Thursday, June 12, 2014 • 33
Schools
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Oak Mountain’s Dixon Is Top Notch Teacher
The Vestavia Hills High School We the People team recently placed in the top five in the nation at the We the People finals in Washington, D.C. Front, from left: Aditi Prasad, Emmy Ye, Kelly Chen, Andrea Lin, Nicole Estrada and Claire Chen. Back: Emma Jackson, Paul Joseph Spina, Mitchell Eitzen, Mary Catherine Cook, Siyin Han, Jaxon Thomley, Wendi Lu, Stacy Reimann, Patricia Howard, Silin Li, John Woodal and Austin Owen. Photo special to the Journal
VHHS We the People Team Is in Top Five After three days of simulated congressional hearings on the U.S. Constitution, Vestavia Hills High School placed in the top five in the nation at the We the People finals in Washington, D.C. Hundreds of teams participated in regional and state level competitions in the fall. Fifty-six teams were invited to compete in the first two days of constitutional debate at George Mason University. Only 10 teams advanced to the final day of competition. On the final day, competitors debated in congressional hearing rooms on Capitol Hill. Vestavia Hills High School’s team competed in the judiciary committee room in the Rayburn House Office Building, the same room used for the Watergate hearings. The We the People competition, sponsored by the Center for Civic Education, is in its 27th year. Students research and study the U.S. Constitution and compete in simulated congressional hearings that assess their knowledge and interpretation of government foundations. The subjects discussed range from pre-Constitution America to the modern era. We the People team member Jaxon Thomley said he was “beyond proud” of his teammates. “They are the definition of what it means to be an American, and I am honored to call them some of the best people I have ever worked with,” Thomley said. Other VHHS team members were Stacey Reimann, Jon Woodall, Silin Li, Mary Catherine Cook, PJ Spina, Austin Owen, Patricia Howard, Wendi Lu, Siyin Han, Mitchell Eitzen, Emma Jackson, Claire Chen, Nicole Estrada, Andrea Lin, Kelly Chen, Emmy Ye and Aditi Prasad. The team was led by teachers Amy Maddox and Jane Schaefer.
Highlands School Teachers Headed to Japan Two Highlands School teachers are spending two weeks in Japan this summer thanks to the Highlands School Parent Auxiliary. Tynley Baker and Brittany O’Brien received grants from the auxiliary’s Country of Study Fund, which provides money for international travel opportunities for faculty members.
Each summer, two faculty members will receive grants from the fund to travel to a country chosen by the Country of Study Committee. When the educators return, they will work in conjunction with school administrators and other faculty members to integrate the chosen country throughout the curriculum. The program is designed to significantly touch every grade level, 4K-8, and every discipline of the school, including a study of customs, culture, economy, language, history, political systems and geography. Baker and O’Brien are working to fully immerse themselves into the Japanese culture. They are staying with Japanese families, riding bikes throughout towns and visiting schools and landmarks. The teachers have already visited Hitachi, Ibaraki, Birmingham’s sister city in Japan, where they saw a statue of Vulcan donated to Hitachi by former Birmingham Mayor Richard Arrington. The large Japanese lanterns at the entrance to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens were given to the city by officials in Hitachi.
Bachus Hosts Students at Wildlife Program in D.C. In his final year as a co-chairman of the House Zoo and Aquarium Caucus, U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Vestavia Hills, decided to get a little wild with local students visiting Washington, D.C. For a group of fifth-graders from the Southminster Day School in Vestavia Hills, Bachus arranged a special showing of wildlife brought to Capitol Hill for the annual reception of the Zoo and Aquarium Caucus. A baby cheetah, wallaby, lionhead rabbit and North American porcupine were among the animals brought to the courtyard of the Rayburn House Office Building for the students to see. “This was a memorable opportunity for these students from the Southminster Day School to get ‘up close and wild’ with some amazing animals and their caretakers,” Bachus said. “The purpose of the Zoo and Aquarium Caucus has always been to promote interest in wildlife and conservation education. Events like this remind all of us about our obligation to be responsible stewards of nature.” The Southminster Day School group included about 30 students and 30 parents along with school representatives.
An Oak Mountain Elementary School teacher was recently recognized by the Riverchase Galleria. Rosalyn Dixon was named a Top Notch Teacher in the Riverchase Galleria’s Celebrate Teachers contest. The goal of the contest was to recognize local teachers who show extra effort and caring in the classroom and affect their students’ lives in positive and unique ways. Dixon was nominated for the honor by the parent of one of her students. Others in the community cast their votes online to support Dixon. Dixon has been a second-grade teacher at OMES for seven and a half years. After a field trip to the Birmingham Zoo with her students, Dixon arrived back at school to a surprise announcement and presentation of the Top Notch Teacher title by Riverchase Galleria representatives. She was also awarded a $500 gift card. Dixon said she was excited that her students were able to be a part of the celebration as they were provided with an ice cream party by Häagen-Dazs.
Spain Park Theatre Wins Best in Show Award Spain Park High School Theatre has
Oak Mountain Elementary School’s Rosalyn Dixon was recently named a Top Notch Teacher by the Riverchase Galleria. Photo special to the Journal wrapped up its season, but the students will be busy this summer. Last fall, advanced theater class students wrote, scored, designed and produced their own one-act play for the statewide Trumbauer Theatre Festival. For the seventh year in the school’s history, SPHS Theatre was named Best in Show at the state’s high school theater competition. Spain Park student Megan Pecot was named Best Actress in a One Act at the contest. Instead of taking their show, “Amelia the Brave,” to the Southeastern Theatre Conference--the next step after the state
competition--the students opted to look for alternate venues in which to perform. In January, they submitted the play for consideration to the Atlanta Fringe Festival, which features alternative and new theater. The Spain Park entry was selected as one of 20 acts from across the United States and Canada to perform at the festival June 5-8 in the Little Five Points area of Atlanta. Several students from SPHS Theatre will also travel to Scotland in August to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Send School News to: kdrexel@otmj.com
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