March 2024 Student Spotlights

Cary Woods Elementary School hosted several guest readers for their World Read Aloud celebration! Several Auburn University representatives, SRO Tyrone Guice and Mayor Ron Anders can now add “CWES Certified Reader” to their resumes, thanks to their impact on our students’ lives today. Reading aloud to children daily improves language skills, academic success, imagination, and creativity, while cultivating a lifelong love of reading. Auburn City Schools loves to see our community working together to enrich the educational experience for students!

Auburn City Schools won the 2024 Lee County Spelling Bee, with Ethan Zou and Liam Kim securing the top two spots in today’s competition! In the 20th round, representing J.F. Drake Middle School, Ethan Zou won first place with the word “anchorage” (an area suitable for a ship to anchor in). Liam Kim, representing Ogletree Elementary School, was the first alternate among spellers from 24 area schools, including the five 3-5 schools, DMS, ESS, and Auburn City Schools is proud of Ethan and Liam for their performances and we look forward to Ethan spelling at the state level this March!

Creekside Elementary School kicked off World Read Aloud efforts with several special guest readers. From Auburn University Baseball Players to ACS Superintendent Dr. Herring, CES students experienced the value and connection of having someone read aloud to them. With World Read Aloud Day taking place on the first Wednesday in February, schools across the globe started celebrating reading aloud on February 1st. This global effort, created by the non-profit LitWorld and sponsored by Scholastic, is celebrated annually in over 173 countries and is all about bringing people together through the shared love of reading aloud. Thank you to all of our guest readers from the community for taking time out of their day to make a difference in our student’s lives!

Mayor Ron Anders presented a proclamation at Auburn High School declaring February as Career and Technical Education (CTE) month for the City of Auburn! CTE provides students nationally with school-to-career connections and is the backbone of a strong, well-educated workforce, fostering productivity in business and industry while contributing to America’s leadership in the international marketplace. February is recognized as Alabama CTE Month throughout the state as Alabama’s local educators continue to work diligently to inspire young people to do their best in school to ensure a lifetime of success in the future. Auburn City Schools is proud to have 15 program pathways with more than 1,400 students enrolled in CTE courses across three campuses. During the proclamation, Mayor Anders was joined by several CTE students, CTE Director Dr. Silvia Scaife, PTLW Engineering teacher Sarah Sharman, and AHS Principal Dr. Shannon Pignato.

A group of ACS administrators attended the 2024 Assistant Principal Conference hosted by the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS). These five school leaders were among 160 other administrators from around the state gathering to immerse themselves in training focused on school finance, observational feedback, and laws pertaining to public education.
ACS is proud of Dr. Melissa Baker (AJHS), Dr. Jonathan Finch (DMS), Amber Goolsby (WMR), Susan Shonk (CWES), and Kristen Williams (AJHS) for their continued pursuit of professional development!

Several sixth graders at J.F. Drake Middle School learned the art of dance alongside teaching artists from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre! As part of a week-long residency at the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center (GPAC), Nasha Thomas, Jessica St. Vil and Damazi Williams worked with students to create an energetic performance that incorporated choreographed routines, poetry through interpretive dance, and a celebration of Black History, Alvin Ailey, and his masterpiece ballet titled “Revelations.” The week began with professional development from Thomas, St. Vil, and Williams for teachers at DMS, showing them ways to incorporate dance into their lesson plans. Several teachers also participated as dancers during the school-wide performance. This effort allowed students to work on public speaking skills, build confidence, and express themselves through the art of dance. Later in the month, all sixth graders will attend an Alvin Ailey performance at the GPAC! Auburn City Schools is proud of its partnership with the GPAC, which presents educational opportunities for students to experience the arts throughout the school year!

New York Times Best-Selling Author Jerry Craft captivated the imaginations of ACS students in grades 7-9. As a young person who did not enjoy reading, Craft shared his journey from a doodler to author and illustrator, with his graphic novel “New Kid” being the first in history to win a John Newbery Medal, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Author Award, and the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature. “New Kid” is now being adapted into a major motion picture with LeBron James’ production company, Springhill Entertainment, in partnership with Universal Pictures. In addition to his award-winning series that followed “New Kid” (“Class Act” and “School Trip”), Craft has also illustrated for Marvel Comics and now travels the world telling kids and their families about the importance of reading. Mr. Craft encouraged students to pursue their goals and passions, as his story of unforeseen success is an excellent example of what can happen when you chase your dreams. A special thank you to Auburn Junior High School’s Librarian and Media Specialist, Katie Rainer, for coordinating the visit!

Auburn High School secured two Area 4 Championships this week, with the varsity girls and boys both taking down the Central Red Devils! With a 74-68 victory, the ladies secured back-to-back area titles, and the boys finished in exciting fashion with a comeback score of 72-69!

Dean Road Elementary School kindergarten students took a field trip to Auburn High School to learn more about Career Technical Education (CTE) offerings! With CTE teachers and high school students lending a hand, the DRES Rockets decorated cookies with fruit in the Food, Wellness, & Dietetics program with Ms. Mattie Dunn, played problem-solving games in the Education & Training program with Mrs. Julie Echols, and tried on personal protection equipment in the Building Construction program with Mrs. Jess Bowlin. This field trip allowed kindergartners to connect with another school while exploring courses they may want to pursue at the secondary level. It also gave AHS students the opportunity to lead and mentor some of our youngest students. With Career Technical Education Month taking place across the state this past February, more than 180,000 students in grades 9-12 are now enrolled in Alabama CTE programs, preparing for in-demand opportunities in America’s leading career areas.

The Alabama State Department of Education announced the winners of the 2024 State Superintendent’s Visual Art Exhibit, with three ACS students placing, including Best of Show for the entire State of Alabama in grades K-6! At Pick Elementary, fifth-grader Eli Kiser won 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐖 for the elementary division with his artwork titled “Washing Waves,” which was created under the tutelage of Art Teacher Alicia Hames. At East Samford School, Shiloh Lora (Art Teacher Tricia Oliver) won second place in the 7-8 Division with her entry titled “Apples in the Afternoon,” and Cedar Linhoss (Art Teacher Sarah Goodling) won third place in the 3-4 Division with her entry titled “Picasso’s Crazy Chicken.” These students will be formally recognized at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery on March 13, 2024. The Elementary Exhibit was displayed in the Old Supreme Court Library of the State Capitol during February. The Secondary Exhibit will be during March. Congratulations to the winning students, their teachers, and their schools!

The National World Language Honor Societies at Auburn High School recently held an induction ceremony for new members. With 113 student members inducted, the societies at AHS include German, French, and Spanish. The World Language Department is proud of the language acquisition and accomplishments of the students at AHS. Students become eligible for induction upon completion of three consecutive years of study. Students with a language GPA of 3.8 or higher are eligible for induction during their fourth year of study. Having studied all three languages at AHS, senior Davien Kenvongsa has been an ambassador based on his language electives and love for learning, becoming a member of all three honor societies. ACS is proud of these students’ accomplishments and the pursuit of learning another language! Thank you to all the World Language faculty at AHS: Spanish teachers include Señora Sara Holder, Señor Stephen Irwin, Señora Tokema Watts, Señora Sara Zuwiyya, Señor Robert Andrews, and Señora Cayla Baker. Madame Sara Ahnell teaches French, and Herr Adam Martin teaches German.

Shiloh Lora, a seventh grader at East Samford School, has won the Middle School division of the Youth Art Month (YAM) Flag Design competition for the state of Alabama! This year, the Alabama Art Education Association’s (AAEA) theme is “Dream in Art,” and with her design, Shiloh will be recognized at the AAEA State conference this October in Auburn. Shiloh designed her flag under the tutelage of ESS Art Teacher Tricia Oliver (pictured together below). A national arts advocacy program, YAM was initiated in 1961 by the Art and Craft Materials, Institute, administered by the Council for Art Education and sponsored by National Art Education Association (NAEA).

The Auburn Choral Company performed at the Capital City Classic in Montgomery this weekend, with the Varsity Singers being named Overall Grand Champions!
Varsity Singers were awarded the following awards at the Capital City Classic:
– Best Solo within a Show – Knowl Garris
– Best Show Design
– Best Visuals
– Best Vocals
– 1st Place Large Mixed Division
– Overall Grand Champions
Congrats to Elan and Men at Work for their amazing competition shows, where Elan received Best Show Design, Best Vocals, and second place overall in the all-female category. Men at Work also placed second overall in the all-male category!

The first-grade class learned how to read and follow a recipe to make snow. The students used the snow in creative, multisensory activities that stretched across the curriculum, allowing them to practice variety of standards and skills.

As a part of their study of the planets and solar system, 6th grade students constructed a model ecosystem for a potential Mars community. The project aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the planet’s living conditions and requirements.

The Warrior Band was well-represented this weekend at the Troy University High School Honor Band – senior Madison Meals earned 6th chair out of 70 trombones who auditioned! Madison participated in multiple workshops and attend various concerts over the 3-day event, concluding the weekend with the Honor Band performing three incredible arrangements dedicated to soldiers and their experiences during wartime. Great job!

The fourth grade spent time in their handwriting curriculum writing in cursive. Cursive handwriting helps students retain more information, engages both sides of the brain, promotes creativity, improves fine motor skills and muscle control, more accurate spelling, AND was used in historical documents, like the Declaration of Independence, by our forefathers!

Trinity Christian School wins 49-38 on Senior Night! “I’m grateful for our seniors in what they’ve contributed to helping us in building this program. I’m humbled by the support of our entire school, administration, students, parents, friends, and alumni in yesterday’s environment. Everyone brought the best of them, and it shows what it can look like when folks buy into something that is bigger than them. We are Trinity.” – Coach Noah Gardner

Opelika had a great showing at the AHSAA Indoor Track State Championship. Top performers were as follows: Tierra Agee, State Champion in long jump and 4th place in the 60 meter dash Davian Jones, State Champion in triple jump and State Runner-Up in long jump Kyndall Brundidge, State Runner-Up in triple jump and 4th place in long jump The Girls’ Team finished 6th in the state, and the Boys’ Team finished 10th. Almost all of our Opelika track athletes finished with personal bests. Congratulations to all of our track athletes on a fantastic indoor season! Go Dawgs!

Congratulations to Opelika Middle School Principal, Mr. Keith York, on being named the 2024 Alabama Middle School Principal of the Year! An assembly was held to surprise Mr. York with the news. Many thanks to Vic Wilson and the members of Council for Leasers in Alabama Schools for presenting the award. Special thanks to Mayor Gary Fuller for helping us pull off the surprise. Congratulations Mr. York, we are proud of you and appreciate your leadership and dedication to our schools!

Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 4th Grade students have all been coding in Technology class with Mrs. Jones. Pre-K students have enjoyed using “Code-a-Pillar” and coding cards to learn the basics of coding. Kindergarten students have been using Scratch Jr. software to learn about block coding and commands, and 4th grade students are using Ozobots. They have learned how to program their Ozobot using different markers and color codes! Seeing the evolution of students’ introduction to coding to create programs is absolutely amazing!

Upper School students were invited to participate in this year’s AISA Science Innovation Expo.
Students were given the option of entering a project in one of four categories: Reverse Engineering, Science Fiction, Scientific Inquiry and Innovation and Invention. We are so proud of all of our students and their hard work on these projects.
Pie and Chloe Clinard’s Science Fiction was selected to compete at the state level!
The winners from LSA:
Reverse Engineering
Hunter Crews
Connor Ezell
Smith Harkins
Reverse Engineering
Ethan Anglin
Science Fiction
Chloe & Pie Clinard
Science Fiction
Sofia Pugh
Scientific Inquiry
Maddie Starr
Scientific Inquiry
Audrey Edwards
Lizzy Gregory
Ella Shepard

Congratulations to the Warriors’ JV basketball teams on fantastic years! Both teams fell in hard fought battles in the semifinals. Sydney Dunlap & Clarke Ivatt were named to the girls’ All-Tournament team while Brooks Zachry & Braden Martin were named to the boys’ All-Tournament team. Congratulations to the players & coaches on amazing years!

Congratulations to sophomore James Bagley and juniors Will Rhodes & Jazriene Revalde for being selected to the Alabama All-State Band. Additionally, juniors Gabriela Pugh and Campbell Thomas were selected to the All-District Band. We’re proud of these hard working and talented students!

Students at Trinity Christian School are 100 days smarter. It was a wonderful day of celebrate the 100th Day of School! “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8

It was the 101st Day of School and we might have actually had 101 Dalmatians roaming the Lower School halls! 101 days of school is complete and LSA students are looking to finish strong in the spring semester.

Charley Donald was one of the students who completed the Weekend Blitz challenge through the American Heart Association and had her name drawn as the school winner! Coach Harrison presented her with her prize. Way to go, Charley and all LSA students for working hard to complete the AHA challenges!

Our 4th graders submitted artwork featuring Alabama’s state bird, the Yellowhammer, or flower, the Camellia, to a statewide competition for a chance to have their work displayed in the Governor’s mansion. The students used chalk to color in their detailed pencil drawings.

The 2024 FACES reception occurred at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, where several ACS educators were celebrated for excellence! During the event, ACS Assistant Superintendent and FACES Director Wes Gordon awarded checks for $2,000 from FACES to teachers who wrote grants for creative ways they are enhancing the classroom experience for their students (see list of winners below). A special thank you to Rep. Joe Lovvorn for his support through a donation of $10,000 to fund future endeavors for the FACES organization. In addition to recognizing the top grant writers, the 2023-2024 Teachers of the Year (TOTY) were honored with the elementary and secondary representatives, Deana Hooks and Greg Sanders, being presented with the Carol Pittard Award and Dianne Wilson Award. This year, the FACES board also introduced a new award for the top-scoring grant, The Bill and Carol Ham Award, which went to Leann White and Christy Keith at Wrights Mill Road Elementary School. Their grant aims to create an engaging and interactive learning environment that helps students of all math skill levels review and solidly essential math concepts by using outdoor math lawn games.
FACES Grants of Excellence
– Katie Callahan, WMR: Empowering Minds with STEAM
– Jenna Chapman, DMS: Equation Exploration: Empowering Math Learners with Algebra Manipulatives
– Ginger Key, WPES: You and Me: Under the Sea!
– LaToya Levett, ESS: Let’s Get the Ball Rolling with APE (Adapted Physical Education)!
– Patience Melius, WPES: Second Chance Recyclers
– Carley Muschara & Lauren Smith, AHS: Writer’s Block Workshop
– Tami Nelson, WMR: Building Strong Foundations: Nurturing Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Skills in Elementary Students
– Lee Rogers, WPES: Conjuring Magical Stories
– Yolanda Smith, WMR: Enhancing Learning Through Hands-On Manipulatives for Special Education Students
– Leann White and Christy Keith, WMR: Take It Outside
ACS is proud of all these educators for exemplifying excellence for students!

Students at Morris Avenue Intermediate had such a fun 100th day of school!

Congratulations to Miss OHS-April Vega Sanchez and Mr. OHS-Sam Kemp! Congratulations also to Miss OHS First Runner-Up-Stella George, Miss OHS Second Runner-Up Kailey Bice, Miss Sophomore Class-Memshalyah Weaver, and Miss Freshman Class-Caroline Couey. Mr. and Miss OHS will receive scholarships and serve as Emissaries during their Senior year. Congratulations to all!

The CARE Humane Society came by to pick up donations collected by the K.I.C.K.S. Leadership Club in the Lower School. Students organized the drive and encouraged their classmates to help them collect food and items for animals at the humane society!

The Opelika City Schools Board of Education honored our teachers of the year at the January board meeting. Thank you to this amazing group of educators who go above and beyond for our students! Pictured (l-r): Marta Harrison-OMS, Laura Childs-Jeter Primary, Traci Meyers-West Forest Intermediate, Tamera Garner-Fox Run School, Haley Thomas-Morris Avenue Intermediate, Mandy Baker-OHS (OCS Secondary Teacher of the Year), Meagan Pritchard-Carver Primary, Branham Smith-Northside Intermediate (OCS Elementary Teacher of the Year), and Kasi Davis-Southview Primary.

Congratulations to Miss OHS-April Vega Sanchez and Mr. OHS-Sam Kemp! Congratulations also to Miss OHS First Runner-Up-Stella George, Miss OHS Second Runner-Up Kailey Bice, Miss Sophomore Class-Memshalyah Weaver, and Miss Freshman Class-Caroline Couey. Mr. and Miss OHS will receive scholarships and serve as Emissaries during their Senior year. Congratulations to all!

Our second and third grade students were treated with two special guests! Second & third grade boys heard from author and pastor, Dr. Jimmy Tidmore. Tidmore is known for his captivating book series centered around the theme of hunting. As an author, he brings a unique perspective to the world of literature, combining his passion for writing with his faith. Our boys were incredibly excited to hear about his stories and are eager to check out from the four sets of books he graciously donated to the LSA library. Second & third grade girls heard from Ms. Sophie Burzynski, Miss Alabama USA 2023, and a senior at Auburn University. Sophie read “A Parable about the King” by Beth Moore discussing how the beauty the Lord has given us comes from within. She also answered tons of questions about the pageant process and her past year!
Thank you to Dr. Tidmore & Miss Sophie for spending time with our students!

In art, Pre-K students have learned about the art of Piet Mondrian with Mrs. Beard. They are printing horizontal and vertical black lines on color rectangles and squares to make their art similar to Mondrian’s. Mondrian only used primary colors, but these students used lots of colors to make it their own work!

Congratulations to AHS Senior Cate Herring. Representing Lee County as a participant in the Distinguished Young Women state program, Cate was recognized as a Top 8 Finalist with awards in the categories of self-expression and talent.

Lee-Scott Academy had the pleasure of hosting the Lee County Spelling Bee at Cornerstone Church. LSA 5th Grader Keegan Henry represented Lee-Scott and made it several rounds. Congratulations to all that competed and prepared so well!

The Lee-Scott Dance Team competed in the Magic City Dance Challenge this at Thompson High School. The team competed in the Gameday Dance Division and placed 8th overall. This was the team’s first time competing and they did an amazing job! Congratulations to these girls, Coach Starr and Coach Maddie for all of their hard work paying off!

It’s School Board Appreciation Month and we would like to send our gratitude to the members of the Opelika City Schools Board of Education for their leadership and dedication. Thank you!

The LSA Equestrian Club had their first meeting of the year at Wild Oak Farm!
The club was excited to have Ani Blair, a fourth year student at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and horse trainer, as its speaker. The group learned about common health issues for horses and preventative care. The group also was able to do some grooming and have a fun arts & crafts project!