By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Thompson High School’s PTO has held honor roll parties at the end of each grading period for years, but Jan. 13 required the volunteers to procure more snacks and drinks than normal.

“It’s almost a third of the school this time,” PTO volunteer Angie Norris said as she looked at a line of tables displaying a range of soft drinks and candy in the school’s cafeteria. “To be able to recognize the students for what they’ve accomplished is rewarding for us.”

During the school’s activity period, all students who earned all As or As and Bs on their recently released report cards were invited to the cafeteria to celebrate their academic achievements.

When the activity period was over, more than 600 students had walked through the line.

“The PTO is wonderful. They are always looking for ways to recognize all the good things our students are doing,” said THS Principal Dr. Wesley Hester. “And the kids always enjoy that recognition.”

Hester and other school administrators stood at the end of the line throughout the event, personally congratulating nearly every student who attended the celebration.

Norris and fellow PTO volunteer Laura Hession said partnerships with local businesses resulted in plenty of donated snacks and drinks for the honor roll students.

“Many businesses have been kind and donated items to us for things like this,” Hession said. “We’re happy to be able to put this together.”

The PTO’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed by the students.

“It’s really good that they do this. I’ve made the honor roll in the past, and I enjoy coming to this,” sophomore Logan Hudspeth said as he and his friend, Josh Cabral, sat at one of the cafeteria’s tables. “It’s good to be rewarded. I like that.”

Hester said he hopes to have even more students at the celebration at the end of the next grading period.

“Letting them get a drink and a snack and feel appreciated, that’s what it’s all about,” Hester said.