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Elmore Education
Summertime brings the muchanticipated break for students and teachers, but it is also an incredibly busy time as we prepare for the start of a new school year. Summer academic programs for students began on May 31. Literacy Camp for K-3 graders will continue through June 30 on all of our elementary campuses, and K-4 Enrichment Camp was held June 21-24. Credit recovery for middle and high school students is being held at each campus and runs through mid-July. Enrichment programs through the 21st Century Community Learning Center program are in session on five campuses as well.
Teachers and administrators are participating in a wide variety of professional development opportunities to equip them to better meet the needs of their students. Helping our youngest students become strong readers has always been critically important, and our lower elementary teachers continue to participate in professional development opportunities to strengthen their ability to teach students with reading issues. Professional development in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is occurring at all grade levels, with a particular focus on middle schools. Each middle school has a dedicated STEM teacher to provide additional instruction and opportunities for students to pursue their interests in these areas. Robotics teams have been established in elementary and middle schools, allowing students to develop team work and problem solving skills in real-life situations.
We are continuing our one-to-one student device initiative involving nearly 11,000 Chromebooks. These devices allow teachers and students to more readily integrate technology into classroom instruction and learning activities as well as help students develop digital citizenship and literacy skills.
We are thrilled to announce that the new Redland Middle School is on schedule to open for the 2022-2023 school year! Redland Middle will house grades 5-8, and Redland Elementary will become a K-4 school. The new Elmore County Technical Center classroom/lab facility is complete and renovation of the original facility will begin in the near future. The Holtville Child Development Program (HCDP) will move into a new facility on the Holtville Elementary campus in early fall. HCDP currently utilizes four classrooms inside Holtville Elementary; this new facility will free up needed space in the school and allow the program to double its capacity.
The start of a new school year is just around the corner, and we look forward to welcoming our new and returning students, faculty, and staff. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
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.
ARTWORKS
INTERACTIVE GALLERY
Now reopened—ArtWorks is an engaging gallery for all ages, where visitors can connect with art through interactive elements or enjoy the spaces set aside for quiet reading and imaginative play! Learn more and plan your visit at mmfa.org.
Blount Cultural Park
One Muesum Drive Montgomery, AL 36117
Open Tuesday–Sunday Free Entry + Parking
mmfa.org | @MontgomeryMFA
Elmore County Schools
ECTC Public Safety and Law students practiced proper safety and technique rappelling down a 48’ tower during class. For many, they had to conquer a fear of heights to accomplish this feat. It’s the equivalent of lowering yourself from the top of a 4-story building or out of a 5th floor window!
Elmore County Tech Students Win at SkillsUSA
Seven students from ECTC represented the Electrical and Computer/IT programs at SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference. They brought home 5 medals with 2 winning the state championship in their competitions! Information Technology – 1st place, Ashton Geer (Elmore County High) Internetworking – 3rd place, Logan Burkhart (Stanhope Elmore High) Technical Computer Applications – 1st place – Nathan Currier (Wetumpka High), 2nd place – Joshua Alexander (Elmore County High), 3rd place – Kaleb Sims (Wetumpka High)
Elmore County Schools
The Public Safety & Law program at the Elmore County Technical Center was well represented in the most recent graduating class of Montgomery Fire/Rescue. Four former students, Katie Reeves – Holtville High 2020, Logan Thornton – Elmore County High 2021, Tanner McCord – Stanhope Elmore High 2021, and Alex Drinkard – Wetumpka High 2017, completed the 22 weeks of rigorous training in recruit school and received their certificates as Firefighter Train-ee Graduates in Class 2021-C.
CLAS Banner School Ceremony Honors ECTC
The Elmore County Technical Center was honored to receive a CLAS School of Distinction banner in recognition the Camp Discovery summer program for 8th grade students! The Elmore County Technical Center was the only school in the River Region to receive recognition this year as CLAS recognized 30 Schools of Distinction across the 8 State School Board Dis-tricts. Each school was nominated for this award by their superintendent with 166 school pro-grams nominated statewide.
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Dance Generation of Montgomery recently competed in the Inspire Dance Competition in Columbus, GA. They brought home Diamond Awards for every group, Six Overall High Score Awards, Best costume Award, Personality Award, Most Natural Performer Award and Most Entertaining Award. Dance Generation also celebrated their 85th Year Anniversary with a performance at the Davis Theatre. The studio is under the direction of Shawn Ransom Parker.
Share your announcements and photos celebrating youth accomplishments! Send to deanne@riverregionparents.com.
CJ’s Dance Factory Celebrates Honored Dancers
Young ballerinas trained at C.J.’s Dance Factory in Prattville and members of The Prattville Ballet proudly accepted honors, awards and scholarships to end the season. (L to R) Taylor Browning’s performance of Lilac Fairy won the title of Jr. Miss Dance Extravaganza and Platinum at Showstoppers and DMI nationals. Emma Holtzscher’s Serenity Fairy Variation landed her a scholarship to Boston Ballet from Open Call and many Platinum awards. Lauren Miers won Teen Miss Dance Extravaganza, top honors at DMI, and Open Call Lead dancer.
