Panther Pride - Celebrating Achievements in Arts, Athletics, and Academics
Posted on 02/25/2025
We were thrilled to share recent accomplishments and highlights from across Pelham City Schools at the Board of Education meeting on February 24!
Congratulations to our talented student artists recognized in the State Superintendent’s Visual Art Exhibit! Kansas Klein (PHS) won 1st place in the 9-10 Grade Division, and Luca Rice (POES) won 1st place in the K-2 Division. Molly Driver (POES) received an Honorable Mention. Their creativity and hard work made us proud!
Our Pelham Park Middle School Cheer Team had an outstanding season, earning a bid to Nationals in Orlando. They made it to the finals and finished in the Top 10, placing 9th out of 32 teams in the Non-Tumble Game Day competition.
In wrestling, Maddox McDaniel placed 3rd at the AHSAA 6A State Tournament—an impressive accomplishment, especially as an 8th grader!
At Pelham High School, Lucas Kalba placed 2nd in The American Legion’s Shelby County Oratorical Contest with his Constitutional speech. He moves on to the next round on March 1st.
Our AHSAA 6A Indoor Track athletes had strong performances at the state championships, earning multiple Top 10 finishes. Emily Wester placed 3rd in both the 800m and 1600m, while Janelle Ramos finished 7th and 8th in those events. Our 4x400 relay team finished 5th, and additional Top 10 finishes came from Emma Grace Howard, Sophia Ballesteros, Kennedy (shot put, All-State), and Anthony Sanders.
In the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, senior Alex Adams earned a Silver Key for her portfolio, A Child Within, which explores the transition from childhood to adulthood. She has won an award for her writing every year of high school!
At Pelham Oaks Elementary, Harrison Mitchell placed 3rd in the State Elks Lodge Hoop Shoot Contest after competing against students from across the state.
At Pelham Ridge Elementary, Nathan Brasher won the Shelby County Spelling Bee after successfully competing through multiple rounds of spelling and vocabulary. He will represent Pelham City Schools at the Alabama State Spelling Bee on March 22.
Our students have also been busy spreading kindness in the community. The YouMatter initiative at PHS continues its tradition of uplifting students and staff with personalized Valentine messages. Pelham Oaks students created valentines for community helpers and delivered them to the Police and Fire Departments, while our Pelham Oaks Ambassadors visited the Senior Center to share handmade cards and spend time with seniors.
We also took time to honor our dedicated School Resource Officers on SRO Appreciation Day. These officers play a vital role in our schools, serving as mentors, role models, and ensuring a safe learning environment. A special thank-you to Officers Volz, Sams, Billits, Campbell, and Magill for their service.
Finally, a huge thank-you to the Pelham City Schools Foundation and everyone who made the Pelham Mardi Party Casino Night a success! This event brought our community together in support of our schools, and the funds raised will go directly toward student-focused projects.