TeleParent
Fosters Communication
Communicating with parents and keeping them well informed is crucial to
fostering student success in school. In a few weeks, IISD teachers and
administrators will begin using the TeleParent notification system to
more effectively communicate with parents.
TeleParent
is an automated system that can send a message by phone or email to
parents in minutes. TeleParent was selected by a district-wide committee
after researching numerous systems available, and was approved by the
Board of Trustees September 17.
Phone messages can be sent by teachers to their students’ parents, by
school administrators to all or a select group of parents at their
schools, and by the public information department director to all
parents in the district. Teleparent also will notify parents daily about
student absences.
Because no two students are alike, TeleParent’s student messaging system
gives teachers the ability to quickly send messages to the entire class,
or messages tailored to each student, in one of 23 languages. The
multi-lingual option allows teachers to communicate with parents when
they could not before.
TeleParent gives students a reason to perform their best in class. When
students know phone calls can be easily sent to their homes, they are
more likely to attend class, behave in class, complete their homework,
study for tests, and improve their overall performance.
TeleParent will be used when situations develop during the school day.
For example, if a fire near a school emits toxic fumes or if police are
investigating criminal activity near a school and the principal decides
to keep children inside, the system can be used to inform parents in
minutes. The system also will be used to notify parents about bad
weather closings, delays or early dismissals as well as school lockdowns
or other emergencies.
The
TeleParent notification system will be a key component to the district
communications plan. The system will increase parent communication and
involvement, and also will be used to send messages to IISD staff
members.
Finally, IISD and TeleParent will work together to continually update
the system.
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School Bonds
Approved
Irving ISD voters approved school bonds in the amount of $249,975,000 as
a result of the IISD Bond Election. Early, branch and election-day votes
were counted November 6 after the polls closed. The school bond
proposition received 3,371 “yes” votes and 2,418 “no” votes.
The
approved school bonds will be used to build new facilities, renovate
existing schools and other facilities, provide replacement technology,
and purchase equipment. The bonds will also ensure the maintenance of
existing buildings.
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Oh Chosen for
All-State Orchestra
Daniel Oh, sophomore at Irving High School, has been selected to play
viola in the Texas All-State Orchestra in San Antonio in February 2008.
He is one of two students selected in Region XX for All-State.
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6 Selected for
All-Region Band
Six
IISD middle school students have been selected as members of the
All-Region Band. Students include: Priscilla Huerta, trumpet, Bowie;
Austin James, trombone, Travis; Dennis Lee, trumpet, Bowie; Taylor
Louis, percussion, de Zavala; Allison Roderick, French horn, Lamar; and
Kevin Solis, percussion, Bowie.
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Storytelling
Presentations
Elementary storytellers performed at cluster presentations on November
8, 12 and 13. Elementary school winners for 2007 include the following:
Juan Puente, Barton; Kristen Wright, Brandenburg; Bridgette Durham,
Britain; Sara Gomez, Brown; Robert Walker, Davis; Sarah McDonald,
Elliott; Makayla Terlouw, Farine; Destinee Neal, Gilbert; Yamilex
Sanchez Puga, Good; Pranju Devkota, Hanes; Lucy Marquez, John Haley;
Joseph Trujillo, Thomas Haley; Allison Toller, Johnston; Leonardo Daniel
Sanchez, Keyes; Sydney Foster, Lee; Yamilet Sema, Lively; Hailey Green,
Schulze; Jonathan Estrada, Stipes; Rebekah Wilkerson, Townley; and
Yasmin Philpott, Townsell.
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Funds for
Phoenix Project
Lamar Middle School students raised $1,016 during Red Ribbon Week for
the Phoenix Project, which is a non-profit organization designed to
provide drug and alcohol prevention and intervention strategies for
youth.
Lamar students with banner
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Pumpkin at de Zavala
 Carissa
Diaz, eighth grader at de Zavala Middle School, displays her
winning pumpkin in a contest sponsored by the National Honor
Society. |
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Tree
Dedication Ceremony
On November 5, Thomas Haley Elementary School
staff and students remembered Bruce McDole, former computer
technician, with a tree dedication ceremony.
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Art at
Texas Capitol
 Four
Elliott Elementary School students – Albin Shibu, Rachel
Jones, Sydney Sivannarath, and Samuel Martinez – have their
artwork on display at the Capitol building in Austin, Texas. |
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Balance and Motion
 First
grade students in Melissa Andrae’s class at Johnston
Elementary School, studied balance and motion using marbles
and tubes. |
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