28 • Thursday, June 28, 2012
Super Scholars
schools
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Altamont Junior Varsity Team Wins National Title
W
ith an unblemished record, the Altamont School’s Junior Varsity Scholars Bowl Team was named the Junior Varsity National Champion of the National Academic Championship. Scores from three separate competitions in three cities were tallied to determine the overall winner. Altamont took two JV teams and one middle school team to nationals this year. The national championship team members are Leon Dure, 12th grade; Elizabeth Anne Brown and Jonathan Hurowitz, 10th grade; and Fletcher Hare, ninth grade. “Altamont has put Birmingham and Alabama in the national scholastic spotlight thanks to our performances in academic competitions this
year,” said Buck Crowe, the school’s Scholars Bowl coach. “Students from Birmingham can compete against everyone in the country, from California public schools to the elite up-East boarding schools.” Crowe believes that all Altamont team members could be nationally ranked. “Our B team made it to the semifinals, and our middle school team took second place in their division at nationals,” he said. “Each of those achievements are worthy of recognition on their own, but when coupled with a national championship, it’s a particularly striking testament to the overall strength of our program.” Crowe said the victory is a win not just for the four students who went undefeated in New Orleans but for the
young program as a whole. “All three of the school’s teams are very close,” he said. “Altamont scholars play together, practice together and could not have accomplished the win without each other. I can’t imagine a tournament without an ultimate Frisbee or card game between rounds.” Elizabeth Anne Brown, Altamont sophomore and division MVP, agreed with her coach. “Over the past couple of years, it’s been incredible watching the program transform from a handful of interested kids to the force of nature it’s become,” she said. “Not only do we have a great atmosphere for friendly competition, but this group truly enjoys the material. “We feed off each other’s energy
Showing off the Altamont School’s Junior Varsity Scholars Bowl Team’s national championship trophy are from left: Elizabeth Anne Brown, Leon Dure (12th Photo special to the Journal grade, Jonathan Hurowitz and Fletcher Hare.
to be at our best, both on the buzzers and in class, and Scholars Bowl has brought a lot more meaning to our studies in school because we’re actually using what we learn on a day-today basis.
“This was our third year at nationals, and it seems that the third time really was the charm.” The National Academic Championship is the U.S.’s oldest national academic competition. ❖
School Notes
Brookwood Forest Elementary sixth grade graduates Mills Lowman, Will Bundy and Coe Taylor enjoyed a pool party to celebrate the end of school.
BFE Hosts Sixth Grade Graduation Brookwood Forest Elementary School celebrated graduation for sixth grade students May 25. Students received certificates of completion and enjoyed slide shows and memorabilia presentations. A reception at Pinetree Country Club followed the ceremony. Students, parents, family members and friends continued the celebration with lunch, a DJ and pool party. Sixth grade PTO chairmen were Laura Cope, Ashley DeGaris and Caroline Bundy.
Photo special to the Journal
time to play Wii video games, a Quirky Quotes Art session and a “Night of the Living Dead” Creature Ball and Costume Contest.
MBE Play Spotlights Alabama The Mountain Brook Elementary fourth grade recently presented a play
Librarian Encourages Summer Reading Terri Leslie, teen director at the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest, visited Liberty Park Middle School to talk to seventh and eighth grade students about summer reading. Leslie told students about some of her favorite teen books and gave each student a bookmark with a list of the books she discussed. The students were encouraged to participate in Library in the Forest summer activities. This year’s summer reading program theme is Own the Night. Activities include a pillowcase art session, a
Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest teen director Terri Leslie visited Liberty Park Middle School at the end of the year to encourage students to read during the summer. Photo special to the Journal
about Alabama for fellow students, parents, grandparents and friends. Louisa Elmore, the school’s music teacher, directed the show written by former MBE teacher Helen Sporl. The students sang songs relating to Alabama, and each child portrayed a different historical character. The students spoke about their characters and what they meant to Alabama. Characters were presented in chronological order starting with Indian tribe representatives, Hernando de Soto, Chief Tuscaloosa, Andrew Jackson and John Pierce. Other parts included Julia Tutwiler, Helen Keller, Gov. James “Big Jim” Folsom, Jesse Owens, Harper Lee, Gov. George Wallace, Condoleezza Rice, Paul “Bear” Bryant, Lionel Richie and Courteney Cox. Several students sang solos and participated in group dances. The show ended with “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”
Soccer Teams Join Forces for Charity The varsity boys’ soccer teams of Indian Springs School and the Altamont School met at Indian Springs recently for one of many spirited athletic competitions that take place between the crosstown rivals throughout the year. But at halftime, another competition between the schools brought them together. In an initiative led by ISS student body president Leah Fox, Springs and Altamont held a three-week canned food drive competition that ended with the April 18 game. The Defeat Hunger Challenge 2012 yielded more than 7,000 food and toiletry items for Oak Mountain Missions Ministries, a nonprofit in north Shelby Country. According to ISS Dean of Students Jan Fortson, the shelves at the OMM food pantry were almost empty when the schools’ donations arrived. In a hard-fought competition, Altamont won the food drive and subsequent bragging rights. ❖
Mountain Brook Elementary fourth graders appearing in a play about Alabama included: Lindsay Jane Drummond, Grace Murrell, Elizabeth Reid Gray, Isabelle Elkus, Robert Martin, Paul Stramaglia, Bryant McMahon, Thomas Latimer, Jackson Allison, Forest Whatley and Peter Cowin. Photo special to the Journal
Homewood students Achievement Awards
The Homewood Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Excellence in Education Luncheon this spring at Homewood Middle School. During the event, a Student of Achievement winner was honored from each school and a scholarship given to the high school winner. The system also showed off its dance and show choir program. Winning the Student of Achievement awards were from left: Ann Chandler, Homewood Middle; Evie Whitsett, Shades Cahaba; Jaden Alexander, Edgewood Elementary; Samantha Stephens, HallKent Elementary and Caleb Weaver, Homewood High. There to hand out their student achievement plaques were Homewood Schools Superintendent Bill Cleveland, far left; Homewood Chamber Executive Director Tricia Ford, Journal photo by Laura McAlister center; and Mayor Scott McBrayer.