UAB continues to administer the COVID-19 vaccine across metro Birmingham. At this time, everyone ages 12 and older is eligible for vaccination according to the Alabama Department of Public Health Guidelines. An appointment can easily be scheduled through UAB. You may also receive your vaccine without an appointment. Visit UAB Medicine's official site for important information including directions to the vaccine locations.

April Chamberlain, Technology and Library Supervisor for Trussville City Schools, has been accepted into two prestigious groups among Alabama educator circles: the 2021-2022 TEDxBirmingham Educator Cohort and the Fund for Teachers Alabama Innovation Circle Lead. Both groups will invite her into networks of innovative educators who will be tasked with revisiting and reimagining education as we know it. See more on Chamberlain's upcoming educator networks.

Skye, Bullet, and Atom became official members of the TCS family this week as they set paw on the HTHS campus (Skye) and the HTMS campus (Bullet & Atom {Atom=temporary placement}). These three animals quickly became the hottest items in Trussville as students, staff, teachers, and administrators got to know them. The specially-trained dogs came about as a partnership among Service Dogs Alabama; Trussville City Schools; and the Alabama State Department of Education. See more on Skye, Bullet, and Atom.

Hewitt-Trussville High School (HTHS) Government and History teacher Jeff Schrupp has been named one of the sixteen finalists for 2021 Alabama Teacher of the Year. Known as the Sweet Sixteen, Schrupp and fifteen others were culled from approximately 140 educators in school systems across Alabama. ALSDE and the Alabama State Board of Education will officially announce a winner this August. See more on the Teacher of the Year finalists.

Vertical construction began at Trussville City Schools' first-ever Central Office building this week on Highway 11 as a crane began to erect steel beams. This progress comes in close succession to pavement, concrete, and other foundational efforts in the past month. The new facility will house most district offices. The current facility that serves as a Central Office off of Chalkville Road is decades old and formerly served as a Kindergarten Annex for Jefferson County Schools. Estimated completion of the new building is late winter/spring 2022. See a video update from Superintendent Dr. Pattie Neill.

Trussville City Schools is fortunate to be able to provide school nurses at each of its campuses. There are almost no words - especially this school year - to appropriately thank our school nurses for their contributions to our faculties and staffs. National School Nurse Day came about in 1972 from the National Association of School Nurses (NASN). This year, building on the increased visibility of nurses' contributions National Nurses' Week has been expanded to Nurses Month in May.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has launched a temporary program to help families and households struggling to afford Internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Emergency Broadband Benefit provides a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.

Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) by applying online using an online or mail in an application that is available by calling 833-511-0311.

Cahaba’s 5th grade Math Team competed in a competition with teams from around Alabama on Saturday, May 8, and had several students earn accolades! Teams won 1st Place and 3rd Place, plus two students individually placed 1st and 3rd. Ford Rotenberry won 1st and Will Murray won 3rd. Ford also had the highest score of any student from all grade levels! Team members on the first place team are Ford Rotenberry, Will Murray, Caleb Scott, Sarah Kate Clark, and Sadie Brown. Team members on the third place team are Hudson Rogers, Levi O’Neill, Maddie Coffman, and Molly Gibson. All of these students will compete in the National Championship on May 13th. Congratulations!

Kindergarteners at MES have been learning about habitats in science. Each class spent time researching a specific habitat and its animals. After weeks of learning about the unique features of their habitat, students transformed into the animals that occupy these locations. Students presented their knowledge (“Talking Habitat”) with the other Kindergarten classes. Through these presentations, students learned about animals that live in the Rainforest, Ocean, and Artic habitat. See photos from this "wild" event!

The following choirs earned all Superior ratings (highest possible) and Distinguished Musicianship Awards at State Choral Performance Assessment (SCPA): 1) 7th Grade Women’s Ensemble; 2) Treble Honors Choir; and 3) HTMS Singers. This means that five ensembles and five soloists received Superior ratings at State Assessments this year and EVERY HTMS choir student earned at least one Superior rating this year. See a full re-cap of all Superior ratings earned by HTMS at State Assessments this year.

HTHS took home the GOLD (Luke Golden) and SILVER (Jacob McManic) in the Electrical Construction Wiring competition at Skills USA 2021! What did they have to do in this specific part of the competition? Luke, Jacob, and other contestants were required to complete a written test of questions formulated from the latest edition of the National Electric Code (NEC), a practical conduit bending exercise and hands-on installation of a conduit system, cabling system and wiring devices. Working from drawings and specification sheets, contestants are required to install an electrical system common in most residential and light commercial projects. Judging was based on general workmanship, accuracy of layout and installation, and adherence to the current NEC and standard industry safe practices. Congrats, Luke & Jacob!

The New York Times called it "A Simple Exercise for Encouraging Independent Reading" where "Four teachers across the U.S. challenged their students to choose two Times pieces — one on a topic within their comfort zone, another on a topic outside it — and read both. It was a success everywhere." See the student/teacher combo which received notice in this piece.

We want you to learn to love this game!!!

Play Dates: August 16 – October 21

Play Days: Monday and Thursday

Location: HTHS Gym

Registration dates: May 12 – August 4

Registration cost: $75.00 per player

Age groups: 1st – 2nd grade, 3rd – 4th grade, 5th – 6th grade, and 7th – 8th grade

Register on-line @trussville.org

More info: Contact Drew Peterson: dpeterson@trussville.org

The library is excited to offer in-person, drop-in, take-home kits, and virtual programming this Summer! On the TPL website is a preview of highlighted programs each department will be offering in June. Sign-up and registration for June Summer Reading programs will begin May 17th and July programming registration will begin June 14th! A complete list of Summer Reading programming happening in June and July will be available for previewing and browsing on the library's website at http://www.trussvillelibrary.com/summer-reading-2020-quick-guide/