The Panther Post
January 2022 Edition
Principal's Corner
My name is Jamie Hill, your new principal!! I am blessed for this new opportunity to lead our school as a DMS Panther!! I look forward to meeting many new faces and to reconnect with many parents, staff and students that have crossed paths with me in the past!! DMS has a rich tradition in the state of Alabama, in our district and across the country!! Our admin, teachers and staff are outstanding!! There are so many reasons that lead to our school being the #1 middle school in the state of Alabama in 2021, including ranking amongst the best in the southeast and nation!!
A little about me and my family...
- Hazel Green High grad in 1995
- Attended Middle Tennessee State and Alabama-Huntsville for undergrad before graduating with a B.S. in Collaborative Special Education in 2002 from Athens State University
- Earned M.Ed. in Educational Administration from Tennessee State University in 2005
- Earned Ed.S. in Educational Administration from the University of Alabama in Birmingham in 2012
- Earning my Ed.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Alabama in Birmingham in April 2022
My sons Cole and Cam are products of Madison City Schools PreK-12 with my wife, Denise, being a 1993 Bob Jones grad having graduated from the building that is now Discovery Middle. Cole is a 2016 BJ grad, 2020 University of Alabama School of Business grad and UA football player, currently in Law School at Faulkner University Law in Montgomery. Cam attended DMS, is a 2020 BJ grad, majoring in Business and is now a sophomore on the Auburn Tiger baseball team!! War Eagle and Roll Tide!!
We have always lived here in Madison and have a 2 year-old Golden Retriever named Rhett!!
My 20 years of work experience ranges from PreK-12 Special Education teacher and Coordinator in Madison City, 3-12 Alternative School Principal in Athens City to now school administrator in all levels of public school in grades PreK-12 at Columbia Elementary, Discovery Middle and Bob Jones High School respectively. My coaching and playing career includes head baseball coach at Athens High, playing collegiately at MTSU and UAH, and being drafted and playing professional baseball in the Texas Rangers organization.
I look forward to working with you all and seeing you soon!! You may reach me at jhill@madisoncity.k12.al.us or call 256-837-3735. ext. 82122.
With Panther Pride,
Mr. Hill
Upcoming Events
January 17: No school; Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
January 31: Progress reports will be available
Scholar's Bowl
A team of five students went to Montgomery on December 3-4 to film a tournament for Alabama Public Television. This tournament was double elimination with 14 rounds of play. Eight teams from across the state competed. Our team played undefeated! This was a great opportunity and the team won scholarship money for college. The 15th round for TV was an all-star game with 2 of our players on a team with Arab. Our north AL team lost by 10 points in the all-star game. Our team consisted of Owen Bruyns, Karsten Wallace, Mark Allison, Alex Fedoseyev, and Louis Johnson. These boys received numerous compliments from other parents and the judges for their sportsmanship and teamwork. These rounds will air on APT on Saturday mornings. Details about the exact dates will be sent later.
At the East Lawrence Middle School tournament, 7th and 8th grade teams both advanced to the playoffs. DMS A took 3rd place. Team members included Charlie Huang, Arham Muhammad, Pranav Gentela, Shah Rasool, Ethan Van, and Roman Hanson. The 6th grade teams both advanced to the playoffs. DMS C took 1st! The team members were Anjana Raman, Sarah Allison, Gian Grant, Austin Roesener, Michelle Schwartz, and John Chen. DMS D took 3rd! The team members were Jinwoo Jung, Joshua Nguyen, Preston Nguyen, Logan Rydbom, and Will Spires.
NAQT is pleased to invite Discovery Middle School to the 2022 NAQT Middle School National Championship Tournament (MSNCT) based on their performance at the 2021–2022 Middle School Alabama Scholars Bowl! This quiz bowl championship will be held May 6–8, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois (near Chicago). The team will have the opportunity to compete against other high-caliber teams, meet peers from all over the world, and show off their knowledge while being motivated to learn even more! Congratulations to the sponsors and team members!
National Charity League, Inc.
The Madison City Chapter invites you to an Information Meeting on January 23, 2022 at 6 PM.
National Charity League, Inc. (NCL) is a non-profit national organization of mother and daughter members in over 250 chapters across the U.S. The mission of NCL, Inc. is to foster mother-daughter relationships in a philanthropic organization committed to community service, leadership development, and cultural experiences. Through the mother-daughter relationship, it is our vision to develop strong women leaders serving and impacting communities today and for generations to come.
Who: Mothers with daughters currently in 6th to 11th grade
What: Information Meeting
When: Sunday, January 23, 2022 from 6 PM until 7 PM
Where: Liberty Middle School Cafeteria, 281 Dock Murphy Drive, Madison 35758
Questions: membershipmadisoncity@nclonline.org
AVID
The AVID elective for 6th grade has come to an exciting ending. Students traveled to Bob Jones on a field trip where they dissected chicken wings, streaked plates, pipetted the rainbow, and even interacted with the simulators. This has been an exciting semester in the AVID elective. I cannot wait to provide this opportunity for many other students in the upcoming years! Accelerating Via Individual Determination!
Yearbook Pre-Order
Yearbooks are on pre-order until January 21st for $45.
National Junior Honor Society
Current 7th graders interested in joining National Junior Honor Society:
Please complete the online interest form no later than Friday, January 14th! If you meet the 90% average requirement from your 6th grade year and the first semester of your 7th grade year, you will receive an online application via your MCS email on Friday, January 21st. Further instructions will be provided then.
Online interest form link:
Basketball
1/6: Meridianville 7B, 8B, 7G, 8G 4:00 pm
1/11: @Liberty 7G, 8G, 7B, 8B 4:00 pm
Soccer
1/3-1/7: Wednesday and Friday conditioning after school 3:30-5:00
1/10-1/14: Tuesday and Thursday conditioning after school 3:30-5:00
1/17: First full practice at Paradise and football field
1/17-1/21: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 3:30-5:15
1/24-1/28: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 3:30-5:15
Football
Important Reminders
Discovery Middle School
Website: https://www.madisoncity.k12.al.us/discovery
Location: 1304 Hughes Road, Madison, AL, USA
Phone: 256-837-3735
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discoverymspanthers/