Hunter's HIghlights

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us. Students are excited about Christmas and completing the first semester of school. Semester exams are a part of the end of a semester experience and they always bring many questions. In just a few days the exemptions procedures will be posted on our website and we ask students, and parents to please read these carefully to avoid confusion. Teachers will be going over these in class as well but if you have any questions please ask.

One of the most common misconceptions about exemptions pertains to absences.  Some think that because an absence is excused, it doesn’t count toward exemptions. All absences count toward exemptions regardless of whether or not they are excused. School events such as field trips do not count, but any non-school sponsored absence counts as an absence and therefore must be considered for exemption purposes. We remind everyone that exemptions exist to entice students to have good attendance and reward students who do not miss school. Many times students are unfortunate and get sick and have unavoidable absences, so exemptions are a combination of hard work, diligence and a little good fortune.

Basketball season is in full swing. All of our teams are working hard and representing Ardmore in an exemplary manner. Since we are a 6-12 school we have many different basketball teams and cheerleader groups so we have many students who participate on these nights which is a wonderful thing. Schools offer extracurricular activities to teach lessons and to give students something to look forward to and enjoy the school experience.

Our annual band Christmas Concert is drawing near and this year we have an added bonus for our students. Students were able to see the concert during school hours for a small admission price of $2. Proceeds went help support our band program. We have in-school ball games to help support our sports teams and this year we have started an in-school band concert. This not only served as a fundraiser but gave all of our student body an opportunity to see what great concerts our band puts on every year. Our band did a great job during the in-school concert and we hope everyone can come out and see the concert on Saturday night, December 14, 2013.

Hopefully within a month or two you will see a new sign in front of the school that will serve as another way for parents and the community to keep up with what is happening at AHS. Thanks to the fundraising efforts of Mr. James Shannon and the generous gifts from First National Bank, Butler Realty, Senator Bill Holtzclaw, and Representative Dan Williams we have been able to purchase a sign for the front of the school. The sign is currently being bid through our central office in accordance with the state bid law. The great thing about the sign is that we do not have to spend any local school money to purchase the sign so we can continue to use our money to supply things are students and teachers need on a daily basis.

Thankful

These are some comments I made at the Fall Sports Banquet that I wanted to share with everyone. I am very thankful for many things in my life and hopefully this will briefly explain some of the great things we have going on here at Ardmore.

I want to thank everyone for coming. As we all know Thanksgiving is upon us and it is a great time to reflect on the previous year and the things we should be thankful for. One of the things I am thankful for is the support Ardmore High School receives from its parents and community. We are always well represented and let me thank you on behalf of the entire faculty and staff of Ardmore.

Another thing I am thankful for is the quality of the men and women we have working with our student athletes. We all want to win and nobody more than I, but more importantly I want our students to become good citizens. I want our coaches to instill the desire to win, but also a work ethic, and an integrity that comes with knowing you have given everything you have to accomplish your goal.

The most important group I am thankful for is the high quality students we have at Ardmore High School. I am constantly reminded of what great students we have at our school. Our students represent our school with dignity and class at every event we attend. Many in our society want to put down the “Young generation” but I can tell you that here at Ardmore the “Next Generation” is in good shape.

I want to publicly thank a guy that I don’t thank nearly enough. Mr. Bates works tirelessly through the year as our assistant principal and athletic director. Mr. Bates has a passion for all of our sports and all of our students. I personally don’t know how I could do my job without his assistance and his friendship. Let’s give Mr. Bates a round of applause.

Who is Coming for Dinner?

School safety plans have try and account for every possible scenario. While this is nearly impossible our current safety plans are broad enough to cover many different types of threats. For example, when a suspicious box is found under a railcar in Decatur that could potentially release dangerous chemicals into the atmosphere; schools in Limestone County jump into action. 

Tanner and Clements High Schools were found to be in the danger zone so they were evacuated to Ardmore which was out of the danger area. This is very similar to the plan for evacuation due to a nuclear emergency at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. The plan was put into action and everyone carried out the plan to ensure the safety of our students. We welcomed our guest in the new gym and they safely waited until law enforcement officers determined the extent of the threat.

Moving this many students requires many people working together. Bus drivers, teachers, custodians, cafeteria workers, office workers, and law enforcement officers are just a few of the people needed to fulfill such a daunting task. Our cafeteria workers were able to feed all the students on our campus in just a matter of a few hours. Older students carried trays back to the gym while younger students ate in the cafeteria. All Ardmore students carried their trays back to their rooms while we prepared for our arriving guests.

The staff and administration of each school worked hard to organize what could have easily become chaos. Parents came and checked out students and very patiently understood everyone was trying to ensure all students were released safely. Students behaved wonderfully while sitting in classrooms, gyms or in the cafeteria. The students who ate in the gym were very careful to take very good care of the gym.

Although we certainly dread such events it is good to know that plans work and with common sense, and hard work nearly any situation can be managed effectively. Ardmore is fortunate to be a part of such a wonderful community and school system.

Join Us.

Teacher of the Year

We would like to congratulate Mr. Michael DeFiore for being selected the AHS Teacher of the Year.  This year Mr. DeFiore is teaching 7th and 8th grade science classes.  In years past he has taught high school science/biology classes and  was a middle school scholar's bowl coach.  Several of Mr. DeFiore's former students have submitted some encouraging thoughts that we would like to share.

Mr. DeFiore is that single ray of sunshine shining through the clouds on a rainy day.  He warms my heart!  He's one of Ardmore's greatest supporters in our athletics.  He's not only at our home games, but games 30 minutes away.  He reaches out and connects with this students.  I feel sorry for anyone who hasn't met him.  I just love him and the smile that's always on his face! 

Mr. DeFiore cares about his students and loves his job.  He always makes learning fun.  He goes to every game to support his students.

He is a very energetic and entertaining man.  He loves everybody and sees the potential in each and every student.  He does his best to bring that potential out.

He always asks about your day.  He believes everyone can do anything they want.  He is always happy and makes your day.  He impacts your life because he makes you enjoy school and science.  Everyone loves his class.

Mr. DeFiore is an amazing teacher.  He always tries to make class fun.  The way he teaches keeps kids interested and loving whatever he teaches.  He will always be my favorite teacher.

Every student's favorite memory of Mr. DeFiore in the 8th grade is when he "fermentated" on his desk in front of his classroom.  He would demonstrate by falling on his desk and gasping for air.  We will never forget his enthusiasm for his job and his love for his students.  The class of 2014 will always cherish our middle school years with Mr. DeFiore.

Mr.  "Mike" DeFiore has been a resident of the North Alabama community for his entire adult life. He is 60 years of age,and has been married to the former Carol Oden for 34 years. He has two adult daughters, Kristen and Marcia, both of whom are graduates of Sparkman High School. After an almost 30 year career in industry, Mr. DeFiore returned to school to pursue a degree  in education and has spent the last eight years teaching middle school science at Ardmore High School. In his spare time Mr. DeFiore enjoys volunteer work at Clearview Cancer Institute. He enjoys collecting, restoring and using antique shaving equipment. He also collects, restores and wears antique timepieces. He also very much enjoys spirited rounds of golf with his wife.  Mr. DeFiore has a degree in Chemistry and Mathematics from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and a degree in Education from Athens State University.   

We are very fortunate that Mr. DeFiore has chosen teaching as his second profession and the AHS community is blessed to be a part of Mr. Defiore's life.  Congratulations again, Mr.DeFiore, AHS Teacher of the Year!

FACS

Mrs. Susan Miller's sewing classes are making monogram purses with cheveron fabric.  They are doing a fantastic job!

FFA

Several of our AHS students are attending the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Ky.  We appreciate Mrs. Graham giving these students this opportunity.

Haley Lewter

Here is an article about a former AHS student. We are very proud of Haley. Click here for the article.

Writer's Block

I was reminded recently that I had not posted anything on the blog is a while and I responded that I was having a little case of writer’s block. I have posted the newsletter from the Alabama State Department of Education, but my goal this year was to post more original articles than in previous years. I have sat down a couple of times to write something for the blog and just couldn’t think of anything to write about that pertained to school that might be of interest to parents, and supporters of Ardmore High School. I have always thought better to not write anything than to write something bad, but a blog really isn’t much good for anything is there aren’t articles to post.

I write a weekly newsletter and put on our website called, “Hunter’s Highlights” where I try and highlight the great things taking place at the school. We have great teachers and students and everyone needs a little recognition sometimes to help the day go better. I also e-mail the newsletter to those who sign up for e-mail notifications through our school website. If you would like to receive these e-mails go to the website and click on “Notify Me” and sign up.

It is hard to believe we have officially ended the first nine weeks of school. Obviously this means the school year is a quarter of the way complete. The year always begins with high expectations and excitement and sometimes by the end of the first nine weeks those things have faded, but this year has been a great year and excitement still abounds. Our students and teachers still seemed excited about the things taking place at school and there seems to be a higher sense of school spirit this year and we certainly hope the trend continues.

Our students have been collecting “Box tops for education” this year in an attempt to win the right to wear their favorite Halloween costume to school. Our goal for this great fundraiser was $1000 and it appears we will make the goal. We also challenged students to raise $2000 and the administrators would wear their costumes, but it doesn’t look like we are going to reach that goal. The boxtops are a great fundraiser because it doesn’t require anyone to buy anything other than what they are already purchasing for their homes. Boxtops are available now on many different types of products and a complete list can be found by searching “Boxtops for education” on the internet.

ALSDE Newsletter

Click here for the October Newsletter from the Alabama State Department of Education.

Principal's Reflection

I have been fortunate to present for the Alabama Learning Exchange the past year. It is great to be able to learn from educators around the state. My presentations have centered around educational technology and I come in contact with many educators across the state. I am always reminded of how fortunate I am to work with the wonderful students, and staff at Ardmore High School.

I have worked in several school systems and I can honestly say students at Ardmore have great teachers and educational opportunities. Of course we still have areas we are wanting to improve but I love our school and am proud to say I work at Ardmore. Parents and community are vitally important to schools and we are blessed to have great support here at Ardmore. We live in a great town and it is truly "Great to be an Ardmore Tiger."

State Department Newsletter

Here is the latest newsletter from the Alabama State Department of Education. Click here or visit www.alsde.edu

Decatur Daily Article

Here is an article that appeared in the Decatur Daily about our football program.

Somewhere, Eugene Cooper is smiling.

On the field that bears his name, football magic has returned.

Suddenly, Ardmore is a football team trending upward. Under first-year coach Clint Legg, the Tigers are enjoying a turnaround season, surprising fans and foes, alike, at every bend.

For the first time since 1969, Ardmore heads into Week 4 unbeaten. And now, in a town that hasn’t celebrated a postseason team in seven seasons, the talk has shifted from playoff possibilities to something much bigger:

The chance of contending for a region title.

Ardmore (3-0, 2-0 in Class 4A, Region 7) travels to Randolph (2-1, 1-1) on Friday.

“Since practice started, we have improved,” Legg said. “But at the same time, we’ve also got a lot of room for improvement. No one around here can afford to get complacent, because we’ve only played three games, so there’s still a lot of football to be played.

An old-school statement from an old-school coach. Once again, Cooper has to be smiling.

In Cooper’s day, Ardmore perennially fielded teams that contended for league titles.

The former Tigers coach, who was inducted into the Limestone County and Alabama High School Athletic Association halls of fame, amassed a 151-49 record from 1948-1973 while winning two mythical state titles (1958 and 1961).

Just three games into the season, no one can say Ardmore is on the verge of matching its glory days. But one thing is clear: The Tigers are improving. Since making their last playoff appearance in 2006 with an 8-3 record, last season’s 5-5 mark was the first time the Tigers did not finish with a losing record. In the past 30 seasons, Ardmore averaged only 2.83 wins.

Ardmore is enjoying this turnaround by referencing a few chapters from yesteryear. With Legg at the helm, old-school football is the way.

The offense is built around downhill, power running, and the players believe games are won with physical, pad-thumping defense.

Big, loud and proud: Ardmore’s players have latched on to Legg’s coaching personality.

They’ve taken that identity onto the field, grinding out wins while gaining confidence with each week.

Last week, Ardmore’s 36-34 overtime win against North Jackson was the program’s first-ever against the Chiefs — a perennial Class 4A power that’s usually paired by the AHSAA in the Tigers’ region.

Was that a significant moment? Perhaps, especially in this season’s Region 7 playoff race. But Legg is not celebrating, and he is steering the Tigers in the same direction.

“We’re not talking about any of that stuff,” Legg said. “We haven’t won anything yet. One game, one week at a time. That’s the mindset our players have to maintain if they want to have a shot at achieving their goals.”

Ardmore’s strong start should not surprise the program’s loyal fans. All the pieces for a turnaround are in place.

Legg’s football philosophy is a tough, physical brand, and the Tigers’ roster is filled with players who fit that bill.

Ardmore has at least four running backs who are suited for Legg’s downhill, power scheme, and Hayden Durrett is arguably the area’s best pure tight end. The 6-foot and 215-pound senior is athletic with a big, muscular frame, and his soft hands make him a big-play threat in the Tigers’ passing game.

Quarterback Garrett Miller also has been a major factor. The junior, a third-year starter, is emerging as an accurate passer who is clutch under pressure. Miller has passed for about 400 yards, including a 2-point conversion pass to Durrett in overtime that secured the win against North Jackson.

“These kids have worked hard,” Legg said. “They came in here and made a commitment, and they’ve stuck with it. That’s why they’re seeing results.”

Movers and shakers

For area football teams, there was some movement this week on the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s prep football polls.

Visit

Our 6th grade students are studying weather and were visited by Channel 31's Meteorologist, Spencer Denton today. Mr. Denton was gracious enough to come and speak with our students. Parents you can watch Channel 31 tonight for some possible pictures of our students.

Attendance Newsletter

Here is some information from the Alabama State Department of Education concerning attendance. Click here for the information.

Alert Now Message

We have been asked by several parents to offer a season pass for our varsity football games. These passes are on sale in the front office for $30. This is the regular price for the tickets, but you will not need to stand in line to purchase tickets at the game. Season pass holders will use the pass gate located near the front ticket booth. The passes are on sale in the front office.

Auburn University Honor Band

Ardmore High School is very fortunate to have several students selected for the Auburn University Honor Band this past weekend. The students joined the Auburn University Band to perform at half-time and put on a great show. This is a huge honor for our students and we are extremely proud of them.

LInk To Pictures in Decatur Daily

Here is a link to a photo gallery on the Decatur Daily website.

Link To Education News

Here is a link to the newsletter published by the Alabama State Department of Education. Click here for the link.

Wise Choices

We have all heard the saying, “The new has worn off.” The phrase many times is used in a negative context meaning that drudgery taken the place of excitement. With a new school year the new also wears off, but that doesn't mean that the excitement must become a thing of the past. We have many activities during a school year which can keep the excitement alive for our students. Picture Day, Homecoming, ball games, and pep rallies are just a few of the activities which can help keep the excitement alive for a school. Boredom many time precedes unwise choices and we have many activities designed to relieve boredom so wise choices can be the rule of the day.

Picture Day

Ardmore High School
Picture Day: 09/05/2013 Picture Day ID: OS043024YP

Every year they change.  Every year we help you remember. Order now and get special promotions and reminders about picture day from Lifetouch.

School pictures are a great way to remember your child's school year.

To order now please click here.
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At-Risk Students

The term “At-risk students” is used frequently in education circles, and by politicians, but what does it really mean? The term at-risk encompasses a great deal of area and is a multifaceted problem. The traditional definition is, “An at-risk student is a student who, by virtue of their circumstances, is statistically more likely than others to fail academically.” What makes a student more likely to fail academically?"

Statistics show that students living in a low socioeconomic household are more likely to fail academically. Let me say that there are thousands of examples of students that succeed wonderfully despite living in a situation many would classify as at-risk. However, statistics do show that coming from a low socioeconomic background makes school success less likely. Students growing up in low socioeconomic settings are not exposed to as many outside learning experiences as more affluent students. There are many other cultural differences in homes based upon the economic status of the parents.

The educational background of parents also has been determined to be an at-risk factor for many students. Once again many students exceed the educational level obtained by parents but statistically the higher educational level of parents, the more likely the student achieves academic success. The attitude of the parent toward education also plays a huge role here as well. A parent that values an education is more likely to push their children to achieve in school. Many parents use their lack of education as a motivator to push their children to obtain what they were unable to obtain.

School attendance, or lack thereof, is perhaps one of the biggest at-risk factors. A multitude of factors contribute to a student’s school attendance record. The reasons are too many to list but range from legitimate reasons to just simply not wanting to go to school. One thing that is clear is that parents and schools cannot solve this problem on their own. Parents and schools must work together to create an environment with the right amount of enticement and encouragement to ensure school attendance. Many students have issues at home that prevent them from being able to place school at the top of their priority list. Many times socioeconomic status is a crucial factor in school attendance. If a student needs to help provide necessities for the family it only stands to reason they have less time for school.

School personnel can’t solve the reasons students are at risk, so our focus must be on overcoming the factors that make a student at risk. This can be a daunting task and many times frustrating due to feeling powerless to help students. We must constantly strive to find new ways to reach students and to make school a more relevant, engaging experience for all of our students. There are days we feel defeated because we are not able to save all students. It is on these days we must remember the success stories and let those be the fuel to keep us going.

Boys and Girls of Fall

Beginning of extracurricular activities always marks the start of school. As long as I can remember, I have either been playing sports, coaching sports, or watching sports. I can still recognize that certain “Smell in the air” that lets me know the fall sports season is upon us. The fall sports season is such a rite of passage for so many American youth it is a valuable piece of Americana.

Think about all the young people involved in just a football game night at Ardmore High School. We have the football team, band, and cheerleaders that are the active participants and many of our students are there to cheer on their peers. I don’t know what percentage of the student body will be in the stadium on opening night but I would say the number would be quite large. This doesn’t count the volleyball games and cross country meets which occur through the week and on the weekends.

Research has shown, and people have known for years without doing research, that students involved in school activities enjoy school more, perform at a higher level, and are less likely to drop out. I encourage all of our students to become involved even if it is as a fan cheering on the other students. These activities make school more palatable for those with the inclination to not enjoy school and give us all something to look forward to that can break the monotony that many times sets in for students.

As the year passes by, we will have many more activities in which students may participate. Some of these activities are sports related and some are not, but we want everyone to be able to find their niche so they can have a wholesome activity to enjoy. We don’t have as many activities as we would like due to a multitude of factors, but hopefully we can continue to add activities until everyone finds something to enjoy.

Reflections

It is good to find time to reflect. Our e-mail is down this morning so it gives me a couple of minutes for reflection upon the start of school. We have had a stellar beginning to the 2013-2014 school year from my perspective. Students have been extremely well behaved, our teachers and staff have been especially positive and upbeat, and parents have been very supportive. We have had a few glitches as always but by and large everything has gone smoothly.

I think the new method used to distribute schedules was an improvement over doing it in one night. I love the idea of getting everyone together and passing out schedules, but I think we have outgrown that procedure. As Ardmore continues to grow changes in procedure will inevitably follow simply due to the number of students. Having been at a large school, there are things that are possible at small schools that aren’t possible with a high student count. The trick is to balance the new procedures without losing time honored traditions.

With the building of the new gym a lot of reminiscing has been occurring around the school. We have old pictures of how Ardmore looked forty to fifty years ago and you will likely be seeing some things on the website as construction continues on our new gym. It is great to celebrate the past while preparing for an exciting new future. Gyms may come and go but the spirit and pride of the Ardmore people is a constant that makes the community what it has become. 

Breakfast With the Principal

We are constantly looking for ways to improve communication between our school and our parents. We have started a new program this year called, Breakfast with the Principal. Five parents a month will have breakfast with me at 7:30 a.m. here at school. This will allow us time to just talk and for me to hear your insights about Ardmore High School. Obviously space is limited and if we have more than we can accommodate we will randomly draw for the times. Of course I am always available to speak with you if you have concerns, this is just a formal way to receive feedback from our parents. After I receive the names of the interested parents I will notify them of the schedule. Please include your e-mail and/or phone number when you sign up. If you would like to participate please call the school or e-mail me at Tommy.hunter@lcsk12.org

Second Day of School

The second day of school often gets overlooked and certainly doesn't have the sentimental value as the first day of school. Not as many people will post pictures of their children on Facebook for the second day of school as they did for the first. The level of excitement will have decreased a little by the time the second day rolls around.

The challenge to parents and teachers is to try and keep the students focused on what is important every day of school and to build positive energy toward finishing the year strong. The second day is many times when friendships are strengthened, cafeteria seats are finalized, and the year’s pecking order is becoming clear. The friendships forged during these early days of school will certainly help shape the students’ lives for years to come.

While I love the first day of school, let us not forget the importance of the second day of school and every day remaining in the school year. As parents, we have a lot riding on the school years and as school staff we have the incredible responsibility of helping to nurture the students through these tumultuous years we know as adolescence. 

First Day of School

The first day of school is still exciting after twenty five years of working in public schools. I still remember the feeling as a student and as a young teacher and although the butterflies are a little different, the anticipation still remains. A new school year is truly like opening a new book because of the excitement of not knowing how things are going to go. The start of school is a good time to forget previous bad years and seek to emulate previous good years.

It is fun to see the excitement on new sixth grade students and new teachers alike. Even veterans seem to have a little extra spark in their eye on the first day of school. I realize that I was fortunate to have a positive experience while in school and have always enjoyed the school environment and not everyone shares these thoughts. Even for students who remember previous school years with disdain, there is always the possibility that this year will be different. Each year I start the year hoping each student has a positive experience and gets a good start. Not everyone gets what they want in terms of schedules, classes, teachers or lunch, but maybe something positive will happen during the day.

As the year goes by the temptation is to let some of the enthusiasm of the first day begin to wane, but hopefully the positive thoughts will continue throughout the entire year. While it is true that there will be days when circumstances are not desirable; maybe even on bad days some good has been done in the life of a child. For those students who seem to never have a positive school experience we continue to try and find the key to altering the negative experience.

Most of our students will go home excited about seeing their friends and finding out which teachers appear on their schedule. Many will be delighted by who shares their lunch period or who they sit next to in science class. We never know if we might have met our future best friend or spouse as we try and find the best place to sit in the cafeteria. Many go home tired forgetting how exhausting this day can be, but all will go home with the satisfaction of know that they conquered the first day of school. 

Phone Message

This message will be sent August 16, 2013.

Hello, this is Tommy Hunter, principal at Ardmore High School. As you know school starts Monday, August 19, 2013. Our school day will begin at 7:55 and end at 3:00. Our students will report the MS gym, HS gym, or cafeteria at 7:30 and will be dismissed to their first period class at 7:48. Students who do not have their schedule should find their first period teacher which will listed at the front of the school and in the MS building. All students will be given a schedule during first period. We are excited about this school year.

County school board OKs Ardmore High project

County school board OKs Ardmore High project

Smith led Ardmore to new heights

Smith led Ardmore to new heights

Alert Now Call June 11

Hello parents this is Tommy Hunter, principal at Ardmore High School. We try to provide helpful information to our parents in a variety of ways. One traditional venue has been the parent meeting the week before school. We would love your feedback on the helpfulness of this meeting. Please participate in a poll on our school blog. The web address is www. Ardmorehighschool.blogspot.com or it can be accessed using the school website on the left hand side. We continue to value your opinion and input. Have a great remainder of the summer.

Alert Now Call May 21

Hello, this is Tommy Hunter, principal at Ardmore High School. The time for exams is upon us again. Please check our website for all details, but please note that Wednesday, May 22 our 2^nd period exams will start at 7:55. We do not want students to be late by thinking they should come at the normal time for 2^nd period.

6th Grade Phone Message

Hello 6^th grade parents this is Tommy Hunter, principal at Ardmore High School. We have had several questions about this week concerning 6^th grade. The last day of school is Thursday, May 23 and we will take up textbooks on this day. Our teachers will be giving grades throughout the week and unexcused absences will receive zeros per board policy. I hope this answers your questions, but if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to call.

Ardmore golf team headed back to state

Ardmore golf team headed back to state

Alert Now Message May 9

Hello, this is Tommy Hunter, principal at Ardmore High School. I just want to clarify a couple of things about Friday. First, if you are NOT riding the bus to the baseball game, all you need is a check-out note from your parents. If you are riding the bus, you still need a check-out note, PLUS you must have turned in your field trip form on Thursday. Check-out time will be 9:30 or after ARMT. Students riding the pep bus will not be allowed to ride back with anyone other than a parent. We did not have enough interest to take a bus to the softball game. Students will still be able to check out at 2:20 to attend the game. Reminder to parents all students must pay admission which is $8 and some concession money would be beneficial.

MOVING ON

MOVING ON

Alert Now Message May 8

Hello, this is Tommy Hunter principal at Ardmore High School. We are excited that out softball and baseball teams are playing in the state play-offs on Friday and golf team on Monday. If we have enough interest we will be offering a pep bus for students who would like to attend softball or baseball. Students who attend the games and follow procedure will not be counted absent. The complete details are available on the website. The short version is ALL students leaving school must have a note and students riding a pep bus must ALSO have a field trip permission form.

Al.com Article About Student Athlete of the Year

Click here for the article.

Huntsville Hospital Athlete of the Year

Click here for an article about Lydia Eubanks winning the Huntsville Hospital Athlete of the Year Award.

Golf Going Back to State

Click here for an article about our golf team.

News Report on Our Band

Phone Message

The following phone message will be sent May 1, 2013 at 5:00 p.m:

This is Tommy Hunter, principal at Ardmore High School. We begin testing the week of May 6. It is crucial that students be on time for school and are present every day possible. Our school is judged by these scores and the scores are used for class placements. We will not be able to check students out during testing times to please make a note and if you have questions about testing times please don’t hesitate to call.

Ardmore advances to round 3 of playoffs - The Decatur Daily - Decatur, Alabama

Ardmore advances to round 3 of playoffs - The Decatur Daily - Decatur, Alabama

Educational Support Staff of the Year

Click here for a Newscourier  article about the Educational Support Staff of the Year.

Ardmore new gym to be built for growth

Ardmore new gym to be built for growth

April Edition of Alabama Education News

Click here for the April Edition of the Alabama Education News.

Newscourier Article About Baseball Team

Click here for the Athens Newscourier article.

April 18, Alert Now Phone Call

With spring upon us and with progress report and report card time quickly approaching I want to remind parents of AHS attendance procedures and Limestone County School policy.



Students have 3 days to bring an excuse after an absence. The reasons for excused absences are listed in the Limestone County School Handbook which can be accessed via our website. Any absence not specifically listed in the handbook must be pre-approved by the principal.


When students check-out for medical appointments please remember to bring the note from the doctor upon your return.

News Courier Article Baseball Play-Offs

Click here for the News Courier Article about county teams hosting play-offs.

Olympics competitor beats odds - The Decatur Daily - Decatur, Alabama

Olympics competitor beats odds - The Decatur Daily - Decatur, Alabama

Governor Bentley Announces Creation of Formal Incident Response & Prevention Plan

Click here for the article.

Bryant/Jordan

Click here for an Athens News Courier article about Lydia Eubanks and the Bryant/Jordan Banquet in Birmingham.

Al.com Article

Click here for an AL.com article concerning school funding.

Art Trip

Some of our art students recently vistited the Hunstville Museum of Art to see some wonderful pieces of art. We are very fortunate to have art offered in high school and are glad our students have the opportunity to take advantage of these great exhibits. I have included a few pictures of the trip.

The K-Machine - The Decatur Daily - Decatur, Alabama

The K-Machine - The Decatur Daily - Decatur, Alabama

School Humor

Have a great Spring Break.

Possible Sweetwater Deal For Limestone County Schools

Click here for link to Al.com article.

State education curriculum on brink of legislative control

State education curriculum on brink of legislative control

Support Person of the Year

Limestone County Schools, for the first time, is selecting a Support Personnel of the Year. Each school submits a nominee and then someone is chosen from all of the nominees as a county winner. The nominee for Ardmore High School is our tech. specialist Mrs. Allena Fogg. Mrs. Fogg does a wonderful job of keeping our computers running, but this is only a part of what Mrs. Fogg does for our school.




Mrs. Fogg exemplifies what customer service, and “Going above and beyond” is truly about. A quote from one of her letters of recommendation said it this way, “Everyone at Ardmore is accustomed to Allena going the extra mile to insure that the students have everything needed to aid in their academic success.” Another one of the letters said, “Mrs. Allena’s greatest contribution is her genuine concern and compassion for our students.



Many of Mrs. Foggs contributions go unnoticed to many people because that is the way Mrs. Fogg wants it. The fact that we are honoring her will make her uncomfortable and out of respect for her wishes I will not list many of the things she does for us. However, I do want everyone to know that she is a truly special person and this school would not be the same without her. We all love her and want to recognize her as the AHS Support Person of the Year.

2013-2014 School Calendar

Click here to view the school calendar for 2013-2014.

ALSDE Analysis of the Accountability Act of 2013

Click here for a link to a memo from the Alabama Department of Education concerning the Accountability Act of 2013.

ALSDE Newsletter

Click here for a newsletter from the ALSDE..

College Fair

FFA Week

The week of February 18, 2013 is FFA Week. Our students have been celebrating this week in a variety of ways. Every morning a different FFA Officer leads the school in the Pledge of Allegiance. We have several dress up days to commemorate this week such as Western Day, and FFA Pride Day. In addition to these activities our students have participated in a Muddy Truck Day and Drive Your Tractor to School Day. We have also been very fortunate to have Mr. John Curtis cook some of his famous chicken stew for our students. Mrs. Graham does a wonderful job of sponsoring our FFA and our students are continuing to become more involved in state activities. We feel confident we will have a state winner in the near future.

Ardmore High School 9-12 Honor Roll - TNValleyNow

Ardmore High School Honor Roll - TNValleyNow

HB84 School Flexibility Act

Click here for a link to HB84 also known as The School Flexibility Act. This isn't a commentary, but the actual bill introduced to the state legislature. This isn't an easy read, but everything else I have found inserts a lot of opinion as to what the bill says. This is as unbiased because it is the actual transcript. I know there is a Senate Bill and there have been some ammendments so you may have to visit other websites to get the latest updates.

Student Art Work

We are pleased to announce that the art project submitted by Ardmore High School student Miranda Rogers has been selected to be displayed at the Huntsville Museum of Art's Youth Art Month Exhibit. Several students from across the region submitted art work and it is a big honor for her art to be selected. We are very proud of all of our students and Mrs. deGraffenried for their hard work on the art projects.

Learning in the Cloud

Recently the administrators in Limestone County have read a book entitled, “Learning in the Cloud.” The book addresses a common challenge for school systems across the country: How can we effectively use technology to implement curriculum changes in the 21st century. Modern technology is a major component of the current metamorphosis being experience by public schools. Technology is changing at a pace which causes larger organizations to have difficulty keeping up with the change.

A major theme of the book is that learning is not increased simply by adding devices. The devices, no matter how wonderful, are not effective without quality instruction. Teachers not trained in the proper use of the technology for instruction will not innately be able to increase educational achievement. Teachers must be trained not only on the device, but how to use the device to improve instruction. For example, interactive whiteboards can be great tools, but if teachers only use them to write notes, a whiteboard can do the same thing for a lot less money.

The book chronicles several initiatives across the country and how they implemented new technology to improve instruction. Some of these initiatives have been successful and some have not. Certainly educators need to learn from the mistakes as well as the successes of other systems. In many places education reform is taking the place at the same time as dramatic technology change and the two are many times mistaken for the same phenomenon. While the two changes can be linked, and probably should be linked, if they are not initially coordinated many changes occur in isolation and aren’t as effective as possible.


Effective goal setting is important when undertaking any initiative. The book lists three goals set forward in using technology in education: 1. to improve academic achievement, 2. to facilitate new kinds of 21st century learning, and 3. to promote educational and social equity. Of course all of these are important, but in order to effective accomplish all three goals, the efforts must be intelligently coordinated.


21st century learning typically focuses on creativity, innovation, critical thinking, and flexibility while much of the computer learning in the past has been largely drill and practice. Continuing to add tools that do not fit the current needs of learners does not help to improve the overall education of students. Learners today must also be able to locate information using current technology due to the increased availability of information in modern society.

Educational equity is also addressed in “Learning in the Cloud.” Students living in homes without access to modern technology are in increasing danger of falling behind their peers in academic achievement. Without one to one initiatives being implemented by school systems many children will never have access to the latest technology. Even if the school system provides the device, without internet access the students are still in some danger of not being able to fully realize the possible benefits of the technology.

Infrastructure must be properly assembled before effective implementation of any one to one initiative can be successful. School systems have tried to implement great initiatives without the proper infrastructure only to find out their efforts were in vain. A coordinated effort is necessary to ensure effective implementation occurs when introducing any technology program.

In conclusion, technology can not replace thinking and a great deal of planning and expertise is required to effectively implement 21st century learning initiatives. Teachers and administrators must be careful to make sure gadgets are not the focus and make sure learning takes center stage. When great teachers have great tools, some spectacular learning outcomes can be achieved, but great tools are useless in the hands of a person not trained to effectively use the tool.

Productive People

Find out what highly productive people do differently by clicking here.

Be A Leader

Athens State University to host financial aid information night

Click here for the article.

More than 600 out-of-state schools seek to educate Alabamians

Click here for an article.

6th Grade Black History Month Project

How To Motivate Your Child To Attend School

If Your Child Missing School

Teacher Art Work

Here is an sample of one of our teacher's artwork. Mrs. deGraffenried is an excellent artist and leads our students by example. We have several of our students submitting work to the Huntsville Museum of Art competition. We will keep you posted.

February ALSDE Newsletter

Click here for the latest newsletter from the Alabama Department of Education.

6 Ways Students Can Collaborate With iPads

6 Ways Students Can Collaborate With iPads

Hunter's Highlights

The first nine weeks of the second semester is half completed? Progress reports recently were issued and the nine weeks will be over before we can blink. The next few weeks are crucial for students’ grades, especially those who are struggling. Ardmore has a record of academic excellence and we are sure our students will carry the torch.




Mrs. Nickoles’s class recently visited the apartment Anne Franks lived in as she wrote, “The Diary of Anne Franks.” Actually we didn’t have money to fly everyone across the Atlantic but with modern technology; the students took a virtual tour of the location. Mrs. Nickoles is just one of our teachers who use the internet and its many resources to enhance the learning experience for students.



We are very fortunate to have some talented art students at Ardmore. Mrs. deGraffenried does a wonderful job of helping our aspiring artists reach their potential. Several of our students will enter art work in a contest in Huntsville and hopefully will have their work displayed at the Huntsville Museum of Art. We wish all of our students the best of luck.



Our Jr. High and High School Scholar’s Bowl teams will be competing this week in the annual county competition. Ardmore has a long history of excellence in the Scholar’s Bowl competitions and we expect more of the same from our Scholar’s Bowl teams. We are fortunate to have some dedicated sponsors and students who work hard to ensure our continued success.



Basketball season is coming to an end and spring sports are cranking up. Spring sports teams have already begun practicing and expectations are high for a great season. Our baseball team is returning several starters from a play-off team last year. Our softball team is always strong and this year will be no exception and our ever improving soccer program continues to make strides. We wish everyone luck, and encourage everyone to come out and support our athletes and coaches.



Several of our students were selected to participate in the Auburn Honor Band this weekend. We have students play in various honor band activities throughout the state and we are proud of all of them. According to Mr. Bowman our students at Ardmore did a fantastic job. We had one student place in the top group and our other students only missed the top group by a small margin. Overall our honor band students placed higher than in the previous years. We are very proud of our band and Mr. Bowman as they continue to strive for excellence.