Student Spotlights July 2022

May was a busy month for East Hill Christian School. The senior class of twenty graduates was celebrated during their ceremony on May 13, 2022, at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church. Our esteemed Valedictorian was Gracie Hamilton and accomplished Salutatorian was Christopher Hatsfelt.

EHCS honored the forty-one eighth grade students during their moving-up ceremony at McIlwain Presbyterian Church on May 16, 2022. Class President, Emma Gleason, spoke about the class’s accomplishments and memories. We wish them the best as they begin their high school careers!

Common Sense, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids and families thrive in a world of media and technology, has recognized Global Learning Academy (GLA) as a Common Sense School. Global Learning Academy has demonstrated its commitment to taking a whole-community approach to preparing its students to think critically and use technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate while preparing them for the perils that exist in the online realm, such as plagiarism, loss of privacy, and cyberbullying. With the right support, kids can take ownership of their digital lives, engage with real issues, and change their communities for the better. The recognition acknowledges the school’s commitment to creating a culture of digital citizenship.

Every year, our annual Outward Bound trip is a life-changing experience for Eighth Grade CLA students. Students travel to Western North Carolina for an eight-day outdoor wilderness adventure that promotes self-discovery, inspires character development, and impels the students to achieve more than they ever thought possible. Students typically return home from Outward Bound a more mature, resilient, and confident version of themselves. This year, our Eighth Graders traveled to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Service to others and the environment is a core value of Outward Bound and is integrated into every aspect of the excursion. CLA students are required to follow “Leave No Trace” ethics as service to the environment while leading and supporting fellow classmates. Positive outcomes our students experience during Outward Bound manifest in the form of increased self-confidence, awareness and respect for the interdependence of individuals and a desire to make a positive difference in their own lives and in the lives of others. Through shared challenges, adversity, failure and success, CLA students discover and develop new skills, confidence and passions.

The rainy weather did not stop Little Flower from having a fantastic Field Day last month! Kona Ice visited our school for all students to enjoy. First grade enjoyed activities including Kinetic Sand, cup stacking, dancing, and a movie! Coach D held a free throw competition which included finalists from several different grades. Ms. Lewis and the Student Council made popcorn for all our classes. We are thrilled our students were able to enjoy these activities during one of our final days of the school year!

Take Stock in Children and the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation awarded $242,000 in scholarships at the May 27 “Graduation & Unsung Hero Celebration” at the Wright Place. The event honored 19 graduating seniors who received four-year tuition scholarships and a laptop computer. Also recognized were all of the volunteer mentors of our students and scholarship donors. The 2022 Take Stock in Children graduates are: Northview High: Miyhanna Davidson, Jonathan Gibbs, Paige Gibbs; Pensacola High: LaDarrien Kimble, Aidan Sidner-Palafox; Pine Forest High: Jakiah Henderson-Young, Jaydah Lett, Makia Samuel; Booker T. Washington High: Adrianna Blackmon, Abbie Brunson, Chelsea Hotopp, Rebecca Kurau, William Ngo; West Florida High: Madison Hayes, Centyah Moye, Tho Pham, Matthew Setzer, Harley Walker; and Okaloosa County transfer Malik Williams.

East Hill Christian School “graduated” twenty-eight precious kindergartners on May 17, 2022, at McIlwain Presbyterian Church. We are so proud of all they have accomplished this year and can’t wait to watch them grow!

The Administration, Faculty, Staff and Families of the Pensacola Catholic High School Senior Class of 2022 recently celebrated their graduating students during four special events. On Friday, May 13, Father Will Ganci from St. John the Evangelist kicked off the events when he visited Catholic High to celebrate Mass for the Seniors and their parents. The events continued on Tuesday, May 17, when the Senior Academic Awards Ceremony was held, followed by the
Baccalaureate Mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Church and the Commencement Exercises held on Admiral Fetterman Field at the Blue Wahoos Stadium on Wednesday and Thursday, May 18 & 19, respectively. During the Awards Ceremony honors students are celebrated for their academic achievements, as well as recognizing those who excelled at citizenship and serving others. A summary of the other achievements of the Class of 2022 include — 100% of the Class of 151 students plan to pursue post-secondary education with 108 students, or 72% of the Class receiving at least one merit-based scholarship. Twelve members of the Class signed athletic scholarships and 64 students, 43% of the Class, after 7 semesters, will be designated Florida Bright Futures Scholars. The total amount of merit-based scholarships offered to members of the Class of 2022 now exceeds $13 million. The top 10 graduates based on GPA, pictured below left to right — 10 – Colin Vislay, 9 – Clare Reilly, 8 – Madison Galloway, 7 – Zachary Vredenburg, 6 – Anna Goodspeed, 5 – Sarah Campbell, 4 – Nicholas Dobhan, 3 – Lauren Lacour, Salutatorian – Maggie Johnson, Valedictorian – Timothy Marshall. We are very proud of our 2022 graduates and wish them well as they continue their life’s journey. We pray for God’s protection as they continue their lives beyond the halls of Catholic High School.

Naudix Bosso, Jamin Burns, Chloe Bush, Bryan Calderon, Evelyn Carter, Roel Chavez, Konnor Cornish, Robin Doran, Emery Dupree, Rashi Ibrahim, Kaixer Lanzanas, Cece Lester, Casyn Medors, Gabe Monda, Jonathan Navarrete, Layla Padgett, Corbin Sanchez, Liam Stevens, Gianni Valentine, and Joshua Villamor.

On Monday, May 16, Sheriff Chip Simmons held a ceremony at the Sheriff’s Office on St. Mary St. to honor the ECSD Students who entered and won the ‘Imagine a Violence-Free Escambia’ essay/art contest. In attendance were ECSD Superintendent Dr. Smith, Director of Middle Schools Dr. Michael Roberts, District 4 School Board member Patty Hightower, several ECSD principals, families, and friends. Essay: 1st: Hannah Leanord, age 13, 7th Grade, Bailey Middle, 2nd: Gabriell Lilla, age 14, 8th grade, Bailey Middle, 3rd: Kaylin Stoker, age 14, 8th grade, Ferry Pass Middle. Art:1st: Gabriela Vladimirova, age 13, 8th Grade, Brown-Barge Middle, 2nd: Briar Kaffer, age 13, 7th grade, Bailey Middle, 3rd: Camaya Pryor, age 14, 8th grade, Bailey Middle. Great job, students! A special thank you to Sheriff Simmons and to all who participated in this event.

For the past 39 years, a very special award has been bestowed on a member of the Pensacola Catholic High School graduating class at the Commencement Exercises. This award, named the Pro Deo et Patria Award, recognizes a graduate who dynamically and consistently exemplifies the spirit and ideals of Catholic High School. The ideals are summarized very succinctly in the school motto, “Pro Deo et Patria”, translated from Latin to mean ”For God and Country.” Each year, the faculty and senior class members, by means of a vote of each individual, select a member of the graduating class to receive this honor.
Among the many awards given to graduates each year, this is perhaps the most meaningful and cherished because it recognizes someone who has chosen to live by the ideals and Core Values of Catholic High School — Selfless Love, Commitment to Excellence, Personal Integrity, and Commitment to Service –to do all For God and Country. Congratulations to the 2022 recipient of the Pro Deo et Patria Award – Caitlin Virginia Day!

Chris Gallman was a member of the CHS Class of 1999 and a very talented member of both the Basketball and Track Teams. In May of 1998, just days after he won the District high jump gold medal at the end of his Junior year, and shortly before he was to leave for the State Track Meet, he died very suddenly and tragically of an undiagnosed heart condition. His death left the Catholic High community stunned and heartbroken. Chris was a very special person – a very talented athlete, a friend to all, rarely seen without a smile on his face and a kind word for everyone – truly the epitome of kindness and good sportsmanship. Shortly after his tragic and untimely death, there was a groundswell of desire from all parts of the CHS family – students, teachers, administrators, parents…all, recognizing the unique goodness of Chris Gallman, asked that we establish an award in his honor… to memorialize the goodness he contributed and stood for in his life at Catholic High, his sportsmanship, selflessness, and compassion.

These qualities became the focus and criteria for the bestowal of this award that is given each year at the Commencement Exercises. With the input of athletes in each of the 21 CHS Varsity athletic teams, the entire CHS faculty, and the CHS coaching staff, the selection of the recipient for the Chris Gallman Sportsmanship Award is conducted each year. This year’s recipient of the Chris Gallman Award, Lindsey Middleton, participated in three varsity sports throughout the years – Cross Country, Soccer, and Lacrosse. Lindsey clearly demonstrated the trait of always being concerned for her team’s unity and integrity, and not just her own personal accomplishments, the same selfless attributes of sportsmanship displayed by Chris Gallman. Congratulations, Lindsey!

On May 24th, Montessori School of Pensacola’s eighth grade students graduated. This year’s graduating class was made up of nine students. During the graduation ceremony, the students each present a speech they have written about their time attending MSP. The students are presented special commemorative mugs with the school logo as graduation gifts. Teachers and families are present at the ceremony, as well as the 7th grade students from the MSP Middle School program.

Students at Montessori School of Pensacola participated in the final Fun Day Friday of the school year. On the last day of school (May 27th), students in the Primary through 8th grade classes were invited to come to school with their hair hilariously. In conjunction with the Fun Day, there was a collection of hygiene products to donate to the Kindness Corner Shelf. MSP presents opportunities throughout the year for students to give back to the local community. The Kindness Corner is a project at Washington High School created and run by MSP alumni student, Ella Jane Hoffmaster. It is a shelf of hygiene products available for free for any students who may need them. Hoffmaster came to speak to MSP students about her project prior to the Fun Day.

Summer has begun and that means Montessori School of Pensacola weeks of themed camps have also started. This year there are camps offered for Preschool (4 year-olds through Kindergarten) and Elementary (rising 1st graders through rising 4th graders). The first week of camp took campers underwater to explore marine biology, sea creatures, and science. Projects included under the sea dioramas, salt dough sea stars, fun foil fish, painted fish prints, and more. Here is an Elementary camper doing their version of fish printing, or Gyotaku. Gyotaku originated before the invention of cameras when Japanese anglers would record large or unusual specimens by making inked reproductions of their catch. Students at MSP camp created beautiful fish prints or Gyotaku art. (They used rubber reproductions of fish instead of real fish).