August 7, 2023
Dear ASMS Community,
Welcome back! We are happy to have our students on campus again and looking forward to a great school year.
Over the summer, I have taken various groups over to the Wilson Science Research Center to view the construction and the building progress. The first time I took a group over there, the lot was only dirt. The next time, there was a foundation and support beams. The most recent time we were able to step inside the structures of future classrooms. We are watching the building progress day by day, and within in a year's time it will stand ready to receive our school community.
As I reflect on the start of the school year, I am truly excited for the WSRC to be ready, but I also appreciate the metaphorical significance of watching the construction progress. We do the same with our students; day by day at ASMS we watch them grow and develop. Through their ASMS experiences, they become scholars, scientists, creative thinkers, researchers, leaders, and independent community members. They learn more about who they are, discover what they enjoy, and find meaningful paths to pursue with their lives.
The student progress in just 2-3 years' time at ASMS is what makes our school so special. Sometimes it feels like we blink, and our new students become our graduates. I am sure we will blink, and the WSRC will be ready to go too!
May the building's progress be a reminder to us all of what's possible at ASMS in a year's time, and may we make the most of the 2023 - 2024 school year together.
Sincerely,
John Hoyle, Ph.D., NBCT
President, Alabama School of Math and Science
August 8, 2022
Dear ASMS Community,
I am excited to welcome you back to school and begin the 2022 - 2023 school year at the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science!
My hope for this school year resounds in one word – gratitude.
I want to share a brief story with you. Many people did not know that a small group of seniors could not attend graduation this past May due to testing positive for COVID-19. It was heartbreaking for them and their families. Therefore, the school decided to find a way for these students to still have their moment and memory of graduating from ASMS. A group of employees came together to host a second graduation ceremony for these students and their families on our campus. If you looked around the room during the ceremony, the parents, students, and faculty/staff all had tears in their eyes at different points. It was not the graduation anyone expected for these students, and yet it became unforgettable for all involved.
I share this with you because the overwhelming emotion in that room was gratitude – gratitude for ASMS, gratitude for the people of ASMS, gratitude for the students committing to work hard at such a rigorous school, gratitude for the education they received, gratitude for their bright futures, and gratitude for finally being able to celebrate it all together.
It was a weighty reminder that even as our world faces many challenges, we will always have something to be grateful for in ASMS. As we journey through this school year, let us commit to keeping gratitude at the forefront.
I am grateful for ASMS, I am thankful for each of you, and I am grateful for the year ahead together.
Sincerely,
John Hoyle, Ph.D., NBCT
President, Alabama School of Math and Science
August 9, 2021
Dear ASMS Community Members,
Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year at ASMS! The start of the year always brings much anticipation and excitement, and this year, the reopening of our campus is especially meaningful. Today, ASMS feels like ASMS again as we finally have our school community back together on campus.
At the same time, we know this school year will bring challenges, especially those related to COVID-19. We will prioritize safety in all things and do all we can to keep our campus open. I cannot commend our faculty and staff enough for what they have done to prepare to make this school year the best one yet in the school's history.
My hope for the school year is this -- that we as ASMS community members will be kind in all things. May kindness be a guidepost for us as we go through the year together. The world is divided and facing immense challenges, but in our community, we have the opportunity to be something set apart. In our conversations, problem-solving, frustrations, or communication, let us extend kindness to one another far above our circumstances. As we do so, we are sure to have a great year.
I look forward to all that our students will accomplish as we educate the next generation of leaders, scholars, and innovators. Go Dragons!
Sincerely,
President Hoyle
May 26, 2021
Dear ASMS community members,
As the school year draws to a close, I want to take a moment to commend the ASMS community and express my gratitude for each one of you. It has been a unique school year with obstacles that both challenged us and brought us closer together.
Students - We are proud of all you have accomplished. From your first day at ASMS, to your last day this school year, you were resilient, creative, and disciplined in making the most of each day. You made memories, met life-long friends, and above all else, you remained committed to academic excellence. Congratulations!
Parents / Guardians - Thank you for entrusting your student to ASMS. We appreciate the patience, flexibility, and support you extended this year. You played an integral role in your student’s success at our institution, and we are truly grateful.
Faculty and Staff Members - Your commitment to the mission of ASMS and your dedication to our students is what allowed us to continue to thrive in an unprecedented year. You kept our institution moving forward, and I am confident we have the finest educational leaders in the state of Alabama.
Wherever you are as this school year draws to a close, we celebrate you. Thank you for a very different but impactful 2020 - 2021 school year. May you have a fun, restful summer!
Sincerely,
President Hoyle
March 19, 2021
Dear ASMS community members and stakeholders,
ASMS is celebrating two excellent community achievements! I am pleased to announce that ASMS is officially accredited for the next five years, and we are now one of the only STEM-certified high schools in Alabama! These designations signify that our students are receiving a premier education.
ASMS has been preparing for Cognia Accreditation and STEM Certification since the fall of 2020. This past week, two Cognia review teams completed official evaluations of the school. ASMS had to demonstrate our performance in 30 Accreditation Standards and 16 STEM Certification Standards within separate Cognia frameworks. The evaluation teams reviewed more than 300 pages of longitudinal data, survey results, projects, programs, plans, anecdotes, photos, and videos, in addition to interviewing 56 ASMS school community members.
Due to the rigorous evaluation processes, rarely does a school complete both of these processes simultaneously, but I am pleased to share that ASMS completed both in the same week! Because of the dedication of our community members, we were able to make this happen, even amidst a global pandemic. When we receive the final reports from Cognia in the coming weeks, I will share their feedback with you.
I am grateful to all who contributed to this process. In our final meeting with the Cognia review team, one of the evaluators said, “ASMS is a true community.” Another said, “If I were at ASMS, I would be excited about what the future can bring to the school!”
I agree with both of these sentiments. We are a true community with a bright future, and it is because of the people we have at ASMS, including you! Collectively, our community members are our school’s greatest asset. I look forward to how these distinctions will keep us accountable to the highest level of excellence as we continue to enhance our courses, programs, and experiences for students.
Thank you,
John Hoyle, Ph.D.
President
March 1, 2021
Dear Students,
Welcome back! I wish you a calm, rewarding, and productive Spring Term. This community has demonstrated resilience and resolve during an unusual and challenging year. I am proud of how our students have remained focused and worked hard under difficult circumstances. I know this is true because of your immense success and remarkable accomplishments throughout Winter Term. Here are a few examples:
- 76 students earned straight A’s during Winter Term.
- 94% of students passed all their classes.
- 10% of the senior class has been named National Merit Finalists.
- Seven students received regional and national computer science awards from NCWIT.
- Eight students (out of 20 total in Alabama) have been awarded medals and special recognition on the National German Exam Honor Roll for outstanding performance on the 2021 National German Exam for High School Students.
At the same time, we understand that with the difficulties of the school year, some of you may feel a bit weary going into this last term. Please talk with a faculty or staff member about your concerns or any hardships you are facing, so we can provide you with resources and encouragement.
Students, please continue wearing masks. We will do everything we can to keep the campus open, but vigilant mask-wearing will make the most significant difference. If you see someone without a mask, please kindly address them.
To build community, we will offer several activities this term, and I hope you can carve out a few minutes to participate as we make the final memories of the school year together. More information will follow, but here’s a rough schedule:
March 3 – Free Throw Challenge in the gym, 4 p.m.
March 5 – Polar Bear Plunge at the pool, 4 p.m.
March 10 – Pickleball in the gym, 4 p.m.
March 11 – Death Row Chicken Challenge in the cafe, 4 p.m.
March 17 – CanJam on West Campus, 4 p.m.
March 19 – Chubby Bunny in the Courtyard, 4 p.m.
March 25 – Wiffle Ball on West Campus, 4 p.m.
Please reach out if I can assist you with anything. Let’s finish strong and have a great Spring Term!
Sincerely,
John Hoyle, Ph.D.
President