Job Well Done: Northview Holds ESE Award Program
May 16, 2009
Northview High School held a special ESE awards ceremony Friday afternoon, honoring dozens of students for their hard work and accomplishments during the school year.
Click here for a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event.
Students honored included:
- Liberal Arts:
- Math Highest GPA — Dillon Vanderman
- Math Most Improved — James Shook
- Math Exceptional Student — Joseph Woods
- Environmental Science
- Highest Academic Award — Ariel Morris
- Social Studies
- Most Improved Student — Daniel Paul Williams
- Best Scholar — Chelsea Luckie
- Most Consistent Scholar — Quinton Pittman
- Most Congenial Scholar — Bessy Hollingsworth
- Most Respectful — Marquita Allen
- NJROTC
- Most Improved Student — Daniel Paul Williams
- Algebra 1-B
- Most Improved Students — Gary Shook and Tammie Brown
- English 9-12
- Highest GPA — Marquita Allen and Daniel Paul Williams
- One-Day Free Pass — Josh Watson
- Most Diligent — Keith Cota
- Math 9-12
- Best help — Cody Chance
- Highest GPA — Clarence Brown
- Most Improved — Aremando Elliott
- Reading
- 9th Grade — Shane Bonner and Austin Rolin
- 10th Grade — Tammie Brown
- 1st/2nd Period Most Improved — Andrew Giveans
- 3rd/4th Reading Best Work Ethic — Talisa Jackson
- 5th Period Most Improved — Precious Marshall
- 5th Period Most Improved Behavior — Lonnie Gardner
- OJT
- Most Outstanding OJT Student — Lisa Kuiper
- Most Outstanding OJT Student — Damon Williams
- Most Outstanding OJT — Willie Davis
- Most Outgoing — Andrew Giveans
- Best All Round Male OJT Student — Cody Chance
- Best All Round Female OJT Student — Raven Moore
- Most Successful OJT Student — John Handrop
- Most Successful OJT Student — Fred Smith
- Science
- Outstanding Students — Josh Watson and Quinton Pittman
Day Honors Officers Killed On Duty; One Sheriff Died In North Escambia
May 15, 2009
Over 25 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty in Escambia County, including a sheriff shot to death in North Escambia.
Today is National Peace Officers Memorial Day, a day set aside to honor law officers killed in the line of duty. Members of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department and the Fraternal Order of Police gathered outside the department’s headquarters in Pensacola yesterday to honor the fallen officers.
Since 1923, 11 Escambia County deputies have died in the line of duty. Another 13 Pensacola Police Department Officers have been killed since 1889 and one constable was killed on duty in 1955.
An Escambia County, Alabama, sheriff was shot and killed in North Escambia near Bluff Springs on July 3, 1895.
Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff E.S. McMillan was shot and killed as he and a posse searched for the notorious train robber nicknamed “Railroad Bill.” In 1893, Railroad Bill had shot and wounded a deputy sheriff who confronted him at a Bluff Springs home about not paying taxes on his weapon. He then fled and spent the next two years illegally riding Alabama freighters, robbing trains, and engaging in gun fights with lawmen.
In July of 1895, Sheriff McMillan received a tip that Railroad Bill was hiding out in Bluff Springs, Florida, and went with a posse to arrest him. As Sheriff McMillan walked along the railroad tracks, the suspect, who was hiding behind a tree, opened fire with a Winchester rifle. Sheriff McMillan was struck and succumbed to his wounds a short time later. Railroad Bill was later gunned down by a host of law enforcement officers.
McMillan is the only officer from Escambia County, Alabama, to ever die in the line of duty.
NHS Holds Spring Performing Arts Concert
May 15, 2009
From The Who to George Strait to Miley Cyrus, the Northview Performing Arts Spring Concert featured music from a variety of artists Thursday night. Performers included members of the chorus, guitar ensemble and jazz combo from Northview High School.
For a photo gallery from the concert, click here.
Pictured above and below: The Northview Performing Arts Spring Concert Thursday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
EWMS Drama Club Presents First Major Production
May 15, 2009
The Ernest Ward Middle School Drama Club presents the play “The Picture That Was Turned to the Wall” Thursday evening.
North Escambia firefighters were invited to attend the play for free after responding to a lightning strike at the school earlier in the day.
For a photo gallery from Wednesday’s dress rehearsal for the play, click here.
Cast members in the Ernest Ward Middle School Drama Club’s presentation of “The Picture That Was Turned to the Wall” included:
- Father Tubbs – Dezarae Turner
- Mother Tubbs – Shalmali Bhadkamkar
- Isadora Snapdragon – Hannah Ziglar
- Preacher Cribbs – Kent Smith
- Jubilee – Danielle Scott
- Smiling Billy Tapshoes – Lily Townson
- Mattie Busby – Lauryn Walker
- Rudolph Von Doberman – Anna Donald
- Diamond-Tooth Polly – Rachel Presley
- Dizzy Esther – Chelsea Ward
- Rags – Kristen Byrd
- Fred – Chelsea Turner
- Mrs. Pantheon – Audrey Byrd
- Zenobia - Anna Fischer
- Soldier Boy – Lily Townson
Pictured: A scene from the play “The Picture That Was Turned to the Wall” at Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gindl-Perry Named Escambia County’s Principal Of The Year
May 14, 2009
Ernest Ward Middle School principal, Nancy Gindl-Perry, has been named as Escambia County’s Principal of the Year.
Superintendent Malcolm Thomas made the announcement Wednesday, along with announcing that Regina Lipnick, assistant principal at Bailey Middle, is the Assistant Principal of the Year.
“Our school district is blessed with a number of excellent school administrators,” Thomas said. “These are two outstanding individuals who will represent well the administrative talent we have in our schools.”
“I could not have done it without a fine faculty and staff,” Perry said. “Behind every principal are the people that make a school great.”
Known for calling Ernest Ward students as “my babies”, Perry will compete against principals from 66 other districts in Florida for state honors.
The Florida Department of Education annually honors principals and assistant principals from each of the state’s 67 school districts for their exemplary contribution to students, schools, and communities. Award criteria also include innovative leadership, dedication to academic excellence, and increased student performance.
Earlier this year, Perry received what was, without a doubt, the most unique award of her entire educational career. She was presented with the “Golden Cow Dung Award” by members of the Ernest Ward FFA. The award featured a large piece of cow dung, painted a golden color. Perry received the award from the school’s FFA members as a “thank you” for supporting FFA.
Pictured: Escambia County’s Principal of the Year, Nancy Gindl-Perry from Ernest Ward Middle School. Pictured below: Perry received the “Golden Cow Dung Award” earlier this year. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Local Students Honored As Inspirational Heroes
May 13, 2009
Forty outstanding Escambia County students were honored Tuesday afternoon at the 15th Annual Cox Inspirational Hero Celebration, including a student from both Northview High and Ernest Ward Middle and Carver/Century K-8 School.
The event honors students that have faced significant challenges, including the loss of their parents, physical illness, handicaps and language barriers.
Dustin Todd Parker from Ernest Ward Middle School was honored as the Cox Inspirational Hero from Ernest Ward Middle School.
Coty Chance of Molino was honored as the Cox Inspirational Hero from Northview High School. Coty was the only one of the 40 student heroes to offer an acceptance speech Tuesday afternoon.
Arkelle Elliot was honored as the Inspirational Hero from Carver/Century K-8 School.
The students received a Hero Medallion and commendations from U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez, U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller; state Rep. Dave Murzin and Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp.
The biographical information from both Coty Chance and Dustin Todd Parker is below.
Coty Chance, Northview High
Coty Chance has brought sunshine into Northview High School for the past three and one-half years. Every day he greets everyone with a smile and a loud good morning or hello. His constant energy and dedication to his responsibilities inspires others to do more.
Coty’s outlook is that when he can be nice to others, they in turn will be nice to others. He always goes out of his way to be a gracious helper and to ensure that everyone cares about each other.
Coty feels that his proudest personal success is being able to complete his assigned work. He is also very proud that this year he was able to also teach other students’ the responsibilities that he so carefully and completely does here at school. Coty is an avid Cross Country runner and especially has enjoyed success running for the Northview Cross Country team, winning numerous awards, participating in the charitable run for “Major Jim Ross” and being presented with the Cross Country Coaches Award. Coty will graduate this year with a 2.80 grade point average. He will leave the halls of Northview High where he will be missed, but never forgotten. We are sure he will continue to carry on and make people smile.
Coty has brought smiles to the halls of Northview and into the lives of the school personnel and students. Coty not only has a magnificent voice at the football games, but Coty has shown just how great a positive impact that students with dedication to their school and work can have on others lives and those they meet.
Dustin Todd Parker, Ernest Ward Middle
Dustin is a member of the national Junior Honor Society, President of the Student Government Association and a manager of the football team. He enjoys helping others and recently went door-to-door on his electric scooter in his neighborhood to raise money for the “Honor Flight.”
Dustin’s accomplishments are in spite of a mobility problem know as Pilocytic Astrocytoma. Although he was told he may not walk, Dustin was able to get on the regular school bus the first day of school and is now able to ride a bicycle.
Information for Arkelle Elliot from Carver/Century K-8 was not available.
Homeschooled Kids & Co. Visit North Escambia Ranch
May 13, 2009
Dozens of students from Homeschooled Kids & Co. visited a North Escambia ranch Tuesday to learn about flowers, vegetables horses, cows and more.
The group visited the ranch of Abbie Rolph on Jack Smith Road, just south of Highway 168 between Bratt and Byrneville. The students visited with miniature horses belonging to Jane Breault of Pine Ridge Farms in Molino, enjoyed a hay ride to visit with the cows, learned about flower reproduction from Escambia County Extension Service Agriculture Agent Libbie Johnson, and learned the fine art of ducking for cover from a thunderstorm in barn.
Homeschooled Kids & Co. is a local support group for families of homeschooled children from Escambia counties in Alabama and Florida. The group is based in Atmore.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured top: Students from Homeschool Kids & Co. with a miniature horse Tuesday morning on a North Escambia ranch. Pictured inset: A student learns about the parts of a flower. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sweet Sounds: NHS, EWMS Hold Band Concert
May 12, 2009
The Northview High and Ernest Ward Middle schools held their annual Spring Band Concert Monday night at Northview High School.
Members of the NHS Alumni Band, made up of former Northview, Ernest Ward and Century high band members, also performed.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the concert, click here.
Pictured above and left: Students perform during the Northview and Ernest Ward Spring Band Concert Monday night at Northview. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Making Blueberries Cool: Northview’s Lesson In Genetic Engineering
May 11, 2009
The agricultural students at Northview High School are growing blueberries the high tech way with a little genetic engineering, thanks to a teaching intern that likes to make plants “cool”.
“The key to teaching is making it grab their attention, and I’ve figured out that kids are interested in the weirdest stuff,” said Jennifer Nobles, a recent University of Florida graduate who spent 12 weeks as an intern in the agricultural department at Northview.
In a sterile lab-like environment, students planted blueberry snippets about 1-2 centimeters long into a sterile grown hormone gel packed with nutrients (pictured left). After about four weeks, the snippets will be little blueberry plants, transferred into pots and eventually ready to produce the popular fruit.
The growth process makes each plant a genetic clone of the others, producing even size plants that should yield a similar blueberry harvest. It’s the same method often used to create the perfect and identical plants found for sale at the local nursery, Nobles said.
“We have shown the students the cutting edge way to plant plants,” she said. “They found out that plants can be cool. It’s neat to watch them get excited about a subject that can be so plain.”
Nobles’ 12-week internship at Northview ended recently, and she just graduated from UF where she double majored in animal science and agricultural education. Her next step in life is to attend veterinary school.
Nobles said she will always treasure her 12 weeks at Northview.
“It was the coolest thing to see them get excited about planting blueberries, something that ordinarily can be so plain,” she said.
For photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Intern Jennifer Nobles show Northview agriculture students how to plant a blueberry snippet into a growth medium in a sterile environment. Pictured top inset: A blueberry snippet at about two weeks old. Pictured bottom inset: Jennifer Nobles. Submitted and NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Students Tops In County Sunshine Math Competition
May 10, 2009
Two fifth grade Molino Park Elementary School students took top honors in Escambia County in Sunshine Math.
Willis Fletcher took first place in the county, and Tristan Barrett won second place in Saturday’s competition.
Overall, Molino Park Elementary took six teams with 22 third to fifth grade students to the tournament.
Other students in the competition from Molino Park included:
- Third grade: Hunter Rogers, Devin Abrams, Sabra Stewart, Sarah Perritt, Trevor Singleton, Jacob White and Carsen Lowery.
- Fourth Grade: Mitchell Singleton, Savanna Calhoun, Ashlyn Fowler, Ian Schneider, Caeley Barrett and Lauren Carnley.
- Fifth Grade: Willis Fletcher, Harmoni Till, Moriah McGahan, Allison Woodfin, Tristan Barrett, Jason Ogle, Kendral Langford and Haley Brown.
Pictured above: Molino Park Elementary School fifth grade students took top honors in the district Sunshine Math tournament Saturday. Tristan Barrett (left) won second place and Willis Fletcher (right) won first place. Pictured below: Another photo from Saturday’s competition. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
