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Elmore Education Matters
The 2021-2022 school year is off to a great start in Elmore County! We welcomed our students back to full in-person instruction, and we are looking forward to returning to many of the routines and practices we followed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The health and wellbeing of our students and staff are of utmost importance. We will continue the cleaning and sanitation procedures for facilities and buses we implemented early in the pandemic. Seating charts will be maintained in classrooms and on buses, and buses will be sanitized after both morning and afternoon routes.
The importance of in-person instruction cannot be overemphasized. We believe students benefit academically, mentally, and physically from in-person learning and made the decision to offer only in-person instruction in our schools. Students pursuing the virtual option will attend The EDGE virtual school upon completion of the application/admission process. Sick students will be able to take advantage of our blended attendance plan.
We are excited to announce that athletic events will return to 100 percent capacity. Each sport implemented an appropriate cleaning protocol last year and will continue that practice this year.
Breakfast and lunch will again be provided free of charge to all students for this school year. Breakfast will be served in classrooms, but students will return to the cafeterias for lunch. Meal components will be pre-portioned to allow for student selection. Students generally look forward to socializing during lunch, so I expect they will be very happy about this change!
We implemented a 1-to-1 technology initiative during the 2020-2021 school year. This year, students will be able to benefit from in-person instruction while utilizing the technology as a learning tool both in and out of class.
Finally, mental health resources for students and staff are readily available. We will utilize Rhithm, a K-12 student and staff wellness check-in tool throughout the district. Our employee assistance program is offered through American Behavioral. We also partner with other agencies to provide services and/or make referrals as needed.
We often refer to “getting back to normal” as we go about our daily activities. In reality, we may never completely return to pre-pandemic “normal.” We have, however, learned valuable lessons about the importance of focusing on our students and staff first and being adaptable in the rest.
Elmore County is committed to doing everything possible to provide high-quality instruction and the necessary academic, social-emotional, and mental health support for our students and staff. Our goal remains: Every Student Empowered – Every Student Succeeds.
Richard Dennis is the Superintendent of Education for Elmore County Schools. He is a 1983 graduate of Holtville High School. He served 21 years as a high school principal at Holtville High, Wetumpka High and most recently, Prattville High. He and wife, Leslie (also an educator) have three sons and a daughter.
Elmore County Schools
Remembering Old Tallassee High School
Tallassee High School has stood in nearly the same location on Barnett Boulevard since 1916; in its most recent incarnation, the same building has been there since 1929.
No more. On the last day of school in May, the Class of 2021 and the faculty of Tallassee High School were presented with pieces of the original wood.
Naturally, it came from the floor of Room 221. Agriscience teacher Dr. Daniel Free cut the sections for the faculty and seniors as parting gifts, and each piece was emblazoned with “THS 1929-2021.”
As we closed down school for the year, it was difficult not to take note of the history passing before our eyes. We had just survived perhaps the most challenging year in the history of public education with the Covid pandemic. We also had the usual comings and goings that mark the end of a school term.
This time, however, we weren’t only saying farewell to a class, teacher, or administrator: we were saying goodbye to a building.
Local historian Bill Goss noted that the original Tallassee School for grades 1-12 was constructed in 1915-1916. It was located on King Street, where Stumberg Gym sits today. This original building was very modern for its day, and even included indoor restrooms. The original school, built by Mount Vernon Mills, burned on November 11, 1928. The THS we have known opened on November 13, 1929. Tallassee Mount Vernon Mills
Elmore County Recognizes ECTC Students
At June’s Elmore County Board of Education meeting, the following students from Mr. Spivey’s computer technology program received top finishes at the 2021 Skills USA Alabama State Leadership and Skills Conference: Logan Burkhart, state champion in Cyber Security; Matthew Rogers, state champion in Technical Computer Applications; Ben Blair, silver medalist in Technical Computer Applications; and Ashton Geer, state champion in Information Technology Services. All of these students represented the state of Alabama in the National Skills USA Competition that was held virtually this summer.
Shemaiya Peek, a student in the Medical Sciences Program under the direction of Mrs. Colquitt, won first overall in the state in the HOSA Medical Research Project as well as the top 20 for the Health Care Issues Exam. She competed at the HOSA International Leadership Conference in July. Peek was unable to attend the Board Meeting because she was participating in the University of Alabama’s five-week Rural Scholars Health Program. built the new school in one year and two days.
In that one year and two days, architects and designers sought to imitate the construction of Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery. Keep in mind, in those days Lanier was downtown on McDonough Street, the school now known as Baldwin Middle School, which opened in 1910. The Lanier High School on South Court Street was being built at the same time in 1929 as Tallassee High School and has a decidedly different appearance. It was dubbed the “million dollar school” for its castle-like look that emulated many Gothic-styled university buildings of that era.
Tallassee High School has a great history of its own. The 2021-22 school year will be an interesting year as the faculty and students have classes in trailers on the band field — called “mobile learning spaces” — but when we begin the 2022-23 school year, we will be in the finest and most up-to-date academic facility in the River Region.
Written by Michael Bird, choral director & assistant band director
The Wetumpka Future Farmers of America chapter installed two 8x10 raised beds at Wetumpka Middle School!
We work tirelessly to help kids get well because the world needs to see what Natalie dreams up.
WE DO WHAT WE DO BECAUSE CHILDREN HAVE DREAMS.
1600 7TH AVENUE SOUTH BIRMINGHAM, AL 35233 (205) 638-9100 | ChildrensAL.org
Elmore County Announces New Hires
Elmore County School Board met at Stanhope Elmore High’s new band room this summer. During the meeting, new personnel were introduced, including Assistant Principals Michael Collins, below, for SEHS
and Paige Davis, below center, for Wetumpka Elementary.
New Technology Integration Specialists include: Shay Atchison, Vanessa
Brown, and Melissa Easley.
SEHS also introduced two new coaches, Flavia Freeney for volleyball and Keith Jones for softball.
Wetumpka Students Attend Girls & Boys State
Upcoming Wetumpka High senior Abigail Wright and recent
graduate Jazmin Faulkner attended Alabama Girls State sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary in June. Upcoming senior Ryan Rouse attended Alabama Boys State, also sponsored by the American Legion, in July. Both weeklong programs were held on the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa and are leadership and citizenship programs which focus on exploring the mechanics of American government and politics.
Stanhope Elmore High students swept the Elmore County Distinguished Young Woman pageant.
Second runner-up Abbie Deason also won Essay and Self Expression.
First runner-up Anna Grace Deason also won Self Expression, Interview, Talent and Fitness. 2021-2022 Elmore County DYW winner A’Nyia Lynch also won Talent and Fitness.
