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As young children, we’re often asked a simple yet aspirational question: What do you want to be when you grow up? And without hesitation, answers pour out –  firefighter, doctor, artist, teacher, athlete. When you’re young, the question is a fun exercise to dream big and imagine a world full of possibilities.

Learning to fail is a funny business. We’re often told that failure is a chance to grow, but it’s still one of the hardest lessons for anyone to grasp—kids and adults alike. Much of that struggle comes from the old patterns of learning many of us grew up with, where mistakes were something to avoid rather than embrace, and perfectionism was championed more often than the messiness involved in deeper learning. Viewing failure as an opportunity and as an actual skill that can be developed is still a relatively recent concept. The problem is learning to fail well, like any skill, takes practice. It also takes a level of safety and trust. This is where Davidson Day School comes in.

Moving is an adventure filled with excitement and possibilities, but it also comes with challenges and worry, especially for families with young children. Leaving behind the familiar—the friendships, support systems, and teams that have become a vital part of daily life—can make the transition bittersweet. For my three children, Carter, Beckett, and Ryan, leaving our home in Las Vegas, NV, where we’ve lived for six years, and beginning anew in Davidson, NC, has been just that—a mix of great excitement for what’s ahead and nostalgia when reflecting on the past six years.

2,340: That’s the approximate number of school days the average high school graduate attends from kindergarten through 12th grade. That's more than a third of their time on Earth up to that point.

In a world where the spirit of philanthropy can feel distant, eight students from Davidson Day Upper School's Community Engagement Council (CEC), inspired by DDS parent and entrepreneur Vincent Calcagno and Director of Community Engagement Jennifer Shiley, decided to bridge the gap between big hearts and little kids in need. Their mission? To fund four nonprofits that embody the ethos of "big kids helping little kids."

February was filled with enriching activities commemorating Black History Month. The school community came together to celebrate the achievements and contributions of African Americans in shaping the fabric of our nation's history. Let's take a moment to recap the highlights of our memorable celebrations.