By Louise Pitts

Last week, several teachers at Jemison Elementary School were awarded PEECH Grants. Betty Giles and Pennie Broussard, members of the PEECH Grant Committee, brought the good news and presented the checks to the fortunate teachers.
Since educators are experiencing trying economic times, these grants were appreciated and will be used to purchase needed items for the classroom.
The recipients were: Jill Davis, Stacie Childress, Lynn Price, Lisa Short, Hollie Connell, Alex Ellison and Samantha McClendon.
This week is National Breakfast Week. The theme is “Ready, Set, Go.”
The lunchroom ladies at Jemison Elementary School spent this past weekend decorating the lunchroom with a race car theme.
They also developed a menu to go along with the theme. Students were served “Ready, Set, Go Sausage, Biscuit, and Gravy” on Monday for breakfast.
Our lunchroom ladies always go beyond the call of duty to provide our students not only with a wonderful breakfast but to entertain and make the students’ meals enjoyable.
We are very fortunate to have such caring and talented lunchroom ladies.

Louise Pitts is the principal of Jemison Elementary School.

By Alan Thompson

Kayla Brasher of Jemison High School has been elected state DECA President.
After campaigning at the state career development conference in Montgomery, Brasher’s peers from across the state voted her in as the 2010-11 president.
Brasher is a junior at JHS. She is the daughter of Harland and Rita of Jemison.
As a member of her local DECA chapter for the past two years, Brasher has strived to be active. She has attended regional and state leadership conferences and competed on several levels.
As president of the state association, Brasher has a busy schedule ahead of her. She will attend the International Career Development Conference in Louisville, Ky. in April, and she will have a week-long training conference in Opelika and attend the State Officer Institute in Washington D.C. along with regional and state leadership conferences.
“Kayla is ready to take on this role,” said Sandi Cullen, Brasher’s advisor. “She is a very hard worker and is very dedicated. I look forward to working with her in her new position in the coming year.”

Alan Thompson is the principal of Jemison High School.

By Mark Knight

In a time of economic strain, it might seem too difficult to come together for those in need.  But Jemison Middle School continues to do so into the winter and spring.
JMS is already focused on its award-winning Relay For Life team and the team’s fundraising.  According to Relay chairwoman Shonda Copen, the school is not at a loss for ideas.
“Our faculty and student participation has been incredible,” Copen said. “We’ve even had kids bring in lists of Relay fundraising ideas because they want to help out even more.Our Valentine’s Day pictures raised over $1,000, and we’re also selling Valentine’s candygrams.  But that’s just for starters.”
Copen said other fundraising ideas include Jean Fridays for faculty and a big school dance in the spring when the weather is warmer.
Assistant principal David Seale is also getting into the act.  A part-time musician, Seale has created a downloadable album of original songs with the proceeds going to the Relay team.
“I’ve released a few albums on iTunes, and I had a couple of new songs as well, so I set up an online store with an 18-song collection of old and new tracks for only $10, and that money will go to our team,” Seale said. “It’s a way for people to donate to a terrific cause and get a little something for themselves in the process.”
Two of the songs have true JMS connections.  One song, “Closer”, is a duet with JMS 7th grader Sarah Brantley that was performed at last year’s JMS talent show.  Another is a song Seale wrote years ago that he has played for JMS kids in past years.
“I played ‘Fat Dog’ for some fifth graders a couple of years in a row, and this year, several of them asked when I was going to record it,” he said.  “So I thought, ‘Why not?,’ and it’s now a reality.”
The album is available at davidseale.bandcamp.com. Buyers can get the whole album or just individual songs in formats that are compatible with mp3 players, iTunes, and iPods. He is also selling a seven-song CD for students for $3.
The Relay fundraising comes after two other incredibly successful drives.  As reported by The Clanton Advertiser in December, JMS history teacher Scott Ellison initiated a winter coat collection in which JMS sixth graders accumulated nearly 150 coats for needy students and families in Chilton County.
And Copen headed up the freeze pop drive for US troops fighting overseas.  With an initial goal of 1,500, the school surpassed that mark within the first few days.
“We had one homeroom alone reach 1,500, so our goal had to be adjusted,” Copen said. “I am just overwhelmed with the response from our school family here in Jemison.”
Ellison echoed Copen’s sentiments: “I know times are tough for so many families in our area and state.  To see the spirit of giving come through so strongly in our students is very inspiring, and I know that it will make a difference in their lives to see that their positive actions have an effect on others.”

JMS names students, teacher of the month
Jemison Middle School recently selected its students and teacher of the month for February.
The teacher of the month is Julie Lawrence.
Students of the month are: eighth grade, Madison Smith and Austin Dansby; seventh grade, Tyler Henderson and Maggie Zhang; sixth grade, Jordan Mahaffey and Kasia Millender; fifth grade, Alexis Easterling and Drew Bryant.

Mark Knight is the principal of Jemison Middle School.

By Scott Mims

Laken Patterson is always ready to learn something new. The Thorsby eighth grader, who hopes to become a teacher herself, says science is her favorite subject.
“I really like my science teacher, Mr. Jones, and I like learning about that kind of stuff,” she says.
Laken is involved in cheerleading, Beta Club and FCCLA at Thorsby. This is her first year on the school’s junior varsity cheer squad.
She is also involved in the youth group at Thorsby First Baptist and is looking forward to a mission trip to Savannah, Ga. this summer. While there, she will help a recently founded church.
As for college and a career, Laken plans to attend Auburn University and possibly become an enrichment teacher. It was her own elementary enrichment class that inspired her career goal, along with her interest in trivia, puzzles and art history.
“I like the stuff that you learn in there,” she says.
By teaching Vacation Bible School at her church and babysitting, Laken is already doing things to prepare her for a future leadership position.
“I like working with young people,” she says.
Laken is the daughter of Gary and Patricia Patterson of Thorsby and has an older brother, Gabe.

Thorsby School recently named elementary Students of the Month for the month of January.

They are: Chris Arledge, Dakota Liveoak, Brody Barnett, Elizabeth Cofer, Caitlyn Birchfield, Kaylee Wright, McKinley Mims, Katelynn Stagner, Addison Minor, Carlos Hernandez, Tyler Jackson, Caleb Parker, Cole Farris, Racheal Carpenter, Julie Huang, Adi Argent, Rachel Snow, Jake Robinson, Drew Smith, Chandler Moon, Sabrina Ellison and Emily Spain.

From staff reports

Isabella High School senior Marlee D. Hayes of Jemison was recently awarded a $14,000 Trustees Scholarship to attend the University of West Alabama.
This scholarship award, which is based on academic achievement and proven leadership potential, comes from the University of West Alabama Office of Admissions.
For 175 years, the University of West Alabama has served the west central Alabama area and beyond through educational opportunity, academic research and public outreach.
For more information about admission, financial aid and scholarships, contact the University of West Alabama Office of Admissions at admissions@uwa.edu or call 1-888-636-8800.

From staff reports

More than 740 University of Montevallo students were named to the honor roll for the fall semester.
The President’s List included the names of 393 students. To make the President’s List, a student must earn at least a 3.8 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and be a full-time student at the university.
Dean’s List honors went to 351 students. To make the Dean’s List, a student must earn at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and be a full-time student at the university.
Local students include the following:

President’s List
Calera:
Michael F. Artress
Tara H. Bradley
Candace L. Casey
Marshall K. Davidson
Andrea T. Epsman
Steven A. Franks
Susan M. Howard
Amanda M. Palmer
Jamie K. Rawls
Lindsay A. Rousseau
Rachael S. Ruis
Vanessa E. Simpson
Joshua L. Wallace
Allison E. Wood

Jemison:
Amanda L. Johnson

Montevallo:
Shelli C. Alexander
Kouri S. Allen
Jessica L. Brantley
Chelsea G. Brasher
Christina N. Butera
Edward L. Cannon
Shannon D. Cleckler
Emily C. Daniel
Rachel R. Daniel
Lydia G. Dyer
Noah C. Evans
Victoria L. Frazier
Denis W. Gichoya
Bailey K. Hartwell
Leah L. Hickerson
Christina L. Hicks
Vadim M. Ismakaev
Emily M. Johnson
Carolyne W. Karanja
Alex H. Kovalsky
Jeremy Q. Lathem
Christina J. Linden
Harrison K. Lovelady
Adrian C. Lucas
Alicia N. Martin
Jillian M. Massie
Malorie C. Miller
Joseph A. Murdoch
Margaret S. Noble
Helene F. Nordgreen
Jennifer H. Rabson
Carrie M. Robbins
Samantha L. Saunders
Metta J. Smith
Tabitha Stott
Ashley E. Tedeton
Pavel J. Teterin
Anna Toews
Jennifer C. Travis-Scott
Gerda K. Tshibangu
Ruwaldt Viljoen
Elizabeth G. Wheeler
Ansley S. White
Rachel S. Willingham
Jessica R. Young

Thorsby:
Brian G. Short

Dean’s List
Calera:
Channing C. Blackmon
Madeline K. Burdick
Jennifer C. Dennis
Leah K. Dugan
Reginald B. Green
Lauren A. Holverson
Brandi N. Horton
Jillene E. Horton
Hannah M. Howard
Ryan D. Matson
Kimberly E. Pate
Ankitkumar R. Patel
Barrie J. Perrin
David A. Smith
Leah S. Spangle

Jemison:
Jeffrey S. Alexander
Lita L. Amos
Tiffany A. Cummings
Alexis M. Gothard
Magenn C. McGriff
Page L. Perdue
Rachel E. Stephens
Joshua J. Taschler

Montevallo:
Crystal A. Brantley
Mary J. Czeskleba
Brett R. Dunn
Sommer W. Dyer
Amanda N. Evans
Jennifer A. Franklin
Mariano J. Lepori
Danielle R. Lilly
Kristen S. Lipscomb
Rosemary C. Maguire
Denise Mannion
Liliana Martinez-Valencia
Dasha C. Maye
William R. McCay
Austin J. McIntosh
Jordan A. Melanson
Jaclyn R. Morlan
David E. Mosher
Whitney E. Palmer
Justin S. Smith
Samantha J. Smith
James F. Steer
Jeffrey C. Sutton
Maria Wagner
Ellen A. Walker
Christy M. Wilson

Thorsby:
Jessica L. Benson
Jessica C. Littlejohn

Several Thorsby School band students performed well at All-State tryouts.
Those who made the Middle School All-State Band and the Alabama Bandmasters District Five Middle School Honor Band were Samuel Gasson, first chair trumpet; Jarred Penton, first chair percussion; and Adrienne Ellison, second chair clarinet.
Also, Copeland Browder and Ginger Smith were invited by the district to attend and play.
The following students made the High School District Five Honor Band: Kyle Burdges, third chair tenor saxophone; and Perry Hilyer, sixth chair percussion.
The District Five Honor Band was held Feb. 8 and 9 at the University of West Alabama in Livingston.
The students rehearsed from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Friday, and from 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. Saturday.
The concert for the Middle School District Honor Band and High School District Honor Band was held in the Bibb Graves Auditorium on the campus of UWA.

By Scott Mims

Yoandra Camarillo has softball in her blood. The Jemison Middle School student, known to her friends as “Yo Yo,” shares the love of the sport with her parents.
“My parents taught me how to play. My dad was a star baseball player in Mexico. He was really good,” she said.
Yoandra’s father, Plutarco Camarillo, played shortstop; while her mother, Teresa Robles, caught for her school’s softball team. Yoandra plays center field on the Jemison Middle junior varsity softball team.
“It’s pretty much like it’s in your blood,” she said.
When she’s not on the field, Yoandra can be found helping her mother in the kitchen. Her favorite dish to cook is fried chicken and rice. Her culinary skills may one day translate to an interesting career, as her top two fields of choice are culinary arts and medicine. As for college, Yoandra will likely head for Tuscaloosa.
“To attend Alabama would be like a dream come true for me,” she said.
At JMS, Yoandra is a member of the yearbook staff, Beta Club, SGA, FFA and FCCLA. Her favorite subject is math because she likes the challenge.
Yoandra’s short-term goals include getting more involved with school athletics.
“I plan to try out for volleyball next year,” she said.

By David Seale

This fall, 14 Jemison Middle School seventh graders were invited to take part in the Duke University Talent Search, whereby they took the ACT.
This is the exact test high school students take for college admission. The test measures students’ abilities in four areas: English, reading, math and science, with a 36 being the highest score possible.
Six JMS students scored high enough in certain competencies for their scores to be deemed “college-ready”: Tylor Curtis, Gilberto Flores, Brady Graves, Brandon Harris, Derek Millard and Macey Thompson. These students all had one or more ACT benchmark scores, mostly in English and reading.
Harris had the highest composite score, 22—high enough to qualify for admission to the University of Alabama and Auburn University, to name just a couple.
Other students invited to take part in this prestigious program were Evan Baird, Griffin Burnette, Christian Gilliland, Grant Martin, Trent Ray, Christopher Robertson, Jessica Smitherman and Maggie Zhang.
The program is facilitated on the school level by seventh grade English teacher Karen Jones.

David Seale is the assistant principal of Jemison Middle School.