Thank You Nurses

Mr. Gary Coleman, assistant principal of HHS, told me a few days ago about National Nurses' Week and yours truly was unable to recognize three very important employees: Nurse Tab Hall of BHS, Nurse Michell Crowe of HHS and Nurse Vicki Rolling of LHS.  I am not sure how we ever operated without their services.  (I can vaguely remember when the system had no nurses then hired 1 for all three schools...my, we have come a long way.

Here is a little research on Nurses Week:

• National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale's birthday.

• As of 1998, May 8 was designated as National Student Nurses Day

• As of 2003, National School Nurse Day is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week.

A big thanks to our nurses for your first-rate care!  We are truly fortunate to have such committed professionals!

LHS 3rd Graders Earn Big Bucks

“Reading to Earn” is a reading club sponsored by First Citizens Bank of Luverne.  Each Tuesday, employees from the bank read Accelerated Reader books to 3rd grade classes.  Students then took AR tests to earn points. Students who maintained an 80 average and earned at least 50 points were rewarded. For each point over 50, students received $1 in a savings account at the bank. Third graders earned over $2,100 this year.  Great job students!  Thank you so much First Citizens Bank!

Thank You First Citizens Bank of Luverne For Supporting Students

LHS Celebrates AR High Achievers

Luverne Elementary honored students who reached end-of-the-year goals in the Accelerated Reader program. Rewards that were given included goody-bags, "Breakfast with the Principals" and a field-trip to the Edge Theater in Greenville to see Legends of Oz, Dorothy Returns. These students have worked extremely hard all year to earn points by reading and maintaining an on grade level average of 80.

1st-Finley Marchand, 2nd-Tray Butts, 3rd-Bella Godwin, 

4th-Elbread Roh, 5th-Elijah Brooks, 6th-Dakota Brumit 

Thanks to all who support student achievement via the AR program.  This is just one more reason our scores continue to increase.  Kudos to you!

Overall AR Points:  Dakota Brumit, Bella Goodwin, and Elbread Roh

Teachers of classes that earned the most AR points:
Mrs. Susan Walden- 6th Grade, Mrs. Julie Pinkard- 5th Grade,
Mrs. Joy Bowen- 4th Grade, Mrs. Shelly Hughes- 3rd Grade,
 Mrs. Crystal Alsbrooks- 2nd Grade, & Mrs. Lisa Lawrence- 1st Grade

BHS Announces Student Council

On May 8th, Brantley Student Council inducted members for 2014-2015.  

President- Doug Salter, Vice President- Cassidy Catrett,Secretary- Emily Sims, Treasurer- Sydnee Bryan

Class Representatives: Payton Burnett, Frank Harris, Morgan Harris, Lauren Johnson, Katelyn Mount, Kristie Holmes, Annslee Kilcrease, Elizabeth Bush, Madeline Driggers, Jacob Grosenbach, Trinity James, Cameron Catrett, Rhiannon Hall, Lillian Paige Hermeling, Hannah Sims, Emory Bush and Samuel Tompkins.

Congratulations to all!

Thanks Child Nutrition Staff

The following is a letter by Dr. Jane Thornton, Deputy Under Secretary, USDA Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services.  I concur with the Dr. Thorton.

As the school year begins to wind down, let’s take time to acknowledge the unsung heroes in our nation’s school cafeterias.  School nutrition employees contribute greatly to a child’s short- and long-term health and academic success, but their contributions often go without recognition.  May 5-9 was "School Nutrition Employee Week."  Let’s take this opportunity to extend our thanks for all that school nutrition employees do to support our children throughout the entire school year.  School nutrition employees often arrive well before the school buses begin rolling in, working to ensure that students have access to a healthy breakfast to start the school day.  Their commitment to these early mornings is invaluable, as we know that breakfast plays a key role in a child’s ability to learn.  Before the breakfast period ends, staff members are often doing double duty as they begin preparations for the lunch meal.  They’re on their feet, working hard to ensure that our school children receive healthy and tasty meals to fuel their days.  In fact, our nation’s school nutrition employees prepare and serve meals to over 30 million individual students each school day!  Not only do they prepare and serve the meals, but many have a moment to connect with every single student coming through the cafeteria on a daily basis – who else in a school building can make that claim?  Throughout my career, I have been continuously impressed by school nutrition employees’ dedication to students.  From east to west and north to south, I have found that school nutrition employees take pride in their work and strive to do what is best for the students.  They truly play a role in students’ health, happiness, and success-and for this we thank these everyday heroes.

Thank you, school nutrition professionals, for all the great work that you do each day.

BTW-  I just received official affirmation that we received ZERO citations from our first CNP Review in 8 years.  Kudos one more time Mrs. Tranum and staff!

BHS Wins Softball Title

Brantley Girls Celebrate Their First Ever Softball Championship

Terrific pitching, stellar defense, timely hitting and a little long ball were part of an apparent game plan executed to perfection as the BHS Softball Team steam rolled through the State Tournament last week. With a 4-0 win over Lynn in the Class 1A Title Game, Brantley (41-10) claimed the program's first softball championship. This was the Bulldog's first appearance in the tournament since 1993.  Alex Wilcox was named the tournament MVP.  Wilcox threw a four-hitter and struck out seven.  She also hit a solo home run into the tent in right-center.  In four tournament games, she struck out 39 and allowed only four earned runs in 26 innings.  

Congratulations to Coach Hawthorne and all the girls!  We are most proud of you All!

For more on tournament wins:

Freshman Wilcox Leads Brantley Past Lynn for First Softball Title
Softball Brantley Holds On to Down Lynn
Brantley Slugs to Win Over Addison
Brantley's Alex Wilcox Strike Out 10 in Win Against Sumiton Christian

Assistant Coach Watts Carries Injured Player Hannah Sims to the Trophy Celebration

Coach Cindy Hawthorne

Coach Hawthorne Gets Some Air

Post Game Celebration

Lauren Johnson Runs Down Ball

MVP Alex Wilcox

Al.com Article on BHS Softball

Brantley's athletic tradition is known statewide. The Crenshaw County school has blue championship trophies in football, boys basketball, girls basketball and baseball.

The Bulldogs would like to add another blue trophy to their bulging trophy case and took a step in that direction on Thursday when their softball team won its first-ever contest in fast pitch softball.

"Brantley is known for a lot of different state championships, and we want it to be known for softball as well," said Brantley coach Cindy Hawthorne, who made the Bulldogs' last trip to the state tournament as a slow pitch team in the early 1990s. "That's what we're working for. The girls won it this year in basketball and six of my 15 were on that team so they know what winning is all about.

"We're just hoping to add to that collection of blue maps."

Brantley (39-10) beat top-ranked Sumiton Christian 4-1 in the opening round, then blasted Addison 12-2 in a five-inning contest in the second round, advancing to the finals of the winner's bracket against third-ranked Lynn at 9 a.m. today. A win would put the Bulldogs in the championship game.

"We weren't ranked the highest, we weren't supposed to win the games we have (won) today, we just came ready to play," said freshman Alex Wilcox. "I guess that's what it took."

It all starts with Wilcox, a freshman, in the circle but there is plenty of experienced talent around her. Wilcox is one of a handful of players who helped Brantley win a state championship in girls basketball just two months ago.

"We've got a lot of young girls that are stepping up in big spots right now and playing pretty good," Hawthorne said. "It starts in the circle with Alex Wilcox. Alex has worked really, really hard. She is a 12-month-out-of-the-year worker. She works really, really hard to be good at what she does."

Wilcox admitted she wasn't sure what to expect when Brantley arrived in Montgomery on Thursday morning.

"We've been so close the last three years," Wilcox said. "It feels great just to be able to have the opportunity here. I think we've got a great chance of winning it."

Senior Peyton Hill, a member of the championship basketball team, said that experience has helped the Bulldogs prepare for their first trip to Montgomery.

"I just think it's helped with the nerves," she said. "We've been here (at this level) in basketball before. But it's a totally different atmosphere. The bracket is different, but I think we can handle it. It just felt amazing to be able to be here today with all these great teams.

"I feel pretty good about (our chances). I hope we come out with a couple of 'W's' tomorrow."