Student Life

Every year at the beginning of February, Altamont's Spanish Club sells tags that students can purchase for friends, teachers, advisors, etc. On Valentine's Day, students receive the tags, and each tag has a Spanish lollipop, or Chupa Chup, attached to it.

Altamont has several formal assemblies each year, including events that recognize outstanding student achievements in academics and athletics. On such occasions, all students, faculty and staff show their respect for each other by dressing up, with boys in dress pants, shirt, coat and tie, and girls in dresses, skirt or nice pants.

Every student at Altamont is assigned to either the Gold or White team. Team captains and co-captains are voted on by students in the fall. Throughout the year, Gold and White teams collect points through many events, including P.E. games, math week, Gold and White Games and scholars bowl. A prize is awarded every spring to the team with the most points.

Altamont celebrates Halloween with a schoolwide costume contest sponsored by the SGA, with prizes going to winners in several categories. Students of all ages, teachers and staff all take part!

Homecoming is celebrated during basketball season. It features a spirit week of fun dress up days, leading up to a Friday afternoon of games and booths sponsored by our many clubs, a Scholar's Bowl competition, and class games.

Every student participates in Altamont's annual Poetry Competition, the school's oldest academic tradition. In English class, students select a poem and write an introduction that describes the work and why the student feels connected to it. Students then read both the introduction and the poem to the class. Winners of the class-level portion of the competition advance to perform the poem at a school-wide assembly and in front of independent judges who select first, second and third place for both Middle School and Upper School.

Altamont's French Club leads the school's annual Mardi Gras celebration, which includes a parade through the halls, costume contest, cupcake competition and charity bake sale. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Altamont's annual May Day celebration is an afternoon of games, club activities, water slide and other inflatables barbecue lunch and fun for all! It is truly one of the highlights of the Altamont school year.

Roundtable is an annual meal and talent show hosted by the senior class. Seniors decorate the gym the week leading to Roundtable, keeping the theme a secret from the rest of the school until the night of the event.

Athletic participation is one of The Altamont School's oldest traditions because the traits and skills necessary for athletic success—commitment, teamwork, resilience, communication, perseverance—can contribute to success in life and the health of the whole person. Competitive athletics begin in Fifth Grade, with an emphasis on the team experience, skill development, fair play and healthy competition. Starting in Seventh Grade, students can compete on our junior varsity and varsity teams. All athletic offerings are based on participation and interest.

Explore Altamont Athletics

Addiction Prevention Coalition (APC) is a student group that meets twice a month with a counselor from the Birmingham chapter of APC to discuss healthy habits and lifestyle.

Sponsor: JP Hemingway, jhemingway@altamontschool.org

Altamont Ambassadors assist with Open Houses, Grandparents Day, Graduation, Parents Night, and other events at the school. Students apply in the fall to be an Ambassador and must be in 10th-12th grade and have attended the school for at least two years.

Sponsor: Kimber Williams, kwilliams@altamontschool.org

The purpose of the club is to promote a love of literature in a positive, nurturing environment. Open to both upper school and middle school students, this club will have monthly meetings.

Sponsor: Caitlin Rogers, crogers@altamontschool.org

Sponsor: Jess Heine

The thespian club is for any 7th-12th grade student who is interested in supporting or participating in Altamont Theatre. We have committees for theatre inclusion, arts in medicine, publicity, arts advocacy, theatre critics, student producing, directing, playwrighting, acting, singing, dancing, design/technology and more!

Sponsor: Reid Watson, rwatson@altamontschool.org

The Asian Culture Club’s mission is to provide students from middle to upper school with exposure to Asian cultures and traditions, including Chinese New Year and Holi Festival. The club will highlight annual Asian cultural events for the school’s global education mission in an entertaining and enjoyable way.

Sponsor: Dr. Ma, xma@altamontschool.org

Altamont's chapter of the National Honor Society promotes and encourages enthusiasm for superior scholarship, exemplary qualities of character, trustworthy leadership, and a willingness to serve. Members are chosen by a faculty council based on outstanding scholarship, character, leadership, and service.
Faculty Advisor: Chris Thomas, cthomas@altamontschool.org
 

Sponsors: Danielle Wattleton-Anderson, Sandreika Floyd

At Altamont, we believe that all students have the ability to lead. In every grade there are opportunities for students to learn and demonstrate their leadership skills in academics, athletics, student government and clubs.Altamont also offers students a way to find their unique expression of leadership through experiential education within our LEAD program and the C. Kyser Miree Ethical Leadership Center. Through these programs students are empowered to discover the strength and beauty of service, genuine action and meaningful growth.

Visit the C. Kyser Miree Ethical Leadership Center

The goal of the Cool Cat Club is to make the cancer journey a little easier during hospital stays through care carts, financial aid and service hours. Care carts consist of caps, hats, snacks and refreshments for the patients as well as making connections with them. An easy way to get service hours is to make cards that will go on the care carts.

Sponsor, Laura Ottaviani-Chacon, lottaviani-chacon@altamontschool.org

Altamont's debate teams compete at the local, state and national level. This club is open to middle and upper school students.

Sponsor: Jim Sydnor, jsydnor@altamontschool.org

This club is open to all students and has as its mission to decrease our  school's carbon footprint and fight against the climate crisis.

Sponsor:
Maggie Hill, mhill@altamontschool.org

The Elizabeth Brooke Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society began in 1977. Eighth and 9th grade students with an average of 90 or higher who have attended Altamont for a full academic year are eligible. Service to school and community, character, and leadership are also important qualities in Honor Society members.

Faculty Advisor: Chris Thomas, cthomas@altamontschool.org

The French Club broadens appreciation of French culture through entertaining (and often tasty) events. Annual activities include dramatic competitions at the French Convention, Mardi Gras, and the Eric Vincent concert!

Sponsors: Peter Rosborough, prosborough@altamontschool.org
Allison Ramey, aramey@altamontschool.org

Friends of the World is a middle school club that strives to serve anywhere in the global community in which service is needed. This may mean service work or sponsoring an awareness activity that points to a larger global issue. Recently, we have served Stop Hunger Now, St. Martin's in the Pines, Juvenile Diabetes, and the Lily Memorial Soccer Tournament.

We value service as one of the highest virtues, we delight in any opportunity to help, and actively seek out new opportunities to share our energy.

Sponsor: Niko Tsivourakis, ntsivourakis@altamontschool.org

This club is open to all students in middle school and upper school who are interested in supporting love and acceptance. Through meetings and fun events the GSA seeks to involve all people in the life of the Altamont community.

Sponsor: Alesha Dawson, adawson@altamontschool.org

Students in Heritage Panel play an important role in fostering and encouraging collaboration, understanding and friendship amongst their peers. This group is looking to take social justice and discrimination awareness beyond social media hashtags and into the halls and classrooms of Altamont. These student-leaders help to promote tolerance, kindness and service to others by opening a dialogue about what is happening in our lives and making our school and community a more inclusive and welcoming place. Sponsor: Eva Arellano

The Junior United Nations Assembly (JUNA) of Alabama is a student-run model United Nations Assembly for Alabama students in 6th-8th Grade. The JUNA conference is Jan. 27-28 and we plan to have an Altamont team represent a country that needs our help. Bring a friend so that you can create some cool memories together while learning about the world!

Sponsor: Lisa Daniels, ldaniels@altamontschool.org

Sponsor: Jennifer Grissom

The Latin Club seeks to broaden Altamont's understanding and appreciation of ancient Rome and Greek civilizations and cultures. Latin Club students attend an awesome annual convention (in togas) and host fun events during the year.

Sponsor: Jamie Rediker

Mu Alpha Theta is a national high school mathematics society. The requirements for membership at Altamont include a high honors grade in two consecutive or concurrent courses of high school mathematics and successful completion of Algebra I and Geometry.

Sponsors: Josh Barnard, jbarnard@altamontschool.org and Maha Awad, mawad@altamontschool.org

NAHS gives upper school visual art and photography students an opportunity to participate in a national organization that inspires and recognizes students who have demonstrated passion and dedication to their art and community service. Students have leadership growth opportunities, help with college and career preparation, and chances to give back to the community both within our school and our local community. This program highlights the hard work and dedication of Altamont’s creative, artistic students.

Sponsor: Casey Gillespie, cgillespie@altamontschool.org

Outdoor Club plans hikes and other other adventures that encourage students to explore nature and the world surrounding them. Will Denniston, a member of the club, has prepared a trail guide to some of the best hikes in Birmingham. This club is open to middle and upper school students.

Sponsor: Pattie Bank, pbank@altamontschool.org

Altamont's pep band brings school spirit and funky tunes to home volleyball and basketball games. Members of orchestra and other music classes are automatically members of pep band; others musicians wishing to join the band attend after school practices.

Sponsor: Landon Rogan, lrogan@altamontschool.org

Positivity Pals is a student group focused on spreading good cheer throughout the school by hosting events such as Positividay, Funky Sock Friday, and finals week stress relievers, and putting up encouraging messages around the school. Their goal is to break down stigmas around mental health and to foster dialogue and awareness.

Sponsor: Lauren Garrett, lgarrett@altamontschool.org

Altamont's award-winning Robotics Team members develop programming and engineering skills as they compete in regional and national tournaments. Sponsor: Joseph McKinley

Altamont’s varsity scholars bowl team won the 2019 Alabama Scholastic Challenge State Private/Magnet School Championship. Altamont’s junior varsity scholars bowl team placed second in state.

Coach: Robby Ballard, rballard@altamontschool.org

This club seeks to broaden Altamont's understanding and appreciation of Hispanic culture. Activities throughout the year include Chupa-Chup Day, Spanish Holiday activities, and Spanish Club dinners.

Sponsor: Eva Arellano, earellano@altamontschool.org

Spirit Club and the Lettermen support Altamont athletics by planning Spirit Week and pep rallies, making fun signs, cheering during games, and much more! Go Knights!

Sponsor: Kimber Williams, kwilliams@altamontschool.org
Beth Dille, bdille@altamontschool.org

Student opinion and participation are valuable and integral parts of any good academic institution. The Student Government Association includes the elected Officers of the School, grade representatives from the upper school, and faculty advisors.

Sponsors: Pattie Bank, pbank@altamontschool.org
Kimber Williams, kwilliams@altamontschool.org

Altamont's award-winning online student newspaper, The Acta Diurna, features opinion pieces, surveys, school news, reflections on current events, cartoons and much more! Sponsor: Dan Carsen

The Altamont Beacon student academic journal spotlights the  independent thinking and innovative ideas nurtured at Altamont. The journal welcomes work on social and political topics from students in grades 8-12.

The Dragon is Altamont's oldest tradition of cataloguing students' creative expressions.

Explore Student Publications

Sponsor: Eddy Dunn