Student Spotlights August ’21

Dr. Hugh Palmer with the Bay Minette Animal Clinic spent time with students in the FFA program at Baldwin County High School. He showed students how to vaccinate their show cattle. Under the leadership of David Garrett and Andy Jones, the agriscience program at BCHS has expanded its reach beyond the classroom. With a focus on agriculture-related courses, students are raising cattle and crops on campus, as well as honing their carpentry skills. For more information on this program or how you can help, contact David Garrett at dbgarrett@bcbe.org or call the school office at 251-937-2341.

Congratulations to Maddie Beaver on her selection for Alabama Girls State, representing Baldwin County High School. Alabama Girls State is sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary. Delegates spend a week on the campus of the University of Alabama learning how government works. The delegates are divided up into cities and political parties, hold elections and learn how laws are made and cities, counties and states are governed. In addition, delegates have the opportunity to hear from speakers and leaders in government and business and also took part in community service projects. Maddie is the daughter of Blair and Kimberly Beaver of Bay Minette.

Foley High’s Katherine Mancia and Maddie Maurin were selected to represent Foley High School as this year’s Alabama Girls State delegates.
Alabama Girls State is a week-long, fun-filled, hands-on learning opportunity for some of the best and brightest young women in the State of Alabama. Sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA), Alabama Girls State is a premier youth leadership program which offers a one-of-a-kind experience to its delegates.
Katherine and Maddie spent a week at the University of Alabama where they were assigned a city, county, political party, and legislative body. They were given the opportunity to run for a city, county, or state office and were allowed to vote and participate in the political process.
They were also assigned to a chamber of the legislature, either the House of Representatives or the Senate, where they drafted and proposed bills addressing issues impacting the State of Alabama. They heard from some inspiring and influential speakers throughout the week.

SEEDS (Supporting Educational Excellence in Daphne Schools) is the non-profit education foundation that provides enrichment grants to Daphne public schools. Since our inception in 2004, SEEDS has invested more than $760,000 into classroom enrichment programs: including STEAM initiatives, leadership training, mentoring programs, early reading initiatives and the Leader in ME program.
In 2020-2021, Daphne’s public schools received $60,000 in enrichment grants, $36,000 in master school grants, and $24,000 in 28 teacher grants, totaling 34 grants. These enrichment programs provide invaluable resources for our students and administrators. We are grateful to all our sponsors, Friends of SEEDS, and community for supporting Daphne’s Public Schools.
We provide several ways for donors to impactfully serve students in Daphne’s Schools–you can become a Friend of SEEDS member, register for the March SEEDS Classic Rock 5K & Fun Run or sign up a foursome for our Annual Golf Tournament in November.
The 4th Annual SEEDS Golf Tournament will be held Friday November 12, at Timber Creek Golf Club and the SEEDS Classic Rock 5K & Fun Run will be Saturday, March 5, 2022, on the streets of Old Towne Daphne.
Please visit our website at https://www.seedsindaphne.com and follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SEEDSinDaphne for more information on our programs!

Central Baldwin Education Foundation (CBEF) was created to encourage academic excellence in the Central Baldwin area schools by providing funding that is not available through traditional local, state or federal sources. The Foundation provides opportunities for teachers and staff to develop innovative projects through grants; to invest in programs and enrichment activities that have a positive impact on student success; to encourage a continued interest in and support of public education through a network of businesses, individual and community involvement; and to seek and cultivate funding sources for educational excellence.
Each year, CBEF hosts two fundraisers, one of which is the Honeybee Festival & 5K in Robertsdale, AL. The Honeybee Festival has grown significantly throughout the past few years due to the tremendous community support and leadership from the Board of Directors. We’re looking forward to another great year! The two events will fund numerous teacher grants and scholarships for our feeder pattern.
For information on how you can get involved with the Central Baldwin Education Foundation, or on the events hosted, please visit CBEF.org or find us on Facebook-Central Baldwin Education Foundation.

Elberta High School officially sent our first ever delegate to Alabama Girls State! Eloise Arthur, a rising senior here at EHS, was sponsored by the Foley chapter of the American Legion Auxiliary to travel to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa where she took part in a mock version of the Alabama government system. While there, she learned how officials are elected and how Senate and House meetings are run.
“I am so thankful for Elberta High School and the American Legion Auxiliary, for their support and for making this incredible opportunity possible! I am so honored to be Elberta’s first Girls State delegate.”-Eloise Arthur

Fairhope resident Kyla Shaw participated in the Rural Health Scholars Program at The University of Alabama this summer where she learned about the need that rural communities have for more doctors and other health care professionals.
Kyla spent five weeks on the UA campus taking college courses for credit and learning how to prepare to enter the health profession education and training.
The Rural Health Scholars Program aims to provide opportunities for rising high school seniors from rural communities in Alabama to pursue careers in medicine and other health care professions. Students take college courses, participate in seminars with practicing health care professionals and visit health care facilities.
The mission of the college is to improve and promote the health of individuals and communities in rural Alabama and the Southeast region through leadership in medical and health-related education, primary care and population health; the provision of high-quality, accessible health care services; and research and scholarship.
The Rural Health Scholars Program is part of the college’s nationally recognized Rural Health Leaders Pipeline and offered in collaboration with Alabama Area Health Education Centers. AHECs were created by Congress in 1971 to increase the quantity, diversity and distribution of health care professionals, especially in rural and underserved areas.

Campers had a great day learning about robots at the Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation Summer Camp! The students designed their own robot using the engineering design process. They also learned about the Mobile Bay bar pilots. They turned our Beebots into ships and navigated through the Mobile Bay channel.

Bay Minette Fire Department recently shared some fire safety tips with the summer camp students at Bay Minette Elementary. The Department also introduced Freddie Firetruck, an interactive fire truck that is used for Fire Safety training.

The summer camp at Bay Minette Elementary School is full of gold medalists! With a theme of “An Olympic Summer,” campers created their own gold medals out of food. The Gold Medal ingredients included Fruit by the Foot, Golden Oreos and icing!

The Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope hosted 6 weeks of sold-out art camps! From painting and pottery, to videography and collage – these campers had a blast in our studios. Some students were even given the chance of taking their sketchbooks around the galleries for inspiration and across Bancroft Street to visit the Mosher Castle grounds! Registration for next summer will go live March 2022 at www.esartcenter.org.

Victoria W. recently represented Orange Beach High School at the Alabama Girls State Leadership Conference. We are so proud of you Victoria!

Silverhill Elementary School’s counseling program received the RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program) award in Las Vegas. This national award is the highest honor a school counseling program can receive. Congratulations, Mrs. Bramble!

Throughout the year, Project Outreach chapters host events to connect students with one another, have fun, and build relationships. This year, Project Outreach Daphne High School hosted a luau and scavenger hunt to help our students connect. These opportunities build so much connection for all students and are a vital part of what makes Project Outreach special.

Students attending the summer camp at Bay Minette Elementary School are treated to some very special art lessons thanks to Paint Slingers. During their weekly visits, artists with Paint Slingers guide the campers through art projects such as these. Recently the fourth through sixth grade campers created Olympic swimmers!

City of Daphne – “The Jubilee City” Mayor Robin LeJeune, Councilwoman Tommie Conaway and Councilman Steve Olen met with local Daphne public school principals regarding education initiatives in our area. During the meeting, each principal was awarded funds to assist with teacher resources and tutoring programs. The Daphne Educational Advisory Committee coordinated these funds from the City to help continue our commitment to our local schools and the education of our students and future leaders. Thank you all for your leadership and dedication!
Pictured are (L-R): Benita Battle (DES), Jonathan Ellis (BES), Tommie Conaway, Dana Bottoms (WJC), Steve Olen, Mayor LeJeune, Mark Doherty (DEES), Tiffany Irby Kalakheti (DMS), and Fletcher Comer (DHS).

Baldwin County School Fishing Team members Ryan Wright and Brody Lineberry made it to Nationals! The team, along with Boat Captain Brandon Lineberry, competed July 26-31 in the Mossy Oak Bassmaster High School National Championship Series at Lake Chickamauga in Dayton, TN.
Wright and Lineberry are first-year members of the Fishing Team. They are the only team from all of Baldwin County to qualify for the national contest.
“This tournament is the Super Bowl of high school fishing with 250 teams from around the world competing,” said BCHS Coach John Black. “Ryan and Brody will be living a dream come true to be fishing against the best in the world and be from a small town to be on a back stage like the Bassmaster National Championship.”

The Spanish Fort Education Enrichment Foundation (SFEEF), founded in 2002, is a 501(c) 3 organization whose mission is to inspire the power of community to enrich and support education for all Spanish Fort public school children. SFEEF’s success is a result of the many contributions by sponsors & community volunteers who have dedicated their time and money to support SFEEF fundraising efforts over the years.
Over the past 19 years, SFEEF has contributed over $535,000 to Spanish Fort schools. Some contributions are: $295,000 awarded to Teacher/Student grants, $50,000 Principal Block Grants, $15,000 for reading & diagnostic programs, $23,000 Snoezelen Room for students with Autism and learning disabilities, $29,000 in technical equipment, $13,000 to Scholars Bowl, TSA, FBLA and other academic teams, $29,000 in collegiate scholarships and so much more!
Our signature fundraising event is The Gator Chase 5K on the Causeway slated for February 19, 2022. SFEEF hosts RISE, an annual evening each April, recognizing inspirational academic achievements by our teachers, students, and school administration to the Spanish Fort community. Full STEAM Ahead Camp for Rising 6th Graders gives our students a leg up on SFMS student life while learning about math, science, art, and creative writing.
Please see our website, www.sfeef.com for information on these events and additional ways to support SFEEF. For more information on how you can participate in an event or become a sponsor contact Sheren LeBlanc at 251-604-3728. Like us on Facebook for the latest SFEEF news and to meet our sponsors who make it all possible.

Central Christian School celebrated with Weston Enfinger as he signed a Golf Scholarship with Blue Mountain College. We wish him the best!

Magnolia School would like to thank Ms. Plunkett and the rest of the Fine Arts Department for aligning the art lessons to our summer curriculum. Our students are enjoying art lessons at summer reading camp!

Christ the King Catholic School is pleased to announce that Mrs. Jackie Garlock has been named as the new Principal beginning with the 2021-22 school year. Mrs. Garlock assumed the position this summer, taking over for Mrs. Lisa McDuff, who has served as the Interim Principal for the past year and a half. We welcome Mrs. McDuff back in her former role as Assistant Principal this year.
“I am excited to lead Christ the King in carrying out the mission of faith, knowledge, and integrity,” says Garlock. “We have such an excellent community of teachers and families at Christ the King. It is an honor for me to take on the role of principal with God by my side and the support of our community.”
Mrs. Garlock has taught at CTKCS for the past six years in our Resource department and stepped up to serve as a member of the administration team for the past two years. Mrs. Garlock has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida and a master’s in Educational Leadership from American College of Education. She has over 10 years of experience teaching grades K-8 in both public and Catholic schools.
Mrs. Garlock and Mrs. McDuff were instrumental in keeping the CTKCS staff and students healthy and safe, and finishing a successful 2020-21 school year in the midst of a pandemic.