Mrs. York’s class had a great time planting their fall garden. The first graders chose the plants they wanted to plant, dug the holes, planted, and watered. The students planted broccoli, red cabbage, kale, lettuce, cauliflower, and brussel sprouts, and radish seeds. This activity was in conjunction with the study of plants in science. The first grade loves going to the Outdoor Classroom.
Coach Erica Hammonds and the Student Government Association organized a school-wide Pantene Challenge event on Friday, October 23. Pantene Beautiful Lengths, in partnership with HairUWear and the American Cancer Society, encourages people to cut and donate their healthy hair to create wigs for cancer patients. The SGA and each grade has been raising money for this event throughout the month of October in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness month. Overall Macon East collected 8 ponytails and over $600 in donations. Kaiden Byrom, Anna Watson, Ally Matthews, Jennifer Campbell, Emily Kyser, Kirksey Jones and Coach Erica Hammonds each had their hair cut in front of a crowd of cheering fans at the Pink Out Pep Rally. Sixth grader Brantley Main also donated her ponytail earlier in the school year. With a goal of $500, the SGA is excited to have raised over $600 in monetary donations to further the efforts of Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths initiative. The 4th grade class raised the most with $151 given in honor of MEA parent and breast cancer survivor, Brittny Hemphill.
We would like to thank everyone who supported the Pantene Challenge in its mission to help women battling cancer. A special thank you to the four amazing stylists who donated their time and talents to the cause. Tammi Fett (360 Salon), Maegan Humphries (Viola’ Salon), Vanessa Krasnowiecki (Suite 140), and Ellen Kyser (2’s Company) provided not only the ponytail cut but a new hairstyle for each of our brave participants at the Pep Rally.
Macon East celebrated Homecoming the week of October 12-16. Events included themed dress up days, homeroom door decorating contest, the annual Junior/Senior powder puff game, a pep rally, tailgating on campus, and a parade. Homecoming Court attendants selected by their classmates were Katherine Kirk (7th grade), Kayla Boroff (8th grade), Sydney Weverink (9th grade), Calley Bocchino & Katie Jo Dickey (10th grade), Sami Nesbitt, Rai Pritchett & Sommer Sears (11th grade), Lexi Brantley, Kelsey Granger, Emily Kyser & Paxton Searle (12th grade). At halftime of the football game, Lexi Brantley was crowned as the 2015 Homecoming Queen. Macon East defeated Lakeside Academy 35-20 in a game that clenched the Knights a spot in the playoffs. The upper school students celebrated the win at the annual Homecoming dance.
Senior volleyball standout, Lexi Brantley, has played varsity volleyball at Macon East since 7th grade and has helped lead the team to four state championships since 2011. This year the Lady Knights continue on a winning streak with an undefeated season headed into the playoffs. In 2015, Lexi has achieved two major milestones racking up 2,000 career assists and 500 aces. She was honored by her coaches, teammates, and the student body for these accomplishments at a recent pep rally. Lexi was also nominated as the Alabama high school volleyball player of the week. Lexi is more than a leader on the volleyball court, she is an outstanding student, president of the Student Government Association, representative in the Homecoming court, and all around positive role model at MEA. Lexi will continue her volleyball career at the collegiate level at Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi. The Lady Knights will continue to strive for five in the coming weeks leading up to the October 22nd AISA state championship.
Congratulations to the following 7th grade students selected to participate in the 2015 Duke University Talent Identification Program—Will Desmarais, Barrett Hammond, Jordan Hicks, Jonathan Mathis, Tanner Moore, Emily Nickles, Justin Reynolds, and Max Taylor. Selection as a Duke TIP honoree is based on student accomplishment in the 95th percentile on national standardized testing completed in the spring of the sixth grade year. Since 1980, more than 2.5 million high ability students have participated in Duke TIP’s talent searches. As part of the talent search enrollment, Duke TIP registers eligible seventh graders to take either the ACT or SAT as an above-level test. This allows students to have greater insight into their abilities and it gives them the opportunity to preview a college entrance exam. The faculty and staff of Macon East are proud to recognize this group of students on their excellent academic achievement.
Macon East Academy athletic director, Jim Brantley was inducted into the Huntingdon College Athletic Hall of Fame at a ceremony held Saturday, October 3, 2015. A 1996 graduate of Huntingdon College, Brantley was an ace pitcher for the Hawks baseball program. A native of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, he compiled a career record of 23-16 on the mound with 5 saves and a 3.44 ERA in 295.2 innings pitched in his sophomore year. Brantley’s junior season ended with a 10-3 record and a 1.61 ERA in 95 innings pitched, as well as a 16-inning complete game shutout against Birmingham-Southern. After his senior season, Jim continued his baseball career with summer stops in Joliet, Illinois (North Central League), and Portsmouth, Illinois (Frontier League). He returned to Huntingdon for the 1996 season to finish his degree and serve as a pitching coach for the Hawks. Upon graduation, Brantley headed north to Springfield, Illinois, to help the Springfield Capitals win the 1996 Frontier League Championship, and ended that season with a 4-3 record and a 2.97 ERA.
Jim began his teaching career in 1999 as a teacher and head baseball coach at Fort Dale Academy. He returned to the professional baseball circuit in 2001 as a closer for the Montgomery Wings and in 2002 as a player/pitching coach for the Selma Cloverleafs. Coach Brantley joined the staff at Macon East in 2002 as a teacher and coach for the Knights baseball, basketball, and football programs. He was named Athletic Director in 2012. Congratulations to Coach Jim Brantley on his outstanding career and induction into Huntingdon Hall of Fame.
The junior varsity volleyball team competed in the AISA JV Volleyball State tournament Saturday, October 10 at Kingwood Christian School. The team played hard all day and advanced through the winners bracket to the championship game where they fell to the host team. Freshmen Madisyn Kennedy and Bailey Williams and 8th grader, Emily Brooks were named to the all-tournament team. The young team has had an amazing undefeated regular season, and the players have grown tremendously in their knowledge of the game. Coaches Amanda Smallwood and Brynn Nix are so proud of the accomplishments of this team of 20, which includes nine seventh graders.
Macon East K3 through 6th grade students held their annual Grandparents Day program on Thursday, October 1. Dressed in jeans, overalls, white shirts and bandanas, the boys and girls entertained their special guests with songs and poems celebrating grandparents. The cafeteria was filled with grandparents capturing photos and video of their special student’s performance. Following the program, students, teachers and grandparents enjoyed brunch of cinnamon rolls, muffins, sausage balls, fruit and juice provided by the PTO.
On the morning of September 23rd Macon East students and teachers gathered at the school flag pole for prayer and devotion. Beginning in 1990, See You at the Pole is an annual gathering of Christian students at their school flag for prayer, scripture reading and worship. Thanks to Mrs. Jennifer Harris for coordinating this year’s event at MEA.
They all met together and were constantly united in prayer. — Acts 1:14
The 2015 varsity softball team at Macon East Academy celebrated their 4th state title in as many years receiving their state championship rings Friday, September 4 prior to the first home football game. The Lady Knights softball team ended the 2015 season with a record of 57-5. Former players Mari-Beth Baker (Mississippi State) and Cameron Redding (Troy) returned to campus for the presentation. Three former teammates who are now playing at the collegiate level were unable to attend. Outfielder and pitcher Deven Kennedy will be playing at Florida International University in Miami in the spring. Bailey Singleton, MVP in the state tournament, will be pitching for the University of Montevallo this season, and Jordan Amerson, MEA catcher, will continue her softball career at University of North Carolina – Charlotte. Under the leadership of Coach Glynn Lott, this year’s team will remain a strong contender in the AISA AA division as they strive for five in 2016.
