38 • THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2011
SCHOOLS
OTM Students, Schools Work on Worthy Causes
Brookwood Forest Elementary team members who will participate in the Autism Society of Alabama’s fundraising walk include, from left: Carolyn Smith, Kat Smith, Lyndy Smith, Michelle Hale, Stephanie Cook, Abby Davis, Kathleen Davis, Flynn Davis, Ryan Davis, Dan Gilliland, Henley Hager, Robert Dillard, Louise Griffin, Jerry the Frog, Remy Cron, Bama Hager, Randy Cron, Susan Foster, Claire Tynes, Tracy Cron, John Morgan Rowlen and Kim Rowlen. Photo special to the Journal
BWF Forms Autism Walk Team
Several Brookwood Forest Elementary families affected by autism spectrum disorder formed a team in preparation for the Autism Society of Alabama’s fundraising walk April 30 at Regions Park. The Brookwood Forest volunteers will walk and participate in the event to raise awareness of autism spectrum disorders, which affect about one in every 100 children. BWF families participating include the Smith, Davis, Hager, Dillard, Cron, and Rowlen families. The school’s special education staff members supporting the walk are Michelle Hale, Stephanie Cook, Dan Gilliland, Louise Griffin, Melisa Suttle, Susan Foster, Claire Tynes, Martee Hewitt, Andrea Chapura and Becky Hendrick.
Working at the stand were, from left, front: Caleb Harwell, Taylor Harwell, Haley Garrett and Sam Garrett. Middle row: Ben Garrett, Maddie Robison and Madalyn Walton. Back: Austin Harwell.
VHEE Students Make a ‘Stand’ for Japan Several Vestavia Hills
Kendall Huynh and Benjy Ly raised money for the American Red Cross’ relief efforts in Japan by setting up a chip stand in Hoover.
Photo special to the Journal
Elementary East students and their siblings raised money for Japanese relief with a lemonade stand. Proceeds were donated to Samaritan’s Purse to aid Japan relief efforts after the country’s recent earthquake and tsunami.
Students Team Up to Help Japan
Photo special to the Journal
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After seeing the devastation caused by Japan’s recent tsunami, two sixth graders were moved to action. Benjy Ly, an 11-year-old Briarwood Christian School student, and Kendall Huynh, a 12year-old Berry Middle School student, spent a recent weekend raising money for the American Red Cross at a chip stand they set up near their parents’ business in Hoover. They set up their stand in a shopping center off Alabama 31 and created signs asking drivers to “honk if you love Japan.” The chips were given away for free, and Benjy and Kendall asked people to consider donating to the American Red Cross. The project raised almost $520 for the Red Cross to help with relief efforts.
Homewood High Is Banner School
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Homewood High School has been selected as a CLAS (Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools) Banner School, an award given to schools with outstanding educational programs that serve as models for other Alabama schools. HHS was nominated by Bill Cleveland, Homewood City Schools superintendent. Principal Kevin Maddox completed the application. The school serves 961 students. A panel of educators selected the school as one of 13 winning programs from 130 nominations from across the state. As a banner school, Homewood High School will make a brief presentation about its exemplary program, The Movement, at the CLAS annual recognition luncheon in Montgomery The Movement, a studentcentered physical education program, includes classroom instruction focused on the individual student, prevention and rehabilitation for athletes, adapted programs for students with special needs and employee wellness programs. The Movement has been successful in involving a variety of participants and has been recognized at the national, state, and local levels. Maddox and Cleveland will also be recognized at the luncheon and presented with a CLAS banner to display in the school.
HHS Physics Team Wins State Title
The Homewood High School physics team won first place in the public school division and also defeated all private schools at the annual state competition at the University of Alabama. Burke Smith and Elizabeth Gauntt finished third and fourth
in the individual competition and were both offered full scholarships. Letters of recognition written by Gov. Robert Bentley were sent to both students and to Will Johnston and Hannah Mae Robinson for their outstanding performances. The team is coached by AP Physics teacher Zack Lindsey.
Berry Student Wins Geographic Bee
Daniel Picard, a sixth grader at Berry Middle School in Hoover, won first place in the State Geographic Bee at Samford University April 1. Picard correctly answered “Iraq” to the question: “Basra, which is connected to the northwestern end of the Persian Gulf by the Shatt al Arab, is the principal Daniel Picard port in what country?” to win a tie-breaker in the championship round. He received a $100 cash prize, a digital set of National Geographic issues dating to 1888 and an all-expenses paid trip to represent Alabama in the national finals in Washington, D.C., May 25-26. The championship round of the national finals will air on the National Geographic Channel. He is the son of Michele and Lee Picard. Alabama’s top 100 geography students, all in grades four through eight, competed in the event. Competitors qualified by winning contests in their schools and placing among the top 100 scorers in the state on a test administered by the National Geographic Society. They represented schools in 26 Alabama counties. ❖
The Homewood High School physics team celebrated its state championship at Dreamland in Tuscaloosa. Photo special to the Journal