It is going to be a great year at HCS!

As the first full week of school comes to a close, all I can say is that I am so blessed to be a part of the Haleyville City School system! Every classroom I visit I see kids engaged in meaningful lessons and activities, students are happy and teachers are working to build strong meaningful relationships with their students, and the faculty and staff are working so hard to make this the best year ever for our district. We have established a tradition of excellence in the Haleyville City School system in many areas and are working hard to ensure that academic excellence is a top priority.

As a school district, we focus on 8 quality standards that will help us to be the best we can be in the classroom! We focus on Preparedness, Engagement, Standards Based Instruction, Differentiated Instruction, Content Knowledge, Classroom Management, Technology and Classroom Culture and Climate. This year we have also increased the academic rigor and expectations through the implementation of the A+ College Ready Curriculum at HMS and HHS as well as the continuation of Interim Assessments. We are also increasing our students exposure to engaging Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) lessons and activities at all levels and have added a STEAM Curriculum Coach, Mrs. Candy Garner, who will help support and guide us. We will continue to focus on preparing our students for careers at our Center of Technology as well as prepare those who are on the college track or both! Follow each school as well as the district page on Facebook to see the amazing things going on academically in HCS! 

We also strive to be the best we can be in extracurricular activities. Last night we hosted one of the largest Meet the Lions nights I can remember and all groups were impressive to say the least. Our Roaring Lions Band is marching close to 100 members this year and they look and sound amazing. Mr. Tolbert, Mr. Williams, Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Farris do an amazing job helping our musicians and auxiliary prepare for marching season is the extreme Alabama heat of the summer and we appreciate their hard work and dedication. I cannot wait to see the "Hero" show! Thank you Roaring Lion Band for always supporting the Lions in all that they do! You matter!

We also were entertained by our Haleyville Cheerleaders last night as they did a portion of their camp routines which won them several awards at Cheer Camp this summer. This group can be found at almost every event in some form or fashion and are so supportive of everything Haleyville. From painting paws to cheering to supporting civic organization, Haleyville Cheer is amazing! Thank you Wendy Rushing, Sydney Kiser, and Olivia Tank for your hard work. I think Coach Rushing puts in as much work as anyone around and we appreciate it! You are awesome Haleyville Cheer!

Cross Country kicked us off for the night with Coach Lisa Cook introducing her runners. Coach Cook and the cross country team are so dedicated and can be found running almost every single day of the year! I have often had to stop them because they just keep running- through storms and rain. They want to represent our school well and they are so diligent in their training. Thank you Coach Cook and Haleyville XC for all you do! Coach Amy Morgan is also joining the team this year and I know the kids are excited. Keep up the great work Running Lions! 

Haleyville Middle School was represented last night not only by band and cheer, but they had a great looking football team, basketball team and volleyball team. Coach Senn Williams and his staff are leading the Lions HMS Football program and they are excited to kick off the season against Hamilton. We are excited to see these guys in action and they have put in tons of time this summer as well preparing for the season. Coach Dusty Ball and Coach Kara West will lead the HMS Lions Basketball programs and these teams return some strong players this season. We know they will work hard and put a great product on the floor later this fall and winter. Coach Ward heads up the HMS Volleyball program and she does a great job preparing these young Lions for matches. They have had much success and we look forward for this to continue! Great job HMS Lions! The future is bright!

Coach Brent McCoy's Lions Volleyball will be serving up an outstanding season starting in early September and we are excited about watching these young Lions take the court. With only 1 senior, Allison Watkins, we will have the opportunity to watch some younger Lions step up and take leadership roles alongside Allison, which is always an exciting time. This group has attended team camp at Alabama and they are ready to get their season started! The HHS Volleyball program welcomes back Coach Abby Brown Huff to the court and we know she will be a great asset. Good Luck HHS Volleyball! You will do amazing things! 

Coach Dylan Burleson will begin his first season as the leader of the HHS Lions Boys Basketball program and we look forward to big things in the future of this program. Coach Burleson is dedicated to excellence in all he does and works to instill this work ethic into his basketball players. If you have never seen our boys play basketball, it is something you need to do. They get after it on every play and outwork their opponents in a way that is impressive. Coach Burleson and his staff outwork anyone around and I know they are going to be ready come late fall and winter. Good Luck HHS Boys Basketball! We look forward to a great season! 

Coach Senn Williams and his staff are looking forward to an awesome HHS Girls Basketball season. Coach Williams's teams have put together an impressive record over the past few years in the Inferno and we expect nothing less this year! They play with passion and he coaches with passion which equals a fun night in the gym is you are a Lions fan. We know that this year's team will work hard and do great things on the court. Good Luck Lady Lions! We believe in you and know you are going to have an amazing season! 

And last but certainly not least- Coach Todd McNutt and his staff have put together an impressive team this year with over 65 players who will suit up and take the field against Winfield next Friday night. This group works all summer to be the best they can be by fall and we are excited to see them finally put on the uniform and take the field. The Lions are young in many areas, but will be led by Scott McApline in the quarterback position and a strong returning junior and senior class. Coach McNutt has worked to instill not only x's and o's into these young men, but also works to make them better all around people. We are excited about the possibilities of the upcoming season and wish the Lions well as they Sink the Pirates next Friday night!

We are excited about the 2018-2019 school year and know it will be one filled with greatness both in and outside of the classroom! We want to thank the amazing community of Haleyville for all of the support you give to our school system and hope that everyone can come out and support the Lions and the Lady Lions over the next few weeks and months. As always- IT IS GREAT TO BE A HALEYVILLE LION! 

Serve, Lead, Inspire~

Holly

 

  

~ Photos from Meet the Lions posts on Face Book ~