Category: Athens

Athens Middle School plans creative uses for grant funds

Students in Andi Patterson’s sixth-grade math class at Athens Middle School have three different kinds of seating to choose from, including these balance balls. Thanks to a grant, classrooms across the campus will have a variety of seating options for students upon their return from Christmas break. (Toni Garrard Clay/AISD)

By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Coordinator

Students at Athens Middle School will be sitting pretty when they return from Christmas break this year. They could also be sitting on a balance ball or a sofa or a wobble seat or bungee chair. And if they’re tired of sitting, some of them may choose standing desks.

Flexible seating is being purchased thanks to a $232,000 grant awarded to the middle school by the Texas Education Agency. Half of that goes to a consulting firm matched to the campus by the grant requirements. The firm specializes in social-emotional learning and will have a presence on campus. The remaining $116,000 will be spent primarily — though not entirely — on non-traditional classroom seating.

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Podcast: Athens Police Department struggling to find, keep officers

Friday, Police Chief Buddy Hill told City Council members that the department currently has seven positions open and it could lose three more officers before the end of the year. If that happened the department would be short nearly a third of its budgeted officers. I sat in on the meeting and spoke with Chief Hill about the problem, its causes and what it all means.

IN A NUTSHELL: The Athens Police Department is struggling to recruit and retain officers in what has become a very competitive market. The City Council is expected to vote next week on a plan to raise the department’s pay scale in order to help in this matter.

Athens falls to Van, 49-13

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqOQjPNF8Tc/

MESQUITE — The Athens Hornets couldn’t overcome mistakes and lost to Van, 49-13, in bi-district playoff action Thursday night.

The Hornets were led by Nathan Sims with 126 yards rushing and a touchdown, according to my unofficial stats.

For the other Athens score, quarterback Chase Friedrich hit Rowdy Godwin with a 7-yard pass over triple coverage in the back corner of the end zone.

Althought the Hornets were able to move the ball against Van, four turnovers and inopportune penalties hurt Athens’ chances.

The Hornets end their season at 5-5 while the Vandals improve to 9-2.

AISD Teachers of the Month

Athens ISD’s November Teachers of the Month were honored at Wednesday’s Athens Chamber of Commerce luncheon. They are (from left) Kimberly Hanson, Bel Air Elementary fine arts teacher for pre-K through fifth grade; Norma Thompson, Central Athens Elementary fourth-grade English language arts teacher; Robin Edlin, South Athens Elementary self-contained third-grade classroom teacher; Debbie Palmer, Athens Middle School seventh-grade science teacher; Lisa Rosenberg, Athens High School Spanish teacher; and Amy Fonseca, AHS Career and Technical Education teacher for culinary arts. Not pictured is Operations Center employee of the month Herman Petker, who drives a bus for the district. Congratulations to all! (Toni Garrard Clay/AISD)

AHS sends 12 to Region 21 choirs

Members of the TMEA Region 21 Honor Choir from Athens High School are (top row, from left) Zoria Brookins, Dakota Emanis, Ana Jimenez, Savannah Perry, Kaitlin Prewitt, Chloe Sherman and Tristan Woods. Members of the TMEA Region 21 Small-School Mixed Choir are (front row, from left) Genaro Cerrillo, Sydney Harrod, Edgar Pinedo, Hunter Rasco and J. Brenden Wallace. (Toni Garrard Clay/AISD)

Press release

Twelve Athens High School choir members earned coveted places in the Texas Music Educators Association Region 21 Small-School mixed and honor choirs.

On Nov. 8, the Small-School Mixed Choir members competed in pre-area contest, where J. Brenden Wallace earned sixth-chair bass, advancing him to the area contest. Area, the final round of competition for the All-State Choir, will be held in early January.

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