It all started with an idea. Porshia Franklin, Cahaba's GATE teacher wanted to bring a MakerSpace room to Cahaba. In 2021, she applied for and received a MUSH grant from the Trussville City Schools Foundation. A planning committee was organized to bring this dream to life. During planning, it was realized this idea was about more than a room. It was an experience and to kick off this experience, "Choose Your Own Adventure" was born. Choose Your Own Adventure was planned as an expo event to expose 4th and 5th graders to STEM careers and hobbies. The small planning committee was expanded to include more teachers, parents, and district technology leaders. After months of planning, 15 community partners were invited to speak and share their careers or hobby. On the morning of October 27th, students who were dressed for career day toured booths and learned that their interests could lead them to successful and fun careers. When students finished visiting their assigned booths, they returned to their classrooms and debriefed what they had learned. Students also completed a survey ranking the presentations they were most interested in learning more about. The MakerSpace room will be the host site of mini-adventures where we invite community partners to return and teach a more in-depth mini-course to students interested in their field.

Special thanks to the following community partners who presented to Cahaba students:

Chad Summers (Sportscasting)

Justin Grogan (EMT)

Lucy Davis (Horticulture)

Dr. Matthew Brown (Naturalist)

Jennifer Conn (Healthy Cooking)

Jeremy Prickett (Electrical Engineering)

Joey Harbison (Symphony)

Michael Haynes (Meteorology)

Molly Hatcher (Pharmacy)

Rachel Brockman (Art and Digital Design)

Walt Peacock (Firefighting)

Ben Horton (Nuclear Engineering)

Spencer Stoehr (Drone Operation)

Zooey Gooden (Game Design)

Andrew Arnold (Wildlife Management)

Everyone will agree the COVID pandemic was terrible. But a few things birthed from COVID restrictions made things better. The Veterans Day Drive-By Parade is one of those things. Cahaba celebrated its 2nd annual parade Thursday, November 10th. The SHINE choir began the parade by leading the school in singing the "Star Spangled Banner". The Trussville Fire Department raised an American flag atop a firetruck. Students lined the streets dressed in red, white, and blue waving American flags, holding posters, and cheering as veterans passed in SUVs, motorcycles, and vintage cars. Veterans were blessed with a special gift of appreciation as they ended the parade. You couldn't help but smile while in attendance. It was a beautiful day to honor all of the men and women who served and continue to serve our country.

Pictures provided by April Smith

Beautiful costumes, amazing decorations, dancing, and yummy food. The culmination of the fairy tale unit is a highlight of the kindergarten year. But this unit is so much more than a ball. Weeks of cross-curricular instruction precede the fairy tale ball. Students read familiar and unfamiliar fairy tales. They compare and contrast traditional fairy tales with non-traditional tales. Students learn measurement, graphing, and counting skills. Classes use graphic organizers to help them respond to stories. Art classes learn how to draw self-portraits and depict themselves as princes and princesses. And music classes understand historic dance as they learn the minuet. The fairy tale unit is a perfect example of multiple standards being taught through a fun and meaningful approach. Great job, kindergarten teachers!

Students have been loading canned and dry goods for the TEAM Food Drive! TEAM's purpose is to help meet the needs of those in our community who are struggling to provide food for their families. Cahaba is proud to partner with this charity to help provide food during this holiday season.

Gratitude. Appreciating a person or thing that makes you happy. This holiday season as students and staff walk down the halls, they will be prompted to be grateful through a gratitude walk. Gratitude prompts have been placed in the hallways and popular stopping spots for teachers and students to pause and remember to be grateful. "Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."- Robert Brault

Enrich is happening! Enrich is an opportunity for 4th and 5th grade students to work on a project that matches their interests. Cahaba is excited to offer 7 enrichment opportunities this year. Opportunities include writing books, music and drama, mentoring, website creation, and marketing strategies. Each enrich class is designed to push students to standards above grade level as well as increase digital literacy and writing skills. Stay tuned for project presentations in the spring!

Students represented Cahaba Elementary at the AMEA Music Festival October 14th. These students were Adalynn Benson, Emme Bethune, Eleanor Buckner, Mattox Burton, Ellie Coffman, Kaylie Coffman, Emie Lou Elkins, Sophia Moore and June O’Kelley. While there, students practiced folk and foreign musical numbers with other students across the state. These Cahaba students joined over 500 students from across Alabama to perform for their family and friends that night. Great work, Cahaba Music and music teacher, Tina Fortenberry.

Kindergarten and 1st grade classes have been incorporating BeeBots to help students increase digital literacy and understanding. BeeBots are used to help younger students understand beginning coding. Students learn how to program the robots and have them perform commands. Kindergarten students read Little Red Riding Hood and practiced retelling by programming their BeeBot to the beginning, middle, and end of the mat. At each location, the students whispered the beginning, middle, or end of the story. 1st grade students read a Thanksgiving nonfiction book, assigned shapes to represent foods shared at the first Thanksgiving meal, and then had their BeeBot "eat" those shapes for Thanksgiving dinner. BeeBots are a great tool for incorporating standards while teaching digital literacy and teamwork.

November 21-22: Remote Learning Days

November 23-25: Thanksgiving Holiday

November 28: myON Challenge Begins

December 4: Tinsel Trail and Merry Market

December 5: Shine Christmas Concert

December 5: School Spelling Bee

December 8: Spirit Night Rodney Scott's

December 9: myON Challenge Ends

December 12: PTO Meeting

December 12: Christmas Dress-Up: Elf

December 13: Christmas Dress-Up: Tree

December 14: Christmas Dress-Up: Santa

December 15: Christmas Dress-Up: Polar Express Characters

December 16: Christmas Dress-Up: Tacky Christmas

December 16: 1/2 Day Dismissal. Begin Winter Break.

December 16: Santa and Hot Cocoa on the Lawn

December 19-January 3: Winter Break

January 4: Students Return

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