The Acta Diurna
Recent Stories
Opinion: The Birmingham Area Needs Better Public Transportation
The Acta Diurna's A.J. Gallitz recently took a trip to a city with legit public transportation, a...
Read More →It's Back: Frasier Horton's All-NCAA Men's Basketball Team
Now that the passions of March Madness have retreated, at least somewhat, we can analyze which pl...
Read More →Knight Life, Vol. 6: Photos from the Eclipse
All of Altamont went outside for a half hour today to view the eclipse, thanks to a special plann...
Read More →All Stories
Opinion: The Birmingham Area Needs Better Public Transportation
The Acta Diurna's A.J. Gallitz recently took a trip to a city with legit public transportation, and it got her thinking (and looking into Birmingham's subpar situation). Read her thoughts and share your own.
Read More →It's Back: Frasier Horton's All-NCAA Men's Basketball Team
Now that the passions of March Madness have retreated, at least somewhat, we can analyze which players made some of the biggest impacts. Altamont varsity power forward and Acta Diurna reporter Frasier Horton traditionally shares his thoughts.
Read More →Knight Life, Vol. 6: Photos from the Eclipse
All of Altamont went outside for a half hour today to view the eclipse, thanks to a special planned schedule.
Read More →Student Parking Off Campus? Head of School Talks Possible Solutions to Lack of Space
It's no secret that there are parking issues at Altamont: it's a school with growing enrollment at the top of a mountain. So what's do be done about it? The Acta Diurna's A.J. Gallitz interviews Head of School Cecil Stodghill.
Read More →Have a Great Spring Break! We'll Respond When We Get Back.
We're on vacation ... but feel free to email us at TheActaDiurna@AltamontSchool.org anyway!
Read More →Two-Time Pulitzer Winner John Archibald Has Stories And Advice for Students (and Alabama)
The Acta Diurna's A.J. Gallitz and Frasier Horton interviewed renowned journalist John Archibald in front of all of Altamont on Wednesday. The internationally known journalist shared stories, advice, reasons for worry, and reasons for hope.
Read More →Interview: Counselor Lauren Garrett on Altamont's New Social Media Guide
In case you haven’t heard, Altamont has published a new Social Media and Technology Safety Guide. It includes pros and cons, risks and rewards, and best practices of social media use among young people. Altamont’s Frasier Horton interviewed head school counselor Lauren Garrett on how -- and why -- the guide came to be.
Read More →Knight Life, Vol. 5: Will the Eggs Survive?
It's not an Alabama IVF question, but a physics experiment conducted by Ms. Kalchik's students. Welcome to the fifth installment of Knight Life, a series of photographs that capture moments of daily life at Altamont.
Read More →Altamont Competes at State Robotics Tournament; Students Hope for World Championship Berth Next Year
Altamont recently competed at a state-level robotics tournament, but students are hoping to go to the big show next time. A.J. Gallitz reports.
Read More →Knight Life, Vol. 4: Art and Leadership
Welcome to the fourth installment of Knight Life, a series of photos that capture moments of daily life in the Altamont community.
Read More →POLL: What Stayed With You from Black History Month at Altamont?
The Acta Diurna wants to know what made an impression on you, what "stuck," from Black History Month at Altamont. Please take a moment to answer this one-question poll.
Read More →Altamont's New Scholars Bowl Team Is Up and Running, Getting Ready for State JV Meet
Altamont hadn't had a Scholar's Bowl team since before the pandemic, but now we do, and it's been a successful "building year." A.J. Gallitz reports.
Read More →Knight Life, Vol. 3: Dragons, Dancing, and Chinese New Year
Welcome to the third installment of Knight Life, a series of photos that capture moments of daily life at Altamont.
Read More →High Standards and a Long, Bittersweet Road to Success: An Inside Look at Boys Varsity Basketball
This basketball season didn't start in 2023. It actually started years ago. Senior player and Acta Diurna writer Frasier Horton explains.
Read More →Knight Knows Her Knights, Kings, and Queens: Altamont Student Makes Alabama Chess History
Eighth-grader Sarah Peter recently won top honors in a state-level chess tournament, adding to a history-making list of accomplishments. A.J. Gallitz reports.
Read More →KNIGHTS WIN AGAIN! Boys Basketball's Deep Run into Postseason Continues
Altamont defeated B. B. Comer High School 65-57 at the Birmingham Crossplex Thursday night. Click "Read More" for courtside photos.
Read More →Do Altamont Students Write Enough? Expert Knights Have Different Takes. What Do You Think?
It's common to hear Altamont graduates reminisce about the "glory days" of Jim Palmer (see "Palmer Garden") and his intense but effective writing instruction. Are today's students writing enough? The Acta Diurna's A.J. Gallitz interviews a diverse cross-section of the community. You can share your thoughts in a poll, too.
Read More →Knight Life, Vol. 2: Walking with Empathy
Welcome to the second installment of Knight Life, a series of photos that capture moments of daily life at Altamont.
Read More →Deepfakes Are Here and They're Scary. Be Skeptical.
The Acta Diurna's A.J. Gallitz looked into AI-generated deepfakes and has a warning for you.
Read More →KNIGHTS WIN AGAIN! Postseason Basketball Victories Continue with Nail-Biter Saturday Night
Your Altamont Knight ballers survived and advanced once again, continuing their postseason run with a sub-regional win Saturday night.
Read More →Knight Life, Vol. 1: Just Playing Ping Pong
Welcome to Knight Life, a new series of photos that capture moments of daily life at Altamont.
Read More →ALTAMONT KNIGHTS AREA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT CHAMPS!
Late-breaking Wednesday night: The Altamont boys varsity basketball team is the 2A Area 8 postseason tournament champion!
Read More →Poll Pulse: Recent Altamont Poll Results, Vol. 1
We promised we'd share: Here are the latest results of two recent Altamont-community polls.
Read More →Boys Basketball Area Champs! Post-Season Push Begins
Altamont basketball is rolling along. Read the latest here.
Read More →POLL: Should Altamont Have a Students-Vs-Staff Basketball Game?
Other schools do it during Homecoming or similar celebrations. Should Altamont faculty and staff dust off their shoes and try to hang on the court with much younger players? Share your opinion with a short, anonymous poll.
Read More →Opinion: For Balance, Altamont Needs a Conservative Speaker, Too
If you've been reading this publication over the last three years, you know Frasier Horton writes what he thinks. And he thinks that, for balance, Altamont should invite a well-known conservative speaker to address the student body.
Read More →Taylor Swift Writes about Life ... Including ALTAMONT Life?
Is it possible that Taylor Swift had Altamont in mind when she was writing the songs on her "Folklore" album? If that seems unlikely to you, read this piece by Altamont's AJ Gallitz.
Read More →So Where Are All These Intelligent Aliens? Read the Piece, Take the Poll
The possibility of life on other planets has intrigued thinkers for centuries. Seventh-grade thinker Vivaan Dudeja wants to know what YOU think. Take the poll after you read the piece.
Read More →Pro Golfers Offered Hundreds of Millions of Dollars to Join Saudi-Backed League
Altamont golf ace Vinay Yerramsetti explains how professional golfers are being paid hundreds of millions of dollars to join a controversial league.
Read More →Hot Take: Southpark Is Offensive, Brilliant, and Misunderstood
Every year, seventh graders at Altamont write a persuasive piece on a topic of their choosing. The writers of the best pieces are offered a chance to be published in The Acta Diurna. Noah Rotenstreich agreed to have his work published here. All he asks is that you read the whole thing before judging.
Read More →For the Record: 60 Years of History Preserved in Paper
The Acta Diurna's Alden DuMontier interviews Nancy Smith, his grandmother, about her prized newspaper and the changes in how we get our information.
Read More →NFL "versus" XFL? Or Happy Counterparts in Our Football Ecosystem?
Joe Porter places the NFL and XFL football leagues in context. He thinks they can coexist and enrich our sports universe.
Read More →Que Bueno! Altamont Students "Go Live" on Spanish Radio, Social Media, and More
Vinay Yerramsetti shares a nerve-wracking but ultimately fun and edifying first-person account of his Spanish class's field trip to a popular Spanish radio station and market.
Read More →We Can Travel Around the World. Why's It So Hard To Get Across Town?
New Birmingham-area driver David Borasino ponders the mysteries of area traffic.
Read More →Some Quick Tips for Helping People Who Might Be Spiraling
In light of tragic events all around, Emily Isbell wanted to share some basic pointers on reaching out to people. This is by no means a complete list, but we hope it will be helpful.
Read More →A Graduating Senior Reflects on His Life at Altamont
Tha Acta Diurna's Campbell Hughey interviews multifaceted, soon-to-graduate senior Jaison Perkins about his time at Altamont.
Read More →Did a Race Stop the French Protests?
Alden DuMontier was in France recently and has a theory as to why massive French protests stopped.
Read More →XF, USFL, and NFL: It's a New Playing Field for Football League Competition
The Acta Diurna's Jack Hoover takes a deep dive into the American football ecosystem and even puts a daring prediction in writing.
Read More →Interview: Nursing Leader on Causes, Effects of Dire Shortage
The Acta Diurna's David Borasino interviews a veteran nurse at Children's Hospital about the dire state of nursing in our area and beyond.
Read More →Remembering the Madness: Frasier Horton's All-Tournament Team
It seems that basketball fans are already descending into the next stage of madness (the NBA playoffs), but Frasier Horton doesn't want you to forget one of the most exciting college tournaments ever, or the players who made it possible.
Read More →Screens Are Making Americans Less Healthy
Studies show strong correlations between screen time and health problems. The Acta Diurna's Joe Porter argues that's no coincidence.
Read More →PFAS Chemicals an Increasingly Known Threat in Alabama, but There Is Good News
So-called "forever chemicals" are basically everywhere, including Alabama, and they're linked to all sorts of health problems including cancer. But as The Acta Diurna's David Borasino found out, Altamont at least uses the best kind of filter in its water fountains.
Read More →Boys and Girls Soccer Teams Hold on to High Hopes ahead of Playoffs
The Acta Diurna's George Benson updates us on the status of our boys and girls soccer teams as they approach crunch time.
Read More →Altamont Travels Back to Ancient China
The Acta Diurna's Jack Hoover describes and reviews Altamont's recent Mandarin Fashion Show.
Read More →Altamont Students Earn "Seal of Biliteracy," a Sign Fluency and Hard Work
The Acta Diurna's John-Nathan Rosborough interviews Allison Ramey, head of Altamont's World Languages Department, about the Seal of Biliteracy and what students had to do to earn it.
Read More →It's Fast and It Lasts, but Porter Puts Processed Food on Blast
Sure they're convenient and taste good, but The Acta Diurna's Joe Porter doesn't think processed foods are worth the associated serious health concerns, and he's got studies to back that up.
Read More →What Is Microsoft Feeding Us?
Acta Diurna editor and writer Andrew Herrin thinks the pages we see when we sign into our Microsoft browsers are more harmful to students than people realize. He dives into potential dangers of the feed, including its "likes" and "dislikes."
Read More →Too Many Vehicles: Carpool Lines, Parking Problems, Foiled Plans and Potential New Fixes
Editor and reporter Isabelle Taylor explores an open secret at Altamont: the carpool and parking situation could be better. What happened to recent plans to solve the problem? And what happens next?
Read More →Altamont Teachers "Bone Salad" and "Jukes of Hazard" Lay Out Their Roller Derby Stories
Acta Diurna sports reporter George Benson gets the lowdown on two school staffers who skate with Birmingham's Tragic City Rollers roller derby team.
Read More →The Story Behind the Story: Season 2 of the True Crime Podcast "White Lies"
"White Lies" is a critically acclaimed podcast that investigates crimes that make some white people uncomfortable. Altamont's Campbell Hughey, the nephew of one of the creators, dives into the making of Season 2, "The Men on the Roof."
Read More →They Have Arrrived: Facts and Myths about Mosquito Prevention
Alden DuMontier shares ways to keep mosquitos at bay and explains common misconceptions.
Read More →Carp-Caused Chaos Coming Closer: An Invasive Species Is Here
If you fish, you might know about this, and you probably don't like it. Alden DuMontier explains why a carp can cause so much chaos.
Read More →What Happened to International Fall Project Week Trips?
Akshay Gaddamangu investigates the future -- if there is one -- of international Fall Project Week trips at Altamont.
Read More →Was There Too Much World Cup Buzz at Altamont?
David Borasino talks with teachers to get their thoughts on how Altamont handled the winter World Cup frenzy.
Read More →Varsity Girls Soccer Shuts Out Opponents in First Three Games
Acta Diurna sports reporter Cruz Cunill on varsity girls' soccer's auspicious start.
Read More →How Intelligent Is Relying on Artificial Intelligence?
You might've heard of ChatGPT and artificial intelligence. Even if you haven't, you will. Acta Diurna guest contributor Vivaan Dudeja breaks down some of the pros and cons of this revolutionary technology.
Read More →Altamont Boys Varsity Soccer Mercy Rules Cornerstone 10-0 in Opener
Acta Diurna sports reporter Jack Hoover recaps the season-opener victory over Cornerstone and interviews left wing George Benson about the game and the season ahead.
Read More →Why it's so Hard to Sue Trucks Carrying Rocks
When your car has been hit by a rock thrown from a truck it's hard to sue the people responsible. Altamont's Emily Isbell dives into why.
Read More →Altamont Boys Varsity Basketball Bests Indian Springs in Thriller, 51-34
Cruz Cunill recaps the recent boys varsity basketball victory over arch-rival Indian Springs.
Read More →Andrew Herrin on "Don't Say Gay" Law and LGBTQ Education
Andrew Herrin shares thoughts on personal battles with identity, current politics, and how Alabama schools handle LGBTQ education.
Read More →Review: Tyler, The Creator's IGOR Deserves Its Awards
Tyler, The Creator's IGOR won the Grammy for best rap album in 2020. Altamont's Campbell Hughey thinks that was the right choice. He explains why and describes, reviews, and rates each song for you.
Read More →VIDEO: The Acta Diurna Interviews New Altamont Headmaster Cecil Stodghill
Get to know new Head Of School Cecil Stodghill as he sits down with the Acta Diurna's Frasier Horton.
Read More →Hoopers Take a Deep Dive into the GOAT Debate. What do YOU think?
Acta Diurna writer and hooper Jack Hoover picks local basketball brains on who was the best baller ever.
Read More →Lessons for Altamont in the Damar Hamlin Story
Can a football player who almost died on the field teach us something important? The Acta Diurna's John-Nathan Rosborough thinks so.
Read More →Does Altamont Lack School Spirit?
Akshay Gaddamanugu and George Benson think we do lack school spirit. Read their thoughts on their not-quite-scientific poll and let us know if you agree.
Read More →The Case for More Animal Protein in The Altamont Diner’s Flex Line
The flex line is a place where anyone can go to explore healthier options, but Joe Porter believes the flex line could use more animal protein.
Read More →El Chapo's Son's Arrest and the Way it has Changed the Political Climate in Mexico
Why are criminals allowed to run free because they have power? Alden DuMontier discusses Ovidio Guzmán's recent arrest, the way it has affected Mexico, and what it says about government corruption around the world.
Read More →They Were Rich and Black in Birmingham: Remembering the Raglands through Artifacts
Altamont's Margaret Schedler spent the summer immersed in history, including artifacts from one of Birmingham's founding black families, which made a deep impression she wanted to share.
Read More →The Acta Diurna Wins Top National Honor
Altamont took one of only four first-place awards in its class in the whole United States.
Read More →Equal Means Equal Everywhere, Even the Battlefield
Eighth-Grader Lottie Kanter thinks that if men could be drafted into military action, women should face the same possibility.
Read More →Photo Gallery: Altamont-Ramsay Heritage Panel Exchange
Altamont’s and Ramsey High School’s Heritage Panels recently took part in a two-day exchange program. Panelists and faculty from both schools traveled to the other for team-building, fun, and real talk about stereotypes, inequity, and other issues students face. As a result, Ramsay and Altamont will collaborate on several projects in the near future. Check the photos chosen by Acta Diurna reporter, sports editor, and photo editor Frasier Horton.
Read More →The EU's Worst Border Crisis: Belarus Shows How Bad Plans Have Bad Consequences
You might've heard about this crisis a few weeks back, and the roots of the problem are still there. Some observers say it hasn't been caused so much by immigration as by a dictator who needs scapegoats and wants to hurt the European Union and NATO. Regardless, people are suffering. The Acta Diurna's Caroline Reddington has more.
Read More →Orlando Thompson's "Memorials for Souls Can't Go Home" Changed How I View Contemperary Art
The Birmingham gallery VINEGAR hosted artist Orlando Thompson on Friday night. "Orlando’s" show was an interactive experience called “Memorial for Souls Can’t Go Home.” According to allevents.in, the piece was intended to explore themes of “grief, systematic racism, and the density of the human soul.” During a presentation for students at The Altamont School, Orlando stated simply, after taking a deep breath, “it’s about trauma.”
Read More →Altamont's Winter Concert: "Their Combined Skill Is Undeniable"
On Thursday night, the music classes at The Altamont School put on a Winter Concert. It was an hour and a half of thrilling composition.
Read More →The Beacon: Giving Altamont Students A (Deep) Voice on the Issues of the Day
Sometimes a hard year can lead to good things: Altamont's "The Beacon" gives students a platform for creative expression about complex, important, and sometimes troubling current events relevant to our lives. Caroline Reddington and Maya Davis go to the source(s) to explain.
Read More →Frasier Horton: If Bo Nix Had Been in the Iron Bowl, Auburn Would Have Won
According to Sports Editor and Columnist Frasier Horton, if Bo Nix had played in the Iron Bowl, it might have been a blowout.
Read More →Recent Basketball Action, and More Tonight!
With big games coming tonight, Richard Terrell gives us a quick preview and a recap of some recent action.
Read More →Altamont's XR Youth Rebels Against Chase Bank; Join Us!
Birmingham Alabama’s chapter of Extinction Rebellion Youth led a protest against Chase Bank on November 19th outside Pizitz Food Hall downtown. We held a homemade banner “Chase Banking on Climate Chaos” and we screamed, “We want you to panic! Chase is destroying our future!”
Read More →Do We Theater Students Even Exist?
Theater has been a crucial part of The Altamont School since its establishment in 1975. Over the years, the desire to be a theater student has never diminished, but according to Managing Editor and recent Fame Jr. cast member Margaret Schedler, support from the student body and administration has dwindled. She says this stems from a lack of knowledge, so she offers a behind-the-curtain look at what theater students face.
Read More →Home Opener Basketball Recap
Yesterday the boys varsity, JV, and seventh-and-eighth-Grade grade basketball teams played their first home games of the year. The results were mixed, but the effort, energy, and entertainment were certainly present.
Read More →Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle the Right Way
Alabama is ranked eighth-worst in the country at recycling. Contrary to popular belief, this isn’t solely due to the fact that people aren’t making efforts to recycle. People are simply not recycling correctly.
Read More →Frasier Horton, Altamont's New Art Critic Doesn't Hold Back
"If you’ve ever walked down the art-adorned upstairs hallway, you may have seen the painting with the green background and 'amazing' assortments of doodles. Let me be frank, that is the worst painting I’ve ever seen in my entire life." That's just a small taste of Frasier Horton's thoughts on the subject. Click "Read more" for the rest.
Read More →FAME Coming to The Altamont School
The Altamont School is putting on FAME Jr. this week for its annual fall musical. The performance is set in the 1980s in a New York City high school dedicated to the performing arts. The musical follows ten talented students and their friends as they navigate fame and try for more of it.
Read More →Photo: Ben Franklin Wins Altamont Contest, Snacks
Altamont Junior Anderson Stone surprised onlookers Friday with his Benjamin Franklin costume. Anderson came to school rocking 1700s attire, but what really stood out was his hair, or lack of it. Acta Diurna contributor Caden Williams has more ... (hair, and information).
Read More →Photographic Proof: Altamont Students Can Write News Stories, Dunk in PJs and Crocs
The Altamont community prides itself on developing well-rounded, multi-skilled, resilient students. Sportswriter Frasier Horton caught this photo of Acta Diurna colleague Richard Terrell proving our success in that endeavor by dunking despite wearing PJs and crocs.
Read More →For the First Time Since 1975, Altamont Has No Varsity Girls Basketball
For the first time in almost five decades, there will be no girls varsity basketball team at Altamont. Coaches are counting on the grades five through eight programs to keep girls basketball going until varsity is reinstated. The Acta Diurna's Richard Terrell has more.
Read More →The Hill: It Wears Players Out, But Lifts Them Up
"The Hill": the two-word phrase that any Altamont basketball player will instantly understand. It's both real obstacle and a symbol. Read on for an insider's view into Altamont varsity boys basketball.
Read More →Altamont Athletes and Coaches Differ on Playing in Masks
How do coaches and players feel about wearing masks? Are there any disadvantages? The Acta Diurna's Maya Davis interviews Susan Keith, who coaches indoor and outdoor sports, Athletic Director and Coach Stephen Mitchell, and varsity volleyball players Helen Ezelle and Maya DeValk.
Read More →Bendel Reflects on Devious Lick Trend: "We all make mistakes"
On September 22nd, The Acta Diurna reported on alleged acts of vandalism in The Altamont School tied to the Devious Lick trend on TikTok. New information from Altamont’s administration suggests that some of the acts of vandalism were "accidents."
Read More →Altamont Volleyball Blows Out Indian Springs
The Altamont School and Indian Springs School went head-to-head in volleyball Monday night. Matches between Indian Springs and Altamont have always been a source of school-wide excitement, the rivalry going back generations. Read about the highlights!
Read More →Innovative Podcast Assignment Has Students Become Teachers
It's safe to say that most sophomore History classes don't involve sound-mixing. But Dr. Alex Melonas is doing things a little differently. The Acta Diurna's Richard Terrell gets the story on a unique technique that's getting students to learn by doing and teach their teacher.
Read More →Behind the Masks: Altamont Staff Reveal Stresses, Lessons of Teaching in a Pandemic
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed daily life everywhere. That's definitely true for teachers. The Acta Diurna's Caroline Reddington got perspectives from four key Altamont staffers, and surprisingly, the news wasn't all bad.
Read More →Injured Altamont Student Wants You To Learn From His Example, Not Repeat It
Everything can change in a moment. Sophomore Caden Williams considers himself lucky his and other lives didn't change even more after a car accident "woke him up." And he has a message for you or any young drivers you know.
Read More →Truth, Knowledge, Halter Tops
Altamont's Interim Head of School, Tom Bendel, helped create a new dress code for the 2021-2022 school year. Take a deep dive into the new dress code and where it came from, and the old dress code's effects on Altamont students.
Read More →Altamont Community Surprised, Hurt by Vandalism Likely Tied to Devious Licks
Altamont leaders recently learned that even this small, close-knit community is not immune from social-media "challenges" that encourage stealing and vandalism. The Acta Diurna will continue reporting on this story as it unfolds and more information becomes available.
Read More →The Former Pro You Might Not Know: Altamont's Richard Ford Went "from Homeless to Overseas"
The Acta Diurna's Richard Terrell sits down with Coach and Assistant Athletic Director Richard Ford for an exclusive storytelling session. Before joining the staff, Ford played basketball at the professional level for 11 years in Mexico, Bolivia, El Salvador, Japan, and Venezuela. And he's got some stories...
Read More →Award-Winner Ryan Vance: "We All Want Equality"
The Acta Diurna's Frasier Horton sat down with award-winning photographer Ryan Vance '24 to discuss the inspiration and process behind his work.
Read More →Tom Bendel: "It'd Be Good to Have a Few More Years"
In a video interview, Altamont Interim Head of School Tom Bendel shares his educational philosophy, his lessons from the military, his hopes for the future, and more with The Acta Diurna’s Maya Davis.
Read More →Αγαιπα: A Love Letter to Altamont's Classical Languages
Latin was intoxicating, as if the language emitted some fantastic, sticky scent, luring me in...
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