As an eighth-grade student, Springville Middle School’s Whitney Beavers knew this was her last opportunity to compete in the St. Clair County Spelling Bee.

St. Clair County Board of Education and the Alabama Office of School Readiness will continue to operate three quality Pre-K classrooms for 2010-2011. Applications for the 2010-2011 Springville, Moody and Odenville Elementary School Pre-Kindergarten Programs will be available in all county elementary schools and at the St. Clair Board of Education beginning this month. Applications must be turned in by Monday, March 1, to the nearest St. Clair County elementary school or the St. Clair County Board of Education. Applicants must be four years of age by Sept. 2, 2010 and reside within the state of Alabama. Each Pre-K class will consist of 18 students, 9 boys and 9 girls by lottery method. The tuition for the class will be $25 per week plus cost of lunch. The Pre-K class will be selected at Springville Elementary School on Tuesday, March 8, at 6 p.m. in the school library. Odenville Elementary School Pre-K class will be selected on Thursday, March 11, at 6 p.m. in the school library. Moody Elementary School Pre-K class will be selected on Monday, March 15, at 6 p.m. in the school library. Parents/legal guardians must be present and must bring the child’s social security card, birth certificate, proof of residence and immunization form to the lottery because orientation will follow immediately after the lotteries at each site. If you have any questions please call Jan Darnell-Bailey at 205-594-7131 ext. 2215. St. Clair County Schools do not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, national origin, creed, age, marital status, in or disability in educational programs, activities, or employment policies as required by Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments and Section 504 of the Federal Requirements Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To learn more about the Pre-K grants go to http://children.alabama.gov/ (click on OSR tab)

Stedman Poe is a junior at St. Clair County High School in Odenville. He is the 16-year-old son of Greg and Angie Cobb of Odenville. Poe has attended SCCHS since his freshman year. Before that, he attended the Ragland Schools from kindergarten through eighth grade. Poe maintains a 3.8 GPA. His favorite subject is History while his favorite teacher is Holly Sutherland, who teaches 10th-grade Honors English. Poe is a member of the Saints varsity football team and has been the starting center the past two years on the offensive line. He also is a member of the track team. He is vice-president of the SGA, Class Historian and a member of the Beta Club. He plans on attending the University of Alabama or the University of South Alabama and wants to major in medicine. He wants to be a physician’s assistance. His advice to younger students is to set goals and then attempt to achieve those goals. “Don’t ever let anyone tell you you’re unable to do something,” Poe said. “Whatever you want to do in life, excel at it.”