Van Presented to Frost Family

After months of anticipation, cheering students and staff at Brown Elementary School presented a van last Friday to the Frost family that accommodates two wheelchairs. The family has two sons, Jacob and Zachary, with muscular dystrophy. The van will enable the family to have a more manageable quality of life. More than $95,000 was raised for the van during the fund-raising campaign, which received a boost last December following coverage in The Dallas Morning News and WFAA-TV Channel 8.

Amid cheers from students and staff at Brown Elementary School, the Frost family was presented with its customized van last Friday. Pictured (from left) are Tamey Frost, Jacob Frost, Michael Frost, and Zachary Frost.

The event featured extensive coverage from local media outlets and a performance by the Lamar band. At the event, it was announced that an anonymous donor would pay the family’s expenses to attend Sea World, which was a dream trip previously expressed by Zachary.

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Scholarship Established for Sigurdson

A memorial scholarship has been established to honor Michael Sigurdson, an art teacher at The Academy of Irving ISD who passed away May 12 following an illness. His wife is Theresa Sigurdson, vice principal at de Zavala Middle School.

Sigurdson graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1994. After graduation, he joined Irving ISD as an art teacher at Travis and then served as an art teacher and coach at Bowie. Sigurdson moved to the Academy in 2001.

The Michael Sigurdson Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to an Irving ISD art student. To contribute to the scholarship fund, contact the Irving Schools Foundation at 972.215.5018 or visit www.irvingisd.net/foundation.

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Irving ISD Memorial Day Closing Schedule

All Irving ISD schools and offices will be closed for the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 28.

May 28 was originally designated by the IISD Board of Trustees as a bad weather make-up day if needed, but it has not been necessary thus far to use it as a make-up day.

Classes will resume and offices will reopen on Tuesday, May 29.

The last day of the 2006-2007 school year is Thursday, May 31.

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Graduation Ceremonies Scheduled for June 1-2

Graduation ceremonies for the four Irving high schools are scheduled for June 1-2 at Potter’s House Event Center, 6777 Kiest Boulevard in Dallas.

The ceremonies are scheduled as follows:

Friday, June 1 – Nimitz High School, 4 p.m.

Friday, June 1 – The Academy of Irving ISD, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 2 – MacArthur High School, 10 a.m.

Saturday, June 2 – Irving High School, 2 p.m.

To reach Potter’s House from Irving, travel south on Loop 12 to Spur 408 and turn right on Kiest Boulevard.

In addition, the baccalaureate ceremony for IISD is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 31 at Calvary Church, 4401 N. Highway 161.

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IISD Awarded $2,000 Loss Prevention Grant

Irving ISD has been awarded a $2,000 loss prevention grant from the Texas Association of School Boards’ Risk Management Fund. The grant will help implement loss prevention and safety initiatives to reduce the potential for property losses and on-the-job injuries and raise safety awareness.

Accepting the grant on behalf of IISD were Dr. Neil Dugger, assistant superintendent for personnel and administration, and Judyann Robinson, the district’s risk manager.

Pictured (from left) are: Kimberly Webb, marketing division consultant for TASB; Dr. Neil Dugger, assistant superintendent for personnel and administration; Judyann Robinson, IISD risk manager; and T. Mike Rock, senior loss prevention consultant for TASB.

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Nimitz Students Win at Editorial Contest

Six Nimitz High School students advanced to the state level following district competition in the Hatton Sumner Editorial Contest, sponsored by the Texas State Law Board. At the state level, Lisa Xiong won second place and $1,000, Marcos Vera took third place and $750, and Maria Sanchez received honorable mention and won $250. The other participants were Tu Anh Dinh, Jackie Estes, and Merhawi Hailemariam.

This year’s participants were asked their opinion on building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico as well as their overall views on immigration and legislation proposed by Congress. The Nimitz student winners will be honored at a state bar luncheon July 18 in Richardson.