No Make-Up Necessary

Senate Bill 271 was adopted by the Alabama Legislature several years ago and signed into law by Governor Robert Bentley. Since Governor Bentley has declared a State of Emergency for the state due to the severe weather, Crenshaw County employees nor students will have to make-up missed days.  

Weather, To Go Or Not To Go

With a reported 10,000 students (14 school systems) remaining at school after hours on Tuesday, one might contemplate the "what-ifs."  Most of the aforementioned were students in Jefferson and Shelby Counties, counties in which a mere dusting of snow was predicted.   So could such happen to us?  Absolutely, as weather does not follow a forecast; it does not recognize county lines; it does not adhere to timelines.  In these schools, heating was not a problem and food was plentiful.   Churches, city and civic organizations brought pillows and blankets. Parents who did make it into the school, some of whom walked, were advised to spend the night. 

During a Tuesday night phone conference, Governor Bentley assured superintendents that whatever need existed, he would immediately address. It was comforting to see our students take such a precedence and the Governor placing such confidence in our educators by saying, "I understand the anxiety and the concern of the parents who cannot get to their children, but I want to reassure all the parents that if you trust your teacher to take care of your child during the day, they will take care of them tonight. Your children in these schools will be taken care of."

Much information is considered in determining whether to cancel school or not.  We listen to forecasts from the National Weather Service (NWS).  Montgomery news seems to gather most of its information from Birmingham, while counties to the west of us rely on services from Tallahassee, and Crenshaw County falls under the Mobile/Pensacola service area.  Each of these branches of the NWS conducts its own briefings at various times with various points of emphasis (i.e.  Birmingham would not emphasize a marine report as does Mobile).  

Sunday afternoon the National Weather Service office from Tallahassee first placed Pike County under a Winter Storm Watch. Shortly thereafter, Mobile placed Crenshaw County under the same watch.  Just as we did in 2011, when placed under a Winter Storm Watch, we contacted parents via School Cast.  It was determined Monday that School Cast had not imported new numbers from STI. Thanks Mrs. Owens for noticing.

Monday, the Director of the Crenshaw County Emergency Management Association (EMA), Ms. Jessica Tomlin (former student and graduate of CCPS) conducted a briefing with local officials and the Mobile office of the NWS.  Kudos Jessica!!!!  It was then that the freezing precipitation timeline for our area was moved from 2 PM up to as early at 7 AM Tuesday.   That afternoon, neighboring school systems conferred and  District 3 superintendents conducted a phone conference.  It was then that a few decided to close schools Tuesday and some Wednesday,  too. Others opted for a 12 or 1 PM dismissal. School Cast was once again used, though this time we called 2,141 numbers, 1,507 calls were answered of which 946 humans answered and 559 machines answered.  On average, you listened 66 seconds to the 68 second message.

Ice Ice Baby
(Yeh, that was a little Vanilla, Vanilla Ice)

It is Tuesday night, we have around 0.3" of ice, it is 25 degrees and it is snowing. Icicles are at least 10" long. Thoughts are of Thursday. EMA says it is doubtful that we will get above freezing until mid morning Thursday at the earliest.  We could go late, say around 12 noon. Just kidding (as if anyone is listening to me now). We'll see.

It is almost noon on Wednesday.  We had an inch to 1.3" inches of precipitation on top of 0.4 inches of ice.  Icicles are 16-18 inches long now. Driveway is a sheet of snow and ice.  I nearly lost my footing in the road.  According to NWS, the high today is now 28 and the low tonight is 11. Thursday is looking more doubtful.  We will wait on the phone conference today at 1 PM to make the call.

We had our conference call at 1 PM.   We all agreed that it would be best to close tomorrow.  Sorry for the mistake on the first call-out.  I said tomorrow was the 29th and today is the 29th.  Sounds like I need some fresh air but it is way too cold.  See you on Friday.

 

Help Alabama Student's Master the World

Apply to join an exclusive team of educators that will unpack the Social Studies Course of Study.

The Alabama Department of Education and the Alabama Learning Exchange will be hosting a session during which the Social Studies Course of Study standards will be unpacked and quality resources will be aligned to each standard. We are looking for a group of experienced Social Studies teachers familiar with curriculum development, resource alignment, and the increased rigor of the College- and Career-Ready Standards to assist in this project.

The ideal candidates will be experienced, highly-qualified Alabama-certified K-12 Teachers with preference given to:

• National and State award winners in the Social Studies
• Attendees of the CCRS Teacher Academies
• Members of the Social Studies Course of Study Task Force and the Social Studies State Textbook Committees
• Active members of national and state Social Studies organizations
• Teachers with verifiable experience creating curriculum, aligning resources, and providing quality professional development in the Social Studies.

Do you believe that you might be a valuable part of this team? Here is your opportunity to apply!  Complete the short online application available here!

Selected participants will receive a stipend to cover expenses and will benefit from three days on incredible collaborative professional development.

Here are the details:

When: March 10-12, 2014
Where: Alabama 4H Center, Columbiana, Alabama

Ready to apply?  Click here!

Need more information?  Contact Keith George at 334-242-9594 or kgeorge@alsde.edu.

2 Schools to Host 4 Tournaments

Brantley and Luverne Schools will host both the boys and girls area basketball tournaments next week.    The BHS Boys are ranked 5th and the BHS Girls are ranked 3rd in Class 1.  The LHS Boys are ranked 3rd in Class 2 A.  The tournament schedules are as follows:

Site:  Brantley School

• Tuesday, February 4 
• 5 PM Girls #4 Red Level  vs. #5 McKenzie
• 7 PM Boys #4 Red Level  vs. #5 McKenzie
• Friday, February 7
• 3 PM Girls #2 JF Shields vs. Georgiana #3
• 4:30 PM Boys #3 JF Shields vs. Georgiana #2
• 6:00 PM Girls #1 BHS vs. Winner of #4 vs. #5
• 7:30 PM Boys #1 BHS vs. Winner of #4 vs. #5
• Monday, February 10
• 5:30 PM Girls Championship
• 7:00 PM Boys Championship

Site: Luverne School (Tentative-  Meeting to be Held Friday Morning

• Friday, February 7 
• 2 PM Girls #2 Central Hayneville  vs. #3 Calhoun
• 3:30 PM Boys #2 Central Hayneville  vs. #3 Calhoun
• 5:00 PM Girls #4 HHS vs. #1 LHS
• 7:30 PM Boys #4 HHS vs. #1 LHS
• Monday, February 10
• 5:00 PM Girls Championship
• 7:00 PM Boys Championship

Author Visits LES

Author Michael Finklea visited Luverne School on January 27th. There were 2 sessions. One of his interesting and informative talks

reinforced the importance of writing and how to use that ability to

receive the highest level of education. He reminded the students to

stick with something they believe in and that perseverance pays off.

He interacted with the students through a short question and answer

session. He read two of his books, Who you Calling Junior to K-4

through 3rd grade and the first chapter of Creepers to 4th-6th

graders. Following his presentation, he autographed books that

students purchased.

Mrs. Shea Simmons's Class Celebrates 100 Days

Mrs. Shea Simmons's first graders at Luverne Elementary celebrated 100 day of school on Monday, January 27th. Students constructed 100 day school hats, made 100 day school posters, and ate 100 gram bars. Perfect attendance was awarded to Gavin Mills and Kamron Whatley.  Congratualtions Gavin an Kamron!   Thank you Miss Shea for sharing. 

Winter Storms of the Past

The year was 1973, we had the biggest snowfall ever...13 inches... and my brother and I had chicken pox.  We had to watch my dad build the snowman from behind the sliding glass doors.  The snowman was as

tall as the light pole, or so it seemed.

Rewind to 1982, Olivia Newton John's "Physical" was the #1 hit and gas was a mere $1.20 per gallon. The low was minus 1 in Birmingham. The snow and ice made travel next to impossible, leaving some travelers stranded.  Power was knocked out for days in Montgomery and across Central Alabama.  People headed to shelters to stay warm. 20 people were killed during the extreme cold of that year. 

In 1985 and I was a senior in high school.  (I was only 10 years old when I graduated.)  The low that Tuesday morning, January 22, was 0 degrees.  I remember my face freezing as I ran to the ag shop and worrying that I had frost bite.

The biggest winter storm in recent memory was the Superstorm of 1993.  We had THUNDER SNOW.  Cool, huh...until our pine tree fell on the neighbors house penetrating the roof above the baby's crib.  More than a foot of snow fell in Birmingham.  And almost every other corner of state, including the coast, saw snow.   The storm also caused one of the largest outages in the history of Alabama Power.

So was this the storm of a generation.  I guess that depends on your generation.  :)

No School Tuesday or Wednesday

Due to pending weather, there will be no school Tuesday or Wednesday unless otherwise informed.  Closure notifications thereafter will come via phone, text, email, television and/or radio. All offices will be closed and there will be no extracurricular activities.

At 11:30 the National Weather Service from Mobile/Pensacola stated the following:

• The arctic front will arrive in south Alabama this afternoon and temperatures will reach the freezing mark around 3 AM Tuesday morning.
• An upper level trough will override the cold front and deliver a wintery mix.
• One-tenth to one-quarter of an inch of ice is expected.
• During the 5-6 hour snow event, snowfall totals may reach 3 inches.
• A Winter Storm Warning is expected to be issued around 4 PM this afternoon.
• Travel tomorrow is not recommended.
• Road improvement is questionable on Wednesday.
• A Moderate confidence level was given to this forecast.

Notes

The FY14 Appropriations Act granted school systems the authority to establish calendars that include either 180 days or 1080 hours. CCPS's 2013-2014 school calendar is based on an hourly equivalence that exceeds the 1080 hours, therefore, students will not have to make up missed school days of January 27 and 28. 

Employees, however, must work their full number of contract days. (9 month employees- 187 days, bus drivers 182 days,  and lunchroom workers 184 days).   A determination as to when to make-up will be made at a later date.

"Models are predicting that the forecast should stay dry early Tuesday morning, with precipitation quickly moving into late morning and early afternoon. The ice accumulation is a threat especially for our southern counties who could receive up to a quarter of an inch of ice."  Meteorologist Rich Thomas

".DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA TODAY AND TONIGHT...BRINGING MUCH
COLDER AIR TO THE AREA. A MIXED BAG OF WINTER PRECIP INCLUDING
FREEZING RAIN...ICE PELLETS AND SNOW WILL BEGIN TO MIX IN WITH RAIN
NORTH OF HIGHWAY 84 SOON AFTER MIDNIGHT AND SPREADING TOWARDS THE
COAST TOWARDS SUNRISE."  The National Weather Service 

CCPS Receives $103,000 Welding Grant

More than 50% of U.S. products require welding. The earliest recorded weld occurred in 3,500 B.C., during the Bronze Age.  The Derek Jeters of welding make more than $100,000 per year.

Crenshaw County Public Schools announces its receipt of  the 21^st Century Workforce Act Grant in the amount of $103,000.  The proceeds from the “Workforce Act Grant” will enable the Crenshaw County Public System to implement a comprehensive welding program, relative to the auto manufacturing needs of the community, that would assist in the promotion of economic development and industrial recruitment in both Crenshaw County and Alabama.  Through creation of this new-to-Crenshaw County School welding program, the system will develop a return on investment over a multi-year period that will be closely monitored and will thereby increase the number of student credentials received, increase job placement, and/or increase the enrollment of students in career-focused postsecondary education upon graduation from high school.  

Tools and equipment needed to address emerging “green” or “sustainable welding practices and technology are as on the Alabama Career Technical website under the cluster program listing of “Architecture and Construction Cluster Welding Technology Equipment List.  Activities for the Welding Program shall be derived from the Alabama Course of Study for the following courses:  Introduction to Welding, Applied Welding with PAC, Applied Welding II with CAS, Applied Welding III with Groove Welds and Inspection, Applied Welding IV Advanced Groove Welds and Testing, Gas Metal Arc Welding, Flux Cored Arc Welding, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding I, and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding II. The aforementioned purchases made through this bond fund will benefit students and local workforce by: creating a program that will develop a return on investment, increasing student credentials, increasing enrollment in career-focused postsecondary education, adding employable and trainable workers to the workforce. 

Valid, reliable, and research-based data that supports the identified needs are as follows:  According to statistics used during this years Mobile County Career Expo, the welding profession is one of the state’s highest demand and fastest growth professions with a need for 1,000 welders. Employable and trainable students in this area are needed now.  According to Accelerate Alabama, Alabama has more than 350 automotive companies, including OEMs Honda, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz, as well as their numerous suppliers and other support operations.   Moreover, Hyundai is investing $173 million and adding more than 200 jobs at the engine plant located at its OEM facility in Montgomery. Per meeting with Crenshaw County Hyundai suppliers on 10/24/2013, all operations will expand in the next year, thereby increasing the need for welders. Alabama has also recently experienced growth related to ship building. In 2010 Australian company Austal USA won a $3.8 billion contract to build 10 warships for the U.S. Navy by 2018, and is investing $160 million to double the size of its Module Manufacturing Facility as well as build a new office complex and assembly bay. According to the Governor’s Workforce Development Region 7, March 2013 Report, Table 7.9 indicates that manufacturing ranks 2^nd regarding employment within the 6 county region. 

Industry sectors to be served by the equipment purchase are as follows:  construction industry, manufacturing industry, shipbuilding industry. Specific occupations and median U.S. salaries are:  commercial diver ($47,000), welding inspector ($50,000), welding sales representative ($50,000) welding technicians ($55,000), plumber, pipefitter or steamfitter ($48,000), structural metal worker ($40,000), welder, cutter, solderer and brazer ($47,000), welder, cutter, solderer and brazer aide ($29,000), sheet-metal worker ($67,500), structural metal fabricator and fitter ($43,500), boilermaker ($47,000), and materials engineer ($84,000) (source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

We are excited about this new offering for our students and look forward to its implementation.

Oh Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore Art Thou Romeo?

Deny thy father and refuse thy name;

Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,

And I'll no longer be a Capulet.

Ninth graders at LHS recently dressed and acted the part of characters from Romeo and Juliet. Look closely at the pic below and see if you recognize anyone.

Hudson and Ash Receive Band Honors

Megan Hudson earned one of six spots available for the Alabama All-State Band, which will be held at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, AL. She also earned a spot in the district honor band.  Megan was competing against 46 other high school clarinet players from our district. 

LJ Ash earned a spot in the District Honor Band. This was LJ's first year trying out for All-State.

LJ Ash and Megan Hudson

Classification Changes

The Alabama High School Athletic Association has gone 30 years with its present classification system. On Wednesday of this week, the AHSAA's from the organization’s Central Board of Control voted to place the largest 32 teams in a Class 7A and divide the remainder into 6 classifications. Also, teams will be allowed 11 weeks to play 10 games. Schools may elect to play a non-region game the week of Aug. 21-22-23 and then have 10 weeks to play the remaining nine regular-season games or they can agree to play a non-counting jamboree or regulation game that first week and have 10 remaining weeks to play 10 games.

The AHSAA began in 1921 with a one-class system before adding a second classification in 1947, separating the largest schools from the rest. In 1964, the organization went to a four-classification system that featured regional play, switching to the current six-class system with area play in 1984.

The only major change since then was a modification after the 1999 season that employed the old regional system, adding more guaranteed games for the larger schools.

Click this link to see your schools's enrollment numbers.

HHS Poets Published

Congratulations to Highland Home School’s students of Ms. Rebecca Sims’ junior and senior classes pictured below, who have been selected to be published in www.poeticpower.com’s hard-bound anthology, A Celebration of Poets. Creative Communication is devoted to the promotion of writing, teaching, and appreciation of student writing. With the intent to motivate creative writers, publications are regionally based, meaning students compete against their peers in both age and location. In addition, HHS will be recognized with a “Poetic Achievement Award” – given to schools with a large number of entries of which over 50% are accepted for publication, intended to recognize schools with excellent language arts programs, and making them eligible to apply for a Language Arts Grant to further develop writing in the school. Kudos to these students and Ms. Sims!

Left to Right (1st row): JD Phillips, Dalton Harris, Sarah Best, Jaylen Carter, Adam Taylor, Will Morris, Courtney Chandler, Laterica Robinson, Daichia Palmer; (2nd row) Jessi Flack, Kerri Middleton, Christina Bowen, Suzie Kent, Allyson Kelliher, Honesty Ripley, Adrienne Pouncey, Dana Moore; (3rd row) Haley Reeves, Heather Christianson, Kristen McCullough, Jamie Parker, Samantha Askew, Will Petty, Mason Tillman, Chris Hudgens; (4th row) Eastton Franklin, Lasheka Sankey, Takia Moore, Jonah Vitollo, Jessica Sexton, Madison Lancer, Maitlyn Barton, & Colby Searight. Not Pictured: David Rogers, Ariel Misseldine, Shayla Allen, Katelyn McElwaney, Nia Bell, Kori Bell, & Eddie Flowers.

WAKA Reports on CCPS's Graduation Rate

In the event you were not able to see WAKA last night, here is the link for your viewing pleasure:  Crenshaw County Schools Rank 1.

Crenshaw County Ranks #1
Among County School Systems

Amanda Wade Reporting for WAKA News

High school graduation rates are up for Alabama, but one county in South Alabama takes the number one spot for the entire state.

Most high schoolers can't wait to walk across the graduation stage to get their diplomas, and in Crenshaw County, 96% of them did just that last year. Awarding the county with the highest graduation rating of any county in the state, and some credit that to the community as a whole.

Teachers, students, and parents all working together to help each child on an individual basis is what Crenshaw County teachers say has increased their county's graduation rate by 23% in just four years. 

"We have that family atmosphere, and so because of that, I think a lot of the teachers are the 'mamas' for these students academically speaking. They are able to take these students one on one and make sure to make an extra effort to know where they are and that they don't fall through the cracks," says Starla Jones, an 11th and 12th Grade Math Teacher at Luverne High School.

The superintendent says they were also able to hire a graduation exam coach who would work with students individually on their weaknesses to help them achieve passing scores on the test, and she says getting to know the students made the biggest difference, "Some students don't learn the same way. And I got to know everyone of them and how they learned it. If they know that you care and you love them, they'll work for you," Courtney Shows, the Remediation Coach.

And current seniors, like Randall Sipper, say always being able to get extra help keeps them motivated, "If you need help with something or don't understand something they'll sit down with you on their free time, during breaks, or lunch if you get a chance, and they'll work with you and it really helps."

The teachers also say parental involvement and intervening early if they see a student falling behind keeps the graduation rates on the rise.

Besides ranking first among counties, The Crenshaw County School System ranks sixth in the state when you compare all the school systems.