November 2023 Student Spotlights

Auburn High School spirit was at an all-time high during the 2023 Homecoming Parade through downtown! From the Marching Band to elementary-age students, Auburn City Schools represented well for all the families and fans of the Tigers that lined the streets. ACS thanks the Eagles Program for sponsoring this event and all the support from Auburn University Facilities Management, the City of Auburn, and the Auburn Public Safety Department.

The Auburn High School Marching Band competed at the Lake Martin Invitational in Alexander City and their hard work paid off!
• SUPERIOR ratings for Drum Major (1), Majorette (1), Color Guard (1), Percussion (1) and Band (1, 1, 1)!
• Best in Class (OPEN) Awards for Drum Major, Majorette, Color Guard, Percussion and Band!
• OVERALL Competition Awards included:
– Highest Marching Score of the Day
– Highest Music Score of the Day
– Highest High Brass Score of the Day
– Highest Pit Percussion Score of the Day

In physics, Mrs. Starr’s seniors built their own catapults to test launching projectiles at different distances. Their grades were dependent upon meeting certain benchmarks after constructing a catapult and choosing the type of projectile it would launch. One catapult was able to launch a golf ball 40 yards!

Mrs. Bryant’s AP Biology class recently did a lab to explore tonicity. The tonicity of a solution is related to its effect on the volume of a cell. Students worked in pairs to collect data then compared and explored the results their samples showed.

Four ACS students were honored by Lee County Family Court Judge Mike Fellow for putting good character into action at school!
Gracie Bayles, a tenth grader at Auburn High School, was recognized for intentionally cultivating a positive learning environment. “Gracie Bayles is a young woman of phenomenal character. She goes out of her way to include students of varying abilities in both academic and social discussions. She is a diligent student and is exceptionally polite to her teachers and peers. Mostly, Gracie goes above and beyond by extending friendship and conversation to students who are left out of groups. I have seen her leave her peer group to physically extend a hand to a lonely peer. Through her outstanding positive contribution to the community of our classroom, more students feel accepted and are willing to participate. She has made the learning environment more effective!” – Ms. Jenn Travis, a resource teacher at Auburn High School.
Azariah McClinton, a sixth grader at J.F. Drake Middle School, was recognized for helping students with special needs. “Azariah is truly a role model citizen. She is in a PE class with several students who have special needs, and sometimes they need extra encouragement to engage and participate. Azariah always chooses one specific student with special needs and tries her best to make the student feel welcomed. She has the natural ability and loving personality to care for, support, and redirect that student even when no one has asked her to, and it brings Azariah joy when her classmates succeed. She displays an immense amount of selflessness and patience to make sure students with special needs have the same opportunity to enjoy PE like everyone else.” – Mr. Jeramiya Kitchens, PE Coach at DMS.
Scarlett Evans, a first grader at Dean Road Elementary School, was recognized for extending kindness to others. “Scarlett is quiet, unassuming, and demonstrates kindness and leadership beyond her years. She attends daycare after school and every day when her van arrives, she has taken it upon herself to make sure another first-grade student with Autism gets to the van safely. Without asking anyone, she goes to her friend, takes his hand, and walks him to the van. She stands patiently with his hand in hers as they wait together. Her friend is considerably bigger than her, but Scarlett’s confident and patient manner has a calming effect on him. Scarlett never asks for attention or recognition; she simply looks for any opportunity to show kindness to others and then acts on it.” – Jennifer Jones, Counselor at DRES.
Marvin Patton, a second grader at Richland Elementary School, was recognized for including others. “In our classroom we have two self-contained students. What that means is that they are part of our homeroom, but because they have greater needs, they spend most of their day in another classroom with a teacher that can better assist them. However, those two students join us for specials, P.E., lunch, & recess so they can socialize with everyone in our class. On one specific day, during lunchtime, students were enjoying an episode of a PBS show on the SMART board. When they were finished with their lunch, they were welcomed to sit on the carpet with their peers to further enjoy this time they have to socialize and the show they were watching. Marvin noticed that one of our self-contained students was finished with her lunch and he asked her if she wanted to join him on the carpet so they could sit next to each other and enjoy the show. He has also helped this student when we walk from the lunchroom to our classroom so he can make sure she feels safe and a part of our class family. He is always showing so much kindness and care to not just this one student, but to both our self-contained friends. When it is time for them to leave and go back to their other classroom, he always makes sure to say goodbye and always greets them with a smile and offers to help them in any way possible. Marvin has really shown me that he can and will go above and beyond what is expected from him and show kindness to everyone around him no matter what. It brings me so much joy, happiness, and warmth that I am blessed to have him in my class this year. I am honored that I get to see him learn and grow academically while displaying his amazing character.” – Ms. Dalyneth Diaz, a second-grade teacher at RES.

Third grade students have been working hard on descriptive writing. Mr. Ryan Roberts, a realtor in the Auburn-Opelika area and LSA parent, came to speak to students today about how he uses descriptive writing every day. From telling people about a house that might interest them to writing listings, descriptive writing is a big part of his job. It will also be a big part of students’ own listings…for haunted houses! Thanks so much to Mr. Roberts for sharing with us!

Mr. Ben Simms is a forester that works with the Chattahoochee Timber Company and he was kind enough to come speak to the Lee-Scott Academy Kindergarten classes today. He read two great books and demonstrated what his teams do every day. Students were able to hear about the importance of forestry, all the great products that ultimately come from trees, and just how many trees are planted after one is cut down. Thank you to Mr. Ben for coming and speaking to our kindergarten classes today!

From students fine-tuning musical talents to competing with other school systems in the State Superintendent Visual Art Exhibit during the spring semester, Auburn City Schools celebrates and encourages being creative! The second week in September was National Arts in Education Week, which highlights the transformative powers of creative skills. It was also a time to recognize the impact of arts education and how it equips young people to succeed in all areas of life.
Research proves that arts education helps students to do the following:
– Develop critical thinking/problem-solving skills
– Increase imagination and creativity
– Foster discipline
– Provide alternative ways to communicate and express ideas
– Improve understanding of other cultures
– Support academic success across the curriculum
– Increase personal growth outside the classroom
– Gain a positive outlook about school, which reduces dropout rates
ACS is proud to employ Music and Art Teachers on every campus. While elementary schools focus on honing artistic skills through special projects, performances, and initiatives, students explore choir in sixth grade before pursuing endeavors in band, show choir, and theatre in the upper grades. This year, the Auburn High School Marching Band alone has more than 220 members performing their halftime show “Pantheon,” and upcoming theatre performances include William Shakespeare’s Macbeth (Nov. 30 – Dec. 3) and Midsummer’s Night Dream in the spring!

First graders in Mrs. Kristi Weeks’ class interacted with Taiwanese-American children’s writer and illustrator Grace Lin during a virtual classroom visit. Mrs. Weeks’ students joined classes online from across the country to learn about and celebrate the Moon Festival (aka Mid-Autumn Festival) with Lin, who shared the mysterious origin of fortune cookies and how they possibly derived from the 13th and 14th centuries in China, where people hid sayings inscribed with the date of their revolution inside Moon Cakes where the yolk would typically reside. With the assistance of Lin, students also completed drawings of crabs, which represent gratitude. Grace Lin is a Newbery, Geisel, and Caldecott honoree known for contributing to and advocating for Asian-American representation and diversity in children’s literature. She has published more than 25 books, all of which are written for young and middle-grade audiences. Her work features young Asian and Asian-American characters in various settings and circumstances. ACS is proud to be able to introduce students to different cultures throughout the school year to broaden their horizons!

Chosen by their peers to represent their grade level, these students embody immense school spirit for Auburn High School. We look forward to crowning a Homecoming Queen in Duck Samford Stadium during halftime.
SOPHOMORES:
Audrey Erath
Jayme Johnson
Stella Rogers
Reese Wagnon
JUNIORS:
Sophia Campbell
Linnea Cox
Tina Qin
Melissa Smith
SENIORS:
Wren Belcher
Hollie Helton
A’Breal Knox
Trinitee Pritchett
Hanbi Youn

Students in Mrs. Pickard’s AP European History class were tasked with a fall-themed project: to turn pumpkins into different historical figures from the English Reformation! From King Henry to Martin Luther to Bloody Mary, it is quite the gathering of prominent individuals from the 1500s!

With Coach Reeves, seventh grade students have been studying the U.S. Constitution and its different sections. To show their understanding of how the Founding Fathers built it, they had to build their own constitutions for a certain cause with its own rules, sections and articles.

Lee-Scott Girls’ Bible Club’s meet and start “In the Beginning” with Genesis 1:1. These 1st & 2nd grade girls went through the first six days of creation and learned how amazing it is that God created everything out of nothing! Through this, these girls learned that the Lord loves us so much that He uses His creation to call us to know Him more. We can’t wait to see how both of the boys’ and girls’ Bible clubs grow in understanding of Scripture throughout this school year!

2nd Grader explored God’s creation today at the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center in Auburn. It was a day filled with learning about animals, the forest and nature hiking,

Trinity Trebles sang for the Rotary Club. Congrats to this group for sharing your talent with the community.

During halftime of the Lee-Scott vs. Bessemer game on Friday night, the girls’ varsity soccer and girls’ varsity track and field teams were both recognized for winning the 2023 AISA State Championships! Congratulations to both teams!

Lee-Scott Spanish IV and AP Literature students took a joint field trip to Auburn University to tour the Kinesiology Department as well as attend the Study Abroad Fair! Students were welcomed and shown around by Dr. Jared Russell, a professor in and the Assistant Director of the School of Kinesiology, as well as an LSA parent! Thank you to all who gave a warm welcome and for allowing our students such a unique opportunity!

Auburn University’s College of Nursing representatives set up their Sensory Activation Vehicle (SAV) at Auburn Early Education Center yesterday for Pre-K and Special Needs students to tour and enjoy its calming effects! AU is the first university in the nation to possess a vehicle specifically designed for those with sensory needs, as it has been utilized outside Neville Arena and Jordan-Hare Stadium during athletic events as well as making special visits around the community, such as the one at AEEC. The SAV is not only a quiet place, which can be quieter with noise-canceling headphones, but it also contains interactive sensory stations to distract from an overstimulating environment and reduce anxiety. ACS is grateful for our collaborative partnership with Auburn University to enhance educational experiences for students!

With their word of the month being “Peace,” Auburn Early Education Center is celebrating the International Day of Peace! Under the leadership of AEEC Counselor Brittany Handley, every student (approximately 500) designed a pinwheel that has been placed on the front lawn of the school for the fifth year in a row on September 21st. Students were encouraged to wear light blue today and have been taking peace walks around the artistic installation for a time of thoughtful reflection in honor of the international holiday. ACS thanks Mrs. Handley and the Diversity and Inclusion Committee at AEEC for a creative approach to celebrating world peace!

Fall Family Fellowship & Feed the Need kickoff party.

First graders from Auburn Early Education Center extended their learning in downtown Auburn! The adventure started in Felton Little Park, where the Auburn Public Safety Department presented first responder vehicles and the roles of personnel, along with a special McGruff the Crime Dog appearance. From there, students, teachers, and chaperones traversed up Magnolia Avenue for a financial literacy visit with ACS Board Member David Warren at Auburn Bank before seeing the “Tiger Man” himself, Trey Johnston, at J&M Bookstore. Students also had the opportunity to tour the new Publix and roll Toomer’s Corner, with the day concluding on Samford Lawn. A primary goal of the first grade Social Studies curriculum is to help students acquire knowledge of their local community. Through hands-on instruction, first graders actively participated in special experiences that led to discovery and a meaningful connection with their hometown! ACS thanks everyone involved, including the downtown representatives, for making accommodations to host our students as they learn more about their city!

With a fiesta theme, ACS Child Nutrition Program staff members attended the Alabama School Nutrition- District VII meeting, hosted at Opelika High School, where they networked, shared, and worked on team building to serve our students better! Did you know ACS kitchens served 1,114,157 meals in the 2022-2023 school year?

Mr. Keith York, Principal of Opelika Middle School, represented Opelika City Schools as Governor Kay Ivey signed the proclamation for National Principals Month. Mr. York serves as the President-Elect for the Alabama Association of Middle School Principals. We appreciate and celebrate all of our principals as they work to serve the children of the Opelika City Schools.

The Auburn City Schools Board of Education recognized the 2023-2024 Auburn High School Ambassadors during the September meeting tonight!
The AHS Ambassadors is a group of approximately 40 students that represent ACS as hosts and hostesses at board meetings, school-related activities, campus tours, and community events. At the meeting each Ambassador introduced themselves and their plans for post-graduation. Thank you to these student leaders and their sponsor, Mrs. Elizabeth Lundey, for representing the school system in a variety of capacities that add to the overall excellence and aesthetic of Auburn City Schools!

With ambient chirps playing on a Bluetooth speaker as a backdrop, Mrs. Oliver’s art students at East Samford School have created a flock of different birds that are now perched in the hallway of the fine arts building! This project began with students learning about contemporary artist Nicolas Holiber, who created giant bird sculptures from reclaimed wood in New York City. With the support of the Audubon Society, Holiber has shed light on 10 NYC birds in danger of extinction because of environmental issues. ESS students researched birds they were interested in and created color studies. Each bird was assembled with an armature wrapped in newspaper and tape. Paper Mache was then used to create a surface to add feathers. The artistic application of dry brushing made texture on the feathers before being cut and glued to the birds. In addition to enhancing the aesthetic of Mrs. Oliver’s space on campus, this project showcased that art can take many forms, opening the door for students to soar with their creativity!

A special recognition for one of our hometown heroes occurred during the Auburn High School Volleyball matches! Soren Rodning serves our country as a Captain in the Army National Guard and is preparing to depart for a tour of duty. Rodning is also the proud father of two Auburn High School student-athletes, Ellie and Maren. ACS wants to show our most profound appreciation for the Service Members in our community fighting for freedom on the front lines and their families for their resilience. Their bravery and selflessness are an inspiration. We look forward to all their safe homecomings!

Trinitee Pritchett was crowned the 2023 Auburn High School Homecoming Queen in Duck Samford Stadium!

The Afro Cultural Education Club held the 2nd annual HBCU Expo at Auburn High School.
The Historically Black Colleges and Universities in attendance included Alabama State University, Central State University, Grambling State University, Miles College, and Tuskegee University. Each offered free application opportunities to students and provided information about their institutions and programs. Further support for the expo included participation from Auburn University’s National Panhellenic Council and Black Student Union. The event also showcased Greek Life with performances from several sororities and fraternities!

With it being the last home game of the regular season, senior football players gave a jersey to teachers and staff members who have played a role in their time at Lee-Scott! We’re so thankful for how these individuals have shaped these kids’ experiences at LSA!
Lane Eddins: Coach Reeves
Charlie Lloyd: Mrs. von Gal
JJ Meyers: Mrs. Armstrong
Matthew Rolader: Coach Ozment
Connor Stewart: Mrs. Tracy
Jake White: Coach McManus
Miles Zachry: Mrs. Curry

Opelika High Theatre Society presented Charlotte’s Web at East Alabama Performing Arts Center.

Congratulations to our Senior Football Players, Managers, and Trainers and also Senior Band Members, Majorettes, and Cheerleaders.

Opelika Middle School 8th grade students had an amazing day participating in the first ever Career Quest! Over 350 students learned about career opportunities in our area.