THE CURRENT
Orange Beach City Schools
In this month's edition:
CELEBRATING ONE YEAR
ACAP CELEBRATION
MAKO HOMECOMING
COASTAL RESOURCES PARTNERSHIP
Paradise
Educating
"Creating a Legacy: The Start of the Second Year"
When I thumb through this edition of The Current, Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World comes to mind. Though sand and water are not mentioned, our most valuable resource isthe people of Orange Beach.
The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by I see friends shaking hands Saying, "How do you do?"
They're really saying I love you
There are so many smiles on people of all ages on the pages within, and there has been so much success. We are indeed a blessed community living in a peaceful moment in time.
After turning one year old, our system received ten (10) top-ten state accolades for proficiency results on state testing. We were stoked (and still are)! Before school, we added nearly a dozen new teaching and classified units. New initiatives are being developed, literally as I type. Like a Mako, we are fast-moving with much more on the horizon!
During the summer, I committed to focusing on the positive, true, noble, right, pure, and lovely, whatever is admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy to meditate on these things is my objective for this school year. Please join me in this focus, not that we will not address shortcomings, but to count our blessings so that we might expound and do more good in the near future.
And remember What a Wonderful World it is in which we live, learn, educate, work, and play.
Randy Wilkes, SuperintendentF A L L I S S U E 2 0 2 3
Celebrating One Year!
July 1st marked Orange Beach City School’s first birthday!
What an incredible year it has been! Thank you to ALL who poured into our school. Thank you to every supporter who prayed, invested, and volunteered. Thank you to our leaders who believe that we will achieve excellence and have worked each day toward that goal.
Thank you to our students who continue to challenge themselves and rise to higher expectations. Thank you to our faculty and staff who face the tremendous task of shaping the lives of our students and the future of our community.
This is only the beginning...
Recognizing Our Faculty
Institute 2023
Thestartoftheschoolyearwasawonderfulwaytocometogetherandrecognize someoftheoutstandingaccomplishmentsofourfaculty.Pleasehelpusin congratulatingsomeoftheincrediblemembersoftheMakoFamily.
Hero of the Year
Katie Hurst
A superhero responds and reacts prudently, swiftly, and purposefully. They take charge in a time of crisis. Our Hero of the Year has an uncanny knack for being present in the time of crisis She cooly and instinctively responds accordingly. She is challenged every day and consistently exceeds every expectation. She is responsible for one of our most memorable moments last year - the silent Mako Walk She sees a need and makes things happen. Last year, she realized that a student was choking at the lunch table, had lost color, and was utilizing the international symbol for choking. She immediately and successfully performed the Heimlich, likely saving the life of our student. Ever humble, she never seeks the limelight or public recognition. However, she certainly deserves it. We are so proud that Katie is a member of our team. Congratulations, Katie, and thank you for serving as a reminder that heroes still live among us!!
Above & Beyond award Scott Cook
We are blessed with so many who go above and beyond in various capacities Many of the members of our staff wear many and varied hats. Yet Mr. Cook is without boundaries. He i k d d h f i g 90 i 55 h ld! He was the rudder that stabilized nt Principal, he is responsible for me an integral part of our school him because of his unwavering o award Mr. Cook the Above and
egacy award el Ellsworth
highest award is the Legacy s awarded to a person who Mako spirit inside and outside m. Mrs. Ellsworth is unrelenting of excellence. She loves a
costume, especially the Mako costume in which she runs with students in the halls and cuts a rug at pep rallies! She coaches our cross country and track teams and can be seen at nearly every Orange Beach event. She is our STEAM teacher at Sea, Sand, and Stars. She does a great job incorporating our environment with Marine Science, seeks and retains numerous guest speakers, and assists/coordinates multiple field trips. She thinks nothing of seeing a need and delivering! She demonstrates that love of students that we hope sets the bar for our schools. We are proud that she is developing a legacy of learning, seeking opportunity, and unwavering school spirit! Congratulations to Mrs. Ellsworth for earning the 2023 Legacy Award!
Celebrate! Somethingto
There is a lot to celebrate when it comes to ACAP scores! Orange Beach City Schools placed 11 times in the Top 10 for the state of Alabama! Our teachers and students have worked tirelessly in the classroom, and the effort was reflected in their scores. ACAP pep rallies at both schools recognized teachers and students for their accomplishments. Both Finn Bussey and Antony Gomes had PERFECT scores at OBMHS, and Afton Tice, Ruth Kincaid, Brooks Morrison, and Henry Thomas had PERFECT scores at OBES.
Congratulations to these very high-achieving students!! Our teachers were equally honored for their scores. The crowd went wild at the pep rally for “J-Rob,” as it was announced that her students earned the highest math scores in the state! We could not be more proud of our students and teachers! Keep it going, Makos!!
Want to know the rankings? Check it out!
Of the state’s 143 school systems, Orange Beach City Schools placed in the top ten in the following ACAP proficiency areas.
7th-highest overall (combined mathematics, English Language Arts, and science proficiency scores)
4th-highest mathematics - all ACAP grade levels
7th-highest English Language Arts - all ACAP grade levels
2nd-highest - 2nd Grade reading
3rd-highest - 5th Grade mathematics
6th-highest - 5th Grade English Language Arts
2nd-highest - 6th Grade mathematics
7th-highest - 7th Grade English Language Arts
Highest - 7th Grade mathematics
7th-highest - 7th Grade English Language Arts
6th-highest - 8th Grade mathematics
Homecoming 2023 was an amazing experience at Orange Beach City Schools! From the Lip Sync Battle to the first-ever community pep rally on the beach, our students showed their Mako spirit! The homecoming game, recognition of the court, and halftime performances showcased our incredible students! It’s great to be a Mako, and it’s great to be part of the Orange Beach community! A very special thank-you to all those who made it possible!
Thank you, Coastal Resources!
Living on the coast allows our students hands-on learning experiences to further their understanding of environmental sustainability, coastal wildlife, and marine safety. The Orange Beach Coastal Resources Team has done an incredible job partnering with our schools to provide these opportunities.
Visiting OBES, they presented a hammerhead shark pup, explained how it came into their possession and taught students more about the wildlife along our beaches. Our fifth grade enjoyed shrimping, surveying birds, and learning more about our ecosystem. Our sixth grade took their first field trip with Coastal Resources to Robinson and Bird Island to explore wildlife and other living organisms in the water using drones.
Without Coastal Resources and Orange Beach Marine Police, these experiences would not be possible. Thank you for helping our students learn beyond the classroom walls and love where they live!
Want to learn more about the hammerhead shark pup?
Checkoutthisvideo!
Counselor Collaborative
All are welcome to join our Student Affairs Team on Oct. 19th for the Counseling Collaborative. This initiative connects our parents with experts on topics of concern. This month, the Drug Task Force will engage in conversation with our community about the dangers of drugs and vaping. They will provide a wealth of information to bring awareness and assist parents in making educated decisions that can positively impact the lives of their children.
a m m e r h e a d S h a r k i n O r a n g e B e a c h
What makes OBCS different?
We are building a legacy... This is only the beginning! GrowingArtsPrograms PartnershipwithCoastalResources NewOpportunitiesforStudentLearningandEngagement CommitmenttoshowcasingallMakotalents! SupportiveParentsandGrandparents State-ChampionshipAthletics ExpectExcellenceTheaterOpportunities First-Respondersinvestedin teaching ourstudents ServiceDaysandCaringforourCoastline CommunityCommitmentto StudentSafety TheBESTSROsandcommitmentbyOBBOEand CityofOrangeBeachtoprioritizesafety SchoolSpiritandSeniorClassLeadership LearningOutsidetheClassroom Hands-OnLearningandSkillAquisition SupportbyOrangeBeachCityProfessionals Investedteacherswhomakeadifference! Creative InitiativestoEncourageandMotivateStudents Sea,Sand,andStars IncredibleSupportfromOrangeBeachCityLeaders
Makos in the Morning
Our Broadcasting Class is off and running! Morning announcements, Makos in the Morning, are now hosted by students. Miss them this morning? Don’t worry, you can always catch them on-demand by using this link!
walk & roll to school day
Walk & Roll to School Day was a huge success! Thank you to all those who took part. A very special thank you to the Orange Beach Police Department, Orange Beach Fire Department, Dad Squad & PTO for keeping us safe and making the day special.
get your mako gear!
Visit our online stores at Costa Prints or BSN Sideline Store for your Mako Gear! Shirts, hats, fan wear, and more are available and shipped directly to your home. More products to come, so keep checking back!
30+ Club
This month, students were recognized as members of the 30+ Club for achieving at least a 30 composite on the ACT. This achievement opens doors for college admission, scholarship opportunities, and many other resources. Congratulations to this exceptional group of students! We are looking for many more to join this group in the coming weeks For more information, watch the 30+ Club Video!
Red-Ribbon Leaders
Each year, Orange Beach City Schools recognizes one student from the high school, middle school, and elementary school to be honored as a Red Ribbon Week Leader. These students are chosen for their leadership skills, commitment to excellence inside and outside the classroom, and ability to make a positive impact on their peers and community. This year, we are thrilled to recognize Rivers Webb, Addison Lee, and Brooks Morrison.
These three students were honored at a banquet on September 25th. Representing us extremely well, we are so proud that they are Makos As part of the program, each of the students will be working on a service project Be on the lookout for ways to support their initiatives
Congratulations to each of you!!
Character Development
Twice a month during advisory at OBMHS, our students will be working with John Maxwell’s iLead Program “iLead is John Maxwell’s values-based leadership development designed specifically for students. It combines John’s proven content with a peer-to-peer process that allows students to practice leadership as they are learning it.”
OBMHS is the first in the state of Alabama to roll out this initiative in grades 7-12. We can’t wait to see the impact of this program on our students.
*Information taken from the iLead website
For more info, click the icon above
Stay connected:
With so many great things going on in Orange Beach City Schools, be sure that you are in the know!
Log-in issues with PowerSchool or Remind? Contact Tiffany Walters, twalters@orangebeachboe.org
Want to see the latest videos: Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: @OrangeBeachCitySchools
Have a school-related question? Check out our updated directories and Q&A directories on our website
National Board Certification is the "Gold Standard" for teacher certification. According to NBPTS, the goal is to develop, retain, and recognize accomplished teachers and generate ongoing school improvement. We are thankful that our School Board sees the value in supporting teacher development and so many of our teachers are committed to the process! In this cohort, eight of our teachers will be pursuing this certification!! Want more details? Check out this video.
The Legacy Continues...Last year, we spent the year focused on Creating a Lasting Legacy. We wanted our faculty and students to know they are part of building a foundation that will last well after our journey here is over. After the year wrapped up, the initiative and purpose did not change. Collectively, we will keep working, crafting, and striving to be better. I faithfully believe that we are all here, at this place, at this time, and with each other because there is a bigger plan in which we must do our part. It takes us all to create a legacy, and I am excited that this is just the beginning!
-Mary Courtney, Director of Student Affairs & SpecialProjects
Visit our websites for the latest information:
District-Wide Site: OrangeBeachBOE.org
OBMHS: OBCitySchools.org
OBES: OBSchools.org
