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COUNTY CHAMPS…The 2009 Oxford High School Baseball Team got off on the right foot by winning the Calhoun

County Baseball Championship for the second year in a row. Trey Pilkington pitched a complete game shutout in the

finals of the tournament beating Alexandria 8 – 0. Brandon Roberts and Trey Pilkington were selected to the All

Tournament Team while Judd Edwards took the Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Tournament, and Kyle O’Dell

was selected as Most Valuable Player of the Tournament.

AREA CHAMPS…The Jackets also won its first Area Championship as a 6A Baseball Team. The players posted a

perfect 9 – 0 record in area play. Trey Pilkington threw shut out wins against all three area opponents beating Pell City

13 – 0, Hewitt Trussville 12 – 0 and Gadsden City 9 – 0. The Jackets added some offensive power as well in area play.

Seven of Matthew Goodson’s 11 Homeruns came against area opponents.

NORTH ALABAMA CHAMPS & 6A RUNNER-UP… In late April the Jackets hosted Clay Chalkville in the

first round of the AHSAA State Playoffs. The series would go to a Game 3, as Judd Edwards and Jackson Stephens

pitched the Jackets to victory in the decisive game. The following week Oxford hosted Hewitt Trussville in the 2nd

round. Kyle Odell hit two homeruns in the first inning of game 1 as the Jackets won 18-8. Taylor Sparks picked a

perfect night to pitch his best game of his career shutting out the Huskies in game 2.The Jackets had to go on the road

and play Grissom in the Quarter Finals. A grand slam by Tucker Simpson and a late homer from Ricky Guzman proved

to be the all that the team needed to take game 1. Jackson Stephens threw 5 innings of shutout ball in game 2 to send

Oxford to the Semi Finals versus Vestavia Hills.

Trey Pilkington’s arm and Ricky Guzman’s bat were all the Jackets needed to take game 1 of the series.

Vestavia forced a game 3 and many thought this would be the Yellow Jackets last game when we found ourselves

trailing Vestavia 3-1 in the 6th inning. Matthew Goodson didn’t think so. His three run homer took the crowd out of

their seats at Oxford’s Bud McCarty Field and the fans stayed there until John Juricich struck out all three of Vestavia’s

hitters in the 7th inning. Judd Edwards said after the game, “This is one of the greatest days in Oxford baseball history.”

Indeed it was, as a few thousand fans stormed the field in celebration of their Jackets’ trip to the Finals in Montgomery.

Even though Trey Pilkington’s pitching and Brandon Roberts’s hitting continued to be dominant, the Jackets

came up short against Auburn in the Finals. The 2009 Jackets finished the year with a #2 State Ranking. Coach

Brooks had this to say to the players, “Reaching such a milestone is a culmination of many things including outstanding

players, coaches, administration, and community support. What you have accomplished is lifelong memories. As your

coach I would like to say thank you for being such positive role models and again, congratulations on this special

milestone in your life’s work that has only just begun.”

ROAD TO THE FINALS ...BASEBALL TEAM #2 IN STATE

S U M M E R , 2 0 0 9 V O L U M E 1 I S S U E I I I

THE NEW LOOK

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POSTER COMPETITION WINNER

Hope! Relay for Life Relay For Life, the American Cancer Society’s signature event, raises money to help fund cancer research, education, advocacy, and patient services. As one of Calhoun County’s 120 Relay For Life teams, Oxford City Schools’ students and faculty made a pledge to fight back against cancer and did so in a BIG way! Oxford City Schools was recognized as the TOP Relay Team in the county, raising $ 24,767.70. The OCS

team also received an award for the best decorated campsite at this year’s event. Students and teachers planned and implemented several fundraisers throughout the year. Each school had a dedicated Relay Team Captain who led the school’s fund-raising efforts. Relay For Life offers every person a tangible way to fight back against a disease that has taken so much from so many people. Every dollar raised for the Relay For Life aids in the HOPE of a cancer-free tomorrow. Thanks to all who gave and participated...we have HOPE!

.

Joshua Ragsdale,

a Coldwater

Elementary School

third grader, was

selected as a grade

level winner in the

statewide 2009

Regions Charity

Classic Junior

Poster Contest. Joshua’s entry was

chosen from thousands throughout the

state! He was one of only 24 Alabama

grade-level winners selected from four

regional areas. Joshua received a

prize consisting of a $100 savings

bond and a technology prize package.

Congratulations, Joshua!

OMS HONOR SOCIETY Over new 80 members were recently inducted into the Oxford Middle School chapter of the Junior National Honor Society. The students are all seventh graders and were selected based on their academic grade point average in their five core courses. In order to be a member a student had to have a 90 grade point average in these core courses. The new members were pinned with ribbons in blue and gold club colors in a pinning event held two weeks prior to a late afternoon candle lit ceremony marking their formal acceptance into the organization. Current eight grade club members and officers oversaw both the pinning event and the induction ceremony under the direction of club sponsor Chris Pope. The new club members joined with the old to complete a service project within days of their induction. Members donated candy and their time to help build over 30 Easter baskets for donation to the local Salvation Army’s Battered Women and Children Shelter. The club plans to grow its service mission in the 2009-2010 school year.

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LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. MALLY MOODY RECOGNIZED

IN RECOGNITION OF THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. MARIAN ALICE “MALLY” MOODY

_____

HON. MIKE ROGERS OF ALABAMA

IN THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES

May 12, 2009 MR. ROGERS. Madam Speaker, I respectfully ask the attention of the House today to pay recognition to the life

and legacy of Dr. Mally Moody, her steadfast service in education, and her willingness to give back to her

community in Oxford, Alabama.

Dr. Moody was born in Massachusetts on February 13th, 1942, and came to Alabama over 30 years ago. As

most folks that knew her can attest, she dedicated her life to education –working with students, teachers and

school administrators alike. She taught math at Oxford High School and after retiring served on the Oxford

School Board. She was in line to be the next president of the board.

Those she taught and all her knew her lovingly referred to her as “Doc” Moody.

Dr. Moody passed away on April 3rd, 2009, at the age of 67. On April 11th, 2009, a celebration of her life was

held at Grace Episcopal Church in Anniston, Alabama.

I am honored to help recognize this inspirational

educator who spent her lifetime learning and always teaching.

It is my hope her memory will serve as an example of what all

educators can aspire to be.

Declaration of Dr. Moody’s service presented to husband, Jerry Moody, and son, Jimmy Long, by U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers

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CHARACTERS WITH CHARACTER

Donna Riddle, a fourth grade teacher at Coldwater

Elementary School, received the 2008 4-H Teacher of

the Year Award in recognition of her continuing

support of the Calhoun County 4-H program. Mrs.

Riddle has been the 4-H coordinator at Coldwater

Elementary since 2001. Every year her 4-H Club has

been in the top five clubs in Calhoun County,

earning a total of ten trophies for her club’s

participation. Mrs. Riddles believes in 4-H for the

personal growth of each member. “By using 4-H

projects as important means for achievement and

growth, members build skills they can use for the rest

of their lives.” Mrs. Riddle was recently inducted into

“The Alabama 4-H Wall of Fame”.

Wall of Fame

Roaming the halls of DeArmanville Elementary

Schools are “Characters with Character”. As a part of

the school’s guidance program, students are taking an

active role in Character Education. They have embraced

program called “Characters with Character”.

Characters are Mother Nature, who promotes

recycling, not littering, and “going green” ; Detective Do

-Right, who shares information on “doing good deeds”

through using manners, being polite, and helping others;

and Queen of Character, who discusses the different

character education words throughout the school year.

The student characters are caught on film, role-playing

and discussing relevant character education topics. Then

the videos are shown on the morning announcements.

Let’s join the

students at DeArmanville

Elementary School and

remember to take care of

our earth, do what is

right, and teach others to

do the same!

STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

It is the policy of the Oxford City Board of Education that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, disability, sex, religion,

creed, national origin or age, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under

any program, activity, or employment.

A Day Full of Teachable Moments...“Ponds for Kids”

Beyond the four walls of the classroom lies an incredible, learning

laboratory full of exciting, hands-on, real-world experiences.

Therefore, the Oxford City Schools Education Foundation

allocated $5,000 to each elementary school for the “Ponds for

Kids” project. OES and Hanna’s schoolyards have already been

transformed into a dynamic outdoor learning laboratory for all

1,259 students in grades K-6.

A self-sustaining pond ecosystem was constructed in just one day

at each site by students, teachers, and over 300 parents and

community volunteers. Teamwork, responsibility, and

stewardship were displayed as everyone rolled up their sleeves

and worked together: moving dirt, transporting gravel,

compacting soil, carrying a fire hose, lifting the liner, filling the

pond, and planting aquatic plants. At the end of the day, the

interactive habitat was complete. One 1st grade student stated,

“Come look at our pond. We built it! We gotta take care of it.”

Thanks to all who participated and supported this project!

Mrs. Riddle is congratulated by Coldwater principal, Mr. Gover.