Morrison.

The district’s Deputy Superintendent Ann Clark will assume the responsibilities of superintendent as part of her duties as second in command. The Board will seek a replacement for the superintendent but has not made any plans to begin a search at this time.

Dr. Morrison joined Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools as superintendent in July 2012.

RELATED LINKS AND DOCUMENTS

Nov. 3, 2014, “Reports say CMS chief Heath Morrison will resign.”

April 25, 2012, “CMS board OKs 4-yr. contract with new superintendent.”

April 24, 2012, Download a copy of the new superintendent’s contract, PDF

April 19, 2012, School Notes column, “CMS board picks Morrison as next chief” – read more about the new superintendent’s background.

See all past coverage of Morrison – http://corneliusnews.net/blog/tag/heath-morrison/

Band Leadership Team with the trophy (Cristina Shaul photo)

Congratulations to the Marching Huskies! The Hough High School Marching Band won first place overall performance in its class at the Porter Ridge High School band competition in Indian Trail, on Saturday, Oct. 25.  The band also won first place for percussion, drum majors, and general effect, and were given a rating of “superior” in the Musical Performance Adjudication.

Drum majors Marc Augenreich and Meredith Steele (Eric Feldman photo)

Hough High Band Director Robert Carrington had the following comments regarding the band’s performance:

“It is thrilling to see our band students rise to the challenge of a larger, more competitive division this season.  They have worked hard and it is wonderful to see them earn much deserved credit. Now that our competitions are complete, our primary focus is to support our Husky football team as they enter the playoffs.”

Senior Jacob Batty with his parents David and Lyn Batty (Cristina Shaul photo)

Thanks to Cristina Shaul and Eric Feldman, we include photos of the leadership team proudly displaying their trophy following the Porter Ridge competition as well as the drum majors, senior Marc Augenreich and junior Meredith Steele, both of Cornelius.  The drum majors, we learned, wear their traditional band uniforms for football games but this year decided to appear in formal wear for the competition to match the style of the music (Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition”).  Pretty impressive!

We also include a photo of Jacob Batty, son of Lyn and David Batty of Davidson’s McConnell neighborhood, who was one of the marching band seniors honored at last Friday’s Hough’s Senior Recognition Ceremony.  The ceremony occurred during halftime at the football game and finished just before the rain began.  Kudos to Jacob and all the senior band members for their talent and dedication to the music programs at Hough.

The Charlotte Observer is reporting there’s more to the surprise resignation Monday of Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Heath Morrison. In a story online Tuesday, the newspaper says CMS’s general counsel recently completed an investigation of allegations of misconduct, including belittling staff members.

LINK: See Nov. 4, 2014, CharlotteObserver.com, “Morrison resigned as CMS superintendent after investigation into misconduct allegations”

It’s only November, but parents are starting to think about school options for their children a year from now. To help, local public and private schools are hosting open houses this month to give families tours and information. This weekend, that includes Cannon School, Lake Norman Christian School and Davidson Day School, while Woodlawn and JV Washam Elementary open houses are scheduled over the next two weeks.

OPEN HOUSE CALENDAR

CANNON SCHOOL, Saturday, Nov. 8, 1pm – Learn more about Cannon’s academic, arts, athletic, and service learning programs; meet teachers, administrators, students, and parents; tour the 65-acre campus; learn about financial aid and transportation options; and learn what they mean by “Adaptive Expertise.” Register online http://www.cannonschool.org/openhouse?rc=0

LAKE NORMAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, Saturday, Nov. 8, 10am to noon – The private Christian school in Davidson hosts an open house for prospective families. Meet the teachers, tour the school, and ask questions. Address: 251 South St., Davidson. Information: http://www.lakenormanchristian.org/

DAVIDSON DAY SCHOOL, Sunday, Nov. 9, 1-2:30pm – Davidson Day hosts an open house for families of prospective students 2 years old to 12th grade. Come explore the school and its mission. Address: 750 Jetton St., Davidson. Register online at davidsonday.org

WOODLAWN SCHOOL,, Wednesday, Nov. 12, K-5 open house 5:30pm, 6-12 open house 7pm. The private school just north of Davidson is now accepting applications for the 2015-16 school year. Applications due Feb. 1. Address: 135 Woodlawn School Loop, Mooresville. Information at WoodlawnSchool.org

J.V. WASHAM ELEMENTARY , Monday, Nov. 17, 9:30am – J.V. Washam Elementary School in Cornelius will be hosting a Parent Open House for prospective parents in the Media Center. This meeting is open to parents of rising kindergarten students as well as parents of elementary students not currently enrolled at J.V. Washam but who live in the school’s zone and are interested in learning more about their public school option. During the Open House, parents will receive information about the school, have an opportunity to ask administrators questions and receive a brief tour. Address: 9611 Westmoreland Road, Cornelius.

Cornelius Elementary School students will participate in “Walk on Wednesday” this Wednesday morning, Nov. 12, 2014.  Students, faculty and families are invited to park and meet at Smithville Park, then walk along Catawba Avenue sidewalks to school.

Meet at the park at 7:50am; walk begins at 8am.

Smithville Park is at Catawba Avenue and South Ferry Street.

Members of the Hough High Army JROTC program marched in downtown Charlotte’s Veterans Day parade Saturday. (Zachary Brisson photo)

Veterans Day celebrations actually began this weekend, with the annual parade in downtown Charlotte where Hough’s Army ROTC program marched. A total of 78 Cadets from the local battalion march marched.

The Hough cadets also will be at the Davidson Village Green and the Cornelius Veteran’s Memorial for ceremonies Tuesday. Read on for the details.

CORNELIUS

Tuesday, Nov. 11, 11am – The Town of Cornelius and American Legion Post 86 will host their annual Veterans Day program at Cornelius Veterans Monument at Rotary Plaza and the lawn at Cornelius Town Hall. This special program honors military veterans and those currently serving in the armed forces.

American Legion Post 86 Commander Mike Puckett will lead a ceremony that will include a welcome from Cornelius Mayor Chuck Travis, 21 gun salute by American Legion Post 86 and patriotic songs by the W.A. Hough High School Concert Choir.

For more information, please contact the Cornelius PARC Department at (704) 892-6031, extension 160, or visit their website www.cornelius.org/parc.

DAVIDSON

Tuesday, Nov. 11, 11am – The Town of Davidson will mark Veterans Day with a program on the Village Green Tuesday, to commemorate Veterans Day. The program features keynote speaker Sam Maloney, a former Davidson professor whose scholarship focused on war and conscience.

W.A. Hough High School’s Wind Ensemble and Junior ROTC cadets will also be featured, along with other community members.

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

MOORESVILLE

Tuesday, Nov. 11, 11:30am-2:30pm – The town of Mooresville is hosting a ceremony at 11am in Glenwood Memorial Park, followed by a parade beginning at Richard’s Coffee Shop at 11:30am. A celebration will then take place on the lawn at Mooresville Town Hall. CMA Country Artist Ansel Brown will perform.

An artist’s rendering of the Huntersville Veterans Memorial. Click for more information about the memorial plans.

HUNTERSVILLE

Meanwhile, the town of Huntersville is planning construction of a veteran’s memorial park at the intersection of Main and Maxwell Street downtown. In order to raise money for the Veterans Memorial section of the park, the Rotary Clubs of Huntersville-Lake Norman, North Mecklenburg County and Huntersville Happy Hour, along with the Sons of the American Legion Post 321, are selling personalized bricks honoring veterans (go to the town website for an order form).

The Veterans Memorial will consist of six monuments honoring each branch of service and a granite globe rotating on water representing the global impact of America’s veterans. Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2014 and be completed in spring or summer of 2015.

EX-POW SPEAKS AT DAVIDSON

As a Navy pilot in 1965, Porter Halyburton was shot down over Vietnam and feared dead, but actually spent 7½ years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. He’ll talk about his experience in a public lecture at Davidson College on Monday, Nov. 17, 2014. The lecture begins at 7:30pm in Duke Family Performance Hall, in the Knobloch Campus Center.

Read more about Halyburton and his experience in our Nov. 3 preview on DavidsonNews.net.

CONCORD – Cannon School plans to add full-day kindergarten classes during the 2015-16 school year, announcing Monday that it’s expanding the program because of demand.

The independent K-12 school on Poplar Tent Road in Concord draws many families from the Lake Norman area. Cannon plans to continue offering a half-day kindergarten in addition to the full day.

The school said about 65 percent of current junior-kindergarten students are enrolled in Cannon’s Extended Day program. About the same percentage of kindergarten students also participate in Extended Day on a daily basis.

Cannon said the full-day kinWhile both the half-day and the full-day options provide purposeful involvement, full-day kindergarten would “incorporate elements not found in the half-day program.”

“I am so excited about the full day Kindergarten program,” said Michelle Alexander, Cannon’s lower school head. “As a Lower School, we strive to create learning opportunities where children are at the center of each experience. I firmly believe that this is a hallmark of our new program and that it will not only celebrate the student voice, but also allow for a true deep, meaningful and enriching Kindergarten experience like no other.”

Info: CannonSchool.org

Bailey Middle School has announced the roster of middle school students on this year’s 1st quarter A and A/B honor rolls. See the list below:

8th GRADE – A HONOR ROLL

Alden, Brandi Alyssa
Arias, Alexander
Avva, Vishnu Dhiren
Ballew, Colin David
Banez, Matthew Cooper
Barnard, Anton Joseph
Batty, Anna Catherine
Beiler, Dylan Joseph
Boyer, Allison Adele
Breit, Gabrielle Ann
Brown, Parker Lillian
Burger, Kendall Leigh
Burk, Zachary Allen
Butler, Thomas Cley
Carlet, Jenna Caroline
Carr, Sophia Kelly
Clary, Addison Nell
Claunch, Carissa
Cloninger, Reagan Elise
Colven, Richard Andrew
Coupal, Kevin Thomas
Craig, Samuel Charles
Cramblette, Cassidee Marie
Cronkhite, Dawson Eric
Crum, Emily Ann
Cruz-Solano, Victoria O
Cunningham, Anne Erickson
D’Ovidio, Martina Angela
Dameron, Austin Edward
Dangelewicz, Maxwell William
Drew, Ashley Breeann
Fernald, Taylor Nicole
Ferrell, Faith Alexandra
Figard, Jessica Morgan
Foley, Timothy Gage
Foster, Emily Yuki
Frye, Courtney Lynn
Fulkerson, Sara Mackenzie
Garza Ramos, Nereida
Goff, Danielle Rose
Greene, Lindsay Gray
Heiser, Jakob Edward
Helms, Sydney Leigh
Hester, Riley Anne
Jansen, Nathalie Maria
Jawale, Shveta Nitin
Johnson, Kylie Gabrielle
Joyner, Olivia Jean
Kaneko, Haruna
Keene, Grant Thomas
Lasure, Julia Jordan
Li, Rocco Shen
Madigan, Kyle Joseph
Mangiapane, Alexander Anthony
Manohar, Shreya
Martin, McKenzie Elizabeth
Martin, Owen Thomas
Matsukura Bernardino, Lara
McDonald, Ryan Teal
McDonnell, Alexis Sierra
Merk, Amber Elizabeth
Miller, Shannon Mildred
Mitchell, Anna Christine
Mitchell, Emma Taylor
Mitchell, James Grady
Mohr, John David
Montague, Ivy Rebecca
Mossinghoff, Alexandra Marie
Murphy, Ethan Eldon
Myers, Payton Ingrid
Ng, Anthony Ka-Ming
Noonan, Mia Angelina
Padilla Bonelli, Isabel Annette
Patel, Jhanvi Udit
Patterson, Isabella Linnea
Pattie, Alexis
Paul, Genevieve
Pearson, Lindsay Alyssa
Pinnix, Brandon Michael
Powell, Paige Cleo
Pressley, Jordyn Taylor
Price, Kayla Marie
Rice, Chloe Elizabeth
Riehl, Paige Caroline
Salber, Benjamin Jeffrey
Sherwood, Hannah Grace
Simmons, Anna Grace
Skinner, Meghan Burke
Stevens, Alyssa Marie
Stewart, Lexi Logan
Stuart, Liam Louis
Stull, Stephanie Erin
Swanner, Sam Lawrence
Thompson, Mikaila Glen
Treon, Madilyn Isabelle
Umstead, Jordyn
Van Epps, Julia Chenoa
Van Every, Stella Marie
Van Rossen, Blake Daniel
Vance, Mallory Noelle
Washington, Bianca Caitlyn
Webster, Grace Mary Elizabeth
Wiles, Anna Elizabeth
Wilson, Ana Greer
Wissman, Madison Marie
Wolfram, Riley Margaret
Woolley, Abigail Ruth
Wordsworth, Allison Michelle
Zimmerman, Isabella Brooke
Zuraf, Rene’ Julie

7th GRADE – A HONOR ROLL

Ahearn, Liam Brian
Alberdi, Penelope Natassja
Alberdi, Sebastian Nikolai
Alexander, Anne Meredith
Anderson, Benjamin Thomas
Anderson, Dorothy Georgia
Baer, Ryan Christopher
Bezek, Riley Ann
Bourdon, Andrea Celine
Cabuco, Jasmin Alexis
Cronan, Conor Fitzgerald
Dudek, Maximillian Anthony
Eyler, Caleb Seth
Fegley, Veronica Marie Richards
Foreman, Luke Ryan
Fread, Kate Elizabeth
Graham, Johnathan Marshall
Guerry, Alana Ruth
Haas, Alexander Thomas
Haponik, Caitlyn Ann
Hatley, Grant Mitchell
Healey, Samuel Patrick
Helein, Cameron Dean
Hoppe, Kailey Grace
Jackson, Allison Parker
Jobson, Caroline Rae
Kankipati, Mugdhameghana Nityanand
King, Cameron Lee
Krajnik, Stella Victoria
Lampe, Ryan Young
Law, Christopher Jerel
Leeman, Julia Michelle
Leeman, Sophia Marie
Loreto, Juan David
Mabry, Edward Rhett
Mack, Terrah Elaine
Mahoney, Erica Rose
Mason, Christopher Paul
Matthews, Hailey Savannah
Maye, Beau Sockwell
McCune, Tyler Thomas
McHugh, Meghan C
McRee, Lily Grace
Miller, Gabriel Alexander
Miller, Parker Ryan
Mills, Josah Claire
Mitchiner, Matthew Dylan
Motley, Paiton Braxton
Mullis, Karlie Marie
Murphy, Brendan Joseph
Orbe, Trystan Decha
Payne, Rees Wilson
Peeler, Blake Ashlyn
Pennella, Nicholas Anthony
Poe, Abigail Lee
Price, Kristin Hope
Rainey, Sloane Elizabeth
Ramanata, Emily Grace
Ready, Robert Henry
Reeves, Katherine Brittain
Regan, Zachary John
Reppe, Michael Tyler
Riemer, Sydney Marie
Rippner, Lily Ann
Shubert, Ryan Thomas
Siggins, Kyle Davis
Simmel, Amy Helen
Sims, Alanna Jessica
Smith, Dylan Robert
Stevens, Leah Danielle
Uglehaus, Hannah
Underwood, Parker John
Vance, Sydney Megan
Wandel, Lee Emerson
Watson, Brooke Mandi
Weber, Kelly Grace
Wells, Alec Edward
Wentz, Lauren Elizabeth
Williams, Christopher Stephen

6th GRADE – A HONOR ROLL

Alfino, Bryce Jackson Baker
Allegrati, Brett Dominic
Allred, Warner Lewis
Avva, Meera Anjali
Baker, Ethan Dale
Batty, Erin Marie
Baumstark, Logan Conrad
Benazzouz, Kira
Benedict, Sarah Lynn
Blackwell, Kylie Morgan
Bledsoe, Laura Claire
Boatsman, Eva Grace
Bodhale, Ayush Rohit
Bolton, Eleanor Lindsay
Boozer, Alexander
Bouhussein, Jenna Elizabeth
Brennan, Meredith Ashley
Brezeault, Alexa Raeven
Browning, Hannah Paige
Buchan, Andra Kay
Burns, Mason Henry
Carmichael, Merritt Holland
Cashion, Emerson Folger
Chason, Carolyn Patteson
Chason, Casey Franklin
Colbert, Nathan Ryan
Cordova-Flores, Joselyn
Cornett, Abigail Elizabeth
Cusick, Jack Christopher
Cusick, Patrick James
Daya, Daren Rajesh
Daya, Jaiden Rajesh
Dempski, Joseph Andrew
Denchfield, Ashley Kate
Densmore, Ryan Thomas
Dixon, Allie Kathryn
Dorney, Luke Jordan
Dyer, Savannah Rhay
Earhart, Emily Grace
Ellenburg, Tyler Thomas
Ennis, Jackson Tyler
Evans, Aiden Michael
Evans, Lauren Jean
Fitzgibbons, Scott Harrison
Foley, Evan Zachary
Frye, Thomas Joseph
Funderburk, William Michael
Gorman, Benjamin Rivers
Graham, Samuel Burke
Greene, Riley Gumm
Griffin, Jonathan Finn
Gundlach, Dorothea Young
Hanley, Amaya Armant
Hauser, Anastasia Myria
Hauser, Ella Victoria
Hefner, Claire Olivia
Heiser, Nikolaus Marshall
Hession, Madeleine Maire
Higdon, Benjamin Lowell
Hilliard, Mariama Michele
Hirsch, Meghan Riley
Hoertt, Joseph Gaty
Holder, Erin Elizabeth
Hudson, Ann Michael Marie
Husakiwsky, Luke Mason
Illingworth, Jacob Timothy
Ingraham, Caroline Elizabeth
James, Henry David
Jewell, Elijah Henry
Kaneko, Sota
Karras, Elle Marie
Kaufman-Bell, David Michael
Kern, Briana Elizabeth
Kirby, Thomas Graham
Kniple, Carter Howell
Krebs, Evan Alexander
Kufner, Alexander Jack
Laken, Samuel Richard
Lamb, Holland Marie
Lauder, Jillian Beth
Linkner, Jacob Collin
Madigan, Jacy Lauren
Major, Jordan Mary
Mangiapane, Ryan William
Maye, Drake Lee
Mayhew, Erika Noel
McCroskey, Jayden Ryan
McDonald, Lydia Grace
McDowell, Reilly Price
McLennan, Sydney Lea
Mechling, Chloe Elizabeth
Mihailovic, Tara
Minarik, Sydney Christine
Mok, Ayana EstherMarie
Morand, William Jennings
Mushyakov, Joseph
Napoli-Roose, Brandon Xsavior
Navola, Josephine Marie
Noonan, Emma Victoria
Notte, Matisse Suter
Nuijens, Catherine Faith
Olivares, Karen Alexandra
Pallo, Grant Emery
Patterson, Rebecca Coral
Pegram, Samia Jane
Perry, Taylor Marie
Phillips, Alyssa Paige
Phocas, Caroline Mangan
Poulton, Sophie Jean
Reeves, Lily Taylor
Reinhart, Tess Marie
Ridenour, Matthew McCain
Riehl, Calen James
Rooney, Sofia Elena
Sanders, Justin Jarrett
Scavo, Kyle Thomas
Schmidt, Dakota Hunter
Schoolfield, Andrew Garrett
Schroeder, Anna Ruth
Seeber, Jacob Buckley
Sell, Madelyn Julia
Shaw, Austin Dean
Shivakumar, Dheepikha
Sielaff, Yzabella Kai
Siggins, Paige Frances
Smith, Madison Lynn
Sparks, Kylie Gabrielle
Stanula, Richard John
Steger, Paige Elizabeth
Stenger, Peter Anthony
Sullivan, Kailee Shea
Sutton, Emma Grace
Swartz, Caroline Elizabeth
Taboada, Mia Angelina
Tay, Matthew Jiaxiang
Tischer, Michael James Leth
Tiwari, Shia Andrea Nikol
Topp, Ryan Joseph
Tsui, Morgan Ashley
Turner, Jayden Michael
Varga, Beau Michael
Vernile, Hannah Rae
Viruso, Ryan
Wachter, Mia Renee
Wade, Jake Anderson
Weil, Sasha Elizabeth
Welch, Justin Alec
Whitaker, Gabriel Paul
White, Lacey Nicole
Whiteside, Alexandra Marie
Whittington, Mason Calvert
Wigren, Sarah Ruo Xia
Wunder, Matthew Jonathan
Yingst, Abigail Lily

8th GRADE – A/B HONOR ROLL

Adams, Lydia Olympia
Agudelo-Florez, Tatiana
Ainsworth, Megan Elizabeth
Amberge, Alyssa Lynn
Anderson, Jordan Elizabeth
Arceneaux, Ella Grace
Asken, Ian Patrick
Bailey, Mary Kaitlynn
Baker, Christopher Burgess
Ballance, Breanna Marie
Barnes, Jada Nicole
Bavis, Nathan Scott
Berry, Jackson Lewis
Boraks, Mathilde Elizabeth
Borkowski, Zachary John
Bowman, Joshua Scott
Bragg, Liliana Grace
Brandenstein, Tess Goebel
Buchan, Taylor Grace
Burr, Rebecca Noelle
Cardwell, Brooke Elizabeth
Carlen, Klarissa Irene
Carpenter, Jonathan Weaver
Carper, Rachel Marie
Challe, Meena Aurora
Charles, Makalo Dominic Christian
Chatham, Kristia Folger
Chavez, Aislinn Zoely
Chiasera, Taylor Rey
Clark, Ashley Anne
Cogbill, Jarod Nathan
Coleman, Kathryn Ann
Cotto, Daniella Marissa
Cowie, Ryan Ford
Cunningham, Christina Whitley
Dahlem, Jill Elizabeth
Davis, Jacob Eric
Dean, Harrison Stephen
Dehn, Jacob Alexander
DeMarcus, Spencer Cole
DePaolis, Malena Marie
DeWolfe, Emily Michelle
Dietrich, Samantha Lee
Donoghue, Liam Thomas
Drakeford, NyAjah Aryel
Dunham, Carter Watkins
Dyer, Sabrina Grace
Eddy, William Zachary
Edwards, Sarah Ross
Ellenburg, Jackson Robert
Emerson, Kayla Michellie
Evans, Johanna Elizabeth
Evans, Kennedy Grace
Faraj, Daniel Wail
Fekete, Austin Williams
Fellinger, John Patrick
Ferreiro, Avery Palmer
Font, Daisy
Galloway, Brody William
Gandy, Cruz Marshall
Garcia, Ulises
Gardner, Jordan Reid
Garrison, Andrew Thomas
Garst, Angelique Amy
Gay, Lauren Lindsay
Gibson, Anna Grace
Gillespie, Ciera Sage
Glover, Michael Mason
Goldstein, Lea Abigail
Golino, Isabella Nicole
Gratz, Beatrice Lorenza
Graves, Evan Randall
Greenawalt, Allison Marie
Greene, Clayton Alan
Griffin, Ella Marie
Groseclose, Zachary Michael
Groulx, Nolan Matthew
Hallman, Colby Brent
Hankins, Kate Marcella
Hansen, Jolee
Hayes, Kelly
Hennessey, Kelly Ann
Higdon, Nathaniel Carter
Hoehaver, Morgan Rileigh
Holjak, Grace A
Huskins, Nathaniel
Ingraham, Jackson Taylor
Jackson, David Tyrone
Jimenez Bautista, Joselinn
Karriker, Anabella Rose
Kennedy, Thomas James
King, Ethan Kennedy
Klein, John Maxwell
Klusty, Jacqueline Kay
Klusty, Madeline Ann
Kucko, Luke
Lamb, Jackson Augustus
Lambert, Barrett Taylor
Lassell, Marissa Theresa
Lewis, Camden James
Lewis, Gavin James
Lifsey, Anna Elizabeth
Link, Charlotte Louise
Lowrance, Ella Grace
Lynn, Zoe Kelen
Mahon, Jocelin McKenna
Marshall, Wesley Robert
McCann, Olivia H
McCastle, Jade
McCollum, Katherine Ann
McDonough, Natalie Jeanne
McGahan, Cadhan Michael
McGinnis, Holden Roark
Mcgrath, Bailey Marie
McHenry, Jennifer Louise
McKelvey, Megan Eileen
McMurry, Hannah Caroline
McQuage, Dalton Walker
Meaney, Molly Rose
Meeks, Brandon William
Moffett, Janey Marie
Mojica, Madison Alexis
Monzavifar, Isabelle Lisa
Moore, Kathryn Elizabeth
Moran, Conor John
Moreno Loreto, Jorge Alejandro
Myers, Hannah Marie
Nadeau, Claire
Nestor, Sydney Jo
Newsome, Brooke Ashleigh
Noriega, Lyndsay O’Neal
O’Donnell, Riley Tess
O’Gorman, Joseph Logan
Opie, John
Owens, Mia Lauren
Paradis, Collin Edward
Paynter, Ryan Neville
Peadon, Isabella Mary
Peeler, Grayson Aaron
Peeler, Jazlyn Riley
Peterson, Maria Lou
Phelan, Riley Patrick
Phillips, Hayden Chase
Phillips, Hunter Nash
Picton, Mitchell Evan
Piro, Nicholas Michael
Potts, Shawayla Nichole
Powell, Reilly Wilson
Price, Kasey Morgan
Pruss, Ellen
Quarles, Clayton Donald
Quarles, Kendra Lynne
Reeves, Savannah Noel
Regen, Jon Watson
Rhodes, Megan Michelle
Rink, Jonathan Andrew
Roberts, Aydin Coltrane
Rose, Connor Rex
Ross, Kayla Gabriella
Rynne, Madison Elizabeth
Samuelson, Olivia Grace
Satchwill, Jay Moses
Saunders, Nadia Hollise
Sayers, Cameron Justin
Scarfpin, Remini Rae
Schriefer, Sarah Marie
Schuette, Nicholas Randall
Schwab, Addison Gail
Schwinn, Austin Mitchell
Shanafelt, Chase Lawrence
Shaw, Presley Morgan
Shuford, Asheleigh Maudae
Silverman, Samuel Evan
Simon, Savannah Marais
Sincock, Richard Andrew
Sittler, Rachel Emily
Sliney, Timothy Nathan
Smith, Anna Danielle
Smith, Larry Marcel Alexander
Smithwick, Ava Wright
Snyder, Preston Thomas
Sparks, Charles Ethan
Spencer, Lindsey Nicole
Srisaguan, Lauren Mali
Stadler, William James
Stalun, Kincade Garett
Standish, Richard Shea
Starnes, Katherine Renee
Stewart, Autumn Brin
Stuart, Graham Tyler
Talip, Marian F
Taylor, William Brian
Thompson, Grace Bailey
Thorsheim, Jacob Loken
Tian, Jiawen
Tinkler, Laura Ellen
Tipps, Melia Irene
Tischer, Katherine Leth
Torres Ramirez, Lesley Ahide
Valencia Cervantes, Aily
Wade, Mary Margaret
Walters, Luke Russell
Ward, Elizabeth Rose
Westmoreland, Samuel Paul
Whisenant, Mary Grace
Williams, Login Marie
Williams, Sarah Leslie
Wilson, Jameka Monet
Woolever, Raine Michael
Wooley, Kayla Mae
Wooley, Taylor Kay
Worthington, Emma Frances
Wunder, Christopher Andrew
Yepez, Rebecca Nicole
Ziegler, Benjamin Allen
Zuniga, Angelo Sanjiv

7th GRADE – A/B HONOR ROLL

Abedi, Elizabeth Maral
Ackerman, Austin Spencer
Alexander, Madalyn Grace
Alvarez, Michelle Marie
Anderson, Briana Michelle
Anderson, Elaina Kristine
Ayers, Makayla Leigh
Bailey, Fischer Evan
Bard, Jason Owen Dylan
Barefoot, Owen Daniel
Barnes, Simone Marie
Barozzino, Noah David
Barrington, Marah Dey
Bartholomew-Schoch, Olivia Jane
Bell, Katie Lynn
Bell, Nia Joi
Benazzouz, Kenza
Benefield, William Tatum
Benitez, Maria Mesli
Benjamin, Hunter Eric
Bennett, Adam Edward
Bishop, Jolie Alexandra
Bissette, Jackson Taylor
Bjork, Jackson Lewis
Bonnes, Madison Marie
Bright, Albert
Brown, Charles Keegan
Butcher, Jeffrey Elwood
Butterfield, Avery Leigh
Calder, Loren Nicole
Caldwell, Noah Glen
Canady, Morgan Nicole
Carnahan, Maria Nicole
Carpenter, Peyton Cook
Carroll, Mary
Cassarino, Nicholas Manuel
Castoral, Eleanor Grace
Celis, Rebecca Anai
Cohn, Tyler Alexander
Colven, Alexandra Davan
Coulson, Kylie Marie
Cronan, Caitlin McLean
Cruz-Solano, Gabriella O
Cummings, Meredith Brooke
Davis, Mitchell Ethan
Dillow, Haiven Elizabeth
Doo, Angel Chia Fung
Duquesne, Bryce Robert
Durkee, Tyler Rae
Earnhardt, Joshua Christian
Eisen, Samantha Charlene
Esposito, Morgan
Fabian, Anthony Mahlon
Farmer, Jillian Mae
Ficara, Grace Madeline
Fitzgerald, Patrick Howard
Folk, Jordyn Hayley
Fox, Grace Nicole
Furr, Davis James
Galambos, Maverick Lucas
Galloway, Bella Grace
Gardner, Blaire Marie
Gerardi, Robert Vito
Ghiloni, Evan Richard
Gordon, Preston Scott
Graham, Timothy Hugh
Harrill, Graham Michael
Hausler, Claudine Ellen
Heareth, Ryan Richard
Hertel, Cecelia Tess
Highter, Jacob Lewis
Hill, Delaney Alexandra
Hughes, Lance Anthony
Jackson, Lauren Elizabeth
Jamison, Melissa Rae
Jeffrey, Adam Scott
Johnson, Zachary Grant
Kaseman, Joseph Theodore
Kaspersen, Tyler Christopher
Keene, Kelsey Emma
Kelly, Anna Katherine
Keohane, Donovan Finn
Klemp, Caroline Elizabeth
Kyei-Fordjour, Kwesi
Lennon, Mason Byron
Leslie, Dylan Mark
Lindekens, John Kyle
Linerode, Jonathan Michael
Locacius, Justin Thomas
Lopes, Sofia
Lorenz, Steven David
Lowe, Kenneth Robert
Mann, Meghan Lucille
Maple, Wesley Patrick
Markovics, Sydney Nolan
Martin, Haley Caroline
Mason, Ethan Christopher
Massengill, Riley Elizabeth
McCloskey, Robert Reece
McElroy, Alila Elizabeth
McMahan, John Kenneth
McSwain, Colby Thomas
Meintzer, Emily Kathleen
Melton, Alexis Starr
Menkhaus, Hannah Kaisa
Mesa, Jenifer
Messer, Ethan Brice
Miller, Brianna Mae
Miller, Jasmin Lynn
Modrow, Kate Elizabeth
Monteith, Breckyn Jolene
Monteleone, Lindsey Rose
Moore, Faith LeeAnn
Morgan, Riley Welch
Mroz, Anna Katherine
Nicodeme, Leila J
Noell, Dominick Duvall
Nunley, Laura Jane
O’Farrell, Abbie Elizabeth
O’Gara, Keilyn Jade
Oates, Allyson Grace
Olson, Lyndis Elizabeth
Pacifico, Ariana Silvy
Page, Carson Reilly
Paras, Azriela F
Pazos, Andres E
Peer, McKenna Pamela
Pellitteri, Phoebe Maeve
Plattner, Jacob Thomas
Precht, Kayla Marie
Qiu, Jenny
Reed, Allison Elizabeth
Reeder, Hanna Lynn
Reid, Molly Elizabeth
Revels, Kamryn Belle
Rink, Sydney Ellyn
Rodriguez, Ashley Brittany
Roper, Kaitlyn Louise
Rouse, Wilson McLeod
Ruggiero, Francesca Genevieve
Rush, Riley Catherine
Rynne, Molly Paige
Rynne, Thomas Michael
Sabido, Justin Isaac
Saychay, Darrian Konkham
Schmidt, Zoe Elizabeth
Seidman, Joshua Micah
Sellers, Jacob Alexander
Shryock Iv, John Edward
Simma, Alexandria Elizabeth
Smith, Andrew William
Smith, Keeley Grace
Smith, Noah Kai
Snead, Eliza Nicole
Snyder, Caden Leander
Stanley, John Alan
Steele, Miranda Claire
Stevens, Charisma Lindsey
Strother, Dylan Mitchell
Stuart, Elle Makenna
Sutton, Morgan Liles
Taylor, Tiana Isabella
Tindal, Kendra Nicole
Trainum, Benjamin Thomas
Tyo, Grayson Edward
Uglehus, Hannah Marie
Varga, Jordan Michelle
Wendt, Christopher Riley
Westervelt, Isabella Rose
Wissell, Lea Grace
Yates, Annah Mishell
Younts, Bailey Carter

6th GRADE – A/B HONOR ROLL

Acton Yanez, Alejandro Eric Manuel
Acton Yanez, Amelie Gabrielle Cristina
Alexander, Jenna Catherine
Alleman, Brayden Reid
Anderson, Emma Caroline
Andrews, Ireland Elise
Asken, William Xavier
Ayers, Casey Justin
Bailey, Quintin Joseph
Bane, Madeleine Ryan
Bartlett, Mason Riley
Beresnoy, Dylan Jeremy
Berry, Katelyn Diane
Blanco Rios, Brenda Geraldine
Bolick, Caden Beck
Bonner, Benjamin Patrick
Bourdon, Maria Carmen
Bowen, Nathan Michael
Bowles, Blake Mitchell
Brammer, Benjamin David
Broadway, Sydney Lauren
Bumpers, Jacob Alexander
Burkhart, Madison Nicole
Busse, Carter Robert
Butcher, Andrew Allen
Butler, Karson Savannah
Cabuco, Hunter Raylee
Carpinelli, Deanna Lynn
Castoria, Dylan Joseph
Chamberlain, Charles Raymond
Chiasera, Reilly Brynn
Chuilli, Annabelle Jean
Clapp, Parker Elias
Collier, Audrey Elise
Combs, Mary Elizabeth
Condon, Seamus William
Contes, Evan
Corcione, Rachael Gianna
Crawford, Chloe Virginia
Crawford, Max Preston
Creswell, Matthew Thomas
Cruz-Solano, Julia Orlando
Cummings, Dakota Skye
Dangelewicz, Ethan Charles
Davy, Aidan Christopher
Dempsey, Chloe Irene Kate
Dennis, Susanna Isabelle
Denny, Jackson Hunter
Despenas, Maxium Avery
Dibenedictis, Drew Mario
Dixon, Caleb Alexander
Dodd, Paloma Isabel
Doyle, Keara G
Dunker, Lucy Lane
Edge, Landen Jacob
Edvon, Jada Noelle
Endrws, Sarah
Eury, Michael Grant
Evans, Ayri Lynn
Feira, Andrew Paul
Fellinger, Henry Raymond
Flovick, Hayden Thomas
Folk, Olivia Catherine
Ford, Zariah Adia
Forney, Isaiah Hakeem
Forouzad, Kamran Mehdi
Fragale, Gavin Angelo
Frahm, Gabriel James
Frederick, Leyton Thomas
Fuerst, Joshua Cullen
Gais, Grant Charleston
Garcia, Fernando Ismael
Garris, Elizabeth Jane
Gay, Christopher Ryan
Gibson, Layne Elizabeth
Gillies, Jacob Michael
Goff, Korina Marie
Goolkasian, Ethan Walter
Grady, Jessica Sky
Grant, William Paige
Green, Ryleigh Madison
Hajrullahu, Blinera
Hardy, Jakobi Amiri
Harper, Duncan Clarke
Harrington, Katherine Lynn
Hayes, Erin
Helms, Melissa Ann
Herbster, Callihan Riley
Hines, Harmony Shay
Hollen, Caleb Wilson
Hopkins, Peyton Alexis
Hubler, Joseph Michael
Huertas, Cameron Elias
Hull, Dillon Reeves
Igo, Fisher Quinn
Jacobson, Hunter Lee
Jeenigiri, Rajiv Reddy
Jenkins, Riley Scott
Johnson, Caden Matthew
Johnston, Connolly Elizabeth
Johnstone, Gavin Brevard
Jones, Christian Timothy
Kastel, William Lee
Keene, Paige Charlotte
Kemp, Keiara Jordyn
Kerley, Robert Anthony
Khaloghli, Arman Arian
Kimbrell, Garrett Wade
Kinney, James Cole
Kleckner, Richard Chase
Kmieciak, Jackson Lee
Kowchefski, Christina Grace
Lefler, Abigail Sage
Lemke, Madison Irene
Liles, Hayley Alexis
Locklear, Noah Patrick
Logan, Alexis Jean
Logan, Seth William
Lopez-Quinones, Isabella Caridad
Lorenz, Sydney Mason
Lowe, Lauren Nicole
Lucier, Benjamin Edward Jeffrey
MacDonald, William Stanley
Madey, Connor Allen
Maestre Ruiz, Louisa Nicole
Maglietto, Thomas Joseph
Mallozzi, Brianna Elizabeth
Markle, Carlee Kay
McCune, Peyton Elizabeth
McDonald, Krysta Laine
McElroy, Savannah Belle
McGee, Zachary Gage
McKinney, Cole Lawrence
McMillen, Bryce Gray
McNeilis, Alexis Rae
Mendez, Miranda Leigh
Merrigan, Patrick Ryan
Miyares, Madelyn Norrell
Montgomery, Paige Madison
Moody, Janyia DeAsia
Mull, Brody Jay
Nieves, Kayleah Marie
Nunez, Daniel Thomas
O’Donnell, Sullivan Patrick
Ocello, Jacob Anthony
Oltremari, Emma Reece
Orbe, Isabella
Osteen, Luke Emilton
Owens, Savannah Rose
Patterson, Todd Andrew
Pearce, Aryana Lexi
Pearn, Ross Gunter
Peattie, Maya Christen
Perez McNeill, Joshua Isaiah
Plizga, Aidan Rainier
Pomeranz, Nir
Purves, Duncan Reed
Quattlebaum, Addisyn Mane
Rafford, Emily
Ray, Jack Carson
Raymond, Isaac Vincent
Rees, Christopher Mark
Regan, Ethan William
Rice, Anna Christel
Rivera Herrera, Uriel
Roberge, Anna Elizabeth
Robinette, Magdalene Grace
Robinson, Oliver Edward
Rojas, Melanie
Rouleau, Hunter Michael
Rouse, Jack Douglas
Sanchez-Ruiz, Steven Alexander
Scarfpin, Riley Stuart
Schmitt, Kylie Kay
Shelkey, Caroline Macneil
Shelton, Colby James
Sherrill, Skylannd E’Shonti
Shryock, Nicholas Payne
Smith, Evan Timothy
St-Cyr, Emilee Elizabeth
Stadler, Benjamin Alexander
Staton, Alexander Francis
Stone, Hailey Gaudoin
Stone, Trajyn
Sutherland, William Robert
Sutton, Grant Martin
Szluk, Bridget Elizabeth Te
Taylor, Gabriel Francis
Taylor, Hannah Lee
Tonyan, Caitlyn Marie
Tonyan, Charlotte Ann
Torres-Gutierrez, Leonardo De Jesus
Trimble, Alec James
Tyburski, Sophia Katlyn
Underwood, Emily Noelle
Wagenknecht, Ryder Paul
Warren, Shelby Caroline
Whalen, Avery Constance
Wilkins, Taylor Marie
Williams, Madison Godoy
Wilson, Samuel Towle
Wonzer, Victoria Alexandra
Wood, Caroline Callan
Wood, Carson Alan
Wood, John Dalton
Yang, Serina
Yarbrough, Joseph Michael

At Tuesday’s ceremony, from left: Dr. Bob Shirley, interim head of Woodlawn School; retired Davidson Prof. Sam Maloney; and Dwayne Bowman, founder and board chair of Woodlawn School.

Woodlawn School has a new collection of Native American artifacts, thanks to retired Davidson professor Sam Maloney. Maloney delivered the collection at a ceremony on Veterans Day where he also spoke about his experiences in World War II.

The spear points arranged in a circle are “Caraway points,” dating from the U.S. colonial period, Sam Maloney said.

“In 1963, a Davidson College student stepped out of his graduation procession to tell me where he had found Indian arrowheads while running cross-country,” Maloney said.

Maloney collected the artifacts on Sunday afternoon walks along Rocky River and Coddle Creek. Over the course of five years in the mid-1960s, he says, he filled 25 small boxes with such points, scrapers, stone implements, and pottery shards. He estimates some could be 9,000 years old.

Because he found many of the items near the property once owned by the Stinson family that founded Woodlawn Plantation – and now is adjacent to the Woodlawn School campus – he decided to donate them to the school.

“Each community that traveled through this area left its own trademark,” he explained to the students, noting that 22 different Native American communities are represented in his collection. He donated a similar grouping of artifacts to the Carolina Room at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Library.

VETERANS DAY PROGRAM

During his visit Tuesday, Maloney, a retired religion professor and a Davidson graduate, recounted his experiences as a B-24 bomber pilot in the pacific during World War II. He also was the keynote speaker on the Davidson Village Green later in the morning.

In his Village Green speech, he described how he asked Woodlawn’s seniors to stand up. Then he told them:

“Imagine me 73 years ago as a senior in my high school class … Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 1941,” he said. “I reminded them that Europe had been at war for two years. We enjoyed peace in this country. But then, within a month, on Dec. 7 1941, something happened that changed my life and the whole world.”

“Do you know what happened on that date,” he asked the students. “They did … the Japanese bombed our fleet at Pearl Harbor.”

RELATED COVERAGE

Nov. 11, 2014, DavidsonNews.net, “War challenges us, but we rise to the occasion, Maloney says”

By LISA WORF
WFAE-FM

A lot of questions remain about Heath Morrison’s departure as Superintendent of CMS, but it’s becoming clearer how that process went down. For one, CMS school board member Rhonda Lennon says he gave his resignation before the board could even discuss firing him. She says Morrison did that after he was given an outline of allegations against him.

About one month ago, the board began hearing complaints about Morrison, says school board member Lennon, who represents north Mecklenburg.

“We were presented by several sources that were very believable and these people were all willing to be public and come in front of the board and talk to us.”

Rhonda Lennon

So Lennon says that board members asked to see those complaints in writing. The plan was to go over a report by board attorney George Battle on Friday, October 31st. She says board Chairwoman Mary McCray and Vice Chairman Tim Morgan sat down with Morrison a couple days before to deliver a synopsis of the accusations and tell him the board would review them on Friday.

“Before we even had that meeting, Friday, October 31st. Dr. Morrison had an attorney contact us to initiate the resignation negotiations,” Lennon says.

That was about an hour before the meeting was supposed to begin.

“I can say prior to that point, everybody wanted to stick to the letter of the contract,” Lennon says, “which was review and if we feel there’s enough information in there to proceed with termination for cause we’ll vote on it and then move forward with termination for cause.”

She says it never reached that point because Morrison’s attorney informed the board of his intention to resign.

But Lennon says some board members thought maybe they shouldn’t accept his resignation. Instead, maybe they should just go ahead and fire him with cause. That means he wouldn’t be entitled to severance.

“But then we all thought that would be distractive to the school system because then there would be the hearing and he’s on suspension with pay and we wouldn’t be moving forward. And since the resignation was offered with no compensation, I was OK accepting that.”

Lennon says she wanted to make sure the news of Morrison’s resignation went public on Monday, Nov. 3, before the vote on the sales tax that would go toward raises for CMS employee.

“He (Morrison) was going to send out an announcement saying ‘I’m resigning, here’s my announcement.’ And we were going to send out that we were going to accept his resignation. And then obviously around noon that day someone leaked it to a TV station that he was going to resign.”

That was the first of a few leaks. A formal investigation into Morrison was leaked to the Charlotte Observer. It said Morrison belittled staff members and misled the board about the cost to build a magnet school at UNC Charlotte. But before portions of that report became public, Lennon says it had already found its way to Morrison.

“His attorney over the course of those negotiations made it very clear that she was basically almost quoting from the report in some instances. So clearly that report was not just leaked to the media, but apparently a leak to Dr. Morrison or his attorney as well,” Lennon says.

The board approved Morrison’s separation agreement 6-3 on Thursday. It included a confidentiality clause for both parties and a promise not to disparage one another. The Charlotte Observer has published portions of the report. Executive Editor Rick Thames says the newspaper doesn’t plan to publish the whole report.

“We’ve published everything from the report that is of public significance,” Thames says. “There are some matters in the report that involve the privacy of non-managerial employees. These are employees who had the courage to be candid about some very difficult situations in their workplace and we’re respecting their privacy.”

Board Chairwoman Mary McCray told a couple news outlets she wants the district attorney to investigate who leaked the report. Board member Eric Davis says a better way to handle it would be to hire outside counsel to investigate the whole situation that led to Morrison’s resignation. Davis voted against the separation agreement because he said disagreed with how the board handled Morrison’s departure.

“One of the first steps the board could take for helping the constituents we serve to understand how we got to where we are and restore trust would be to hire an independent body to do an investigation of not only how confidential information known by the board and three attorneys leaked to the press, but also what got us to this point we’re at today,” Davis says.

As for Lennon, she says it’s most important to move on.

“He resigned with zero compensation, and I think that should tell the public a lot,” Lennon says.

And she points out the investigation of Morrison wasn’t complete when he resigned. She says that investigation should continue to make sure no stone is left unturned.

RELATED LINKS

Nov. 4, 2014, “Observer: Morrison resigned amid investigation into misconduct.”

Nov. 3, 2014, “Morrison to quit Thursday as CMS superintendent”