LHS Claims High Stakes Trophy

Congratulations to Luverne School for capturing the 2012-2013 High Stakes Trophy!  As seen from below, the race was tight!  We are looking forward to more good results in the upcoming year.

Past Winners Are:
2010-2011:  Highland Home School
2011-2012:  Highland Home School

School Spirit Duly Noted

With the kick-off of the high school football season, there has been much spirit and enthusiasm noted on our campuses.  Below is a pic of Mrs. Alicia Beasley's kindergarten class on game day.

HHS Students to Participate in AU Marching Honor Band

Kudos to the 10 HHS students accepted to participate in the Auburn University Marching Honor Band. They will perform at the Auburn verses Arkansas State game on Saturday, September 7th. They are:

1. Jessie Flack - Clarinet
2. Honesty Ripley - Alto Saxophone
3. Madison Tillman - Trumpet
4. Tanisha Brundidge - Baritone
5. Morgan Tillman - Baritone
6. Kerri Middleton - Majorette
7. Courtney Chandler - Colorguard
8. Mariah Andaluz - Colorguard
9. Sara Richards - Colorguard
10. Samantha Askew - Colorguard

HHS To Tailgate and Ribbon Cut

For their home-opener, HHS has planned a tailgating party to be held in the parking lot behind the gymnasium this Friday beginning at 5 PM on August 30. BBQ, music and bouncies will be provided. BBQ plates will be available for purchase on a first-come-first-serve basis. Please join us for the ribbon cutting ceremony on HHS's newly renovated field prior to  kick-off.

CCRS of the Week

Weekly, the Alabama Department of Education will post to its website information regarding the new College and Career Ready Standards.  As those who have children in our system know, we have already implemented these more rigorous standards in the areas of mathematics and English Language Arts.  Below is this week's "Alabama College and Career Ready Standards of the Week."

Ms. LaFreda Griffin Secures $375,000 Grant

Kudos to Mrs. LaFreda Griffin, Community Education Director, and associates for their reapplication and receipt of Luverne School's 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant.  The annual grant of $125,000 for a 3-year period will ensure parents of after-school care and students with enrichment opportunities through September 30, 2016.  This marks the third consecutive grant cycle (9 years total) that Luverne School has received the grant. Brantley and Highland Home Schools are in their final year of their second grant and will need to reapply Spring 2014.  Great job Mrs. Griffin!

Assessment Dates Finalized

Crenshaw County Schools has selected the following definitive dates for the 2013-2014 state assessments.  Please see below.

Mrs. Dubose Making a Difference

Mrs. Polly Dubose has solicited businesses far and wide and written grants to assist with funding for various causes.  Most recently, she secured a grant for medical supplies to help with the system's KidCheck+ efforts.  She also wrote and received the Wiregrass Resource and Conservation Development grant to prevent flooding of the walk-way between Highland Home's Office and Library Building.  Through her request of local business and industry, Silla has donated $1,000 to support our iLearn Initiative.  Great job Ms. Polly and thank you to Silla, WRCD persons, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield.  

BHS Officers Attend NRCS Meeting

BHS FFA Officers recently attended a Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) meeting in Luverne.  Pictured left to right are Matthew Hudson, Cassidy Catrett, Jimmy Parnell (ALFA President), Martha Roby (U.S. House of Representatives), Katie Mount, Trent Warrick, Susannah Noblin, Brian Compton, and Ashlynn Rayborn.

HOSA Competes at Nationals

On June 26^th- 30^th Crenshaw County’s HOSA competitive events team joined 7,000 other registered participants at the 36^th annual Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Leadership Conference in Nashville, TN. The conference was held at the beautiful Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. This was the first time a team from Crenshaw County has attended a HOSA National Conference. Not that they haven’t ever placed well enough at the state level to be eligible, but it takes a lot of dedication and funding to get to this level of competition. The team could not have made the trip without all the awesome sponsors that donated to the cause. Over $6,000 was raised to get the 12 students and 4 chaperones to Nashville. To sum up the results: Amanda Fang placed 6^th in Medical Photography. Only the top 10 in each event were recognized at the grand awards ceremony. The Creative Problem Solving Team that consisted of Mallory Jones, Morgan Taylor, Luke Boyd, & Jon Hayden Sanders were in the top 22 of 60 teams. HOSA Bowl team members Morgan Baines, Edwinna Johnson, Shakia Brantley & Taylor Grant placed 35^th out of 69 teams. The career health display team was Briana Odom & Janae Lowery. The group achieved fantastic results for their first ever trip to the national competition. During the 5 day trip they enjoyed the outstanding keynote speaker, Dr. Ben Carson, tours on HOSA Day in Nashville, and networking with HOSA members throughout the United States. Special thanks go to the chaperones that made the trip possible: Mrs. Tracy Baines, Mr. William Baines, & Mrs. Cindy Jones.

HOSA Competitive event team: Back left to right- Jon Hayden Sanders, Mallory Jones, Advisor Becky Cornelius. Front Left to right: Briana Odom, Amanda Fang, Morgan Taylor. Back right- Edwinna Johnson, Luke Boyd Tamera Tuck, Taylor Grant. Front Left- Janae Lowery, Morgan Baines, Shakia Brantley

 

  HOSA Advisor Becky Cornelius 
& Medical Photography finalist Amanda Fang

 Back Left to right- Shakia Brantley, 
Tamera Tuck, Taylor Grant, Luke Boyd

Front left to right- Edwinna Johnson, Janae Lowery, Briana Odom, Amanda Fang, Morgan Taylor, Jon Hayden Sanders, Mallory Jones, Morgan Baines, Becky Cornelius, Advisor.

Coach David Lowery to be Recognized

Prior to kick-off at Brantley School on Friday, September 6, 2013, Coach David Lowery will be honored and the football field recognized as "David Lowery Football Field."  Please join us in this celebration.

Coach David Lowery, Mrs. Kim Lowery, and Andrew Lowery

Recognition of HHS Renovated Football Field

In an collaborative effort between the HHS Athletic Club members, members of the South Alabama Electric Cooperative, and the Crenshaw County Board of Education, the football field and lights thereof have been renovated.  The former field had no crown for drainage and the deteriorating poles and light arms were beyond use/repair and had become a safety concern.  Additional sprinklers, new grass and goal posts have also been added.  Kudos to the aforementioned and coaches for your efforts in this renovation projection.  Prior to kick-off on August 30, each group will be recognized for their efforts.

Seen above is a new playing surface and lights.  Former poles, in the background, await a dry day for removal. 

Other notable improvements are the removal of the trailer and ticket booth, and the repair of the fence and home-side drainage system (seen below).

LHS PTA Opens Playground

The Dee Turner PTA of Luverne School held a ribbon cutting on the new playground just prior to Open House last week.  The PTA purchased the American Disability Act compliant playground equipment this summer.  After installation the group prepared the rain-soaked and rutted grounds by hand and added 12 inches of mulch to the areas.  Much thanks to the vision of the organization's leaders and for their hard work and dedication.  PTA Officers for the 2013-2014 school year are as follows:  President- Misty Morgan, VP- Lynn Kilpatrick, 2nd VP- Lisa Turner, Sec.- Patty Rushing, Treas.- Jackie Powell.  Committees and Chairs are as follows: Box Tops/Soup Label Coord.- Renee Marchand & Mandy Blackmon, Membership Chair- Angie Morgan, Program Chair- Margie Gomillion & Delicia Mcghee.

Institute 2013

"Casting Our Nets Into the Deep," was this year's Institute theme and is exactly what our employees have been charged with doing. Here is a link to the day's PowerPoint (it is a large file and will take 2-3 minutes to download)  Institute- See the New Faces of Crenshaw and the Charge to Staff.

Below are pics from that day.

Principal Dodd Hawthorne Delivers Invocation

Math Teacher Starla Jones Sings the National Anthem

New Employees:  Morgen Burnette, Kenyon Berry, Brittany Bragg, Morgan Cook, Gary Coleman, Thomas Elliott, Leigh Grosenbach, Marcie Holladay, and Charlie Holmes

New Employees:  Crystal Freeman, Mandy Horne, Meagan White, Amanda Jones, Jonathan Jordan, Rasheeda May,
Cassie Newman

New Employees:  Matt Stidham, "Boot"Smith, Gary Dobbs, Karen Foster

Instructional Coach Melanie Matthews

Math Teacher Meredith Beck

PLT Members:  Julie Albritton, Tracy Baines, and Carol Floyd

Special Education Coordinator Sherry Sport

5-Year Pin Recipients

10 Year Pin Recipients 

15 Year Pin Recipients

20 Year Pin Recipients

25 Year Pin Recipient

Celebrating 30 Years of Service

Celebrating 35 Years of Service

Excellence Award Winners:  Barbara Free and A.Z. Burnett

PLT Winners:  Shae Simmons, Debbie Lawrence,
Kelly Kilcrease, and Connie Jacobs

POWER OF ONE:  Mr. Dodd Hawthorne

Doing Things a Little Different

Crenshaw County Public Schools kicked off its school year with many changes.  Most notable were the student iPads in grades 11 and 12.  Students were already using their electronic books, downloading apps, and taking notes.  Of great interest was the "air app" which allows students to bluetooth their iPads to the teachers screen so that all could see one another's work.

Also, Crenshaw County students must adjust to the new 8 period schedule in which on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays they will attend all 8 classes. On Tuesdays students will attend even classes and on Thursdays they will attend odd classes.  All is in an effort to provide students with enrichment and remedial class offerings.

Meal Application To Be Online Soon

The Child Nutrition Program of Crenshaw County Public Schools will be implementing an on-line Free and Reduced Meal Application this school year.  Please be aware that the process is not totally complete.  However, we hope to have the live link available to parents on the Crenshaw County Schools' website within the next few days.  This will give parents an opportunity to complete and submit a meal application for their child/children through this on-line process.  If a parent completes and submits the on-line application successfully, the paper application should not be completed.  Please keep in mind that parents are not required to use the on-line application and can certainly complete the paper application provided by the teachers.