Student Spotlights September 2022

Spanish Fort High School welcomed Freshmen to the Fort! They picked up their schedules, received information from some of our clubs/orgs, ate pizza to support our growing swim team, and explored the building to find their classes.

Foley High School Theatre had the distinct pleasure of working with the Foley Public Library this summer to produce a one-act play as part of the library’s summer reading series. Foley Elementary’s very own Anne Stevens also stepped into a role at the last minute when one of our actors was dealing with an injury. It was a blast teaching young people in our community about Aesop’s Fables. It was also quite fun to see Mr. Lane dressed as a turtle!

Bayside kicked off the school year on August 17th with the 53rd First Day of School Ice Cream Social. We are excited to see what 2022-2023 has in store!

Fairhope East Elementary School’s energetic fourth grade teachers, Mrs. Washington and Mrs. Farmer, attended the week long Empower Energy Education Workshop in Destin. This Energy Education Workshop provides an exciting opportunity to learn about electricity generation and distribution, with a focus on energy education and fun ways to integrate it into the classroom. Thank you for going above and beyond for our students!

On Saturday, September 24th the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation (SBCF) will host its first-ever Casino Night Fundraiser, held at The Palms located at The Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama.

This fundraiser event will feature 6 to 8 casino-like table games that guests can play for fun! The event will include food catered by Luna’s Eat and Drink and a cash bar. DJ Entertainment will be provided by Feel the Beat Entertainment, plus a digital photo booth by Cool Shots Photo Booth.

Each ticket holder will receive $500 in “play chips” and one ticket to be entered into a prize raffle. Gaming tables and equipment will be contracted through Bama Casino Company. No prize money will be given in exchange for playing chips.

Tickets can be purchased online at the SBCF website (via eventbrite): https://bit.ly/CasinoNight22

The SBCF committee is seeking partnerships with local businesses and organizations to help make the event truly special for our community. Sponsorships for the upcoming event are available and donations for raffle prizes and auction items are being accepted. If you would like to purchase a sponsorship or donate a raffle/auction item, please reach out to Rachel Spear at rachel@southbaldwinchamber.com.

Proceeds benefit the programs and teacher/student grants provided by the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation. SBCF was formed in 2003 by the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce to enhance the lives of the students in the community as a non-profit, independent charitable foundation. SBCF serves thirteen local schools in south Baldwin County, Alabama.

For more information about the event, contact Rachel Spear, Events Director at 251-943-5550, or Kylee Raulerson, SBCF Executive Director at 251-943-5520.

We are excited to announce that Bayside Academy won the 2022 Nappie Award for Best Private School in Baldwin County yet again! Thank you to our faculty and staff for making Bayside the best place to be. Go Admirals!

Key Club members at Daphne High School held their first ever summer boot camp to learn all the ins and outs of Key Club and start planning for the new year! From haunted houses and dances, to service projects and fundraising, members are learning all about becoming leaders and working together to make big impacts on our community. Stayed tuned for AWESOME things to come at our new IG page @daphnehs_keyclub.

Mobile Bay Magazine named David Klimjack ‘22 a 2022 Wonder Kid! David was the captain of Bayside’s chess team for four years, has played the piano for 12 years, has built more than 40 roller coasters through a virtual program, and is a Disney aficionado. While we will greatly miss David on Bayside’s campus, we can’t wait to see what his future holds. He will attend Emory University in Atlanta where he plans to major in either biochemistry or neuroscience. Pictured: Bayside Academy’s David Klimjack

St. Michael Catholic High School held new student orientation on August 15th. The students were sorted into their Houses, walked their schedules with Peer Helpers and members of SGA, played games, heard talks on friendship and faith in high school given by our senior student leaders, and then prayed with scripture with Fr. Gabe and Fr. Nicholas. The day ended outside with ice cream! We are excited to have these new members of our Cardinal family!

The Peer Helpers at St. Michael Catholic High School recently elected officers for the year. Congratulations to:
President – Jonah Calvery
Vice president – Sophie Blythe
Secretary – Hailey Rockstall
Communications officer – Tia Acker
Chaplin – Judah McAleer

Bayside Academy came in at #16 in the country for best all-around high school sports program! This past year, Bayside won state championships in boys cross country, girls cross country volleyball, boys golf, boys soccer, boys track and field, girls track and field, and girls tennis, as well as state runners-up titles in boys indoor track and field and girls indoor track and field. We are very proud of our student-athletes for their success, and we know the 2022–2023 seasons are going to be a thrill to watch!

Earlier this week, we had the pleasure of hosting a celebration for our students who made a 5 on at least one AP exam for the 2022-2023 school year. We are excited to announce that we had 27 scores of 5, which is the highest score possible! Words can’t express how proud we are of these Toros! You might just see some of these High-5 yard signs around our community! A special thanks to Mr. Tyler, Mr. McRae, Ms. Carter, Mr. Keenan, Ms. Cauley, Ms. Bradley, and our incredible AP teachers for showing up in support of these students and parents.

We are so thankful to Gulf Coast RC&D for awarding our STEAM Team a generous Grant for over $4000. We used the grant to purchase a Greenhouse with tables and shelving units. We are excited to continue our STEAM journey into Agriculture with our students using the Greenhouse.

Students at Bay Minette Elementary School were welcomed back to school by some very special greeters. Members of the Baldwin County High School Tiger Guard worked the car rider line and greeted students as they arrived for school. The Tiger Guard performs with the BCHS Band during half-time shows, pep rallies and other special school events.

The Bay Minette Fire Department answered a very special call this morning: serving as greeters for the car rider line at Bay Minette Elementary School. The crew welcome students back to school, offered reassurances, a helping hand or even a hug, as needed. The school has kicked off the new school year by having special greeters to ease students back into the swing of things.

Students at Bay Minette Elementary School were welcomed back to school by some very special greeters. Members of the Baldwin County High School Cheer Squad worked the car rider line and greeted students as they arrived for school. The squad cheers on the BCHS Tigers at football and basketball games, pep rallies and other special school events.

Incoming students at Christ the King Catholic School were greeted by Peer Helpers at the “Saints Welcome” event. These Peer Helpers have been trained in skills that assist them in meeting the needs of their fellow students. The incoming students and Peer Helpers went on a scavenger hunt throughout the school to learn about CTKCS. At each stop on the scavenger hunt, students met teachers, got a peek inside classrooms, and made connections with classmates. What a wonderful way to be welcomed into the Christ the King Catholic School community!

Quincy Compressor held a donation drive to collect school supplies for Bay Minette Middle School. Quincy donated notebooks, binders, folders, pens, pencils, paper, sanitizers, and more. The company was also able to provide every BMMS student with a new reusable water bottle! BMMS serves more than 400 students in seventh and eighth grades and is part of the Baldwin County High School feeder pattern. Here, representatives from Quincy Compressor make delivery of the proceeds from their month-long school supply drive.

Mr. Edward’s 5th graders competing in a math quiz this morning!! Building teamwork and showing their math skills!

North Baldwin Community Foundation presented nearly $14,000 in grants to non-profit organizations that serve the North Baldwin area. Foundation representatives Scotty Lewis, far left, and Tina Covington, far right, made the presentations to representatives from each of the grant winners. Those organizations included Prodisee Pantry, North Baldwin Coalition for Excellence in Education, Bay Minette Elementary School, Bay Minette Public Library, Bay Minette Recreation Department, Equine Therapy Group Foundation, Kiwanis Club of Bay Minette, North Baldwin Ecumenical Association, and United Way of Baldwin County.

Heather Sorrell’s Math students at Spanish Fort Middle School enjoyed this lab! The task: Build a zip line that is at least 4 feet long that can safely carry a ping pong ball (the passenger) to the end of your zip line. Students were assigned a group and had to use a limited amount of materials, effective communication skills, and perseverance to complete this task. Some students designed more than one zip line.

Mrs. Washington’s fourth grade class enjoyed their Friday treats with a happy from the Baldwin County EMA (Emergency Management Agency). Thank you so much for water bottles to help with cooling ourselves off!

Scranimal STEAM: Mrs. Theis’ fabulous first graders listened to Scranimal poems by Jack Prelutsky, and then worked together with partners to create their very own scrambled up animals! They wrote some amazing stories about the scranimals they made!

The St. Michael Cross Country team held a team building retreat at Holy Spirit Hall in preparation for their first meet on August 25th. These athletes had a lot of fun and a well deserved change of pace from their summer conditioning. Run as one, Train as a team, Finish as a family – Go Cardinals!

Students in Mrs. Stewar’s English 9 and English 9 Honors classes spent Friday making oral presentations in a Get to Know You activity. They shared one positive adjective about themselves and explained why it described them. They wrote the adjective on a feather and stapled it to our bulletin board wings to decorate the board with all their positive attributes.
There are pictures of the original bulletin board, after it was filled with feathers and as a backdrop now for students to take pictures with wings behind them.

First graders in Mrs. Whitehead’s class at Foley Elementary school are using scientific tools and looking forward to learning all about wild organisms this semester.

Mrs. Shewbart’s chemistry classes found a little “magic” (magic sand) while they explored the use of intrinsic properties to separate mixtures!

The St. Michael Catholic High School football team spent August 10 – 12th camping and team building at Camp Tekawitha in Springville, AL, visiting the Cenacolo Community, and finally The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, all while on their way to Athens, AL to play their jamboree (pre-season) game against Athens High School. We are looking forward to a great season.

Who says learning can’t be fun? Students at Pine Grove Elementary School started off the school year with some fun learning activities. It was a great way to kick off a new school year and to get to know their classmates. Pine Grove Elementary serves students from Pre-K through sixth grades and is part of the Baldwin County High School feeder pattern.

Ms. Carnley’s class at Fairhope West Elementary prepared their Leadership Binders and are ready for the new school year.

Mrs. Rowell’s chefs are ready to make alphabet soup!!!! Friends practiced letters and their sounds for a fun review!

Mrs. Washington’s 4th grade class began the week with a “Getting to Know You Activity” with M&M’s. The students chose their color and answered their questions in their groups. They then completed a culminating activity for the Scientific Method with Skittles.

Mrs. Sheils’ and Mrs. Fischer’s Project Jubilee students at Spanish Fort Elementary had a great day of learning during their PJ orientation. They participated in a STEM challenge that involved collaboration, problem solving, engineering, and strategizing

A fun way to start our Friday! Robertsdale High School cheerleaders, football players and band greeted our students at carline and paraded through our halls. We love our Robertsdale school family! GO BEARS!!

Ms. Knapp’s class Stonebridge Elementary enjoyed a visit from Officer Biggs. He read “Interrupting Chicken”, and brought his own interrupting chicken to share with us.

Students in Robert Bullock’s construction classes are off to a great start learning new construction skills.

Mrs. Edwards’ and Mrs. Shutt’s classes at Fairhope West Elementary School created posters to show what a scientist was to them.

4th Grade students in Mrs. Dees’ class at Foley Elementary School discovered the “Engineering Design Process” as they completed the marshmallow challenge.

Rainy days mean indoor STEAM recess in Mrs Barnes’ fourth grade class at Fairhope East Elementary!

Our second graders enjoyed the Fast Land Changes Challenge of creating a volcano and watching it erupt.

Mr. Fortune’s classes at Robertsdale High School got to spend the day learning about measuring and converting distances through both standard and metric methods by flying paper airplanes! Wait…isn’t flying paper airplanes in school against the rules? Hmmm…I guess that’s what makes it so much fun!!

Students in Mrs. Gerstenschlager’s class have developed a class mission statement. We’re looking forward to a great year!

The talent that is on the Daphne Middle School Cheer Team is off the charts! The girls adapted, made corrections, and showed out all with class and positivity! They had great results, but are most proud of the girls having each other’s backs, cheering on each other, and still smiling at the end of the first away camp that all of them have ever attended!

Pelicans Nest teacher, Mrs. Hardman, teaches students from J. Larry Newton School all about our amazing watershed in Mobile Bay.

Congratulations to the following students who were accepted to participate in the Auburn University Marching Honor Band!
Eli Lores
Ashlynn Jungferman
Blakeney Wells
Celyn Simpson
Carter Fraley
Tyler Saxon

SBCT Health Science Patient Care Technician students simulating safety skills for patient care.

Mrs. Pritchett and Mr. Dearborn’s class at Florence B Mathis Elementary practice rhyming words with a fun game of bingo!

Officer Millwood read to the Kindergarten classes at Daphne East Elementary. They loved visiting with Officer Katie!

9th grade biology students in Ms. Hyde’s class at Spanish Fort High School are designing their own experiments to study the rate of transpiration in plants in different environmental conditions!

Sixth graders from Baldwin County Virtual Elementary/Middle School completed their first at-home STEM activity this week. Take a look at what Faith, Alexis, and River were able to create with just toothpicks and marshmallows!

This morning Mrs. McFeely’s class at Daphne East Elementary talked about different genres of literature. They rotated around the room and looked at examples of each genre.

BCS is thrilled to announce Justin Dillenschneider as the new Men’s Varsity Soccer head coach.

At J. Larry Newton School, students had the opportunity to climb on the newly renovated traversing wall during PE class. This activity builds upper body strength and endurance it also develops critical thinking and problem solving skills. The wall was the Eagle Scout Project for Brody French a Scout with Troop 47 in Fairhope. We are very grateful for this young man’s hard work

Mr. Williams (Fairhope Middle School Math Teacher), along with eleven other educators from region 10 completed the NSF RET program at the University of South Alabama’s College of Engineering.
The NSF RET program at the University of South Alabama (USA) invites in-service middle school and high school teachers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to conduct research and curriculum development activities at the USA campus for six weeks during the summer.
Teachers work with USA faculty as well as industry partners on discovery-based research projects in the area of biologically-inspired computing systems to support machine learning applications. The RET teachers will design standards-compliant curriculum modules which they will implement in their classrooms during the academic year. The teachers will also participate in many professional development activities during the summer research activity and the academic year. This program will develop a lasting relationship between the university, the K-12 schools, and the surrounding community that can help to build a strong educational foundation in the schools supported by the university and the other partners.

Mrs. Wilson’s 7th grade Science classes at Spanish Fort Middle School experimented in collaborative groups building towers to hold a stuffed dragon! They measured, hypothesized, constructed, and did some troubleshooting. The team with the highest tower that could hold the dragon won!

The Daphne Volleyball teams have been hard at work all summer and celebrated the start of the fall season with the Purple & Gold Scrimmage The volleyball families are the best! Thank you to all the families and friends who have made our preseason a success! We could not do any of this without your support (and countless car rides to summer workouts, camps, and tournaments … etc.!)

Mrs. Jaynes classes at Fairhope High School did a class scavenger hunt today to become familiar with class procedures, classroom set up, and the syllabus.

6th grade students at Foley Elementary School are learning about space, converting measurements and making astronaut pudding with our very own Foley astronauts. (STEAM teachers: Mrs. Keenan and Mrs. Tidwell/science teacher: Ms. Stradley.

W.J. Carroll Intermediate School homeroom teachers began building a learning community in their classrooms last month. As they dove into the 1st full week, the great work continues. This incredible team is committed to helping our students grow as leaders and achievers this school year!

The ladies of Beta Chi Sigma had the opportunity to volunteer at the annual Back to School Bash, which was hosted by The Chosen Outreach Ministry.
In addition to helping with set up and passing out school supplies, the girls had the opportunity to perform as well! It was such a great turn out and we can’t wait to see y’all next year!

After some wonderful breakfast treats provided by our PTO, W. J. Carroll Intermediate School recently harnessed the power of their teachers and staff through some unique first of the year activities. We determined we have over 450 years total teaching experience with several extra degrees under our belts. We know as a faculty, we are patient, flexible, positive, supportive, organized, reliable, dedicated, and so much more. We “know our why” and excited for our students to experience it with us!

A big thank you to Mayor Robin Lejeune and the entire Daphne City Council, along with our Daphne Education Advisory Committee, for awarding Belforest Elementary with over $16,000 worth of funding to help us with programs and operations this school year. We are so grateful to live in a place where our community values education and supports all of our Daphne Schools!

A ribbon cutting was held at Fairhope East Elementary for the new, first-in-Baldwin County Weather STEM lab that features real-time weather conditions. Students, staff, administrators, and community leaders were on hand to launch the new weather station. This weather station will keep community members and stakeholders informed of weather conditions. It also comes with high-quality weather lessons with our own weather data. The weather station was possible because of our partnership with Baldwin County EMA, funding from FEEF, and the support of Baldwin County Schools. Our vision is to have Weather STEM stations around the county for educational data collection and the safety of our students and community.

Mondays are made for math games and new friends in Mrs. Norris’ class at Fairhope West Elementary

Students at Rockwell Elementary School started the day with tons of smiles and were ready for a fantastic year! The Spanish Fort Toros Football team members greeted students at drop-off this morning as well as the Peer Helpers who escorted students to their classes.

Please join us in congratulating two of our schools who have received the prestigious honor of being awarded the 2021-22 Program of Distinction Award by the Alabama School Counselor Association: Belforest Elementary School and Baldwin County Secondary Virtual School.
The counselors at these schools join the other ten schools from our school system who have received this phenomenal recognition in previous school years.
Congratulations are extended to Kim Powell and Natalie Ward, school counselors at Belforest Elementary School and Dianna Wolchina and Kim Windham, school counselors at the Secondary Virtual School.

BCS students raised money for their new school with a lemonade stand this summer! Praise God for their hard work and servant hearts!