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JEFCOED Journal 4-19-24
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April 19, 2024
Superintendent's Message
Hello JEFCOED Family,
I want to start this JEFCOED Journal by congratulating our JEFCOED Teachers of the Year! Allyson McCombs from Warrior Elementary was named the Elementary Teacher of the Year, and Nastassia Law from Minor High School was named the Secondary Teacher of the Year. Thank you to both of these outstanding individuals for all you do for our students! It was fun celebrating them and our other finalists during a banquet Tuesday night!
Can you believe that we are nearing the end of the school year? In fact, we are now more than halfway through our fourth and final nine weeks. Parents, be sure to check your email because progress reports went home Thursday. The district is also wrapping up ACAP testing right now. I know all our students did their best! I appreciate their efforts and our teachers’ efforts in preparing our students.
We’re also gearing up for our graduations at all of our high schools. Since we have 15 graduations, myself, our board members, and our district leadership team spread out so we can have a representative present at each and every graduation. We are so excited to support these young people as they head off to college or the workforce. Don’t forget, wherever you go and whatever you do, you will always still be part of the JEFCOED Family!
While May marks the ending of the school year, it also marks a busy time where we honor several groups of employees. Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6th through May 10th! Before that, we have School Principals Day on May 1st and School Lunch Hero Day on May 3rd. We also don’t want to forget National School Nurse Day (5/8), School Communicators Day (5/10), and National Speech Pathologist Day (5/18). When you see one of these members of our JEFCOED family, please be sure to thank them for what they do!
I’m going to stop there this week, because we’ve got a lot of great things in this edition of the Journal. I want to give you time to have a look at all the wonderful news coming out of JEFCOED! Keep working hard in these final few weeks of the school year!
Sincerely,
Dr. Gonsoulin
Upcoming Calendar
April 18 - Progress Reports Go Home
May 3rd - E-Learning Day
May 23rd - End of Spring Semester, Last Day for Students.
May 27th - Memorial Day (Schools and Offices Closed)
May 31st - Report Cards Go Home
Enchanted Moments
The 2024 Exceptional Prom was truly unforgettable! Hundreds of students arrived dressed to impress and ready to dance the day away! The year's event, aptly named "Enchanted Moments," was filled with music, laughter, dance, and absolute JOY!
Prom King - Landon Dill, Corner High School
Prom Queen - Hattie Chacon Ottaviani, McAdory High School
We are grateful to the City of Hoover and the Hoover Metropolitan Complex for making this special event possible. Thank you to KultureCity for making our event friendly for all! To all of our students who attended, we hope you had a blast and made memories that will last a lifetime!
Student Transfer Application Window Open
Attention Parents/Guardians: The 2024-2025 Student Transfer Application Window is Now Open!
The application window for student transfers for the 2024-2025 school year is officially open and will remain so until June 1, 2024. Don't miss this opportunity if you're considering a transfer for your child!
Important Reminders:
-Late submissions cannot be accepted, so make sure to apply before the deadline of June 1, 2024.
-Remember, applications must be completed annually for all students seeking a transfer to a Jefferson County school, including students who are on a transfer for the previous school year.
Student Transfer Application: https://bit.ly/StudentTransferApplication
Transfer Categories: https://www.jefcoed.com/Page/5176
Questions?
If you have any queries or need assistance, please don't hesitate to contact the Student Services Department at 205-379-2165.
Longest Baseball Game in AHSAA History
Gardendale and Hueytown played one for the record books! On April 3rd, the Rockets and Golden Gophers found themselves in a 17 inning showdown. It was the longest high school baseball game ever recorded in AHSAA history! Gardendale nipped Hueytown 2 to 1.
The entire game was shown on JEFCOED TV. Watch the final out in the video below! The entire game is also archived on JEFCOED TV. You can watch it on Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV or by clicking the link below.
Pleasant Grove JROTC Cadets Earn Coveted Gold Star After Stellar Inspection
By: Master Sergeant (R) Derrick Hamilton
Pleasant Grove High School Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) was visited by 6th Brigade JROTC representative, Jerome Gates of Cadet Command on the 12th of April 2024 for its first JROTC Program Accreditation (JPA) inspection. Also known as Spartans Battalion Leadership Academy (SBLA), the Battalion is unique as it comprises four (4) High Schools, McAdory High School, Oak Grove High School, Hueytown High School, and Pleasant Grove High School, in which the program is housed. Pleasant Grove High School JROTC started as a NDCC (National Defense Cadet Corps) program in 2020 and was officially approved to become a JROTC program effective 1 June 2023.
The cadets and Spartans Battalion leadership spent many hours and days preparing for the inspection by practicing Color Guard, Platoon Drill, Continuous Improvement and Service-Learning Briefings, uniform inspections, and general knowledge questions. The cadet’s dedication for success led to the Battalion earning a 99% (100 max) overall score, earning the Honor Unit with Distinction (HUD) award. This will be represented by the cadet’s now being able to wear the coveted ‘Gold Star’ on their uniforms.
Cadets will be allowed to wear the ‘Gold Star’ for three (3) years as the JPA is a Tri-Annual inspection. In accordance with USACC Regulation 145-2 JROTC Program dated 12 August 2022, Chapter 8, Section 54 states that, “An Honor Unit with Distinction has demonstrated exceptional performance in all areas of JROTC, as determined by the USACC and as designated in permanent orders. Receiving such ratings is a reflection on both the unit and the school.”
Master Sergeant (Retired) Derrick Hamilton and Chief Warrant Officer Four (Retired) Eugene Murphy were proud of their cadet’s commitment and dedication. Transitioning from NDCC to a JROTC program, the cadets, Battalion, and instructors faced many challenges and constraints preparing for the JPA. The cadet’s strived for success and being a JROTC Program for only 10 months were able to score 99%, making the Spartans Battalion one of the TOP JROTC Programs in Alabama per JPA inspections.
JEFCOED Students View Great American Eclipse
Don't Wait to Vaccinate!
Attention parents and students! Don't wait to vaccinate before school starts next fall. The Jefferson County Department of Health is here to help you get your vaccinations and shot records in order.
April - June
Thursdays | 1-4 PM
Call (205) 588-5234 or scan the QR code in the image for an appointment
The JEFCOED Fast Five!
Start Your Engines!
Irondale Community School 4th and 5th graders got a chance to chat with none other than #42 NASCAR driver John Hunter Nemechek. They learned about the science and technology involved in the sport of racing and even played a game of red light, green light! Who knows, maybe one day we'll see some of these students on the NASCAR track!
JCIB Middle's New Outdoor Learning Space
A big transformation is underway as Wyatt Mattson spearheads the addition of an outdoor learning space at the JCIB Middle School, where he once attended. As a senior at the IB high school, Wyatt is leading this initiative as part of his Eagle Scout project. With the support of Troop 216 and two current students, Noah Giattina and Jacob Smith, Wyatt is paving the way for middle schoolers to engage in outdoor learning experiences across all subjects. We can't wait to see the finished project!
Jersey Retired
Mickey's Weather Kid
Photo Courtesy: Mike Dubberly WBRC
International Festival Night
Clay Elementary School's International Festival Night was an unforgettable journey around the globe! Visitors grabbed a passport and began racking up their stamps. The students enjoyed presenting their colorful and informative displays, celebrating worldwide culture, understanding, and diversity. We can't wait for the next global expedition!
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