October 2026 – Student Spotlights

We were honored to have Meteorologist Derek Kincaid from WTVM in Columbus join our 3rd Grade students to talk all things weather!

Our 2nd Graders had a little fun with their schoolwork! They set up tents, grabbed their flashlights, and got to work!

Coach Ozment’s Robotics and Coding class has begun exploring the fundamentals of drone flight and autonomous technology. Students are developing hands-on skills as they learn to control drones across multiple dimensions, coordinate movement in different directions, and make real-time adjustments during flight. Working collaboratively, students are applying concepts in spatial awareness, control systems, problem-solving, and communication while navigating increasingly complex flight challenges.

Oh no… the Gingerbread Man is on the run! He left clues all across campus today, sending our K4 students on a fun-filled adventure to see if they could catch him! From the library to the main office, and even the playground, our little detectives followed the trail and searched high and low for the Gingerbread Man!

Auburn City Schools fifth graders went on an adventure at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center. The 2026 Adventures in Art program took students from all five ACS elementary schools on an exploration of the Gulf, blending creativity with the incredible biodiversity found in our coastal ecosystems. Students rotate through four experiences, including a photography gallery featuring the work of Auburn University artist Chuck Hemard, an interactive presentation with the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, and two hands-on art workshops. Along the way, they learned about longleaf pine forests, prescribed fire, and the gopher tortoise while creating collaborative tortoise-shell ceramic tiles and making tree-ring prints with ink created from charcoal from prescribed burns. Adventures in Art is always a creative way to connect art to a variety of subjects while providing students an opportunity to learn from artists, educators, and community partners beyond the classroom. Thank you to the City of Auburn, the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center, the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, and everyone involved in making another Adventures in Art experience possible for ACS students!

Auburn City Schools is proud to celebrate Dinh Tri “Tri” Nguyen, a second grader at Richland Elementary, who has been selected as one of only seven Alabama students named a 2026 National Math Star! Tri was selected from 30 Alabama finalists who advanced from a nationwide applicant pool of approximately 8,700 students. National Math Stars identifies young students with extraordinary mathematical talent and provides opportunities to help them continue to grow. In the months ahead, Tri will receive technology to support his learning, complete an advanced math diagnostic through Art of Problem Solving, enroll in challenging mathematics coursework, and begin small-group mentoring with a professional mathematician. He and his family will also attend National Math Stars Welcome Weekend in Houston this October. This recognition is especially exciting as Alabama participates in the National Math Stars initiative for the first time this year. We are incredibly proud to see an Auburn City Schools student shining among some of the brightest young mathematicians in the country!

Two Auburn City Schools students had the special opportunity to welcome educators from across the state during the 2026 Alabama Special Education Directors Conference, hosted by ALSDE at the Marriott at Grand National! John Wells Warren shared his musical talents with the audience, performing the Auburn High School Alma Mater, The Star-Spangled Banner, the theme from Harry Potter, and other tunes on his desk bells. Leila Tatum took the stage to share a little about herself, including some fun facts and her big dream of working in television production in Hollywood one day! We are incredibly proud of John Wells and Leila for confidently representing Auburn City Schools and helping welcome special education leaders from across Alabama. Opportunities like this shine a light on students’ unique talents, vibrant personalities, ambitious dreams, and the many gifts they have to share with the world. Way to represent Auburn, John Wells and Leila!

Auburn High School Esports celebrated its 2026 7A Mario Kart State Championship last night with a special ring ceremony!
State Champion Mario Kart Players:
Seoyoon Lee
Sophia Kennedy
Callan Rainer
Race Harden (ring accepted by Greer Long)
Led by Head Coach Wayne Parnell and Assistant Coach Tiffany Clark, AHS captured the title with a strong championship performance against James Clemens at the Huntingdon College Esports Arena. The victory marked the third state championship in Auburn High School Esports program history! Congratulations to our players, coaches, and everyone who helped make this championship season possible. The rings look good on you, Tigers!

Our Senior & First Grade Buddy Program officially kicked off, giving our 1st Grade students the chance to make new friends and build meaningful relationships with our seniors. We can’t wait to watch our Warriors, young and old, learn, laugh, and grow together throughout the year!

Our K4 students found the perfect place for their Teddy Bear picnic in the library, and they even found a new friend along the way!

Mrs. Davis’ 7th Grade Life Science students put the scientific method to the test! They tested the hypothesis: “If I add paper clips to a paper helicopter, then the helicopter will get heavier and drop faster.”

The Lee-Scott Academy Marching Band performed at the annual Band-O-Rama at Opelika High School. We are incredibly proud of our students for their hard work and using the gifts the Lord has given them!

Our sixth graders explored the differences between secular humanism and a Christian worldview through real-life moral scenarios, thoughtful discussion, and Scripture. Students wrestled with familiar messages like, “If it feels right, it is right,” and “You are in control,” and compared them with biblical wisdom about prayer, humility, and trusting God. One of their biggest questions was, “We’ve been told to believe in ourselves all our lives, are we just supposed to change that?” Together, they discovered that our confidence isn’t rooted in what we can do on our own, but in Christ in us. They closed by reading James 1:5 and praying together for wisdom. Watching our students think deeply, ask hard questions, apply Scripture, and seek God’s wisdom was truly special! This curriculum was made possible through the generosity of donors to the Annual Fund, helping make opportunities like this possible for our students.

Auburn City Schools is proud to announce that the Board of Education has approved Amber Goolsby as the new Principal of Wrights Mill Road Elementary School. Mrs. Goolsby’s journey at WMR is a wonderful example of dedication, leadership, and commitment to the Auburn City Schools family. She began her ACS career in 2013 as a fourth-grade teacher, became a Title I teacher in 2018, and stepped into the role of Assistant Principal in October 2023. Now, she will lead the school she has served for more than a decade. Mrs. Goolsby earned her bachelor’s degree from Auburn University, her master’s degree from Troy University, and her Instructional Leadership Certificate from Auburn University. She succeeds Dr. Peter Forster, who recently transitioned from WMR Principal to his new role as Assistant Superintendent of Auburn City Schools. We congratulate Dr. Forster on this exciting next chapter and thank him for his outstanding leadership at WMR. Joining Mrs. Goolsby’s leadership team will be Adam Keel, who officially began serving as Assistant Principal on September 1, 2026. Mr. Keel brings valuable experience in both school counseling and administration from his time as the school counselor at J.F. Drake Middle School and his most recent posts as Assistant Principal and School Counselor at Beulah High School. Please join us in congratulating Principal Amber Goolsby and welcoming Assistant Principal Adam Keel to this exciting new chapter of leadership at Wrights Mill Road Elementary!

The Region 5 Career and Technical Education Workforce Forum took place in Auburn, bringing together education, workforce development, industry, and community leaders to strengthen the connection between CTE programs and Alabama’s workforce needs! ACS Career and Technical Education Director Dr. Silvia Scaife coordinated and hosted the forum, which provided an opportunity for school systems across the region to share their perspectives on CTE and network directly with business and industry partners. Niketa Dean from the Alabama State Department of Education and Dr. Eric Sewell, Dean of Technical Education and Workforce Development at Southern Union State Community College, kicked off the day by sharing the purpose and ongoing development of CTE and workforce initiatives. Region 5 has 21 school systems with more than 36,500 students enrolled in CTE courses. ACS proudly supports students with CTE programs that connect classroom learning to real-world skills, credentials, and career paths. ACS appreciates Dr. Scaife and all the educators, students, business leaders, post-secondary partners, and community stakeholders who came together with a shared goal of ensuring students have meaningful opportunities to develop employable skills and foster connections that prepare them for success beyond the classroom.

Auburn High School students got a special visit from the Auburn Police Department as officers teamed up with Tiger Mochas, AHS’s student-run special education coffee shop, for a morning of coffee, donuts, and community! Tiger Mochas students served up coffee while APD officers handed out free donuts, creating an opportunity for law enforcement to connect with students in a fun and welcoming environment. More than just coffee and donuts, the collaboration was about building relationships, giving back, and strengthening the connection between our schools and the community that supports them. Thank you to APD for investing in our students and to the Tiger Mochas crew for helping serve up a great morning at AHS!

The strong partnership with our families is the root of our success in providing the very best spiritual and academic experience for our students. Parent Night is one way we come together to discuss the year and how we can work together for the good of our children. Thank you to our SMCS families for partnering with us!

What a joyful first week back together! We wrapped it up with our first Spirit Day and loved seeing that Trinity pride shining bright! So thankful for a wonderful week and excited for all that God has in store for this year!

Senior portraits, breakfast & fellowship, chalk-painted parking spaces, and even a few throwback photos —these seniors are making memories as they begin their final year at Trinity! We can’t wait to watch the Class of 2027 lead, grow, and make their mark. Here’s to an unforgettable senior year! “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7 ESV

The halls are buzzing, the smiles are BIG, and another amazing year at St. Michael Catholic School is officially underway! Here’s to a year filled with faith, friendship, learning, and lots of Crusader spirit! Let’s make it our BEST year yet!

Our faculty began the year by filling their hearts before filling their classrooms. Together we celebrated Mass with Msgr. Farmer, reflected with Fr. Armstrong on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and explored how we can model the virtues of Saints Thérèse, Rita, and John Bosco for our students each day. We wrapped up the retreat with a little fun—an interactive “egg hunt” where faculty searched for and classified quotes from the Old Testament, New Testament, and the Saints. Grounded in faith, inspired by the saints, and ready to guide our Crusaders with wisdom, joy, and Christ at the center of all we do.

What a beautiful way to begin the year! Our first Hymn Sing of the school year was a special time of gathering as the entire Trinity family came together to worship! We sang “Be Thou My Vision” and “To God Be the Glory,” and were reminded of His goodness and faithfulness. And our first Dress Uniform Day had everyone looking sharp! We are so thankful for the opportunity to gather as a school family and praise Him together! “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” — Psalm 95:1

At Trinity, Christ is at the center of everything we do. God’s truth and beauty are woven into our everyday learning as we seek to graduate virtuous scholars who are prepared to “contend for the faith” with clarity, charity, and courage. As a Classical Christian school, we form students through the Trivium—teaching them not only what to think, but how to think—while viewing every subject through a Biblical worldview. Accredited by the Association of Classical Christian Schools since 2012, Trinity is committed to educating the whole student: mind, heart, and soul. “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” — 2 Corinthians 5:7

What a great way to kick off the season! We loved seeing our Trinity family come out to cheer on our Eagles in the season opener against Evangel! From the football to the fellowship, it was a special night filled with Friday night lights, Eagle pride, and Trinity Together spirit! Thank you to everyone who came out to support our team! Let’s go, Eagles!

Auburn City Schools elementary music teachers spent time singing, dancing, and learning alongside fellow educators at the 12th Annual East Alabama Music Educators Workshop. workshop provided an opportunity to dig into Alabama’s new State Standards for music education while sharing ideas, making connections, and experiencing plenty of music along the way. ACS is always proud to welcome music educators from across the region to Auburn. Thank you to our ACS music educators for continuing to learn, collaborate, and find new ways to help our students discover the joy of music!

It’s an annual Trinity tradition! We enjoyed some sweet, refreshing watermelon at snack time as we celebrate the long Labor Day weekend. As we enjoy this little tradition, we’re thankful for the labors the Lord has provided for us and for all those who faithfully work to serve others, spread the Gospel, teach, protect and further our nation, and contribute to the good of our communities.
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” — Colossians 3:23

Congratulations to Trinity senior Colin Robinson, a 2027 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist! Colin is among more than 200 Alabama students and approximately 16,000 students nationwide recognized for this outstanding academic achievement. His hard work, dedication, and perseverance are truly worth recognizing! At Trinity, we aim to graduate virtuous scholars who think clearly, listen carefully, discern wisely, reason persuasively, and articulate precisely—all with an eagerness to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Way to go, Colin! We can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for you!

Our 6th graders spent the day at Camp Marannook growing together in faith, character, and leadership. Through teamwork and intentional challenges, they strengthened communication skills and learned what it looks like to lead with Christ-like character.

Students in Mrs. Bryant’s AP Biology class put their statistical skills to the test! Students performed a chi-square statistic to determine whether the manufacturer’s claim matched their observed data, using M&M’s to conduct the lab!

One of the new 8th grade electives, Page Turners, started the school year with engaging speed discussions on their reading habits. This activity required students to have quick, timed discussion based on prearranged questions from Mrs. Sentenn in an effort to build reading community!