The Student News Site of Community School of Davidson

CSD Spartan Media

CSD Spartan Media

CSD Spartan Media
The Media Center sign has long welcomed freshmen to Guided Learning Labs, a structured setting to study during free blocks. Now known as the Academic Success Center, the area is an intervention for students from all grades referred by their teacher for missing assignments, attendance issues or the need to work on classwork or homework.

CSD’s Learning Labs receive a makeover

While Guided Learning Labs have always been reserved for freshmen and Choice Learning Labs for upperclassmen, a new administrative policy reorganizes them based on academic performance and grading. Students and teachers are working through the changes.
Dylan Sherman, Copy Editor, Deputy Sports Editor
February 10, 2025

For current and former ninth grade students at the Community School of Davidson (CSD), having a free block during the school day has always meant reporting to the school’s Academic Success Center for...

Continue Reading
CSD seniors (from left) Jenni Lewman, Julia Vecchiarello and Madeline McKinley display their phones, two of whom have TikTok downloaded and one who has the app deleted and can no longer download it. The past month has been a turbulent one for TikTok users. The app briefly shut down but is now back, at least for the short term.

For now, TikTok keeps ticking

As a new presidential administration weighs a possible national security risk against the popular app’s usage, high school students keep scrolling
Kate Saussele, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Features Editor
January 22, 2025

Community School of Davidson (CSD) student, Madeline McKinley’s (‘25), alarm goes off at 6 a.m. every weekday. Before stepping out of bed to get dressed, pack her lunch and drive to school, she opens...

Continue Reading
Like a teacher’s desk contains drawers of information and materials, a president’s Cabinet contains their closest advisors. As the next president takes office, confirming nominations (however controversial) is a top priority.

The Cabinet and the drawers

A look inside President Trump’s new controversial Cabinet nominees and understanding the significance of it all
Evan Mulligan, News Editor, Staff Writer
January 13, 2025

On November 5, 2024, former President Donald Trump did something that had only been done one other time in history. After winning every swing state and all Republican states in a landslide, Trump won the...

Continue Reading
Information overload can come from a variety of places. And that can be good and bad. So bad, in fact, that Oxford University Press has named “brain rot” their 2024 Word of the Year.

Oxford Dictionary declares “brain rot” the Word of the Year

On December 2, 2024, Oxford Dictionary declared “brain rot” the Word of the Year. Two Community School of Davidson high school English teachers share their thoughts on the selection.
Liam Bradley, Features Editor, News Editor
December 20, 2024
To paraphrase, the Oxford Dictionary defines “brain rot” as “the subsequent negative impact consuming low-quality content on social media and the internet is perceived to have, individually or societally.”
Read Story
Shortly after returning from Thanksgiving break, each member of the Class of ‘25 received a gift bag marking the halfway point of their final year of high school. Parents and volunteers prepared each bag with love and care. What happens after that just added to the sweet memories.

The Class of ‘25 officially snacks for the first time

Continuing a pre-existing tradition, CSD seniors enjoy a surprise gift bag from parents and volunteers
Callie Hobbs, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Visual Media Manager
December 5, 2024

The Community School of Davidson (CSD) has a tradition of having a senior snack at some point near the halfway mark of the academic calendar. Although this tradition has been happening for the past several...

Continue Reading
Beautiful skyline and music couple to raise $24.5 million for those in western North Carolina who were affected by Category 2 Hurricane Helene.

Concert for Carolina raises needed funds for western North Carolina

Looking back at a once in a lifetime North Carolina concert to raise funds for Hurricane Helene relief
Conner Shelton, Sports Editor, Podcast Editor
November 13, 2024
In the end, Concert for the Carolinas was just that, a once in a lifetime evening that fans appreciated and cherished, one that everyone at attendance hopes will never have to happen again.
Read Story
Just a month into his new job, Craig Smith agreed to sit down with the Journalism, Media Productions and Photography classes for a first ever, student-driven press conference. Filling the band room, Smith shared his history and motivated students to be their best selves.

A new voice, a direction, a challenge

CSD’s new Executive Director, Craig Smith, takes questions at a student-led press conference and challenges Spartans to be their best selves
Macy Balmat, Ben Gallagher, Kate Saussele, Evan Mulligan, Callie Hobbs, and Elena Cunningham
November 10, 2024

During the summer of 2024, Craig Smith was hired as Community School of Davidson (CSD) new Executive Director, replacing founder, Joy Warner, and subsequently a team of three administrative leaders. He...

Continue Reading
Donations of clothing for Hurricane Helene Relief collected by CSD families await delivery to Western North Carolina on the outdoor patio at the CSD lower school. Boxes of clothes for men, women, and children are all set up for anybody who wants to donate. (CSD Journalism class photo.)

CSD provides Hurricane Helene relief efforts

Multiple programs at both the Upper and Lower Schools bring relief to the people and pets of western North Carolina
Dylan Sherman, Copy Editor, Deputy Sports Editor
November 5, 2024

As Hurricane Helene swept away many homes and resources in Florida, it was never expected to do the damage it did to North Carolina. Hurricanes typically damage coastal communities and cause beach and...

Continue Reading
A sign indicating a polling station for early voting greets voters outside the Cornelius, N.C. town hall. In-person early voting began on October 7 and continues until November 2. Election Day is November 5.

It’s voting season in North Carolina and here is what you need to know

Important news and information for voters, especially first time high school voters, as the 2024 election arrives
Evan Mulligan, News Editor, Staff Writer
October 21, 2024

In early November, Americans from coast to coast will go to the polls to decide whether they wish for the President to be a Democrat or a Republican. North Carolinians will also elect many local, state...

Continue Reading
For the CSD Spartans football team, it might seem like the weather has more to do with the schedule anything else this season. Hurricane Helene joins a thunder and lightning storm game postponement in a season that so far has been anything but normal.

Hut, hut, hurricane

Hurricane Helene blowing through Charlotte is just the latest twist in a (so far) unusual CSD Spartan football season
Conner Shelton, Sports Editor, Podcast Editor
September 27, 2024

When hurricane Helene came ashore Thursday night, September 26th, as the biggest storm ever to hit Florida’s “Big Bend” area, CSD’s football game against Mountain Island Charter had already been...

Continue Reading
In both a busy national and state election season, teen voters making time to understand poll numbers and the issues may help decide elections.

Polls, issues and teen voters

Exploring how polls, issues and young voters interact in a busy election season
Evan Mulligan, News Editor, Staff Writer
September 22, 2024

On July 21, 2024, when President Biden dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, to take the Democratic ticket, the presidential race entirely and irrevocably...

Continue Reading
On college campuses across the country, students and others are speaking up about the conflict in the Gaza Strip. At Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, student voices even appear in paint on the bridge to East Campus.

Protests over war in Gaza rock American college campuses and raise questions of antisemitism

Evan Mulligan, News Editor and Staff Writer
May 5, 2024

Across the nation, protests on university campuses have been springing up and escalating at an alarming pace with many of these anti-Israel protests turning into clashes between police and protesters. As...

Continue Reading
Load More Stories