Student Spotlights – June 2025

The Sound Wall brought the Cindy Scott Quartet to Fox Run School and Opelika High School, where band students enjoyed a live performance, learned about New Orleans and blues music, and sixth graders even sang along with the group!

We are incredibly proud of our Opelika Middle School competitors for showcasing their civic knowledge and leadership skills at the inaugural Civics Bee, sponsored by the Opelika Chamber of Commerce. Their dedication and preparation represented us so well!

Our first-grade class explored contractions last week through an engaging unit titled “Contraction Surgery.” The students had a great time dressing up as doctors and experiencing a multi-sensory introduction to this aspect of grammar.

Third grade celebrated their historical studies this year by performing a play about Moses and the Exodus. Families enjoyed a wonderful feast afterward. All were reminded that just as God promised the Israelites a good and spacious land , we are promised eternal life with God when we pray to receive Christ as our Savior. A picture of this beautiful future is found in Isaiah 60:19-21.

Congratulations to our Classroom Enrichment Grant Winners for Opelika City Schools! The 1st place winner will receive up to $600 worth of their Amazon Wishlist. The 2nd place winner will receive up to $300 worth of their Amazon Wishlist.
1st Place Winner: Teresa (Traci) Meyers – Flex Space
“In need of instructional space! I am an English Language teacher for Opelika City Schools and teach at the primary, intermediate, and 6th grade level. My request is for the primary school to have a flex space that could be used for myself and my EL students when needed along with tutors, interventionists, and more. I have been given a designated spot, but it is in need of furniture and instructional necessities. With the United Way grant, it would be furnished with 6 cube bookshelves with baskets, 6 stools for students, a magnetic standing whiteboard, a floor lamp, 50-foot extension cord, and a teacher chair. The school will provide the table.”
2nd Place Winner: Tyler Mobley – Hydroponic Garden
“ Incorporating a hydroponic growing system into our life science course will provide students a unique opportunity to engage in hands-on learning with real-world applications. This resource will help students learn about plant anatomy and growth cycles by monitoring the health and development of the plants. As they record their observations, track plant growth, and compare different growing conditions, students will deepen their understanding of botany and ecology. Additionally, students will explore the environmental benefits of hydroponic farming and how this method can contribute to global sustainability efforts.”

Congratulations to the 2025 Opelika High School Killgore Scholars! These outstanding students were recognized for their academic excellence and presented with scholarships on April 30 at a reception at OHS. Pictured (L-R): Dr. Farrell Seymore-Superintendent, Tipi Miller-OCS Board of Education, Benjamin Bell, Magdalena Christopher, Joanne Smith T, Jada Frazier, Kailey Bice, Zavier Dowdell, Jared Van Horn, Kelli Fischer-OHS Principal, Tiffany Yelder-OCS Assistant Superintendent, and Dr. Pam Fourtenbary, OCS Assistant Superintendent. We are proud of you and your academic achievements!

We had the best time with our future OCS Kindergarten students at the annual school tours at Carver Primary School, Jeter Primary School, and Southview Primary School! Special thanks to Opelika Public Library for providing Kindergarten readiness kits for our new students.

Class of 2025’s College & Career Decision Day Assembly, Upper School Principal Ms. Donna Lloyd announced the Class of 2025 Favorites and Mr. & Miss LSA!
The class favorites are students who were voted upon by their peers and Mr. & Miss LSA are voted upon by their peers, Upper School faculty and LSA administration. These students represent our school so well. Congratulations to each of them!
Class Favorites (Girls): Sara Kate Speakman, Haleigh Grace Davis, Greta Anderson, Ansley Forbus, Lily Senn
Class Favorites (Boys): Will Rhodes, Walker Lane, Brayden Butler, Hayden Kelly
Mr. & Miss LSA: Will Rhodes & Sara Kate Speakman

W is for… WORMS and car WASHES. PreK4 classes spent time collecting and learning about WORMS as well as taking all of their toy vehicles through a car WASH! They clearly had a WONDERFUL day!

The Kindergarten Spring Market signals that the end of the year is soon and it’s time for shoppers once again. Spring pennies, earned for hard work and good behavior all semester long, were spent on plenty of great treats and trinkets by these busy shoppers.

Huge congratulations to the Opelika Middle School Percussion Ensemble! They traveled to Orlando, FL to compete at OrlandoFest and came home with 1st Place in Percussion Ensembles and were named Grand Champions, beating out every middle and high school ensemble this weekend! We’re so proud of everyone’s hard work and dedication. Way to go, and Go Dawgs!

Auburn City Schools proudly hosted the 2025 CTE Awards & Recognition Ceremony at Auburn High School. From industry certifications to scholarship winners and Student of the Year honors to spotlighted programs like Precision Machining, the evening was a celebration of hard work, innovation, and career readiness. Congratulations to all the award recipients, CTE faculty, and community partners who make these opportunities possible for our students. The top two awards of the night, the Superintendent’s Award and the ACS Overall CTE Student of the Year went to Harper Olsen and Karamdeep Singh, respectively. A sweet moment also was shared in honor of the retirement of Lori Decker, Computer Science teacher at AHS for the past 10 years!

Sixth graders are engaging in an exciting STEM experience through the Bird Inc. program, led by John Cranston, a seasoned Materials and Process Engineer renowned for his work on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Bird Inc. is a dynamic, 50-minute classroom simulation that immerses students in the operations of a fictional manufacturing company producing decoy owls. Through the exercise, students learn to manage production, budgeting, and scheduling with an emphasis on critical thinking and problem-solving. Cranston, who developed Bird Inc. in 1996, has revitalized the program by partnering with Auburn University’s Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (ICAMS). He now travels from school to school, sharing his expertise. ACS thanks Mr. Cranston for facilitating this enriching educational opportunity, which continues to ignite interest in STEM and manufacturing careers for young students.

Mr. Norton and Mrs. Pennisi combined talents for a unit on Les Paul with 4th grade. In library, we read Guitar Genius a picture book biography of Les Paul. Then we researched his life and created a timeline. Mr. Norton taught the students about Les Paul’s design for the electric guitar, parts of a guitar, and the rhythms Paul was known for playing. The students worked in pairs to design and build their own guitars. The unit will wrap with a zoom call with an educator from The Les Paul Foundation.

Auburn High School competed in the 2025 AHSAA Class 7A State Championship in Gulf Shores. The girls team finished as STATE RUNNER-UP, and the boys placed 8th overall!
Several Tigers brought home top finishes, personal bests, and even school records:
Sarah Tole: • 1st – 3200m, • 2nd – 1600m
Brooke Hallman: • 1st – Javelin
Carnell Jackson: • 2nd in Discus
McKinsie Register: • 2nd – 300m hurdles, • 3rd – 100m hurdles, • 6th – 200m, • 7th – 100m
Set school records in the 100m (11.79) and 200m (24.20) during prelims.
Katherine Lee: • 2nd – 100m hurdles, • 4th – Long Jump, • 4th – Triple Jump
Peyton Plott: • 3rd in High Jump, • 4th in Long Jump
Presley Palmer: • 4th in Javelin
Victoria Weeden: • 5th – 100m hurdles, • 7th – High Jump
Jyleel Fitch: • 7th in 300m hurdles
Shamar Parker: • 7th in 800m
Karson Perry: • 7th in Javelin
Relays:
Girls 4×800- 5th place: • Lannea Cox, Riley Plexico, Audrey Erath, and Sarah Tole
Boys 4×400 – 6th Place: • Kodi Payne, Gray Carson, Shamar Parker, and Khamar Core
Boys 4×800 – 8th Place: • Shamar Parker, James Dewberry, Coleman Goodwin, and Davis Alexander
ACS congratulates all the student-athletes, coaches, families, and supporters on a fantastic season!

Opelika City Schools is proud to announce Dr. Emily Grace as the new principal of Northside Intermediate School. Dr. Grace will succeed Mrs. Cindy Poteet, who was recently named the district’s Strategic Initiatives Coordinator. Dr. Grace brings nearly 24 years of educational experience, including more than 15 years of dedicated service at Northside Intermediate. She has served as a classroom teacher and instructional coach and is currently the lead teacher and building test coordinator.
“I am deeply honored to be named the principal of Northside Intermediate,” said Dr. Grace. “This school holds a very special place in my heart, and I’m proud to continue serving this school system’s students, families, and faculty. I’m excited to see how far we can go!”
Her family has deep ties to Opelika City Schools, where she attended kindergarten to second grade. Her mother taught at Jeter Primary School, and her father served as principal of Brown Intermediate. Dr. Grace holds a Doctorate in Administration and Supervision of Curriculum from Auburn University and a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Troy University.
“Dr. Grace has a servant-leader mindset and a strong commitment to the success of every child,” said Dr. Farrell Seymore, Superintendent of Opelika City Schools. “She understands the Northside community and has the experience and vision to lead the school forward. We are thrilled to have her in this new role.”

Felicidades to each of these students for a job well done on the National Spanish Exam. The results are in for these Spanish 4 seniors and we are proud to celebrate their outstanding achievements. Will Rhodes and Reese Colley earned Gold Medals, scoring in the top 5% nationwide. Jazriene Revalde received a Silver Medal, while Campbell Thomas and Chloe Clinard were awarded Bronze Medals. Gabriela Pugh, Bri Totty, and Opal Rosebrock received Honors for their strong performance. Congratulations to them and Sra. Zellner for all their hard work paying off!

Auburn High Boys place second in 2025 AHSAA Class 7A Sectionals. The tournament was held at Bull Creek Golf Course in Columbus, GA. They now advance to substate at Saughatchee Country Club with Mason Kebe advancing as an individual after a playoff.

AHS Marching Band proudly represents Auburn in the Fiesta Flambeau Parade—the largest illuminated parade in the country! Being invited to perform in this prestigious event is a true honor and a testament to the hard work, talent, and dedication of our students and directors. The Flambeau Parade is a highlight of San Antonio’s storied Fiesta celebration and is broadcast to audiences across the nation. AHS Is so proud of AHSMB for carrying the Auburn spirit to the Lone Star State!

Auburn High School’s Varsity Girls Golf team placed first in the 2025 AHSAA Class 7A Sectionals. Following this win at Bull Creek in Columbus, they will compete next at Sub-State at Saugahatchee in order to qualify to compete at State. A special congrats to Esha Gupta, who won first place Low Medalist overall at Sectionals!

Mrs. Young’s 4th grade class traveled to Montgomery to the Alabama Archives, the Capitol building, and the Little White House of the Confederacy. Students were able to stand where Jefferson Davis was inaugurated, and in the room where the 11 states voted to form the confederate states of America! Governor Kay Ivey even visited with students for a photo!

Richland Elementary got a major boost of Tiger spirit today as Auburn University football players stopped by for Tigers Give Back: Community Service Day 2025! From reading books to fielding curious questions and joining in on some PE fun, these student-athletes reminded K-2 students that being strong also means being kind, generous, and thoughtful. ACS is grateful for the collaborative partnership with Auburn Athletics, as they show our students that champions lead both on and off the field!

Wrights Mill Road Elementary School held a First Responder Breakfast for local public safety agencies! Officers from the Auburn Police Department, firefighters from the Auburn Fire Department, and deputies from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office stopped by for grab-and-go bagels, fruit, and coffee before heading out to high-five students and brighten the morning of students and families. Even McGruff the Crime Dog joined in on the fun! Auburn City Schools thanks our local first responders and deeply values the relationships that help keep our schools safe, connected, and community-focused.

Over 400 students explored career opportunities at our annual Spring Career Fair, connecting with 30+ local employers from industries like healthcare, construction, marketing, public service, hospitality, and much more! From part-time and Co-Op positions to full-time career pathways, students discovered opportunities that could shape their futures. A huge THANK YOU to our amazing local businesses and organizations for partnering with us, sharing experiences, and helping us build the next generation of workers!

The 6th graders just finished their study of The Alamo. Afterwards, they got into groups and created a portion of the battle: specifically, the Alamo Chapel Battle. They learned about sacrifice, honor, duty and why we say the phrase, “Remember the Alamo!”

East Samford School celebrated the rich tapestry of our community during their Multicultural Night on campus. Students and their families gathered to share traditions, showcase musical talents, and enjoy delicious food from local food trucks. A stunning black light art show added to the vibrant atmosphere of learning and fun. Thank you to everyone who helped bring cultures together in such a meaningful and memorable way!

It was a show-stopping day at Ogletree Elementary as our third graders dazzled second graders from AEEC with the annual OES Circus! These young performers wowed the crowd with their talent and teamwork, from gymnastics to hula hoop tricks to human pyramids. Congratulations to Coach Mosley for serving as the ringmaster—complete with his signature corny jokes! This marks his 10th and final OES Circus as he prepares to bring his energy and humor to Auburn Junior High School next school year. Thank you for a decade of unforgettable shows, Coach!

The Auburn High School Blue Mario Kart team has won the 2025 Spring AHSAA Esports Championship! The team defeated the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering today at Huntingdon College in the Leo J Drum E-Sports Theater. ACS is proud of these students and Coach Jacque Middleton for securing a back-to-back Esports State Championship for Auburn High.

The Lee-Scott Academy 6th Grade class visited the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning.
What students have been learning about in class was brought to life by touring original barracks from the 1940s, tanks, the World War I and World War II museum exhibits, and watching an amazing D-Day documentary! Thank you to the museum for welcoming LSA for a live look to make history come alive.

In the 2nd Grade American Program, students expressed their patriotism by reciting the preamble to the U.S. Constitution and singing beloved American songs. They shared interesting facts about America’s founding, highlighting God’s goodness, and demonstrated knowledge of all 50 states and their capitals. The event was a heartfelt tribute to the nation’s heritage and founding fathers.

The 2nd Grade’s trip to Pioneer Park in Loachapoka enhanced their study of pioneer life and complemented their reading of “Little House on the Prairie.” They observed in amazement as powder was meticulously loaded into a gun and fired, showcasing 1800s technology. Inside the one-room schoolhouse, they witnessed the challenges and differences that existed in classrooms back then, yet discovered that we share many similarities, such as using the Bible as a valuable learning resource.

Congratulations to all of these students for placing either 1st or 2nd at the AISA State Visual Arts Competition. These students work so hard with Mrs. Basgier and Mrs. Beard and we’re happy to see their hard work paid off!
K5-1st Grade Division: Remi Waites, 1st Place, Printmaking
2nd-3rd Grade Division: Mac Murphy, 1st Place, Water Base Painting; Slaton Moore, 1st Place, Mixed Media
4th-5th Grade Division: Anne Stephens Whatley, 1st Place, Photography
6th-8th Grade Division: Tiffany An, 1st Place, Printmaking, 2nd Place, Collage
9th-12th Grade Division: Pie Clinard, 2nd Place, Painting, 1st Place (Best of Show), 3D Arts/Crafts, 2nd Place, Mixed Media; Lilly Kate Thompson, 2nd Place, Drawing Non-Colortcs

J.F. Drake Middle School transformed its campus into a vibrant showcase of automotive history with the annual “Driving Through the Decades” event. With dozens of vehicles on hand, ranging from a 1917 Ford Model-T to a Lenco BearCat lining the grounds, this car show offered students a tangible journey through the evolution of transportation. As a part of a social studies unit, students researched and wrote about assigned vehicles, then dressed for the era and presented their knowledge to other students, teachers, and guests. This immersive experience highlighted the technological advancements over the years while providing a unique, hands-on learning opportunity that brought history to life. ACS thanks all the car owners, volunteers, and educators who made this event possible for students!

The Jewish Federation of Central Alabama recognized three students from Auburn City Schools for their outstanding essay-writing abilities. Teachers Jordan Landers, Paige Strickland, and Catherine Riley sponsored and recommended these students for a writing contest in which the prompt was to explain what lessons were learned from the Holocaust that should be applied to society today. These students were invited to the Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance gathering at the Alabama Department of Archives earlier today to receive their awards for winning first, second, and third place in the middle school group. Congratulations to the following:
1st place: Kris Kang– 8th grader at AJHS, sponsored by Jordan Landers
2nd place: Jasmine Zhao– 7th grader at ESS, sponsored by Paige Strickland
3rd place: Naomi Ahlzadeh– 7th grader at ESS, sponsored by Catherine Riley

Unbelievable fun was had as our K4 students unlocked the letter “U” with an Umbrella Parade through the Upper School! Under their uniquely decorated umbrellas, they marched with unshakable excitement, showing off their understanding of this utterly useful letter. From unusual designs to upbeat attitudes, it was a truly unforgettable celebration!

Noah Edwards, a bright-eyed first grader at Cary Woods Elementary School, is headed to the most magical place on Earth—Disney World—thanks to Magic Moments! Magic Moments is a nonprofit organization that has made dreams come true for Alabama children since 1984. Their mission is to bring joy and unforgettable experiences to children across the state who are facing chronic, life-threatening medical conditions. Auburn City Schools joins the entire Cary Woods community in celebrating this special opportunity for Noah and his family. We wish them a safe, joy-filled adventure full of memories to last a lifetime!