Davison Avenue was proud to welcome journalist and author Cheryl Wills to our school on Mar. 24.

Ms. Wills is an award-winning journalist who has been with NY1 News since 1992. Her life changed in in 2009 when looking into her family history on Ancestry.com she discovered her great-great-great grandfather Sandy Wills.

She told us the story of how Sandy was taken from his family and sold into slavery at age 10. After years of hard work and no chance for education he was freed in 1863 when Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Feeling pride in America, he went on to join the United States Colored Troops, where he served until the war’s end in 1865. Once he left the Army, he settled down and raised a large family.

During her presentation, she shared many stories from her own life with us, including a photo gallery of famous people she has interviewed that has the student erupting in cheers. She took questions from our students and concluded the presentation by unveiling an original print of the Emancipation Proclamation that hand signed by Abraham Lincoln himself!

Since the amazing discovery of her family lineage, Ms. Wills has published three books: “Die Free”, children’s book “The Emancipation of Grandpa Sandy Wills: and the soon to be published illustrated children’s book “Emancipated: My Family’s Fight for Freedom.”

Thank you, Ms. Wills, for an enjoyable, inspirational and educational visit.

Click here to view the slideshow.

Date Added: 3/27/2023

The 5th grade Davison Ambassadors took a trip across town to spend time with the kindergarten and 1st graders from Downing. The students read some of their favorite books, answered questions and discussed their important role as school ambassadors.

Date Added: 3/24/2023

In an effort to continue lobbying for their cause of Universal School Meals for all students in NY state in K-12, the students met with Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick. They presented their call-to-action proposal with the hopes of gaining her full support. This call-to-action proposal was created to support the nutritional needs students in grades K-12. With high unemployment and poverty rates, the Ambassadors felt there is a strong need for programs that: (1) afford free meals, (2) eliminate lunch debt, (3) provide education on nutrition, and (4) eliminate food shaming. The proposal presentation provided information on these needs plus requesting the following: (1) Re-Introduce or create a new bill to the New York State of Legislators; (2) Increase or eliminate the Income Eligibility Guidelines for Free/Reduce School Meals; (3) Funding for Educational Nutrition Programs for K-12 Students; (4) Funding for the upgrades.

Click here to view the slideshow.

Date Added: 3/21/2023

Today’s St. Pats celebration was full of sun, fun and festivities!

We made our own rainbows, constructed leprechaun traps and of course dressed for the holiday in our finest green garb.

Click here to view the photo slideshow.

Date Added: 3/17/2023