They say a dream is a wish your heart makes, and for 17-year-old Holayn Marandu, that dream just stepped off the page and into reality.
It all started when Holayn, a talented young artist at LNLC, sketched her perfect prom dress. What happened next was nothing short of magic:
Paraprofessional Cynthia Parker shared the sketch with meteorologist James Spann, spreading the word across Alabama.
Seamstress Shondra Patterson of The Sewing Room in Double Springs saw the post and knew she had to help.
Shondra spent countless hours creating a near-exact replica, even commissioning a graphic artist to design custom yellow floral fabric to match Holayn’s original vision.
At today’s Masquerade Ball-themed prom, Holayn finally had her "Cinderella moment," twirling around and around in the dress she once only imagined.
For Shondra, this wasn't about the spotlight—it was a tribute to her own niece with special needs. She recalls the first time she met Holayn: “She grabbed my hand and talked to me like she had known me her entire life.”
Thank you, Cynthia and Shondra, for proving that with a little kindness (and some expert stitching), dreams really do come true! 💛👗
It is always so much fun to see these students join together to brainstorm and compete in challenges rooted in coding and robotics.
#DoGreatThings #PreparedForTheJourney #EmpoweringAndInspiringExcellence
On Thursday, March 12, four Shelby County schools came together at Helena High School for the first-ever Shelby County Showcase of Winter Guard. Oak Mountain Middle, Chelsea High School, Oak Mountain High School, and Helena High School all performed shows for friends and family in preparation for upcoming competitions.
"As each team took the floor in exhibition, shouts and cheers boomed throughout the gym," said Amy Lovelace, Chelsea High School's Winter Guard Director. " From jaw-dropping performances to high-flying tricks, the performances did not disappoint."
We wish all four teams good luck as they travel to Bowling Green, KY, March 28-29 to compete in the Southeastern Color Guard Circuit Championships.
Congratulations to our SCS winners!
March 4th:
⭐️ "Egg"cellent Airborne Brigade (Egg Drop)
1st Place - Helena Intermediate School
2nd Place - Mt Laurel Elementary School
⭐️ Patriot Pinnacle Symbol of Freedom (3D Team Symbol)
2nd Place - Helena Intermediate School
3rd Place - Oak Mountain Elementary School
⭐️ Patriot Pinnacle Competition
1st Place - Helena Intermediate School
2nd Place - Oak Mountain Intermediate School
⭐️ Dash's Road Trip Symbol of Freedom (3D Team Symbol)
1st Place - Oak Mountain Intermediate School
3rd Place - Shelby Elementary School
⭐️ Dash's Road Trip Competition
2nd Place - Montevallo Elementary School
3rd Place - Oak Mountain Intermediate School
⭐️ Rocket's Red Glare Symbol of Freedom (3D Team Symbol)
2nd Place - Helena Intermediate School
3rd Place - Mt Laurel Elementary School
⭐️ Rocket's Red Glare Competition
2nd Place - Mt Laurel Elementary School
3rd Place - Calera Intermediate School
March 5th:
⭐️ "Egg"cellent Airborne Brigade (Egg Drop)
2nd Place - Chelsea Park Elementary School
⭐️ Patriot Pinnacle Symbol of Freedom (3D Team Symbol)
3rd Place - Chelsea Park Elementary School
#DoGreatThings #PreparedForTheJourney #EmpoweringAndInspiringExcellence
8th Grade Accelerated Team High Scorers: Blair Seales (CAMS), Owen Gurtler (CHMS), Kaylee Bone (CMS), Alex Rhodes (HLMS), Sara Hayes (MNMS), Hansika Kathait (OMMS), and Bryson Brown (VMHS)
8th Grade Accelerated Individual High Scorers: Hansika Kathait (1st Place - OMMS), Pavel Samal (2nd Place - OMMS), and Alex Rhodes (3rd Place - HLMS)
Top 8th Grade Accelerated Teams:
🥇 1st Place - Oak Mountain Middle School
🥈 2nd Place - Helena Middle School
🥉 3rd Place - Chelsea Middle School
8th Grade Team High Scorers: Byron Garcia (CAMS), Sofia Leroux (CHMS), Jaidrie Willis (CMS), Anthony Castillo (MNMS), and Syha Franklin (VMHS)
8th Grade Individual High Scorers: Sofia Leroux (1st Place - CHMS), Jaidrie Willis (2nd Place - CMS), and Anthony Castillo (3rd Place - MNMS)
Top 8th Grade Teams:
🥇 1st Place - Chelsea Middle School
🥈 2nd Place - Columbiana Middle School
🥉 3rd Place - Montevallo Middle School
7th Grade Team High Scorers: Kai Rollf (CAMS), Jonas McGinn (CHMS), Maggie McIntosh (CMS), Owen Tranyham (HLMS), Baye Thomas (MNMS), Henry Patton (OMMS), and Hannah Frengel (VMHS)
7th Grade Individual High Scorers: Jonas McGinn (1st Place - CHMS), Maggie McIntosh (2nd Place - CMS), and Kai Rollf (3rd Place - CAMS)
Top 7th Grade Teams:
🥇 1st Place - Oak Mountain Middle School
🥈 2nd Place - Chelsea Middle School
🥉 3rd Place - Calera Middle School
6th Grade Team High Scorers: Sawyer Allen (CAMS), Harper Walls & Taylor Griffin (CHMS), Abigail Tinsley (CMS), Aaron Stieferman & Matthew Etheridge (HLMS), William You (MNMS), Grayson Ronillo (OMMS), and Andie Walker (VMHS)
6th Grade Individual High Scorers: Aaron Stieferman & Matthew Etheridge (1st Place - HLMS), Grayson Ronillo (2nd Place - OMMS), and Abigail Chatham (3rd Place - OMMS)
Top 6th Grade Teams:
🥇 1st Place - Helena Middle School
🥈 2nd Place - Oak Mountain Middle School
🥉 3rd Place - Chelsea Middle School
#DoGreatThings #PreparedForTheJourney #EmpoweringAndInspiringExcellence
Advanced Math Team High Scorers: Zach Gentry (CAHS), Ella Gurtler (CHHS), Jon Cheever (HLHS), Richard Doss (MNHS), Andy Brislin (OMHS), Caleb Endfinger (SCHS), Avigael Caswell (VMHS)
Advanced Math Individual High Scorers: Richard Doss (1st Place - MNHS), Andy Brislin (2nd Place - OMHS), and Jon Cheever (HLHS)
Top Advanced Math Teams:
🥇 1st Place - Oak Mountain High School
🥈 2nd Place - Helena High School
🥉 3rd Place - Montevallo High School
Algebra II Team High Scorers: Johnny Batchelor (CAHS), Khoi Pham (CHHS), Joshua Trautwein (HLHS), Yulisa Villegas (MNHS), Dara Jindapon (OMHS), John Cortez (SCHS), and Walker Willis (VMHS)
Algebra II Individual High Scorers: Dara Jindapon (1st Place - OMHS), Elly Marsh (2nd Place - OMHS), and John Cortez (3rd Place - SCHS)
Top Algebra II Teams:
🥇 1st Place - Oak Mountain High School
🥈 2nd Place - Chelsea High School
🥉 3rd Place - Helena High School
Algebra I Team High Scorers: Angelina Gao (CAHS), Coby Qin (CHHS), Vivien Suttles (HLHS), Bentley Howell (MNHS), Nealie Smith (SCHS), and Rylan Wilson (VMHS)
Algebra I Individual High Scorers: Coby Qin (1st Place - CHHS), Vivien Suttles (2nd Place - HLHS), and Wesley Coogan (3rd Place - CHHS)
Top Algebra I Teams:
🥇 1st Place - Chelsea High School
🥈 2nd Place - Helena High School
🥉 3rd Place - Calera High School
Geometry Team High Scorers: Whisper Jones (CAHS), Caroline Zieba (CHHS), Andrew Etheridge (HLHS), Macon Huckabaa (MNHS), Holden Kellis (SCHS), Dalton Valenti (VMHS), and Samuel Brandt, Ayuma Kawaguchi, Yashpaul Bhatna, & Parker Verant (OMHS - tie)
Geometry Individual High Scorers: Yashpaul Bhatna (1st Place - OMHS), Samuel Brandt (2nd Place - OMHS), and Ayuma Kawaguchi & Parker Verant (3rd Place - OMHS)
Top Geometry Teams:
🥇 1st Place - Oak Mountain High School
🥈 2nd Place - Chelsea High School
🥉 3rd Place - Helena High School
#DoGreatThings #PreparedForTheJourney #EmpoweringAndInspiringExcellence
#DoGreatThings #PreparedForTheJourney #EmpoweringAndInspiringExcellence
#DoGreatThings #PreparedForTheJourney #EmpoweringAndInspiringExcellence
The Shelby County Board of Education honored the hard work and dedication of a group of accomplished teachers who recently achieved or renewed the National Board Certified Teacher credential during the February 19 board meeting.
Teachers who were recognized as new NBCTs included:
Angela Mitchell - Vincent Elementary, Ashley Coppock - Vincent Elementary, Carissa Blackerby - Helena Intermediate, Emily Lightsey - Montevallo Elementary, Katherine Rodgers - Oak Mountain Elementary, Mabrey Marsalis - Montevallo High, Mackenzie Eden - Oak Mountain Middle, Madison Cancienne - Helena Intermediate, Olivia Kelley - Vincent Elementary, Patrick Riley - Helena Elementary, Rebekah Hess -Helena Middle, Sabrina Nolen - Helena Elementary, and Sadie Kinlecheenie - Montevallo Elementary
Teachers who renewed their NBCT included:
Amy Anderson - Helena Elementary, Cassandra Campbell - Oak Mountain Intermediate, Debbie Shipman - Oak Mountain High, Jill Davis - Helena Intermediate, Kyrsten Gunn, Elvin Hill Elementary, Leslie Sulenski - Forest Oaks Elementary, Matthew Martindale - Shelby County High, and Sara Patrick, Shelby County Instructional Services Center
“Valedictorian is more than a title; it’s not a calculation of a grade point average or a ranking at the top of the class,” Dr. Lewis Brooks said. “It’s a testament to hard work, perseverance, discipline, character, and unwavering commitment to excellence.”
We are so proud of these student leaders who represent the very best of our community! 🎓🏆
Join us in celebrating this year’s honorees:
Calera High - Lilly Barnes, Chelsea High- Sarah Serrano, Helena High- Maycie Lewis, Montevallo High- Nathan Gallagher, Oak Mountain High- Grayson Bou, Shelby County High- Jennie Owens, Vincent Middle High - Emma Brown & Jordynne Rose (tie).
#PreparedForTheJourney #EmpoweringAndInspiringExcellence
We were proud to host the ribbon cutting for the ACCS Innovation Center's new mobile career exploration trailers. These hands-on simulators will give our students and others all across the state the opportunity to explore career pathways in construction, transportation, agriculture, emergency services, and more - all in a safe, engaging environment.
We are grateful for partnerships that help connect classroom learning to real-world possibilities!
#DoGreatThings #PreparedForTheJourney #EmpoweringAndInspiringExcellence
#DoGreatThings #PreparedForTheJourney #EmpoweringAndInspiringExcellence
Congratulations to the following students from our Shelby County Schools for auditioning and being selected for the 2026 Alabama All State Choir Festival! We are incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication to music and their singing. SCS is represented extremely well this year. "Bravo, all!”
Happy National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day!
#DoGreatThings #PreparedForTheJourney #EmpoweringAndInspiringExcellence #SROAppreciationDay
Congratulations to each of these students, who were selected by teachers, counselors, and administrators for displaying respect, courage, responsibility, friendship, and kindness toward others. We are proud of the character they show each and every day.
#DoGreatThings #PreparedForTheJourney #EmpoweringAndInspiringExcellence
Our schools proudly shared the programs, opportunities, and experiences that make Shelby County Schools so special. Thank you to everyone who came out to connect with our district and ultimately celebrate our students.
#DoGreatThings #PreparedForTheJourney #EmpoweringAndInspiringExcellence
Participants heard from a few of our gifted program students as they showcased some of their robot projects, explored Career Technical Education, and learned from several of our central office leaders about more of the work happening across the district. The day also included a tour of CTEC, offering a firsthand look at the hands-on pathways preparing our students for future success.
Another meaningful opportunity to see the innovation, talent, and dedication that define Shelby County Schools.
#DoGreatThings #PreparedForTheJourney #EmpoweringAndInspiringExcellence
🔨✨ Love building, creating, and trying something new? ✨⚡🔥
Then Girls Can Camp is for YOU!
Join us for an exciting 3-day, hands-on camp for current 8th, 9th, and 10th grade girls, where you’ll dive into the worlds of carpentry, welding, and electrical work. You’ll learn how to use real power tools, wire outlets and switches, and even weld metal together with fire—all while creating awesome projects you’ll get to take home!
Build skills. Boost confidence. Make new friends. Have fun.
📄 Details:
June 9 through June 11
8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Held at: Career Technical Educational Center in Columbiana
📲 Ready to apply? Scan the QR codes on the flyer to watch a video from a previous year’s camp and submit your application, or visit: bit.ly/2026-GCC-Application
⏰ Don’t wait—applications are due by Friday, March 20!
Let’s build something amazing together! 💪👷♀️
The All-County Band Festival brought together outstanding middle and high school performers for two days of collaboration and learning alongside Composer-in-Residence Rossano Galante, culminating in powerful performances by both groups last night. What an incredible celebration of music education!
#DoGreatThings #PreparedForTheJourney #EmpoweringAndInspiringExcellence
#DoGreatThings #PreparedForTheJourney #EmpoweringAndInspiringExcellence
