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   Student to Student


What’s up, prospective students?

If you’ve read even one of these Student to Student columns before, you probably know a lot of what I’m going to say—so I’m just going to skip that part. I’m not going to tell you that the teachers at Davidson are some of the nicest, most understanding, funniest people I’ve ever met. I’m not going to tell you about the amazing Davidson staff members, who keep our school functioning and are always there for us. I’m not going to tell you that Davidson’s schedule flexibility is wonderful (students can take the level of core classes that best suits them in addition to a huge range of electives, even classes at the University of Nevada Reno, and can create and/or lead their own electives or clubs if they so wish). Lastly, I’m not going to tell you about the myriad ways the students here contribute to an accepting and nurturing environment where gifted children can flourish both socially and intellectually.

Instead of telling you, I’m going to show you. Picture the scene: I’m sitting in study hall right now, writing this column on an Academy-provided computer. To my left, two boys, an eighth grader and a high school sophomore, are discussing their history essays in hushed tones. To my right, a young girl is sending an email to her Physical Science teacher, wisely taking advantage of his policy of giving ungraded feedback on the first drafts of students’ lab reports if they request it. He simultaneously gives his students an opportunity to proactively self-advocate and allows them to make any necessary revisions without having to worry about scores. The teachers here want you to learn, first and foremost, and so if you’re learning and working hard, then the good grades will usually follow.

Speaking of grades, let’s talk about the other type. I’m not sure what grade this girl’s in. It’s not because I don’t know her—I actually hang out with her a lot—but because age doesn’t really matter at Davidson. Seniors and middle schoolers hang out together here. I have classes with both seniors and middle schoolers, too, since the classes you take are determined by your skill level in that particular subject rather than your placement in other subjects, your age, or your graduating year. The only thing your graduating year determines is . . . drumroll please…the location of your locker. Really, that’s it. Sometimes I forget what grade I’m in, so how could I possibly know everyone else’s grade? What I do know, though, is the name of every single student, from the shy nine-year-old doing math with her friends to the senior boys rehearsing their English skit in the hallway. We all know each other in this tiny school, and that creates a strong sense of community.

Okay, I lied. There’s one thing I am going to tell you that my fellow student writers have also said many times: apply to the Davidson Academy! It is awesome and you will love it and we have food.

See you at an indeterminate time in the future (hopefully next year!),

Ming Li Wu, Third Year Davidson Academy Student

N.B. I have recently been informed that your graduating year also determines when you graduate. Go figure.

 

   Meet Mr. Marshall, Math Instructor


How long have you taught at the Academy, and how has the school changed since you started?
I have been teaching at the Academy since the spring of 2012. One of our desires here is to continually improve the way we do things, and I have seen that in our administration and our teachers. Our administrators work very hard to communicate with parents, teachers, and students to identify our strengths and areas of improvement. When we find something to improve on, we work together to come up with a solution, and implement it. With our instructors, I see a lot of creativity and a desire to keep our classrooms engaging, fun, and rigorous. I have seen a lot of changes in instructional methods that help us meet our student’s needs and interests.

Generally, what is your average class size?
My math classes have about seven students on average and I have never had more than 10 at time. On Fridays, I teach photography as an elective and I have 15 students.

What are a few of the more interesting or challenging projects that you have assisted Academy students with?
I have been facilitating the math competitions that our school participates in since I have been here. We have many students who are really passionate about mathematics and have spent a lot of time learning and practicing competition problems, as well as students who just have an interest in problem solving. It has been really fun to see our students get excited to compete and gain confidence in their abilities. We have been able to participate in a variety of competitions that cover the diversity of interests and skill levels of our students.

   Davidson Academy Program Updates

2015-2016 Application Available

The Davidson Academy of Nevada application for the 2015-2016 school year is now available! Visit the How to Apply page to access the online application system. If you are looking for an environment to better fit your social and academic needs, The Davidson Academy may be the place for you!

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. On the Application Review Process page, you will find detailed information about the on-site assessment.

Upcoming Tours for Prospective Students

Each month during the school year, The Davidson Academy hosts a tour for prospective students and their parents. At these tours, visitors meet current Academy students, parents, faculty and staff, and ask specific questions about the school.

Upcoming school tours will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the following Fridays:
  • Sept. 26, 2014
  • Oct. 24, 2014
  • Nov. 21, 2014
  • Dec. 12, 2014
  • Jan. 30, 2015
  • Feb. 27, 2015
For details, including directions to The Davidson Academy and RSVP information, please visit the Tours page. If you would like more information, please contact us at outreach@davidsonacademy.unr.edu.
   

   Student Activities

  
Ten Davidson Academy students were named 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program Semi-Finalists: Juliana Bogert, Caelan Caudell, Grace Hong, John Laughlin, Ryan Mann, Katherine Oakley,  Sarah Tacner, Emmy Tian, Lindsey Zeising, Brad Gaphart.



New student council officers were elected during the first few weeks of this school year. Congratulations to these student body leaders: President – Adelaide Oh; Vice President – Dylan Bowman; Secretary - Sarah MacHarg; Treasurer - Arturo Guzman; and Spirit Commissioner - Duncan Boren.
 
   

   In the News

Now Available - Dr. Jim Delisle's New Book Dumbing Down America

At a time when the U.S. education system consistently lags behind its international peers, Dr. Jim Delisle's new book, Dumbing Down America, shows exactly why America can’t keep up by providing a critical look at the nation’s schools through the eyes of the children whose minds are languishing in countless classrooms. Filled with specific examples of how gifted children are being shortchanged by a nation that believes smart kids will succeed on their own, the book packs a powerful message: If we want our nation to prosper, we must pay attention to its most intelligent youth.

Director of The Davidson Academy, Colleen Harsin, is quoted:  "Don’t hold back! If a 10–year-old is ready for a calculus class, arrange it for her. Other than a minimum legal age for some activities, services, or privileges, age never matters as much as it does in school. Age and ability are not a required match in real-world applications of giftedness. While there is much to support talent development and the value of practice, there is no minimum age one must reach to demonstrate exceptional knowledge or abilities in any subject area or activity. Let students progress through K-12 curriculum at a pace consistent with abilities, not age."

Dumbing Down is now available from Prufrock Press. Read this recent interview with Dr. Delisle on the Gifted Parenting Support blog.

Boy Genius - The Rotarian

Davidson Academy graduate Taylor Wilson is featured in The Rotarian August 2014 issue. The article, Boy Genius, describes Taylor's childhood and how his parents nurtured his passion in science. A fourth-generation Rotarian, Taylor's father had the support of fellow Rotary members which was invaluable to Taylor’s growth as a scientist and public speaker. By the eighth grade, Taylor and his family moved to Nevada so that he could attend The Davidson Academy.

 

“Throughout my entire academic career, I have always wanted to go above and beyond the standard classroom curriculum, and I knew that Davidson could provide me with a wealth of resources to do just that. Over the past few years, my expectations have been repeatedly shattered by my amazing experiences at the Academy.”

Hadley Weiss, Davidson Academy Graduate (pictured, left)

 


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Phone: 775-852-3483 Fax: 775-852-2184
Email: administrator@davidsongifted.org     Web: www.DavidsonGifted.org      www.DavidsonAcademy.UNR.edu
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      For more prospective student information, visit The Davidson Academy Tours page.

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