March 2024 Student Spotlights – Prattville, Autauga, & Elmore County

PCA’s 1st-3rd grade students had a fun opportunity to learn more about voting today! As part of the Election Education Program with the Autauga County Probate Office, students were able to complete a ballot, visit a mock polling place, cast votes in an official ballot machine, and learn more about the election process and requirements of voters and those running for office! They even received a sticker after completing the voting process.

Congratulations to our entire wrestling program for their great season, and our two wrestlers who placed in the finals! Aidan Cockrell won the state championship and Spencer Perkins placed fifth! Way to go, Panthers!

Congratulations! Elijah Staggs-Laughrey has been selected as a semifinalist in the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship program. Since 2011, GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarships has honored the legacy and character of our nation’s 40th President, Ronald Reagan. It has been awarded to recipients with leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship at the core of their values.
Around 16,000-20,000 students apply for this scholarship, with only 120 receiving consideration as semifinalists and 11 considered finalists. We are excited for Elijah’s recognition as one of 120 semifinalists, and we wish him the best throughout the rest of this process!

Fifth grade students from Daniel Pratt Elementary School, visited STARBASE Maxwell this month to engage in hands-on learning and science experiments led by the program’s instructors. This program captures students’ interest in STEM and raises awareness of potential careers in these fields. The next generation’s interest and knowledge in STEM are critical to our nation’s future workforce.

Tallassee High School students Emily Hacker and Sarah Jane Patterson performed with the Divas and Voltage show choirs at the Southern Showcase Saturday, February 10 at Opelika High School.
There were 22 school choirs at this competition, including groups from Auburn; Biloxi (MS); Tift Co. (GA); Albertville; Briarwood; Lakeside (GA); West Marion (MS); Fitzgerald (GA); Boaz; Chelsea; and Prattville. And there were a lot of solos performed.
But Emily and Sarah Jane won an award for Tallassee that was coveted by every performer in the room: Best Soloists Within a Show. They were featured in the Divas show singing the Miley Cyrus hit, “The Climb.” This was a tremendous achievement for the Tallassee students competing with programs from schools that are double or triple the size of Tallassee High School.
The Divas are directed by Kelley Hill and choreographed by Santana Houston.
Tallassee’s Voltage mixed show choir came in 3rd runner-up in a category with six schools from around the southeast. Gold Edition placed 3rd in the men’s division and Divas placed 5th in women’s division.

Students in Mrs. Gregory’s class at Pine Level Elementary School have been learning about VEX IQ robotics this year. The students have used STEM and 21st century skills to create and build robots, problem solve by programming the robots, communicate designs and plans, and collaborate as a team. The students were able to compete at their first tournament with other teams from Autauga County Schools at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama in Montgomery. The students competed in robotics skills trials, head-to-head matches, and engineering notebook evaluations. The tournament was a success for all students involved. Thank you to HMMA and Auburn SCORE for their collaboration and vision for the future of our students.

We are proud to announce a new dual enrollment partnership with Central Alabama Community College (CACC) that encourages students to begin workforce training, college education, and career preparation while completing their high school diploma. These offerings will be classified as PCA’s Career Tech Academy and added to the specialized areas currently offered for PCA students, including the four-year Engineering Academy and the Healthcare Academy that partners with Prattville Baptist Hospital.
This partnership supports PCA’s ongoing efforts to expand our impact on the community and provide opportunities for our students to gain hands-on experience and productively begin their desired career path. CACC offers two automatic scholarships to students who choose to begin a career technical program, creating opportunities for students to join with no financial barriers.
Conveniently located only two miles from PCA’s campus, CACC has brand new facilities set to open by August 2024, housing classrooms, shops, and labs for a variety of career programs. Whether a student is interested in welding, drafting, computer information sciences, child development, industrial electronics technology, office administration, or others, each program is flexible to accommodate the student’s schedule.
Katie Furr, PCA’s Head of School, stated, “We are very excited to partner with CACC in offering these opportunities for our students. As always, we want to ensure that our students have a variety of learning experiences to help them reach their potential for God’s Kingdom.”
Pat Dean, PCA’s Guidance Counselor, shared the excitement of this partnership, stating, “PCA is excited to partner with CACC’s Technical College starting in the fall of 2024. This new facility in Prattville will offer PCA students the opportunity for dual enrollment, if their schedule allows, in various technical and academic core courses.”
PCA students are also grateful for the opportunity to begin the career technical program. PCA junior Mason Steward stated, “I’m excited about the CACC Prattville Welding Program because it can help me better my future while in high school and not have to wait until I graduate to start the program.

The Tallassee High School wrestling team accomplished an amazing feat on February 10 as the entire team qualified to compete in the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) State Championship.
Those 14 young men are Mason Nelson, Thomas Patterson, Roman Lozada, Aiden Bridgman, Brady Adams, Avery Brantley, Land Bell, Ethan Jones, Joseph Hooks, Tra’Mel McCoy, Christian McCary, Nolan Addeo, Jude Rogers, and Braden Arnold. The THS wrestlers are coached by John Mask. “I believe this is only the third time in program history to qualify all 14 wrestlers,” said Coach Mask. “Anyone that doesn’t follow wrestling may never understand what an amazing feat this is.”
“The coaching staff is extremely proud of our entire team and their efforts this weekend. I don’t really have words to describe how well we wrestled,” he continued. “Our goals are in front of us and we look to crown some champions and score as much as possible for our school,” Mask said.

Congratulations to our girls team for moving to the Elite 8 game! They hit an AHSAA region-record of 20, three-pointers during the central regional semifinal game against Dora this morning. 60 out of their 69 points came from beyond the arc. Kayden Carr had 8 three’s, Avery Rogers with 6, Baylee Rogers with 4 and Ally Blankinchip with 2.

Prattville Elementary Students, sponsored by the House of Amistad, visited Green Springs Assisted Living Facility and the Harbor at Hickory Hill. Here the students shared time with the residents and presented them with “Love Boxes” filled with toiletries and treats before they left. A good time was had by all.

This month at Prattville Elementary, students from Mrs. Mason and Mrs. Ferguson‘s classrooms participated in glow days! Students completed standard based activities that were all glow themed. What a bright bunch of students!

DPES Robotics teams brought back FOUR trophies from the recent Montgomery Hyundai Robotics Tournament! The “Transformers” won the Design Award! The “Astrobots” won the Skills Award, Teamwork Champion Award, and the Excellence Award! Team Astrobots qualified for the state tournament! Both teams learned so much and had a blast competing against area schools.

A PreK student at Pine Level is listening to a favorite book supplied by the Autauga Education Foundation. AEF supplied funds, from a grant, to provide the Pre-K classroom with a fully equipped listening center. The students can listen to it daily, by themselves or with a friend. It truly is a gift that keeps on giving!

Prattville Intermediate School HOUSE Ambassadors teamed up with PJHS and PES groups to help clean up our community! These student groups picked up trash at Pratt Park to help ensure parkgoers can enjoy a trash-free experience.

Prattville Intermediate School’s HOUSE of Reveur is sponsoring a supply drive for our local humane shelter (PAHS). We are excited to help support our community in this way!

Homeschool students at Academy Days Co-op in Millbrook make their last delivery of 217 pounds of food to Welcome Inc. on Main Street in Millbrook. The group’s next donation in August 2024 will be at the food bank’s new location as it continues to serve West Elmore County families in need.
The homeschoolers represent 64 families in the greater Montgomery area who participate in the weekly homeschool co-op held at Eastmont Baptist Church in Montgomery. Academy Days Co-op offers preschool through high school classes in subjects such as science labs, literature, foreign languages, creative writing, art, and PE. Visit AcademyDays.com for more information.