We were built for this.

We were built for winning, achieving, and shattering scholarship records. We were built to teach, learn, and engineer innovative environments for students. If the 2024-2025 School Year taught us anything, it reminded us that ACS is meant to “Build Champions.”

As one of the state’s top-performing school systems (Top 10 “Best Districts in Alabama” – Niche), we never rest on our laurels. We found ways to soar to new heights this past school year, increasing learning opportunities, winning state athletic championships, and expanding the ways in which we serve students. Among other achievements, we also earned District-Wide STEM Accreditation.

This summer, we will open the Champions Craft Academy, our new state-of-the-art workforce development center. The CCA will offer ways for students to explore careers they may want to pursue instead of college, or in conjunction with college. I’m very excited to bring such opportunities closer to home for our students.

The last few weeks of the school year were packed with fine arts performances, athletic championship appearances, art shows, and more. There really is no down time for a system like ACS, we always stay in motion!

On May 20th, we sent 558 graduates across the stage and into the world. Seeing thousands of friends and family members fill an arena in support our graduates is a cherished tradition that never gets old. Work for the 2025-2026 School Year has been underway for months. Before you know it, the school doors will open once again to welcome our students.

I’m #WarriorProud of all that we accomplished in 24-25! We truly were built for this…we “Build Champions!”

- Dr. L. Wayne Vickers, Superintendent

Alabaster City Schools has once again been honored as a Best Community for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation. The NAMM Foundation bestows this accolade for a community's outstanding support and commitment to music education. Alabaster City Schools - and the larger Alabaster music community - earned a "Best Communities for Music Education" designation through the demonstration of strong investments in music education, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support, and more. See the full list of "Best Communities for Music Education" across the United States.

Each graduating class of Thompson High School enjoys much pomp and circumstance; the Class of 2025 is no different. As this school year drew to a close, the Class of 2025 (558 seniors) took part in several time-honored traditions. Seniors walked the halls of CVES, MVES, TIS, and TMS during the Parade of Graduates, cheered on by students and teachers. At Senior Honors Night, students were recognized for academic achievements and scholarships (a record $31m in offerings), receiving cords (1,370 total) and stoles earned during their time at Thompson. Celebrations continued with the Senior Breakfast, where families decorated tables and classmates shared one final meal together. All celebrations culminated on May 20, 2025, with the Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony featuring a keynote address by Dr. Charles Karr, president of the University of Alabama at Huntsville.

Be on the lookout next week for our special Summer Learning Resources newsletter, packed with activities to keep students engaged all break long. Resources include activities for grades K-12, like the “ACS Gets Caught Reading” social media challenge, Edmentum and AMSTI Math Programs, grade-specific resources, and more! These tools are designed to help prevent summer learning loss and keep students on track for the new school year. Alabaster City Schools is proud to support continued learning and growth all summer!

Hundreds of pieces of art donned the hallways of Thompson Intermediate School once again for the annual ACS Art Show. This district-wide event brings together art from across our school system - to a central location - for all to view. Watercolor, chalk, charcoal, acrylic, 3D, 2D - all art mediums were represented. Included in the display each year are the submissions to the State Superintendent's Visual Art Exhibit. See photos and videos from this year's ACS District Art Show.

Thompson High School is hosting youth camps featuring a wide variety of sports this summer! Kids can sharpen their skills and stay active with options including tennis, volleyball, basketball, and football. It’s a great opportunity for young athletes to learn from experienced coaches while making new friends. Don’t miss out on a summer full of sports and excitement! Check out the ACS Index Youth Summer Camps Edition for more information on dates, times, and registration information.

Do you receive too little communication, too much communication, or just the right amount? Do you prefer emails, text messages, or phone calls? What social media channels do you follow ACS on, if any? These questions and more comprise our annual ACS Communication Survey. The survey allows us to gauge your satisfaction levels with our communication efforts. Your feedback guides us in the engineering and refinement of many school-level and district-level communication efforts, ranging from website performance to social media practices this newsletter. Please provide your feedback via this year's ACS Communication Survey (versión en Español).

As the 2024-2025 school year concludes, our principals reflect with gratitude on a year full of growth, achievement, and partnership. From outstanding school events to academic success, each school celebrates the strong community spirit that defines Alabaster City Schools. Teachers, staff, PTOs, and families are recognized for their unwavering dedication and the essential roles they play in student success. Principals encourage families to support summer learning through reading, math practice, and local enrichment opportunities. Meadow View Elementary also shares a special announcement as their principal transitions to a new statewide literacy leadership role. Check out this post from our school leaders for important summer information from each school leader.

The Caring Foundation of BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama recently highlighted its support for Alabaster City Schools through a Facebook Reel showcasing students enjoying a new adaptive playground at Meadow View Elementary School. The playground was designed to be fully inclusive, allowing children of all abilities to play together safely and independently. Occupational therapist Merry Grace Harper led the initiative alongside colleagues Kapi Farrell and Chandler Kunka, driven by a vision for greater accessibility. The project was made possible by a \$10,000 Be Healthy School Grant from The Caring Foundation, with additional funding from Shelby County Parks and Recreation and the Alabaster City Schools Board of Education. Features like a turf surface, ramp access, and handrails make the playground a model for inclusive design in public schools.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2154767354974853/

Thompson High School’s JROTC cadets concluded the 2024-2025 school year with their traditional Dining Out ceremony, followed by an awards banquet honoring their accomplishments. The Dining Out ceremony featured toasts, honored guests, and a celebratory meal. During the banquet, 122 cadets were recognized with a total of 701 awards, including ribbons, medals, and trophies. As a group, the cadets completed an impressive 2,004 community service hours, averaging over 16 hours per cadet. The program looks ahead with pride and excitement for new goals and challenges in the coming year. See photos from the event in this Google Photos Album.

At the end of April, thirty-four AP Research juniors and seniors concluded a year-long investigation into personally chosen topics as part of the Capstone course. After designing, conducting, and writing about their studies, students presented and defended their findings before a panel of educators. Research topics included education access, crime rates, cultural issues, media representation, and more. Students and teachers alike praised the course for its rigor and impact, with students calling it a transformative academic experience. To see the full story visit the THS Website

The Thompson Middle School National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) inducted 60 new pledges at its annual "Tapping Ceremony" on May 7, 2025. Current 8th grade NJHS members tapped in new 7th grade members, signifying the honor of membership into the NJHS, an organization for students who exemplify scholarship, service, leadership, and citizenship. Officers for the 2024-2025 School Year included President Landon Burgess, Vice President Harper Scheller, Treasurer Alianna Qaqish, and Secretary Gigi Seaborn. Faculty sponsors: Michael Wilbanks and Kimberly Sawyer. See more about NJHS.

• Game On: A Look at Thompson Esports [Podcast]
• Thompson Archery Team at Nationals (Louisville, Kentucky)
• Academy of Craft Training 2025 Signing Day (May 9th)
• Elementary Field Days
• Ring Ceremony/National Dance Champions
• Spring 2025 Superintendent's Student Advisory Council
• TMS Spring Musical (May 15th)
• THS Choir Performance

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