IISD Employees Give More Than $32K to
United Way
Outpacing
totals from previous years, Irving ISD employees donated a total of
$32,416 during the 2007 United Way giving campaign.
Thomas Haley Elementary
School repeated their effort from 2006 and raised the most money - a
total of $4,011 - followed by MacArthur High School's total of $3,139.
Townsell Elementary School and the IISD Administration Building raised
$2,746 and $2,348, respectively. Others raising more than $1,000
included Clifton Early Childhood School, Wheeler Transitional &
Development Center as well as Keyes, Lively, Stipes and Townley
elementary schools.
In total participation,
Townsell led the district with 56 donors, followed by MacArthur with 45
and Thomas Haley with 42 donors. IISD produced a total of 730 donors for
the year, and although less than the 794 total donors giving for 2006,
monetary totals increased an average of $436 among each of the 10
organizations raising more than $1,000.
According to the United
Way of Metropolitan Dallas, United Way organizations are independently
incorporated and operated across the country. Donors may contribute to
any United Way, but contributions collected by United Way of
Metropolitan Dallas, such as those collected by IISD, go directly to
fund programs in this area.
Back to
top
Athletes of the Month
The Irving ISD Athletes
of the Month for December are Jasmine Ford, senior at Irving High
School, and Rafael Garcia, senior at Nimitz High School.
|
Jasmine Ford |
Rafael
Garcia |
Ford is in her second
year as a Lady Tiger varsity basketball player and currently plays the
point guard position. According to Coach Jennifer Smith, she is a team
captain and also takes care of business off the court. Ford's GPA is
3.40 and she is ranked 73 in her class of 452.
Garcia is averaging 20.4
points per game with 2 assists, shooting 41 percent from three point
range. He was Second Team All-District last year and, according to Coach
GW Melton, looks to be having a great season this year. Garcia also
takes an active role in his church activities.
Back to
top
Davis Honored by City
of Irving
The Irving Parks &
Recreation Department honored the office staff at Davis Elementary
School with the IPAR Super Star Award on Monday, December 10.
The IPAR Super Star is
presented to those who have made a significant and ongoing contribution
during the past year. Davis has worked with West Park Recreation Center
on numerous projects including Trick or Trunk, canned food drives and
the after school program.
Rosa
Avendano, Jennifer McKee, Irma Aguirre, Principal John
Ringhauser, Tiffinee Blough and Leigh Davila from Davis
Elementary School were recognized for their staff
contribution to the community by the Irving Parks and
Recreation Department. |
In the nomination, the
staff at West Park wrote “the Davis office staff has made a difference
in our programs that we offer. Their commitment to serve the community
is very much appreciated and our programs would not be what they are
today without their help.”
Back to
top
Brandenburg Receives
Corporate Grant
Brandenburg Elementary
School has been awarded a $17,000 SAP Corporate Citizenship grant from
the SAP America, Inc. business software company.
According to Nickie
Weaver, grant services director for IISD, the funds will support
equipment for their science lab, instruction for Saturday and after
school science programs, and parent center reorganization.
Mary Kay Dixon, special
education teacher and grants coordinator for Brandenburg, said the grant
was submitted in September at the invitation of SAP America when
Brandenburg and the company were joined in the Partners in Education
program.
In addition to the
science lab and parent center improvements, Dixon said some of the funds
are planned for projects in collaboration between students at the
Academy and Brandenburg's fourth and fifth graders.
Back to
top
Nokia Donates Funds
for Holiday Assistance
Nokia donated funds to
the Irving Schools Foundation to assist Irving ISD families during the
holiday season. Fifteen Irving ISD families at ten campuses were
assisted by this generous holiday donation. Wal-Mart gift cards were
purchased and distributed to the campuses on Monday, December 17 for the
families to purchase food and toys this holiday season.
Back to
top
IISD Nutrition
Program Recognized by TDA
Michael
Rosenberger,
Irving ISD food service director, was featured on the Texas Department
of Agriculture's syndicated radio show on December 12. Rosenberger
spoke specifically about how the IISD food program transitioned from
using bleached white flour to the more healthy alternative of baking 100
percent whole wheat breads. He also referenced the use of brown rice in
the district's popular Spanish rice dish.
According to the TDA broadcast, Rosenberger said schools should
recognize their child nutrition departments are partners in the
educational process. Rosenberger also said school kitchens in the IISD
have the support of teachers who reinforce the message of healthy
nutrition with classroom education.
Back to
top
IISD Music Programs
Spread Holiday Cheer
|
Under the
direction of music teachers Barbara Lee and Jetawone
Prestwood, the Elliott Elementary School honor choir
performs seasonal selections December 12 for the staff at
IISD Administration Building.
On December 1, the Elliott Elementary School choir sang at
Heritage Park and then rode in the Irving Christmas Parade.
Karen Lowman directs the Schulze Elementary School Choir in
music to celebrate the holidays December 13 in the
administration building atrium.
Students from the Gilbert Elementary School Choir dance and sing as
part of their Holiday presentation to the IISD Administration
Building Staff December 14. The Gilbert choir is directed by Karen
Bryan.
The Lamar Middle
School Orchestra, directed by Adrian Demian, presents Christmas and
holiday arrangements to IISD staff in the Administration Building
December 19.
The Good
Elementary School Choir, under the direction of Frances Rinehart,
entertains staff in the administration building December 20 to
celebrate the holidays.
Directed by Carl Welle, the Irving High string orchestra opens the
day’s festivities at the administration building December 21.
The Haley Players, Haley Elementary School’s after school music
program, entertains staff and faculty in the administration building
board room December 21.
Closing their performance with a medley of holiday selections,
Rebecca Wright conducts the Travis Middle School Advanced Girls’
choir as they perform for the staff in the administration building
December 21. |
Back to
top
