Knox Serves as
Keynote Speaker
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Dudley Knox |
Dudley Knox, law instructor at The Academy of Irving ISD and legal
instructor/director of paralegal program at El Centro College, was
keynote speaker for the annual Dallas Area Paralegal Association and
North Texas Paralegal Association 2007 Paralegal Career Day November 17
at Everest College in Dallas. A pioneer curriculum developer and
instructor in the field of paralegal education, this was the third time
for Knox to serve as speaker for the event.
Each year, Paralegal Career Day involves 500 to 600 paralegals and
lawyers that represent law firms and governmental and corporate law
offices.
An
attorney, Knox is the founder and creator of the law magnet school in
the Dallas ISD, the first law instructor and legal curriculum writer for
the Academy, and he has helped advance the El Centro College Paralegal
Program to its current status.
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Middle School
One-Act Festival
The IISD Middle School One-Act Festival was staged in the
Nimitz High School auditorium November 10. Six middle schools
participated in the event. Three judges critiqued each play and offered
constructive teaching to the students.
Bowie Middle School and
Lamar Middle School received top ratings and many students were honored
with individual awards. Chris Garcia, Houston Middle School, was named
Best Actor and Daisy Soria, Bowie, was named Best Actress. All-Star Cast
members selected are: Mariah Barksdale, Lamar; Brett Bereuter, Travis
Middle School; Ernest Garcia, Houston; David Mares, de Zavala Middle
School; Daniel Park, Crockett Middle School; and Sijifredo Robledo,
Bowie.
Directors of the plays presented include: Kristina Sparks, Bowie,
Louder I Can’t Hear You; Courtney Reed, Crockett, A Case for Two
Detectives; Juan Frausto Jr., de Zavala, My Favorite Class;
Julia Wiggington, Houston, The First Date; Mary Kralicke, Lamar,
The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet; and Stephanie Ball,
Travis, Check Please.
This is the fifth year for the festival.
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Six IISD
middle school theatre arts teachers who directed middle
school act plays are (from left); Juan Frausto Jr., de
Zavala; Courtney Reed, Crockett; Julia Wiggington, Houston;
Stephanie Ball, Travis; Kristina Sparks, Bowie; and Mary
Kralicke, Lamar. |
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Children’s
Chorus to Present Concert
Irving Children’s Chorus will present a Christmas Concert on Monday,
December 10 at 7 p.m. in the old theatre at Nimitz High School. Musical
selections to be performed under the direction of Cathy Gribnitz include
Reindeer on the Roof, Jingle Bell Rock, One Candle,
Jamaican Noel, and Silent Night.
Parking will be available in the west parking lot and signs will be
posted to direct patrons to the theatre.
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Athletes of the
Month
Irving ISD Athletes of the Month for November are Ccimone Fotuaika and
Brian Cardenas, both of MacArthur High School.
Ccimone Fotuaika |
Brian Cardenas |
Fotuaika is swim captain for MacArthur, Irving and Nimitz High Schools
for 2007-2008. Her leadership of the team has been exemplary. Fotuaika
has not only encouraged members of the MacArthur team, but she has built
relationships with her peers at Irving and Nimitz. Fotuaika ranks in the
top 18 percent of her class. Her coach is Xiomara Lopez.
Cardenas is a member of
the cross country team for MacArthur. This year, he placed first at one
meet, finished in the top 20 for all other races, and finished in the
top 10 at district. Cardenas ranks in the top 10 percent of his class.
His coach is Eric Alonzo.
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Choir Students
Perform at Region Contest
IISD middle school choir directors hosted the Region XX Middle School
Choir Solo & Ensemble contest at Lamar Middle School November 10. Of the
IISD students who performed, 117 received First Division ratings and 16
received Second Division ratings. Four choirs from Travis also performed
and received First Division ratings. IISD middle school choir directors
include: Charles Salter, Austin; Jennifer Miller, Bowie; Antoinette
Gingras, Crockett; Vivian Rodriguez, de Zavala; Shalisha Johnson,
Houston; Frederica Braidfoot, Lamar; and Rebecca Wright, Travis.
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Judge Tagle
Speaks to Brown Fifth Graders
Shelly Jeoffroy, fifth grade teacher at Brown Elementary School,
recently invited her mother-in-law and Judge Hilda Tagle to speak to her
class. Originally earning a master’s degree in library science, Tagle
decided to earn a law degree and then became assistant city attorney for
Corpus Christi, Texas. After that she opened her own private law
practice and taught at Del Mar College. Appointed by President Clinton,
Tagle holds the distinction of being the first Hispanic woman in Texas
to become a federal judge. She is featured in Today’s Tejano Heroes
by Sammye Munson. Judge Tagle shared with Ms. Jeoffroy’s students how
important it is to have a good education and a dream to follow, despite
the obstacles.
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Judge
Hilda Tagle speaks to Shelly Jeoffroy’s fifth graders at
Brown Elementary School. |
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Coffee with the
Counselors
For the second year, the counselors at Brown Elementary School are
sponsoring parent education sessions entitled Coffee with the
Counselors. The monthly sessions emphasize positive discipline for
children and encourage parents to be a partner in their children’s
education.
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Johnston
Supports Soldiers
Johnston Elementary School students and staff members are collecting items for Wounded
Warriors. Students are writing notes or letters and drawing pictures for
the injured soldiers to show their support. Earlier this month, 1,250
items were sorted into toiletry bags and shipped to Darnall Medical
Center at Fort Hood, Texas.
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Lively One for
Books Builds Reading Resources
Lively
Elementary School’s One for Books program encourages families to donate
one dollar to help the school build its reading resources. For each
dollar contributed, Scholastic donates one book to one of three
non-profit charities. Lively has raised $300 and Scholastic has also
matched that total with another $300 for a grand total of $600 to be
used for reading resources.
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Have You
Considered Direct Deposit?
Direct deposit provides IISD employees with a safe and convenient way to
receive their paychecks, and it eliminates the need to make a trip to
the bank or pay a check-cashing fee. If you would like to try direct
deposit, forms are available at your school and at the personnel and
payroll offices at the Administration Building.
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In-line Skating
is Lifetime Activity
Third, fourth and fifth graders at Thomas Haley Elementary School suited
up with proper safety equipment – helmet, wrist guards, elbow and knee
pads – and received six days of in-line skating instruction.
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Purple Day at
Elliott
Picture Your World Purple Day was observed at Elliott Elementary School
earlier this month. Staff members donated $225 for pancreatic cancer
research. November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.
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