26 • Thursday, March 22, 2012
Schools
Twice the Nice
Clockwise from above: Officers of the Vestavia Hills SGA are bottom row from left: Nicole Lamb, parliamentarian; Barbara Thornton, secretary; Riley Logsdon, chaplain; and Lauren Reeder, girls vice president. In back: Alex Vogt, boys vice president; Leah Dennis, treasurer; Marily Gray, historian; and Callie Barganier, president. The SGA organized a supply drive for those homes hit hardest by recent tornadoes. Barbecue the Bucs is one of the SGA’s biggest fundraisers of the fall. Students cookout before the Hoover game and teachers and staff are Photos special to the Journal judges.
Vestavia High SGA Raises Funds for Two Charities This Year
By Laura McAlister
tion, programs and research. The Sikuzu Community School will open this year and provide a nearby school for elementary age students. The children have had to walk five miles to the nearest primary school. hanks to the leadership of a few Vestavia Hills High School While the SGA chose the charities, the entire school body pitched students, children in Africa are one step closer to getting a new in to raise money for both the organizations. school, and the Juvenile Arthritis Foundation will receive more Through fun activities like the girls’ powder puff game, the boys’ much-needed funds for education and research. homecoming king contest and the Barbecue the Bucs Cook Off, the During the first semester of the school year, the VHHS Student school raised a record amount. Government Association raised money for two charities – the Juvenile “We also have a talent show,” said Riley Logsdon, SGA chaplain. Arthritis Foundation and the Sikuzu Community School in Zambia, “We do that during school, and it’s Africa. $5 to go. They get to get out of Through various activities class, and the money goes to a good throughout the semester, the SGA cause.” raised more than $20,000 for the Alex Vogt, the SGA boys’ vice two charities. During a recent president, said the events are meant school-wide assembly, the group to be fun and also bring together stupresented each with a check for dents and the community. $10,000. “We take donations at football “This is just really neat, games, so it really is the whole combecause the students are the ones munity making it happen,” he said. who organize all this,” said teach“We’re not only raising money, but er and SGA co-sponsor Jennifer it’s memories, too.” Carson. “They decide on the Though the logistics of hosting charities at the first of the year. the fundraisers can get “stressful,” They do all the work.” Callie said, it’s all worth it when At the beginning of the school they’re able to present the checks to year, several charities met before the charities. the SGA, which consists of offiThis year, Greg Jeane and reprecers and representatives from each Participating in the fall’s Powder Puff game, another SGA funsentatives from the Juvenile Arthritis grade. Members then voted on drasier, are from left: Barbara Thornton, Caroline Smith and Caitlin Foundation came to the assembly to which charity to support during Photo special to the Journal McCallum receive the donations and to thank the fall semester. the SGA and the student body for In past years, the SGA picked their hard work. only one charity. This year, however, two had such close ties to home “It’s just really amazing to see the reactions,” said SGA co-sponsor that the vote was split. The group decided to raise money for both. Beth Waltson. “It’s just really so amazing what this group and the Christian Smith, a ninth grader at the school, has juvenile arthritis and spoke to the SGA about the challenges of the disease. VHHS teacher whole school does, and this was just the fall semester.” This semester, the students will tackle a different fundraiser – Relay Lauren Dressback talked with the students about the Sikuzu Community for Life. Although it will be the major fundraiser for the spring semesSchool, which her father, Greg Jeane, helped plan and construct. ter, just like in the fall, it won’t be the only one. “I think that’s why the vote was so close,” said SGA president Callie Throughout the year, the SGA has canned food drives and responds Barganier. “We had a teacher and then Christian.” to different needs in the community, including those caused by the The Juvenile Arthritis Foundation strives to reduce the impact of arthritis on the some 5,000 children in Alabama it affects through educa- recent tornadoes. ❖
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Journal Editor
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
School Notes Altamont Senior Recognized for Community Service Altamont School senior Sarah Bender has been recognized as a Distinguished Finalist by the 2012 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards for her community service activities. Sarah founded the Avondale Tutoring Club, a group that meets weekly at the Avondale library to help elementary and middle school students with homework on a weekly basis. As club president, Sarah has recruited more than 50 high school tutors. She organizes and schedules the tutoring sessions, sponsors fundraisers to purchase supplies and serves as a tutor herself. Sarah is a member of the C. Kyser Miree Ethical Leadership Center, is her Sarah Bender school’s SGA secretary and is a National Merit Finalist. “Sarah Bender is not only a great student but an amazing person,” said Ashley Davenport, Altamont’s SGA sponsor. “She is a young woman who has seen the blessings of her own life and used such knowledge and power to enhance the lives of others. “She is also self-motivated. Her idea to begin a tutoring organization at the Avondale library derived from a need she witnessed in her own community.” The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards represent the U.S.’s largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service. All public and private middle level and high schools, as well as nonprofit organizations, were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award. The awards are based on personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth. Since the program began in 1995, more than 100,000 young volunteers nationwide have been honored by the program at the local, state or national level.
Liberty Park Middle Students are using iPads for every day tasks as part of a pilot class at Photo special to the Journal the school.
LPMS Students Try Out iPad 2s As part of a pilot class at Liberty Park Middle School, Martha Manley’s eighth grade students are using iPad 2s daily. The iPads are used to access the class blog for the daily agenda, handouts, reading assignments and more. Tests are given interactively, and assignments are submitted via email or through other electronic resources. The iPads give students the ability to read articles, take notes, download books, watch videos and research information without having to keep up with multiple pieces of paper. Students use applications such as NoteTaker HD, Penultimate, Coaster Physics, Pages, Angry Birds and Google Apps. The students have the option of taking the iPads home to read, study and complete assignments. Students in the iPad pilot class cover the same curriculum and content as traditional science classes. ❖