Eight Named National
Merit Semifinalists
Eight
Irving ISD students have been selected as Semifinalists in the 2008
National Merit Scholarship Program. They are:
•
Irving High School
Zachary Nowell
•
MacArthur High School
Jonas Beyene and Dylan Cowart
•
Nimitz High School
Austin Christenberry, Amanda Peralta and Emarric Zipper
•
The
Academy of IISD
Hien Nguyen
and Mukund Ramesh
Administered each year
by the College Board, the National Merit Program awards rankings and
scholarships to students across the United States based on their scores
in the 2006 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test,
taken during the junior year.
Among approximately
16,000 of the brightest in the nation, these students earned the rank of
Semifinalist and will be considered for Finalist and Scholar status,
outperforming more than 1.4 million of their peers from nearly 21,000
U.S. high schools.
Nationwide, the pool of
Semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school
seniors.
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Trustees to Honor
Teachers of the Year
Chris Barnes, fifth
grade teacher at Elliott Elementary School last year (who is a Title I
support teacher this year at Lively Elementary School) and Elementary
Teacher of the Year; Greg Jackson, math teacher and Academic Decathlon
head coach at Nimitz High School and Secondary Teacher of the Year; and
Campus Teachers of the Year will be honored at the Board of Trustees
meeting to be held Monday at Nimitz.
Chris Barnes |
Greg Jackson |
The evening will begin
with a reception in the front foyer at 6:15 p.m. followed by the
trustees’ meeting at 7 p.m. in the auditorium.
Click here
for a complete list of the Campus Teachers of the Year.
This
year’s Teacher of the Year Selection Committee consisted of: Rick Owens,
community/parent; Gwen Craig, community/retired educator; Jonathan
Flores, Irving High student; Carolyn Wilson, community/retired educator;
Linda Menchaca, new teacher liaison/retired educator; and Robyn Wolters,
facilitator.
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Lee Earns USDA Gold
School Award
Lee
Elementary School has been awarded the prestigious Team Nutrition Gold
School designation, the nation’s highest school nutrition award, from
the
U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Last year, Lee became
the first school in Texas to receive the Silver School designation,
which was based on meeting specific and stringent student health
criteria. The school was honored during a ceremony last March that
included praise from the state’s top agriculture official, Todd Staples.
In addition to serving
extremely healthy meals, schools must extensively document achievements
and activities in nutrition education and physical activity to earn the
Gold School designation.
Lee’s application
highlighted healthy menu planning practices as well as the school’s
focus on physical activity and nutrition education.
All elementary school
lunches in IISD currently meet the Gold School standard. In addition,
all IISD elementary schools and the Food Service Department are jointly
applying for certification under this USDA program.
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Education Luncheon
Scheduled for Monday
Irving Schools
Foundation (ISF) and the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce
will host the annual Education Luncheon at noon Monday at the Four
Seasons Resort & Club.
Tom Luce, former U.S.
assistant secretary of education and chief executive officer of National
Math & Science Initiative, will be the keynote speaker.
Also speaking are U.S.
Congressman Kenny Marchant and IISD Board of Trustees President Michael
Hill.
The annual luncheon
highlights the state of education in IISD and addresses the critical
connection between economic growth, the business community, and
educational initiatives which foster achievement.
To purchase tickets or
for more information about ISF, visit
www.irvingisd.net/foundation or call 972-215-5018.
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Stipes Set to Receive
Environmental Award
Stipes
Elementary School will receive an Environmental Vision Award for
sustainability and its environmental-oriented mission Friday during an
awards luncheon hosted by the North Texas Corporate Recycling
Association (NTCRA).
The NTCRA’s Annual
Environmental Vision Awards recognize area businesses, government
entities, schools, civic groups and individuals for their outstanding
contributions toward positive environmental impacts.
For more information
about NTCRA and its awards program, visit
www.ntcra.org.
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Students Attend
Musical at Irving Arts Center
Fifth
grade students from Lee, Farine and Townsell elementary schools enjoyed
a performance last weekend of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel at
Irving Arts Center presented by Lyric Stage.
Curriculum was produced
teaching students about the musical. Lyric Stage invited the students
after receiving a grant which enabled it to produce the musical with a
large orchestra. The musical continues through Sunday.
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Gold Card Available
to Senior Citizens
Irving
residents who are at least 65 years of age are eligible for The Gold
Card Club. The Gold Card Club is a way for the Irving ISD to say thanks
to senior citizens who support Irving public schools.
When presenting their
Gold Cards, senior citizens are admitted free to Irving ISD concerts,
plays, musicals and a variety of other educational events.
The card also entitles
senior citizens to free admission at all athletic games in Irving
(excluding playoffs). For games at Irving Schools Stadium, the card is
valid for the general admission section only. Gold Card carriers may
also have lunch at any IISD school cafeteria at the regular teacher
price of $2.30.
To apply for The Gold
Card Club, please visit the Public Information Department at IISD
Administration Building and complete a short application, verify age
eligibility, and receive your card. For more information, call
972-215-5200.
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