Student Spotlights September 2022

Escambia County Schools, The United Way of Northwest Florida, and Walmart stores teamed up to “Stuff the Bus” at the Creighton Road, Mobile Highway, and Blue Angels Parkway Walmart locations. It was a great success!

During Animal Week at Montessori School of Pensacola summer camp, children participated in fun craft projects each day, including topics such as dinosaurs, jungle animals, and Florida animals.  On one of the days, campers were especially excited to create animal masks.  They read about jungle animals, listened to sounds from the rainforest, watched videos of jungle animals, and then crafted animal masks.  Camp activities at MSP incorporate experiments, artistic projects, and other hands-on activities.

We are so excited to introduce you to a new student leadership opportunity. Our Eagle Ambassadors are juniors and seniors who represent the ideals and spirit of EHCS. Supporting the Admissions office, the Ambassadors will act as liaisons for visitors to campus and provide prospective families with tours. They will also assist with on and off campus events, representing EHCS and strengthening the bond within the school and community.

The EHCS Class of 2002 held its 20-year reunion on July 1st-2nd in Pensacola. Fifteen alumni traveled from as far as Tennessee to gather, catch up, and share stories from high school days. Friday evening was an adults social at the downtown venue Garden and Grain, and Saturday afternoon was a family-oriented event for kids of all ages (from 6 weeks to 11 years old) to gather and beat the heat with water toys and slides.

How big was a triceratops foot?  How many of your feet would have fit inside of one?  These are the questions that campers at Montessori School of Pensacola summer camp posed as they compared their feet size to the size of an outline of a triceratops foot.  The young scientists were amazed to see the comparison.  They shared their excitement with their fellow campers, as they saw who had the biggest foot, but marveled at how small it still was next to the size of a dinosaur’s foot!

High school students from Aletheia Christian Academy attended Student Leadership University this summer. Student Leadership University is the nation’s premier student leadership experience that focuses on teaching each student practical and relational life skills to change the way they think, dream and lead at the feet of Jesus. A group of Aletheia’s rising 10th graders attended SLU 101 in Orlando. These students were provided with a year’s worth of leadership development in just four days. This dynamic experience allowed the attendees to learn from world-class thought leaders in creative and participatory environments inside and outside of the conference room. A group of rising 11th graders attended SLU 201 in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. They explored how to think Christianly about some of the pressing moral and ethical issues our country is facing. Through their experience, the students developed a spirit of gratitude and respect as well as an understanding that freedom is not free. They were also equipped to lead as a citizen and catalyst for change. They explored ten foundational components of SLU 201 as they are discovering their own role in our society’s future.

Classes started in early August for students at Pensacola Catholic High and for the Freshman students in the Class of 2026 who attended the ‘Welcome to CHS’ sessions, they were ready to “hit the ground running”!  Five sessions were offered throughout the summer by Guidance Counselor, Mrs. Peyton Finelli, and 73 Freshmen attended.  The purpose of this optional four-hour program is to help students feel more comfortable with CHS prior to the start of school.  Mrs. Finelli said, “We want the students to be confident so during their first weeks of school in what is a pivotal transitional year, they can feel less anxious and even help other new peers.”  Attending the sessions offers the opportunity to meet fellow students sooner and to get an early understanding of expectations once school starts.  During each session students get a tour of campus, an early explanation of how the unusual block class schedule works, and wonderful tips on note taking and studying.  They also have an interactive session on what they think the differences are between middle school and high school.  This is the first year we offered these in-depth sessions and after a month of school, we will ask the participating students for feedback to improve our future sessions and to evaluate if we met of goal of making them feel more comfortable.  We are so excited to have all of our Crusaders back for another great year!

On August 8, classes began at Pensacola Catholic High School with two half days during which students met first in Homeroom and then attended all seven classes to meet their teachers, receive their course requirements, and obtain a full understanding of the course/teacher expectations. On Wednesday, August 10, full class days began using Catholic High’s block schedule that includes instruction of six classes a day for an hour each.  Full days at CHS also include a lunch break during which students join friends in the Student Life Center to eat lunch that they either brought from home or purchased from the cafeteria staff. The Catholic High Administrators are very excited about the year ahead for the 668 students attending.  Over the summer there were several changes in faculty because of life events for some of the previous faculty, but Principal Sister Kierstin Martin is very excited about the new teachers recently hired.  She is especially excited about the new Band Director/Music Teacher, Denny Turner.  She was able to hire him out of retirement after a very distinguished career in Band/Music and Education within the Southeast.  He and his wife live just over the state border in Alabama and when he became aware of our Music/Band Director position he was excited to start working with students again!  He has a vision for expanding participation within the Music Department at Catholic High.  While we are full steam ahead with the current year, planning activities for the Class of 2027, next year’s Freshmen, are already underway as we begin eighth-grade Visitation Days in September and dates are already set for our Parent Open House and Placement Test.  Please check our website at pensacolachs.org for additional information. The ‘Crusader Life’ is in full swing and the students, faculty, and parents are all excited about the promise of another year within the halls at CHS!  Pictured: History teacher, Mr. William Guillot, and student Crusaders during the change of a class period.

Montessori School of Pensacola (MSP) summer camps were jam-packed with fun projects and areas of study that differed each week.  During Animal Week, campers were invited to bring in photos of their pets (or if they don’t have a pet, it could be of their favorite animal).  Campers got to share about their pet or favorite animal, telling what they like best about it.  The children at camp loved seeing the photos and getting to hear about the other campers’ pets.

The American Legion Department of Florida and the American Legion Auxiliary once again hosted their educational events that introduce students to the actual workings of local, county, and state governments.  The American Legion program was founded in 1935 by two Illinois Legionnaires who first organized the event for boys.  The American Legion Auxiliary organizes the event for girls with its beginnings dating back to 1937.  This year’s events were both held on the campus of Florida State University on June 19-25 and June 7-15 respectively.  During the nonpartisan week-long event, students learn the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of franchised citizens. Student citizens gained hands-on experience by taking part in the political process through role-playing in civic exercises.   Participants who are incoming High School Seniors draw on the information they already acquired concerning the State of Florida and our national government.  They are organized into a simulated city, county, and state from which they elect their own officials and then learn the duties of the various officers and their interactions with one another.  They also introduce and argue their own bills in the Legislature.  The program’s intent is to help students to better understand their individual roles in the democratic ideals that are the foundation of our government.  Four boys and two girls from Pensacola Catholic High School participated in this year’s events. Lexi Foland, who was elected as the Speaker of the House, said of her experience, “Girls State was an incredibly unique and rewarding experience. I had the opportunity to study government with 300 amazing students – we learned not only in a classroom but also at the Capitol itself.”  Brandon Shrout shared that “Boys State was a great opportunity to meet new people across the state of Florida and a great way to learn about our local and state government. I also enjoyed hearing from different sitting State Representatives from throughout the State as well as current Gov. DeSantis.” Obie Powell gave this advice after his experience, “I recommend that all Juniors (rising Seniors) try to attend this event.” Pictured: Obie Powell, Lexi Foland, Noah Burgess, Brandon Shrout, Elizabeth Owens, and Brendan Hindman.

Creative Learning Academy students are back to school! We had a wonderful time welcoming everyone back to campus on Thursday, August 11th. The beginning of this school year feels rather normal, nothing out of the ordinary, which is a very welcome change from the past two years. After a very successful six weeks of Camp CLA, we are very excited to begin our 50^th anniversary year and even more excited to celebrate this milestone all year long! A special welcome to all new and incoming students and families. We are very glad that you have chosen to be a part of the CLA community. As we begin this 50th anniversary year, we are relaxed, recharged and ready to start a new school year. Our skilled and devoted staff has been planning and preparing for students in the classroom since the last day of school. CLA administration has registered new families, ordered new materials, and updated some aspects of the campus. Finally, our much-appreciated Family Association has been geared up to welcome many new families, provide upcoming volunteer opportunities, and offer and promote exciting events that will keep our community engaged all year. Creative Learning Academy is indeed a grateful and caring community with the common goal of preparing students to learn, lead, and become the creative problem solvers of the future.

It is our pleasure to announce the hiring of Mrs. Angie Watson as our new Lady Eagles Basketball coach. Mrs. Watson comes to us with a wealth of experience in ladies basketball at the local, national and international levels. Mrs. Watson played basketball at the University of Georgia, was a member of the 2000 Canadian Olympic Team, a member of the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting, and played in the Professional Italian League. Additionally, Mrs. Watson served as the assistant basketball coach at Shorter University. We are thankful and blessed to have Mrs. Watson join our community to help lead our Lady Eagle program. Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Watson to our Eagle Family!