21 minute read
SCHOOLS
Mountain Brook French Teacher Wins Yale Award
John Binet has been recognized by Yale University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions as a recipient of the 2022 Yale Educator Award.
By Anne Ruisi
Mountain Brook High School French teacher John Binet has been recognized by Yale University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions as a recipient of the 2022 Yale Educator Award.
“It’s quite an honor,” said Binet, who joined the school’s faculty in 2010. “I’m humbled by it but it’s a great feeling.”
The Yale Educator Recognition Program recognizes outstanding educators from around the world who support and inspire their students to perform at high levels and to achieve excellence. Of this year’s 339 nominees, 48 teachers and 29 counselors were selected to receive the award, according to the Mountain Brook City Schools’ website.
Matriculating students are invited to nominate high school educators, and a committee of Yale admissions officers reviews each nomination and designates recipients. Jane Grey Battle, a 2022 Mountain Brook graduate who is a freshman at Yale, nominated Binet.
“To be thought about highly enough to have something like this done for me means the world to me,” Binet said. “I’ve learned that the connections you make with students are equal to, if not more important than, what you’re teaching them.”
Binet is one of two French teachers at the high school. His colleague, longtime French teacher Audrey Laird, is retiring this month and a new French teacher will take her place.
Students studying French at Mountain Brook High not only learn the language but are immersed using as many authentic sources as possible.
“We integrate technology into what we do,” Binet said.
For example, before the COVID19 pandemic, classes would take field trips to Atlanta to dine in a French restaurant or visit a French art exhibit. While students can’t do that now, they do use tech such as Google maps to “drop into” a French city and explore it or listen to a podcast.
Binet thanked the school system for its support.
“I’m very appreciative of where I teach. It’s fortunate to have all the resources we need,” he said. “I can’t thank them enough for all that they do for us,” he said.
At an event last week to mark the 40th anniversary of Bruno Montessori Academy were, from left, Jamie House, Robert Sprain, Kathy Maxwell, Joe LaRussa, Rebecca Little and Jay Waters.
Bruno Montessori Academy marked its 40th anniversary with a reunion and celebration Sept. 18 at the school in North Shelby County.
The event included a dedication ceremony for the late Theresa Sprain, who founded the academy with the late supermarket magnate Joseph S. Bruno in 1982. The school began as a small classroom of children ages 3-6. A year later, Sprain received her Montessori certification. Over the years, the campus expanded and grew into its current form as a toddler through eighth grade school.
“It was my mom’s dream to build a prepared environment that focused on the human spirit and embraced each child’s true potential,” Sprain’s daughter, Kathy Maxfield, said.
Joseph S. Bruno Montessori Academy is accredited by the American Montessori Society and Cognia, a nonprofit organization that accredits primary and secondary schools.
The Montessori method of education offers a different approach to learning. Among its aspects is recognizing that children learn in different ways, and all learning styles are accommodated, according to the school’s website, www.brunomontessori.org. Students learn at their own pace, guided by the teacher and an individualized learning plan.
“Many students have shared in the Joseph S. Bruno Montessori Academy learning experience over the past 40 years. Learner outcomes for our students are independence, confidence, social responsibility and academic preparation,” said Rebecca Little, interim head of school.
Floats, Football Players, Fans and Marching Bands Highlight Annual Homecoming Parades in Homewood and Mountain Brook
Vestavia Hills High School has 21 seniors who were named semifinalists, the most from any individual school in the state. Front, from left: Mary Katherine Meeks, Alice Sun, Malaika Dsa, Jamie Casey, Isabella Gentry, Rebecca Maddox, Susan Baskar Raj, and Dylan Zhao. Back: Kate Kaiser, Philip Mitchell, James Anthony, Amith Varambally, Graham Uldrich, Jaxon Dunlevy, Erin Visser, Haojun Chen, Aarya Aluri, Zain Farooqui, and Arman Dolatabadi. Not pictured: Jonathan Gidley and Hannah Wright.
OTM Students Named National Merit Semifinalists, Vestavia Hills High Leads State With 21
Dozens of Over the Mountain high school students are among the more than 16,000 students nationwide named as 2023 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists.
Vestavia Hills High School has 21 seniors who were named semifinalists, the most from any individual school in the state.
The semifinalists entered the competition by taking the preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, according to a release from the National Merit Scholarship Corp. Less than 1% of high school seniors in the U.S. qualified as semifinalists. They will vie for a share of about 7,250 scholarships worth about $28 million.
Vestavia’s 21 National Merit semifinalists is the largest group of semifinalists from the school since 2006, when it had 24, according to a state from the city school system.
“I’m thrilled for the achievement of these scholars and all the opportunities this will set into motion for them and their families,” Vestavia Hills High School Principal Tonya Rozell said. “They demonstrated great perseverance through many challenges – including several unprecedented years of high school – and continued to learn and grow on the highest level.”
About 95% of semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, according to the scholarship corporation’s website.
Winners will be announced between April and July.
Over the Mountain-area students on the semifinalist list are:
Alabama School of Fine Arts
William W. Bittner Dexter L. Gard Parker Hull Zoe E. Johnson Daniel Y Zhao
The Altamont School
Sid Doppalapudi Pranav Goli Lila Mitchell Wesley Sudarshan
Briarwood Christian School
Samuel Olsen
Homewood High
James W. Bird Brandon L. Collins Lily K. Giffin John N. Jones Kiran J. McCool Samantha B. Pearson, Richard Reed
Hoover High
Christos Argyropoulos Jari Q. Chen Lukas R. Fu Kashvi P. Gaddam Lauren C. Geisler Thomas K. Gullahorn Dylan D. Haigler Thomas S. Hao Matthew M. Harden William A. Hertz Eshika Kudaravalli Dominic C. Renda Hannah S. Reynolds Midhun S. Sadanand Matthew Shen Jacob T. Upton Rati H. Venkatesan Liz Wang
Indian Springs School
Sida Cheng Veston A. Colvin Victoria Y. Kim Derun Kong Cynthia Y. Li Mayu A. Nakano Yujiro D. Nakano Nour Shoreibah Enoch Xiao
John Carroll Catholic High
Sawyer Herring Lily Watts Adeline Jehu
Mountain Brook High
Virginia M. Averyt William T. Decker James H. Eldridge Vaughn R. Frost Nathanael R. Holden Robert D. Lee Lillian W. Odom Jackson F. Perkins Caley D. Record Carson V. Rehder Anne E Turner Emily B. Lunsford
Spain Park High
David J Collins Zachary R. Lin Benjamin L. Roberts Fiona R. Selle Nicholas O. Stefanov
Vestavia Hills High
Aarya Aluri James C. Anthony Susan G. Baskar Raj Jamie X. Casey Haojun S. Chen Arman Dolatabadi Malaika M. Dsa Jaxson D. Dunlevy Zain Farooqui Isabella C. Gentry Jonathan E. Gidley Kate E. Kaiser Rebecca G. Maddox Mary K. Meeks Philip D. Mitchell Alice Sun Graham J. Uldrich Amith Varambally Erin L. Visser Hannah M. Wright Dylan L. Zhao
Westminster School
Walker Stephenson
Sydney
Cancer Survivor
Inspiration happens
Sydney was diagnosed with osteosarcoma at 13 years old. Through her treatment and recovery, she bonded with the doctors and nurses saying, “they became like family to me.” She was so inspired by her care team, she decided to become a doctor and help other children going through a scary and similar situation. She also wanted to show that people with physical challenges can and should pursue medicine, too. She believes her journey to becoming a doctor was inspired as a patient here at Children’s of Alabama.
Arthur Langley didn’t start running when he took his first steps, but it wasn’t long after that.
He was still in kindergarten when he ran his first 5K race, and he’s been running ever since.
Now a junior at John Carroll Catholic, Langley is one of the top boys distance runners in the state.
“He comes from a family of runners,” John Carroll cross-country coach Katie King said. “He has a strategy for every race. He knows the exact mile and exact time he’s supposed to hit at each mile. It doesn’t matter who he’s racing against or is around, he’s always looking to bring out the best in himself.”
Langley said, “The strategy comes from my coaching and from previous races and how I can apply the mistakes I made to become better or whether I should try a different approach.”
In his first race of the 2022 cross-country season, Langley clocked 10:08.66 to win the Warrior 2-mile Invitational hosted by Thompson.
The next time out, Langley recorded a personal-best 15:38.93 while finishing fourth in the annual Chickasaw Trails Invitational at the Oakville Indian Mounds cross-country course, where the 2022 AHSAA cross-country championships will be held Nov. 5.
Things didn’t go quite as well for Langley last Saturday in the Southern Showcase presented by Huntsville High at the John Hunt Running Park. The race featured some of the top high school runners in the Southeast.
Langley finished well back in the pack in the Championship Division Boys 5K run with a time of 16:06.81. Patrick Koon, a senior from Leon High School in Tallahassee, Florida, clocked 14:43.09 to win.
Despite that showing, Langley figures to be in contention for the Class 5A individual state title. He finished fifth in 2021 as a sophomore with a time of 16:23.79.
“I want to bounce back and capture the state title this year,” Langley said.
With that goal in mind, Langley changed his workout routine during the summer.
“I had a lot of base mileage, trying a different approach with longer runs and higher mileage,” Langley said. “I wanted to be consistent in my training, but the main thing is staying healthy.”
King, a former runner at John Carroll and at Samford, was not surprised to see Langley increase his mileage.
“Honestly, with Arthur, no distance is too far and no workout is too daunting,” King said. “He has a passion for running. He seeks daily improvement for himself and others. He trains with people all over, with his family, with soccer players, with whoever. He’s very intentional and focused, driven.”
Langley’s dad, Eric Langley, ran in high school at St. Paul’s Episcopal in Mobile. His mom, Allison, also was a runner and his sister, Lilly Langley, ran at John Carroll before graduating in the spring. “My dad started me, running with him in the morning,” Arthur Langley said, “and I just kept running.” Langley said his dad is an invaluable resource. “We talk the whole week about goals and strategy and what success that day looks like. After a race, we reflect on how well I did.”
Last winter and in the spring, Langley had strong seasons in indoor and outdoor track for the Cavaliers. In the state indoor meet, he earned two individual medals, a silver in the 3,200-meter run and a bronze in the 800-meter run.
In the state outdoor meet, he earned silver in the 3,200 and bronze in the 1,600 and finished fifth in the 800 meters.
When asked whether he preferred track to cross-country, Langley replied: “That’s a difficult question. I’ll go with cross-country, although in track, as the distances go up, it gives me a chance to thrive in longer and different races. But crosscountry is where me and my teammates are all doing the same thing. I like that aspect of it.”
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
Bringing out the Best
John Carroll’s Langley Setting Sights on State Cross-Country Title
John Carroll Catholic junior Arthur Langley is one of the top boys distance runners in the state.
RECAP
From page 32
see they wanted to compete. The kids have done a good job of buying in to what we’re doing and then going out and executing.”
Hoover’s offense did enough to complement the defense against Hewitt. Senior quarterback Brewer Smith threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Jordan Woolen in the first quarter for Hoover’s first score.
The first half ended in a 7-7 tie, but the Bucs dominated the second half. They opened the third quarter with an 11-play, 77-yard scoring drive. Senior running back Ahamari Williams scored on a 1-yard dive to cap the march.
Peyton Argent’s 38-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter closed the scoring.
The Bucs have won four consecutive games since a season-opening 17-14 loss to Class 7A, No. 1 Auburn in the AHSAA Kickoff Classic in Montgomery.
“I’m pleased with how we’re growing and how well we’re all growing together, with them getting to know me and me getting to know them,” Waldrop said. “Our defense is playing well and the kicking game has been solid. We knew those were the two things we’d have to lean on early in the year, giving our offense a chance to grow. I think our offense is making strides.”
Hoover will step out of the region this week when it visits Class 6A, No. 2 Mountain Brook (5-0) on Friday.
Rebels Roll
The battle between two new head coaches turned out to be not much of a battle at all.
Junior quarterback John Paul Head accounted for 212 yards total offense and two touchdowns, leading coach Robert Evans’ Vestavia Hills Rebels to a convincing 36-7 road victory against coach Tim Vakakes’ Spain Park Jaguars.
“It was a huge win ‘cause it means we still control our own destiny and we’ll continue to play a role in trying to make the playoffs,” Evans said. “Most people assume that it will be Thompson, Hoover and Hewitt who will make the playoffs from our region, leaving a spot for one of the rest of us. If we can beat Oak Mountain, Tuscaloosa County and Chelsea, we’d get in. And if we can beat Hewitt, we can get the No. 3 seed.”
Head missed the Rebels’ close 20-14 loss at Hoover the previous week because of a concussion, but he made his presence felt against the Jags. He completed 11 of 25 passes for 108 yards and rushed 15 times for 104 yards and two touchdowns on runs of 11 and 12 yards, both coming in the third quarter.
Sophomore running back William Tonsmeire rushed for 108 yards on 14 carries and scored on a 51-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Rebels junior defensive end Jordan Ross also scored a touchdown when he stripped Spain Park quarterback Evan Smallwood of the ball and recovered it in the end zone.
Sophomore place-kicker Carter Shirley kicked three field goals in the first half, covering 36, 23 and 22 yards.
Vestavia Hills improved to 2-3, 1-2 in Class 7A Region 3, while Spain Park fell to 1-4, 0-3 in the region.
In assessing his team at the midpoint of the season, Evans said, “I think we can beat anybody in the state on a given night and lose to anybody in the state on a given night. I think we’re talented enough to beat anybody and our kids believe they can beat anybody.”
Happy Homecoming
Homewood’s homecoming game against Benjamin Russell didn’t start off well, but it had a happy ending, thanks to senior quarterback Woods Ray.
The Patriots trailed 10-0 at the end of the first quarter but scored 24 points in the second quarter en route to a 31-24 victory at Waldrop Stadium.
Ray completed 14 of 27 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 95 yards, including a 3-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter that snapped a 24-24 tie as Homewood improved to 4-1, 3-0 in Class 6A, Region 3. Benjamin Russell (3-1, 2-1) suffered its first loss.
Homewood senior receiver Jackson Parris caught three passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns, the first coming from 54 yards out and the second coming when he took a quick pass and raced 95 yards down the sideline.
Elsewhere, Oak Mountain (2-3) let a 31-20 fourth-quarter lead slip away and lost 34-31 at Tuscaloosa County (4-1) when Wildcats sophomore running back Kevin Riley scored on a 1-yard run as time expired.
John Carroll Catholic (1-4) failed to score in the second half after being tied 14-14 at halftime and lost 20-14 at Carver-Birmingham.
HOMECOMING CELEBRATIONS
Journal photo by Jordan Wald Journal photo by Jordan Wald
Photo courtesy John Carroll Catholic
From page 32
“Sydney is a special player and special person,” Freedman said. “She comes from a great family and leads others by example and just her presence. She brings a tremendous amount of energy and intensity to the gym and on the court.”
It’s not just passion that Humes brings to the court but also talent. She is regarded as one the top seniors in the state. Last season, she recorded 392 digs, 43 assists, 12 aces and 8 kills, and she is well on her way to eclipsing those numbers this season. She entered this week with 329 digs, 36 aces, 32 assists and 8 kills.
“Sydney leads us on defense,” Freedman said. “She is a very skilled defender with tremendous ball control, court awareness and athleticism. Her anticipation is very good. She gets to balls a lot of other players wouldn’t be able to get to.”
Humes played in the Alabama High School Athletic Association North-South All-Star Volleyball game in July and recorded seven digs for the North.
She comes from an athletic family. Her older brother Cameron played football for the Patriots, and her dad, Darryl, played football and baseball at Minor High School.
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
Homewood is undefeated in Class 6A, Area 9 with a 3-0 record after sweeping Jackson-Olin and Parker last week and Minor on Sept. 8. Homewood’s Grace Brown in action against Jackson-Olin last week.
Humes began playing volleyball during recess when she attended elementary school at Saint Rose Academy. Because of her athleticism and vertical leaping ability, she started out as an outside hitter and setter before becoming a defensive setter when she began attending Homewood. “I love defense,” she said. “I get to show my athleticism and explosiveness on the defense.”
Humes would like to play in college. She has offers from UAB and Florida A&M and has drawn interest from Maryland and Florida State.
“She’s exploring her options,” Freedman said. “She’s definitely going to play at the next level.”
Snakebit Season
Homewood has just a 10-16 record this season, but the Patriots have had to deal with a COVID-19 outbreak that sidelined five starters, including Humes, for a period of time. Also, talented sophomore outside hitter Ellie Watts was lost for the season because of a knee injury.
“We’ve definitely been hit with some adversity,” Freedman said. “I’m hoping all of that is behind us now and we can move forward.”
Homewood is undefeated in Class 6A, Area 9 with a 3-0 record after sweeping Jackson-Olin and Parker last week and Minor on Sept. 8.
This week, the Patriots are set to play Auburn in an in-school match Wednesday and then will play in Spain Park’s Heffstrong Tournament Friday and Saturday.
“The way the season has started gives us a chance to grow as a team with the most important part of the season ahead of us,” Humes said. “We’ve got a lot of young girls who are starting to see what varsity volleyball is all about. I’m trying to be an influential leader and help them with building confidence.”
SANDERSON
From page 32
ond-leading receiver with 13 receptions for 278 yards, an average of 21.4 yards per catch, and two touchdowns.
“We knew he was going to be a great football player,” Yeager said. “His dad, Craig Sanderson, played at Alabama (1988-90) and he’s just like his old man, making some plays.”
A Father’s Misgivings
Craig Sanderson was an All-State wide receiver at Hamilton High School before going to Alabama. At Alabama, he became best friends with running back Kevin Turner. But when Turner died in 2016 after an excruciating battle with ALS – Craig Sanderson was one of Turner’s caretakers – the elder Sanderson had some trepidation about letting Clark play football.
It was discovered that Turner had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive brain condition that’s thought to be caused by repeated blows to the head and repeated episodes of concussion.
Despite his misgivings, Craig Sanderson eventually allowed Clark to play.
“I think we made a deal to let me play when I got to the sixth grade,” Clark Sanderson said. “My mom (Julie) didn’t want me to play, but my dad was able to convince her to let me. Playing tackle football looked really fun. I had played flag football and it wasn’t that much fun.”
Craig Sanderson is an interested spectator on game nights. “He just loves watching me play,” Clark Sanderson said. “He never misses a game.”
Even so, Craig Sanderson still has some reservations about his decision to let Clark play.
“I can’t say I’m completely convinced about him playing,” Craig Sanderson said. “I got to see some of the things that CTE does to a person, so we didn’t let him play until he was 12. I wanted him to play and have some experience before junior high because in junior high is when it gets real and players are bigger and stronger.
“After we allowed him to play in the sixth grade, I left it up to him if he wanted to continue. I’m getting more comfortable with it. They’re wearing the graduated helmet pads and they’re not hitting as much during practice, but it’s still a tough choice.”
Chip off the Block
What wasn’t a tough choice was Clark Sanderson becoming a receiver like his dad.
“I don’t think he steered me to play receiver, but I always looked up to him,” Clark Sanderson said.
Craig Sanderson said it’s uncanny that Clark has many of his mannerisms on the field, with one noticeable exception.
“It’s been kind of interesting watching him,” Craig Sanderson said. “It’s so easy to put highlights out on social media. I’ve had people from Hamilton and who played with me at Alabama who see him and say, ‘He looks like you.’ He’s very talented.”
But Clark, who also plays basketball for the Spartans, isn’t a trash talker like his dad was. He’s someone of a quieter nature.
“He’s a person of few words,” Yeager said, “but his actions on the field speak volumes. He’s an incredible leader. He leads by example.”
“Yeah, he’s very quiet,” Craig Sanderson said. “You don’t see him doing a lot of celebrating out there. When he scores a touchdown, he just pitches the ball to the official.
“I was more cocky when I played. When I beat a guy and made a reception or scored a touchdown, I’d let him know.”
Clark Sanderson is part of a talented receiving corps that includes seniors Jackson Beatty and Rob Gillespie, giving senior quarterback John Colvin a few options to spread the wealth. Beatty leads the team with 14 receptions for 304 yards and three touchdowns. Gillespie also has a touchdown reception to his credit.
“We complement each other,” Sanderson said. “Jackson, I think, is just tough, a natural. He’s really good at running routes and catching the ball. He has really good hands. Rob is like a leader. He gets all of it, what we’re doing, quickly, and I try to follow him. I like to think I’m the speed guy with good hands. But I’ve got a lot of learning to do on running routes.”
Coming off consecutive 12-2 seasons and two trips to the Class 6A semifinals, the Spartans haven’t taken a step back this season. They are 5-0, 3-0 in Class 6A, Region 5, following a 48-0 rout of JacksonOlin last Thursday. The victory was the 400th in the history of the program.
Mountain Brook plays host to Hoover (4-1) in a non-region game Friday night at Spartan Stadium.
“I think our season has gone pretty good,” Sanderson said. “I think we have proven we haven’t gone down in talent.”
BMW • MERCEDES • AUDI • BMW • MERCEDES • AUDI • BMW BMW • MERCEDES • AUDI • BMW • MERCEDES • AUDI • BMW • MERCEDES BMW•MERCEDES •AUDI 205-403-4626 • MOMENTUMMOTORWORKS.COM We Guarantee Your Satisfaction 2075 Old Montgomery Hwy, Birmingham, AL 35244 Riverchase • 1 block from Valleydale • 1 mile from I-65 "Amazing place and amazing people." "Great Team of folks and great service. I trust them completely!" See more reviews on our website! Expert Service & Repair BMW • MERCEDES • AUDI • BMW • MERCEDES • AUDI • BMW • MERCEDES
