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AGGIE

LEGACY

Volume 2, Issue 2

The Online Magazine For Albertville High School

AggieVision & Aggie Advocate Staff

The AggieVision and Aggie Advocate Staff attended a workshop in Huntsville, Alabama, conducted by the Alabama Scholastic Press Association. The staff learned about layout designs for magazines, photography, and what it takes to have an award winning magazine. The staff have also worked hard filming and photographing multiple events for the high school and the school system. Some events include filming and conducting interviews at the Health and Safety Expo, streaming the Lady Aggies in the state volleyball play-offs, and streaming the Friday night Aggie football games. In addition, due to their diligence and professionalism in streaming Aggie events, the AggieVision Staff has been selected as a NFHS Network Official Producer. This prestigious designation is only awarded to the most elite of broadcast programs.

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AggieVision [Web/AV]

Aggie Advocate [Print/Design]Staff

Tanner Carmichael Laura Garcia Lola Garcia Angel GodinezAriatna Hernandez Cody Hill Nancy Martinez Molly-Katherine MillwoodBriley O’Dell Blake Smedley

Nallely Aguilar Ana Antonio Gigi Delgado Christina Domingo Cindy Garcia Abigail HernandezNoah Kirkland Dylan Langley Heather Leeth Juana MendezLeo Mariano Karson Nesbit Angie Ochoa Bobbie-Anne Oliver Alejandra Ramirez Cassidy Roberson Allison Smith Esther Ulloa

Adviser: Wendy AycockTechnical Coordinator: Tyler MayProofreading: Annsonnetta Golden

Since2014

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Aggie AccomplishmentsCongratulations to the inductees into the Albertville High School Chapter of the National Honor Society in a ceremony at the Fine Arts Center on September 29, 2015. Some of the requirements to be inducted into the AHS NHS include, but are not limited to, earning a cumulative GPA standard of 90.0, and having no disciplinary items in their school file; students must be a sophomore, junior, or senior to be eligible for membership. For more information, please see the AHS NHS webpage on the AHS website. Thank you to sponsors Mary Hambey and Jennifer Taunton.

Congratulations to Aggie Advocate Staff Christina Domingo and AggieVision Staff Blake Smedley for having their volleyball pictures published in the Sand Mountain Reporter. Thank you to Shannon J. Allen for giving these students a great opportunity!

Congratulations to the Lady Aggies and Cristy West for making it to the Elite 8 and competing in the State Volleyball Championship! The last time the Lady Aggies made it to state was 1997. Great job!

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Aggie Accomplishments

Daniel Velasquez was selected as a door prize recipient of one of 2 iPad minis donated by the Marshall County Manufacturers Association at the Marshall County College and Career Expo. The event is held at Marshall Technical School and is open to all high school students in Marshall County. Representatives from 2-year and 4-year colleges, as well as technical schools, military, and area businesses, are available to talk with students about college and career options.

The varsity boys cross country team qualified for the state championship for the first time as a 6A school! Cloie Bridges and Grace Kelley also qualified for state as individual girls. The boys finished with a top ten finish at state and finished the year ranked as the #9 team in 6A.

The Cross Country team also completed the construction of a new cross country course at the Albertville Recreation Center. The course includes over a mile of wooded trails that is open to the public year round.

On November 16, Katie Allen signed on to be a Samford Bulldog. Samford has been recruiting Katie for the last two years. Katie will be playing shooting guard. Katie is one of five incoming freshmen who have signed with Samford for the 2016-2017 season with Coach Morris.

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Aggie Accomplishments

FBLA members and students from Mrs. Aycock’s, Coach Rains’, Coach Rutledge’s, Mrs. Starnes’, and Mrs.

Todd’s classes sponsored children as part of the Marshall County Christmas Coalition that provides gifts to children

for Christmas. The Marshall County Christmas Coalition sponsors over 2,500

children each Christmas. Please visit www.christmascoalition.org if you are

interested in sponsoring a child.

Members of the United Cherokee Ani-Yun-Wiya-Nation of Marshall County visited Mrs. Kaylor’s and

Mrs. Norman’s students in honor of National Native American Month. Mrs. Gina Williamson, along with

several others, came and spoke about Native Americans being the first recyclers and how they used

all parts of the animals they killed. They brought many artifacts to

show the students and ended the program with a snake dance.

The Albertville City Schools Nutrition Program participated in World School Milk Day by providing milk mustaches

to all students and encouraging student to drink their milk! Each

year, more than twenty-five countries celebrate World School Milk Day.

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Aggie Accomplishments

Vocal Ease and other Albertville Show Choir students performed holiday songs,

under the direction of Mrs. Natasha Tidmore, at the Christmas Cabaret at

Sebastian’s. Other Show Choir students particpated by being servers for the night.

Congratulations to Anna Clay Adams for being named to the 2015-2106 State Superindetendent Advisory Council. Anna Clay will have the opportunity to interact with fifteen other students throughout the state and with Alabama State Superintendent Tommy Bice. The ultimate goal is to address school-related issues and how they affect dropout rate, student testing, and leadership.

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The Alumni Hall Wall of Fame is a distinguished award created to recognize and honor outstanding graduates or attendees of Albertville High School who have excelled in their profession and/or made significant contributions in their community. Inductees from each year are featured on the AHS Wall of Fame located in Albertville High School.

Each year, AHS students have the opportunity to listen to the biography and accomplishments of that year’s inductees in a program held in the Fine Arts Center. It is held with the goal of inspiring AHS students to pursue their own dreams as graduate from AHS. This yearly event promotes pride in Albertville and the Albertville City School System. Nominations are accepted throughout the year and may be mailed to the Albertville City Schools Central Office.

ALUMNI WALL OF FAME

William Marion Abercrombie, “Abbie”, graduated from Albertville High School in 1949 and was a critical member of the Aggie football team his sophomore and senior years. After graduation, he was offered a football scholarship to the University of Alabama but decided to decline the offer and help support his widowed mother instead. Abbie’s football honors include selection to the All-Time Greatest Aggie Football Team and induction into the Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. He is the only Aggie running back to have never been tackled for a loss during their football career.

While attending high school, Abbie worked part time for S. N. Whitten of Whitten Auto Parts. He continued to work there after graduation and also after he spent a couple of years in the army. Mr. Whitten helped Abbie open his own parts store in Boaz in 1964. On March 2, 2015, Abbie suffered a heart attack while at work. He fought a good fight for a few more

weeks, but was called to receive his final reward on March 22, 2015. In addition to working full time at his business, Abbie was also very involved in his community and church. He took time to serve on the boards of Marshall Healthcare Authority; Marshall DeKalb Electric Cooperative; First Bank of Boaz; Associate Jobbers Warehouse; and Boaz Industrial Board. Abbie served as an Elder for Crestview Church of Christ for over 30 years.

Abbie was honored as Boaz Citizen of the Year in 1997. He always tried to treat everyone with honesty and respect and was considered to be a pillar in his community. Abbie quietly helped countless people in need over the years because he felt it was the right thing to do. His family continues to hear amazing stories from people in the community whose lives he touched.

Abbie was married to Juanita Frances Beck (AHS Class of 1948) for 64 years. They have two children, Joe Abercrombie of Boaz, Alabama, and Becky Shepard of Rossville, Georgia. They also have six grandchildren. Even though he never went to college himself, Abbie realized the importance of a good education. He helped both of his children get a college education and also established college funds for each of his grandchildren.

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John Roderick Davis graduated Albertville High School in 1954. His brothers, Phillip (Class of ‘58) and Gayron (Class of ‘66), were also proud graduates of AHS. Each son distinguished himself in different ways, Roderick as a debater and Civitan Oratorical Contest winner. Enrolling at Samford University, he won intercollegiate debate awards, appeared in dramatic productions, and wrote a lively weekly column in the school paper. In his senior year, Davis was called by Albertville First Baptist Church to work weekends as the founding student pastor of their mission, now the Southside Baptist Church.

After completing his degree at Samford, Davis did graduate work at Boston University, receiving a M.A. in English in 1960. He then went to divinity school at Yale University, receiving a Masters in Divinity degree in 1973. His racially progressive views did not endear him to any Southern Baptist churches,

so Davis chose to remain in Connecticut for three more years as a Congregational Church minister. Davis then returned to teach at Miles College briefly before receiving a Danforth fellowship to complete a doctoral study at Columbia University. He received his Ph.D. at Columbia University in 1973 and taught English and interdisciplinary studies at the new John Jay College of the City University of New York for two decades.

In 1990, he was chosen as Dean of Samford University’s historic Howard College of Arts and Sciences. Davis spent the next eleven years streamlining the university-wide core curriculum, establishing several new departments, and increasing the faculty by one-third. Besides the several administrative and teaching awards he received, the school established the prestigious J. Roderick Davis Lectureship in his honor. He continued to teach until 2012, and then he retired to research and write a biography of New York City’s outstanding 1880’s founder of nation-wide graduate medical education, Marshall County native John Allan Wyeth, M.D.

Christina Darden Hjort is a 1984 graduate of Albertville High School. Christina was a member of the AHS marching band, jazz band, on the newspaper staff, and in yearly musical productions. She was in the top 10 for Miss Teen Alabama and also won first place in a national writing competition during her senior year before graduating from AHS with honors.

Christina attended Auburn University and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, serving as vice president her senior year. She was also part of Lambda Sigma Honorary Society, Cardinal Key Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi, a Chi Phi “Little Sister”, and an ambassador for the War Eagle Girls & Plainsmen. In 1988 she graduated cum laude in Pre-Law, with a Bachelor of Arts in English as well as German. Christina obtained her Masters of Journalism from the University of Wales.

Christina is an award-winning television and radio producer, with extensive experience in national and international broadcasting. Over the years Christina has garnered many awards for her work, including multiple Emmy Awards. Most recently she was Senior Producer for an international radio program that focused on issues of poverty in the developing world. That program and her team were also awarded the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award, Gracie Allen Award and Gabriel Awards.

She currently lives in Seattle, Washington, with her husband, Greg, and their son, Samuel Darden Hjort.

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Bill Keller graduated from AHS in 1962. He was a member of the Beta Club and played baritone saxophone in the AHS band where he was student director for one year. Bill also enjoyed playing in a small jazz group. Bill then attended the University of Alabama and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history and geography. Upon graduation in 1967, Bill attended Air Force Officer Training School and Aircraft Maintenance Officer School. He was stationed in Arkansas and Canada, attaining the rank of captain.

In April 1971, Bill returned to Albertville and was hired to work at The Sand Mountain Reporter. He became managing editor before he left in 1975 to work on a master’s degree in journalism back at UA. After graduation he worked as a reporter at The Tuscaloo-sa News for one year before he left to head up media relations at the University of Montevallo. While at UM, Bill married Jeanetta Corbett. While working full-time at UM, Bill and Jeanetta both earned Ph.D.’s in higher education administration at UA.

In 1983 the Alabama Press Association board hired Bill as executive director. While at the helm, the APA moved its office from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham, established new internship programs, and established a new classified advertising service. Bill was also editor and publisher of The Daily Home in Talledega and assis-tant to the publisher of The Anniston Star. He “retired” from the APA a second time in 2000 and was hired by Alabama Power as vice president for public relations. Bill then moved into consulting. From 2004-2009, Bill taught journalism at the UA. He also served as president of the Society of Professional Journalists at the UA student chapter. Around the state, he has served as chairman of UA College of Communication and Informa-tion Sciences Board of Visitors, Alabama Humanities Foundation, and Friends of the Alabama Archives. Bill also participated in Leadership Birmingham and Leadership Alabama. Bill and Jeanetta, a retired magazine executive, live in Birmingham, and they travel as much as they can.

Elizabeth Hardy Noe (formerly Nancy Elizabeth Hardy) graduat-ed as Valedictorian of the Albertville High School Class of 1982. During her years at AHS, she served on the staff of Wind Sketches (the AHS Literary publication) and the yearbook. She was in-volved in several activities, including the Scholars Bowl Team, Math, Interact and Science Clubs.

Elizabeth continued her education at Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated in 1986 with high honors (Phi Beta Kappa) with a double major in English and Political Science. From an early age, Elizabeth studied ballet, leading to her per-forming as a principal dancer with Agnes Scott’s Studio Dance Theater during college. She was also active in Phi Sigma Tau, the Student Episcopal Group, and the Spirit Committee.

Ready for her next intellectual challenge, Elizabeth attended the University of Virginia School of Law and graduated in the top

10% of her class in 1989. Following graduation, she joined the law firm of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poite-vent, Carrere, & Denegre, L.L.P. Elizabeth spent five years in the corporate department at Jones Walker and then joined the international top 20 law firm Paul Hastings, L.L.P., in New Orleans, Louisiana, as a corporate attorney. At Paul Hastings she has maintained an active transactional practice concentrating in securities and corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance.

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Ronald Thompson is a 1957 graduate of Albertville High School. Thompson attended college at Jacksonville State University where he received a B.S. Degree with a major in accounting. He also earned and received a commission as Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. Thompson attended the Army Artillery and Missile School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was then assigned to an Artillery Battalion at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. While at Fort Bragg, Thompson was called upon to represent various Army enlisted personnel in hearings (trials) before a military court.

Thompson completed his military service and then enrolled in Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birming-ham, Alabama. Upon his graduation from law school, he returned to his hometown of Albertville, Alabama, and began practicing law. Thompson was soon appointed Municipal Judge for the City of Albertville, a position he held for 12 years. While still having his law practice and the municipal judgeship, Thompson was

offered a part-time job with the Marshall County DA. He took the position, which later became full time, and began his career as a criminal prosecutor. Thompson ran for District Attorney is 1986 and was elected. He was elected three straight terms and continued in that position until his retirement.

As Marshall County’s District Attorney, Thompson recognized a growing need to help families and children in the court system and became the first DA to write grants. Through Thompson’s efforts, many Marshall County programs were initiated and are still in existence today. At their grand opening, The Child Advocacy Center named their space “The Thompson House” in honor of his work and dedication. Upon his retirement, The Advertiser-Gleam, a local newspaper, printed the following statement, “Ronald Thompson leaves a legacy of greatly expanding the District Attorney’s office and the courts with several special programs which he was influential in starting. These programs include: The Drug Unit, The Child Abuse Unit, the Child Advocacy Center, Drug Court, A Restitution Unit, Community Corrections, and an expansion of the Worthless Check Unit.”

In 1998, Thompson was voted The Outstanding District Attorney in the State of Alabama. Thompson has been an active member of the First Baptist Church in Albertville since he was twelve years old. He has taught Sunday school, served on countless committees, and fulfilled his duties as a deacon for the past 45 years. Thompson has been married for 54 years to his wife, Pat Keahey Thompson. They have two lovely daughters, Rhonda and Tara, and four fantastic grandchildren.

In a profession dominated by men, Elizabeth has risen through her firm’s hierarchy starting with her elec-tion as partner in 2000 and culminating in 2010 with her appointment as the Global Chair of the Firm’s Corporate Department. The Atlanta Daily Report recognized her potential for advancement within the legal profession early in her career when she was chosen as an “Attorney on the Rise” in their 2003 report on legal phenoms.

As a successful professional woman, Elizabeth believes it is important to give back by working to advance op-portunities for all women, as evidenced by her community activities. She has served on a number of boards of non-profit organizations, including Women Success Network, VoteChoice, Out and Equal, the Board of Directors Network, and the Atlanta Women’s Foundation. In 2014, Elizabeth was named to the Board of Trustees at her alma mater, Agnes Scott College, and to the Alumni Council of the Law School of the Uni-versity of Virginia. She is also a member of Belizean Grove/TARA, a global invitation-only organization for accomplished female leaders, and was also chosen as a member of the 2008 class of Leadership Atlanta.

Elizabeth and her husband George Noe make their home in Atlanta, Georgia, but also enjoy spending time at their homes in the North Georgia mountains and Key West, Florida.

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Paul McAbee is an icon at Albertville High School. Coach McAbee was born in Fyffe, Alabama, where he lived until he moved to Albertville. While in high school Coach McAbee participated in several extracurricular activities such as football, baseball, track,

and wrestling. He was also in FCA and was class president for three years. Coach McAbee had his first job at the age of fifteen doing construction during the summers. While at Albertville, a young Paul McAbee played football for Ken Barrett in 1971 and 1972. His senior year he played for Vernon Wells. Positions that he played included linebacker, guard, and long snapper. When asked about his favorite memory as an AHS football player, Coach McAbee states, “Teammates. I played because of being with friends and working towards a common goal.”

Coach McAbee graduated from Albertville in 1974, when he then went on to attend the University of Alabama where he received a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master’s degree in Mathematics as well as Administration.

Coach McAbee’s first teaching job was at Arab High School teaching math while also coaching football and jv basketball. Before becoming a principal, he was an assistant principal from 1998-2002. Coach McAbee has been the principal at Albertville High School since 2002. He has been in education for 37 years. In those 37 years, he taught all levels of math.

In 1992, Coach McAbee led the first team ever in Marshall County history to win a play-off game. Coach McAbee is also the second winningest football coach in the history of Albertville High School.

One of his biggest accomplishments while in this career he says he didn’t accomplish by himself, but the building of the new school and the pulling together by everyone after the tornado really stand out to him. Some of the things that keep him motivated to do his job are his love for kids, his enjoyment of working, and his ability to pay bills. He also said that he does not face any challenges in his career, but he sees them as opportunities.

LEAVING A LEGACY

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“Anyone’s legacy is what it is. I hope I have treated people in a fair manner no matter who they are.” ~ Paul McAbee

When asked why he wanted to become a principal Coach McAbee stated, “I have always wanted to be in a position to help students. As a principal, that goal could be met for a larger number of students.” Some of his favorite things about his job include being around people and helping anyone who needs it.

When asked what he considered to be his biggest accomplishment as Athletic Director at AHS, Coach McAbee replied, “Helping coaches have what they need to win. Anyone outside of athletics don’t understand the pressure coaches are under to win.”

When asked what he will most about being principal at AHS, Coach McAbee responded, “ The students.”

photos by Ana Antonio

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BOOK FAIR!“FIND THE PERFECT BOOK”

Vintage Book Sale!“VINTAGE IS IN SO COME CHECK IT OUT!”The AHS Library had a vintage book sale in order to raise money to buy new books for the library. The sale raised over $400. The funds will go to purchase more wonderful books for the libary!

AHS

LIBRARYAHS Library is a great place to ‘check out’! There are laptops available for students to use for class assignments and print needed materials. There are comfy reading areas or study areas. Best of all, there are the books! We have some great books from best-selling authors; John Green, Sarah Dessen, Meg Cabot, Rick Riordan,Rainbow Rowell, Suzann Collins, James Dashner and Veronica Roth, just to name a few. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @ahslibrary for the latest news and events. ~by Molly-Katherine Millwood

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The book fair was great. It gave us a chance to see so many great books. I was reminded of all of the times that I escaped into another world through the minds of different authors by reading books. ~Lola Garcia

L.A.M.P.-such a simple term for us, but for Ms. Millwood, it means so much more. Early in October, Ms. Millwood was awarded the L.A.M.P. award, basically an award for being the best librarian. The award is given every year by the Alabama Library Expo.

This award is not received by just anyone; there are many qualifications a librarian must possess that makes them eligible for this award. The librarians who have showcased outstanding and exceptional service to their patrons, schools, and communities over an extended period of time receive this award. Congratulations, Ms. Millwood; we are proud to have you apart of Albertville High School.

BOOK FAIR!“FIND THE PERFECT BOOK”

Book fairs are wonderful events

to host at a school. The Albertville High School Library recently hosted a book fair, and it was a great success! Book fairs give children the motivation to read

books by offering a wide selection that might not normally be available to them. They also help raise money for the school library and any reading programs the library hosts.

The AHS Library sold over $1,400

in merchandise! In addition to the book fair, the library accepted book donations to help the library collection grow.

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The Aggie Band represented Albertville well as they competed in the Sand Mountain Invitational Marching Competition. The band received all superior ratings, as well as Best in Class 4A Drum Major, Colorguard, Danceline, and Overall Band. The Aggie Band had the highest scores of the entire day in with an overall average of 97.66.

AGGIE

BAND

by Tanner Dickerson

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Taylor Cash2016 EDWARD H. CLEINO OUTSTANDING

YOUNG MUSIC EDUCATOR

Congratulations to Mr. Taylor Cash for being selected as the 2016 Edward H. Cleino Outstanding Young Music Educator presented by the Alabama Music Educators Association (AMEA). The AMEA Governing Board, on behalf of the AMEA membership, honors Mr. Cash for his commitment and support of music education.

The presentation will be made during the annual AMEA In-Service Conference on Friday, January 22, 2016, at 10:30 A.M. in the Montgomery Performing Arts Center at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel. In addition, he will be recognized in the AMEA Conference Program and the Ala Breve magazine.

photos by Christina Domingo16

Kids Day On The Farm

On September 24, 2015, students from Albertville Primary School attended Kids Day on the Farm where AHS FFA members taught first and second grade kids about different farm animals. This year, APS students also had the opportinuty to experience the Ag in Action learning lab which enables student to experience agriculture through hands-on activities. The FFA also had a tractor for the kids to see what farmers use on their farms and animals that the students could pet and ask questions about.

Albertville High SchoolFFA

by Blake Smedley

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National FFA Convention

AHS FFA members attended the 88th National FFA Convention in Louisville, KY. Attendance for the convention was estimated at over 64,000. The theme for the conventtion was Amplify. While at the convention, FFA members attended leardership sessions, a career fair, and interacted with FFA members from all fifty states.

In addition to attending the convention, Albertville FFA members visited the Kentucky Horse Park, the Louisville Slugger Museum, and the Grand Ole Opry.

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What is Alopecia?Alopecia is an autoimmune disease where the person’s immune system attacks his or her own body. This causes the person’s hair to begin to fall out. The amount of hair loss varies from case to case. Also, the area in which the hair falls out of the head varies. There are many different types of alopecia, each having their own cause and side effects. It is a very unpredictable disease. Sometimes the person’s hair will all fall out only partially; sometimes it will grow back afterwards or not at all, and in some cases it has grown back and fallen out again.

What causes a person to have Alopecia?Anyone can have Alopecia. However, the risk of having it is larger if the person has a family member who has been diagnosed with it. Also, if a relative has diabetes, lupus, or thyroid disease, the risk will be higher.

Can Alopecia be cured? As of right now there is no cure for alopecia. However, it can be treated temporarily. Mostly, Alopecia is treated with drugs that are used for different diseases, some drugs are Corticosteroids (an anti-inflammatory drug prescribed for autoimmune diseases), topical contact allergens or sensitizers (a type of therapy used if the hair loss is widespread or reoccurring), and Rogaine (or minoxidil, used for a pattern of baldness).

September was Alopecia Awareness Month. We recently had a student at AHS who was diagnosed with Alopecia. It’s not a very recognized disease, but it is still a very serious disease. In honor of this student, we would like to inform others at the school and throughout the community about the disease in hopes that we

can support her in this battle against Alopecia. ~by Briley Hardin

ALOPECIA

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Ashley Reaves’ hair began falling out around the end of last school year. However, it was only a little at a time so no one really thought anything about it. Later it began falling out a lot more frequently and abundantly. She was taken to the doctor and they conducted several tests. On June 5, she was diagnosed with Alopecia. At first, Ashley said she was feeling surprised and shocked, “but I didn’t really know what it was so it wasn’t a big deal. I thought it would go away.” Ashley says that she thinks that through this time she has become a stronger Christian and person.

Some of her #1 supporters besides her family is the whole freshmen class. “I thought it would be hard to go to school and not have hair, but everyone treated me the same, and I realized that it wasn’t as bad as it seems.” The one person who has really stuck by her side is a little girl named Marlie from her church. “She gives me hugs every Wednesday and Sunday. She always talks to me and makes me feel better.”

When asked if she could somehow go back and change the fact that she had this disease she answered, “Yes, because it’s hard not having hair. It’s also scary knowing that all of my hair could fall back out at any point and I can’t stop it.”

Letter to Ashley

Many of us don’t know exactly what you’re going through because we’ve never been through something like that, but we want you to know that we are here for you and we support you. We admire how strong you’ve been! Stay strong, stand tall, and keep your head up, beautiful!

“It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. No, your beauty should come from inside you the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. That beauty will never disappear for it is worth very much to God.” 1 Peter 3:3-4

Interview with Ashley Reaves

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Albertville City Schools and Marshall Medical Centers hosted the annual Health & Safety Expo on Tuesday, October 13, 2015, at the Albertville Primary/Elementary School lunchroom.

The expo included fun activities for the kids, such as a zumba demonstration, fingerprinting, and door prizes, as well as information for parents that included samples of healthy food, health screenings, and free resources. A list of participants included Marshall Medical Centers, Therapy Plus, Albertville Police Department, United Way/211 Connect, Marshall County Health Department, VOICES, Sarrell Dental, Hospice, Allkids, Albertville City Schools Child Nutrition Program, Albertville Fire Department, WQSB, and WAFF 48.

Students from the Albertville City School system participated in various ways with the Health and Safety Expo. Students from the Culinary Arts program served food, Healthcare Science students provided free blood pressure checks, AggieVision students conducted interviews and SGA and National Honor Society students helped with registration.

Health & Safety Expo Sponsored by Albertville City Schools and

Marshall Medical Centers

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photos by Christina Domingo

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Don’t Trash Our Future:RecycleBy Lola Garcia

According to Jeannie Courington, the Recycling Coordinator , the The Albertville-Boaz Recycle Center and Authority was established and opened in March 2009. The center was established as a joint effort between Albertville and Boaz but also services Marshall, Blount, DeKalb, and Etowah county. Funding for the center comes from various sources including contributions from the cities of Albertville and Boaz, funds secured from grants such as throug the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), and from some recycled items.

One of the major problems faced by the Recycling Center is from people mixing items that are not recyclable in with the recyclable items. Household trash and grabage are the biggest hurdles that they must overcome. According to Mrs. Courington, “The only way to truly oversome this is through education. Any form of correspondence such as Facebook, newletters, newspaper articles, radio ads, school programs and club meetings and really just talking one one on one to family and friends.” Remember it is ok to start with baby steps when first starting to recycle. Some advice that Mrs. Courington would give includes starting out recycling your daily newspapers and then adding a new item each week. You also do not have to go out and buy expensive bins for recycling. Mrs. Courington recommends using plastic bags to put your items in for recycling.

Albertville City Schools play a large role in the recycling program. Mrs. Courington points out that it is important for students to learn the importance of recycyling and sharing that information with friends, parents, and grandparents. The more aware that people are, then the more they will make the effort to recycle. All Albertville City Schools participate in the recycling program. The Recycle Bowl is a competition from grades k-12 in the school system as a way to promote waste reduction.

When asked what advice she would give to students and faculty members, Mrs. Courington says, “Just think before you toss! Remember it is your future and your children’s future that you could be damaging. Share with friends about the importance of recycling. Spread the word!

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Q: How does the recycling Center work? Do items need to be sorted? A: The recycle center is a human operated center. So everything is sorted by hand. It is sorted by the product, and put in containers until enough is gathered. It is then baled by machine and , stacked in holding area until we have enough to send to a further process where the work begins to make it new again. Most items have to be a minimum weight of 40,000 pounds to be shipped.

Q: What are some items that can be recycled, and some that can’t? A: Plastic, newspaper and cardboard are the most recycled items. Items that contain bodily fluids are a hazard and cannot be recycled. Wax coated cardboard cannot because it clogs the machines that process the paper.

Q: What are some results that you have seen that affect our environment, due to lack of recycling? A: As we all know, the items that go to the landfill can sometimes become toxic. This can get into our waterways and affect our health. Recycling obviously saves trees, which provides important things for us, like “oxygen in the air”.

Q: Are there any requirements in volunteering to help recycle? A: You must be at least 14 years of age with a parent or guardian’s signature. You will only be allowed to do minimum duties. Age 19 and older are given more responsibilities on the job. We suggest that you wear clothes that you do not mind getting dirty; at times we get dusty and dirty. Shoes must be closed toe shoes, with tennis shoes being acceptable. We provide latex gloves for your protection, but you are encouraged to bring own work gloves if you prefer.

Q: Are there certain items you are unable to recycle due to expenses? A: At present we do not recycle batteries such as AA or AAA, C or D. According to ADEM, they are now more environmentally friendly and can be placed in landfill. People charge us to take these. We have to pay for TVs to be recycled along with computer monitors.

Q & A With Jeannie Courington

photos by Ana Antonio 24

2015

HOMECOMING

Senior Class : Molly Biddle, Lexi Blackstone, Berenise Luna, Tessa Zweck

Junior Class: Anna Clay Adams, Ami Benjamin

Sophomore Class: Alondra Hernandez, Breanna Stewart

Freshman Class: Janeth Benitez, Elaine Villalovos

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2015 Homecoming Queen Lexie BlackstoneEscorted by William Scott

photo by Christina Domingo

photo by Christina Domingo

photo by Christina Domingo

photo by Christina Domingo

photo by Ana Antonio

photo by Ana Antonio 26

AHS Basketball

Varsity Boys

Junior Varsity Boys

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Nothing But Net

by Ana Antonioby Ana Antonio

9th Grade

photo by Abigail Hernandez 28

AHS Basketball

Varsity Girls

Junior Varsity Girls

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Nothing But Net

photo by Ana Antonio photo by Ana Antonio

photo by Ana Antoniophoto by Abigail Hernandez

photo by Abigail Hernandez

photo by Ana Antonio

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