Student Spotlights – December 2024

Pirate’s Day at Little Flower was fun for the whole campus. Even the staff got into the action. Calling out “Ahoy, Matey” brought out the best in everyone, even without sailing the high seas. No one had to walk the plank, and the only treasure found was the friendship and kindness shared amongst classmates and friends.

A BIG shout out to the first quarter Top A.R. Readers at Little Flower Catholic School. These three readers were all in for reading page after page of the next good book. Their thirst for reading earned them McDonald’s gift cards and other treats at the A.R. party. To Ethan Blackburn, Ava Milton, and Adysin James: We are so proud of you. Keep reading!!

Heartwood Christian Academy’s Archery Team rocked the Grand Bay Middle School Tournaments archery competition, bringing home 1st place for the High School team in 3D and 2nd place in Bullseye. Congratulations to the three archers who brought home three individual medals and the archers who achieved their personal best. We welcome our new archers. This season holds a lot of promise. Go, LIONS!

Parker Davis, a 4th grade student at E.R. Dickson Elementary School, raised and donated a total of $1,918.27 to The Cleft Center at The Children’s Hospital of Alabama! He led a school-wide fundraiser in which students and staff were invited to donate $2 in order to wear jeans to school. He collected $1,034.77 over two days! He then challenged nearby Dodge Elementary to a friendly competition and they raised $883.50! This money will be used to help fund surgeries for children with cleft lip and cleft palate. This is the fourth time that Parker has led this fundraiser which has raised a grand total of $3,567.79.

The Clark-Shaw Basketball Team is currently off to a hot start this season. They opened the season on the road on October 24th in a long-standing rivalry against the Phillips Pirates. The Eagles came out with a 46 – 28 victory in a standing room only environment. The following Monday, the Explorers from Barton Academy paid a visit. The young basketball program at Barton was overwhelmed and left defeated by a score of 48-3. Later that week, the Causey Tigers came in and gave Clark-Shaw all they could handle. The game went down to the wire and the Eagles defeated the Tigers 37-33.
The goal at the end of the regular season is to be in the playoffs in hopes of winning the MCPSS Large Division Middle School Championship. The Large Division (enrollment based) is broken up into two groups. Clark-Shaw Eagles are in the same group with Alba Sharks, Chastang-Fournier Falcons, Pillans Eagles, and the Scarborough Knights. The other group consists of Burns Blazers, Causey Tigers, Grand Bay Tigers, Hankins Cougars, Semmes Bulldogs. The top 2 teams from each group make the playoffs. The Eagles began group play at Chastang-Fournier on Monday, November 4th and came out victorious with a final score of 56-42. Douglas July, Jr. coaches the basketball team and stated the following “Although we have no losses on our record, we have a lot of things to correct and adjust. It is still early in the season and there are a couple good teams that could catch us on a bad day.” They will be in action for the following dates this month: November 7th vs Alba, November 11th @ Causey Veterans Day Classic, November 14th @ Scarborough, November 18th vs Pillans, November 21st vs Grand Bay and November 26th in the Bishop State Classic.

Bright Academy’s students are busy learning all about science with some very cool experiments. This year, some of the topics students have learned about include lab safety, scientific method, series and parallel circuits, pollinators and pollination, wave models, states of matter, energy transformation, and electromagnetism. Bright Academy’s science program is led by Mrs. Selina Goss who makes learning fun each and every day!

Patricia Cushman, a CTS third grade student, saw a need and took action. Patricia organized a drive to support the PURRfect Partners of Mobile. Patricia thanks all of the Council community for supporting this event. We are certain there are some happier and more comfortable cats in our community.

Congratulations to Sammekai Cason, our 2024-2025 Red Ribbon Leader! Sammekai is a 5th grade student at E.R. Dickson Elementary School. We are excited to have her lead our school in activities to bring awareness to drug and alcohol education and prevention.

Ninth Grade honors biology students were learning about osmosis by placing a dialysis bag of 10% sucrose solution in cups of differing sucrose solutions. Then, they measured the change in mass of the dialysis bag. These freshmen really enjoyed the hands-on learning. #EagesSoar#CSMStem#clarkshawmagnet

The Mobile Christian Classes of 2025 and 2037 met for the Senior/Kindergarten Buddy Program. They will participate together in monthly activities. The seniors are excited to mentor our little leopards as they begin at MCS!

Phillips Preparatory School announces their 2024-2025 Phillips Preparatory Student Council. President: Rileigh Bonham, Vice President: Hannah Bailey, Secretary: Caroline Welton and Treasurer: Ben Stringfellow. Also pictured are the 6th , 7th, and 8th Grade Representatives.

Mobile Christian Volleyball won the 3A State Championship on October 31st in Birmingham. They finished the season with a record of 40-9 beating many top ranked 6A and 7A schools throughout the season and ranked as high as 4th in the power rankings for Alabama regardless of class. Way to go Lady Leopards!

Saraland Elementary School’s Signing Spartans accompanied by the South Alabama Jaguar Marching Band presented the National Anthem in American Sign Language before a University of South Alabama football game. The American Sign Language Club at Saraland Elementary School meets after school and is comprised of 100 fourth and fifth grade students eager to learn the basics and beauty of this visual language.

St. Luke’s Center Stage Department competed at the District Trumbauer High School Theatre Festival and did a fantastic job representing St. Luke’s! They received 11 Superiors and 7 Excellents. The studio piece is also advancing to state and won many awards: All-Star Cast (Jay Mansfield, Evelyn Cummings, Sophie Bitzer), Best Lead Actress in a Studio Piece (Chloe Lambert, Lilly Liller), Best Ensemble and Best in Show. The State competition is in Florence December 5-8th.

Service is a pillar of the Catholic faith and a priority at St. Ignatius. Each grade level has a specific, annual service project. Third grade Impalas chose the Box of Joy program through Cross Catholic Outreach. Students promoted, collected, packed and shipped over 300 “Boxes of Joy” to children in developing countries. Way to go, Impalas! St. Ignatius forms leaders in mind, body & spirit. #TheCatholicDifference #catholicsbuildcharacter #impalapride

Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies has just received the highest national recognition bestowed upon a preservation project by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Representatives of the Barton Academy Foundation accepted the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation National Preservation Award at the PastForward Conference in New Orleans on behalf of the foundation, Mobile County Public Schools, and the Downtown Mobile Alliance.
Built in 1836, Barton Academy served as Alabama’s first public school. Barton Academy served as the MCPSS central office for several decades before being vacated in 2007 with plans to re-establish a school. The Mobile County Board of School Commissioners initiated the project by investing $4 million in exterior renovations to the building. The Barton Academy Foundation formed and raised another $14 million to renovate the interior.
With its Greek Revival Architecture, dome and ornate columns, Barton is a landmark of downtown Mobile. While the building retains its historic integrity on the exterior, the interior features modern classrooms, collaboration labs and spaces, and innovative technology. Its location in downtown Mobile allows students to participate in unique educational opportunities and partnerships, including walking field trips and history and art projects.
The Driehaus award recognizes success in the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and interpretation of America’s architectural and cultural heritage. These coveted awards represent the “best of the best” in preservation and are evaluated based on the impact of a project on the community, the quality of the project, and how it may serve as an example for other projects. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit organization, works to save America’s historic places to enrich our future. https://savingplaces.org/

St. Luke’s 8th grade “Bigs” met their K5 “Littles.” This cherished tradition at St. Luke’s fosters a sense of community and mentorship and creates lasting memories. The meeting day was filled with fun as they read books together and played on the playground. We look forward to these bonds growing stronger as the school year progresses.

An inspiring day of discovery! St. Luke’s Biomedical Sciences Interventions Classes had an incredible opportunity to immerse themselves in hands-on learning at the University of South Alabama’s Covey College of Allied Health Professions. From Radiologic Sciences to Emergency Medical Services, our students explored a diverse array of fields and gained invaluable insights into the world of healthcare. A big thank you to USA for opening their doors and minds to our future innovators!

The Alabama School of Math and Science (ASMS) partnered with WindBorne Systems to launch weather balloons from its Midtown Mobile campus into Hurricane Milton. ASMS students joined alum Gene Bradley (Class of 2007) to release the sophisticated, autonomously navigating balloons from the school’s West Campus into Hurricane Milton. Bradleyis head of global operations at WindBorne, a Khosla Ventures-backed planetary intelligence company based in Palo Alto, California.
WindBorne’s mission is to understand the planet and better predict and manage extreme weather and climate change. The company uses balloons and artificial intelligence modeling to create moreaccurate AI-based forecasts. WindBorne designs, builds, and operates the only technology to capture in-situ atmospheric profiles everywhere, including over oceans and the Earth’s most remote places.
ASMS was not just a launch site for the balloons but a partner in this significant event. This unique collaboration will not only provide our students with an unparalleled opportunity to gain practical experience in meteorological science but also inspire the next generation of weather experts, fostering a brighter future for meteorological science.

To celebrate National First Responders Day, Little Flower Catholic School had the privilege of hosting members of the Mobile Police Department and the Spanish Fort Fire Department. Little Flower Student Government president, Ethan Escalante, welcomed the visitors for doughnuts and coffee. Little Flower is grateful for the opportunity to express our gratitude for their service and dedication to our community. The morning was filled with great conversations and a shared appreciation for the work these brave individuals do every day.

Congratulations to Ethan King, recipient of Council Traditional School’s Red Ribbon Community Service and Leadership Award. Ethan’s outstanding academic excellence and leadership at Council have earned him this well-deserved recognition. We’re excited to join Ethan in upcoming activities and community service projects.

Seven Old Shell Road Magnet School choir students attended the Alabama Music Educators Elementary Music Festival in Birmingham on Friday, October 25. They rehearsed with choir students from across the state of Alabama and performed a concert. Mason Barnes, Gabel Conner, Gia Singleton, Kyndall Randall, Brady Pelfrey, Hannah King, and Caroline Williams.

The McGill-Toolen Dirty Dozen varsity volleyball team clinch the 7A State Championship for the third consecutive year! Congratulations to the players, coaches, and supporters who made this victory possible!

Pre-K: Moses McCrary
Kindergarten: Aryiah Blackmon, Lyla Byerley, Cooper Dykes, Preston Fisher Kace, Scott-Clark , and Charleigh Tolbert
1st Grade: Bai’Leigh Gullette, Benjamin Jines, Maddox Moore, Evelyn Strachan, Ansley Swain, and Naomi Wright
2nd Grade: Micah Day, Camryn Emrich, Antonella Figueroa, Nathan NG, Zara Robinson, and Norah Summerville
3rd Grade: Holden Cannon, Hayden Culbreth, Kate Joerger, Natalie Longstreet, A’riyah McQueen, Alexis Phillips
4th Grade: Karson Burke, Londyn Dansby, Sadie James, Bryce Matthews, Aubri Tolbert, Jojo Zheng
5th Grade: De’Shanti Doss, Makenly Frost, Devin Howell, Skylar Knighten, Raven Moton, Isaiah Reed, Dalton Swain

We are proud to announce that Council Traditional School is one of twelve schools honored with the Heart of Gold Award for setting new records in the Kids Heart Challenge and the American Heart Challenge. Our students not only contributed to lifesaving research but also learned essential heart-healthy habits. Together with Mobile County Public Schools, we’re leading the way in supporting the American Heart Association.

7th grade students at St. Dominic put their creativity to the test by creating edible cell models using various food items, bringing science to life in a sweet and colorful way!

Congratulations to the D4 Impala football team for an undefeated season and the title of Toy Bowl Champions. Coached by Justin McDonald, Matt House, Matt Quinn, Gaillard Teague, Larry Picard, John King, Brandon Barnhill & Robert Brenizer. St. Ignatius has the best parents! Special thanks to these amazing dads who truly embody what it means to be a strong Catholic leader. #thecatholicdifference

St. Luke’s celebrated their annual Blessing of the Animals on the lower campus with joy and gratitude! Rev. Mary Alice Mathison lovingly blessed many animals (and some more than once!) The blessing was a way to express gratitude for animals’ important role in our lives and ask for their protection and well-being.

October was Dyslexia Awareness Month. Read Write Academy learned the truths, myths and facts about dyslexia and everything they overcome as a dyslexic learner. The students dressed up for Monday: Fall Out of Bed, Tuesday: Bright Idea Day, Wednesday: Wacky Wednesday, and Thursday: Don’t Get Spooked. Everyone enjoyed dressing up, learning more about dyslexia and spreading awareness of what makes them unique.

St. Dominic 3rd graders had an inspiring day meeting Mayor Sandy Stimpson, learning firsthand about leadership and community.

St. Dominic kindergarteners dressed up in their best 50’s attire in celebration of the 50th day of school.

Congratulations to the Wright Players for their stellar showing at the District Competition on November 2nd at Murphy High School!
They earned a Best in Show in the Studio Theatre category with A Human Write by Amelia Armande. Elizabeth Denson, Marina Hess, Joseph Taylor, and Harper Williams earned All-Star Cast awards highlighting their performances in the Studio Theatre show.
Cast: Killian Delaney, Elizabeth Denson, Addison England, Finley Gartman, Marina Hess, Hannah Martin, Ella McGill, Mohammad Qasim, Joseph Taylor, Sarah Frances Warren, Emily Waters, Harper Williams
Crew: Blake Elmore, Liam Smith
Eight Individual Events earned Superior Ratings and will advance to State:
Killian Delaney and Hannah Martin – Varsity Duet Readers Theatre
Finley Gartman and Addison England – Intermediate Duet Readers Theatre
Harper Williams – Novice Classical Monologue
Joseph Taylor – Varsity Contemporary Comedic Monologue
Ella McGill – Novice Contemporary Comedic Monologue
Mohammad Qasim – Intermediate Original Comedic Monologue
Marina Hess – Novice Puppet Design
Sarah Frances Warren – Varsity Makeup Design
Two individual Events earned Superior with a cap in their category:
Joseph Taylor – Varsity Dramatic Musical Solo
Elizabeth Denson – Varsity Comedic Musical Solo
One earned an Excellent rating:
Emily Waters – Intermediate Contemporary Comedic Monologue

St. Mary’s Kindergarten students visited the Dauphin Island Sea Lab this October and learned about their ocean friends in an interactive way. Always a fun Field Trip for St. Mary’s Mustangs of all ages! Photo by Marian Warner.

St. Mary’s third graders processed into St. Mary’s All Saints Day Mass on November 1 as their favorite Saint. From St. Michael to St. Catherine, all students represented their Saints well at this all student Mass in St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

SSAB recently donated $10,000 to Satsuma High School for its Forensic Science Program and $10,000 to Lee Elementary School to fund Kagan Coaching for all classrooms.

In celebration of All Saints Day, Corpus Christi Catholic School 4th graders came to school dressed as their favorite saints and participated in the processional at Mass on November 1st. Afterwards, they followed behind the Eucharist Procession led by Fr. Pat. The students then gave a short presentation about their saints.

Friends For Satsuma Schools recently awarded $24,000 in grants to Satsuma City Schools. These funds were raised during this year’s Swamp Fest and will support various classroom projects for K-12 students throughout the district.

Third grade students at Eichold-Mertz Magnet School hosted their annual Veterans Day Program. We were honored to welcome Lieutenant Colonel Robert Barrow as our guest speaker in recognition of all veterans. Lieutenant Colonel Barrow retired from both the military and the Mobile County Public School System. He previously served as a JROTC instructor and later as the Director of JROTC for MCPSS. Our third-grade students celebrated by parading around the Always Veterans and presenting each with personalized cards filled with gratitude. We are forever grateful and will always honor the men and women who served in our arm forces.

Eichold Mertz Magnet hosted their Annual Doughnuts with Dads event! Students from grades 1-5 enjoyed sweet moments with their dads, grandfathers, uncles, coaches, and father figures over delicious doughnuts.
Before the fun began, we had the honor of hearing from Kerry Stevenson, former head football coach at Vigor High School and assistant coach at the University of Alabama. He shared words of inspiration and encouragement with all the father figures in the room. Thank you to everyone who came out and made this event so special!

St. Ignatius students work hard on the court, on the field, in the classroom and while developing their faith. Forming students is not just about the mind and spirit, but also the body. We are so proud of our D4 & D6 Impalas for working hard and clinching the title of volleyball champions this season. Special thanks to the coaches who truly give their hearts and souls to this wonderful school community. D4 coached by Libby LaCour and Katherine Thomas. D6 coached by Libby LaCour, Laurel Steiner and Jesi Wilcox. St. Ignatius forms leaders in mind, body & spirit. #thecatholicdifference

As a part of the Saint Dominic Anti-Bullying Week Campaign, MAX3 Martial Arts instructors visited PE classes to teach self-defense and lessons on kindness and support.

St. Mary’s Kindergarten Class took the opportunity on our National Election Day to vote on their favorite Oreo! Each received a ballot, voted, placed their vote in the ballot box, and received an “I Voted” sticker! Double Stuff Oreos won the popular vote! Photo by Marian Warner.

Each year, UMS-Wright’s 8th graders spend a week at Camp Grace to take part in bonding activities as a class and to complete a service project. Throughout the week, they participated in a high ropes course that tested their team-building skills. The students also constructed and sold benches, Adirondack chairs, cornhole boards, and more! Based on the pre-sales of these items, $3,500 will be donated to Camp Rap-a-Hope as well as $3,500 to Camp Smile.
A special thank you to all of the speakers who addressed the students, and also to Ward International Trucks for moving the furniture!

The purpose of Super Reader Week is to highlight the importance of early childhood literacy and to create excitement about reading. From parents, to college athletes, to alumni, to community leaders, we have loved having guest readers in our classrooms throughout the day! This year, we hosted special guests of honor that included Sherif Paul Burch, DA Keith Blackwood, Fox 10 Lenise Ligon, Mobile’s Director of Community Affairs, Keysha Brown, and Desmond Trotter and South Alabama Football.

As we approach the close of our fall semester, we are filled with gratitude for the many blessings in our school community. We are thankful for the dedication and hard work of our faculty and staff, the support of our parents, and the enthusiasm and bright spirits of our students. Each contributes to making our school a special place where learning, growth, and faith flourish.
The holiday season offers us an opportunity to reflect on the gifts of love, peace, and joy that surround us. As we celebrate the upcoming birth of Jesus, we are reminded of the profound meaning of Christmas—an occasion to embrace the themes of hope, compassion, and goodwill toward all.
The Christmas story calls us to love one another, to seek peace, and to share in the joy of Christ’s presence in our lives. As we gather for Christmas programs, family chapel services, and holiday festivities, let us remember to celebrate not only with joy but also with a heart open to the true spirit of Christmas.
We encourage our families to embrace this season with gratitude, generosity, and a renewed commitment to sharing the love of Christ with others. Whether through acts of kindness, moments of reflection, or time spent with loved ones, may this Christmas bring peace and blessings to all.
Wishing you and your family a joyous Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Cottage Hill Christian Academy’s fourth graders, Ben Catchpole, Nitsua Montanez, Kinsley Moralis, and Maggie Seay, had the honor of reading their heartfelt essays on the meaning of Veterans Day at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park’s Veterans Day Celebration and Parade of Flags. We are incredibly proud of these young students for representing CHCA with pride and gratitude, and we extend our deepest thanks to all our veterans for their service and sacrifice!

Four Cottage Hill Christian Academy students competed in the AISA District spelling bee. Kensley Moralis and Madisyn Little placed runner-up, while Makennon Graham and Anavin Tongkul claimed first place in their grade-level spelling bees. Makennon and Anavin will proudly represent CHCA at the state competition! We couldn’t be prouder of their hard work and dedication.

The Spirit of Satsuma earned Best in Class AAA Band, Best in Class AAA Drum Major and Best in Class AAA Color Guard at the Dixieland Marching Band Competition held in Brewton, AL. They also received all 1’s in the area of Drum Major, Percussion, ColorGuard, and Band at a marching band competition hosted at Troy University.

Congratulations to Corpus Christi Catholic School D3 Flag Football team on winning the Toy Bowl Championship!! Go Cougars!!!

The students of Heartwood Christian Academy were divided into lower and upper schools. HCA’s lower school enjoyed a lovely nature walk through the gardens, gaining an overview of plant life. They completed their field trip with an impressive nature craft. Only Mobile Botanical Gardens could create such an inviting activity for the youth. HCA’s high school students enjoyed the morning with Mobile Botanical Garden’s field trip docent, Dr. Judy Stout, learning about plants and their interaction with our environment. We held class in the herb garden and toured the surrounding area. The students were able to gain an understanding from an expert botanist. Dr. Stout is fluent in her knowledge of plants and their inner workings. We learned about certain leaves, stems, and flowers, as well as how to identify the parts of flowers. More specifically, we learned how to identify plants by their leaves. Thank you, Mobile Botanical Gardens, for a fantastic field trip.