Chirp Sheet
Singing the praises of our DCS students and staff 9-15/23
Winterguard wraps up season
The DHS Winterguard performed its show "Lie" at state competition held at the end of March. Winterguard is the indoor version of Colorguard (the dancers in the marching band who spin flag, rifle and sabre). Winterguard competes in the Michigan Color Guard Circuit (MCGC) with competitions held on select weekends January through April.
The team was coached by Mak Argue and Sydney Stewart and included the following team members:
SENIORS :
- Lauren Hennagir (Captain)
- Gabriella O'Toole (Co - Captain)
- Samantha Miller
- Taylor Adams
JUNIORS :
- Miley Siple
- Lylianah (Lyli) Anders
SOPHORMORES :
- Avarry Bissett
- Leah Cook
- Brianna Basner
- Corey May
- Nikki May
FRESHMEN:
- Kamiya Smith
- Hailey Culbert
- Chloe Edwards
- Quinn Knox
- Mia LaFerriere
- Isabella Williams
Student artists shine at annual DHS/DAE Art Show
The culmination of a year's worth of artistic endeavors was on full display at the annual DHS/DAE student Art Show Wednesday and Thursday. (See link to a video featuring exhibits below.)
Held in the new Performing Arts Center, the show included works of art showcasing a variety of mediums and techniques. The public was able to view the gallery-style exhibits for several hours before the 6 p.m. awards ceremony held Thursday in the auditorium.
The Budding Artist award was presented to a select group of young artists who show an overall outstanding potential and work ethic in the visual arts. These artists are encouraged to continue to make more art, and teachers hope to see them in art classes again next year.
The Award of Artistic Excellence is presented to a select group of truly outstanding visual artists. These are students who have spent countless hours inside of the classroom and out, honing their craft. They are students who aren't afraid to try new things, to push themselves across different mediums, and to create with their hearts.
Budding Artist Award Winners:
- Avarry Bissett
- Daphne Darling
- Ethan Houser
- Camden Lobban
- Elena Miller
- Mason Mitchell
- Maddie Natzke
- Robin Navarre
- Nimi Orogun
- Rylynn Poff
- Sophie Siple
- Seanna Smith
- Layla Turner
- Jade Wagner
Award of Artistic Excellence Winners:
- Lylianah Anders
- Abigail Cross
- Cal Ferguson
- Addison Fifield
- Jennifer Gartee
- Helena Inga
- Aymie Lee
- Julie Lennox
- Lyra McCrocklin
- Kameo McCurdy
- Jameson Murphy
- Alex Niemi
- Maryann Pennington
- Laci Phillips
- Faith Pomerantz
- Lily Schultz
- Lucia Stevens
- Sophie Thomas
- Ava Tucker
- Charlie Urioste
- Lena Velliquette
DHS, DMS students release salmon into local waterways
April may bring spring showers but for Davison Middle School and Davison High School students, it is also the month when the salmon they've raised since November is released into local waterways.
On April 14, Davison High School students in Ms. Pam Ruggerio's environmental science and Mr. Ryan Kelsey's art classes released at Stepping Stones Falls below the dam of the Flint River.
District Science Coordinator James Emmerling said the fish will make their way through the Flint River to the Saginaw River and into Saginaw Bay where they will grow to adulthood in Lake Huron.
"When they are ready to reproduce, the hope is that they will return to this area to spawn, eventually leading to a thriving population," he said.
This is the third year the high school has participated in the Michigan DNR Salmon in the Classroom program where hundreds of students around the state in grades three through 12 raise, learn about and release young Chinook salmon in approved waterways.
"We released over 150 salmon and had over 70 students participate in the release at Stepping Stone Falls on the Flint River," Mr. Kelsey said. "Students in Art, Environmental Science and the DHS Environmental Club all learn about raising our Chinook Salmon and the importance of maintaining healthy local waterways. Our DHS art classes create drawings, paintings and sculptures of native fish, mammals and plants, all while learning how to take care of our salmon with daily feedings and weekly measurements of our water parameters."
In addition to the salmon release, students also visited For-Mar Nature Center where they analyzed river water quality in the Flint River.
"Davison is part of the Flint River Watershed," Emmerling said. "By taking samples of water from the river, students collect data to determine the health of the ecosystem. This is very similar to a doctor taking a blood sample to analyze a patient’s health; students conducted a variety of chemical tests."
Students also sampled the benthic macro invertebrates (insects) living on the bottom of the river. The quality of the water can be determined by the species of insects found.
Students also had the opportunity to try their hand at fly fishing, thanks to volunteers from Trout Unlimited. And For-Mar staff engaged students in a nature presentation and hike.
Davison Middle School students released 104 Chinook salmon they were raising in the Black River at Abernathy Regional Park on April 24. Around 400 seventh graders were involved in the activities throughout the day, which included scavenger hunts, fish species identification activities, and even some animals from For-Mar Nature Center.
The salmon were raised from eggs that were introduced to Mrs. Kerri Major's Science classroom in November.
"Students helped to monitor the water and feed the fish over the months," Mrs. Major said. "The eggs grew to about 3-4 inches in length before they were ready to be released into the wild."
