Student to
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Hello Prospective Davidson Academy
Students!
People say that time flies when you’re enjoying yourself. For the past year or so, that’s precisely what has happened to me at
The Davidson Academy. I have been in varied schooling situations, but two years ago, I found myself stuck in a public school district, not too eager to finish my education there. Luckily, I am now able to attend
The Davidson Academy, and not once have I regretted my choice.
At the Academy, everything is more about you. Although the
school is growing, I still have some classes with fewer than
ten students. I can talk with people at my own level and
receive personal attention. Teachers readily innovate, adapting the material to fit everyone’s personalities and needs. I have learned through “Theatrical Thursdays” in U.S. history and Slinky playtime in physics. In my first year, I was initially put in courses that were too easy, but within three weeks the school adjusted these placements. Every staff member at the school, especially my guidance counselor, has been interested in addressing my placement concerns and helping me succeed.
To provide a respite from rigorous core classes, the Academy
has diverse elective offerings on Fridays, which have
allowed me to explore areas like Web Design and 20th Century
History in depth. These engaging electives allow teachers to cater to students' interests. In my 20th Century History class, for instance, we study student interests, reading material on subjects covering a range including Communism, corporatization of the globe, and the modern Palestinian Problem. I love it when everyone around me is excited to chip in on the global issues at hand. What’s even better is that these kinds of energized discussions carry beyond the classroom
and into the lunchroom. There you can find someone willing to talk to you about mostly anything, on discussions ranging beyond the usual sports/movies/video game debates, whether it is how to combine two expansion packs in the Settlers of Catan, the inefficiencies of government projects, or another random topic.
Well, this is fine, but what if you want something more satisfying out of your lunchtime? Then you can turn to the clubs, around a dozen in number. I take part in two
- the Science Club and GECKO (the environmental club). One of GECKO’s
projects involved a swap of goods between Academy families
followed by a public garage sale. Another popular club is
Community Crusaders, in which advisors organize volunteer
events for interested students.
At the Academy, you can push your mind to the limit, find a friend similar to you, and have fun
all at the same time. All of these have happened to me and I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. If you live across the country, making the Academy a reality can be difficult, but it really is a life-changing school and a unique opportunity. Please do consider
The Davidson Academy for your next school year!
~ Karthik Rohatgi, Second Year Davidson Academy Student
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Get to Know Us |
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With
the 2010-2011 school year having recently begun,
it’s a very exciting time at The Davidson Academy!
Our enrollment has increased from 92 students last
year to 123 this year, resulting in a more diverse
student body and allowing us to offer interesting
new options. Although we continue to grow on a
yearly basis, small class size and a focus on the
individual student remain a priority.
New students
are quickly acclimating themselves to their
surroundings and for many, this is their first
experience being around intellectual peers in a
stimulating academic environment. Returning students
are doing an excellent job welcoming these new
students as they themselves continue to grow. All
students are taking advantage of the Academy’s close
relationship with the University of Nevada, Reno.
Students have FREE access to online journals,
articles and eBooks through the University’s
extensive library system.
We hope you will consider
applying for the 2011-2012 school year, or attend
one of our tours (details below)!
~ Colleen Harsin, Director of The Davidson Academy of Nevada
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Program
Updates |
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2011-2012 Application Available
If
you think
The Davidson Academy of Nevada may be the right fit
for you, consider applying for the 2011-2012 school
year! 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 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
Qualification Criteria page of our website as these
scores are required for student eligibility. Please
visit the
Application Review Process for detailed information
in addition to the Admissions section of the
FAQs page.
Upcoming Tours for Prospective Students Prospective students and their families
are invited 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, 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.
Academy Offering Residential
Program for 2011-2012
The Davidson Academy is moving forward with
a Residential Program for the 2011-2012 school year.
Residential students will live with local host families
during the school year so their families do not have to
relocate in order for them to attend school. All residential
students from out of state will be required to pay
tuition as well as room and board fees (costs to be
determined). In-state students will only be required to
pay room and board fees. To apply, a completed
Davidson Academy Application along with a
Residential Program Interest Form are due by the
Dec. 1, 2010 deadline. See The Davidson Academy
How to Apply page or email
smeredith@davidsonacademy.unr.edu for more information.
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Student Life |
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National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists
Congratulations to Davidson Academy students Darlon Jan,
Erik Jensen and Tristan Rasmussen on being named 2011
National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) Semifinalists!
They will now go on to the next phase of the competition,
which could result in them being named finalists in
February, with scholarship award information to follow.
Source:
Clark County School District (PDF)
Student Activities Davidson Academy students thrive off of each others’ ideas and insights both in and out of the classroom. Students are encouraged to participate in clubs, teams and community activities.
Below is a list of activities currently offered at the Academy:
- Community Crusaders
- DECA
- Drama Club
- Future Physicians Club
- Green Earth Community Knowledge Organization (GECKO)
- Karaoke Club
- Le Petit Cirque
- The Messenger, Literary Magazine
- Math Club
- Newspaper Club
- P.A.W.S. (Passion Animals, Wildlife, Students)
- RE(A)D (student newspaper)
- Robots, Rockets, & Radio (RRR)
- Science Project
- Student Council
- Yearbook
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Meet Ms. Oswald, Mathematics Instructor |
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Why did you choose to teach mathematics?
Mathematics was by far the most interesting and challenging of all my subjects at school. I recall getting such a thrill when I managed to solve a difficult problem. After completing a Bachelor of Science at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, majoring in Pure Mathematics, Genetics, and Logic, I completed a post-graduate diploma in education and took up a teaching position in Queensland. I had 42 students in each of my math and science classes, which could have
turned me away from teaching for life, but I soldiered on.
How do you make studying mathematics both interesting and relevant?
Some people think mathematics and relevance are opposing concepts, but I try to incorporate the solving of real life problems that require some out-of-the-box thinking
in my teaching. It’s interesting how we often make false assumptions that we’re not aware of at the time. I love the beauty of an elegant mathematical solution and encourage a variety of solutions that can cater to different learning styles.
In what ways to you foster communication and build a positive environment in your classroom?
I really like my students to do most of the talking. I think it’s important to be able to think mathematically and to be able to speak the language of mathematics. One of my favorite questions is “Why?”. I’m not a teacher who likes to tell students very much. I’d much rather help illicit solutions and questions from the students in a collaborative environment. It’s also a good strategy to prevent students from falling asleep!
Does the mathematics classroom at The Davidson Academy look different than other math classrooms?
Absolutely it does. We have small classes which means I can give much more
timely, individualized assistance. Students think and process differently; with a smaller classroom population, I can best assist each student to optimize his or her learning. I also can have a wide span of ages in each of my classes as we differentiate by ability and not age, which makes for some interesting and lively discussions.
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“With the support of the staff at the Academy and the encouragement of my wonderful peers, I’ve set higher goals for myself and learned to recognize my potential.”
Jessica Kim, 2010 Davidson Academy Graduate
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