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ACTE State Tech Fair Results
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4/29/2013
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On Saturday, Saturday, April 27, 2013, eleven students competed in the ACTE State Technology Fair held on the campus of Auburn University at Montgomery. Eleven projects were entered and St. Paul’s brought home four state trophies. Click here for a complete list of participants and projects. Congratulations to all who participated!
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Spanish Students Compete at University of Alabama
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4/25/2013
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On Friday, March 15, 20 St. Paul's Spanish students participated in the 42nd Annual Competition of the Alabama Federation of High School Spanish Clubs held at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Along with 734 of their closest friends from across the state, our students competed in various categories, such as: Vocabulary, Grammar Usage, Verbs, Sight Reading, Poetry Recitation, Artwork (both 2-D and 3-D) and Theatrical Skits. Please help me in congratulating the following students for their superior efforts:
- Matthew D’Alonzo—Ist place in Level III Grammar Usage
- John Kavula—3rd place in Level III Sight Reading
- The cast of the original comedy “Los ladrones de lama” (The Llama Thieves): Matthew D’Alonzo, Lizzie Castillo, John Kavula, Ryan Cox, Danielle Williamson, Katie Steadman—3rd place Theatrical Skits for Levels III and IV
Also, please congratulate the following for moving on to the second and final round of each of their competitions respectively:
- Katie Steadman: Verbs
- Ryan Cox: Verbs (Ryan actually continued to a 3rd tie-breaking round)
- Danielle Williamson: Vocabulary
- Mallory Henderson: Vocabulary
In addition to the competition, our students enjoyed an informative campus tour given by SPS alumnus Marcus Gibson and were given a glimpse of World Language studies and opportunities at the University.
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Scholar's Bowl Goes to State
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4/19/2013
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St. Paul's upper school scholar’s bowl team competed in the state tournament on Friday, April 12 in Birmingham. They played quite well and were the only team from the southern part of the state to advance to the playoffs, and finished in 6th place out of 24 teams. The team consisted of Seth Polansky, Conner Denton, John Kavula, Jessica Knezha, Matt D’Alonzo, and captain Danielle Williamson.
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National Merit Scholarship High Scorers
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4/19/2013
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Congratulations to the following students for achieving High Scorer status in the National Merit Program. This is the first step in the National Merit process--AND A SIGNIFICANT HONOR IN ITSELF. Every high scorer will be either a commended scholar or a semi-finalist. That designation comes later in the competition to become a National Merit Finalist and scholarship winner.
- Abigail Lindsay Blankenship
- Holly Friedlander
- Andie Goodwin
- Baylor Jeffries
- Jessica Knezha
- Danielle Williamson
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Kelli Etheredge Nominated for National Bammy Award
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4/19/2013
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Dear St. Paul's Families:
St. Paul’s own Kelli Etheredge has been nominated for a Bammy Award- a national award for Secondary Teacher of the year. Click here to vote BY MAY 15 and help Kelli win!!  Kelli is the Teaching and Learning Resources Director for St. Paul’s. In that role, she supports PreK-12 teachers in effective integration of technology and innovative lesson design. She also teaches 10th grade World Literature and is a Mentor Instructor. We all know Kelli as a fabulous and creative teacher. Let’s help her win the award and let the whole nation know how great our teachers are at St. Paul’s!
Click here to vote by May 15 and help Kelli win!!When voting, the site asks for any comments you may have; click here for a vitae on Kelli and her many accomplishments if it will be of help with your comments. To learn more about the Bammy Award, go to www.bammyawards.com.
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Speech Students Shine in Contest at USA
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4/19/2013
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Congratulations to Carrie Stuart's speech students, who participated in a contest April 18 at The University of South Alabama. 80 students from our area participated. St. Paul’s was well represented by 15 students.
Layne Watts won first place.
Ashten Stanford won third place.
Victoria Falkos, Reece Stevens, and Teagan Fergason rounded out the top 8.
Caroline Scott, Matthew D’Alonzo, and Megan Stegelman earned honorable mentions.
Other SPS participants were Victoria Delmas, Lizzie Castillo, Slater Whiston, Madeline Rhiner, Morgan Eiland, Ellie Grehan, and Jazmyne Jackson.
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Local Government Officials Visit 8th Grade Civics Class
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4/16/2013
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Chad Harrelson's 8th Grade Civics classes had visitors from local governments in March who spoke to the classes.
Top photo: Civics class with County Commissioner Jerry Carl.
 Bottom Photo: Civics class with City Councilwoman Bess Rich. Also visiting were Commissioner Merceria Ludgood and City Councilman Fred Richardson, Jr. |
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Danielle Williamson Earns Top Composite ACT Score
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3/27/2013
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 Danielle Williamson, daughter of Drs. Linda and David Williamson and a junior at St. Paul’s Episcopal School earned a top composite score of 36 on a recent ACT test. Nationally, while the actual number of students earning a composite score of 36 varies from year to year, less than one-tenth of 1 percent of students who take the ACT earn a top score. Among test takers in the high school graduating class of 2012, only 781 of more than 1.66 million students earned a composite score of 36.
The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading and science. Each test is scored on a scale of 1-36, and a student's composite score is the average of the four test scores. Some students also take ACT’s optional Writing Test, but the score for that test is reported separately and is not included within the ACT composite score.
In a letter recognizing this exceptional achievement, ACT CEO Jon Whitmore said, “While test scores are just one of the many criteria that most colleges consider when making admission decisions, your exceptional ACT composite score should prove helpful as you pursue your education and career goals.”
ACT test scores are accepted by all major U.S. colleges, and exceptional scores of 36 provide colleges with evidence of student readiness for the academic rigors that lie ahead.
Danielle’s activities and achievements at St. Paul’s include:
- Recently elected SGA president for the 2013-2014 school year
- First place winner at the state level in the Trumbauer Theatre Festival in solo female comedic acting
- Silver medal recipient at the national level of the Scholastic Art and Writing competition for photography
- Editor-in-Chief of St. Paul’s student newspaper “The Epistle”
- Active in St. Paul’s the theater program, participating in regular theatrics club events as well as Fall and Spring Show
- Selected as one of the top twenty delegates in the Youth in Government program in Alabama and will represent the state at the Council on National Affairs this summer
- Member of St. Paul’s Upper School Scholar’s Bowl Team
- Member of St. Paul’s Student Government Association
- Member of the Spanish Club
- Studies Advanced Placement Art and Photography at St. Paul’s
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Middle School Scholar's Bowl Team Places Second
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3/22/2013
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Congratulations to the Middle School Scholars’ Bowl team for placing second in the Bay Area Scholastic Challenge (BASC) for the season and at the BACS Super Tournament, which was held at the University of South Alabama last Friday! Team members are Noah Harrelson, Emilie Rihner, Lauren Ritchie, Sunya Reddy, Elliott Cherniak, Sean Baxter, Daniel Lane, Katie Ritchie, Laurel Williamson and Avery Nobles.
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Headmaster's List and Honor Roll Students for Third Quarter
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3/20/2013
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Congratulations to those students in grades 5 - 12 who made Headmaster’s List and Honor Roll for the third quarter of the 2012-2013 school year! The criteria for Headmaster’s List is an average of 90.00 or better with no grade below 85. The criteria for Honor Roll is an average of 80.00 or better with no grade below 75.
The students on the Headmaster’s List will have a partial out-of-uniform day (TBA). They are allowed to wear any appropriate out-of-uniform shirt with their uniform slacks or skirts.
Headmaster's list students will receive a complimentary gift certificate to Chill Yogurt for all their hard work.
Click here for a list of the Headmaster and Honor Roll students.
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ACTE Regional Computer Fair Results
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3/20/2013
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Sixty-four St. Paul's students in grades 3-12 entered the 29th annual ACTE Regional Computer Fair held Thursday, March 14 at Faulkner State Community College. Nearly 1400 students from Mobile, Baldwin and Washington County schools were entered, making this the largest regional fair in the state. Please congratulate all who participated for their efforts. Students who placed 1st or 2nd are eligible to compete in the State Computer Fair which will be held Saturday, April 27 in Montgomery.
Click here for the winning projects!
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2013 National Honor Society Induction
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3/6/2013
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 On February 28, St. Paul’s inducted thirty-six new members into the National Honor Society. Family, friends, and fellow students gathered at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church to watch over one-third of the Class of 2014 become new members. Inductees were selected for their academic excellence and their demonstration of character, integrity, and respect at school and in the community. The prestigious ceremony was highlighted by four speeches outlining the four core key components of the National Honor Society - scholarship, service, leadership, and character.
John Shreve explained how scholarship was not limited to the work done for academic classes but also included knowledge gained from intellectual curiosity. John explained that the result of such academic pursuits, especially those done for pleasure, was a more, well-rounded individual who benefitted from such studies regardless of his future career. Shivani Ananthasekar spoke passionately about the need for a St. Paul’s student and an NHS member to go beyond the ordinary expectations of having a duty to serve others. Instead, Shivani challenged the new NHS members to go beyond the normal acts of service and to see service as a calling that encompasses all facets on one’s life.
Next, Varshini Venkatesan used fellow senior- Bess Nichols - to illustrate the meaning of leadership. Varshini explained how Bess is the perfect example of a leader in that she inspires others to become leaders themselves. The core message of Varshini’s speech to the SPS students was the inspiring idea that all students have the potential to become leaders or demonstrate leadership qualities. The last speech turned out to be the most emotional as Carter Albrecht spoke poignantly about his grandfather’s courageous battle with Parkinson’s. Despite his grandfather’s inability to walk and perform some of the actions of an able-bodied man, his grandfather’s spirits have not faltered and have remained steadfast. It is in such times of adversity, Carter maintained, that character is revealed.
As the new members assembled on the front steps of the church, one thing stood out above the rest: diversity. The new inductees represent all aspects of St. Paul’s Episcopal School and the Four Pillars of a St. Paul’s education: the arts, athletics, spirituality, and academic excellence.
Congratulations to new inductees Alana Babington, Taylor Bahos, Abigail Blankenship, Anna Braswell, Zavier Carmichael, Virginia Cottrell, Ryan Cox, Kellsey Daggett, Conner Denton, Holly Friedlander, Andie Goodwin, Fox Haas Jr., Mary Hanlon Hale, Eleanor Hanceri, Alex Henry, Baylor Jeffries, Harrison Jordan, John Kavula, Hallie King, Brewer Kirkendall, Jessica Knezha, Klaudia Larson, Kelley Ann Mitchell, Whitney Myers, Wade Naritoku, Matthew O’Connor, Rebecca Pober, Jack Rebarchak II, Graham Reeves, Turner Sankey, Shelley Spires , Katherine Steadman, Hyland Stockton, Virginia Vichi-Miller, Kramer Volkman Jr., and Danielle Williamson.
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SPS Students Shine at Youth Legislature in Montgomery
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2/26/2013
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 Faculty members Will Hester, Carrie Stuart, and Murphy Elliott took nineteen 8-12 graders to Montgomery for the Youth Legislature competition and seven earned recognition/awards including:
Avery Lancaster and Sunya Reddy -- Outstanding Delegates in the Junior Division, with Avery winning the Presiding Officer position (he did so after delivering a rousing speech that would have made Daniel Webster proud!).
Lizzie Castillo and Millie Jordan -- Outstanding Delegates in the 1st Year Chamber: Daly Wettermark, Allie Frederick, Lauren Everett, and Sarah Grace Kirkendall all performed on par with the top delegates.
Bea Tisher and Danielle Williamson earned honors by their selection to the National Affairs Conference. This ranks Bea and Danielle in the top 10 of all participants and gives them the opportunity this summer to debate and discuss national politics with students from across the country.
Finally, Rebecca Pober served with distinction as a Supreme Court Justice.
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National Merit Commended Scholars and Finalists
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2/20/2013
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Congratulations to St. Paul’s Class of 2013 National Merit Commended Scholars and Finalists:
National Merit Finalist: Caroline Nicholas
National Merit Commended Scholar: Taylor Wood In October each year St. Paul’s juniors, along with approximately 1.5 million other college-bound students, enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the PSAT. In September of the senior year, 34,000 are designated Commended Scholars and 17,600 recognized as Semi-Finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program or the National Achievement Scholarship Program. The National Achievement Scholarship Program is an academic competition to provide recognition for outstanding Black American high school students. Based on academics, service, character, leadership, activities, and the SAT, these Semi-Finalists compete to advance to Finalist. In February the Finalists are named. National Merit Scholarships, National Achievement Scholarships, college sponsored scholarships, and corporate sponsored scholarships worth in excess of forty-eight million dollars are offered Finalists. Over the last four years St. Paul’s has had sixteen National Merit Commended Scholars, eleven National Merit Semi-finalists, eleven National Merit Finalists, and one National Merit Achievement Finalist.
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Youth Judicial 2012 Verdict: Guilty - of Having a Great Time!
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12/10/2012
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Youth Judicial 2012 Verdict: Guilty…of Having a Great Time!
Following last year’s Youth Judicial delegation of four teams, this season St. Paul’s sent eight (comprised of fifty-one students) to Montgomery to compete in the statewide mock-trial competition. SPS had one team finish in the Top Ten, whose members included Rosey Latham, Tres Bodet, Carter Albrecht, Abby Castillo, Ashten Stanford, and Katelanne Whitehead.
Additionally, St. Paul’s had two Top Twenty teams: Kennedy Studdard, Erin Granger, Allie Frederick, Sarah Grace Kirkendall, Millie Jordan, Layne Watts and Josh Casher, John Shreve, Anna Brabston, Seth Polansky, Bess Nichols, and William Foster. All St. Paul’s students performed admirably and demonstrated character, integrity, and respect. More importantly, in some ways, every child seemed to have a great time and had a wonderful experience.
The future is bright for the Saints with the school returning forty enthusiastic and experienced members for next year’s competition. To read more about this year’s competition, click here to read a brilliant and amusing article by Danielle Williamson, a leading voice of her generation.
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St. Paul's Students pick Romney in National Mock Election
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11/26/2012
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By Rena Havner Philips, Mobile Press-Register
October 30, 2012
MOBILE, Alabama -- It’s likely no surprise that a school in the red state of Alabama would overwhelmingly choose Mitt Romney in a mock presidential election today.
But for the upper school students at St. Paul’s Episcopal in Mobile, the election was about more than simply casting a ballot. It was about researching the issues, watching and discussing in class the presidential debates, getting a visit from state Rep. Jo Bonner, and writing position papers.
“We’re the future of the country,” said senior Taylor Wood, 17 of Mobile. “All high school students should be encouraged to keep up with elections, and to be opinionated, but to have informed opinions.”
At St. Paul's, a private school in Spring Hill, 271 of the 366 voters in ninth through 12th grades, or 74 percent, picked Romney, the Republican candidate. Democratic President Barack Obama came in second with 57 votes, or 16 percent.
St. Paul’s is participating in a nationwide mock debate taking place in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. run by VOTES (Voting Opportunities for Teenagers in Every State). Typically, two high schools in each state - one public and one private - hold elections. Popular votes are converted into electoral votes to imitate the actual election. St. Paul’s has participated every year since 1988.
Students interviewed by the Press-Register and al.com said they’re concerned primarily with the economy. They’ll soon be heading off to college and hope to be able to afford tuition and find a job.
Tres Bodet, 17, of Mobile, said he enjoyed digging deep into the policies of the candidates, rather than judging candidates solely on their personalities.
“It’s been said that our generation is going to take the brunt of the debt, so it’s about how much of a brunt we’re going to have to take," he said, adding that international policy is also important to him because he hopes to get into Westpoint.
Victor Helmsing, assistant headmaster and Advanced Placement Government and Economics teacher at St. Paul’s, said he’s proud of his students for being informed.
“We didn’t just hand out ballots and say vote. There was a lot of preparation,” Helmsing said. He hopes this creates a lifetime habit. “We expect our students to go on and vote and be civically involved.”
Click here for the complete Press-Register article.
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Kelli Etheredge Participates in the Microsoft Innovative Educator Advanced Program
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10/31/2012
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Teacher trainers learn new technology and teaching skills to enhance 21st century education.
October 24, 2012 — Kelli Etheredge attended the exclusive Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Advanced Training Program sponsored by Microsoft’s Partners in Learning program, a three-day, invitation only event on October 17th-19th at the Microsoft campus in Bellevue, Washington. Kelli was selected based on her important role in education and her ability to train other educators in the use of technology in teaching and learning.
Kelli teachers sophomore English and is the Teaching and Learning Resource Director for St. Paul's.
The Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Advanced Training Program provides expert teacher trainers with the opportunity to participate in hands-on, product training combined with approaches for engaging teachers on how best to integrate relevant technology into the classroom. During the sessions, educators were trained on the latest Microsoft products for the classroom and discussed best practices for teaching teachers. These sessions included Office 365 for cloud-based collaboration, advanced uses of Microsoft OneNote, using Kinect in the Classroom, Windows 8, and ways to use social media for professional development. Keynote speakers included Anthony Salcito, Vice President, Worldwide Education for Microsoft, and The New York Times best-selling author of Brain Rules, Dr. John Medina.
“Educators who attend this Microsoft Innovative Educator Advanced training have shown their commitment to effectively integrating technology in the classroom and extending professional development across their district and beyond,” said Andrew Ko, General Manager, U.S. Partners in Learning, Microsoft Corporation. “As educators expand their expertise, their creative approaches are having a transformational impact at their schools and students are benefitting by learning new skills they will need to be workforce-ready after graduation.”
The Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Advanced Training Program is a three-day professional development experience designed to strengthen the educator’s ability to deliver training which increases usage of the products, tools and programs that a district/school already owns. Additionally, their training expertise was expanded and deepened by working with a small team of MIE master trainers collaborating on best practices for training teachers. Attendees were given exclusive access to Microsoft product teams and new teacher-focused training and materials. Trainers walked away with more technical knowledge, training experience and qualified for graduate level credits.
Each attendee will be go on to share their expertise as a they train teachers in their schools, districts and beyond, while contributing professional development best practices available to all educators on the Microsoft Partners in Learning Network (www.pil-network.com), a global collaboration space for teachers.
More information on Microsoft Innovative Educator Program and future training events is available at: www.microsoft.com/innovativeeducators.
by Megan Evander
www.ncce.org
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SPS Scholar's Bowl Team Places Second
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9/12/2012
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In the recent Fall 2012 “Middle School Recent Events Challenge,” sponsored by Avery Enterprises, St. Paul's Middle School Scholar's Bowl team finished second overall, out of 17 teams from Georgia, Alabama, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Tennessee. In fact, our team only missed 1 question! Team members are Skandan Ananthasekar, Sean Baxter, Mary Dann Betbeze, Leah Brown, Mary Stirling Brown, Elliott Cherniak, James Courtney, Cameron Drum, Divya Goel, Joseph Hantouche, Noah Harrelson, Cate Hodges, Daniel Jarmer, Ryan Johnson, Daniel Lane, Avery Nobles, Brantley Oldenburg, Sunya Reddy, Emily Rihner, Katie Ritchie, Lauren Ritchie, and Laurel Williamson.
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Dr. Washburn Blogs About St. Paul's
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3/8/2012
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Dr. Kevin D. Washburn, who is the author behind the Architecture of Learning instructional design model that we implement at St. Paul's, blogged about his experience at St. Paul's with the Writer's Stylus program. Check out the great things he had to say about how our teachers use the program and gain a little insight in how learning works at St. Paul's.
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