Graduation Rate

This is a must read for all administrators, high school teachers, and counselors.  The following are notes (thoughts) from a meeting that I attended this week.  We will discuss these points in our October Leadership Meeting and the principals will convey expectations to each school's staff.

s  Last year, the  ALSDE, based on data submitted by the local systems, corrected over 18,000 students.

s  This year, the local school, not the ALSDE, will make the changes to students within the graduation cohort. 

s  The school will  maintain documentation (e.g. proof, evidence).  The State may request evidence.

s  The school must consider every subpopulation within the cohort (i.e. Hispanic, ELL, special education, free and reduced...).

s  The National Governors’ Association recommended a consistent standard means of determining the  four-year rate graduation rate.   All but one State participated.  Last year was the first year that Alabama participated in this new rate.

s  The four year cohort graduation rate is a rate that is reflective of the percent of students that graduate with a diploma "on time." When a student starts in the ninth grade, the student must finish in four years. 

s  The four-year rate is determined by the number of "on-time" graduates divided by the number of first time entered ninth graders, adjusted for transfers in and out.

s  This year we will report both four-year and five-year cohort graduation rates.

s  The five-year cohort, 2010-2011 data, is available to review and determine: still enrolled, no show, withdrawn, missing records, or dropouts.

s  Non-graduates (count against us) are those:

s  still enrolled: who do not meet requirements  for graduation within four years but remain enrolled in school and are working toward completion of requirements, this includes special education students who are served until age 21

s  no shows: leave over the summer and never returns to complete an official transfer or drop-out form

s  withdrawn- these students are still in the cohort but records are not requested or sent to transfer school.  School does not have documentation to support that the student transferred.

s  missing records- no record exists for a student in the 9th month attendance extract from INOW as reported by the LEA.

s  drop-out- someone who was enrolled in the previous school year and was not enrolled at the beginning of the current school year.  Also, does not meet any of the  criteria above or:

s  Transfers to another public school, private school state approved education program, temporary absence due to suspension or school approved illness or death.

s  JF Ingram (male only) and DYS are the only prison facilities that an incarcerated student can attend and not count against you.  A court order documentation is allowable regarding the aforementioned.

s  completers: students that finish with any document other than a diploma. 

s  AOD was accepted last and hopefully will count this year.

s  These students will count as a graduate in the cohort:

s  01-  Graduate with AL High School Diploma

s  02-  Graduate with AL High School Diploma w Advanced Endorsement

s  05-  Graduate- AOD

s  06-  Graduate-  AL High School Diploma w Career tech Endorsement

s  07-  Graduate-  AL High School Diploma w Advanced Career Tech Endorsement

s  13-  Graduate-  AL High School Credit Based Diploma

s  14-  AL High School Diploma w Advanced Academic And And Advanced Career Tech Endorsements

s  This year's four-year cohort entered grade 9 in 2008-2009.  To count as a graduate, the student must meet the requirements (e.g. received diploma during summer school) before September 1).

s  The first task is determine if the student belongs in the cohort.

s  The web portal will open perhaps in October and to close perhaps in February 2013 (not April as last year).

Mr. Hawthorne Attends CLAS Meeting

Principal Dodd Hawthorne was asked by CLAS to attend a symposium with other administrators from the Second Congressional District and Representative Martha Roby this past Thursday.
Mr. Hawthorne addressed the need to avoid sequestration (proportion at the Federal level) and desire to remove certain tenants of the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act.  Thank you Mr. Hawthorne for representing our system as you do!

Dr. Pepper Tuition Challenge Winner

Congratulations to LHS senior Edwinna Johsnon!   She was the winner of the Dr. Pepper Tuition Challenge.  Local school contestants, three from Brantley School and three from Luverne School, were asked to toss miniature footballs through a Dr. Pepper inflatable during the pep rally prior to the Brantley-Luverne football game.  A winner from each school met on the field at half-time of the game and competed.  Shown below is Edwinna and her $500.00 check that is to be used toward her college tuition.

Pepsi Cola Owner Bobby Brasher, Student Edwinna Johnson, & Mother Lisa Smith

KidCheck+ 2012 Begins

After being named Alabama's KidCheck+ System of the year, Crenshaw County began its student health assessments this past Wednesday at Brantley School.  This was a first-time event for  BHS HOSA club as they worked with LHS HOSA students in assisting with the free health screenings. Mrs. Becky Cornelius, RN, and her 41 HOSA students worked collaboratively with Troy University School of Nursing, BHS school nurse Ms. Tab Hall, the county's speech language pathologists, Sightsavers America, KidCheck Plus, Supervisor Mrs. Sherry Sport, and BHS PTA to make KidCheck a success. Nearly 300 BHS students were screened in the following areas: oral health, vision, hearing, vital signs, heart and lung sounds, height, weight, & Body Mass Index. All health data is entered electronically into the KidCheck Plus system and a report was generated that will be sent home to parents after the school nurse does any rechecks that may be needed. New BHS HOSA students were asked to summarize their thoughts on their KidCheck experience and all stated that they were excited to see that half of their school volunteered to participate in a screening.  They also stated that volunteering in the medical field can be educational, fun, and eventful. The LHS KidCheck will be conducted on Wednesday, November 7, and the HHS KidCheck will be condcuted on Wednesday, November 14.

As a side-note, yours truly  participated in the height, weight, and eyesight portions of the review and am happy to say that I am no shorter or wider and see about the same as last year.  I did not have my hearing checked as I hear just fine, thank you, lol.

More than a few Troy nursing students dressed in white.

LHS HOSA Student Morgan Baines takes a students blood pressure

Eye Sight, Weight and Height Stations

Working to check in are BHS HOSA students: Kelsey Hall, 

Cassidy Catrett, & Kimberley Penn. 

In the group photo are all HOSA students who helped conduct the BHS KidCheck.

HOSA students enter student information.

FUNctional Friday is a Success!

It is reported that Mrs. Lisa Cox, 5^th Grade HHS teacher, is creatively implementing new instructional strategies in teaching students how to how to ascertain information from  functional text. Specifically, using a ‘Carousel’ strategy, 5^th graders properly identified important information from 5 different types of functional text such as schedules, flyers, and order forms.  All students were engaged and important to all, the students had fun.  Keep up the good work  Mrs. Cox! 

LHS 4th Graders Reach Out To Classmate

The Luverne 4^th grade classes collected over $100 for fellow classmate Jessie Mitchell, who recently experienced a personal tragedy.  The money was used to buy school clothes, shoes and some fun things to enjoy.  The class wanted to show Jessie how much they loved him.  Compassion for classmates when they are going through tough times is a character trait that the world needs to experience more often. Thanks to all for your support!

LHS 4th Grade

Schools Recognize All FOURS

Students who scored a 4 in both reading and math ARMT+ have all been recognized prior to a home football game this year.  We are proud of ALL!

Brantley School's All 4s

Brantley School ARMT+ “All 4s” (Both Reading and Math)

3^rd Grade:  Wes Barksdale, Hunter Blackmon, Reid Compton, Trenton Cowart, Rian Foote, Lauren Hudson, Luke Kilcrease, Elleigh Layton, Elijah McMillian, Mark Nichols, Madison Reeves, Sarah Smith, Walker Strickland, Yasmine Upshaw, Emma Wetherbee

4^th Grade:  Abigayle Brannon, Emory Bush, Adam Carlisle, Star Edwards, Jonathan Folmar, Dylan Garsee, Ali Hendrick, Anna Kimbro, Clay Legg, Jada Levens, Reid Mitchell, Megan Mount, Corey Nichols, Grant Odom, Emory Owens, Rebecca Penn, Jonathon Rainey, Jayden Ramer, Lucas Richardson, Samuel Tompkins, Tommy Townsend, Jennifer Williams

5^th Grade:  Haley Barnes, Shelby Carpenter, Parker Driggers, Kaleigh Elliott, Quin Foote, Gracie Free, Chancellor Grable, Lillian Paige Hermeling, Scotty Hudson, Jake Kilcrease, Grayson Layton, Dasani McCray, Parker Odom, Zachary Powell, Julianna Prescott, Katelyn Robertson, Hannah Sims, Kaitlyn Smith, Cassidy Sowell, Kassidy Wilcox, Collin Williamson, Derick Williamson, Winston Williamson

6^th Grade:  Samuel Barksdale, Avery Carpenter, Cameron Catrett, Mia Davis, Justin Eiland, Ethan Flowers, Grace Grosenbach, Wynn Johnson, Quishyia Jones, Cade Kilcrease, Andrew Kimbro, Shalyn Odom, Anthony Pynes, Emily Sims, Kyndal Staley, Kimberly Williams

7^th Grade:  Garrett Barksdale, Elizabeth Bush, Madline Driggers, Garrett Foote, Jacob Free, Jacob Grosenbach, Rachel Knoth, Kaliph Kornegay, Trey Lowery, Sydney Moore, Susannah Noblin, Ashlynn Rayborn, Katie Silva, Mary Strickland, Alex Wilcox

8^th Grade:  Paul Baker, C.J. Brannon, Colby Carpenter, Cassidy Catrett, Kristie Holmes, Britani Manning, Jacob Silva

HHS Students Recognized Prior to Kick Off

Highland Home School ARMT+ “4s” (Either Reading or Math or Both)

3^rd Grade: Anabel Barrera, Channing Beverly, Julie Bowen, Moriah Bradley, Camden Brothers,  Aislynn Brown, Dale Brown, Will Castle, Connor Cox, Darius Crenshaw, Jakayla Croswell, Peyton Dicks, Kaylee Garner, Kendall Henderson, Amarion Hebert, Hunter Hughes, Deandrea Jeter,  Lauren Lamb, Justus Lindsay, Hannah Looney, Macy Mansmann, Owen McCullough, Edaniel Means, Kiran Middleton, David Moseley, Victoria Netherland, Rachel Owens, Andrew Parker, Matthews Phillips, Michael Rayburn, Jasmine Sampley, Justin Sexton, Keri Sexton, Hadley Spann, Shaun Spivey, Jeci Taylor, Lance Thierfelder, Kendall Ward, Keondre Williams

4^th Grade: Danielle Boyd, Johni Brown, Julie Brown, Michael Clayton, Anna Grace Cowles, Ariel Croswell, Eryn Davis, Sidney Davis, Charlie Elliott, Chelsea Foster, Audrey Gilbert, Andrew Gipson, Haley Hester, Cole Hobbs, John Tyler Hoffman, Kristen Jackson, Summer Kelley, Danyal Kull, Sam Little, Stacie Little, Hannah Lowe, Jeremy Lowe, Adrian Martinez, Billie Maynor, Alayna McCullough, Biley McVay, Ashlyn Neese, Duston Owens, Lee Reeves, Natalee Register, Shelby Register, Laniah Roberson, Keisa Robinson, Taylor Sampley, Tarriana Sankey, Jacob Sexton, Jacob Synder, AJ Stewart, Dasmon Stewart, Sawyer Taylor. Alandra Thomas, Charisse Webb, Dustin Williams, Blake Wilson

5^th Grade:  Alvio Barrer, Chloe Best, Kennedy Blair, Chris Boothe, Thomas Bradley, Jazlynn Brothers, Abigayle Cajen, Jene’e Colvert, Cheyenne Commander, Ja’mia Dixon, Benjamin Fuller, Makayla Furr, Reagan Gross, KJ Hall, Mackenzie Harrison, Art Hebert, Ashlyn Hebert, Dylan Horne, Anna Johns, Angel Johnson, Ashely Jordan, John Kelly, Kayley Knighten, Mallory Laird, Jade Lowe, Tykeria Means, Hunter McCullough, Emmalee McElwain, Treyton McGough, Monea Moore, Sam Morris, Leslie Moseley, Austin Nall, Zachery Neese, Nicholas Netherland, Terrion Nichols, Christie Odom, Cody Palmer, Josh Petty, Daniel Phillips, Noah Phillips, Aubrey Reeves, Ariel Rhodes, Donaven Roberson, Kayla Sampley,  Aerielle Sanford, Aaleah Scott, Lillian Sheffield, Brady Small, Hannah Stacey, Hunter Stephenson, Mya Stringer, Harleigh Taylor, Emiya Tolbert, Dustin Wallace, Alex Watts

6^th Grade: Madison Baker, Bethany Balkcom, Brady Balkcom, Chastity Bender, Alex Brown, Amy Burgans, Alexis Bynog, Kaitlyn Castle, Hannah Chesser, Tiquarrio Clayton, Ayr’erine Crenshaw, Alex Franklin, Savannah Gibson, Stephen Giddens, Antonio Gipson, Maryssa Gipson, Jasmine Jernigan, Maalysia Johnson, Hunter Kelley, Kaylee Lindsay, Harrison Lurie, Kaylan Martin, Willie Moseley, Connor Price, Dejiallor Pruitt, Justin Rhodes, Selena Rhodes, Scarlet Ruchel, Alexia Shepherd, Caitlin Stephens, Brandon Strength, Sam Vassas, Austin Wallace,  Brady Waller

7^th Grade: Anthony Blevins, Chase Bradley, Khollon Brown, Raven Brown, Robert Carmichael, Tiara Cowart, Kyle Elliott, Chasen Fomby, Dillon Harris, Tanner Harris, Benjamin Hobbs, William Hudgens, Travis Jinright, Allera June, Jessica Knighten, James Lowe, Jodie Lowe, Kaycee Lowe, Chandler Mansmann, Chase Mansmann, Chyanna Mathews, Hannah Mathis, Jermey May, Ruby McCullough, Alexis Means, Clayton Merritt, Erica Moseley, Brianna Norris, Kelly Owens, Rebecca Petty, Kelsea Street, John Taylor Thomas, Haley Ward, Mya Whetstine, Baylee Wiggins, Charles Wilkinson, Charles Williams, Jacob Williams

8^th Grade Data: Victoria Crowe, Randa Findley, Emily Foster, Myra Freeman, Liz Garcia, Dalton Gross, Elizabeth Knox, Brett McCullough, Darion Means, Dustin Register, Amber Sipper, Lazavion Smith, Serafina Spivey, Kaydra Strength, Okieria Wade, Karah Williams

LHS All 4s



LHS T-Shirt

 Luverne School ARMT+ “All 4’s”

3^rd Grade: Hunter Adair-Oberer, Austin Archie, Kaley Armendarez (Arm-men-dare-us), Anderson Bagents, Jordyn Bagents, Elijah Brooks, Ethan Brooks, Rose Daniels, Will Davis, Cameron Hampton, Michael Jones, Kyla King, Trent Kuhn, Dalaejah Lowery, Darius Magwood, Lily Marchand, Ayden Martin, JaShon McKee, Kelsey Morgan, Kaylee Ozwald, Hunter Reeves, Jayden Reeves, Demetria Riley, Gabrielle Smiley, Chloe Smith, Maddie Smith, Cailey Taylor, Chance Turner, Brook Watson

4^th Grade: Dakota Brumit, Allison Bryan, Autumn Bullock, Denise Burgan, Ma’Kayla Burgess, Messiah Burnett, William Cooks, Margaret Hargis, Aaliyah Harris, Baylie Hayes, Jennifer Holliday, Jacob Holloway, Libbey Jones, Madison Lowery, Sydney Malone, Sheldon Mann, Riley Marchand, Madison McDougald, Abbey McManigle, Jackson Miller, Ra Ja Moneyham, Antravyon Oliver, Caden Pouncey, Xavier Reddock, Sang Wook Roh, Tanner Simmons, Kayonnie Smith, Blake Tomlin, Shakira Upshaw, Jamilyn Wright

5^th Grade: Callie Armstrong, Dionte’ Brantley, Jayden Carlos, Rayne Duhart, Caleigh Edwards, Kyoshia Ezell, Krishaun Hamilton, Ellian Harris, Hollan Helms, Evan Jones, Madison Keener, Christian Lawrence, Dekota Lowery, Conner Morrow, Dakovyon Oliver, Sarah Pennington, Tobey Powell, Cristo Rocha, Bryant Rushing, Colby Shelton, Emily Grace Turner, Tanner Watson, Chase White

6^th Grade: Ben Archie, Jace Baines, Nick Baugh, Cooper Blackmon, Cassidy Brooks, Cameron Haws, Josh Hermeling, J. J. Lowery, Echo Mann, Jalon McGhee, Jacob Money, John Randall Oswald, Hunter Owens, Alexus Parks, T. J. Peagler, Hyun Ryu, Katie Marie Smith, Zakayla Tillis, Erin Shaye Walker, Chauntina Whittle

7^th Grade:  Lexi Jones, Rondarius Steele, Megan Hudson, Savannah Jones, Blake Meadows, Marcus McLeod, Drew Tomlin, Jake Stewart, LaDamon Harrell, Eric Upshaw, Halie White, Jackson Holloway, Sydney Morgan, Hunter Brown,

8^th Grade:  Zoe Bloodsworth, LaBronze Barber, Preston Ballard, Kelly Morgan, Kaitlyn Galloway, Kalon Washington

Remembering 9-11

The attacks of September 11, 2001, reshaped the face of the nation and the course of history.   Our lives and the lives of those to come…not just her in Crenshaw County or the United States, but around the world…have changed forever.

The date of September 11, will forever evoke recollections of unimaginable tragedy, of lives lost and brutally cut short and the horror and sorrow in the hearts and minds of all of us.  We must never forget the depths to which some are willing to go as they seek to destroy the very principles of freedom and democracy on which our nation was founded.

Thank you Coach Dale Simmons and students for remembering 9-11.  The following pictures are from their 9-11 projects.