Five MCPSS students have been named semifinalists for 2026 National Merit Scholarships. They are: Owen Farmer and Sariah Hossain of Davidson High, Kennedy Lee and Lahleen Masterson of Baker High, and Collin Bendolph of Murphy High. They are among just over 16,000 semifinalists nationwide, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, and earned this distinction by being among the highest-scoring students in Alabama on the Pre-SAT. The National Merit Scholarships will be awarded in the spring of 2026. #PerseverancePropelsProgress
After first coming to Gilliard Elementary as a student teacher, Chastity Westry has now been at the school for nine years. She appreciates the engagement of the parents and the support of the administration. She enjoys teaching third grade because her students are becoming more independent. And she especially loves teaching math.
"It's my favorite because I struggled with it in elementary school," she said. "I needed a tutor and I was close to being held back. But I had a teacher that made a difference. She took the time to stay after school with me, and sent home extra resources with my mom. That stuck with me. I wanted to make that difference in other children's lives."
#PerseverancePropelsProgress
"It's my favorite because I struggled with it in elementary school," she said. "I needed a tutor and I was close to being held back. But I had a teacher that made a difference. She took the time to stay after school with me, and sent home extra resources with my mom. That stuck with me. I wanted to make that difference in other children's lives."
#PerseverancePropelsProgress
Watch live as Davidson takes on Alma Bryant on Wednesday night in the mcpssTV High School Volleyball Match of the Week! Tune in at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow on Comcast 15, Mediacom 81, AT&T U-verse 99, Roku boxes, Facebook or YouTube. #PerseverancePropelsProgress
Fifth-grader Rylan Besaw loves math and social studies and takes advanced classes at Gilliard Elementary. "I got into history in first grade, which gave me a love for it, and I've always had a love for numbers," he said. Rylan also plays football and likes to read, particularly graphic novels and chapter books. He'd like to be an archeologist one day. #PerseverancePropelsProgress
Yesterday was International Literacy Day and students at Davidson High School celebrated the power of literature with a number of projects:
-- Mrs. Faris’ Women in Literature class explored Zora Neale Hurston's short story "Sweat," writing hypothesized summaries using a curated word bank.
-- Ms. Callais’ seniors connected Beowulf to modern life through powerful visual projects.
-- In AP Literature, Ms. Wilhelm’s class is engaging with Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" through thoughtful reading journals.
-- And in Ms. Shantazio's IB Literature class, students did a Symbolic Mapping activity for Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner", tracing key symbols and crafting thematic statements to deepen their understanding.
#PerseverancePropelsProgress
-- Mrs. Faris’ Women in Literature class explored Zora Neale Hurston's short story "Sweat," writing hypothesized summaries using a curated word bank.
-- Ms. Callais’ seniors connected Beowulf to modern life through powerful visual projects.
-- In AP Literature, Ms. Wilhelm’s class is engaging with Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" through thoughtful reading journals.
-- And in Ms. Shantazio's IB Literature class, students did a Symbolic Mapping activity for Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner", tracing key symbols and crafting thematic statements to deepen their understanding.
#PerseverancePropelsProgress
Big things are happening at Hurricane FFA at Alma Bryant High School! Bryant AG students welcomed their second calf of the year -- Wellington, born on campus during the second week of school. They're getting hogs ready for the State Hog Market Show at the Greater Gulf State Fair. And they're getting comfortable with equipment while working on beautification projects around campus. #PerseverancePropelsProgress
Several Mobile County schools celebrated and honored their grandparents last week with Grandparents Day celebrations. At E.R. Dickson Elementary, the grandparents of kindergarten and Pre-K and K were invited to campus for for "Grits and Grandparents." #PerseverancePropelsProgress
Reminder: The Drug Education Council's Town Hall meeting at Baker High School is Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m.! Hear community leaders and public safety officials discuss the problem of fentanyl and other drug use in the community. Speakers include Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch, Circuit Judge Edmond Naman, Mobile Police Chief Randy Jackson, Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood, Mobile Fire-Rescue Interim Chief Barry Glisson, Mobile County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Lori Myles and others. The event is being emceed by Shane Sullivan of 106.5 FM talk and co-hosted by Tammy and Donnie Brown and Debbie and Jack Tillman.
September is Library Card Sign-Up Month, and our friends at Mobile Public Library are ready to help our students with research requests and homework assistance! Click here to read about print and online resources at branches throughout the county: https://www.mobilepubliclibrary.org/ #PerseverancePropelsProgress #LearningLeading
MCPSS parents are encouraged to complete a pair of surveys to help us improve their experiences with the district. Ms. James at Hankins Middle School made participation easy at her school by creating a Carpool Parent Survey Campaign — “Your Voice in the Line!” Parents were able to scan a QR code and complete the survey while parked and waiting in the carpool line.
If you haven't completed the surveys yet, the Climate and Culture Parent Survey can be accessed at: https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/286097/p524.
The Community Engagement Survey can be accessed at: https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/286082/524/1.
#PerseverancePropelsProgress
If you haven't completed the surveys yet, the Climate and Culture Parent Survey can be accessed at: https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/286097/p524.
The Community Engagement Survey can be accessed at: https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/286082/524/1.
#PerseverancePropelsProgress
LeFlore Magnet High celebrated its AP Scholars and honors students at an Academic Excellence Awards ceremony on Thursday in the school's new auditorium. Parents and teachers were invited to the event, which was an opportunity to highlight the academic achievements and scholarships earned last spring. Five LeFlore students were named AP Scholars after earning a score of 3 or higher on at least three Advanced Placement exams: Taylor Andrews, MaLajha Gordon, Jamiyah Robbins, Joss Wicks, and Ja’nya Wooten. MaLajha Gordon and Joss Wicks were also named AP Scholars with Honor for earning a score of 3 or higher on at least four AP exams. Dr. Antonio Williams, Principal, noted that this was the first time that LeFlore students had earned AP Scholar recognition in many years. Great job! #PerseverancePropelsProgress
Third-graders in Spencer-Westlawn Elementary's STEM Lab have been investigating the weather with Mrs. Knowles! They took average temperatures from last fall and graphed them, using bar and line graphs to display the collected data. #PerseverancePropelsProgress
Tune in to mcpssTV at 6:50 p.m. Friday for the High School Football Game of the Week between Blount and Murphy! You can watch live on Comcast 15, Mediacom 81, AT&T U-verse 99, Roku boxes, Facebook or YouTube. #PerseverancePropelsProgress
Words are like toothpaste -- once they come out of the tube, you cannot put them back. Students in Mrs. Sullivan's third-grade class at McDavid-Jones Elementary learned the importance of being kind and choosing their words carefully during a Leader In Me activity this week. #PerseverancePropelsProgress
Ragan Percherke loves teaching kindergarten. "They come to you not knowing really anything, and you get to see all those little learning light bulbs go off," said Percherke, who is in her fourth year at Hutchens Elementary. "By the end of the year, they're leaving knowing all these math strategies and they're able to read. It's just such a rewarding grade to teach." Percherke, whose mother was a teacher, started her own career in education after moving around the country while her husband was in the U.S. Coast Guard. She was Hutchens' Teacher of the Year in 2024. #PerseverancePropelsProgress
Ready for some volleyball? Watch the mcpssTV High School Volleyball Match of the Week between Mary G. Montgomery and Davidson live today at 5:30 p.m.! See it on Comcast 15, Mediacom 81, AT&T U-verse 99, Roku boxes, Facebook or YouTube! #PerseverancePropelsProgress
Hutchens Elementary second-grader Connor Albrecht loves math , playing soccer and baseball, and drawing. Last year, he was Hutchens' top math scorer among first-graders in iReady. He's also looking forward to joining Hutchens' Lego club this year. #PerseverancePropelsProgress #LearningLeading
Several MCPSS graduates were among the newest class of 63 apprentices celebrated this week at Austal USA. These graduates are beginning their careers in fabrication, electrical, pipe fitting, pipe welding, and fit-out. They were recognized not only their accomplishments during their first month on the job, but also the vital role they will play in supporting Austal’s mission and strengthening our region’s workforce. MCPSS is proud to see our graduates pursuing opportunities that connect education to industry and prepare them for long-term success. #PerseverancePropelsProgress
Seniors in the International Baccalaureate program at Murphy High School have been busy in the first few weeks of school! They built benches donated by Keep Mobile Beautiful and used proceeds raised from faculty to build a new garden bed in honor of IB Coordinator Rebecca Mullins' mother. The bed will be dedicated to growing only broccoli. They also collected enough funds to buy materials to fix eight other beds and made a donation to Feeding The Gulf Coast. #PerseverancePropelsProgress
With the first full weekend of college football season upon us, Friday was College Colors Day at Mary B. Austin Elementary! The halls were full of school spirit today as students and staff proudly rocked their favorite college gear. #PerseverancePropelsProgress
