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Atmore-area schools are starting their spring semesters today, and principals said their goals are for students to have a good, productive semester.

Rachel Patterson Elementary School Principal Toya McMillian said the second semester of school has always been her favorite time of the year.

“Everyone pretty much knows the routines of school, and the Christmas break provides us with the renewing of our minds, the restoring of strength in our bodies and definitely a refreshing new start to the blank 365-page chapter in our lives,” McMillian said in an email. “We finished 2022 strong, so we are looking forward to finishing the school year even stronger.”

McMillian said the school will be diving deeper into its reading and math data.

“Those numbers will drive our instructional decisions, so that we can make even more growth and gains on our end of year assessments,” she said. “With spring coming very quickly, we know we have to spring into action right now with everything we do. We were and still are totally heartbroken that we missed receiving a ‘B’ on the state report card by only 2 points because of student attendance.

“Therefore, we are hitting the ground running with attendance and attendance incentives,” she said. “We want our students at school. We need our students in school, and we will be rewarding students for coming to school. Rachel Patterson is a great school, and we want our numbers to align with our reputation and reflect that as well.”

McMillian said it’s going to take a team effort.

“It’s going to take everyone – our admins, students, teachers and parents – working together and giving it 200 percent with our students each day,” she said. “This new year is our year. We’ve succeeded through some really tough times the last two years, but are trusting and believing that greater things are in store for us in 2023.”

Escambia Academy Headmaster Susie Kirk said some exciting things are going to happen during the spring semester.

Those things include:

• the BETA Club heading up a community service project by collecting items for the children’s hospital in Birmingham, and going to visit the American Village in Montevallo;

•  5-year accreditation visit from Cognia and AISA in February;

• ACT Bootcamps for sophomores, juniors and seniors;

• SAT testing for all grades in the spring;

• Winter ball in February;

• Prom in March;

• Baseball, softball and track and field seasons coming up;

• New boys’ and girls’ soccer teams and golf teams;

• Professional development for all teachers;

• Continued basketball season;

• 30 Guns in 30 Days fundraiser;

• Deep sea fishing trip fundraiser for girls’ sports;

• Fishing team tournaments;

• Scholar’s Bowl tournaments;

• ASVAB testing for seniors;

• Scholarship applications and Fafsa night;

• 2nd senior luncheon;

• Law Day;

• Senior Class Night;

• Baccalaureate service;

• Graduation;

• Sports banquet;

• Hosting AISA Junior High State Track Tournament;

• Awards’ Day;

• BETA Club and Jr. BETA Club induction ceremonies;

• Cheer tryouts;

• Teacher Appreciation Week;

• College tours for juniors and seniors; and,

• On-campus dual enrollment classes.