Gifted Ends Year On High Note

Kudos to Mrs. Anne Head and the gifted gang for their recent accomplishments.

WAX MUSEUM COMPETITION

• Quality of Performance: 1^st Katie Marie Smith  LHS,  2^nd Emily Sims BHS 
• Entertainment Value:  1^st  Avery Carpenter  BHS,  2^nd Echo Mann  LHS,  3^rd  Ethan Flowers BHS 
• Costuming:  1^st Echo Mann LHS,   2^nd Grace Grosenbach, BHS   3^rd Cassidy Brooks LHS   Representation of Character:  1^st  Katie Marie Smith  LHS,    2^nd  Ethan Flowers,  BHS   3^rd  Josh Hermeling LHS
• Oral Presentation:  1^st  Ethan Flowers BHS,    2^nd  Grace Grosenbach BHS,   3^rd  Emily Sims BHS 
• Best of Show:  Cameron Catrett BHS 

MARKETING COMPETITION

• Display Board-1^st-Callie Armstrong LHS,  2^nd  Quinn Foote-BHS  and Kassidy Wilcox BHS, 3^rd Harleigh Taylor HHS
• Tabletop Display-1^st Scotty Hudson BHS,  2^nd Alex Watts  HHS , 3^rd Hannah Sims BHS
• Salesmanship -1^st Hunter Stephenson HHS,  2^nd Aaleah Scott HHS,  3^rd  Madison Keener LHS
• Knowledge of Product-  1^st Conner Morrow LHS, 2^nd  Cassidy Sowell BHS and Haley Barnes BHS,  3^rd  Joshua Petty HHS
• Marketable Product- 1^st Treyton McGough  HHS, 2^nd Scotty Hudson BHS,  3^rd Ashlynn Herbert HHS and Jayden Carlos LHS
• Best of Show- Callie Armstrong  LHS

Hold On To Your Forks

As I stood with Brother Harry Driggers at the Regional State Softball Tournament in Gulf Shores  a few weeks ago, he relayed the story of  the elderly lady that demanded she be buried with a fork in her hand.  When the family asked why, she relayed a story to them, of which most of us can relate, of her mother cleaning the table after a Sunday dinner, telling all to pass their plate, but to hold on to their forks.  Though the roast, ham, or chicken, the little white peas,  butter beans, creamed corn, cornbread were all delicious, we all knew that "the best was yet to come."  Cobblers, pies, and cake were to be had.  This person, who had lived a life pleasing to the One who matters most, realized that the best was yet to come. 

Know this, though we have accomplished much, hang on to your forks, for the best is yet to come!  

Look in your check envelopes for PD opportunities.  Enjoy your summer!  See you soon!

Brantley School's FFA Annual Banquet

Kudos to Mr. Mark Andrews and all the BHS FFA members on another fantastic year.

BHS FFA Chapter Officers

BHS FFA Senior Members

Star Chapter Farmer Award Winners

Star Greenhand Award Winners

New Employees Hired

Mr. Barry Gross- Principal, Highland Home School

Mr. Barry Gross is a native of Weptumka, Alabama.  He holds his Education Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership.  Mr. Gross has a background in elementary education and fine arts.  He is a current assistant principal of Greenville High School and has served as an assistant principal of Echols County School (unit school) in Statenville, Georgia, for four years.  Mr. Gross is married to Amber Gross and they have 3 children. 

Mrs. Katrina Roper Smith- Assistant Principal, Highland Home School

Mrs. Katrina Roper Smith is a native of Georgiana, Alabama. She has an Education Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership.  Over the past 10 years, as an administrator, Mrs. Smith has held such positions as Principal of Sidney Lanier High School, Assistant Principal McIntyre Junior High School, and Curriculum Director of Anniston City Schools.  Mrs. Smith is married to “La La” Smith of Luverne.  They have two children, one of which is enrolled at Cumberland University and the other at Auburn University. 

Mr. Greg Pittman- Principal of Luverne School

Mr. Greg Pittman is a 1984 graduate of Luverne High School.  He holds a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership and is highly qualified in the area of general science and history. While serving as the assistant principal of Luverne School, the joint efforts of faculty and administrators has yielded a 65% reduction in office referrals and 68% reduction in physical altercations.  Mr. Pittman is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve.  He is a 29-year veteran having served active duty twice in Iraq.  Mr. Pittman is the son of Windham and Patricia Pittman who served Crenshaw County Schools well for 24 and 25 years respectively.  Mr. Pitman is married to Daun Pittman.  They have two children HeartLee and PresLee.

Mr. Bob Williams- Technology Coordinator

Mr. Bob Williams has over 30 years of technology related work experience.  He is a former employee of Microsoft, IBM, and Sun Microsystems.  In February 2004, former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates introduced to the world Mr. William’s prototype media center extender that allows the PC to be extended to the television and other PCs.  Mr. Williams is IC3 certified.  He presently serves as a business teacher at Luverne High School.  He is married to Annie Williams and they reside in Luverne.

New School Calendar

We are receiving a lot of thoughtful consideration regarding the new school calendar and are very appreciative.  The new law states that students can begin no sooner than the two weeks prior to Labor Day and students must be dismissed no later than Memorial Day.  This is a two year law (actually 15 months).  All we know today is that students cannot begin prior to August 20, 2012, and salaries cannot be reduced.   Below is a follow-up to your responses thus far.

1. Add minutes to the day and attend fewer days.
1. We looked at this earlier and came to the conclusion that if we add minutes to either side of the day, some students would either be picked-up or dropped-off in the dark.  This is a tremendous safety concern. 
2. Cutting days will result in fewer meals served.  We are reimbursed per each meal that we serve.  Reimbursement for CCBOE is approximately $5,000 per day.  A 175 day calendar, would cost the system $25,000 or the equivalent of one CNP staff member.
3. Cutting days could lead to future problems.  If the system reduces instructional days, some non-certified persons would have nothing to do unless reassigned (transportation and CNP).  If the aforementioned work fewer days, when the law expires and if we return to a 187 calendar, do they earn more pay?
2. Increase the number of days for Christmas break
1. The proposed consists of a first semester calendar of 85 days and a second semester calendar of 95 days.  Keep in mind, by law, there are only two required holidays, Memorial Day and Veterans Day.  To make Christmas break longer, days would either be taken from Thanksgiving or Spring Break.  Currently, Spring Break will also serve as bad weather days.
2. If you shorten first semester,  first semester exams might have to be given in January. 

Again thank you for your thoughts and keep them coming.

BHS and LHS Softball Teams Represent

The Brantley Bulldogs and the Luverne Tiger Softball teams participated in regional play in Gulf Shores this past weekend.  In an attempt to get play in before the approaching sytem, game times were moved from early Saturday morning to even earlier Saturday Morning.  The BHS softball team defeated Florala around 2 AM and the LHS Tigers removed #3 Excel from the tournament sometime after 3 AM.  Both teams returned to the park at 7 AM for their next game.  With little or no sleep, both teams performed admirably.  BHS went up big before losing to Sweetwater and LHS defeated Slocomb, then lost out to tournament champion Trinity.  BHS finished the tournament 2-2 and LHS finished 3-2.  Great job girls and kudos to the coaches and fans, especially the four students-fans who spent the night in their car.

LHS Senior Tori Free demonstrates why opponent's E.R.A. is at 0.45.
Count the balls in her hand, which one will they try to hit?

BHS in the field after sunset in Gulf Shores, Alabama

Spelling B Champions Determined

Kudos to our system's Spelling B champs.  They are left to right:first runner-up Avery Carpenter (BHS), Winner John Ross Folmar (BHS), and second runner-up Hyun Ryu (LHS).

Science Fair With a Flair

The flair was in the air and on the project boards as students from across Crenshaw County gathered at Central Office to demonstrate their scientific prowess.  Much thanks to the system committee!  Winners were:

• Grade 4
• 1st Place-  Madison McDougald (LHS)
• 2nd Place-  Tony Bell (LHS)
• 3rd Place-  Blake Carlisle (BHS)
• 3rd Place- Charlie Elliott (HHS)
• Grade 5
• 1st Place- Madison Keener (LHS)
• 2nd Place- Callie Armstrong (LHS)
• 3rd Place- Alex Watts (HHS)
• Grade 6
• 1st Place- Jace Baines (LHS)
• 2nd Place- Brady Balkcom (HHS)
• 3rd Place- Tae Forbes (LHS)
• High School
• 1st Place- Kyle Elliott (HHS)
• 2nd Place- Cody Adams (LHS)
• 3rd Place-  Bailey Wiggins (HHS)

Congratulations BHS Baseball Team

Congratulations to the Brantley School Baseball Team on a fantastic season.  The team finished the season with a 29-10 record.  Kudos to Coach Kilcrease and his staff on the winning season and more importantly for doing it in the right manner.  Hats off to all!

Legislative Update

Education Budget (SB318 by Sen. Pittman) On Thursday, the House sent the ETF Budget back to the Senate with its changes.  The Senate non-concurred with those changes—primarily changes made in the Department of Postsecondary Education and the bill now goes to a conference committee.  Each legislative version of the budget has produced better options for K-12 schools. The House version has set the divisors at .135 above the current year. That is better than the .4 increases that came with the Senate version of the bill or the .5 increases proposed by the Governor in his budget in February. We have received assurances from the budget chairs that they will make every effort in the conference committee to get the divisors to the current FY 12 level. The final day for this session has now changed to May 16 and that is the day that we will know the final details of the budget. Stay tuned. Flexible School Calendar Act of 2012 (HB 360 by Rep. Davis) On Thursday, the Senate took the same action as the House and successfully moved to override the Governor's Executive Amendment that would have allowed an opt-out provision for school systems. The bill is now law and will be forwarded to the Secretary of State's Office for final enactment.  Specifics about the bill... Gives local boards of education flexibility by allowing them to use the equivalent of instructional hours (1080 hours) as an alternative calculation to meet the 180 full instructional day minimum This bill mandates a start and end date Provides that the first school day begin no earlier than the Monday two weeks before Labor Day and end no later than the Friday immediately before Memorial Day.  Mandates a start and end date for school year 2012 -2013 and a start date only for the 2013 -2014 school year…covering two summers, but not locking in an end date certain for the second school year.  States “No local board of education may reduce the amount in any cell of any employee salary schedule, or otherwise reduce the compensation of any employee, based upon this act or upon any future modification to its calendar or schedule pursuant to this act. Salary appropriations in all future Education Trust Fund budgets shall be based upon the number of contract days allocated by the Legislature, or the hourly equivalent. This language helps to ensure that employee salaries will not be adversely affected.

Crenshaw County Honor Students Recognized

The Luverne Kiwanis hosted a luncheon in honor of the Class of 2012 honor students this past Tuesday.  Pastor Michael Prechet challenged the group to live to their potential and remember that some of biggest and best come from small communities, liken to the state's largest bass (16+ lbs.) that was caught in a small pond.

Kudos to our students, to whom much is given, much is expected.

Brantley School's Class of 2012 Honor Students

Highland Home School's Class of 2012 Honor Students

Luverne School's Class of 2012 Honor Students

LHS Students Discover Euler's Formula

Mrs. Starla Jones and Mrs. Tracy Baines’ Algebraic Connections collaborative class discovers polyhedron patterns. The students created hexahedrons, tetrahedrons, octahedrons, dodecahedrons and Icosahedrons. This hands-on project engaged the students in learning patterns associated with calculating the number of edges, vertices, and faces of each polyhedron. The students discovered several patterns and developed formulas to represent the patterns they discovered. The students also discovered if they count the number of faces, vertices, and edges of a polyhedron it can be placed in formula form. They found that the number of faces plus the number of vertices minus the number of edges equals 2. This F + V – E = 2 is known as the Polyhedral Formula or Euler’s Formula.  They also were able to have fun with math!

Luverne Elementary Students Receive AR Awards

On May 10^th, students at Luverne Elementary were rewarded for their hard work throughout the year. 

Mr. Steve Sanders, Vice President of First Citizens Bank, presented 3^rd graders with over $800 for reading this year as a part of the “Reading to Earn” program.  Employees from First Citizens Bank and Probate Judge Jim Perdue read to 3^rd graders on Tuesday mornings as a part of this program.

Ms. Dot Youngblood recognized students on the “Tiger Life” elementary newspaper staff.

Ms. Traci Sanders recognized students earning Accelerated Reader Rewards.  Goals are set at the beginning of the school year for students to earn goody bags, breakfast with the principals and a field trip.  Around 100 goody bags were given out, 38 students will get to eat breakfast with the principals on May 14^th and 28 students will go on a field trip on May 23^rd.  These students worked hard all year to reach their goals and they also maintained an 80 average on their AR tests.  Teachers were also rewarded for encouraging students to read and take tests.

Top students on each grade level were:  2^nd grade-Aniyah McGhee-Burnett, 3^rd Grade-Westley Person, 4^th Grade-Sang Wook Roh, 5^th Grade-Jayden Carlos, 6^th Grade-Hyun Ryu.  Top 3 students overall were 3^rd—Westley Person, 2^nd—Jayden Carlos, 1^st—Hyun Ryu.  Top teachers on each grade level were 2^nd grade—Ms. Tiffany Worthington, 3^rd grade—Ms. Shelly Hughes, 4^th Grade—Ms. Dot Youngblood, 5^th Grade—Ms. Lynn Miller, & 6^th grade—Ms. Cathy Wilkes.  Ms. Shelly Hughes won the “Overall Classroom Points” award.  

Jacey Rayborn Crowned BHS Campus Beauty

On the Thursday prior to Spring Break, Miss Jacey Rayborn was crowned Brantley School Campus Beauty.  She and several other lovely contestants, with the support of much talent and entertainment, adorned the crowd of several hundred.  Kudos to the sponsors:  Mrs. Brittany Walker, Ms. Linda Brook, Mrs. Amanda Stewart, and Mrs. Tammy Sims!

Chelsea Smith Miss Congeniality, Jacey Kelley 2^nd runner-up, Jacey Rayborn Miss BHS, 

Charlie Ball 1^st runner -up

Clark Kilcrease and Jessie Davis singing Dancing Away with my Heart 

Brantley’s Main Street Boys singing It’s Gonna Be Me:  Clark Kilcrease, Reed Kilcrease, 

Landon LaSalle, and Clint Kilcrease

Community Involvement Noted- Relay for Life

Many school personnel participated in this year's Crenshaw County Relay for Life.  Most notable were the JAG students who sold and flew kites as a fund rasier and the Luverne School Team.  At the end of the night, the Luverne School Team was declared Relay Champions with the help of Mr. George's ribs that took first place. Crenshaw County's Relay for Life raised over $52,000 this year.

All were surprised when former LHS student Lance Brooks made an unexpected appearance after undergoing surgery just that morning.  Lance has been in the hospital for many days pending a bone marrow transplant on May 3.  Lance's most recent Facebook post reads: "God has truly brought me a long way I have everything to be thankful for.  My journey is not over yet.  Transplant day is tomorrow."   Thank you Lance for a little "perspective." Please keep Lance and his family in your prayers.

Lance Brooks

LHS Relay for Life Team and Relay Champions

First Place Winner

Walking For Lance