Southgate board recognizes Davidson Middle Academy; students showcase IB, design and service learning

Davidson Middle Academy principal Jessica Garcia and a group of student leaders visited the Southgate Community School District Board of Education on Jan. 27 to thank trustees and describe the school’s first year in the district.

"I am relatively new to the district, and DMA is in its first year," Garcia said, thanking the board for "care, compassion, and collaboration." She highlighted a required middle‑years design class that asks students to work through a design cycle and a Spanish‑language program in which teachers speak ‘‘80 to 90% in Spanish'' during class time.

The principal described hands‑on learning across subjects: students built models to learn cell structure, used gummy bears in social‑studies lessons, created a periodic table of chocolate in science, and ran labs in math and chemistry. Garcia also said students participate in a monthly service‑learning day; projects this year included plant care, a community mural, holiday cards for Mott Children’s Hospital and blankets for a local animal shelter. Garcia noted an upcoming project in which more than half the students will support teachers at Northpointe Elementary.

Student leaders then addressed the board. "I’m grateful because the board … supports our education and makes Southgate Community School District a better place for all of us," said Griffin, a sixth‑grade student. Other students praised the IB learning approach, teachers’ support, and opportunities for community service and creative summative assessments.

At the end of the presentations, two students described the iterative design process they used to make keychain gifts for the board. The group posed for a board photo and the meeting recessed briefly to adjust the display of student work.

The recognition underscored the district’s emphasis on experiential learning, language development and community engagement as DMA continues its initial year in Southgate.