There is a reason that teachers, students and administrators at Gulf Shores High School are smiling these days.

Even after a week of school, which often times proves to be chaotic, Dr. Ernie Rosado, the school’s principal, says thanks to a group of great kids, hard working adults, community volunteers, and concerned elected officials, things at the school couldn’t be better.

Those who know Dr. Rosado know he is a guy who always likes to view the glass half full rather than half empty, and in light of budget cuts and the loss of some teachers last year, the man in charge still keeps pushing his school, staff and students alike, in a forward direction.

“It has been a great first week,” Dr. Rosado told The Islander in a recent interview. “Not a lot of issues, the students have been behaving, the teachers are teaching. The comment I keep hearing is how smooth the first couple of days went.”

Normally, the first week at high school is filled with schedule changes, but Dr. Rosado said thanks to a great idea from his staff, even that was not an issue this year.

“We had registration early. Instead of having it the first week of August, we had it the last week of July.  My secretaries and counselors wanted to do it this way, and it was a good decision.”

Rosado said it gave parents and students some time before actual classes began to come in and make their changes.

“In their mind, school had sort of already begun. They were coming in, making their schedule changes, and it caused us to have minor schedule changes when the first day of school was upon us.”

Dr. Rosado said parents volunteered their time to come to the school and help during the first week by answering phones and escorting kids to the counselor’s office if changes needed to be made. It made the entire process event free.

 Help from the city

Dr. Rosado is quick to call attention to what he calls “behind the scenes” people who do a tremendous amount of work for the school, helping the facilities look better, and saving the school some cash in the process.

“The cities of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, along with the county, have helped us out tremendously,” said Dr. Rosado.

According to the principal, the county brought out the  sweepers to clean the parking lot and has taken care of cutting some of the grass. Orange Beach helped paint the lines in the parking lot. Gulf Shores set up a pedestrian crosswalk between the middle school and the band room.

“A lot of kids walk back and forth between the buildings, and this year we have a collaboration where the sixth-graders are coming over to take art at the high school, so that cross walk was very important.”

To Dr. Rosado, all of these issues, including cutting the grass at the athletic fields that are used by Gulf Shores athletics at both the Orange Beach and the Gulf Shores sportsplex, have been important gifts to the school.

“I commend Mayor (Robert) Craft and Mayor (Tony) Kennon, and their city administrators Ken Grimes and Steve Garman. If I pick up the phone and need something, they are here. They are our unsung heroes. It is amazing what they do. I could go on and on.”

Help to the city

So what can the school do to give back to the city and county to show their appreciation for all that they do?

“One of the things we try to do is participate in any of their venues. The band is getting more involved.

“Coach (Mark) Freeman is going to wash cars in both Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. Just giving back to the community as much as we can by getting involved.”

Once again this year, like last, the Student Government Association will take some time to attend Gulf Shores and Orange Beach city council meetings.

“The students enjoyed that last year and they can’t wait to go this year.  They are fired up,” said Dr. Rosado.

All of the projects that include extra-curricular activities usually center around giving back to the community.

Citizens can help

Orange Beach City Administrator Ken Grimes said one way locals can help is by attending the concerts and events at The Wharf and supporting the schools concessions. Both the band boosters and athletic boosters have concession areas for all concerts, run by staff, administrators, coaches and parents.

Grimes said the city is always glad when they have an opportunity to help the schools.

“We are always happy to offer help with tasks that the schools cannot afford to get done,” said Grimes. “Sea, Sand, Stars Science and Nature Center is a great example of our city-school partnership.”

With donations from individuals, a $25,000 gift from Columbia Southern University, $400,000 from the City of Orange Beach and $1.5 million from Brett Robinson, the Steve Baker Sea, Sand and Stars facility, named after the former Orange Beach Elementary Principal who passed away in January, offers unique educational opportunities to all Gulf Shores and Orange Beach students.

The future

With four more teachers than last year, Dr. Rosado says he hopes he will continue to pick up some additional teachers as the school grows.

Only a handful of students left the area over the summer as a result of the oil spill situation, and Dr. Rosado says that he and his staff are trying to keep the attitude a positive one.

“We are trying to keep them upbeat, and we told the counselors if they hear of  some kids that need anything they need to let us know. At last weeks’ game with Foley, we presented a check to the Christian Service Center because they do a lot for the families in the area. It was a joint effort between us and Foley High School.”

If the students at Gulf Shores High use their principal as an example, citizens can expect to see great things from Dolphin alumni in years to come.

The sky is the limit.