Student to
Student |
|
Dear Prospective Academy Students,
When I first heard about The Davidson Academy from
my father, I was not really interested. Unsatisfied
with my hometown and wanting me to find more
challenging academics, my parents suggested that I
should apply to the Academy. However, I was perfectly happy with my friends and my hometown and wished to attend the high school that most of my friends would attend after graduating
from middle school. After reading about the Academy, however, I learned that this school is different from any other school and would be a great help in my future academic career, so I decided to apply.
After about two months, I
got into the Academy. I was ecstatic but also
disappointed at the same time. Attending this school
and moving to Reno meant leaving all of my friends
and the place I called home for five years. However,
on the first day, I met some other people who, like
me, are first-year students and were nervous about this new academic environment.
We helped each other out and soon became friends.
I am already attending classes that I would not have
been able to take in my past school for a couple of
years. Although this is only my fourth month at the
Academy, I have already been able to gain amazing academic experiences
and make great new friends, and I am sure that I will continue to enjoy this unique school.
I hope to see you in the coming years!
~
Min-soo Kim, First Year Davidson Academy Student
|
|
Get to Know Us |
|
As the school year
moves forward, it’s hard to believe we are already past the midway point of the semester! With a number of our students graduating in May, we are helping them think about their future and locate the best match in future academic and personal options. To accomplish this, we have set up weekly guidelines to assist graduating students throughout this arduous process, and have an independent college consultant working closely with them.
Please see below for information about admissions, the brand new Academy brochure and upcoming tours!
~ Colleen Harsin, Director of The Davidson Academy of Nevada
|
|
Program
Updates |
|
2010-2011 Application Available
If
you think The Davidson Academy of Nevada
may be the right fit for you, consider applying for the
2010-2011 school year! Visit the
How to Apply page to download the three application PDF files. 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 of our website as these scores are mandatory for student eligibility. Please visit the
Application Review Process for detailed information in addition to the Admissions section of the
FAQs page.
New Davidson Academy Brochure The
new Davidson Academy brochure is now available! This
updated brochure provides an overview of what set the
Academy apart from other schools, the Academy's approach
to curriculum, academics, student life, extracurricular
activities, admissions, information about the campus
home and much more!
View the online version (PDF) or
request copies of the
brochure by mail.
Upcoming Tours
of the Academy
Have you considered The Davidson Academy as an option for your gifted student? Seeing the Academy for
yourself allows you to get an entirely different feel for the learning environment! Ask specific questions, hear from current students and parents, familiarize yourself with our faculty and staff, and network with others considering the Academy.
Visit during one of our monthly tours on these dates:
- Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009
- Friday, Jan. 22, 2010
- Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010
- Thursday, March 25, 2010
- Thursday, April 15, 2010
RSVPs
are required for these tours. If you would like more information, please email
explore@davidsonacademy.unr.edu.
|
|
Cool Spots on
Campus - Honor Court |
|
One of the most beautiful sites on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, the
Honor Court is only a short walk from The Davidson Academy. Located just inside the main campus entrance in an intimate park-like area, the court features a gazebo and running fountain, benches, trails and gardens. Dedicated in 1997, the court also contains sierra white granite pillars and a tall monument to honor top students, staff, faculty and donors who have made an impact on the University.
|
|
Student
Activities |
|
The Davidson Academy’s Robotics Team of 11- to 14-year olds known as "The Test Track Dummies" presented their research project and a working robot at
the
Electric Auto Association of Northern Nevada (EAANN) monthly meeting
in November. The team research project focuses on the problem of pedestrian and bicycle safety along the streets surrounding the University of Nevada, Reno
campus. Members of the Test Track Dummies will also demonstrate the robot they built as a requirement for entry into the
FIRST Lego League (FLL) robotics competition in Las Vegas on Dec. 5.
Congratulations on their hard work and good luck at the Las
Vegas competition!
Davidson Academy students recently participated in a “Freaky Friday Fall Festival” to help raise funds for Academy clubs. The event, organized by the Student Council featured carnival style treats, bowling, face painting, a cake walk, music trivia and more! It was a fun way to help support the missions of the Academy clubs. For a list of clubs currently offered at the Academy, see the
Student Activities page.
|
|
Meet Ms. Juriaan, English Instructor |
|
What subjects/age groups do you work with the most at the Academy?
The age range of the students I work with varies wildly depending on what class I'm teaching. I teach some of our youngest students in Creative Writing, but I also get to work with more advanced students in American Literature. However, the majority of the students I teach fall into the middle school age range.
What is your favorite part about working with Academy students?
I am constantly amazed by the students' enthusiasm for learning. I taught for several years in both the traditional high school and college settings, and I have never seen such a zest for school and for experimenting with new ideas. Not only is it inspirational, but it also makes my job as a teacher much more enjoyable. I love designing lesson plans for these students!
How do you make studying English both interesting and fun?
I like to vary the approaches we
take to both writing and literature in each unit. I try to
integrate discussion, direct instruction, small group work,
independent exploration and multimedia elements into every
unit, hopefully ensuring that at least one method will
appeal to every student. I also try to choose literature
that will be interesting to the students. While I try to
cover as many canonical works as possible, I'm also well
aware that some texts are better received by students than
others. We try to listen to the students, integrate their
feedback into our own lesson plans, and adjust accordingly.
That's a freedom and a privilege that neither students nor
teachers enjoy at traditional schools.
If you were trapped on a desert island, what three books would you bring?
This is the toughest question you could possibly ask a bibliophile! I
love books and own way more than I probably should, and answering this question always makes me feel guilty, like I'm choosing a favorite child. However, if I had to pick just three, they would probably be
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, and
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (although I'd definitely try to sneak all the Harry Potters onto the island as well!).
|
|
|
"This is a school unlike any I’ve ever attended
. . . The most important difference between the Academy and a generic public school is the student body: Everyone is exceptionally smart."
Benjamin Lokshin, Fourth Year Davidson Academy Student
|
|
|