Student Spotlights – May 2026

The Pensacola Adventist Academy Ukulele Group, which began in January, is already making a joyful impact. In just a short time, the students have learned to play well enough to participate in our church services, sharing their musical talents with the congregation.
This group was started to encourage students to develop a love for clean and wholesome Christian music. Playing during church services has been a rewarding experience for the students and has helped build their confidence as young musicians.
Learning a musical instrument offers many benefits. It improves focus, discipline, and creativity while strengthening memory and coordination. Playing and singing together also teaches teamwork, cooperation, and friendship. Most importantly, it allows students to use their talents to praise God and serve others through music. The PAA Ukulele Group is a wonderful example of how music can bring students together, build positive skills, and inspire a lifelong appreciation for meaningful and uplifting songs.

The Pensacola Adventist Academy (PAA) LEGO Robotics Team gave their best effort at a recent tournament in Orlando, earning 8th place out of 20 teams. While they did not take home the top prize, their performance reflects dedication, teamwork, and a strong commitment to doing their best. Most importantly, they represented PAA with excellence and a positive spirit.
Throughout the competition, students applied their skills in building and programming robots while also developing problem-solving, collaboration, and perseverance. They demonstrated Christ-like character through good sportsmanship and encouragement for one another, making the experience both meaningful and memorable.
The PAA community is proud of their hard work and growth. In all things, we give thanks and say, “To God be the glory,” for guiding and blessing their journey.

Hellen Caro Elementary and Bailey Middle School joined together for Spring Synergy STEM Day on Friday, March 13. As part of this special event, middle school students visited Hellen Caro Elementary and worked alongside younger students on engaging, hands-on STEM projects. This cross-campus collaboration fostered leadership, teamwork, and innovation while strengthening connections between the schools.
The day’s activities will highlight Habit #6: Synergize from the Leader in Me framework. By working together, students combined their strengths, shared ideas, and discovered how collaboration leads to greater creativity and problem-solving success. Just one more example of the excellence we encounter every day among our students.

On March 29th, Pensacola Adventist Academy, our school community came together for a vibrant and memorable History and International Food Fair. This event was a celebration of learning, culture, and fellowship, bringing students, families, and guests together for an afternoon filled with discovery and delicious food.
The students worked diligently to research different countries in advance and present their projects through creative tri-fold posters. Students showcased their chosen country’s history, traditions, and cultural highlights. There were different tables assigned to represent various countries. Parents and students collaborated to decorate their booths with cultural themes, colors, and artifacts that truly brought each nation to life. Alongside with the visual displays, families prepared and served authentic dishes, offering a rich and flavorful taste of cuisines from around the world. The buffet was a highlight of the event, and guests enjoyed sampling the wide variety of international foods.
Adding to the festive atmosphere, special guest performers shared cultural dances that captivated the audience and some of them were also able to experience to do the bamboo dance themselves. The event was filled with joy and learning—it was truly a fun, memorable and enriching experience for everyone involved. We are excited to share that the History and International Food Fair will become an annual tradition, and we look forward to welcoming the public community to join us in the years to come.

On Wednesday, the 18th annual Special Olympics Spring Games took place at Tate High School, bringing together 634 student athletes and nearly 550 student volunteers. With schools across Escambia County district participating, the event was a true celebration of unity and inclusion.
The day kicked off with the Special Olympics Torch Relay around Carl Madison Field at Pete Gindl Stadium, symbolizing the spirit of the Games. Tate senior Macy Jensen’s heartfelt rendition of the National Anthem set the tone for an event filled with joy, camaraderie, and inspiring moments.
For the athletes, this event is more than just a competition, it’s an opportunity to showcase their abilities, gain confidence, and feel a sense of accomplishment. For the volunteers, it’s a chance to make meaningful connections and offer support in a way that truly impacts the lives of others.
The Special Olympics Spring Games at Tate High School are a reminder of the power of inclusion and the positive impact of community involvement. It’s a day that celebrates not only athletic achievement but the strength of character and the bonds of friendship that make our schools stronger!

Kingsfield Elementary held its Spring Into Reading Literacy night on March 12th. It was a fun evening celebrating reading and creativity. Families enjoyed a Spud Book character contest, a lively recorder music program, a Reader’s Theatre with Tate Drama Club and exciting reading games for all ages. It was a great time for families to come together, share stories, and spark a love of reading this spring.

Holm Elementary School awarded the top six Animal Adaptation Projects on Wednesday with a custom 3D printed medal from their very own Holm STEM Club. Another 29 Students were recognized for their effort with a candy prize. A grand total of 64 students turned in a project and were voted on by faculty & staff based on five categories.
1. Most Innovative Adaptation Design: Tyler Mayberry (not pictured)
2. Best Real‑World Connection: Kamaria Richardson
3. Outstanding Presentation & Visuals: Alex Ropper
4. Simply the Best: Ta’Nia Brown
5. Two Honorable Mentions: Laura Upshaw & Marshawn Highler
So proud of our young scholars and their teachers.

The student-led Rally Club at Pensacola Catholic High School has worked throughout the 2025-2026 school year to raise funds for the Rally Foundation, which supports the fight against Childhood Cancer through Research. A coin drive, grand prize raffle, and split-the-pot 50/50 campaigns were held at various events throughout the year to raise over $5,000. Their most recent Spring Goldstrong games with lacrosse, baseball, and softball brought in $1,300 with the grand prize winner receiving a Yeti cooler. Special thanks to Faculty Moderator, Keith Haynes, who is also a graduate from the Class of 1993.

New funding from the Escambia Children’s Trust is helping provide a safe place for kids to go and a healthy way to spend that time. The Escambia Children’s Trust is investing in the United Way’s “Healthy Schools Escambia” initiative to help children thrive at all hours of the day. These dollars cover a variety of programs, including free after-school care run by the YMCA.

This basketball season, the Lady Cats have made history by winning the Class 5A State Championship. In the process of this journey, the Lady Cats lost three games in the first half of the season.
After they lost the third game, the Lady Cats went on a 19-game winning streak to finish the season. The senior players won their third District Championship in a row and made it to their third Regional Championship game in a row, at home, at Booker T. Washington High School.
At the time of the District Tournament and going to the State playoffs, the team was ranked #1 in the state of Florida. After beating Ponte Vedra High School in the Regional finals, the Lady Cats were ranked #2 overall in Class 5A. For the final four match-up for State playoffs, the Lady Cats played Gateway High School from Kissimmee and won 54-41.
The Lady Cats then played the #1 team in the state, Blanche Ely High from Pompano Beach. The Lady Cats lost a key player in the first quarter due to injury. The team went into halftime down by 26-21, but the Lady Cats fought back in the second half to win 56-54.
This championship is the first championship for the Lady Cats since 2000 and the program’s fifth state title.
This season, versus Whitney Young, coach Jade Brown achieved her 200th career victory in her 14 years of coaching the Lady Cats program. Winning this State Championship made coach Brown the first African American and first female in the program’s history to win a state championship

It is an annual tradition of the Pensacola Catholic High School National Honor Society to make and collect Easter baskets for the children in our community. This year students created and gathered 190 Easter baskets that were distributed to the Gulf Coast Kids’ House and the Lakeview Center on Holy Thursday. A BIG ‘Thank you’ to Faculty Moderators, Chris Gulig and Brittany Franzo, for assisting the students with this special project that aligns with our Core Values of ‘Selfless Love’ and ‘Commitment to Service.’

Tate High School is proud to announce that senior James Treick has been named a 2026 National Merit Scholarship Finalist, one of the most prestigious academic honors awarded to high school students in the United States. This recognition places James among an elite group of students nationwide who have demonstrated exceptional academic ability, leadership, and commitment to their communities.
James currently attends Tate High School, where he has earned an impressive 5.15 weighted GPA. In addition to his coursework at Tate, he has been dual enrolled at Pensacola State College, where he has maintained a 4.0 GPA and has received President’s List recognition for his outstanding academic performance.
Beyond the classroom, James has demonstrated a strong commitment to mentoring and leadership in STEM education. For nearly three years, he has worked at Code Ninjas, where he mentors students, teaches coding to K-9 students, and coaches teams in robotics design and programming. His work helps inspire younger students to explore technology, engineering, and problem-solving.
At Tate High School, James is actively involved in several academic and service organizations. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and BETA Club. He has also contributed to Tate’s athletic community as a member of the tennis team, where he demonstrated leadership by serving as team captain during his sophomore year. In addition, James has dedicated time to serving others as a missions volunteer, reflecting his commitment to giving back to the community.

On Wednesday, April 1, 94 students from Catholic High School were cast members in the Living Stations of the Cross, reenacting the final hours of Christ’s life before He was crucified. This year’s reenactment was based on the Scriptural Stations of the Cross created by Pope St. John Paul II in 1991. This 14-step meditation on Christ’s Passion is based on biblical accounts rather than the traditional beginning with the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemani and concluding with Jesus’ burial. Students performed the Stations seven times during each class period of the day so that each Religion class would have the opportunity to attend and meditate on the events of Christ’s Passion. The performance included live music provided by the CHS Music Ministry group. Special thanks to Campus Minister, Rebecca Carter and Director of Music, Denny Turner, for their leadership in directing this most beautiful and meaningful performance.

Construction Career Days gives 1,000+ Pensacola-area students a look at high-paying jobs. Students are stepping into real job roles and what their future could look like. Businesses say it’s more than just a fun field trip where you get to operate heavy machinery; it’s about filling a growing need.

“Teachers as Leaders” at Creative Learning Academy isn’t just a philosophy, it’s an experience. CLA continuously encourages educators to pursue professional learning opportunities that deepen their craft and inspire their students. This year, world language teacher Abigail Swan is a profound example of that commitment. Through programs such as the North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS) Educator’s Initiative and the ACTFL Annual Convention, Abigail has immersed herself in teaching practices that embody experiential learning and the joy of discovery.
Abigail describes her approach as a blend of Experiential Learning (learning by doing) and language acquisition methods like Comprehensible Input and Acquisition Driven Instruction. These strategies focus less on memorizing vocabulary and more on helping students develop natural fluency by actively engaging with the language. “To me, these are pedagogical best friends for a world language teacher,” Abigail says. By bringing these methods into her classroom, she models how curiosity and courage can transform learning from an academic exercise into an adventure.
This summer, Abigail will return to NCOBS for the Educator’s Alumni Course, where she’ll exchange lessons and ideas about Experiential and Social-Emotional Learning with fellow teachers. She looks forward to sharing how her language students learn through hands-on experiences and to gathering ideas for CLA’s Advisory program – a collaborative effort she shares with fellow educator Jen Reichwage, who also completed the Outward Bound course. Together, they’ve infused CLA’s Advisory curriculum with meaningful exercises in teamwork, reflection, and personal growth.
From the moment Abigail dreamed of attending Outward Bound to her present-day participation with CLA’s eighth graders, her journey reflects CLA’s belief that when teachers follow their passions, students thrive. “Outward Bound is like a rite of passage at CLA,” she says, “and I love seeing how it helps our students prepare for their next chapter.” Through experiences in both wilderness and classroom settings, Abigail continues to demonstrate how intentional, inspired teaching shapes lifelong learners and reminds us all that dreams really do come true!

Creative Learning Academy celebrates teachers who exemplify leadership through curiosity, innovation, and a deep love of learning. Science teacher Jen Reichwage exemplifies this spirit through her work to connect classroom learning to the real-world experiences of her students. From the moment she began teaching science, Jen has been passionate about helping students see how their knowledge can inspire change within their own communities.
This passion led Jen to the Smithsonian Science Education Center, where she discovered the Global Goals Guides – a curriculum resource grounded in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These guides inspired her to transform her lessons into opportunities for hands-on exploration, encouraging students to view their community as a living laboratory for scientific investigation. Her students learn that science doesn’t just happen in textbooks; it actually happens in their neighborhoods, parks, and daily lives.
Recently, Jen’s dedication and innovation have garnered national recognition. She was selected as a NESST (Network for Emergent Socio-Scientific Thinking) Teacher Ambassador, joining a global network that unites educators, scientists, and youth leaders to advance STEM education for a sustainable future. She also served as a field tester for the Smithsonian Science Education Center’s newly released Global Goals Guide: Zero Barriers, which helps students explore accessibility issues in their communities and use STEM skills to design creative solutions.
Beyond her classroom, Jen continues to share her expertise and inspire others. You can hear her discuss her experience on the Smithsonian Science Education webinar Zero Barriers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8FrNO1oTPI) or as a guest on the Learning Disability Association of America podcast (https://www.buzzsprout.com/1133861/episodes/18868503). At CLA, educators like Jen remind us all that effective teaching starts with a commitment to learning. With our teachers leading the way, students are inspired to change the world around them!

At Creative Learning Academy, “teachers as leaders” means empowering educators to follow their passions and channel lifelong learning directly into the classroom. This month, we celebrate music educator Abigail Walker, whose approach to teaching continues to earn recognition across Florida and beyond. A two-time national presenter at Music Will’s Modern Band Summit, Walker shares her expertise with schools nationwide – her upcoming co-presentation, The Fluent Classroom: Leveling Up Immersive Music Learning, explores how student-led songwriting, production, and performance can transform engagement and creativity.
Across Florida, Walker’s leadership helps shape how music is taught in classrooms of all sizes. She served as the 2025 clinician for the inaugural Florida Northern Regional Modern Band, is a founding member of the Florida Contemporary Music and Media Association, and contributes to statewide curriculum design through FEMEA’s Curriculum Fair. Her commitment to inclusive, community-building learning led her to author “A Musical World in Which Students Belong” for The Florida Music Director, a piece that perfectly captures her belief that students are culture bearers who enrich their schools and communities through the arts.
At CLA, Walker’s philosophy shines through in every student performance. This year, inspired by parody artist “Weird Al” Yankovic, eighth graders created their own twist on AC/DC’s “TNT” titled “DND,” which they will perform live at the 2026 Florida Music Educators Association Crossover Festival. From sixth through eighth graders producing Annie Jr. last fall, to the fourth-grade Folk Music Festival and third-grade “informance” on musical writing and math, her students use music as an immersive language across curricula – discovering that creativity and collaboration lead to deeper understanding.
Reflecting on her work, Walker says, “My students are my inspiration. Their dreams fuel any impact I’ve made at the regional, state, and national levels.” At Creative Learning Academy, she finds a perfect match for that spirit: teachers are trusted to guide, students are empowered to lead, and together they embody a belief that “our future is bright and our kids are ready to rock.”