Student Spotlights – September 2026

Heartwood Christian Academy recently participated in the local Homeschool Expo, welcoming prospective families and sharing information about the school.
The event provided an excellent opportunity to connect with families new to homeschooling, answer questions, and introduce them to the unique programs and community Heartwood offers. Visitors came from across the region, allowing the school to reach many families who may not have been familiar with Heartwood Christian Academy.
The Heartwood exhibit was led by Mrs. Harriet Callahan and Mrs. Shellie Kirk, whose enthusiasm and dedication helped create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for every family who stopped by. They were joined by Mrs. Linh Hoach, who also represented the school and helped welcome visitors throughout the event.
According to Mrs. Callahan, the expo saw an excellent turnout, with many families expressing genuine interest in homeschooling and asking thoughtful questions about Heartwood’s academic programs, extracurricular activities, and supportive community.
The successful event marks the beginning of preparations for the upcoming school year as Heartwood looks forward to hosting its next Open House and welcoming even more prospective families to campus.
Heartwood Christian Academy is thankful for the faculty and volunteers who continue to invest their time and talents in sharing the school’s mission with the community. Their dedication helps ensure that more families learn about the opportunities available through a Christ-centered education.

Students at Heartwood Christian Academy recently embarked on an unforgettable journey through the stars without ever leaving campus!
Thanks to Mrs. Harriet, HCA’s science teacher, students had the opportunity to experience an incredible portable planetarium presented by Dr. Salomon Itza from the University of Mobile. His visit transformed an ordinary school day into an exciting exploration of God’s amazing creation. Inside the inflatable planetarium, students traveled across the night sky, discovering constellations, planets, galaxies, and other fascinating wonders of the universe. Dr. Itza explained complex astronomical concepts in a way that was engaging, interactive, and accessible to students of all ages.
The experience encouraged curiosity, sparked thoughtful questions, and reminded everyone of the beauty and order found throughout God’s creation. As students gazed at the stars projected above them, they were reminded of Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” Mrs. Harriet shared her passion for bringing hands-on science experiences to her students by inviting Dr. Itza to HCA. Her commitment to making science both exciting and meaningful created a memorable day that students will not soon forget.
Heartwood Christian Academy is grateful to Dr. Itza for sharing his time, knowledge, and enthusiasm. The visit inspired students to continue exploring science while appreciating the incredible universe God has created. We look forward to welcoming Dr. Itza back for another stellar adventure!

The Heartwood Christian Academy Archery Team recently traveled to compete at the 2026 National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) World Championship, joining thousands of student archers from around the globe for one of the largest archery competitions in the world.
Although Heartwood did not have enough competitors to post a team score in the Bullseye event, the team delivered an outstanding performance in the 3D Championship, finishing 16th in the High School Division with an impressive team score of 1,645.
Several Heartwood archers earned remarkable individual accomplishments throughout the competition:
– Jarek captured 3rd Place in Middle School Boys Bullseye and 4th Place in Middle School Boys 3D, finishing among the world’s top young archers.
– Laila earned 9th Place in Middle School Girls 3D and 17th Place in Bullseye, representing Heartwood with excellence.
– Michael achieved personal bests in both events, scoring 261 in 3D and 269 in Bullseye.
– Fae tied her personal best with an outstanding score of 256.
This year’s championship also marked the conclusion of two seniors’ competitive NASP careers. Congratulations to Aaron and Natalie as they graduate from student competition. Aaron plans to continue competing in the adult division next season, while Natalie will remain an important part of the Heartwood program as she steps into a new leadership role as Coach Natalie. The team was led by Coach Shelly Kirk, whose dedication and encouragement have helped the archery program continue to grow each year. The success of the season was also made possible through the unwavering support of archery families, volunteers, and sponsors who faithfully invested in the team throughout the year.
Congratulations to every member of the Heartwood Christian Academy Archery Team on an incredible season. Your hard work, perseverance, sportsmanship, and commitment have represented Heartwood well on the world stage. We look forward to seeing what next season brings!

We’re proud to recognize the outstanding achievement of CAM’s third graders on the Spring 2026 ACAP Reading Assessment!
Covenant Academy of Mobile achieved an impressive 87.8% reading proficiency rate, outperforming many districts across the region and ranking among the top-performing, high-poverty LEAs in the report.
Reading proficiency by third grade is one of the strongest indicators of future academic success, and our CAMsters continue to show what is possible through hard work, high expectations, and a commitment to excellence.
Even with an 81% poverty level, our 3rd grade students comparably demonstrated remarkable academic success, nearly matching the statewide average and exceeding the Mobile County average. This achievement reflects the dedication of our students, teachers, staff, families, and community partners who support our mission and work together every day to build strong readers, and lifelong learners at CAM.
Congratulations to our incredible third grade team, Ms. Kidney— ELA teacher, support staff, and our CAMsters for this outstanding accomplishment. The future is bright at Covenant Academy of Mobile! #TheRoyalEagleWay

Congratulations to Baker Farnell and Cooper Matthews on representing St. Luke’s at the Eighty-Ninth American Legion Alabama Boys State!
Throughout the week, Baker and Cooper distinguished themselves as outstanding leaders while gaining firsthand experience in government, leadership, and civic engagement.
Baker published the first edition of the 2026 series of The Citizen Builder, while Cooper campaigned for the office of Associate Commissioner of the Public Service Commission in the general election.
Both students also served on the Constitutional Convention Interest Group, where they researched, evaluated, and debated the Alabama State Constitution before helping draft a new constitution for the State of Alabama.
We are proud of Baker and Cooper for representing our school and community with integrity, leadership, and Wildcat pride!

In July, Choir Students from Old Shell Road Magnet School performed at 2026 MEGA conference hosted by the Alabama State Department of Education at the Mobile Convention Center. Students sang two songs at the opening ceremony for over 4000 educators and administrators from across the state of Alabama. We are so proud of our choir students and thankful for our supportive OSR families.

Alba Middle School is proud to introduce Ms. Pierce as the new Assistant Principal! For the past two years she has been an essential member of our school and community. We are excited to have her continued support in this new role.

St. Luke’s Camp Invention campers had a fantastic week diving into science, technology, engineering, and creativity through hands-on activities, challenges, and inventive projects. Throughout the week, campers worked together, thought creatively, solved problems, and discovered new ideas along the way.
A big thank you to our amazing camp counselors and staff for making the week such a fun, engaging, and inspiring experience for our campers. Your energy and support helped make it a great success!

Alba Middle School welcomed a new class of Sharks during Camp Alba! During camp, incoming 6th graders met their teachers, learned their way around the school, and practiced switching classes. They are ready to start a successful school year and we are excited to watch them grow! It’s a great day to be a shark!

Congratulations to St. Luke’s Volleyball Team for earning the 2026 AVCA Team Academic Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)!
This national recognition honors volleyball teams that have demonstrated excellence in the classroom by maintaining outstanding academic achievement throughout the school year.
In addition to receiving the Team Academic Award, the Wildcats also earned the prestigious distinction of being named to the AVCA Team Academic Honor Roll, recognizing them among the top 20% of team GPAs nationally within their division.
This achievement is a testament to the dedication, discipline, and commitment these student-athletes demonstrate both on the court and in the classroom.
Congratulations on this outstanding accomplishment!

Davidson High School is proud to recognize the success of its Advanced Placement (AP) program, which includes students enrolled in the International Baccalaureate (IB), EPIC, and Honors programs. During the 2025-2026 school year, 374 students sat for at least one AP exam, representing 27% of the school’s student population.
In addition to strong participation, Davidson earned the distinction of having 170 AP Scholars, the most AP Scholars of any high school in Mobile County Public Schools. AP Scholar recognition is awarded to students who take at least three AP exams and earn scores of 3 or higher on each exam.
This achievement reflects the hard work and academic excellence of Davidson’s students and teachers. We are incredibly proud of our Warriors for embracing rigorous coursework and rising to the challenge!

This summer, Davidson High School’s campus has seen several exciting improvements, including updates to our gymnasium. As part of the gym floor renovations, we proudly added the name of Coach William A. Ryan, the namesake of our gym, directly onto the floor, ensuring his legacy remains a visible part of Warrior tradition for generations to come.
We also refreshed our volleyball courts and added an additional court to support the growth of our volleyball program ahead of the fall season.

Covenant Christian continues to grow! This summer, that growth included new faculty and staff, expanded roles, and several familiar faces transitioning into new grade levels and responsibilities.
As our enrollment and programs grow, we are intentional about strengthening our team to meet the needs of our students and families while maintaining the foundation that defines Covenant Christian.
New faces, new roles, and new opportunities may bring change, but our purpose remains the same: providing a Christ-centered education that prepares students to understand their world, communicate with their world, and influence their world for
Christ through servant leadership. We are grateful for the growth happening at Covenant and look forward to continuing to build on the strong foundation that has guided our school for more than 40 years.

The halls are full, classrooms are buzzing, and our Eagles are officially back on campus! There is something special about the start of a new school year—the excitement of seeing familiar faces, welcoming new families, settling into new classrooms, and looking ahead to all that God has in store.
This year, we are Cultivating Consistency across our campus and in our classrooms. From daily routines and academic expectations to relationships, faith, and servant leadership, consistency helps create an environment where students feel supported, challenged, and encouraged to grow. We know that growth doesn’t happen all at once—it comes through the faithful, everyday work of showing up, learning, encouraging one another, and doing our best.
At Covenant Christian, through Christ-centered education, meaningful relationships, and opportunities to lead and serve, we are equipping our students to understand the world around them, communicate confidently within it, and ultimately influence it for Christ through servant leadership. As we begin this new school year, we are thankful for the teachers and staff who pour into our students each day, the families who partner alongside us, and the students who bring so much life to our campus.
Here’s to a year filled with faith, friendships, learning, growth, consistency, and plenty of Eagle pride. We are excited to see what God will cultivate at Covenant this Year! Let’s go, Eagles!

Davidson’s IB Class of 2026 achieved an outstanding 95% IB Diploma pass rate, well above the global pass rate of 82%. This achievement reflects the hard work and academic commitment of our students and teachers throughout the rigorous two-year IB Diploma Programme.
Just in the past six years, 113 Davidson Warriors have earned the distinction of IB Diploma Candidate graduates, achieving an impressive 97% diploma pass rate. These graduates join more than 200,000 students worldwide who successfully complete the IB Diploma Programme each year. On average, our graduates enter college with 30 credit hours from IB and AP exams! We are so proud of this IB Class of 2026.
Ruth Annyarumbhatla, Luke Cabral, Lorenzo Carr, Elizabeth Chester, Jason Farmer, Alyssa Fields, Jackson Fox, Nadia Godwin, Sheldan Hollins-Clark, Sariah Hossain, Farah Hujier, Aurelia Lyons, Sean Mitteer, Karma Molokhia, Julia Panchenko, Sumedh Patil, Reid Presel, Kamden Raiford, Marleigh Rollins, Shrawan Shahi, Gillian Weeks.

At St. Luke’s, learning doesn’t stop when school is out – it continues all year long!
This summer, members of our faculty attended professional development conferences across the Southeast, including the Mega Conference for Educators, the Florida Bandmasters Summer Conference, and Get Your Teach On. From collaborating with fellow educators and learning from nationally recognized experts to exploring innovative teaching strategies and participating in hands-on workshops, our teachers invested their time in growing professionally so they can provide the very best learning experiences for our students.
We are incredibly proud of our faculty’s commitment to lifelong learning and excellence. We can’t wait to see the fresh ideas, new strategies, and renewed inspiration they bring back to their classrooms this school year!

Professional growth doesn’t stop when the school year ends! This summer, one of our 1st Grade teachers and member of Covenant’s Administrative Team traveled to Orlando to attend Get Your Teach On, an energetic professional development experience that brings together thousands of educators from across the country.
The conference is built around a simple idea: Together is Better. Through collaboration, grade-level connections, and shared experiences, educators are encouraged to learn from one another while discovering new ways to engage, challenge, and support their Students. What makes Get Your Teach On especially valuable is its focus on practical, classroom- ready strategies. Sessions provided creative ideas, useful tools, and fresh approaches that teachers can take back to their classrooms and put into action.
And that is exactly what happened at Covenant! During our Faculty & Staff In-Service, she brought some of that Get Your Teach On energy back to campus, sharing new tools and strategies with our teachers as we prepared for the year ahead. It was a great opportunity to learn together, exchange ideas, and continue building a culture where our faculty encourages and equips one another.
As we Cultivate Consistency this school year, opportunities like these remind us that consistency and growth go hand in hand. When our educators continue learning, collaborating, and investing in their craft, those efforts ultimately make their way into the classroom and benefit our students.
We are grateful for teachers who are willing to learn, lead, and then bring what they have learned back to their Covenant family. Together truly is better!

Students kicked off their first day in the STEM Lab by discovering that great ideas are even better when we work together. Using only string, rubberbands, and teamwork, students tackled the Cup Stack Pyramid Challenge—putting their communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills to the test. No hands on the cups…just creative thinking and a whole lot of teamwork.
First STEM challenge of the year = SUCCESS!

Mobile Christian teachers were so excited to welcome back students on August 6th. Our Night of Prayer on Aug 6th was a time for parents to come pray over their student’s classrooms. We are ready for a great school year!

As students returned to campus for the start of a new school year at Cottage Hill Christian Academy, the excitement and energy were evident throughout our classrooms, hallways, and athletic fields. From the first day back, our school community embraced the opportunity to learn and grow together. This year, we are committed to making a meaningful impact both on campus and in the community, while keeping Christ at the center of everything we do. Guided by faith and united as Warriors, we look forward to a year of academic achievement, spiritual growth, and purposeful service as we strive to honor God in all we accomplish.

Council’s Meet the Teacher event was a resounding success. Students and parents explored the school and classrooms, meeting their new teachers with big smiles and contagious excitement for the year ahead. It was a wonderful way to start what promises to be a fantastic school year!

St. Dominic Dads spent the day working on campus to clean out the field house and spruce up the campus.

Mr. Will Garey begins his second year teaching at Little Flower in the ACE program through the University of Notre Dame. He has acknowledged that his preparation through the ACE program has been a challenge, but it has developed his skills in the classroom. Watching him with his students, one can see how he loves his experience with a classroom full of fourth graders.

Two of St. Dominic’s biggest fans are pastor, Fr. Driscoll and mascot, Goldie.

From Kindergarten to 5th Grade, our students had a great first week of school!

Students at St. Mary’s Catholic School were all smiles returning to campus for the 26-27 school year. On Friday, August 7th the school hosted their annual Back to School Burger Bash where students could meet their teacher, see their classroom and reunite with friends. The school welcomed all students back to campus for the first day of school on August 12th.

A great school year doesn’t start without lots of preparation. Little Flower Catholic School teachers began their school year days before the first student entered the doors. Father Travis Burnett, pastor of Little Flower Church spoke with the teachers about how their Catholic Mission will bring Christ to the students and their families.

St. Dominic students are back with smiles and ready to learn.

Meet Our Wonder Kid – Finley Gartman ’27. Finley was drawn to international relations and government from a young age, driven by her innate sense of equality and justice. That interest has taken her across the globe. She served as an international youth ambassador for the City of Mobile in its sister city, Ichihara, Japan, the summer before her junior year. Through UMS-Wright’s Project Engage program, she has completed internships with US Magistrate Judge Bradley Murray ’86 at the Southern District of Alabama federal court and with attorney Michael Berson ’98, a federal lobbyist at Adams and Reese. She received the University of Rochester’s Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award for her commitment to social justice and community action. Congratulations, Finley!

UMS-Wright’s Annual Lads & Dads Night is a special tradition that brings our youngest Bullpups and their dads together with the varsity football team. Hosted by Coach Williams and the varsity players, the evening gives boys in grades K3–4 the opportunity to spend time with the team, meet the players, and get autographs from their favorite Varsity Bulldogs! Nights like Lads & Dads create meaningful opportunities for our youngest Bullpups to look up to, connect with, and be inspired by the older boys who lead the way!

All students returned to St. Pius X campus August 12th. All faculty, staff, and students are ready for a great 2016-2027 school year!

ERD Staff posed for a picture while they were excitedly preparing to welcome students back for a new school year.

How does your garden grow? At St. Dominic our butterfly garden grows with the help of 4th and 5th grade teachers and parents.

Welcome back, Impalas! St. Ignatius opened the 2026-27 school year with nearly 50 nursery students, more than 200 preschoolers, and over 400 K-8 students on campus. Led by pastor Fr. Bry Shields and principal Ms. Tori Miller, St. Ignatius is proud to form the next generation of Catholic leaders, beginning with our tiniest Impalas. It’s going to be a great year! In the words of St. Ignatius of Loyola, “Go forth and set the world on fire.” #TheCatholicDifference #HisPathTheirFuture

Our Cougars are officially back, and the school year is off to a wonderful start! The halls are once again filled with energy, laughter, and plenty of smiles as our students begin another year of learning, growing, and living out our Catholic faith. We’re excited for all the memories, milestones, and blessings this year will bring!

Three members of the CCS faculty and staff were recently recognized by the Archdiocese of Mobile Catholic Schools for an incredible 20 years of service. Congratulations to Amy Heim, Robin Barto, and Mary Zito on reaching this remarkable milestone! We are grateful for their dedication, commitment, and years of service to our CCS community.

Oh, if these walls could speak! And speak they do at LWCC Kingdom Academy, where learning is everywhere students turn.
From Creator to Creation, the planets of the galaxy, and a full Periodic Table in the World of Science, to a Word Wall and a map of the world, every space becomes an opportunity to discover, imagine, and learn. LWCC Kingdom Academy has put its hands to the paintbrushes, transforming ordinary walls into colorful learning experiences that make education fun, engaging, and inspiring for every student.
And now, the learning goes beyond the walls! With creativity in hand and imaginations geared up, LWCCKA students are ready to create, explore, and make their mark throughout an exciting and imaginative 2026-27 school year!

What better way to meet your teacher than with a sweet treat? Recently, St. Ignatius welcomed more than 700 students to campus for Meet the Teacher, where they found their classrooms, discovered which friends are in their homeroom, and celebrated with frozen yogurt from Cold Snap Frozen Yogurt. Thank you, Cold Snap, for helping us start the year on a sweet note! #HisPathStartsHere

As we open the doors for the 2026-27 school year, we remind our families and community of the St. Ignatius mission: to form leaders in mind, body, and spirit. A Catholic education shapes not only a student’s academic future but also their character and their view of the world. At St. Ignatius, students learn to be leaders, servants, and friends to all. We are proud to partner with our exceptional parent community to create a school environment that is safe, warm, engaging, and faithful. Welcome back to school, Impalas! #TheCatholicDifference #HisPathTheirFuture #HisPathStartsHere

It was a wonderful first day of school at Council! Students and teachers returned with big smiles, eager hearts, and a readiness to learn. We’re looking forward to another fabulous year filled with growth, achievement, and joy!