THE LIFERS AND MRS. FARRAH
BY SONIA SURDULESCU
Ilanguage. I only spoke my parents’ native language, as it was all they had taught me. My parents wanted to put me in a Montessori program, and the closest option to our home was Davidson Day This was around 2008, when I was two, so the school was fairly new, and has just transitioned to a larger building compared to its previous home
I struggled to adapt, since the only language spoken at school was English. As a result, I became withdrawn within the classroom. My parents enlisted the help of the teacher I had at that time: Mrs Farrah She sometimes came to my house after school to help me with learning English Since I was also struggling with finding friends, Mrs Farrah set up a play date between me and another student in the class:
grew up in a household where English was not the primary Reagan Davidson
Reagan and I became friends quickly Like me, she wasn’t very outgoing, but we connected instantly “When I started out in Mrs. Farrah’s class,” Reagan said recently, “I was super shy and sat in the corner (of the classroom) with a stuffed animal fish she gave me. I would not talk to anyone. Even my parents would come in and teach the class about keeping your teeth clean, with little puppets, to try and get me more comfortable with the class setting It took me till about kindergarten for me to get out of my shell, and my parents were considering holding me back a year ”
At our play dates we always found fun things to do together I
vividly remember the time we decided to play “three little pigs Reagan and I were the pigs (even though there were two of us) and Mrs Farrah was the big bad wolf We had various tents set up around the backyard, and Reagan and I would hide in each of them until Mrs.Farrah would “blow the house down” with a leaf blower.
In comparison to Reagan, another one of my classmates, Ashlyn Letarte, was a chatterbox “I started Mrs Farrah’s class and I was very talkative and I was the loudest one,” she said “I walked in
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L to R: Sonia Surdulescu, Sydney Tate, Mrs.Farrah, Reagan Davidson, Ashlyn Letarte
Issues 9 and 10 of UNTOLD STORIES OF DDS are a collection of articles by students enrolled in Mr. McGill’s Creative Writing class.
CONTINUED THE LIFERS AND MRS. FARRAH
on the first day and said, ‘I'm Ashlyn Marie Letarte and my favorite color is pink and I'm two years old ’”
Then there was Sydney Tate, an outgoing two-year-old who described herself as having a “resting mad face” when she was younger.
“I specifically remember one night one day we were napping during nap time,” Sydney recalled “I looked up at the ceilings which held a large light I thought it was a ring, and I lay there with my hands out I thought it was going to fall and that I needed to catch it so I could get a ring ”
The one uniting factor that brought all of my classmates and me together was Mrs. Farrah. “She’s always happy to see someone,” Reagan said. “Whenever I see her now she says ‘Wow, you ’ ve gotten so tall since you were in my class.’ I just think that Mrs Farrah is actually someone who cares and genuinely listens She is a constant here If I haven't talked to her in weeks, she’ll remember our last conversation and follow up ”
Ashlyn agrees, saying, “If there is a person who represents being caring, that would be Mrs. Farrah. She truly has a heart
of gold, and she would do anything for any of her past students, and it's so obvious that she puts her students first and always takes care of them I'm an adult at this point, but I know she's always there for me if I need anything, and she always remembers my name, even though it's been sixteen years. She remembers everything about me. ”
Sydney has had similar experiences with Mrs Farrah “Anytime I see her,” she said, “when I'm walking out to my car, if I'm leaving early, she'll be out there doing carpool and I always talk to her and she gives me a hug She asks what's up and she always talks about when we were little Once you're one of her students, she remembers all of us and all of our names and celebrates us. ”
Mrs. Farrah knew she was destined to be a teacher from a young age. As a child she used to bring a chalkboard out into her parents’ tomato garden and teach what she had learned at school to the rest of the people in the garden As we all know,
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Reagan pushing Sonia in a toy car
Sonia with Reagan Davidson and Mrs.Farrah Sonia hugging Reagan
GIVING IT ALL TO MY GOD
BY REESE MITCHELL
Having grown up in a Christian household, going to church and expressing my faith has sometimes seemed like a monotonous chore Not until earlier this year did my faith in the Lord truly deepen, as I obtained a clearer understanding of what it means to walk with Him This deeper perspective has filled the voids in my life, bringing a new sense of purpose and fulfillment
My faith really started to blossom when I finally found myself playing volleyball for a purpose truly greater than myself: the Lord and my guardian angel, my Aunt Kristen, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 32. At a time when I had lost my love for the sport, I got my spark back from her meaningful, spiritual presence strengthening me on the court through her guidance.
Although I found myself eager to deepen my relationship with the Lord even further, I was too caught up in my everyday life with hardly any time to rest As a committed student-athlete, I prioritized my studies and my volleyball endeavors, so I never found myself making enough time for my relationship with God, other than the occasional Sunday church service on the rare weekends I wasn’t traveling for tournaments
Then, on March 11th, 2024, everything from my ‘normal everyday life’ was stripped from me due to my diagnosis with Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP Disease). HSP is a
disorder causing high levels of inflammation in the small blood vessels, affecting one’s intestines, skin, joints, GI tract, and kidneys HSP made it hard for me to walk, eat, and drink; it caused me tremendous abdominal pain constantly; and almost my entire body was covered in a gruesome-looking rash caused from the inflamed blood vessels appearing in my skin. These symptoms continued until it led to two of my small intestines telescoping onto each other, blocking my GI tract from being able to keep down any food: I’d lost fifteen pounds in a matter of three days
And God made sure I had plenty of time to talk to him
For the next few weeks, I spent my everyday life bedridden, stuck on the bathroom floor for days, vomiting every morsel of food I tried to consume, and I was even hospitalized Through it all, I prayed I prayed to be able to eat and drink I prayed to be able to go a few hours without throwing up I prayed to be able to go to volleyball practice I prayed to be able to go to school I prayed so hard to live the old life I had taken for granted.
I grew impatient at first; I tried to turn my back on Him and ask, “Why me? Why are you putting me through this?” But I quickly realized I wouldn’t want this vicious illness to attack anyone else besides me I wouldn’t be able to watch anyone else go through this; when my twenty-year-old brother, Cole, came to visit me in the hospital, he almost got sick just looking at the IV stuck into my right arm. What he didn’t realize was that it had been in my arm for a few days by then.
After four days in the Levine's Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, closely monitored, and more drained emotionally and physically
Continued on page 4
Reese Mitchell, in full spirit, supporting her Davidson Day peers. Photo by Laura Woods
than I’d ever had been in my life, I woke up for my routine vital check on Easter Sunday at 12:00 AM. I remember thinking that morning, “God wouldn’t put me through this battle if he knew I wasn’t strong enough to face it. And when I haven’t felt strong enough, he sent me an army.”
I bowed my head in prayer - a rather common motion by now I prayed for my parents who had stayed with me in the hospital, I prayed for the little boy next door whose greatest excitement was the snack cart that rolled through the Bone Marrow Transport Hallway every day, I prayed for my mom whose emotions were as drained as mine, I prayed for my big sister, Grace, to know her love made me stronger, I prayed for all of my people who unknowingly brought light to my days, and I prayed to truly continue to deepen my faith. For I’d finally given it all to the Lord: all of my worries that this sporadic disease would flare up again, my doubts about falling so behind on volleyball and school, my guilt for putting my people through this ordeal with me, my feelings of unworthiness and of anxiety for my future Tears flooding my eyes, I had finally found peace I gave it all to my God
I was woken up later in the morning by my night nurse. I was discharged early enough that morning to go to the Cove Church in Mooresville with my family and worship my God. The congregation sang the song “Firm Foundation” by Chandler Moore, Maverick City Music, and Naomi Raine. The chorus perfectly summarized my newfound perspective on my journey of my faith:
“Christ is my firm foundation
The rock on which I stand
When everything around me is shaken
I've never been more glad
That I put my faith in Jesus 'Cause He's never let me down He's faithful through generations
So why would He fail now?
He won't ”
Shooting my hands in the air to receive his glory, and truly believing the praise bursting from my lungs, my faith and love for the Lord flourished Now, though still engaged in an uphill battle with HSP, I have felt more fulfilled with my life than ever before because of my trust in my never failing, truest loving God.
Reese celebrating a first-place volleyball victory at the Rail City Rumble tournament in Johnson City, TN. Photo by Angie Mitchell
Reese Mitchell, Class of 2027. Photo by Yearbook Staff
IT'S A GOOD DAY TO BE ROSIE MAE
BY CONTESSA DICKERSON
Mgoing to meet, started teaching at Davidson Day in 2021, after the Covid pandemic settled down She's been teaching AP Psych classes for the past three school years and loves working with students and sharing her passion for psychology
Jill Cope was born in Hyde Park, New York and graduated from Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School in 1996 She attended Cornell University and earned her bachelor of science degree in psychology in 2001. She then worked in psychiatric research at Johns Hopkins Medical Center before attending Columbia University to get her Masters in Clinical Social Work.
Mrs Cope worked in a variety of clinical settings: from counseling students at Vassar College, to individual support of people with profound mental illness, to supporting children and families whose children were suffering from cancer While the work was rewarding, it also was challenging to sustain She was thrilled for the opportunity to teach in the graduate program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. There, she would help students who were on the cusp of the journey to helping others.
While in Nashville, she married her husband Neal and had their first daughter, Lucy Wanting to be closer to Jill’s family (who had relocated to NC), they moved to the greater Charlotte area right before the birth of their second daughter, Claire Jill continued to teach on-line classes in the program until her son, Bennett, was born At that point she chose to take rs Cope, one of the most interesting people you’re ever
a hiatus from the working world and devote her time to raising her children
As her son was getting ready to enter kindergarten, current Interim Head of School Michael Smith, who was Head of Upper School at the time, took a chance on a woman who hadn’t been in a classroom in 7 years and who had never taught in a high school classroom She is forever grateful for the opportunity he gave her Teaching high school students about a subject she loves, that changed her life for the better, has been the most rewarding professional experience she has ever had!
Mrs. Cope had wanted a small dog for years. But the timing was right in the month of February
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Rosie Mae, Spring 2024. Photo by Laura Woods
CONTINUED IT’S A GOOD DAY
to bring the puppy home. On February 11th, 2024, the weekend of Valentine’s Day, the Copes adopted Rosie Mae, making for a very special valentine Rosie Mae figured out who her mom was quickly, and favored Mrs Cope Rosie, full of curiosity, wandered the halls of the house to find her bedroom
Knowing that she was an indecisive sort, Mrs.Cope asked for the help of the DDS students in naming her puppy. After tallying the votes, her children made the final decision of the top 3 the students had picked. “Rosie” was the winner! Mrs. Cope’s dearest friend is the source of the “Mae” to serve as a daily reminder of the precious woman in her life
On the days Mrs Cope taught first block, Rosie would join her in the classroom before the majority of students started arriving The early students often came in before class in the morning just to say good morning to Rosie and to get their day started. Mrs. Cope noted that students interacted more with Rosie present. A wonderful aspect of having Rosie with her in the morning was it enabled Mrs.Cope to start building relationships with some of the lowerclassmen she wouldn’t have normally ever interacted with unless they took AP Psychology Mrs
Cope noted that Rosie “bridges the gap between those who don’t know each other well ” When asked why Mrs Cope believed that dogs were so beloved by people, she thought that perhaps it was because of the phenomenon that happens when people care for others. In simply caring for other
creatures (human or otherwise), you release chemicals that invoke a sense of well-being Rosie Mae provided that feeling for Mrs Cope and she was glad to be able to, for a brief period, share that feeling with some of the students at Davidson Day
Mackenzie Krahl and Hayden Wehunt bonding with Rosie Mae during class breaks.
Rosie Mae and Jill Cope “tend and befriend” in Davidson, NC.
For the past three years, Davidson Day Athletic Director Chris Turner has been
putting his imprint on the DDS athletic programs His enthusiasm for his work and his trust in his coaches has led to five state championships in the 2023-24 school year alone
Coach Turner's position as athletic director is one he also held at his previous school, Forsyth Country Day, but his journey in the world of sports began long before then. Turner grew up in Philadelphia in the 1970’s, where he played multiple sports, with his main one being soccer After completing an exceptional high school career, he passed on multiple Division I offers to play at a Division III school for soccer He majored in communications while coaching on the side. He went on to earn a Masters Degree in Sports Administration.
Coach Turner has coached at all levels, from High School to Division I His Division I coaching career was cut short during the pandemic, so as his collegiate coaching career came to a close, he made the decision to coach at Forsyth Country Day, where he later took on the role of A.D. When Davidson Day Athletic Director and Head Boys Basketball Coach Ron Johnson left to take on a similar role at a nearby school, Turner was hired to replace him.
Recently I had a chance to sit down for a chat with Coach Turner about his role here as Athletic Director and his impressions of the school culture The contents of our discussion are below:
Levon Jacobs: What are some challenges that Davidson Day presents as a small school?
Coach Turner: We field a lot of teams, but we only have one field, and it's not a turf field So keeping that field ready to go for teams is really a challenge, especially since it's used for recess [by the lower and middle schools] during the day. It's used for different
COACH CHRIS TURNER: IT’S ABOUT EXCELLENCE, NOT MEDIOCRITY
BY LEVON JACOBS
functions, so we’re always trying to keep it presentable.
LJ: Do you have similar struggles with the gym?
Turner: Yes it's the same with the gym [When I first got here] it was dull, it was dingy, it was small So I think my challenge over
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L-R: State Champion Head Soccer Coach, Brad Laatsch, State Champion Head Volleyball Coach Cathrine Glass, and Athletic Director, Chris Turner. Photo by @davidsondayschool on Instagram
CONTINUED COACH CHRIS TURNER
the first couple years has been how I can make it more fun. More of a bang for student-athletes. So even little things like repainting the floor and buying the bleachers make for a better overall experience. We're gonna get a new sound system this summer, and paint the walls
LJ: Are there any other challenges you ’ ve faced?
Turner: Well, it’s an expensive school, and it's not easy to get in, so we’re not a school for everybody. We want prospective families to see that there are great opportunities here. We want good student-athletes and good people to come in. And I had to get over this complacency with mediocrity. [Some of our teams] weren't really good when I first got here And I think I've kind of proven that I like to excel
LJ: What about Coach Glass being the assistant A D ? What’s it been like working with her?
Turner: She's the absolute best. She's got a history here. Because she's been here thirteen years, she knows what's worked, what hasn't worked She obviously is a tremendous [volleyball] coach She knows everything about the school We get along great, our personalities are the same But it's funny, we talk all the time about how we get things done We don't have a lot of staff meetings and we don't divide responsibilities. We just know what it takes to get things done. And I appreciate her historical knowledge. And I think she appreciates the fact that I've been an A.D. before. But then, [like her,] I've also been a successful coach. So we're both doers. When we talk, we don't philosophize about anything, we just get things done And that's what I love about her And I like how she coaches; we're very similar coaches – very demanding, with high expectations She doesn't baby people My philosophy as a coach always was, 22 hours a day are yours, but for two hours a day, you’re mine So she very much has that same mindset. When it's time to work, she works. But outside of that, she'll do anything for anyone.”
LJ: How did it feel to win all the state championships this year?
Turner: It's awesome It's great, man Five in one year That's ridiculous Davidson Day has never had that It's been a tremendous deal So I'm really, really proud of it And for a school this size to do what it has done is awesome And it's what I want. It's all about excellence, man. And I think that a school like this needs to be about excellence. I think it's about athletic successes. It's about putting on high level theater productions. It's about getting the best SAT scores and getting accepted into the best colleges. It's about excellence and not mediocrity, and I'm really excited about it I'm proud I'm a fan It's why I do what I do I love being at all the sporting events I think I know a little bit about every sport But I like watching and it's better watching successful teams than mediocre teams ”
LJ: Of the five championships we ’ ve won this year, do any stand out as your favorite?
Turner: Well, because of where [boys] basketball was [the year I came here], and where it rose to this year, and how it all came together – that was really cool And you know, they're all awesome I was at four of the five [championship contests] that we had this year And I was following the volleyball game on my phone while I was down in Fayetteville at soccer, so they were all awesome But just being [in Raleigh] when the basketball one happened was very cool.”
Coach Chris Turner on-site representing Davidson Day Athletics. Photo by @davidsondayathletics on Instagram
CONTINUED THE LIFERS
she ended up teaching at Davidson Day School in the Montessori program. The first year, she had 21 two-year-old children in her classroom, and the second year she had 23. For a starting class at Davidson Day, this was a large number, especially with the limited resources we had as a school.
“We didn't have many toys because the school was coming together at the beginning and parents were donating a lot of toys,” Mrs Farrah said “I was going shopping at different places as the school would give us a budget Slowly we accumulated things But parents would come and donate small items such as brooms and dustpans, and it made such a huge difference.”
Mrs. Farrah recounted many moments involving everyone in her class. She told stories of Reagan’s comfort fish, our times learning how to speak in my backyard, Ashlyn’s outgoing personality on the very first day of school, and Sydney's Dora The Explorer backpack she carried with her everywhere
“When I saw you after all these years and how much you have grown up, oh my gosh,” Mrs Farrah said “I feel like you all have the same face but you're just taller Yeah, you're just taller and you all look beautiful Davidson Day will not be the same without you, and I’m so proud of all of you. ”
Our time at Davidson Day School, starting from Mrs. Farrah’s class, has been a long journey. Yet this small group of students who considers Davidson Day to be a home has accomplished great things.
Reagan: “I really think that what Davidson Day has taught me is to remember how much effort you need to put into keeping people you see every day and may take for granted close to you It’s been very beneficial to learn how to form close relationships with people even from different grades and backgrounds ”
Reagan has evolved from her shy persona and will continue her educational career at the University of Kentucky, where she will be majoring in Biology, as well as doing a pre-track for dentistry.
Ashlyn, meanwhile, will continue her passion for theater at Northwestern University in Illinois, where she hopes to explore her passions in mathematics, communications, and teaching
Sydney will continue her academic journey at the University of South Florida, where she will be majoring in Biology
As I sit here writing this article, you can tell I have learned quite a bit of English. I have evolved from the two-year-old girl who used to go home and complain about not being able to speak to my classmates at school. I have found my very own support system within Davidson Day, filled with people who have made me feel like this is my second home I plan to layer on a new support system next
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Sonia and Reagan running in front of Mrs.Farrah
Sydney in a Mrs.Farrah embrace
CONTINUED LIFERS
year at Wake Forest while staying connected to the Davidson Day Community. While Sydney, Reagan, Ashlyn and I are all going in different directions regarding our further education after Davidson Day, we still remain connected through Mrs Farrah and the memories we share of her class
Snack time with Reagan and Ashlyn