Student Spotlights – September 2024

Mrs. Debbie Ollis, principal at Little Flower Catholic School, has been busy enrolling students this summer. “Meeting students and their families is one of the best parts about being involved in a school”, said Mrs. Ollis. The family atmosphere on campus is one of the hallmarks of Little Flower School.

Little Flower Catholic School offers many ways to learn during the school day. Sometimes pencil and paper are put away in favor of a more active lesson. Sometimes students work in groups for particular sessions. Traditional and non-traditional methods can overlap to create the best classroom atmosphere.

Students at Bright Academy enjoy a specialized hour of dyslexia therapy each day. The multiple hands-on techniques help them become successful learners.

A new studio has been at Cultivate Mobile! The new space is for ages 8-12, The Discovery Studio. The students lead their own learning and the space is created to have flexible seating and plenty of room for work flow and team projects!

Satsuma City Schools proudly announces the appointment of Dana Price as the Superintendent of Satsuma City Schools, pending contract negotiations. This decision follows a unanimous vote by the Board of Education at a special meeting held Tuesday, July 23.
“With 35 years of dedicated service to Satsuma City Schools, including her current role as interim superintendent, Mrs. Price brings a wealth of experience, passion, and commitment to our system,” said Kory Wesley, Satsuma City School Board President. “Her deep roots in our community and unwavering dedication to student success make her the ideal leader to guide our district toward continued excellence. Please join us in extending a warm welcome and offering your support to Mrs. Price as she assumes this role.”
Price earned several degrees from the University of South Alabama, including a Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts and Educational Specialist in Elementary Education. She also earned a degree in Educational Leadership and certification in Administration. In 2022, Price completed the Alabama Superintendents Academy.
“Education and the city of Satsuma have been my life,” Price said. “I really do appreciate this opportunity. I’m look forward to growing our school system, and I want to see the leaders in our schools excel. I want to see our students excel. As enrollment in our school system grows to better reflect our growing community, I want to make sure we provide the right support for our faculty and staff. I want the right leaders in the right places.”
“The new school year is just around the corner, and I’m excited to welcome our students, families and most importantly our faculty and staff. This year is very special for Satsuma City Schools. Our district’s first official kindergartners are seniors this year.”
“As I take on this new role, I want to especially thank all the leaders that have been in this position before me. It is my ultimate goal to work with our school board to leave a legacy for the leaders that come after.”
During her time in central office at Satsuma Schools, Price has worked with local industry and business leaders to develop strategic partnerships to support students and teachers. Those businesses include Chevron, SSAB Shell Chemical. Airbus, ST Engineering and Austal. Many of these companies have developed gateways for students to enter the workforce directly after high school. Price has helped establish grants for the system in excess of $1 million during the past 25 years. She also worked to develop a key student recognition program with the City of Satsuma.
Price’s teaching experience spans the elementary, middle and high school levels, as well as collegiate level. Price has served as a student, parent, substitute, coach, teacher, lead teacher, federal Programs coordinator, principal and central office director with Satsuma City Schools, and she has worked in education in administrative roles specifically for 25 years.
“I believe that successful school systems are ‘students-first’ oriented,” Price said. “Decisions are based on what is best for students and with their safety, well-being and success in mind. A successful school system designs and carries out programs that offer rich educational experiences to develop skills that support academic, as well as social and emotional learning. Satsuma City Schools should always strive to offer the most optimal environment for students to thrive, and I look forward to collaborating with the school board and our leaders throughout the district to build a strategic plan as we continue to grow.”

Cultivate Studio Mobile Teachers were invited to attend the VELA Education Summer Conference in Washington D.C.! VELA is catalyzing a vibrant alternative education ecosystem.

The campus at Little Flower Catholic School has been a busy place this summer with students enjoying computer camp. Learning to program new and interesting things has been the focus, especially creating computer games. Mr. Nick West, IT Coordinator and computer science teacher at Little Flower School lead the camp.

Mrs. Majewski and Mrs. Nguyen recently attended the GYTO (Get Your Teach On) professional development conference in Orlando. This four-day event featured research-based workshops designed to help teachers develop rigorous and engaging lesson plans. The conference provided an excellent opportunity for them to learn from influential educators and motivational speakers, and they received specialized training tailored to their specific grade levels from experts in the field.
During one of the sessions, Mrs. Majewski had the chance to learn from Michelle Griffo of Apples and ABC’s. Griffo shared her innovative approach to play-based learning in math and offered strategies for managing poor penmanship in the classroom. Mrs. Majewski found these insights incredibly valuable and is enthusiastic about sharing the tools she acquired with her colleagues. She believes implementing these strategies will significantly benefit the students at St. Luke’s, enhancing their mastery of mathematics and literacy.

St. Ignatius began the 24-25 year with Mass and a talk with Fr. Shields. Part of his inspiring words focused on the importance of every subject and how each and every subject is tied into our faith. Fr. Shields referenced the great Pope John Paul II “Science can purify religion; religion can purify Science. Each can draw the other into a wider world, a world in which both can flourish.” St. Ignatius looks forward to helping students flourish this school year! St. Ignatius forms students in mind, body and spirit. #TheCatholicDifference #HisPathTheirFuture #HisPathStartsHere #CatholicsBuildCharacter #ImpalaPride

St. Ignatius has a long history with CYO sports. Impalas love to be involved and love to win. Over 250 students registered to compete in Fall CYO sports at St. Ignatius. The CYO league (Catholic Youth Organization) provides the highest quality athletic programs that promote the physical, social, emotional, and most importantly, the spiritual development of our young Catholic athletes. Even before Impalas are old enough to participate in CYO, parents are prepping them for the arena! #TheCatholicDifference

Mobile County Public Schools’ Leadership Officer Training Corps Program (LOTC), implemented in 2023 at seven middle schools, has been expanded to eight additional middle schools this fall. The program includes drone and robotics competitions; overviews about a variety of careers; field trips to businesses and industries; and orienteering skills. The participating MCPSS middle schools are Alba, Burns, Calloway-Smith, Causey, Chastang-Fournier K-8, Grand Bay, Hankins, Lott, Mobile County Training, North Mobile County K-8, Pillans, Scarborough, Semmes, Washington, and Williamson. Interested parents can contact their child’s school for more info.

A total of 226 Mobile County Public Schools students were recognized as AP Scholars during the 2023-24 school year. Students from Baker, Bryant, Citronelle, Davidson, Murphy and Mary G. Montgomery high schools became AP Scholars by earning scores of 3 or higher on the Advanced Placement exams last spring.
Baker High, which is the only southwest Alabama school offering the prestigious AP Capstone Program, the system with 136 AP Scholars, up from 118 in 2023. That added up to 597 college credits earned and an estimated $850,000 in tuition saved. Fifty-five Baker students earned a 5, the top score possible, on one or more exams.
Davidson High had the second-highest total of 78 AP scholars. Bryant, Citronelle, Mary G. Montgomery and Murphy high schools also had AP Scholars. Advanced Placement exams are one of several avenues MCPSS students have to earn college credit while still in high school.

Clark-Shaw Magnet School would like to introduce the Guardians of the Nest! These students are part of the inaugural 9th Grade Class. It is sure to be a memorable year for them, their families, and the CSM staff.

St. Luke’s provides a sports medicine class that introduces students to this expanding field before reaching college. In this course, students gain insights into the responsibilities of sports medicine professionals, including diagnosing, treating, and preventing sports-related injuries. Our state-of-the-art sports medicine lab is equipped with two taping tables, two treatment tables, an ultrasound/electrical stimulation machine, a rehab tree, ankle weights, elastic bands, dumbbells, a stationary bike, a treadmill, and a handheld dynamometer, all designed to facilitate hands-on learning experiences.

The ninth-grade Advisory Council at Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies welcomed a group of Japanese exchange students to tour the school and take part in a project-based lesson about international studies. The students are visiting Mobile as part of the Mobile-Ichihara Sister City Association (MISCA) exchange program, which alternates yearly visits to Ichihara and Mobile. The Barton students also took their guests on a walking field trip to areas of interest in downtown Mobile.

Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama (GSSA) proudly recognizes one special member of the 2024 Girl Scout Gold Award class. Elisabeth Aaij from GSSA was a recipient of a $5,000 scholarship for her “Bee Better” project with a focus on monarch butterflies migrating from Mexico. For Elisabeth’s project, she built a native pollinator garden at her school, began a club to maintain the garden, and hosted a speaker event – with a native pollinator expert – to educate children of the importance of native pollinators to both our community and the world. Her project proves that Girl Scouts of courage, confidence, and character genuinely make the world a better place by demonstrating a long-lasting impact and advocating global and national issues.
Nationally, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) is recognizing nearly 3,000 members of the 2024 Gold Award Girl Scout class who identified issues in their communities, took action, and found or created solutions to earn their Gold Awards. This year’s class of world-changers raised over $1.6 million in funding and invested over 287,000 hours to address real-life problems such as environmental sustainability, racial justice, mental and physical wellness, and gender inequality in STEM.
This year Girl Scouts of the USA awarded 111 Gold Award Girl Scouts from across our Movement a $5,000 scholarship, made possible by the Kappa Delta Foundation and many generous individual donors.
GSSA Awards Manager, Katelyn Nelson-Hickman, says, “We are so proud of Elisabeth for increasing her community’s biodiversity and educating others on native pollinators through her Gold Award project, “Bee Better”. Elisabeth’s project will positively impact her community for generations to come and serve as a powerful example of Girl Scouting in action.”
Through their Gold Award projects, the 2024 Gold Award Girl Scout class developed confidence as well as project management, organization, research, time management, problem-solving, public speaking, decision-making, and presentation skills that will help them succeed professionally. As they take action to transform their communities, Gold Award Girl Scouts gain tangible skills and prove they’re the leaders our world needs.

Through the statewide Amp Up Arts initiative, the Mobile Arts Council brought local artists into three schools to work with students this summer, teaching dance, sculpture, drawing and painting. At Chastang-Fournier K-8, those sessions concluded with the completion of two murals that were designed and painted through a collaboration between students and professional artists. Thank you to teaching artists Soynika Edwards-Bush, De’Anthony Dulaney, Zak Todd, and Brian Tan, and to the Mobile Arts Council for this fantastic partnership!

We’ve had an exciting start to the school year at Covenant Christian! There’s something special about the fresh slate of a new school year—new teachers to meet, freshly painted classrooms, families reconnecting, new textbooks and Bible’s, along with new school shoes!
It’s also a dynamic start to the fall athletic season! Volleyball, soccer, and cross country are all great ways for our students to get involved and build team spirit. These programs can really set the tone for a positive and energetic school year.
We’re so Happy to have our Students Back!

Mobile County Public Schools welcomed about 53,000 students back to its 90 campuses as it opened the 2024-25 school year on August 7 with the theme #GrowingGREATNESS. Superintendent Chresal D. Threadgill and members of his academic staff spent the first day visiting numerous schools throughout the district, stopping by classrooms and cafeterias to greet students, teachers and administrators.
“Growing Greatness means exactly what it says: We are trying to grow our students to be the best they can possibly be,” Mr. Threadgill said. “It’s not only students; it’s adults as well. We’re growing to be better teachers, better principals and a better superintendent. We’re working hard to be better at our jobs and better for our students.”
Students at several schools signed banners with their thoughts on how they can Grow Greatness during the 2024-25 school year, such as being kind, being respectful, and treating others as you wish to be treated.

Mrs. Thompson, St. Luke’s STEM+M and Science Lab teacher, truly excelled during “Space” Week at Camp Wildcat! She transformed science into an exciting journey with incredible stations covering planets, constellations, rocks, and inventions.

St. Luke’s recently held their annual Wildcat Welcome event for new students in grades 6 through 12. Current Key Club members and cheerleaders were delighted to greet and welcome the many new faces. They enthusiastically assisted the newcomers in learning their schedules and even helped the 6th graders master the art of opening their lockers. The evening concluded on a high note with a dinner served to all the new families, providing a wonderful opportunity for them to mingle with faculty, staff, and students.

St. Mary Parish held their annual altar server training camp under the leadership of St. Mary’s Pastor, Father Stephen Vrazel, for new and seasoned servers this August. After a week of training, all servers enjoyed a Friday Fun Day at Surge!

Nothing but smiles were in order on the first day of school for St. Mary Catholic School! Under the leadership of St. Mary’s Principal, Mrs. Corrinne Cuffle, St. Mary’s students came back to a new look, with classroom shifts from one building to another, newly painted and decorated hallways and classrooms, and several new teachers and programs. St. Mary welcomes back all families for an awesome 2024-2025 school year!

“If we want students to reach their highest potential, we as teachers must first be working towards our own.” -Mirella Chavez
This summer, members of the UMS-Wright faculty engaged in enriching professional development opportunities across various locations, including San Diego, Washington, D.C., Orlando, Atlanta and more. These experiences allowed our faculty/staff to immerse themselves in the latest educational strategies, collaborate with peers from across the country, and bring back innovative ideas to enhance their teaching practices!

St. Mary Catholic School welcomed all kindergarten parents to the annual Boo Hoo Breakfast on the first day of school this August 12! No tears here! St. Mary thanks all volunteers who make this annual event a fun first day for all! by Marcelle Naman

Heartwood Chrisitan Academy opened the door and welcomed new, current, and prospective families with an opportunity to experience our school beyond its website. The open house allowed families to see firsthand the distinguishing characteristics of HCA. The open house included school tours for new families, meet-and-greets, tables hosted by faculty from various disciplines providing information about curriculum and course expectations, interaction with students, and light snacks with time to socialize with parents, students, and teachers. HCA wishes to thank the parents, students, and faculty who made this day successful. We look forward to the 2024-2025 school year, filled with new opportunities, growth, and learning.

Clark-Shaw Magnet School’s incoming 6th graders spent two fun filled days at Camp Clark this summer. They enjoyed many activities while getting to know each other and learning their way around campus. It’s sure to be a great year! Let’s go, Eagles!

Council Traditional School’s 2024 Meet the Teacher was a day to remember. The smiles were everywhere as students, parents, and teachers connected. We had an absolute blast getting to know each other and setting the stage for an amazing year ahead.

Buckle Up! Heartwood Christian Academy’s Lauren Higgins embarked on a journey of personal growth and empowerment as she learned to drive on the challenging B.R.A.K.E.S. course at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. B.R.A.K.E.S. is an acronym for Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe. Lauren was one of forty-seven students from the southeast who participated in the advanced course, a testament to her commitment to reducing accidents among teenage drivers.
It all started when Drag Racing champion Doug Hebert received a phone call from his wife stating that she thought their two sons had been killed in a car accident. Doug visited the accident scene and found both of his boys, Jon and James, were killed instantly. It was determined that the accident was due to unnecessarily swerving through traffic. Doug did not want another parent to receive a phone call like he received. So, he started B.R.A.K.E.S. to help teens learn defensive driving techniques.
B.R.A.K.E.S. attracts top-notch instructors representing the race car industry, law enforcement, and the car industry. These individuals volunteer their time and effort to educate teens and parents about the dangers of driving while instructing them in a controlled environment on how to keep safe. The hands-on training for the teens consisted of crash avoidance/slalom, distraction, panic stop, wheel drop, and car control.

Please join us in congratulating Jewel McCrary ’25 on being named a Mobile Bay Magazine WONDER KID!
Since Middle School, Jewel has shown a passion for psychology. In the summer of 2023, instead of opting for typical summer activities, she seized the opportunity to immerse herself in psychology research projects at the University of South Alabama’s lab under the mentorship of Dr. Jack Shelley-Tremblay. This decision showcased her exceptional commitment to the field of psychology.
Under Dr. Shelley-Tremblay’s guidance, Jewel demonstrated remarkable aptitude, swiftly earning recognition for her potential. She was then promoted to developing her own research project, a true testament to her intellectual curiosity. Jewel’s choice of the “rubber hand illusion” as her research focus showcases her innovative thinking and willingness to explore unconventional ideas within the field of psychology. “Jewel is a great young scientist with a truly inquisitive mind and a real drive for discovery. She made the State Science Fair and the State of Alabama Junior Academy of Science Paper Reading finals on her first try! She has been a joy to work with, and I expect her to continue to excel in psychological science in college and as a professional.” – Dr. Shelley-Tremblay
We are so proud of you, Jewel!