Untold Stories of DDS: Issue 21

DEC 2025

ISSUE N.21

DAVIDSON DAY UPPER SCHOOL NEWS MAGAZINE

PG 1

UNTOLD STORIES OF DDS SPOTLIGHTING OUR PEOPLE: DUNCAN ASHE

LIFE & CULTURE: MENTAL HEALTH FORUMS FALL THEATER PRODUCTION CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLE

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS: JUNIOR DUNCAN ASHE MAKES STRIDES IN HIS AVIATION JOURNEY

BY LILLIAN RUTTER, CLASS OF 2027

“F

lying a small two-seater plane called the Cessna 152 each weekend, junior Duncan Ashe takes steps towards his future goals in aviation. While he first developed a curiosity about planes as a little boy, Duncan’s enthusiasm for flying reached new heights in January of 2024.

“My uncle got me a discovery flight for Christmas at a nearby airport,” Duncan said. “A discovery flight is when an instructor takes you up for the first time so you can feel what it’s like to fly in a small airplane.

The moment I saw the plane, I immediately knew what it was, and I couldn’t stop smiling. I was super excited to go up and fly. My

Photo credit: Duncan Ashe

LORELEI.ROBERTSON @DAVIDSONDAY.ORG SMCGILL@DAVIDSONDAY.ORG

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instructor, Trent, inspired me more than anyone else throughout my aviation journey.

He always encouraged me to keep trying my best and he helped me whenever I struggled to learn something new. He recently left the company to go fly in airlines. Now when I fly, it feels like something is missing because I looked up to him so much, and I’m so thankful for everything he taught me.”

Duncan’s first discovery flight in 2024 marked the beginning of his series of aviation pursuits, ranging from cross-country flights to places like Mount Airy, NC, and then even to a small airport in Virginia.

“The Cessna 152 is great for training because you can really feel what the plane is doing in the air,” Duncan said. “I try to fly once every weekend in the mornings, although sometimes the weather or my schedule makes that hard. I don’t need an instructor with me everytime I fly anymore, but since I haven't gotten my license yet, they still have to keep an eye on me from the home airport when I fly solo. If I’m not flying alone, I’m usually doing lessons to keep learning and practicing.”

By flying regularly and striving to improve and learn more about aviation, Duncan hopes to further pursue this passion in the future. In terms of long-term goals, “I want to go into the Air Force,” Duncan said. “I’m working towards getting my pilot’s license early to get a head start. I love flying because it gives me a sense of freedom that I can’t really get anywhere else. Being alone in the sky can be scary at first, but once I got used to it, it became the most amazing feeling in the world!”

LORELEI.ROBERTSON @DAVIDSONDAY.ORG SMCGILL@DAVIDSONDAY.ORG

Photo credit: Duncan Ashe

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DEC 2025

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MENTAL HEALTH FORUMS

BY SEAN JONES, CLASS OF 2027

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his year, the Belonging Council introduced a new series of mental-health forums designed to bring students together, encourage honest conversations, and strengthen our sense of community on campus. Led by Abbie Barsosky, Ashley Adkins, and Sean Jones, the council has made mental wellness a true priority for the upper school. The forums are organized by Mental Health Officer Elizabeth Robinson and her team, who have worked hard to create a space where students actually feel comfortable opening up about real-life issues—everything from stress and academic pressure to bullying, friendships, and feeling overwhelmed.

Elizabeth says the idea came out of her own experiences. “I’ve dealt with my own personal mental-health struggles,” she explains, “and I wanted to be someone who could support others as they grow, learn, and figure themselves out. Being the Mental Health Officer gives me the chance to help create the kind of space I wish I had when I needed it.”

The idea for the forums first took off earlier this fall, when the council announced its plan to host ongoing discussions focused on student well-being. Since then, the gatherings have grown steadily, pulling in students from every grade along with several faculty members, including the Head of School. Many teachers come just to listen and show support. Students say the meetings offer something different for them, which is a chance to slow down, talk honestly, and feel understood.

According to Elizabeth, that’s exactly the point. “I feel like people are finally able to express how they really feel about certain topics,” she says, “and you can see the difference it’s making in our community. When one person opens up, it encourages others to do the same.” These conversations—about stress, workload, friendships, and the realities students face—have helped classmates see one another with more empathy.

Discussions about bullying and belonging have also encouraged a more respectful, supportive environment.

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Elizabeth and her team guide each session with intention, making sure the tone stays grounded, respectful, and meaningful. The impact of the forums doesn’t end when the meeting does. Students are carrying what they learn into advisory, classrooms, and even

casual hallway conversations. Teachers who attend say they’ve watched students take the lead—showing vulnerability, checking in on each other, and pushing for a healthier school culture. Many agree that one of the most powerful parts of the initiative is the message it reinforces: student voices matter. The forums have shown how connection grows through shared experiences and honest dialogue.

Looking ahead, the Belonging Council hopes to broaden the program, explore new themes, and welcome even more students into these conversations. For now, the forums have already set a new tone for the school—one that prioritizes well-being, builds community, and reminds everyone that belonging begins with compassion, curiosity, and the courage to listen.

LORELEI.ROBERTSON @DAVIDSONDAY.ORG SMCGILL@DAVIDSONDAY.ORG

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DEC 2025

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THE MAGICAL WORLD OF PETER PAN & WENDY

BY CAOMI SILVA, CLASS OF 2028

Photo credit: Laura Woods

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he Davidson Day theater department debuted their fall play, Peter Pan & Wendy, on November 6th, 7th and 8th. The production of Peter Pan & Wendy was chosen this year to continue the child-like inspiration past plays have brought to the school. Between the complex lift scenes and subtle comedic lines, the performance brought a nostalgic feeling as it included youthful and lighthearted elements.

In an interview, senior Mackenzie Beckman discussed her connection with her character, Wendy, and her preparation in portraying her: “What drew me to Wendy is that she is a free spirit. She is such a fun role and she speaks what she wants, despite other people's opinions.” Mackenzie says she prepared for the role by “practicing my British accent, learning her monologues and watching high school productions of Peter Pan & Wendy [online] to become more familiar with the show.” In this performance, Peter Pan is especially unique compared to other productions. Wendy is portrayed as more of a main character rather than remaining in the shadow of Peter Pan. Wendy is very self-confident as she promotes that being a woman doesn’t mean just being a mother, but also means being a core member of a community.

Behind every successful production, there is always a dedicated crew working behind the scenes to make it all possible. Junior Ashley Adkins touched on a few of the crew’s challenges and proud moments: “The biggest challenge was the lack of people backstage. We didn’t have very many people who work tech crew, so it was a lot of back and forth between the people we did have.” Despite this obstacle, the crew made many backstage moments/effects worth it as they came to life. Adkins reflected on her proudest moment: “I am most proud of the lift scenes… Tiffani Thomas drew up ideas for the set and we just brought it to life using greens to spark the viewers imagination.”

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Though the audience may not see it, these plays bring together cast members, creating long-lasting memories between them as they work many hours after school every day to produce a performance that will thrill the audience. Making this year’s production even more challenging than usual, Mrs. Gerdy had to miss some time prior to opening night due to personal reasons, and some of the students were battling illnesses. A few of the tech members mentioned that having a stressful week with no director and half a crew was tough, so they had to work as a unit to make things work. As for the cast, their roles between Wendy, her brothers, Peter Pan and the lost boys made them “a more tightly knit group,” says sophomore Harper Walters, and gave the cast members a chance to become closer friends. A few of the cast members also mentioned how there were a few newcomers to the theater, and that it was a privilege to work and act with new members.

Senior members of the cast and crew not mentioned above included Noah Larsen, Elizabeth Robinson, Batson Pickens, Lorelei Robertson, Kevin Haddad, and newcomer Parker Martin, who provided one of the most humorous performances on the stage.

For everyone involved, this play became more than a performance, but an experience that brought the cast and crew closer together.

Photo credit: Laura Woods

LORELEI.ROBERTSON @DAVIDSONDAY.ORG SMCGILL@DAVIDSONDAY.ORG

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THE CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLE’S JOURNEY BACK TO THE THEATER: WHY LOCATIONS CHANGED

BY LORELEI ROBERTSON, CLASS OF 2026

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ontemporary Ensemble teacher Mr. Noel Freidline always starts the school year planning to have the classes perform every quarter. It never turns out this way, though, because of class trips, breaks, practice time, and the drop schedule. We have never performed in the first quarter; our first performance of the year always takes place at the beginning of the second quarter. The bands have wanted to perform more often than once a quarter, but it is tough because the band members have to bring down all the heavy band equipment to the theater each time, and then carry them back upstairs afterward. Also, getting clearance to use the theater can be an issue. According to Mr. Freidline, “Last Spring the theatre was not available because of various programs that had already been booked in the space. We needed a place to perform, so it just seemed logical to have the bands do their shows in my classroom. It’s a

Photo credit: Laura Woods

LORELEI.ROBERTSON @DAVIDSONDAY.ORG SMCGILL@DAVIDSONDAY.ORG

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larger room and our equipment is already there and set up ready to go. We opened it up to anyone who would like to attend. Mr. Smith ended up referring to these shows as ‘boutique concerts,’ which I think was a great title. They were so successful that we decided to do it again at the beginning of the 2nd quarter.”

The audience and the performers enjoyed the classroom environment. The quaint setting also allowed the ensembles to perform more often. Mr. Freidline said, “Our fall performance this year was incredibly successful. But our success is probably going to be our undoing! We had so many people that wanted to come hear the band that we simply couldn't accommodate everyone in my classroom. So more than likely we will move back to the theatre for future performances.”

Photo credit: Laura Woods

In addition to space issues, conflicting class schedules also prevented everyone who wanted to attend from attending. During the ensemble's recent performances in October, many disappointed students and teachers came to the classroom to watch, but all they could see was the back of a line of people out the classroom door. They could hear the music through the walls and in the classroom, but couldn’t see the live performances. This problem led to Mr. Freidline’s decision to take future performances back to the theater.

In the afternoon of the October 3rd 2025 show, during the H Block performance, Forensics teacher Mrs. Julie Brown had planned to attend the performance and instructed her H block Forensics class to hurry up their lab so that she could take her students with her.

But when she walked down the hall, she wasn’t able to enter Mr. Freidline’s classroom; she was at the back of the line out the door.

Upset, Mrs. Brown later said that since she has classes during C and H block, she is “not able to go anymore.”

After the performance, Mr. Freidline told his H block ensemble (my class) that they “did their job too well! Too many people wanted to hear them and we need more space than my classroom will allow. And ultimately, we want everyone who wants to attend to be able to join us.”

With future performances moving back to the theater, those who wanted to come in October but couldn’t fit into the room will most likely be very happy.

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