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CSD Spartan Media

CSD Spartan Media
Community School of Davidson Senior Assassin player Mia Kirsch holds her water gun which is decorated with care bears stickers and stars. In Senior Assassin, players use water guns to eliminate their targets.

Eliminated

Senior Assassin (Round 1) wraps up
Mia Kirsch, A & E Editor, Podcast Editor
April 2, 2025
Senior Assassin is a recent, school non-affiliated senior tradition, a phenomenon that is both making national headlines and is consuming a substantial amount of high school seniors’ time, energy and dedication.
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CSD students Anya Jhingran (‘26), Taylor Stevens (‘26), Anna Liz Turner (‘25), MK Michael (‘26) and Lizzie Kees (‘25) stand on the stage at UNC Chapel Hill’s Student Union building after receiving their awards. The conference consisted of more than 800 participants from varying North Carolina schools.

MUNCH XXV and CSD’s triple sweep

For the first time ever five Community School of Davidson students won three different awards at UNC Chapel Hill’s 25th annual Model United Nations conference
Kate Saussele
March 12, 2025
“I am so proud of all of these Model UN students. They worked so hard prior to the weekend, learning about their assigned countries or roles, learning debate skills, practicing parliamentary procedure, researching their committee topics and writing position papers on issues,” Autumn Michael, CSD’s Model UN teacher, said. “It is so exciting to finally see all of this hard work pay off.”
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A closeup of the White House taken near Lafayette Square during the summer of 2024. On January 12, 2025, President Donald Trump returned here for his second non-consecutive term. He is the second President to serve such a term after President Grover Cleveland.

Trump the phoenix

Rising again and returning, a summary of the first month of President Trump’s second term
Evan Mulligan, News Editor, Staff Writer
February 24, 2025

On January 12, 2025, President Donald Trump returned to office for his second non-consecutive term. He is the second President to serve such a term after President Grover Cleveland. After a victory...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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.”
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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...

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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.
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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...

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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...

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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...

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