AROUND THE AREA

Project promotes working together

Ellen Price’s Jim Pearson Elementary School first grade students took members of the public on a trip through the solar system.

Students created a rocketship view of the solar system that included the sun, eight planets and stars from far away galaxies.

“It took them into teams,” Price said. “It was groups of two students per planet. They researched their plant and had to come up with six facts about their planet they thought were important.”

Alexander City Mayor Woody Baird, superintendent Dr. Keith Lankford, members of the Alexander City Board of Education, Alexander City city councilmembers and parents crowded into Price’s room to visit with the students and try some of the dehydrated fruit that would be similar to what’s on a spaceship.

Price even created astronaut pudding for her students, letting them mix it in ziplock bags.

“This is what they remember,” Lankford said. “This is the

learning part about it.” Lankford said students may not get all the facts correct in first grade, but they are learning skills that will be around for a lifetime. “They are learning about working together,” Lankford said. “Nowhere do you go now that you are not working with someone.” Lankford said the student experiences in projects created by teachers such as Price teach the value of team building. “Anytime a kid struggles, another steps in to help,” Lankford said. “It translates to when they get to be adults and helping others. I love it.” Price said projects Out of This World Flavor Students in Ellen Price's first grade class sample dehydrated foods that could be available to astronauts in space as part of their unique like this help students get out of their comfort zone, help study of the solar system. them learn new words and help them work together. “They learn to work together,” Price said. “It doesn’t matter what race, or nationality, or disability, they learn to help each other reach a goal.” ~ Cliff Williams

Music Minister Returns to Dadeville

Charles Kuykendall, former music minister at First Baptist Church in Dadeville, will return to the church next month.

Beta Club adopts campus cleanup plan

Dadeville High School Beta Club students recently adopted a stretch of East South Street, including the campus's front entrance, as part of the state's Adopt-A-Mile program and resolved to keep it clean.

Five students and a teacher got to work early one morning last month with hi-vis jackets and trash pickers lent by the Dadeville Beautification Board.

Beta Club, an academic honors program, "is about community service," club sponsor and science teacher Renatta Rives said. Students must log a certain number of service hours to be recognized as members at graduation, which they do with projects like this litter pick-up.

It also has intrinsic rewards, according to its members. ~ Siri Hedreen

Academic Club Honors Environment

Along with four other Beta Club members and a teacher, Dadeville's Adam Ray is part of a crew that adopted East South Street.