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Student to Student |
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Dear prospective students,
My first semester at The Davidson Academy is coming to an end and I’m not really sure how I can describe this entirely unique experience. The environment here at the Academy is something different from anything I have experienced in any of my previous schooling situations.
The Academy is an amazing experience because everyone here truly wants to learn. All of the kids here are really invested in academic success and the teachers and advisors are dedicated to helping us with our goals. I won’t lie and say that my first semester has been perfect or totally stress-free, but I’m telling the truth when I say that it has allowed me to achieve things I never would have thought possible. I’ve been working really hard, but with hard work comes an amazing sense of achievement.
Having academic peers for almost the first time has been a truly wonderful experience as well. The conversations in the lunch room here at
The Davidson Academy range from communism, to Shakespeare, to whatever else happens to be on somebody’s mind. The other great part about having real peers is that none of us have to be “the smart kid” anymore. Because we don’t have to fit into this stereotype we are perfectly free to be ourselves.
Everyone here is friendly and there’s a great sense of community. I know deciding whether or not to attend the Academy is a big choice, but it’s definitely worth it!
~ Chloe
Willamson, First Year Davidson Academy Student
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Get to Know Us |
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We are about to complete our first semester at our new location on campus.
It’s hard to believe we’ve come so far and accomplished so much over the past few months. It took a lot of hard work moving into our new space and making sure everything was set up and ready. The process could not have been done if not for our excellent faculty and staff and
support of our amazing students.
We hope that you consider applying to The Davidson Academy and take advantage of the unique opportunities that we provide.
An item of interest is that we are on the same academic calendar as the University of Nevada, Reno. This means that the school year is divided into the fall and spring semesters,
separated by a month-long break. The Academy also observes the same holidays as the University.
Best wishes
and enjoy the holiday season!
~
Colleen Harsin, Director of The Davidson
Academy of Nevada
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Program Updates
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Upcoming Tours for Prospective Students
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 Since the beginning of the school year, prospective students and their families have been visiting us for
informational monthly tours of The Davidson Academy. It’s one thing to read about all of the great features of our new location on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, and quite another to actually see them in person.
Joining us for a tour also provides you the opportunity to ask specific questions,
hear from current students and Academy parents, familiarize yourself with our faculty and staff, and network with others examining the Academy.
Visit us for a tour on one of the following dates:
- Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009
- Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009
- Thursday, March 26, 2009
- Friday, Aug. 14, 2009
RSVP is required for all tours. If you would like more information, please email
explore@davidsonacademy.unr.edu.
2009-2010 Academy Applications Available
 If
you think The
Davidson Academy of Nevada is the right fit for you, the
next step is to apply! The final date to submit applications for 2009-2010 (March 1st) is fast approaching, and applicants are encouraged to do so early, as space is limited.
Applications can be found on the Academy
How to Apply page and consists of three downloadable documents. The Academy is specifically designed to meet the needs of profoundly gifted middle and high school students at the sixth grade level and beyond who score in the 99.9th percentile on IQ or college entrance tests, such as the SAT or ACT. Please review the
Test Score Criteria page as these scores are mandatory for student eligibility.
Summer Fun and Excitement
 Enjoy three weeks of challenging, college-level work during the summer while making new friends and living on the University of Nevada, Reno campus! If you will be 13 to 16 years old during the THINK Summer Institute which runs, July 11 through August
1, you can apply with test results that meet or exceed designated
SAT or
ACT scores listed at
www.DavidsonGifted.org/Think. THINKers have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the
University campus where The Davidson Academy of Nevada is located, along with some of the professors who teach Academy students. Tuition is $2,700 and includes course credits, room and board, and the cost of planned programs and activities. Financial assistance is available based on need. Applications will be accepted on a space-available basis.
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Student Excellence |
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The Community Crusaders, an Academy student club, recently participated in the
highly successful West Street Market Holiday Festival in Reno. Students donated
baked goods and volunteered, raising $284 for The Davidson Academy Student
Activities Fund and the Food Bank of Northern Nevada! The event consisted of a
number of community and nonprofit organizations. The Davidson Academy was in
charge of snowball bowling. Students
also contributed to create a beautifully
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The Davidson Academy Science Society members attended the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) kickoff event at the Desert Research Institute (DRI) in Reno this
past November. Dr. Steve Wells, president of both DRI and the Intel ISEF
host-city organization called Gathering Genius, mingles
with Academy students in this photo. View the
ISEF website for more information.
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 decorated booth, prizes, treats, music
and more!
Academy students recently participated in Project Lovepack, a local philanthropy for children who have been removed from their homes due to violence, neglect and other safety concerns. Students donated and packed toiletries, toothbrushes, toothpaste, tissue, notebooks, pens/pencils, coloring books/crayons, books, blankets, stuffed animals, socks, water bottles,
etc.
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Cool Spots on Campus - Fleischmann
Planetarium |
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 With hands-on interactive displays, large-scale rotating Earth and moon globes, a black hole demonstrator, dozens of meteorites and more, the
Fleischmann Planetarium
on the University of Nevada, Reno campus is a source of wonder and discovery for those interested in astronomy! Also see regular feature films, a star show, and a light show.
The Planetarium is a member of the International Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), which means Fleishmann Planetarium members receive free admission to hundreds of partner museums and science centers worldwide.
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Meet Ms. Walenta, Science Instructor |
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What made you first become interested in science?
I would have to say curiosity is what first got me interested in science – wanting to know more about how something worked and being able to inquire more deeply into a subject. I also enjoy the challenges that science offers.
Teaching science is like an added bonus. You get to experience all of your favorite interests and then share it with others. It is additionally rewarding to help students meet the various challenges that science offers and help them
with problem solving.
The Academy’s science classes have access to the University of Nevada,
Reno labs. What are some of the ways you have built this resource into your curriculum?
The Advanced Chemistry students utilize the labs on a weekly basis and the labs are consistent with the curriculum for that course. Since the class is small we are also able to accommodate the regular chemistry students as well. However, the regular chemistry students participate as part of an extracurricular activity. This means that the labs are not mandatory.
It provides students with a safe forum for conducting chemistry experiments while having fun at the same time.
You are an advisor for the Academy’s Science Society. What types of things does the Science Society work on?
The Science Society is new to The Davidson Academy so we are
still working on solidifying our goals. Our main focus at
the moment is to offer guidance and support to anyone
participating in the upcoming science fair in the spring. We
assisted with the “Gathering Genius” kick-off event in
November and have advertised and supported a local astronomy
event at the Fleischman Planetarium. Our members also have
an online forum that has been initiated by one of our
members where they can ask questions. There are also some
quiz-type games that they can play - all science related, of
course. I am happy to be a part of this experience with The
Davidson Academy students and am look forward to watching
this student organization
grow and mature.
The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair is going to be in Reno next spring. How are you helping The Davidson Academy students prepare to compete?
We have a number of students who are planning to compete and we are in the process of helping each student with their projects. Having the University so close has been of enormous assistance as it has helped many students obtain some necessary equipment in order to do their projects. Earlier this semester we had a number of guest speakers talk with our students to help cultivate curiosity and interest. Additionally, we have had
University research librarians give a presentation on how to conduct research at the
new campus
Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center. They did a phenomenal presentation and even created a
website to help guide our students through the process.
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“The Academy offered an environment I had only dreamt of in previous schools. I found myself immersed in a school that offered not only an academic level beyond any I had experienced before, but also a social environment that I enjoy. The students and staff are helpful and friendly, and I've made friends here that I hope to keep for life.”
~ Third-year
Academy student
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