Booker T. Washington Middle School and Hankins Middle School are among 32 schools statewide to be named 2024 CLAS Schools of Distinction. This award recognizes school programs that serve as outstanding educational models for other schools in Alabama. Both schools were recognized for their Leadership Officer Training Corps (LOTC) programs.
Mobile County Public Schools was the first school system in Alabama to offer LOTC, and now has programs in 15 middle schools. LOTC is a leadership course with a focus on character development. It not only introduces drill and other JROTC elements to students, but also VEX IQ robotics, drone technology, physical fitness, and other useful skills.
LOTC cadets also perform community service, such as joining an annual beautification project in conjunction with MCPSS JROTC at Oaklawn Cemetery and helping unload donated items from the MCPSS Stuff the Bus toy drive. (In the top photo, Washington Middle students are assisting with the toy drive; the photo at right shows Hankins LOTC cadets.)
Washington and Hankins Middle Schools will be honored at an awards luncheon in May, when they'll find out if they are among the eight schools to be named as a CLAS Banner School.
Reese Liggett, Director of Bands at Denton Magnet School of Technology, was awarded the Alabama Arts Education Initiative (AAEI) Grant. This $20,000 distribution will be used to purchase new equipment for the band program, including timpani drums, a baritone saxophone, and a tuba. The funds will also be used to repair several of the instruments in the program's inventory.
#TeamMCPSS has partnered with the Mobile Chamber to present Career Ready Mobile, an annual Career Fair for high school seniors, at USA Mitchell Center on April 9. Our students work extensively with our Career Coaches to prepare for this event. They are encouraged to research companies, practice interviews, polish their resumes and develop career plans before attending the Career Fair, which includes representatives from colleges and universities throughout the region.
Business and industry representatives are encouraged to participate. Click here for details and to register.
The Mobile County Emergency Management Agency recently provided pre-programmed, all-alert NOAA weather radios to MCPSS. The radios, which were distributed to each school, were funded through a grant from the Alabama Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils. Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe during adverse weather conditions!
The Office of Communication has just published the spring issue of Learning Leading magazine. Read all about the 2025 Countywide Teachers of the Year, other award-winning educators and National Board Certified Teachers. Other features include the MCPSS students who excelled at the Mobile County Spelling Bee and others who won a national championship in cheerleading. Click here to read on mcpss.com.
We're hiring! Anyone interested in joining #TeamMCPSS is invited to attend the fourth annual MCPSS Career Fair, set for April 30 at the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center. The fair will include booths for all 90 of our schools, along with booths to showcase our various departments.
As all MCPSS employees are officially our "District Ambassadors," everyone is highly encouraged to help us spread the word about the opportunities that will be available at the Career Fair. Last year, MCPSS hired more than 100 new employees at the career fair.
Here is the link to the website, where prospective employees are encouraged to preregister.
Donate your Mardi Gras necklaces to the bead program at Augusta Evans Special School. The students repackage the beads and sell them to mystic societies. Proceeds support programs at the school. The drop-off dates are this weekend, March 22 and 23, at the school, 6301 Biloxi Avenue, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days. Those who donate 12 pounds of beads (about the size of a grocery bag) will receive a voucher for one dozen regular glazed doughnuts at Krispy Kreme. Our thanks to this fantastic community partner for supporting this program.
The Royal Closet: Open for field trips
The MCPSS Social Services Department presents The Royal Closet, an opportunity for Mobile County high school students to select prom attire and accessories at no charge. The location is Christians United Church, 2576 Pleasant Valley Road. The Closet is open March 20-21, 3 to 6:30 p.m., and March 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Field trips are available during school hours. To schedule, call Social Services at 251-221-4275 or your school’s assigned Social Worker.
Critters in the Clover at the Environmental Studies Center
The Environmental Studies Center will present the annual Spring Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 29. Guests are invited to tour the grounds, enjoy exciting activities, and learn about native animals and plants. The Raptor Road Show, featuring birds of prey that have been rehabilitated at the center, will be held at noon. Admission is $3 per person (no charge for children ages 2 and younger).
Parking and shuttle rides are available at Burns Middle School. All proceeds go to the care of the animals housed at the ESC. For details, click here.
Wifi on the Go: Affordable plans for students
Mobile County Public Schools is proud to support our students and staff with affordable home internet options through our Wifi on the Go plans, which are designed to make high-speed internet accessible and affordable for everyone. Wifi on the Go provides unlimited data without any contracts, setup fees, or annual commitments required. Subscribers receive a lightweight, portable hotspot that connects to the T-Mobile network for seamless internet access at home or "on-the go." Available plans are an Unlimited 4G LTE Data Plan for students at $27.99 a month, and an Unlimited 5G Data Plan for staff and students at $49.99 a month. To learn more, and to sign up, click here.
News you can use on mcpssTV
Check out the MCPSS 24-hour news channel, mcpssTV, for educational programming about our fantastic students. teachers and administrators, including "Homeroom," featuring school spotlights with teachers and students, and our podcast, "Learning Leading Now." Watch via Facebook Live, YouTube, Comcast (channel 15), Mediacom (channel 81), AT&T U-verse (On Demand channel 99), and Roku.
Mobile County Public Schools
Email: communications@mcpss.com
Website: mcpss.com
Location: 1 Magnum Pass, Mobile, AL 36618
Phone: 251-221-4000
Facebook: facebook.com/MobileCountyPublicSchools
X: @MobilePublicSch
Instagram: instagram.com/mobilecountypublicschools