July 2010 Davidson Academy Prospective Student eNewsletter

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Student to Student | Program Updates | Website Updates | THINK Summer Institute | In the News

Student to Student
	Hello Prospective Davidson Academy students! I realize that many of you out there might be hesitant about coming to The Davidson Academy. I know I was. However I bet a lot of you are also tired of hearing phrases like “can anyone answer the question besides [insert name here]?” I know I was. It was those kind of comments that finally convinced me to come to The Davidson Academy, and it's been two glorious years since I heard them last. Here everything is different. Here the classes are really small (my largest Academy class was six people last year) which means you finally have a chance to contribute to the class without being shushed. However it won't be just you and your teacher blabbing away, because all of the other students in your class are just as smart and as eloquent as you. This has been amazing for me because for the first time I have access to peers who actually know what they're talking about and are able to support what they're saying instead of just asserting it as fact. Of course it's not the students who make a class (although they are a big part of it) but the teachers. And the teachers here are amazing. Since classes are small, all the teachers have time to deal with you personally, a convenience many public school students don't have access to. Because they can talk to you individually they can better understand what you need and how they can help you, all of which makes getting through the school year so much easier. So the classes are great, you may say, but what about everything else? I don't want school to be only about the classroom, no matter how amazing they might be. Well neither do we. That's why The Davidson Academy has a wide range of clubs and extracurricular activities. Personally I'm part of three clubs, GECKO (our environmental club), RE(A)D (our school newspaper) and Student Council. If none of those interest you, there are a multitude of other clubs for you to join, from robotics to literary magazines. If sports are your thing, many of our students participate on a local cross-country and track team or you can join one of the other public school teams in the area. I can assure you there will be something here that will interest you. All in all the Academy is a great place for almost anybody. If you're still on the fence about this I strongly urge you to consider going to the Academy. Hope to see you when school starts. ~ Tristan Rasmussen, Entering Third Year at The Davidson Academy View this Nevada News article to read about Tristan's father, a professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, and his family's decision to move to Reno for Tristan to attend The Davidson Academy. Tristan is quoted numerous times in the article.
Program Updates
	2011-2012 Application Available The Davidson Academy application for the 2010-2011 school year is now available! Visit the How to Apply page to download the application PDF files. The Academy is specifically designed to meet the needs of profoundly gifted middle and high school students who score in the 99.9th percentile on IQ or college entrance tests, such as the SAT or ACT. Please review the recently updated Qualification Criteria page of our website as these scores are mandatory for student eligibility. The first application submission deadline for the 2011-2011 school year is Sept. 1, 2010. Applications will be accepted on a monthly basis through April 1, 2011. Please visit the Application Review Process for detailed information in addition to the Admissions section of the FAQs page. Academy Offering Residential Option For First Time in 2011-2012 Starting with the 2011-2012 school year, The Davidson Academy will offer a residential option. Residential students will live with local host families during the school year so their families do not have to move to Reno in order for them to attend the school. All residential students will be required to pay room and board fees. Tuition will also be required for out-of-state students. However, in-state students will be able to attend the Academy tuition-free. These costs are still to be determined. To apply, a completed Davidson Academy Application along with a Residential Interest Form are due by the Dec. 1, 2010 deadline. Upcoming Tours for Prospective Students Prospective students and their families will soon be able to visit The Davidson Academy for informational monthly tours! Taking a tour provides the opportunity to hear from current students and Academy parents, familiarize yourself with faculty and staff, network with others, and ask specific questions. Visit the Academy for a tour on one of the following dates: Friday, Aug. 6, 2010 Friday, Sept. 24, 2010 Friday, Oct. 22, 2010 Friday, Nov. 19, 2010 Friday, Dec. 10, 2010 RSVPs are required. If you would like more information, please email explore@davidsonacademy.unr.edu.
Visit the Enhanced Academy Website
	If you haven’t visited The Davidson Academy website for a while, we encourage you to check it out! We have added numerous pages intended to provide an in-depth look at the Academy. Among the website’s new features: A College Advising page that provides a year-by-year look at how the Academy helps prepare students for graduation and the next steps of their academic careers. Our Graduates page provides a list of all the colleges to which Academy students have been accepted. An Assessment Example (PDF), which provides an example of The Davidson Academy's on-site assessment day. An assessment is an in-person review conducted by Academy staff to make sure that the Academy is a good fit for the family. Annual revisions to the School Profile, which provides information on the Academy’s background, mission statement, goals, graduates, eligibility criteria, courses students have taken and more. An updated Frequently Asked Questions page. These are just some of the updates to the Academy website, where you can learn about admissions, academics, student life and more!
THINK Summer Institute
	Some Academy students are currently attending the seventh annual THINK Summer Institute, in session from July 10 through July 31. Home to The Davidson Academy of Nevada, the Jot Travis Building is also the location of most THINK classes. THINK allows students to enjoy three weeks of challenging, college-level work while making new friends and living on the University of Nevada, Reno campus! If you will be 13 to 16 years old during THINK, which runs annually in July, 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 Academy is located, along with some of the faculty who teach Academy students, and attend cultural events in the Reno-Lake Tahoe area. Check the website for current tuition costs, which include course credits, room and board, and the expense of planned programs and activities. It’s not too early to start thinking about next year! Applications for 2010 will be available this fall. Learn more: Nevada News, KRNV-TV
In the News
	Academy student Casey Acklin was interviewed on a recent airing of Nevada NewsMakers. Casey describes the differences he has experienced between the Academy and past schools attended, mentioning that he has a lot of common interests with other Academy students. Academy co-founder Bob Davidson and Academy director Colleen Harsin also participated in the interview. View the interview by clicking here. The latest Nevada Silver & Blue, the alumni magazine of the University of Nevada, Reno, featured the brand new Davidson Mathematics and Science Center on the University campus in the Summer Edition cover story, Davidson Mathematics and Science Center: transforming the campus (PDF). The Davidson Center was also spotlighted in the Nevada News article, More Than an Investment: Davidson Center to make a difference, one student at a time. Davidson Academy students who are taking University math or science courses will have the opportunity to attend classes in the new Davidson building. Academy students Claire Evans and Dennis Wei recently performed for the Reno Philharmonic's Young Musician's Showcase, both playing the violin. Their performances were posted on YouTube: Watch Claire's here and Dennis' here. Academy student Anthony Fidaleo won the 2010 Nevada State Prize Examination in High School Mathematics Award for the Reno area. Source: Nevada News
	“The campus has needed a top-notch math and science solution, and this building should provide that. We have some terrific talent in our College of Science, and I hope this building helps create more mathematicians and scientists, because we’re falling behind the rest of the world in these areas.” Jan Davidson, Co-founder of The Davidson Academy, on the new Davidson Mathematics and Science Center on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, Nevada News article

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