Student Spotlights – November 2025

In year three of our House System, Holm Elementary students and staff teamed up to work on community and school service projects, team building activities, and school spirit initiatives during our first quarter House Days.
Each student and staff member at Holm Elementary is sorted into 1 of 4 “Houses”: Isibindi- The House of Courage; Nukumori-The House of Kindness; Onraka- The House of Unity; or Amistad-The House of Friendship. This initiative has allowed our school culture to soar and we are so excited to see what our future has in store. We are 4 Houses, 1 Family.

Pensacola Catholic High School celebrated their 31 st Annual Make a Difference Day on Saturday, September 27, as more than 450 student and parent volunteers descended across the community to complete service projects for more than 26 organizations. Make a Difference Day, affectionately called “MADD” around campus, supports the school’s Core Values – Selfless Love, Commitment to Excellence, Personal Integrity, and Commitment to Service, and provides an excellent opportunity to put these values into action. When CHS first joined the event, the day was part of a national initiative, initiated and sponsored by Gannett, through which organizations from across the country volunteered on the same day to “Make a Difference” in their communities. The national Gannett initiative ended but this annual tradition has remained a favorite for CHS students and volunteers.
This year for the first time, some projects began directly at their project site to get maximum work time, while some students who needed rides to their project or for projects taking place further away, transportation was organized from the school. For those who met at the school, the morning began with a welcome from Principal, Sister Kierstin Martin, who then led a prayer service in thanksgiving for the wonderful volunteers, the work of the organizations that were to be serviced during the projects, and the beautiful weather! Rita Lay, CHS Director of Advancement and coordinator of the event, conducted a safety briefing and then dismissed the volunteers to their projects.
Project work included clean-up and landscaping efforts in four separate cemeteries; painting, cleaning, yard work, and refurbishing at local schools and parishes. Teams also served non-profit organizations throughout the community and two separate project groups held Car Washes for donations. The funds were used to help off-set the expenses of the day. After all of the hard work, project teams returned to the Tolan Family Student Life Center for lunch, which was also prepared by a team of parent volunteers. Students and volunteers alike enjoyed sharing their project stories during the lunch break and many commented about looking forward to next year.

Every child is wonderfully created by God and has the potential to grow in Him. With that conviction, Pensacola Christian Academy launched the Specialized Learning Center in 2023—a program designed to support elementary students with learning disabilities through focused, small-group instruction.
Conveniently built into the school day, students in the Specialized Learning Center remain in their regular classrooms while also attending specialized sessions for extra help. These sessions strengthen core skills in phonics, language, reading, and arithmetic, with the goal of fostering not only academic progress but also confidence in each child’s God-given ability to succeed.
Through this program, PCA continues its mission of Bible-centered education, ensuring that every student receives the tools and encouragement needed to grow academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually

At MSP, we believe in combining fun with giving back. This year, we’re excited to host six Fun Days for a Cause! Students from Primary through Middle School are invited to dress up and support meaningful causes within our community.
These days are designed to be more than themed dress-up—they reflect our mission to help students grow into Globally Aware, Responsible, and Service-Minded Citizens.
Our first Fun Day for a Cause invited students and staff to wear their favorite team gear or sportswear and bring a donation of new or gently used sports equipment and outdoor toys. All donations benefited Gulf Coast Kids House, supporting children and families in need right here in our community.

Creative Learning Academy’s Middle School Retreat at Camp Beckwith in Fairhope, Alabama brought together students in grades 5 through 8 for two days of outdoor adventure, team building, and community spirit. Split into two groups – grades 5 & 6 and grades 7 & 8 – each followed the same itinerary, designed to encourage teamwork and problem-solving in Camp Beckwith’s natural setting. Surrounded by the beauty of the bayfront, students were challenged to step outside their comfort zones as they worked together, supported one another, and formed deeper friendships.
Upon arriving at Camp Beckwith, the student’s schedule was full of activities. Highlights included the “Leap of Faith,” where trust and courage were the requirement, and “Islands/Whale Watch,” requiring coordinated balance and communication. The “Spider Web” pushed students to strategize collectively, while “Ball Transfer” sharpened problem solving skills through creative thinking. The Giant Swing brought lots of physical exertion and fun, offering a shared experience students will talk about for months. Evenings concluded with a campfire program – stories and reflections that cemented the bonds built during the challenges.
Day two concluded with water sports, skill games, listening games and more team building games at the Sports Pavilion. These activities gave students the chance to enjoy the Alabama outdoors while continuing to practice teamwork in new ways. Throughout the retreat, students developed stronger relationships with their peers and learned important lessons in communication, trust, and collaboration. The retreat is always more than a field trip. It is a moment in time during CLA students’ middle school experience that offers outside life lessons that transcend beyond the classroom.

Aletheia Christian Academy has a long-standing tradition of pairing seniors with kindergarten buddies. Throughout the year, each senior spends time with their assigned kindergartener, building meaningful connections. This partnership culminates in the Legacy of the Lions event, where seniors honor their buddies on stage by presenting them with a stuffed lion and sharing a slideshow of memories from the year. Last month, the Class of 2026 met their buddies for the first time and are excited to begin building community while passing on their legacies to the next generation of Lions.

Now in its 8th year, Escambia and Santa Rosa Districts, in partnership with Navy Federal Credit Union, equip over 350 middle school students annually across the region with essential power skills—communication, professionalism, and confidence—that prepare them for future academic and career success. The program officially launched with the Onboarding + Leader Lab this past week, where 30+ educators from 13 schools received training, resources, and leadership coaching to support student growth throughout the year. Looking ahead, participating schools will showcase their skills at the Regional Semi-Finals in March 2026 and the Finals Dinner in April, engaging with Navy Federal leaders and community partners.

Workman Middle School has announced its October Standout Students and Staff Member.
Workman’s October Standout Students are Melany Diaz Pineda – 6th grade, Zion Lewis – 7th grade, and Corbin Carruth – 8th grade. Mr. Quintarries Upshaw is the October Standout Staff Member. Mr. Upshaw teaches sixth grade US History and 7th grade Civics and has been at Workman for two years. “It’s always a pleasure to recognize our outstanding students and staff,” said Workman Principal Derrick Thomas. “This month’s selections are just a small example of the wonderful students and staff who are doing amazing things daily at Workman.”
The standouts are chosen by the Workman Success Squad. The Success Squad is made up of Faculty and Staff that have volunteered to assist in recognizing and celebrating individuals who positively represent Workman.

Third graders at Global Learning Academy enjoyed a question and answer time with Mayor Reeves, and he introduced them to a new book. Dogtown is a book by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko that is part of the 2025-2026 Sunshine State Young Readers Award (SSYRA) Program list for grades 3-5. The story is about a real dog, Chance, who goes on an adventure with a robot dog named Metal Head to find their forever homes after escaping a shelter called Dogtown. He also toured several classrooms, learned the Global P.A.C.T., saw the science lab and greenhouse, and got to participate in a brain break exercise. Thank you Mayor Reeves for supporting our schools.

Pensacola High School’s AFJROTC was honored to pay respect to our Nation’s Flag and the 40 newest citizens of the United States at the Pensacola U.S. District Courthouse last week. Judge Charles J. Kahn (PHS Class of ’69) presided over the ceremony where our Nation’s newest naturalized citizens raised their right hand and fulfilled their dream of becoming U.S. citizens. This was an amazing experience and civic opportunity for our cadets.

September was Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Aletheia Christian Academy students wanted to make an impact. They did a wonderful job creating signs to raise awareness and hope for childhood cancer. They also sold gold shoelaces to raise funds for Rally Foundation, a local organization supporting families affected by pediatric cancer. Here, one of our 3rd grade classes shows off their work. These posters will be moved to decorate the hallways of the Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital Oncology/Hematology units.

The Pensacola Catholic High School Chapter of the National Honor Society, moderated by teachers Mr. Chris Gulig and Mrs. Brittany Franzo, recently completed their Fall service project. The members of NHS collected over 100 baby items that were donated to the Alpha Center.
Pictured with the items that were donated are the Senior NHS officers: Riley Parker, Emma Rettig, Maya Chavan, Kaila Wilson, and Lorissa Johnson, Director of the Alpha Center, who graciously accepted the items on behalf of the mothers who utilize their services.

In a moving tribute for Patriot Day, Redeemer’s talented students united in song to honor the bravery and sacrifice of military personnel and first responders. Their heartfelt performance stirred emotions and fostered a sense of reflection and unity among families and fellow students gathered for the occasion.

St. Paul Catholic School’s first ever Literacy Night was a huge success. From Book Bingo to story time with Fr. Grant, activities in nearly every classroom and a book swap, it was an incredible night focused on all things reading.

Members of the Pensacola Opera brought an incredible performance of Cinderella to the students of St. Paul Catholic School. Students were riveted by their voices and their stage presence.

Redeemer Lutheran School’s recent Football Tailgate-themed dance was a total touchdown. Students showed up decked out in their favorite team jerseys and shirts, turning the gym into a sea of team spirit. With football-themed decorations, tasty tailgate snacks, and dance-floor favorites playing, the night was packed with energy and excitement. Redeemer kids brought the game-day vibes and danced like champions.

Firefighters from Station 3 came to visit St. Paul students to talk about fire safety, show off all of the cool tools on the truck and to give kids an up close look at a firefighter in full gear. We appreciate them for taking the time out of their day to show us around their firetruck, let us try on their gear and most importantly, to teach us that even though a firefighter in full gear may look scary, they are there to help and we should never hide from them in an emergency.

In September, SPCS held its annual Knighting Ceremony for middle school students. Sixth graders, new students and a few faculty members were knighted and sorted into one of four houses: St. Michael the Archangel, St. Joseph, St. Thomas More and St. Stephen. Each house has a charitable focus and projects for the year, and students earn points to help their house win a trophy at the end of the year.

Matthew Chestnutt presented a check for $2000 to Escambia Westgate and the Snoezelen Foundation. Matthew raised the funds in conjunction with the Pensacola Ice Flyers. As the December Charity of the Month, Matthew Chestnutt Scores received funds earned from the Power Play Pledge Drive.
Mattie was a student at Westgate for 11 years, and his charity has donated money to the Snoezelen Center for several years. The funds will be used to upgrade or replace equipment in the Escambia Westgate Snoezelen Center.