LHS Places Top 10 in Stock Market Game

Congratulations to Mrs. Julie Albritton and her students for placing in the top 10, Southern Region, Stock Market Game. This is an easy to learn, easy to Teach exciting ten-week on-line stock trading game enjoyed by 5,000 students. Teams invest a virtual $100,000 in stocks and mutual funds and compete in upper and lower divisions (4-8 and 9-12). $5,000 in cash and on-line prizes for students and teachers are given to winners. The program is endorsed by the NYSE and the Alabama Securities Commission. 

Features:·  Correlated to national and state standards.
·  Extensive Teacher Support Center.
·  “Quick Start” CD-ROM.
·  InvestWrite essay contest.
Grades:  4-12 in public & private schools, home schooled, & youth groups.
Subjects: Social Studies, Math, Language Arts, Gifted, Economics, Career Tech, Business Education

Jalon McGhee, Anthony McCarthy, Sacorrie Sherron, & Jayla June

LHS Dance Team Performs Well

The Luverne High School Dance Team competed in the U.D.A Dance Championships this past Saturday. The competition was held at Spain Park High School in Birmingham, Alabama.  The Luverne Tiger Dance Team, coached by Mrs. Daun Long Pittman, represented LHS very well bringing home 3rd place with their "Nerds" hip-hop routine and 4th in jazz with their "Circus" dance. Girls nominated and chosen as "All American Dancers" this past summer, competed in the senior solo category, as well.  The dance team consists of girls ranging from 7th-11th grades and they competed with 6A students in grades 9-12 6A.  We are very proud of all their hard work and dedication. Congratulations to Mrs. Pittman and the Dance Team!

Crenshaw is #1 Among County School Systems

PRESS RELEASE

Date:               January 15, 2014

From:              William R. Wilkes, Superintendent

Re:                   Graduation Rate

On Tuesday, January 14, 2014, the Alabama State Department of Education released graduation rates for the class of 2013.  We are pleased to announce that of the 67 County School systems in the state of Alabama, Crenshaw County, with a graduation rate of 96%, ranks first. Of the 134 City and County School Systems, Crenshaw County is surpassed only by the following systems:  Vestavia Hills 99%, Madison City 97%, Oneonta City 97%, Satsuma City 97%, and Mountain Brook City 97%. 

The State of Alabama’s average graduation rate is 80%, which is a new high and is a 5% improvement over last year’s results.

Individually, Crenshaw County Schools’ results were as follows:  Brantley School 98%, Highland Home School 92%, and Luverne School 98%.  Brantley and Luverne rates were exceeded only by the following high schools:  Cedar Bluff, Gaston, Vina, Paint Rock Valley, Brewbaker Magnet, Loveless Magnet, Ramsay and Vestavia Hills.  There are 359 high schools in the state of Alabama, which places the two schools in the 97^th percentile.

This marks the third consecutive year of improved graduation rates for Crenshaw County and marks the best performance in school system history.  Please know that for these graduates, the Alabama High School Graduation Rate was in effect.

Congratulations to all of Crenshaw County Public Schools for this extraordinary accomplishment!

To view all scores click on the link: ALSDE Accountability

School Calendar To Be Discussed

Proposed school calendars for the 2014-2015 school year will be discussed in an upcoming School Calendar/Board Policy Revision Meeting on Wednesday, January, 22.  Please express your desires to any of the following committee members: Randy Fullington, Gary Coleman, Morgan Cook, Lisa Cox, Doug Bailey, Danielle Butts, Dodd Hawthorne, Ashley Kilcrease, Debbie Hall, Shelly Davis, Tammy Sims, Greg Pittman, Lisa Adair, Jamie Howard, Heather Sanders, Beverly Sport, Susan Walden, Ashley Catrett, Donna Ash, Sherry Sport, David Lowery, Chuck Alford, Bob Williams, Julie Swan, Rachel Moates, Tonya Hermeling, Ruth Bayman, Peggy Tranum, Ken Wesley, Mike Jones, members of the Crenshaw County Board of Education and myself.

To provide guidance in the selection, a draft calendar is provided below.  Please know the following:

• A school calendar must contain no less than 1080 hours of instruction
• The draft calendar was computed based on 178 full days of instruction at 53 minutes per period per a 7 period day
• The above computation was not construed to indicate that the system is returning to a 7 period day. 
• Certified staff members must work 187 days.
• Semesters should be similar in length.
•  It is desired that bad weather days be included.
• The draft calendar includes teacher professional development days that could be used as such.  (The current school calendar did not include bad weather days; therefore, Martin Luther King holiday, spring break or returning after Memorial Day would have been the only options for make-up).

The process is as follows:

• Preferences will be expressed to committee members prior to January 22.
• Committee recommendations will be made and calendars developed on January 22.
•  Certified staff will vote on the calendars.
• Based on the outcome of the vote, a recommendation will be made to the Crenshaw County Board of Education on February 17.
• The Board will consider the recommendation.

After School Programs Host Parent Night

Local Teams Ranked

Congratulations to the Luverne Boys Basketball Team for winning the holiday tournaments at Red Level and Andalusia.  The 13-1 and 6th ranked Tigers defeated Calhoun last night by a score of 72-45.

Kudos to the 11-4 BHS Girls who are currently ranked third.  The Bulldogs defeated Red Level on Tuesday by a score of 56-25.

To see the rankings, click: Basketball Rankings

Person Makes USA Today

Wesley Person, Jr., Brantley, Ala.

The 6-2 senior, son of the former Auburn and NBA player Wesley Person, hit eight three-pointers and had 40 points in a 72-44 defeat of Red Level on Tuesday. He was Alabama’s Class 1A Player of the Year last year. To see the article in context, click: USA Today.