Next time you hear some crotchety old guy griping about "kids today," get him to check out this video -- and vote, while he's at it. The 7th grade at Raleigh's Centennial Campus Middle School made it for a contest, the "Interactive Classroom Makeover Contest," and it's one of five finalists (out of more than 300 entries) in the middle-school category. CCMS teacher Jamie Hall directed it, with lead vocals by student Caroline D'Ercole. The whole thing was shot on a $130 camcorder.

The grand prize is $25,000 worth of classroom technology, and voting concludes on Friday. So get to it.

The magnet themes for Brentwood and Smith elementary schools were unveiled on Tuesday.

Smith, as expected, will offer the International Baccalaureate theme. It will help form a K-12 feeder in Garner for the International Baccalaureate program that will lead to East Garner Middle School and Garner High School.

David Ansbacher, senior director for magnet schools, said an IB program at Smith should strengthen the one at East Garner.