Greene County High School launches third annual 9th Grade Academy Tie Tying Program

Greene County High School held its annual 9th Grade Academy Tie Tying Program as an initiation of students’ first year in high school. This marked the third annual Tie Tying Ceremony for students entering the 9th Grade. This event highlights the student’s Rites of Passage from Middle School to High School. The Academy is designed to give special attention to students as they transition and prepare for college and career. The designated attire of navy blue blazers, white shirts and long ties identify the 9th Grade students as they pursue their academic mission. The ceremony was co-sponsored by the Greene County Children’s Policy Council, under the leadership of District judge Lillie Jones Osborne. Alabama State Representative Artis McCampbell addressed the students on choosing and preparing for life goals and career paths.Rep. McCampbell called up students DeKaija Davis and Jamiyah White to share with their classmates their dreams and goals. He assisted students in learning to tie their ties, and as a special treat to the class, he presented a check of $1,000 to be used for the enhancement of the 9th Grade Academy Program. Others assisting students with their tie tying included the following: Superintendent Dr. James Carter, GCHS Principal Willie Simmons, GCHS Assistant Principal, Andrea Perry, School Board President Leo Branch, school employee Marcus Steele, and Juvenile Officer Deshayla Steele.

School system and Children’s Policy Council hold Tie Tying Ceremony for 9th Grade Academy

The Greene County School System held its second annual Tie Tying Ceremony for the students entering the 9th Grade Academy. This event commenced last year with the formation of the Academy to high light the students’ Rites of Passage from Middle School to High School. The Academy is designed to give special attention to students as they transition and prepare for college and career. The designated attire of navy blue jackets, white shirts and ties identifies the 9th grade students as they pursue their academic mission. The ceremony was co-sponsored by the Greene County Children’s Policy Council, where District Judge Lillie Jones Osborne is President. The CPC also donated the ties for the students. School officials and community leaders volunteered to teach and assist the students in the tie tying process.

Greene County School System launches Ninth Grade Academy with Tie Tying Ceremony

Group tiesShown above during the “Tie Tying Ceremony” are Charla Jordan, Federal Programs Coordinator; Leo Branch, School Board President; Rev. Christopher Spencer, Director of Community Development, University of Alabama; Toice Goodson, Jr, Ninth Grade Academy Principal; Leona Morrow, Board Member Children’s Policy Council; Dr. James Carter, School Superintendent; DeShayla Steele, Juvenile Officer; Nigel Speights, Demarius Cockrell, Lataursa Jones and Ivan Peebles, Freshman Academy students and participants in the CPC Mentoring Program; Judge Lillie Osborne, President of CPC; and Dr. Shayla McCray, Student AT-Risk Coordinator. The Ninth Academy enrolled 109 students who participated in the Tie Tying Ceremony.

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At the opening of the school year, August 8, 2016, Greene County School System launched its first-time Freshman Academy or Ninth Grade Academy, which serves as a transitional program for students moving from the middles school program.
On the first day of school, a special Tie Tying Ceremony was held for the Freshman Academy students. The ties were donated through the Greene County Children’s Policy Council Boys Passage to Manhood Mentoring Program. District Judge Lillie Jones Osborne serves as President. Community volunteers and school personnel were on hand to guide the Academy students in tying their ties.
The Academy students will be guided through an academic program focusing on career and college readiness. Students will receive individual counseling and guidance as they adjust to goal oriented scholastic achievement.
Superintendent James Carter explained that it is important that the 9th grade students just coming to high school are given special attention as they transition. “We determined that a special dress code for this class would be significant so the students would feel this special embrace and know that we intend to carry this throughout their high school tenure. We want students to enjoy school and be serious in working to achieve,” he explained.
The dress code for the Freshman Academy students include blue blazers, white shirts and maroon and gold ties. The blazers are not required until after Labor Day.