Photo by Randy ArcherIrondale is participating in Alabama's 2010: The Year of Small Town and Downtowns. Many towns are participating with activities and festivals to highlight their town.

Irondale's annual Whistle Stop Festival is a great way to introduce many people to Irondale. However, more is needed to emphasize Irondale year round.

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For our final installment on Willie Wonka, Jr., we thought you'd like to meet the students behind the scenes (and in front, too) of the production.

As you may have guessed, the plot of Willie Wonka, Jr. is similar to the movie we know and love, with just enough new to make it more fun than ever!  The two primary characters are Willie Wonka, of course, played by IMS 8th grader John Blanding, and Charlie Bucket, played by IMS 7th grader, Abigail Croy. 

John Blanding as Willie Wonka at a fund raiser last fall at Barnes & Noble. Photo by Sheri' Barker.

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This second post in our three-part series about the very first theatre production of Irondale Middle School contains information provided in a press release written by IMS 7th graders, Sean Rease and Lindsey Meads.

It all started when teachers at IMS began looking for a significant way to both reward and challenge their hardest-working, best-behaved students. 

A year, some grant requests, and a great deal of hard work later, the production of Willie Wonka, Jr. will take shape on Shades Valley's theatre stage next week.

Members of the Performance Team rehearse for the March production. From left to right: John Blanding, Jalen Wilson, Chris Bellow, Rebecca Barrett, Maya Lewis, Lydia Keating, Chris Nguyen, Abigail Croy and Justin Nail

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IMS 7th Grade Boys - 2010 Jefferson County Champs

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IMS Girls Basketball team - 2010 Jefferson County ChampsThe Irondale Middle School Girls Basketball team defeated Hueytown to take home the Jefferson County Tournament trophy earlier this month.

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While it was not much of a "Winter Storm", it sure was pretty. We had about 1.5 - 2 inches of snow at Ruffner Mountain Nature Center Friday (2/12/10).

This video is of some of the historic mining sites on the mountain.

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Pictured, left to right: Mary Elaine Ellis, Gardendale High School, 3rd place; Anna Quinlan, The Altamont School, 2nd place; and Dallas Taylor, Shades Valley High School, 1st place.

On February 11, the top three winners of the Optimist Club of Birmingham 's Essay Contest read their entries to club members, parents and friends.

This year's essay topic was "The Internet: Today's Evolution or Tomorrow's Menace?"    

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Have you ever heard of the Dabb's Campus of Shades Valley High School?  Do you know how to get there?  So what in the world goes on over there in the woods?

If you have a student attending Irondale Middle School or planning to attend SVHS, now is your chance to learn the answers to these burning questions!

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SVHS Choir, Alabama Veterans Memorial ParkUnder the direction of Choral Director, Gia Graddy, the Shades Valley High School Choir continues to be a pacesetter in Jefferson County.

From her arrival in 2008, Ms. Graddy made clear her goals and objectives for the choir; the key word was excellence.  Accepting her challenge, the students worked hard and very quickly saw results.

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