With all that has transpired within our schools during the past few months, there have been positives that may have been overshadowed.

It may have slipped under the radar that Creekside, Midway, Blandy Hills and Oak Hill all made AYP, or that the newly implemented Parent University program has been met with tremendous response, with hundreds turning out to volunteer in the grassroots effort to boost parental involvement. It may have also slipped by that Baldwin High School’s graduation rate climbed 10 percent from 2006-2007 to 2007-2008. And anyone who is still not convinced of the positives taking place daily in our local schools — both within the classroom and on the playing field — should look no further than the Baldwin Braves football team.

Still unblemished on the season, the Braves defeated Eagles Landing in front of the hometown faithful Friday night 28-3 to advance to the next round of the Georgia High School Association state playoffs. For the first time in 23 years, the Braves captured the region title and this week, the team will take on the Shaw High School team of Columbus, and they deserve our community’s support.

The Braves’ success so far this season is a story that everyone in this community should rally behind. They have reaped the benefits of their hard work and dedication not only on the field, but in the classroom as well by meeting the necessary requirements.

Remember that the true value of athletics can be found not just in the yardage gained or in the number of touchdowns scored, it is also visible in the character and sportsmanship playing the game instills — which often carries over into everyday life. Winning and loosing and how to play the game are lessons these young men will hopefully keep with them and maintain as they get older — even as their playing days are over.

As we’ve often noted, no matter the decisions taking place this year that have been called into question — or our individual stance on the issues — good things take place in our schools every day, and they deserve to be noted. Our teachers, students and coaches put forth their best effort daily, and they deserve both our support and our praise, especially when it garners such success. We should not only be there as a community to call decisions into question that may steer away from our children’s best interests and hold our local leaders accountable, we should be there to celebrate our community’s successes and the positives as well.

Advance tickets for Friday night’s home game go on sale today, and sales will continue through Thursday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the home side ticket booth. Tickets are $8. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Come out and support this team in their quest to bring a state title home and remember — when our children and our schools succeed, we as a community at-large succeed as well.