GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

  2001 AISA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS TICKET REQUEST ORDER FORM

NOVEMBER

SARAH McGLOON OF SPARTA ACADEMY
NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALIST

Sparta Academy Headmaster Wayne Hammonds announced recently that the National Merit Scholarship Corporation has released a list of the nation's seniors, who based on the PSAT National Merit Qualifying Test, have been declared National Merit Semifinalists.  Sarah McGloon, Sparta Academy student, is ranked among the winners.

More than 1.2 million students in over 20,000 U.S. high schools participated in the 2002 Merit Program by taking the PSAT as high school juniors.  Semifinalists are the highest scoring entrants in each state and represent less than one percent of the respective state's seniors.

To become Finalists, Semifinalists must submit SAT scores consistent with their PSAT performance, have an outstanding high school academic record, be endorsed and recommended by their school principal and submit a self-descriptive essay and description.  Approximately 90% of the seniors designated Semifinalists will be named Finalists in February 2002.

Sarah is co-captain of the cheerleaders at Sparta Academy; President of the Sparta Academy chapter of Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Society; Senior Class Treasurer; Director of the Drama Club; and, was recently named the Sparta Academy winner in the 2002 United States Senate youth Program underwritten by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.  In addition, she has won numerous awards in math competitions.  Sarah is the daughter of Kelley and Michael Adams of Evergreen and David McGloon of McLean, Virginia.  Sarah has attended Sparta Academy since she was a kindergarten student.

KATHERINE LYNN SOPPET 
COMMENDED STUDENT IN THE 
2002 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The headmaster, Dr. Christopher deBuzna, of John T. Morgan Academy is pleased to announce that Katherine Lynn Soppet has been named a Commended Student in the 2002 National Merit Scholarship Program.  A Letter Of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, will be presented by the headmaster to this scholastically talented senior.

Being recognized for their exceptional academic promise are a total of about 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation.  Although they will not continue in the 2002 competition for Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than one million students who entered the 2002 competition by taking the 2000 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

"The young men and women named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding academic potential by their performance in our very competitive Merit Program," commented a spokesperson for National Merit Scholarship Corporation.  "In a nation that values excellence, it is important to publicly honor scholastically talented youth and acknowledge the role schools play in nurturing their development.  We hope this recognition will augment the educational opportunities of Commended Students and encourage all students to strive to realize their potential."

PIKE LIBERAL ARTS SCHOOLS needs 6 electronic typewriters.  Call Larry Pickett at (334) 566-2023.

JACKSON ACADEMY has for sale a 1991 36 passenger (24 seats) International Diesel automatic bus with approximately 112,808 miles.  Bus is painted white with some red stripes and lettering and has both front and rear air-conditioning.  Minimum bid to be $14,500.00 with owner reserving the right to reject any or all bids.  Bus sold as is and may be inspected at the school with prior notice.  Call / write:

Dr. Norman J. Messina
Headmaster

P.O. Box 838
Jackson, Al. 36545
(251) 246-5552

HEADMASTER ANNOUNCEMENTS

2001 AISA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS TICKET REQUEST ORDER FORM

HALL OF FAME:
Hall of Fame nominations must be into the AISA office by January 1, 2002.

The Link will no longer be mailed.  All schools are expected 
to have internet access.  (Accreditation Standard.)

HEADMASTERS:
Please make sure appropriate personnel have copies of information in the Academic Handbook pertaining to academic competitions, festivals, and fairs.

ATTENTION HEADMASTERS: WANTED! - BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS
A Blue Ribbon school exemplifies excellence in teaching, student performance, school life, and school and community interaction. A Blue Ribbon Award will be given by the AISA to schools that meet certain criteria.  Applications will only be accepted through the 1st semester for 2001-2002 school year.

ACADEMIC NOTES

ATTENDANCE REPORTS ARE DUE MONTHLY.

ATTENTION: SAT 9 TESTING
AISA mandatory testing grades are 2, 5, 7, & 9.  ORDERING INFORMATION WILL BE MAILED TO SCHOOLS AFTER NOVEMBER 15th by HARCOURT, Becky Wicketts, 1-800-228-0752 ext 8169.

Music / Band Association News - see Academic Page.
District Coordinators / Host Sites - see Academic Page.

ACADEMIC HANDBOOK:
You may receive/copy academic competition rules.  Go to Academic page of AISA web site.  Click on Academic Handbook.  Changes to the rules for 2001-2002 are listed on the web site. Changes have been made to Drama, Spelling Bee, Scholar's Bowl, and Art Events.

ATTENTION DISTRICT SPELLING BEE HOSTS:
Please FAX the name and address of the Pronouncer for District Competition to the AISA office.  We need to get lists to Pronouncers before Christmas Holidays.  FAX # 334-263-9195. The District Contests will be held on January 29, 2002.

District Spelling Bee Host/Contact (January 29, 2002)

STATE SPELLING BEE - February 5, 2002 - Huntingdon College Flowers Chapel.

ATTENTION SPELLING BEE SPONSORS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS:
The Hexco "Spelling Sisters" materials, which AISA has used so successfully in recent years, are now available.  The publication cited below is strongly recommended for use in preparation for district and state competition.  Many AISA schools used last year's edition very successfully.  Ordering information follows:

Valerie's Spelling Bee Supplement

Order From:
Hexco, Inc.
P.O. Box 199
Hunt, TX 78024-0199
Fax (830) 367-3824
Phone: 1-800-725-2627

Single copy:  $17.00 each
Classroom order of 10 or more: $8.00 each

www.hexco.com

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:  (If you are searching for a job, please e-mail your resume (as a word document) and it will be posted on our web site.  E-mail:  aisa@aisaonline.org.)

ALL-STAR SELECTION COMMITTEE:
The All Star Football player Selection Committee will meet in the AISA office at 10:00 a.m. on November
7, 2001.  Read pages 31-32 in the AISA Athletic Handbook to determine committee membership.

ATTENTION COACHES:
The AISA will use the Nike inflated football and basketball in all AISA sponsored  championship games.  
The Nike football will be used in the Triple-Header at Troy State University this year.  The Nike basketball 
will be used for championship basketball games at Wallace Junior College, Faulkner University, and 
Huntingdon College 

EJECTION RULE:
AD's and Coaches, please review the AISA ejection rule with your players and coaches.  
Refer. Rule XIII on page 6 of the AISA Athletic Handbook.

FOOTBALL

2001 AISA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS TICKET REQUEST ORDER FORM

FOOTBALL COACH OF THE YEAR:
Attention Football Coaches, please complete the form at the end of this NEWSLETTER and return to the AISA office by
November 19, 2001.  Note:  You must vote for a coach in your classification only.

ALL-STAR FOOTBALL PLAYERS:
Coaches, please read pages 31-32 in the AISA Athletic Handbook.  Get your All-Star nomination(s) into the AISA office by November 2, 2001.  Please use a copy of the All-Star Football Nomination form located in the appendix of the Athletic Handbook to make your nominations.

ATTENTION FOOTBALL COACHES:
Call 1-800-428-6633 after the game on Friday nights - report scores - state wide publicity.  Scores will be 
posted on The Spy's Web site.  Thanks - promote your program.

PUBLICITY:
Attention Football Coaches - Call your game results into the Montgomery Advertiser at 1-800-488-3579, 
The Birmingham News at 1-800-283-4024, and/or  your local media.  Try to get scores on the wire service.

BASEBALL & SOFTBALL
Tuscaloosa Academy is looking for home baseball and softball games.  If you are interested please contact Mike Notaro at (205) 758-4462.

BASKETBALL

BASKETBALL GATE PRICES:
AISA maximum charges for admission to AISA basketball games are:
Varsity - $4.00 Adults / $2.00 Students
Below Varsity - $2.00 Adults / $2.00 Students
Varsity Tournaments - $4.00 Adults / $2.00 Students
Jr. High Tournaments - $3.00 Adults / $2.00 Students

BASKETBALL COACHES:
Send your basketball schedule to the AISA office by November 16, 2001.

THE OFFICIAL BASKETBALL:
The Nike 2000 NFHS Touch is the adopted basketball that will be used for the state tournament and the All-Star game.  Local schools can determine the use of any basketball for their home games as long as it meets the National Federation Rules.

BASKETBALL PRACTICE AND GAMES:
See Rules I-E on page 40 of the AISA Athletic Handbook concerning scheduling games.

ATTENTION BASKETBALL COACHES AND AD'S:
AISA Policy - The following procedure will be followed by all AISA schools when four or more basketball games are scheduled on a game day/night:

Pee Wee play - finish by 3:50 p.m.

Junior High girls - start at 4:00 p.m. - allow 4 minutes only for halftime - If 2nd half starts after the half hour then limit 3rd and 4th quarters to 5 minutes each.

Junior High boys - start at 5:00 p.m. - allow 4 minutes only for halftime - If 2nd half starts after the half hour then limit 3rd and 4th quarters to 5 minutes each.

Varsity girls - start at 6:00 p.m. 

If starting on the hour is a problem, cut warm-ups to a maximum of eight (8) minutes.  
Note: Policy applies to regulation play only, if overtime occurs play it out.

WRESTLING

WRESTLING GATE PRICES:
Maximum - $3.00 Adults / $2.00 Students
Tournaments - $4.00 Adults / $2.00 Students