Student Spotlights-Dec 2021

The Torobotics team finished 3rd in the robot competition and 3rd in the engineering notebook! The team advances to Auburn University to compete in South’s Best Regional Championship in December! Pictured members are Grant Johnson, Brenden Baker, Steven Jones, Arthur Nguyen and Jacob Hughes.

Stapleton School had terrific field trip to the Alabama State Capitol! Stapleton 4th, 5th, and 6th graders enjoyed a long-delayed field trip to Montgomery. They learned a great deal from their visits to the State Capitol, Rosa Parks Museum, MOOseum, and Alabama Old Town, and have now gained a new appreciation for our state’s history.

Bay Minette Middle School students Logan Naessen and Jonathan Phillips used their creativity to design an animatronics haunted door for the Halloween Dance at the school. The boys used their Vex Robotics pieces to create the haunted door, which opened remotely, and a large eye popped out behind the door to add to the festivities of the dance. Both are part of the school’s Technology Student Association.

Congratulations to Robertsdale High School Cheer, 6A South Regional Runners-up! 0 deductions and a perfectly executed routine! Champions earn their titles at practice, and this group has worked hard! So proud of them!

On October 26, the Bayside Academy volleyball team broke their own national records when they won the state championship for the 20th consecutive time and 30th time in school history. Varsity volleyball players are Mia Bindon ‘24, Ella Broadhead ‘22, Caroline Chastang ’22, Maysie Douglas ’24, Lily Frailie ’24, Lucy Frailie ’24, Kate Huey ’25, Georgia McInnis ’24, Lillie McInnis ’23, Blakeley Robbins ’24, Gracie Sims ’22, Misty Kate Smith ’25, and Luci Wilkinson ’22. Bayside’s volleyball team competes in Class 5A of the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) and is the only team in history to have won state championships in Class 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, and 5A.

On November 6, the Bayside Academy boys AND girls cross country teams won state championships. Freshman Annie Midyett was named the individual state champion with a time of 18:59, a new school record and 20th fastest time in the AHSAA this fall. Freshman Catherine Doyle and 8th grader Shelby Fargason each earned All-State Honors, finishing fifth and tenth respectively. On the boys’ side, junior Ty Postle finished second overall. Varsity boys cross country team members are Brandon Brevard ’25, Kyle Cooper ’26, Caleb Crum ’24, Ethan Dull ’22, Bowdoin Hammock ’26, Jack Koch ’27, Trey McKean ’23, JT Neill ’23, John Normann ’25, Jackson Olsen ’22, Ty Postle ’23, Ashton Rowland ’23, and Luke White ’25. Varsity girls cross country team members are Elin Backman ’25, Marcella Covington ’25, Nina Dowhan ’24, Catherine Doyle ’25, Madeline Dudley ’25, Shelby Fargason ’26, Molly Hagan ’25, Leah Jha ’22, Virginia McCrory ’25, Annie Midyett ’25, Presley Putnam ’25, Rhia Tkac ’22, Ramey Webb ’24, Amelia Wells ’25, and Emma Winkler ‘25. Bayside’s cross country teams compete in Class 4A of the AHSAA.

Groundbreaking! A special thank you to the many men and women who began a great work over 25 years ago! Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation broke ground to preserve the past and prepare the future in educational enrichment at the site of the Fairhope K-1 center.

Congratulations to these outstanding student athletes who will be continuing their sports careers at the collegiate level next year: Left to right: Will Taylor (Baseball) – Flagler College; George Meyers (Baseball) – Auburn University; Bill Griffin, Athletic Director; Laura Burch (Golf) – University of South Alabama; Barry Dunning (Basketball) – University of Arkansas.

Under the direction of Bayside Academy senior Ashlyn Powers, Bayside students in PK3 through 4th grade collected 212 pounds of can tabs for recycling. One pound is around 1,200 tabs, so the students collected about 254,400 tabs!

According to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama, “Since 2001, communities across Alabama have made a huge impact through tiny pop tabs!. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama partners with Brother’s Recycling to receive funds based on the going rate per pound of aluminum recycled. These funds are used to support the mission of the House, which can include things like utility bills and supplies that our families need.” We are so proud of our students for their dedication in helping others.

Students in Ms. Kristin Neely’s second-grade class at Bayside Academy brought in the most tabs of any class. Top row: Harper Watts, Isabelle Weller, Mary Allen Napper, senior Ashlyn Powers, Keller Fergus, Alexander Green, Griffin Jacobs, Harrison Johnson. Front row: Annabelle Dunlap, Piper Bindon, Louis Westbrook, Ms. Neely, Charlie Murphy, Bastien Fiton, Aidan Pitt. Not pictured: Lawson Hackney, Mac Everett, Camille Shamburger.

Rotary Club of Point Clear President Bill Booher welcomed the November outstanding students and faculty from Fairhope High School to a meeting of the club held recently at Provision Restaurant. From left, Kara Fulkerson, mother of senior, Kylie, who is a soccer standout; Attendance Clerk Allison Floyd, the pat-on-the-back recipient; senior football safety Peyton Nero; and Elaine Thomas, event coordinator. Principal John Cardwell and Head Football Coach Tim Carter were also in attendance. The Point Clear Rotary Club meets every Thursday morning.

Several veterans in Bay Minette received personal letters of appreciation thanks to the students in Cathy Phillips at Bay Minette Elementary. The students wrote friendly letters to Veterans integrating the week’s lesson of context clues. The letters were then shared with those attending the annual Veterans Day breakfast at John F. Rhodes Civic Center, as well as distributed to veterans participating in the annual parade. Mrs. Phillips said she spoke to several Veterans who were very touched by the caring sentiments including in the personal notes.

Student artwork from Fairhope West Elementary was on display in the children’s wing of the Fairhope Public Library for the month of November. All grades are represented.

Mrs. Wren’s class at Fairhope West Elementary started a math logic activity using equivalence to solve math mobile puzzles.

Foley High Peer Helpers welcomed 71 new students at the breakfast they hosted! Great job, Foley High!

St. James Episcopal School’s kindergartners dressed as saints to share their gifts as part of our All Saints’ Chapel service.

A HUGE Congratulations to Fairhope High Girl’s Swim Team for winning the county swim meet

Bayside Academy’s art faculty is proud to congratulate our 2021 winners of the Daphne Public Library’s “Back-to-School” Bookmark Contest. The contest is sponsored by the Friends of the Daphne Public Library and is open to all students in Baldwin County. Bayside had three overall winners and many students placing in the top three for each grade level. Due to COVID restrictions, the Daphne Public Library was unable to host the traditional awards ceremony. The first place overall winners will have their bookmarks reproduced for distribution in the library and will receive copies for family, friends, and classmates. Overall Winners: 1st Place Overall Winner: Isabelle Rutland (10th grade); 2nd Place Overall Winner: Rylee Roberts (10th grade); 3rd Place Lower School Overall Winner: Anna Claire Frailie (4th grade). Grade Level Winners: Kindergarten 3rd Place: Crew Keenan. First Grade 3rd Place: Charley Rowell. Second Grade 3rd Place: Eva Solomon. Third Grade 3rd Place: Charlotte Denniston. Fourth Grade 1st Place: Louise Minto; 3rd Place: Lillibet Taul. Sixth Grade 3rd Place: Stella Parks; Seventh Grade 1st Place: Farrah Lane; 3rd Place: Reagan Nelson. Eighth Grade 1st Place: Sarah Katherine Wilsdorf; 2nd Place: Camille Barrois; 3rd Place: Annie Taul. Ninth Grade 1st Place: Sarah Sommerville; 2nd Place: Marcella Covington; 3rd Place: Sophia Haines. Eleventh Grade 1st Place: Molly Barkan; 2nd Place: Katie Clements; 3rd Place: Cooper White. Twelfth Grade 1st Place: Luci Wilkinson; 2nd Place: Caroline Chastang; 3rd Place: Brett Nestande.

We are very proud of our talented students!

Top photo: Bayside Academy’s Upper School winners of the 2021 Daphne Public Library’s bookmark contest. Top Row: Marcella Covington, Brett Nestande, Luci Wilkinson, Sophia Haines. Middle Row: Caroline Chastang, Katie Clements, and Molly Barkan. Front Row: Overall winners Isabelle Rutland and Rylee Roberts. Not pictured: Sarah Sommerville and Cooper White.

Bottom left photo:  Bayside Academy Middle School winners of the 2021 Daphne Public Library’s bookmark contest: Sarah Katherine Wilsdorf, Farrah Lane, Reagan Nelson, Annie Taul, Stella Parks, and Camille Barrois.

Bottom right photo: Bayside Academy’s Lower School winners of the 2021 Daphne Public Library’s bookmark contest: Louise Minto, Lillibet Taul, Anna Claire Frailie, Charley Rowell, and Charlotte Denniston. Not pictured: Eva Solomon

Congratulations to all our Daphne Library Bookmark Contest winners who were recognized after Mass on November 10. In the Elementary Division 1st – 5th Grade, Marjorie Fusaiotti was the 2nd place overall winner; Our Elementary Division grade level winners were: 2nd grade 1st place winner, Lilly Almond, 3rd Grade 1st place winner, Evie Crowley and 2nd place winner, Patrick Fusaiotti, 4th grade 2nd place winner, Elizabeth Evans. In the Teen Division Grades 6 – 12 CTKCS 6th grader Sydney Hanford won 3rd place overall.

Pictured is Bryce Weaver representing his native American heritage at Renaissance School’s 6th annual International Day.

Congratulations to the St. Michael Sailing Team, who traveled to Jackson, MS for the Jackson Yacht Club’s Hospitality High School Regatta on November 5th and 6th. There were 12 teams competing from 3 states, and St Michael won first place overall! Congratulations to Gavin Faircloth, Austin Gontarski, Cole Gunter, Nate Hartwell, Robert Montgomery and Graham Rose for representing St Michael! Way to sail Cardinals!

Baldwin County High School recognized its seniors Fall sports athletes and band members during a special pre-game ceremony at the Oct. 22 home football game. The ceremony included senior members of football, cheer, athletic trainer, mascot, ROTC, Swim, Cross Country, BCHS Band, Tigerettes and Tiger Guard. The football team also honored a member of the Class of 2022 who could not be there: football team member Damian Singleton. His mother Jodi Stewart as well as other family members were joined by his teammates, Coach Scott Rials and Principal Craig Smith during the senior night presentation. Damian was a member of the BCHS Football team and wrestling team at the time of his tragic death in April 2020. His classmates have continued to honor his memory.

Bayshore Christian School Assistant Principal for the Day, Ms. Kelcie Lou Lackey, had a wonderful day filled with principal duties. She helped Mrs. Brown with carline, made morning announcements, read a book to our kindergarten classes, had a special lunch off campus with Mrs. Brown, helped with lunches, & even sent out some emails! Well done Ms. Kelcie Lou!

Student Ambassadors from St. Michael, Keeley Bullman, Austin Gontarski and Marley Nicholson visited the 8th graders at St. Patrick Catholic School in Robertsdale! Thank you Sister Margaret and Mrs. Brown for having us share more about St. Michael to these students. We hope these students will be in our Cardinal family in the fall!

Christ the King Catholic School students celebrated our veterans all day on November 11, offering our prayers, creating flags, and remembering those who serve our country with a moment of silence.

Students at Daphne Elementary School worked hard to create banners showcasing their love and respect for our military service members past and present!

While learning all about farms, Mrs. Merchant’s class at Robertsdale explored seeds using their senses and planted peas and beans to chart growth.

Pirate Pete and The Little Pirate Cheerleaders joined Newton’s 6th grade band and the FHS cheerleaders to parade through J Larry Newton School in celebration of the Fairhope football team making it to the first round of playoffs.

North Baldwin Center for Technology has selected Tirana Porter as its 2021-22 Teacher of the Year. Ms. Porter is the Work-Base Learning teacher serving Baldwin County High School, Daphne High School, Spanish Fort High School and the Baldwin County Virtual School students.

Mrs. Thompson’s 6th grade class at Florence B Mathis Elementary School is all smiles while solving algebraic equations. When students correctly solve a problem they score a goal in this math soccer game.

Mary Katherine Gunn, Alabama FCCLA’s State President and a junior at Elberta High School, had the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. While there, she attended the FCCLA 2021 National Fall Conference and Capitol Leadership. During Capitol Leadership, she met with Alabama state senators and representatives. She met with Representative Jerry Carl, staffers from Senator Shelby’s office, Representative Gary Palmer, Representative Mike Rogers and Senator Tommy Tuberville’s Staffers.

During each meeting, she discussed FCCLA and CTE, as well as advocated for a tobacco-free future with Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. During National Fall Conference, she had the pleasure of attending sessions, listening to keynote speakers, going to great breakouts with the Leadership Training Team, and networking, of course!

She had an incredible time learning new ways to lead her state and chapter, and she cannot wait for next year! We are so proud of Mary Katherine for her accomplishments!

Mrs. Jones’ Geometry students at Fairhope High had fun sequencing proofs with “proof puzzles!”

Sixth graders in Mrs. Cassibry’s class at J. Larry Newton School explored the effects of volcanic ash using baby powder. The students had a “blast” and were covered in volcanic ash.

Four lucky Fairhope East teachers were surprised by the Baldwin EMC Operation Round Up Team this week with grants for their classroom projects worth over $3,000! Two of the awards fund science projects at FEES.  Mrs. Hood will be establishing a hydroponic garden, and Ms. Rogers will be purchasing additional energy resources for the 4th grade team!  In the library, Mrs. Lucas will be buying graphic novels and reading incentives, and in Mrs. Luckie’s room, students will be using metal stamps to create unique artwork!  Thank you, Baldwin EMC!

We are proud of the Daphne High School Peer Helpers that put a lot of prep work into uniting our Daphne students to stand against bullying.

Austin M. from Silverhill Elementary School was a guest reader for Mrs. DiMario’s Kindergarten class. He read a book he donated to the class, Pete the Cat Crayons Rock. Austin also rocked his reading and leadership skills!

Bayshore Christian School students enjoyed using Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion to predict acceleration from a known “constant” force. They will compare it to actual acceleration using the time it took to push the truck a known distance. What a great day for science!

Congratulations BCHS Cheerleaders on receiving 2 bids to state and 2nd place in Varsity 6A. It’s great to be a Baldwin County Tiger!

Bayside Academy had four seniors sign with Division I and Division II schools on National Letter of Intent Day yesterday. Division I: Ella Broadhead (volleyball) Troy University; Brett Nestande (baseball) Southeastern Louisiana University. Division II: Caroline Chastang (volleyball) Mississippi College; Cole Komyati (golf) Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T). Seven additional seniors are expected to sign on Athletic Signing Day on December 15. Pictured: Bayside Academy seniors Brett Nestande, Caroline Chastang, Ella Broadhead, and Cole Komyati are pictured with their families on National Letter of Intent Day.

Launched in October 2000, Lights On Afterschool is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities. The effort has become a hallmark of the afterschool movement and generates media coverage across the country each year.  Baldwin County Afterschool students colored and painted light bulbs in celebration of afterschool!

Congratulations to the Baldwin County High School Tiger Band, Tiger Guard, and Tigerettes for bringing home Superior trophies at the West Alabama Marching Band Competition in Gordo. A huge round of applause for the Tiger Guard for bringing home BEST IN CAPTION Color Guard for class A, B, & C and for bringing home the highest score out of all of the color guard teams from the night. We are proud of you!

Congratulations to Andrew Adams a member of the Foley High fishing team on his Master Angler Award in the Stan Mahoney Youth Fishing Tournament.

Congratulations to BCS students Issac Sprayberry, Piper Lantz, Savannah Orosz, McKenzie Shepard, & Indie Gregg for competing and placing in the Daphne Library Bookmark competition and Savannah Sprayberry who is the Overall winner of the competition!. We are so proud of you!

The Daphne peer helper program is in full swing! Mrs. Hammac trained our tutors and our mentors met with their mentees for the first time.

Mrs. Zielinski’s 3rd grade at Daphne East Elementary School are painting beautiful pumpkins!

Pictured is Monroe Savage enjoying Renaissance School’s 2nd annual Trunk-Or-Treat!

Congratulations Mrs. Linda Hill of Elberta Middle School for being awarded the Alabama Middle School Art Teacher of the Year!

Our NBTech Cosmetology students are enjoying practicing different coloring and bleaching techniques. They are getting work ready, and we are proud of them!

Foley Elementary School 4th-Grade students used the engineering design process to create floats for our Macy’s Day Parade. After reading “Balloons Over Broadway,” students designed turkeys, attached them to balloons, and then piloted the balloons down the hallway using the sphero-balls.

Congratulations to our 2021 BCS Spelling Bee champion Connor Moore!

Renaissance students take the stage in Seussical, Jr! Seussical was directed by our very own theatre teacher Ms. Darby!

Mrs. Helms’s students at Daphne HS completed a “hexagonal thinking” exercise in APUSH to prepare for their Unit 4 exam. Students were given 30 main terms from the time period 1800-1848 and were tasked with organizing them and showing connections between terms by linking the hexagons. It was a great critical thinking activity that caused much discussion among group members on where to place hexagons.

The Daphne High Peer Helpers had a great time at the 11th Annual National Peer Program Conference! It was so awesome to meet with others as passionate about this program as we are! These last three days were filled with so much inspiration and helpful resources.

We are so excited to see how this program will continue to unfold to meet the needs of our students!

The Daphne High School 9th Grade STEP (Eastern Shore Chamber Student Training and Exploration Program) visited the Equine Therapy Farm of Kari Whatley, LPC. Along with the STEP students of Spanish Fort High and Fairhope High, students were exposed to how horses are used to provide therapeutic services to people of all ages. Students participated in team-building activities around communication, nonverbal communication, personal space, and reflective listening. Thanks to DHS Social Worker, Ansley Beverly, and 9th Grade Counselor, Sara Parker, for taking our students on this trip.

Spanish Fort High School enjoyed celebrating these amazing students at the 25+ and 30+ ACT Club Celebration. We currently have 68 students that have made a 25 or higher on their ACT. 46 of those students are in the 25+ Club and 22 of those students are in the 30+ Club. The 25+ Club contains one 9th grader, two 10th graders, six 11th graders and thirty-seven 12th graders! The 30+ Club contains four 11th graders and eighteen 12th graders!

Students in Ms. Alexa Samry’s We Build it Better class at Spanish Fort Middle are learning by doing! They are working to build motorized cars. This new curriculum is awesome and Ms. Samry’s students are completely engaged!

First and second graders from St. James Episcopal School visit the Fairhope Library weekly. Students enjoy story time with Mrs. Julia and checking out books to read.

After learning about density and how oil and water do not mix, students in Mrs. Cortopassi’s 5th grade science class participated in an experiment with water, oil, and food coloring to create “fireworks!”

Fairhope East Elementary 6th grade sends a HUGE thank you to local author Watt Key for speaking about being an author! What a great opportunity for our students!  Thank you to Mrs. Leah Willisson for organizing this special event!

Congratulations to Fairhope Middle School 8th Grade Girls Basketball Team who are the Tournament Champions.

All the colors of the rainbow… 2nd grade at Summerdale School followed steps in a procedure by integrating science and reading to create rainbows.

Spanish Fort Elementary was so happy to be able to honor the Veterans in our community. We started our morning with a Veterans Parade. Veterans were given a grand welcome by all of our students, faculty and staff and presented with a special gift at the end of the parade route. SFES also delivered goodies to the Veterans at Westminster Village. There really aren’t enough words to express our gratitude for the sacrifices that these Veterans have made, but it was so wonderful to see our students honor those who have given so much for us! Thank you to all of our Veterans!

Culinary and Hospitality students under the instruction of Chef Thorpe and Mrs. McCollum prepared and served members at the meeting for International Society for Key Women Educators. The students worked this event to get live work instruction that is so valuable to their success in the program. Also a big thank you to SEEDS of Daphne for helping our students look professional.

Kindergartners at J. Larry Newton School honored our Veterans during Newton’s Veterans Day Drive through parade by donning hats and floats they made to represent each branch of our military.

Foley High Health Science students completed the Pumpkinectomy lesson. They learned about the roles of the surgical team, medical terms, and medications related to surgery. They then performed a lysis of adhesions and seed removal for their pumpkin, Mr. Candy Corn. After surgery was completed, the students carved their pumpkins.

It was a full house at Orange Beach Elementary’s Open House and Blue Ribbon School celebration! The school was awarded this prestigious honor earlier this year from the U.S. Department of Education!

Botley the robot is officially enrolled in Mrs. Merchant’s class at Robertsdale Elementary School to help her students learn all about coding.

Thank you to the Spanish Fort Middle School Teachers & Staff for setting such a great example by serving the community at Prodisee Pantry.

Mrs. Keenan’s class brought social media to the early 1900s, researching inventors, inventions, and court cases of the time. They crafted captions and hashtags appropriate for the historical information.

The Daphne Wrestling Boys AND Girls Teams were tournament CHAMPS in at the Gulf Shores Middle School/JV Tournament.! What a way to start the season

Ms. Dearborn’s class was successfully able to complete 5 levels on sequencing in order to escape from their lockout room.

Congratulations to our Boys Cross Country team for being the 2021 1A/2A State Champs, and to our Girls Cross Country team for being Runner Up! We are so proud of all of our athletes!

John Burt, the Bay Minette Elementary Red Ribbon Week Leader, delivered his snack baskets to North Baldwin Infirmary .

His service project for Red Ribbon Week was to collect snack items from our students to make snack baskets for all of the different departments at the hospital.

Thank you to our veterans and first responders who attended the Belforest Elementary Veteran’s Program. We honor your service to our country and community.

Ms. Nordberg’s 1st Grade Class at Silverhill ES would like to thank our Veterans and honor all those who have served!

Congratulations to Orange Beach Mako Cheer! 1st Place Super Regional Champs!

Larry Newton School 6th Graders had so much fun experimenting with different types of volcanoes!

Baldwin County Virtual Elementary School Red Ribbon Spirit Leader Jacob delivered all of the canned foods from our Boo-Thru food drive!