By BRAD GASKINS / Staff Writer

INDIAN SPRINGS – Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School is preparing for its 10^th annual BALL.

It will be held Feb. 12 from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. at OLV Social Hall and celebrate a “Decade of Dedication” for BALL, which stands for Building a Lasting Legacy.

“It’s the most fun you can have donating to a school,” said Steve Thornton, BALL chairman.

Tickets are still available for $50 each. The deadline is Feb. 11.

On a recent afternoon, Thornton and several other organizers were gathered at the school making final preparations.

The event, organizers said, usually draws 400 people and raises about $80,000 for the school. OLV, founded in 1984, has 400 students ranging in age from 3-year-old preschoolers to eighth grade students.

Money raised is used for technology, classroom donations, security systems, extra-curricular activities, playground enhancements, teacher education and other things.

For auctions, classrooms from the school create themed baskets. Businesses and members of the community also contribute to the cause by donating a variety of items.

A five-day stay at an apartment in Rome is the premier item on the auction block. The apartment is within walking distance of the Vatican.

Other items include trips to Lakes Holmes, Atlantic City and a beach condo. There’s also vintage scotch for auction. Dinners at various restaurants are available, along with some Alabama and Auburn items. In addition, mosaic crosses made by students are available.

The band TOTAL A$$ET$ will provide entertainment. The nine-piece band, based in Birmingham, is made up of bankers and performs music from the 1950s to 1980s.

OLV Principal Sandra Roden said she’s thankful for all the money the BALL raises to improve the school, which recently got some great news.

OLV recently found out it was one of 50 schools nationwide nominated for the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award. OLV’s only other nomination for the award was in 1998-99.

During the BALL, a slideshow presentation will be shown. It will contain pictures of students and facilities at the school, located at 5510 Double Oak Lane in North Shelby.

“The slideshow is to remind everybody what the night is all about,” Thornton said.

More information on the BALL is available at www.olvball.com. For tickets, e-mail ovlballtickets@bellsouth.net, or call 991-2747.