MADISON COUNTY SCHOOLS
SHOUT OUTS
MAY 2009
SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO:
Angela Williams, Math Teacher, Sparkman Middle School.
Angela recently won the Outstanding Educator Award from NASA’s
Quality in Education Program.
Adrienne Webb-Sparkman High School Student
Gatorade Women’s High School Basketball Player of the Year.
Recognized by ESPN HoopGurlz – One of Top 50 Players in Nation.
Adrienne’s #30 Jersey will hang in the Ring of Honor Display at the
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, TN for 2009-2010.
Lunchrooms Score 100 Again!
Hazel Green High School Lunchroom Ladies - Scored 100 (6) Six
times in a row.
Riverton Elementary Lunchroom Ladies – Scored 100
Sparkman High School Girls Softball Team
6A State Softball Champions
Buckhorn High School
Peter Anderson, Buckhorn’s first National Champion! Peter won the gold medal at the National
Rifle Association 2008 National Sporter Class Championship at De Moines, Iowa, June 24-30,
2008. Peter Anderson is the Team Captain and the Rifle Team also won the NRA State title.
The Buckhorn Dance Team received two high gold medals and two 1st place trophies
and placed 2nd and 3rd overall in the Senior category at the NexStar Dance Competition. Out
of over 200 dances, the girls were selected as the NexStar Performance Award winners for their
entertaining performance of their hip hop routine.
The Buckhorn Scholar‟s Team finished as one of the top 8 teams in the state. Kevin Turner
was also named Most Valuable Player for the School System.
Buckhorn Boys won the County Tennis Championship.
FCCLA competed at State Star Events in April. Hope Walker received a Gold Medal for her
submission in the Recycle and Redesign category. Megan Erwin received a Silver medal for
submission in the Fashion Construction Category.
Krishayle Evans was the Track State Champion in the 100 meter.
LOCAL FASHION STUDENTS SPONSOR SPRING FUNWAY SHOW TO
BENEFIT GIRLS INC.
“Community Connections on the Catwalk – Changing the World, One strut at a time,” will be
presented Thursday, May 21st at 6 p.m. at Buckhorn High School. This debut Fashion event will
be sponsored by Belk’s at Parkway Place Mall, Paul Mitchell The School-Huntsville, and Hill
Vaughn Photography, and all proceeds will benefit Girls Inc. of Northern Alabama.
The event will feature a mentored fashion show with the girls from Girls Inc. Buckhorn’s
Advanced Fashion Class has chosen to team up with Girls Inc., a national non-profit youth
organization that educates and empowers girls at a critical time in their lives to become
confident, self-sufficient and successful through outcome-based health, technical and life skills
training. It inspires all girls to be strong, smart and bold. Modeling on the Runway is the perfect
task to teach these girls about these skills.
Email Arielle Parker aparker@madison.k12.al.us for more information.
CENTRAL SCHOOL
CONGRATULATIONS TO
CENTRAL SCHOOL COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS
Baseball Team
7th Grade Girls Basketball Team
8th Grade Girls Basketball Team
7th Grade Boys Basketball Team
8th Grade Boys Basketball Team
1st Mr. Montague, 6th grade Science teacher, won Best Environmental Education Project for his
annual Tree Project
8th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Deana Sanders’s Museum Project was featured in the
Huntsville Times Extra Credit section. Deana’s class created a museum with student-made
artifacts from time periods they studied. They opened their museum for tours for 2nd and 3rd
graders.
Panoply Awards –
The following students had their Artwork displayed at Panoply.
Kindergarten
Noah Posey - Turtle
1st
Riley Pair- snow tree
McKenzie Hornsby- Bunny
Sydney Cox – clown
Wesley Davis - clown
Greyson Gilbert – snow tree
2nd
Clare Stewart – Matisse collage
Katie Bateman – Matisse collage
Triniti Sullivan – Angel collage
3rd
Brantley McHugh - cat
Brandon Marsh - cat
Tanner Brewer – flower painting
Jaxon Parker - cat
Kaylee Baham - cat
4th
Lindsay Pierce - flower
Hannah Criscoe – palm tree
Samantha Webb - cat
Marcela Espinoza – Obama coin
Kaylee Marks – coin
Kody Phillips - bird
Taylor White - bird
5th
Trinity Burnett – 3-D name
Ashton Prestage – 3-D name
Brennan Hall – palm tree
Camden Murphy – palm tree
Hailey Parker – Obama coin
Samantha Agate – Obama coin
Tyler Jaco – Obama coin
6th
Paris Southard - mask
Tristan Palmer - mask
Sydney Gothart – 3-D bedroom
7th
Jessica Pounders - mask
Kardia Benson - mask
ENDEAVOR ELEMENTARY
Spring Carnival
We had a GREAT Spring Carnival Saturday, April 18th!
Students, parents, community members, support
personnel and teachers all joined in for a fun filled day.
We want to thank our Spring Carnival committee: Beth
Keys, Laura Hogue and Katherine Pitts as well as our
many volunteers who helped make this event a great
success. Many of them donated prizes in addition to
their valuable time. The event was a super success!
ACE Movie Night
Endeavor ACE students had the opportunity to show off their production skills on ACE Movie
Night. Students spent countless hours creating their own short films and then had the
opportunity to share these in our “Endeavor Theatre” with their parents and families. Wonderful
work students!
First Teacher in Space Honored in Our Lobby
Barbara Morgan, the first teacher in space, is being honored in our lobby. Scott Phillips (parent
of Christian and Tyler) and Logistics Engineer at Lockheed Martin, has personally crafted a
space shuttle model using eighteen different exotic hardwoods and had it signed by Ms. Morgan
who flew on the shuttle orbiter, Endeavour. Ms. Morgan inspired her students to reach for the
stars. This model represents the significance of space and education coming together to inspire
young minds in the areas of math, science and art. We are very excited to display this tribute at
EES!
Reflections Contest Winners
Congratulations to two Endeavor students for being selected as finalists in the Reflections
Contest! In the area of photography, Ted Pessoney is a finalist. In the area of Music, Zora
Paschel is a finalist. Congratulations Ted and Zora, we are proud of our students!
HAZEL GREEN ELEMENTARY
A Destination Imagination Team made up of team members from 3 different Madison County
high schools will be representing Alabama at Global Finals this year. The team, DR. KLAW,
won at state competition and is advancing to world competition. They will be competing against
teams from all across the United States and about 30 other countries. Destination
Imagination is an innovative organization that teaches creativity, teamwork and problem
solving to students.
Team members are:
Darrrick Dawkins and Taylor Reed from Sparkman High School
Taylor Anderson from Sparkman Ninth Grade
Kevin Clark and Anna Laura O’Dell from Hazel Green High School
Team Manager: Darleen Carter- Reading Coach Hazel Green Elementary
Hazel Green Elementary students from Mrs. Beth Cantrell’s 4th grade class recently performed
an original play called “Generations.” The students wrote, directed, and stared in the play. The
students performed the play for parents and classmates on May 8th, 2009.
Hazel Green Elementary students donated over $600 dollars in change for “Change for a Cure”
for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Mrs. Bolden’s class won the pizza party for the
largest amount in the school.
Hazel Green Elementary had two teams that competed in the state level of Destination
Imagination (DI) competition this year. This is the first year that DI teams were represented at
HGES. They did a very good job and we are so proud of them. The team members, under
Miss Jessica Stapler were: Summer Geddings, Kiaira Moore, Emily Marks, Megan Goggans,
McKenzie Hicks , and Sarah McFarlen
Team 2: Literature Leapers Team Manager: Darleen Carter
Team Members: Madison Shelby, Lilly Tanner, Jessica Hunter, Lauren Lasater
Darleen Carter.
The Reading Coach at Hazel Green Elementary, received the Rachel Shankle Award at a
recent Destination Imagination competition. The Rachel Shankle Award is given in
recognition of perseverance in the face of obstacles to an individual who exudes generosity,
determination and optimism. Darleen was nominated by her team, a group of 9th and 10th
graders from Sparkman High School, Sparkman Ninth Grade, and Hazel Green High School.
She has been working with the group since starting a Destination Imagination team at Harvest
School.
HAZEL GREEN HIGH SCHOOL
Hannah Saxon was selected as a finalist in the Young Southern Writers’ Project at the
Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery, AL. She wrote a short play called “Attempted
Epic”. Congratulations are in order for representing HGHS so well on a statewide level.
The HAZEL GREEN HIGH SCHOOL BAND received an overall superior rating at the State
Band Assessment and the HAZEL GREEN MARCHING BAND received best overall band
awards at two out of three competitions, as well as superior ratings in every category at all
three competitions.
The HAZEL GREEN HIGH SCHOLL JAZZ BAND received all superior ratings at the Alabama
Bandmasters Association Solo and Ensemble Festival.
The following students made All-State Band:
Christy Dawson
Alex Hamrick
Annie Lennox
Christy Pickering
The following students received band scholarships:
Jessica Boyd
Jared McCoy
Zachary Jones
Emily Christmas
Alison Hovater made the All-State Tournament Team at the 6A girls’ state golf tournament.
She finished 7th overall.
Tiffany Harbin set the school record for strikeouts in a season this year in softball with 286
strikeouts.
Congratulations to the following winners of the MADISON COUNTY SOCIAL SCIENCE FAIR:
Brent Forsberg…2nd place for organization and Groups of People
Adam Baucum…3rd place for Special Topics
Catherine Bastin… 3rd place for Historical Sites
On Saturday, May 9th, thirty HGHS graduates met for the Third Annual Men‟s Alumni Soccer
Game. The former Trojans played a full game in front of their friends and families as well as
former coaches Ray Self, Billy Medlock, and Terry Huffman. Alumni from as far back as
1993, HGHS’s first class to graduate soccer players. Special appreciation goes out to Mike
Thomason for refereeing the game, and to Cletis and Colt Severs, Bruce Forsberg, and Coach
James Steele for preparing the field.
Boston Marathon Runner
First-year Legacy kindergarten teacher, Melissa Boothe, traveled on
April 20th to run in the 26.2 mile Boston Marathon, one of the oldest
marathons in its 113th year. Over 25,000 marathoners qualified for the
event, as did Melissa Boothe and Caitlin Heider, both kindergarten
teachers at Legacy. Melissa ran a 3 hr 38 min marathon in Nashville to
qualify in her age group. The 38-year-old, mother of three, loves
running and trained for this event where she finished in 4 hr 8 min.
Unfortunately, Caitlin was unable to attend due to an injury. Legacy
shares this huge SHOUT OUT; we’re very proud of our teachers!
AR Book Skate
“Agile Arlene” and “Rockin’ Rita” raced on roller skates in
Legacy’s gym on April 13 in a school-wide celebration
commemorating an accomplishment of over 30,385
Accelerated Reader points this year and meeting the book
fair goal to raise money in an effort to stock our new library
with books. “Agile Arlene” a/k/a Teresa Noel and “Rockin’
Rita” a/k/a Missy McDonald, two third-grade teachers
improvised as stand-ins for our assistant principal, Pamela
Huggins, who was unable to attend due to illness. Dr. Styles
and Mrs. Huggins originally agreed to the race in an effort to
inspire children to meet the $15,000 goal set by library media
specialist, Rita Jackson. Our third-grade teachers did a
fabulous job of entertaining the children the last hour of
school. In addition, Mrs. Huggins and Dr. Styles agreed that this would be a great way to wrap
up two weeks of state testing for our children.
Writing Contest Winners
Congratulations to Madelynn Cleveland, third-grader in Cathy Watts’ class, whose essay
“Why My Mother Deserves a Diamond” won 3rd place and a $150 gift certificate to Donny’s
Diamond Gallery. The Writing Contest was for 3rd Graders across Huntsville. Honorable
Mention goes to six Legacy students: Carter Thomas, Tyler Hendrix, Cameryn Grace Shields
(all from Mrs. Watts’ class). From Stacey Schocke’s class: Christopher Meininger; and From
Missy McDonald’s class: Danielle Tuck, James Bennett, Jr., and Grayson Littrell. Mrs. Watts
shares that Dr. Styles visited the class sharing some writing tips with students after students
learned about the contest from our third grade teachers.
Shout Out to SHS’s Basketball Team and the SGA Book Drive
WOW! What a show! Mr. Luther Tiggs and his SHS Basketball Team visited our gym to
display dunking and passing skills to Legacy’s elementary children, where they gave away balls,
t-shirts, and even pulled a few students from the audience to go one-on-one shooting hoops!
This is an outstanding group of boys with a great deal of talent. Thanks to head coach, Luther
Tiggs for his outstanding leadership.
In addition, SHS’s SGA sponsor Katherine Neis presented the Legacy library and other
elementary libraries with over 300 books collected by the student body during their children’s
book drive conducted as a community service. Legacy commends and thanks these two
leaders for evoking community spirit in the young people they teach and for sharing with our
school!
MADISON COUNTY CAREER
TECHNICAL CENTER
The Great Moon Buggy Race of 2009
The Madison County Career Technical Center participated in the Great Moon Buggy Race of
2009 at the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Teams came from all over the
World to compete in the race. There were a total of 76 teams at the college and high school
level and 36 of those teams were at the High School Level competing. Madison County Career
Tech Center placed 8th and 10th out of the 36 High School Teams. In 2005 they were the
National Champions.
The project included many of the classes at the Career Tech Center with the Precision
Machining class spear heading the project. Several of the classes involved were Mr. Helton’s
Design Drafting class, Mr. Scruggs Welding students, Mike Jones and Montarious Rooks, Mr.
Morris’s Auto Collision students , along with Mr. Slater’s Auto Mechanic student, and Mr.
Hardy’s Horticulture students .
Each team consists of a male and female student that have to race the buggy through a mile
long course. The buggy is designed and fabricated by the students. Team One Crater Jump
included: Justin Cobb, Aaron Pelzer, Gracie Dykes, Troy Gray, Johnathon Melton, and Hayden
Pettie. Team II Crater Jump included: Thomas McDougal, Haley Leach, Percy Haley, Dylan
Krahulik, Sonya Laster, Ryan Parvin. We are looking forward to next year’s competition.
Thanks to all who participated, we are proud of you.
MCCTC Design Drafting Gets “HUNCH”!
The Madison County Career Tech Center’s Design Drafting class lead by Mr. Mark Helton along
with 9 other high schools are helping NASA plan, build, and test vehicle hardware to ready the
stage for America’s next-generation Ares I Rocket. They are involved in “HUNCH”, which
stands for “High Schools United with NASA to Create Hardware”. The students are partnering
with engineers from Marshall Space Flight Center and get to analyze plans, model hardware
and fabricate prototypes for elements of the ARES I upper stage and the J-2X engine that will
power that state to orbit. The prototypes will be used to do fit checks to determine how the
designs function when translated from two and three dimensional computer models to full scale
hardware mockups.
The class is also using the state of the art SKYPE program to communicate with the other
classes and schools involved in the program. Distance Learning on a whole new scale!
Students involved are Sonya Lasater from New Hope, Ben Fitch and Justis Campbell from
Sparkman, and Warren Mason and Chris Farrow from Hazel Green. All enrolled in the Design
Drafting class at the Tech Center.
Corporate Sponsors Include: NASA, Siemens, Teledyne Brown, Status and Z-Corp.
SKILLS USA COMPETITIONS
Skills USA is the only organization for students in technical, skilled and service careers,
including health careers.
The Skills USA competition this year was held in Montgomery, Alabama, April 28th and 29th.
Several students at MCCTC competed and those that competed were: Courtney Campbell in
Cosmetology, Ben Fitch Design Drafting, Lee Black and Josh Bailey, who placed 3rd in CNC
Turning, are from Precision Machining. Auto Collision class participants were Trey McElyea,
Dakota Haraway, James Hester, and Richard Harris.
In our HOSA State Competition held in Gadsden Alabama Debbie Spray won 3rd in Nutrition
Knowledge Test and Taylor Olson placed 3rd in Pathophysiology Test. Debbie will go on to
Nationals in Nashville.
MCCTC Awards Day program was Friday, May 8th, recognizing many students and their
accomplishments. Several students received college scholarships and they were: Sonya
Lasater, Ashley Sharp, David Keel, Jada Byrd, and Jennifer Wooten.
Lynn Fanning Elementary
Our thanks to 5th grade teacher Melissa Elliott for sponsoring our Poetry Club and for
encouraging our students to enter the Huntsville Literary Association’s recent writing contest.
Anna Peyton, a third grader in Mrs. Baeder’s class, won Honorable Mention for her poem, “All I
See”. Poems from Andrew Atkins, Ashlyn Byrge, Nikki Choate, Kristen Collie, Jonathan Duke,
Heather Hargrave, Brooke Kinney, Ashlyn Putman, Zana Ruelman, and Sarah Worthington will
also be published in the Spring 2009 edition of “A Celebration of Poets”.
Congratulations to our counselor, Mr. Don Smith, for receiving a Golden Apple Award from the
Huntsville Times. Anna Bozeman; a former Lynn Fanning student, now at Meridianville Middle
School; wrote the letter nominating Mr. Smith for the award. Her letter noted that Mr. Smith was
immensely caring and nurturing to her throughout her years at this school.
Lynn Fanning Elementary has a team in the local Relay for Life on Friday, May 15, 2009. Our
team, named “Think Pink”, has raised more than $1,000 for the American Cancer Society
through Hat Days, Casual Days, and a faculty cookout. Students and faculty will also participate
in a mini relay this Friday afternoon.
Our 4th grade, under the direction teacher, Debbie Oden, raised $1,290 this year for St. Jude
Children’s Research Hospital through participation in their Math-a-Thon. Over the past several
years our school has raised nearly $30,000 for St. Jude.
Third grade teacher, Kristen Tate, entered her student’s work in a Mother’s Day Writing Contest
sponsored by Donnie’s Diamond Gallery in Huntsville. Students were asked to write about their
mother or another significant person in their life who had influenced and helped them. The
grand prize was a diamond necklace valued at $1500. George Obiyor wrote about his sister,
Christine, and won the grand prize. Out of over 400 entries to the contest, the following Lynn
Fanning students also were selected for Honorable Mention: Tiffany Breeden, Tara Dozier,
Tiffany Needle, Deanna Tucker, Jenna Walker, and Ryan Wilkinson. We thank Mr. Donny
Maleknia and his wife, Fatemah, from Donnie Diamond Gallery for the special prize and for their
involvement in the community.
Madison County High School
Living History
MCHS Army JROTC
Madison County High School Army JROTC and History classes on April 17 had a chance to
experience life during the Civil War under the tutelage of Re-enactors Mark Sharp (Company I,
19th Alabama) and Cadet Captain Chase Sharp (Company I, 42nd Indiana). Mark Sharp
selflessly donated his time to educate the students on a soldier’s life, personal equipment, and
field craft for Confederate and Union Soldiers. Mark Sharp spoke of the methods to research
family trees to learn how students’ relatives may have played roles in our country’s key historic
events. The Sharps have tracked their connection to at least four Civil War Soldiers. Mark led
a practical application segment, gathering a squad of “new recruits” from the students and
taught basic unit drill. Each student came away with a clear picture of the Civil War, the
challenges Soldiers and families face in times of conflict, and the practical traditions of military
drill and ceremonies. Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Maijala spoke to each class on military
organizations and how technology impacted tactics during the Civil War which continued to
have an influence during World War I. Students came away challenged to dig deeper and apply
lessons learned though the study of history.
National Merit Finalist
Andrew Jake Stephens has been named a National Merit Finalist.
Senior Trey Broadway was 5A State Runner-up in the mile at the state track meet. The
Madison County High School track coach is Lance McCord.
The Madison County High School Boys Soccer Team made the 5A State Soccer Quarterfinals.
Todd Powers is the Boys Soccer coach at MCHS.
MERIDIANVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Athletics
Tammie Burger, 6th grade teacher at Meridianville Middle participated in the Country Music
Marathon by completing the ½ marathon, 13.1 miles, on April 25, 2009. There were 35,000
participants in the full and ½ marathons with 22,000 finishing.
Averi Lovell, Austin Ivey & Anna Bozeman, all 8th graders in Mrs. Britton’s Language Arts class,
had their essays selected for the Golden Apple Award and will be honored along with the
teacher they wrote about on May 7th . Averi wrote about Mrs. Tammie Burger, 6th grade
teacher at Meridianville. They were selected among over 400 letters nominating teachers in
grades K-12 from the following school systems: Huntsville City, Madison County, Madison City
and Private Schools.
Meridianville Middle School is very proud of the band and director, Marsha Asquith, for the
following accomplishments:
ABA District I Band Assessment: The Concert Band earned an Excellent rating and the
Wind Ensemble earned a Superior rating.
ABA State Band Assessment: The Wind Ensemble earned an Excellent rating on stage
and a Superior rating in Sight Reading.
The Wind Ensemble competed in the Fiesta-val Competition during Spring Break.
They received the Best in Class Award for their division and then also the Grand
Champion Middle School Band Award.
The MVMS Band had 16 students selected for the UAB Honor Bands, 29 students
selected for the Madison County Honor Band, 5 students selected for the UNA Honor
Band, and 2 students selected for the Samford MS Honor Band. In January, we had 10
students selected by audition for the ABA District I Junior High Honor Band: those were
Mandy Poole, Alicia Daniels, Madison Haley, Pat Martin, Connor Gentry, Alex Kozuch,
Jaylen Hardin, Tracie Goode, Matthew Donovan, and Riley Stephenson. Madison, Pat
and Matthew were also named Alternate for the ABA Junior High All-state Band.
In March, the MVMS Band was host to more than 800 area band students and the ABA
District I Solo & Ensemble Festival. Our students earned a total of 73 medals for
Superior performances at the Solo & Ensemble Festival.
Charles Lynch, 8th grade history teacher at Meridianville Middle School, organized the first ever
Meridianville World History Fair. There were awesome booths representing forty different
countries with artifacts, costumes, student designed work and much more. Many hours of
research and work by these students went in to this project and it really showed during the
display hours.
Jean Henderson, Erin Marshall, teachers at Meridianville Middle, Shirley Steelman, CNP
manager, Donna Walker, Carol White, Kim Dixon, and Teresa Smith, CNP workers, all
participated in the Scale-Back Alabama weight loss challenge, all losing weight according to
their individual goals, for a combined total of 96 pounds and counting!
MADISON CROSS ROADS
The “Misfits” raised over $7,500 in donations for the annual Madison
County Relay for Life event Sponsored by the American Cancer Society.
“SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW” was this year’s theme for the ARMT pep rally. Shown
here is a Madison Cross Roads 5th grade class performing a skit at the annual
event.
Mt. Carmel Elementary
The end of another year is here, can you believe it?
Mt. Carmel has a trio of retiring friends this year:
Sally McDougal has influenced many kindergarten children and fellow teachers during her
years with us. Ecleave Jackson, an inspirational third grade teacher and friend to many, will be
missed by everyone.
Hope Leslie, one of the brave staff members that feed the hungry masses, will be enjoying time
away from the kitchen. We will miss you, think of us next year as you put your feet up and do
nothing (ha! ha!).
We have some teachers spending their summer having some interesting adventures:
Lena Austin, the hearing impaired teacher at Mt. Carmel, received a $1200 grant from the
Delta Zeta Foundation and a scholarship to cover tuition and expenses for a week long Auditory
Verbal Mentorship in Birmingham this summer.
Stacye Lester, a first grade teacher, received a scholarship, awarded through the STAR
program at UAH, to complete an independent study project in Costa Rica this summer.
Welcome to Mt. Carmel‟s Sensory Room
Vickey Braswell, and the other Special Education teachers, created a sensory room at Mt.
Carmel to help students calm down. Just going into the room is an experience. They have
done an excellent job of making the room a tactile adventure.
Monrovia Elementary School
1st Annual Poetry Celebration
On Monday, May 11, the 1st Annual Poetry Celebration was held in the Media Center to
recognize community volunteer tutors and MES students who had participated in the Poetry
Academy during this school year. The celebration included student poetry readings, recognition
of tutors, presentation of books to students, and refreshments.
Mrs. Linda Arredondo, MES Reading Coach, coordinated the Poetry Academy in which
59 students (grades K-3) worked with 15 tutors using poetry to improve reading skills. Publix
Harvest Square and Indian Creek P.B. Church served as community partners. The motto of the
MES Volunteer Tutor Program is “Mobilizing the Community to Help Students Succeed.”
Children‟s Community Gallery
MES students’ art work is being exhibited in the Children’s Community Gallery on the
Plaza Level of the Huntsville Museum of Art. Admission to this exhibit is free. The exhibit is
open for viewing from April 26 through May 28. The following students received certificates and
letters from the museum as well as a free pass to visit the museum’s main gallery:
Kindergarten: Emily Hammer and Andrew Gould.
1st Grade: Elisha Jones, Jais Phipps, Nicole Garcia, Parker Nelson,
Camryn Joiner, Nathaniel Autry, Madison Moore, Kaleigh Mackey, Clay Doll, and
Nicholas Thompson.
2nd Grade: Megan McNabb, Luke Berryman, Caleb Cope, Samuel Drummond, John
David Ray, and Zack Kelley.
3rd Grade: Noah Jones, Alyssa Richard, Mara Pastores, and Thomas Wright.
4th Grade: Jade Baldwin, Avery McBrayer, Dacey Rochelle Kyzar,
Jordan Garrett, Emily Jex, David Penfield, Ann Marie Garcia, Te’Rione Heard,
Catherine Bankich, and Caley Feemster.
5th Grade: Doan Ngo, Makailah Pempleston, and Kacy Hudson.
Mrs. Vinchenza Sweet-Mikell is our Art Teacher and sponsor for this event.
Chess Club – Monrovia Elementary School
Three members of the MES Chess
Club, Joseph Shi, David Teng, and Samuel
Howell, won trophies in the Discovery Chess
Tournament on March 28. Their combined
success earned MES the 4th place team
trophy. Mrs. Regina Clonts and Dr. Thomas
Thrasher are the club sponsors.
The 1st Annual MES Chess Club Tournament is currently underway. The single elimination
contest began on April 14 and concludes on May 19.
Support Professional of the Year
Madison County Schools’ first Education
Support Professional awards ceremony was held
Tuesday, March 31, at Flint River Baptist Church
in Hazel Green. Our school nurse, Donna Stiles,
was recognized as the Support Professional of
the Year for the Madison County School System.
Congratulations to Cynthia Thompson, 4th and 5th grade ACE teacher at MES, for being
nominated for the Girl Scouts' 2009 Women of Distinction award as an Outstanding Educator.
Mrs. Thompson was honored with this nomination on May 8th at the 2009 Women of Distinction
Luncheon.
Golden Apple Award
Mrs. Jill Lares, 3rd grade teacher, has been
selected as a recipient of a Golden Apple
Award in the Golden Apple Contest
sponsored by The Huntsville Times. More
than 400 K-12 teachers in Huntsville City,
Madison City, Madison County, and local
private schools were nominated by their
students. One of Mrs. Lares' former students,
Ashlee Walker, wrote her nominating letter. A
luncheon honoring the 11 recipients was held
at the Huntsville Marriott on May 7.
Monrovia Middle School
Beta Club sponsored a pull-tab collection drive for Ronald McDonald House. Pull tabs were
collected from every homeroom!
2009 Regional Technology Fair Winners
General Applications Ariel Anderson, Lauren Milar 1
General Applications Allie Thornton, Emma Smith 4
General Applications Emily Stafford 3
General Applications Allie Thornton 4
General Applications Catherine Warren, Julia Roland, Sarah Garrett 2
General Applications Austin McBride, Joe Matheney 4
General Applications Sarah Green 2
Info Tech Test Carson Edwards 3
Info Tech Test Carson Woodward 3
Multi Media Allison Watwood, Courtney Albritton, Lauren Rosenthal 2
Multi Media Jessica Lowery, Olivia Thomas 4
Video Production Kyler Albright 2
Video Production Blake Fanning 3
Webpage Brooklyn Frye, Cassidy Counter, Nancy Jane Kelly 3
Webpage McKenzie Glasscock, Melissa Do, Sarah Baired 4
Programming Bethany Lusk, Emma Smith, Jacob Machina, Ryan Collumn 2
Leah Sneddon, sixth grader, won a scholarship to Space Camp!
New Hope Elementary/Middle
School
Field Trip: The first grade teachers at New Hope Elementary received a grant from the Target
field trip program. Thanks to Target the entire first grade visited Around the Square at
EarlyWorks Museum and the Folklife Festival at Constitution Village on April 24, 2009.
Band News: Three New Hope Middle School Band students were selected for the Samford
University Honor Band in January. Charley Garner, Annie Wilkerson, and Jason Ledbetter
attended a week-long event on the Samford University Campus that included concerts, master
classes, and hours of rehearsals with a master conductor.
Outstanding Academic Achievement: The following 7th grade students have been invited to
attend recognition ceremonies for scoring at exceptionally levels on the ACT or SAT college
entrance exams:
Dustin Bearden qualified for Grand Recognition at DUKE University
Cassandra Bearden, Ryan Lanier, Leah Tabor, and Jericoe Trott have all qualified
for State Recognition at the University of Alabama.
4th Grade Visits the Capitol: Fourth-grade students from New Hope Elementary took a trip to
Montgomery on Tuesday, May 12. The students toured the Capitol, Archives, and the Civil
Rights Museum. Representative Butch Taylor took the students to the State House and allowed
them to have a mock session. Students voted 62-13 for a 6 month summer vacation!!! Mrs.
Hill, Mrs. Neff, and Mrs. Trimble would like to thank Mr. Taylor for his support.
Confederate Coloring Contest Winner: Congratulations to
Jesse Adams, 4th grade student in Mrs. Hill’s class. He came in 3rd place out of 3 schools and
210 participants in the Daughters of the Confederate Coloring Contest. Students were to
correctly color a Confederate drummer boy’s uniform and correctly answer questions about the
Civil War. Jesse’s work will go to the state level for judging. Great Job Jesse!
Science Fair Winners: 6th grade students get "turned on" to science! All participants had
their inventions/presentations on display at the PTO Meeting Monday evening. Winners for the
competition are:
1st Place Winner:
Allison Brown "The Great Plant Race"
Honorable Mentions:
Tyler Jones "The Battery Brand Power
Haley McDougal "Flower Power
Ruben Siebert "Got Juice?"
Tara Richards "Will It Rot?"
Chris Russell "Metal Mania"
Talent Show Fundraiser: Yes, there is definitely up and coming talent in New Hope. We
have vocalists here that could compete on American Idol any day! First Place winner for the
5th-8th Grade division, Brandy Luckhart, and First Place winner for the 1-4th Grade Division,
Lexi McDonald, both have what it takes to make it in the music industry.
TALENT SHOW WINNERS:
Grade 1-4 Division
1st place - Lexi McDonald - vocalist
2nd Place - Sydney Parker - Piano
3rd Place - Cole Sadler - Guitar
Grade 5-8 Division
1st Place - Brandy Luckhart - Vocalist
2nd Place - Casey Rickles - Piano
3rd Place - Chase Miller – Guitar
New Hope High School
Several New Hope High students were selected for university honor
bands.
University of Alabama
Ashley Covington
Jonathan Steinman
Auburn University
Ashley Covington
Shannon Maijala
Jonathan Steinman
Samford University
Ashey Covington
Hannah Kirsopp
Frank Kirsopp
Shannon Maijala
Jennifer Pence
Jonathan Steinman
Honors and Awards
Soroptimist Award
Shelby Mann
Peer Helpers
Peer helpers assisted with the
Special Olympics
Matt Cornelius-660 hours of volunteer work with the Burritt Museum
Pages for the House of Representatives
Cole Rickles and Blake Muzny
Soccer Teams - 3rd in the section with a record of 12-5; boys finished the season 4-13-
last in the section
Natalie Harding, Kristy Brooks, and Ryan Williams made the All-tournament Team.
Baseball Team – Season record 16-6, 3A Area 14 Runner-up made it to
1st Round of the State Playoffs
Congratulations to the Softball Team –
3A Area 14 Runners Up
New Hope High students released Balloons in Memory of Jeremy Dudley and his family
planted a Dogwood tree on the school groundsin his honor.
Students presented art at Panoply-
Rachel Warren, Justin Vann, Shelby Davis,
Hannah McGough,
Misti Stoneburner, Stephanie Forsythe,
Ashley Welch, Sean Moman,
Taylor Bates, and Kelsey Shaneyfelt
Top 10 PLATO winners celebrated completing over 20,000 lessons with dinner at
Outback and meeting Larry the Cable Guy.
Jamilyn Dunlap, Tasha Baker, Tyler Keel, Cole Davis, Sarah Smith, Andrea Johnson, Ashlyn
Graves, James Harless, Courtney Moon, and Austin Baker
OWENS CROSS ROADS
OWENS CROSS ROADS
OCR Students Shine at This Year’s Science Fair
Owens Cross Roads held its annual science fair to showcase the many talents of its 4th, 5th and
6th grade students. Each grade had a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner along with 5 honorable
mentions. This year’s projects were innovative, creative and paved the way for future careers.
For example, 6th grade 3rd place winner, Erin Lipscomb, wants to be a crime scene investigator
when she grows up. Her project was on paper chromatography which can determine which pen
certain inks come from. This can be used in criminal cases that involve letters written by the
suspect. Other projects included how much weight a suspension bridge can hold, comparing
gum brands to determine whish taste better and last longer and comparing PH levels in city and
well water. Owens Cross Roads is very proud of their talented students.
4th Grade Winners
1st Place – Dakota Jenkins, 2nd place – John Jackson, 3rd place – Nicole Coulter
5th Grade Winners
1st place – Garrett Cross, 2nd place – Brian Smith, 3rd place – Alex Bridges
6th Grade Winners
1st place – Jake Wilbourn, 2nd place – Patrick McVay, 3rd place – Erin Lipscomb
First Grade Bluebird Community Service Learning Project
Owens Cross Roads students learned about bluebird habitats and optimal nesting conditions
through a community service learning project. To extend the research and learning, students
worked with parents and community volunteers to make bluebird houses. In efforts to help the
community and nature, the bluebird houses were hung on the OCR school campus and at a
local nursing home. In addition, OCR’s first graders made puppets for a bluebird play and
painted bluebirds, bluebird houses, and nature scenes onto ceramic tiles. Students visited a
local nursing home, sang bluebird songs using their bluebird puppets and gave the ceramic tiles
to the nursing home residents. Students also made props, painted bluebird scenery, and used
bluebird puppets to perform a puppet show. Each first grade classroom presented a bluebird
puppet show. Parents and community members were invited to the puppet shows.
Flower Pot Service Learning Project completed by Kindergarteners at Owens Cross
Roads
As a part of OCR’s kindergarten
service learning project, students
explored the life cycle of plants.
Centers were designed for plant
growth and exploration of plants.
Kindergartners at OCR planted
their own flowers and keep them in
a green house in the classroom. At
the end of the service learning
project the flowers were sent home
for Mother’s Day presents.
4th
Graders at Owens Cross Roads Visits Montgomery with State Representative Butch
Taylor
It was Alabama History class in person for OCR’s 4th graders. They recently visited our State’s
Capital, The Rosa Parks’ Museum and other historical sites on a class field trip to Montgomery.
The students were so excited to see some of the landmarks they have learned about in history
class this year. State Representative, Butch Taylor, showed his generosity by paying for these
students to attend this educational trip and attended the trip with them.
Hoover City School, Deer Valley Elementary, gives OCR an “I‟m BAD” basketball
demonstration
Deer Valley PE teacher, Ami Weems, brings her talented Deer Valley Dibblers to perform for
OCR students and faculty. The DVD’s are a group of 55 4th and 5th grade students that perform
routines and other demonstrations using basketball skills. This year’s theme was the “I’m Bad
Tour” which featured choreographed basketball routines to the greatest hits of Michael Jackson.
The DVD’s have visited many schools throughout the state, performed at many college
basketball halftime shows and the Harlem Globe Trotters halftime show. Another important part
of the DVD’s demonstration was audience participation. Time was allowed for every student to
work with a DVD on a certain basketball skill that was demonstrated during the routines. OCR
was proud to have such a talented group of students come to their school.
PACE
STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD
PACE had recognized a group of students that exemplify leadership, creativity, and excellence
to serve as our new student council. These students will be responsible for presenting at parent
meetings, creating information videos, and will be the leaders of our service learning projects!
Shameeka Arnold is the acting president. Congratulations to these students!
TUT FANN Veteran Home
Our spring semester project focused on serving the veterans of the Tut Fann Veteran Home in
Huntsville, AL. The students formulated questions, interviewed the veterans, conducted
research on the wars that included pamphlets, presented at the March and April parent
meetings, published a book of the veteran stories, and conducted a reception for the veterans!
Thank you to all our staff members that made this project a success!
*Veteran Reception:
PACE wanted to show appreciation for all the veterans that participated in our Service Learning
Project and allowed their life stories to be published! With each veteran having their story read
aloud, appreciation and recognition filled the room! Each veteran was presented with a copy of
the book followed by pictures. Students, veterans, Tut Fann staff members, and PACE staff
members intermingled over cake and punch to finish the celebration! Thank you again for all
those that have served or currently serve our country!
EARTH AWARENESS WEEK!
Our students gained a greater understanding of our earth: water, air, life, dirt, and fire through a
variety of interactive events! Our collage of art work proudly lined the foyer of our building!
Parent POW-WOWS!
We feel that parental involvement is key in helping our students be successful before and after
transition! Thank you to all the parents that have been in partnership with our
school!
Staff Recognition:
Takisha Durm has been selected to attend a summer seminar by V. Gilder Lehrman Institute of
History. The seminar will be held at Columbia University in New York, NY.
Amanda Stone is the recipient of the NEA Teacher Excellence Award! Congratulations and
what an honor!
Mrs. Watts had an article published about her success here at PACE in The Communicator!
Thanks for being devoted to making a difference!
Deputy „DAWG‟ Appreciation Day
Deputies often go unnoticed in the chaos of day-to-day routines. PACE wanted to designate a
special day to recognize and show our appreciation for all the deputies that serve and provide
safety to our students!
Students welcomed the chance to make cards and a banner for all our deputies! Thank you
again for all your hard work Deputies Cagle, Williams, Tidwell, Jones, and Daversa!
RIVERTON MIDDLE SCHOOL
Congratulations to our
7th grade DUKE TIP Grand Recognition Recipients:
Tessa Hawkins –
scored Composite of 29 on ACT with a 35 in Reading, 33 English
Michael Porter-
scored Composite of 21 on ACT with a 30 in Reading
Sparkman Middle School
Congratulation to Angela William, Sparkman Middle School Math Teacher, for being awarded
the Marshall Space Flight Center’s Educators Excellent Award (May 7, 2009)
Congratulation to the SMS Girls Softball Team for winning the
Madison County Softball Championship.
Back Row: Left to Right – Coach Pate, Keisha Garrett, Leah Butler, Ariel Smith, Taylor Boyett,
Tiffany Reed, Miranda Young, Taylor Morris, Coach Ferg.
Front Row: Left to Right – Tessa Moore Bevia Robinson, Kasey Stender, Audrey Ables Not
shown – Lauren Wingfield and Madison Hubert.
Sparkman High School
The band placed first and was named grand champion with superior ratings in the Chicago
Concert Festival. The percussion section was named best concert percussion section and the
three top soloist awards were given to Jazmin Ghent, Timothy Harris and Aaron Jaillet.
Ben Maclay, Matt Bruening, Spencer Baer, Ciara Wallace, Keiani Taylor, Timothy Harris, Aaron
Jaillet, Emily Johnson, Matt Hornbuckle and Alex Setterlund were selected to participate in the
Alabama-All-State Band Festival at Auburn University.
Timothy Harris placed first and Ben Maclay placed second in the All-State Solo Competition.
Senior Jazmin Ghent received two gold medals in the Instrumental Music Contemporary and
the Instrumental Classical divisions of the NAACP Local Art-So Competition.
Gilder-Lehrman Great Wars teacher, Erin Coggins, was selected to attend a Gilder Lehrman
Seminar this summer on the Great Depression and World War II.
The Concert Choir and Women‟s Choir received Superior ratings at the AVA District
Festival as well as the Festival Disney Choral Competition in Orlando, Florida.
The following Spanish students reaped awards at the State Spanish Club Convention:
1. T-shirt (designed by Garrett Stevens and Katie Spence) - 1st place
2. Club Scrapbook (completed by Joy DeShazo and Andrea McCown): 2nd place for the
creative cover and 3rd place for content.
3. Jeff Kim - First Place, Level IV Grammar
4. A.J. Wright - Second Place, Level IV Verbs
5. Alexa Convers - First Place, Literary Recitation
6. Francesca Fitzgerald and Elena Gibson - 2nd place for Group Costume
Congratulations to Adrienne Webb of Sparkman High School. She has been named the
“Gatorade Women’s High School Basketball Player of the Year”. She has also been recognized
by ESPN HoopGurlz as one of the Top 50 players in the nation and the only one from Alabama
to be named to the High School Nation Honor Roll. These are the 50 players who, according to
ESPN HoopGurlz staff, had special individual performances or careers that also contributed to
team success.
The “Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame” has recognized Adrienne Webb for her outstanding
2008-09 season. Adrienne’s Sparkman High School Jersey, #30, will hang in the Ring of Honor
display at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, TN for the year 2009-2010. Her
jersey will hang alongside other high school and college All-Americans and WNBA All-Stars.
Sparkman High School Lady Senators Softball Team won the 6A State Softball
Championship Game this past weekend. Congratulations to you Lady Senators!!!!!
Team Players: Abby Mackay, Ciara Garcia, Kaitlin Lowery, Hayden Crawford, Brittany Reed,
Ashley Handley, Samantha Thorpe, Mallory McNeal, Sarah Suggs, Tori Edwards, Kinsey Beck,
Allison Sutherlin, Hannah Palmer, Heather James, Ashley Price, Katie Brinkman.
Team Coaches: Dale Palmer, Slade Stewart and Tina Nickey.
SPARKMAN 9th
Fire Explorer Post 423 (sponsored by the Harvest Volunteer Fire Department) traveled
to Trussville, AL in April for the Annual Statewide Explorer Competition – the Post’s first
ever competition. S9GS student Jessica Van Benthuysen was on the team that brought
home the trophy for 3rd place in the ladder raise competition.
Congratulations to the Sparkman 9th Grade Band! They performed at the Dixie Classic
Festival in Chicago and received all superior ratings. The band placed 2nd overall and
received an award for the best brass section overall.