SPANISH FORT, Ala. — From outstanding student leaders to champion spellers, athletes and math savants, springtime in Spanish Fort is a chance to honor some of the feeder pattern’s best and brightest.

Of course, such honors shouldn’t be reserved for students alone.

Teri Fisher, outgoing president of the Spanish Fort Middle School PTA, challenged members and prospective members to continue holding the organization to the highest standards possible because of the direct correlation between active membership and project funding.

Specifically, the SFMS association earned both the Golden Apple award for having 100 percent membership of full-time teachers, and the Golden Leaf Certificate for obtaining membership exceeding last year’s figures.

As a result of that involvement, the SFMS PTA accomplished the following during the 2010-11 school year, to name only a few:

• Sponsorship of the eighth-grade Leadership Class.
• Sponsorship of the Compassion Closet that helps students in need of clothes, field trip fees, extra school supplies or help with any other expenses pertaining to their educations.
• The collection of more than $1,300 toward construction of the proposed Project Reach playground.
• The donation of $250 for tornado-relief assistance in north Alabama.
• The donation of $550 to the school library.
• The donation of lunch to the school’s Special Olympic athletes, participants and volunteers.
• Sprucing up of the school’s entryway and upstairs loft area.
• Hosting of eight “teacher hospitality” events throughout the year and one Teacher Appreciation Week.

“It was a challenge, but intensely fun,” Fisher said.

In addition to all the committee chairs, co-chairs and “countless volunteers” who made the SFMS PTA’s actions possible, she thanked her fellow board members for their teamwork and tireless energy.