Community Rises to the Occasion Once More

Thank you to all who have contributed to Lance Brooks' medical needs over the past few years.  Most recently, contributions were gathered for funeral costs and because of your generosity, the bill was paid in full prior to the funeral.

Much thanks to the students and staff of Luverne School for your tremendous hospitality in opening your doors to host the service.

Thank you to the local schools for your kindness in remembering Lance in a moment of silence at your pep rally and prior to Friday night's game.

Lance was a role model for young and old alike.  His remarkable example and witness transcended racial and socio-economic boundaries.  May we always remember his humility, courage, strength, faith and hope.

You are a tremendous community.
May God continue to bless you all!

HHS First Graders Study Animal Habitats

Mrs. Bridget Worthington's first grade students recently  studied animals and their habitats. Children created a  habitat and demonstrated during "show and tell."

Brianna Shifflett, Samantha White, Abbie Herring, Jason Williams. 

Hannah Patterson, Braidee Beck, Austin Herring, Allison Benton.

Lane Duett, Andrew Herring, Avery Williams, Blakeney Wells, Ally McElwain, Sawyer Gross, Madeline Jane Crowe

HHS Creating a Positive School Climate

The smell of glue, crayons and construction paper, the sight my first grade teacher’s smile- Mrs. Early Mae Matthews (the tone of her voice “Now, Randy, you are not going to do that.”), and the sounds of ditto machines going around and around… We all have early impressions of the school environment.  We can all remember childhood moments when we felt particularly safe or unsafe in school, when we felt particularly connected to a caring adult or frighteningly alone, when we felt particularly engaged in meaningful learning or not. These are the school memories that we all tend to vividly remember: good and/or bad. It is not surprising that these kinds of experiences shape learning and development.

School climate is larger than any one person's experience. When people work together, a group process emerges that is bigger that any one person's actions. A positive school climate is associated with academic achievement, effective risk prevention efforts, positive youth development and inviting physical surroundings.

In hopes of fostering an even more positive school environment, Mrs. Katrina Roper Smith and the elementary staff of HHS recently created thematic halls.  Thanks to all who participated.  We are sure that the students enjoy being educated in such a positive manner and environment.

Watts' Class Studies Going Green

On Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 1:30 p.m., Mrs. Rachel Watts' 8^th grade students  studied the plastic recycling process via a virtual field trip.  K W Plastics, located  in Troy, AL,  sponsored the event.  KW Plastics was formed in 1981 to reclaim and recycle the polypropylene used in automotive battery casings that had been banned from landfills. Today, KW Plastics is an international leader in post-consumer and post-industrial plastics recycling, and the world's largest producer of custom-engineered, recycled polypropylene co-polymer resins. A particular student asked if and how K W Plastics could assist in a recycling initiative  at BHS.  Kudos to the student for wanting to conserve and protect the environment.

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