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CSD Spartan Media

CSD Spartan Media

CSD Spartan Media
Elena Cunningham

Elena Cunningham, Student Life Editor, Creative Content Manager

Elena Cunningham is a sophomore in her second year at CSD. She spent her first year learning and growing in Creative Writing class and is excited to explore a new area of writing. She has loved reading (especially fiction) even longer than writing and her favorite book is The Outsiders for its characters and their dynamic relationships. A recent favorite is also the layered storyline of Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross.

Elena also spends a large portion of time playing volleyball. She has bounced around positions since starting high school, mostly playing as a middle blocker (despite being 5’3”), and she loves changing positions because she is constantly learning new aspects of the game.

Quote –

“Always try to be a little kinder than is necessary”

-J.M. Barrie

Walk-up Song?

“Hall of Fame”

-The Script

All content by Elena Cunningham
When asked to write about a person you love and share what makes this person special, Ben Gallagher (‘25) said, “The CSD Spartan mascot framed in a heart summarizes our school spirit. I love the Spartan mascot because it represents the community of CSD and school pride. Love isn’t just person to person but can also be used to describe the things we care for deeply and I do love my school.”

Photo story – The look of love ‘25

In an annual class exercise, journalism students share ideas and get answers to Valentine’s Day questions within CSD high school
Ben Gallagher, Callie Hobbs, Kate Saussele, Liam Bradley, Jaelyn Nguyen, Avery Nardone, Dylan Sherman, Mia Kirsch, Evan Mulligan, Elena Cunningham, Conner Shelton, and Brandon Amaya
February 14, 2025

Paired with images from Valentine’s Day at school, journalism students chose to answer one of the following questions in the captions. Why do you think Valentine’s Day is associated with the heart? ...

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Mayor Rusty Knox ended his visit by posing for a picture with CSD’s AACA community and guests, including Executive Director, Mr. Smith (in blue). When asked about his favorite part of leading a town, Mayor Knox said, “This. I love coming to school and talking to kids.” He mentioned many schools he visits like Hough, Hopewell, North Meck and more.

Photo story – AACA brings Davidson Mayor Rusty Knox to CSD

On Friday, Dec. 20, 2025, Allied Achievers and Comrades Association (AACA) members got to meet a new mentor during their lunchtime meeting, Davidson’s Mayor Rusty Knox.
Elena Cunningham, Student Life Editor, Creative Content Manager
February 3, 2025

The AACA is a club focused on creating a space for community and mentorship for high school students. It was founded by juniors Akhilan Kumaran, Max Shealy, and Liam Hogan. This is the club’s first year...

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A hardwood tree which borders CSD’s student parking lot shows the first sign of seasonal change. Trees change colors as the seasons run their course, losing their leaves or blossoming flowers depending on the season. Much like this tree, high school students might feel stuck in between stages of their lives as change happens.

[Photo] Change, it’s the one constant in high school

Kate Saussele, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Features Editor
January 29, 2025

A hardwood tree which borders CSD’s student parking lot shows the first sign of seasonal change. Trees change colors as the seasons run their course, losing their leaves or blossoming flowers depending...

READ THIS FIRST PLEASE – Welcome to the new Spartan “Creativity Corner”

Please read this first to learn how YOUR WORK can be published on the Spartan Sentinel
Elena Cunningham, Student Life Editor, Creative Content Manager
January 23, 2025

Welcome to the new Spartan “Creativity Corner” Welcome to the Spartan Sentinel’s home for creative writing, poetry, short stories, fictional works, visual art, dance clips, photography, ceramics,...

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Origami birds hang on display in CSD’s Arts Commons. Though they may look different, they are, to a degree, the same. Or are they?

Birds of a feather

(Personal poetry) Elena Cunningham ‘27
Elena Cunningham, Student Life Editor, Creative Content Manager
December 16, 2024

Birds of a feather flock together So the pillow makers can have uniform stuffing Handed to them. All in one place. So easy. Why would you pick brown birds out of big, diverse groups when...

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Before doors opened, student artists and staff apply, last-minute organization to the “Under the Sea” gallery. As one of four different areas, The gallery, housed, visual, ceramics, wood and other art during Arts Night ‘24. (CSD Journalism class photo).

Photo story – CSD artists light up Arts Night

From visual, wood and ceramic arts to music, dance, tech, production, photography and more, the annual Arts Night brought to life the incredible talents of Spartan students.
Elena Cunningham, Conner Shelton, Mia Kirsch, Ben Gallagher, Liam Bradley, Evan Mulligan, Kate Saussele, and Brandon Amaya
December 16, 2024

On Tuesday, December 10, 2024, hundreds of Spartan students, families and friends entered via red carpet to a school transformed into a living, magical center of galleries, performances, interactive displays...

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Dr. Lucretia Berry’s elective, Anti-Racism 101, is open to all students. The class is a space for students to learn about racism, ethnicity, diversity, stereotypes and the history as well as science behind them, and so much more. She continues to open doors and shatter narratives that her students didn’t even know existed.

Spartan Questionnaire* (#9) featuring Dr. Lucretia Berry (*where we take a break from AP Style writing and get right to the good Q&A stuff with CSD people)

Elena Cunningham, Student Life Editor, Creative Content Manager
December 9, 2024

Dr. Lucretia Berry’s journey to Community School of Davidson (CSD) started when she began meeting with founder, Joy Warner. Dr. Berry was interested in all she had heard about CSD, and Warner was looking...

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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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CSD Class of ‘25 seniors, from left: Logan Cain, Aidan Lewis, Jack Parrot, Bo Watson, Owen Hamilton, Conner Shelton, Collin Klebe, Colby Thompson, Jack Suthard, Ben Gallagher, Jett Kerber ('24 CSD graduate) and Noah Watson. The group had a guys dinner before their last Homecoming dance on Saturday (and asked Taylor Worley to take a photo). They filled an extra long table at Hawthorne’s Pizza.

Photo story – Spartans show up and show out at Homecoming

CSD’s Homecoming 2024 in words and pictures
Elena Cunningham, Mia Kirsch, Ben Gallagher, Conner Shelton, and Brandon Amaya
October 27, 2024

In late October, as students settle into the rhythm of the new school year, finish fall sports seasons and wait impatiently for the holiday season (which still seems far away), Homecoming festivities at...

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Akhilan Kumaran (‘26) shows sophomore JT Peterson (‘27) an AACA shirt and tells him about the club. The idea for this new club came after three classmates bonded in AP Government class and decided other students might benefit, too.

Club culture adds to student learning

Clubs play a major role in a CSD education and three juniors are putting a new idea to the test
Elena Cunningham and Macy Balmat
October 7, 2024
“We just started out helping each other outside of class, in class, and then we wanted to spread that across the school,” Akhilan Kumaran said.
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