In the Loop
December 13, 2018
TRUSSVILLE CITY SCHOOLS
Email: sandra.vernon@trussvillecityschools.com
Website: www.trussvillecityschools.com
Location: 113 North Chalkville Road, Trussville, AL, United States
Phone: 205-228-3000
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Trussvilleschools
Twitter: @tcshuskies
DATES TO REMEMBER....
Schools Dismiss for Students at 12:00 noon Friday, Dec. 14, 2018.
Schools/Offices Closed for Students for Christmas Holidays ...Dec. 17, 2018 - Jan. 2, 2019
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Trussville City Schools Wishes You A Very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year! Have a safe, blessed holiday and...See you in 2019!
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ALSDE Principal Candidate Residency Program
Congratulations to Kelly McGough, TCS District Reading Coach, for being selected as a resident in the ALSDE Principal Candidate Semester Residency program for the Spring 2019 semester. The Alabama State Department of Education is committed to ensuring that every school is led by a well-prepared, resourced, supported, and effective leader. The ALSDE believes that a semester residency with a veteran, successful instructional leader will help ensure that future principals are better prepared to lead the learning in Alabama’s schools.
Up to ten semester residencies were available for sponsorship by the ALSDE. The Principal Candidate Semester Residency provides $25,000 to support the salary and benefits of a certified and highly qualified teacher to replace the Residency candidate for an academic semester. This allows aspiring instructional leaders to participate in critical field-based leadership learning while providing for all the academic needs of students. Mrs. McGough will work alongside Dr. Lisa Lothspeich at Paine Elementary during the spring semester. A certified teacher will be secured as replacement for Mrs. McGough during the Spring 2019 semester.
Mrs. McGough has been the TCS Lead Literacy Coach since 2016. She was the literacy coach for Paine Intermediate from 2012-2016 and Paine third grade teacher from 2003-2012. Prior to working in Trussville, Mrs. McGough taught second grade at Tarrant Elementary School for ten years. Mrs. McGough holds Bachelors and Masters degrees from The University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“I feel so fortunate to be selected as one of ten recipients of the ALSDE Principal Candidate Semester Residency Program. A semester under the guidance of Dr. Lisa Lothspeich will provide me the experience necessary to be an influential school leader. I am appreciative to the Alabama Dept. of Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Trussville City Schools for this opportunity. I look forward to participating with Dr. Lothspeich in daily leadership activities encompassing the Alabama State Standards for Instructional Leaders.” ---Kelly McGough
Congratulations Ms. McGough!
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Dr. Pattie Neill announces Sandra Vernon named CLAS 2018 Secretary of the Year for District 7 at the CLAS Conference December 5, 2018 at the Wynfrey Hotel.
Pictured L to R: Vic Wilson, Executive Director of CLAS, Sandra Vernon, and Dr. Pattie Neill
The TCS Board of Education Recognized Sandra Vernon for the CLAS District 7 Secretary of the Year Award at the December Board Meeting.
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Great Job HTHS Culinary Team!
Students from the Hewitt-Trussville High School Culinary Academy recently catered a Christmas party for Trussville Daybreak Rotary Club members. Students prepared hors d'oeuvres and desserts for the members. The students were directed by Chef Hallman and did an outstanding job!
Students preparing and serving were: Daniel Long, Abigail Mitchell, Abbey Ellison, and
Abbigail Golding.
GREAT JOB STUDENTS!
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HTHS SA's Visit Sunrise Assisted Living To Bring Christmas Joy! Well done, students!
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HTMS Says "THANK YOU" to PTO!
The HTMS PTO Executive Board presented Dr. Berry, Principal of HTMS, with a $10,000 donation to the school.
Thank you PTO for your support!
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HTHS Students Give Back!
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Trussville Daybreak Rotary Club Honors 11 Students
Trussville Daybreak Rotary Club recently awarded 11 HTHS students with scholarships to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) January 24-26, 2019 at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL.
RYLA 2019 is a program sponsored by Rotary International and conducted by the Local Rotary Districts. Rotary District 6860 sponsored the annual North Alabama RYLA Program in partnership with the US Space and Rocket Center. Individual Rotary Clubs solicit applicants fromm local high schools and select students to sponsor. The three-day program consists of lectures and discussions with skilled and prominent leaders, group and team building activities, leadership training, fellowship, good food and of course a mini Space Camp.
HTHS Students selected were: Luke Burford, Jacob Copham, Abby Cunningham, Abigail Donovan, Cameron Gallups, Samantha Kalchik, Madison Linley, Brody Littlefield, Lea Townsend, Klaire Twilley, and Abigail Williamson.
Congratulations Students! Thank you to Trussville Daybreak Rotary Club for your support of our students!
Not pictured: Lea Townsend and Abigail Williamson
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HTHS Faculty and Staff in the Christmas Spirit..."Tacky" Christmas Sweater Spirit!
HTH Students Share Their Christmas Spirit!
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HTHS Christmas Project Donations...WOW! Great Job!
HTHS sends a big thank you to the students, faculty, and student organizations for their Christmas Project donations! In a small amount of time, over $4,000 was raised to help our very own HTHS students and their families.
Mr. Stull’s students were the winners of the history class competition. By bringing in the most donations, they will have lunch provided by the Army National Guard when we get back from break.
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Congratulations to Paine Elementary November Team Member of the Month...2nd grade teacher, Cynthia Weyerman!
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Congratulations to Cahaba Elementary's Coach Giangrosso! Target awarded Coach G a Soccer GRant of $1000 for Soccer Equipment! Way to Go!
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HTMS Band Sporting Their New Winter Wear....
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Trussville City Schools Celebrates Inclusive Schools Week
The week of December 3-7, 2018, Trussville City Schools celebrated National Inclusive Schools Week.
“To honor the Governor’s proclamation, Trussville City Schools will participate in Inclusive Schools Week this week,” TCS Superintendent Dr. Pattie Neill said. “Each school will celebrate the progress that schools have made in providing a supportive education to diverse student populations where teaching is responsive to the students’ abilities and interests.”
The theme of Inclusive Schools Week was "Kaleidoscope of Friends".
The picture below is a "Kaleidoscope of Friends" from Hewitt-Trussville Middle School.
Photo credit - Ron Burkett
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Special Olympics Recognition
The Trussville City Board of Education recognized HTHS Teacher Carrie Jones for her outstanding work with Special Olympics.
Pat McTamney from Trussville's Octoberfest was at the Board Meeting to present Ms. Jones with a check for $1,000 to benefit the Special Olympics Program.
At the same meeting, Ms. Jones and Special Olympics were recognized for receiving the Special Olympics Alabama, Outstanding Special Olympics Program in Alabama for 2018.
Thank you Ms. Jones for all your hard work for Special Olympics!
Pictured from Left to Right: Dr. Pattie Neill, Patrick McTameny and Carrie Jones
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HTHS Society of Women Engineers Visits University of Alabama - Huntsville
The HTHS Chapter of SWENext (Society of Women Engineers) took a field trip to the University of Alabama - Huntsville on Thursday, Nov 29th. HTHS's aspiring female engineers met with an advisor from UAH's College of Engineering for a presentation and Q&A session. Representatives from UAH answered questions about admissions, scholarships, career services, research, campus employment, and campus life. HTHS SWENext members also enjoyed a tour of the UAH campus - including the Student Union, Registrar's Office, UAH Bookstore, campus library, and on-campus housing.
UAH College of Engineering offers several accredited Engineering programs:
-Aerospace Engineering
-Chemical Engineering
-Civil Engineering
-Computer Engineering
-Electrical Engineering
-Industrial and Systems Engineering
-Mechanical Engineering
-Optical Engineering
-Cyber Security (new)
UAH Field Trip Attendees: Camden DeSimone, Kaitlyn Crowe, Reagan Shoop, Abby Buzbee, Abigail Donovan, Kayla Long, Madison Morris, Hallie Breau, Abigail Williamson, Reagan Felts, and Madelyn Brasher. For more information about the HTHS SWENext Organization, contact the Teacher Sponsor - Melanie Dimler (melanie.dimler@trussvillecityschools.com).
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Magnolia Elementary School Third Grade Writing Wonderland Family Event
Under the leadership of Mrs. Bivens and Mrs. Smith, third graders and their families participated in Writing Wonderland, a very special event that helped promote a love of writing and literacy and showcased the students’ narrative writings. Families, teachers, and administrators attending the event listened to students read the final drafts of their original narrative writings. Then, everyone gathered together to enjoy refreshments.
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PES 4th Graders Weather Fair
Paine Elementary School 4th graders from Mrs. McKinley's and Mrs. Waites' classes celebrated our current Nonfiction Unit and shared their research on Extreme Weather topics. Students had a special guest, Mr. Jerry Tracey, chief meteorologist from WVTM 13, join them to enjoy and learn. Mr. Tracey was impressed and commented on their depth of knowledge with their topic for their age!
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HTHS Hour of Code....Cookies with Cookies!
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Congratulations Cahaba Elementary School November 2018 PaceSetters for Cooperation! Great Job!
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Paine Elementary Spelling Bee Champion! Congratulations!
November 30, Paine Elementary held their Fifth Grade School Spelling Bee. Classroom champions competed in the school bee. Anna Green is Paine Elementary School's Spelling Bee Champion. Anna will compete in the district spelling bee in January. Jack Reeser is the school's first alternate. Congratulations to all our participants and champions.
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Congratulations to Magnolia Elementary Spelling Bee Champ!
Congrats Students!
Magnolia Elementary Spelling Bee Winner: Vivian Westin
Magnolia Elementary Spelling Bee Runner-Up: Sky Russell
Great Job Students!
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Congratulations to HTMS Spelling Bee Champion!
Hewitt-Trussville Middle School held their School Spelling Bee December 13, 2018.
The HTMS Champion is Ethan McCullough and the runner-up is Olivia Nafziger.
Good Luck to Ethan as he moves on the next round!
Great Job Students!
Spelling Bee Participants in Group Photo are: Front row L-R: Natalee Goff, Sara Marie Buttram, Molly Horn, Sarah Beth Golden, Olivia Nafziger
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HTHS Student Leadership Team Retreat!
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HTHS Students Participate in a multi-club Christmas Project. Students made and delivered almost 300 individual bags of donations and large items to Childrens Hospital! TCS Proud of Students Giving Back in Their Community! Great Job!
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Congratulations to the HTMS November 2018 Teacher of the Month!
Ms. Melanie Marimberga, 8th Grade English....Congratulations!
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Twenty-two Trussville Teachers Attend Serravallo Workshop in Auburn
Trussville City Schools had twenty-two educators from the elementary schools and middle school attend Jennifer Serravallo’s “Reading and Writing Strategies and Structures: Connecting Assessment and Instruction” conference in Auburn, Alabama, December 6. TCS teachers have studied Serravallo’s work as a way to improve literacy for students. The conference provided time to explicitly work with key strategies that can be used in the classroom, as taken from Serravallo’s The Reading Strategies Book and The Writing Strategies Book. Teachers were able to go through some specific ways to help students grapple with both fiction and nonfiction texts. In addition, participants were directed through writing prompts, requiring all to take on the role of writers, just as they would have students do. It was a powerful practice reminding participants of the challenges and victories students experience in their classrooms.
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Central Office Luncheon and Games...A Great Time Was Had By All....Merry Christmas!
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Paine Elementary's Ms. McKinley's Class and Ms. Jackson's Class Service Project...Way to give back students!
For a Christmas Class Service Project, Ms. McKinley and Ms. Jackson purchased a Radio Flyer Wagon. was for Children’s Hospital. The students decorated it with their hand prints. Each student was encouraged to bring in a pair of pjs to put in the wagon. Many of the students paid for the pjs with their own money. Altogether, students collected 73 pairs of pjs for children that will be spending their Christmas at Children’s Hospital. Thank you students for your compassion for others during this Holiday Season! The wagon and pjs will be delivered to Children’s Hospital next week!
Merry Christmas!