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"This person is a 5th grade student at Rock Quarry Elementary School and they're a remarkable you person who is a fantastic candidate for the Inspiring Excellence Award," reads Townsquare Media representative. "They embody our core values of being respectful, outstanding, compassionate, and kind each day. They treat everyone with respect, excels academically and personally, spreads positivity through consistent acts of kindness." The statement written by this student's teachers continues, "You will never see this person without a smile or a funny or kind word. Their dedication to these values make them a true role model and a recipient of this honor." 

The Townsquare Media representative then asks the students to "make some noise for Townsquare Media's Inspiring Excellence Award winner Nolan John!"

Nolan walks with a smile to receive the award and when asked how it made him feel he said, "I feel really good, I feel great actually to win this award. To put in all my effort and to see that teachers believe that I am respectful, outstanding compassionate, and kind. There's lots of good people at this school who put in all their effort and are really kind and compassionate and respectful." When asked how his classmates reacted, Nolan shared, "All my friends are really happy for me that I've won this great award." Nolan says his favorite subject is science and he enjoys hanging out with his friends, playing basketball, drawing, and playing video games. He is also on the robotics team and will compete in Worlds in Texas in May. When he grows up he wants to be a sports player or a businessman.

Students at Rock Quarry Elementary School were looking to Put A Cap on Diabetes as honor society members collected $1 from each student who came to school wearing a cap or hat. The school has a goal of raising $1,000 for Breakthrough T1D, formally known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Former student Cameron Crouse started this fundraiser 15 years ago and this year he will be the guest of honor at the One Night in the Magic City Gala. The group raised more than $1700. 

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The Tuscaloosa City Board of Education recognized three TCS schools Tuesday for being named in the Top 25 Legislative School Performance program by the state of Alabama.

Rock Quarry Elementary was named as a "top 25" school in Alabama. Southview and Woodland Forrest elementaries were also recognized in the "top 25 most improved" category. The initiative, established by state law, rewards schools for excellence or significant improvement in annual rankings.

The top 25 performing schools were selected based on academic success based on the state’s grading system for schools and school districts. The top 25 most improved schools were highlighted for their significant grade improvement.

Several schools in the Tuscaloosa City Schools saw significant progress on the state report card in 2024, but Southview and Woodland Forrest saw some of the biggest jumps in the state, both moving from "D" to "B." Southview Elementary moved from a 62 on the state report card in 2023 to an 81 in 2024. Woodland Forrest moved from a 68 in 2023 to an 83 in 2024.

Rock Quarry received a 99 in 2024.

"We are incredibly proud that three of our schools were recognized as part of this program," said Tuscaloosa Superintendent Mike Daria. "There is excellence occurring in all of our schools, but Rock Quarry, Southview and Woodland Forrest are all examples of high expectations for every student and how we are moving the needle of progress forward."

"One thing we have really tried to do at Rock Quarry is to be intentional about everything we do," said Laura Jockisch, principal of Rock Quarry Elementary. "We intentionally know all of our students, we intentionally work with all of our children, knowing our students' needs socially, emotionally and academically, and knowing the whole child."

One thing that has contributed to the successful culture at Rock Quarry is the PLC process, which has impacted the cohesive spirit at Rock Quarry, she added.

At Southview Elementary, it was clear a couple of years ago when testing data was low that something had to be done, Daria said Tuesday. But Southview Principal Ronika Amerson and her team committed themselves to reversing those low-test scores and doing everything they could to make real improvement at that school. And it worked-- Southview experienced some of the highest growth in scores out of any school in the state, moving from a D to a B in just one year on the state report card.

"We didn't make any excuses, and from that day forward we kept a close eye on every child in the school," Amerson told the board. "We met, let the students know where they were, where they had to go, and met with them every four weeks to ensure they succeeded."

Woodland Forrest Elementary was also recognized as a top 25 most improved school in the state. Teresa Bivens, principal of the school, told the board that it was an entire school effort, to ensure that real progress happened.

"We were not able to be where we are without our teachers, but it's also the (child nutrition program workers), the custodial staff, it's everyone that makes up the school. There is no one position in that school that is more important than another. We were making sure we were intentional and consistent, and looking at the data every four weeks."

The top 25 schools in each category are honored and provided a monetary award, totaling $250,000. Schools with the most improvement will receive larger sums.

"This is another sign that what we are doing is working and is a result of all of the hard work and effort being done by our teachers, students, administrators and families," Daria said.

The schools were recognized during a state board meeting in Montgomery last week.

In TCS, we are growing critical thinkers, leaders and problem-solvers through a focus on math. Tuesday night, our board recognized students from across the district who placed in the recent Perennial Math Competition. The competition was held Dec. 7, 2024.

Students, ranging from 3rd to 8th grade, won a total of 41 awards. The Rock Quarry Elementary students who won in the competition include: Hannah Nguyen, third grade, who won three awards; fourth grader Destin Dao, who won three awards; and fifth grader Victor Li,who won three awards. Congrats students!