Eighth Annual
ICE Awards
The Eighth Annual Irving Celebration of Excellence (ICE) Awards,
scheduled for Thursday, February 28, recognizes the ongoing hard work
and dedication of Irving ISD schools, faculty and students.
Hosted this year at Nimitz High School Auditorium, a reception at 6:15
p.m. will kick-off the event with the formal program beginning at 7 p.m.
The ICE Awards will be hosted this year by Rene Castilla, executive dean
and director of the South Irving Center for North Lake College. Castilla
has also worked as an education reporter for KERA Channel 13 and WFAA-TV
Channel 8. In addition to his professional experience, he has served as:
president of the Irving Symphony Orchestra Association; as a board
member for the Irving Rotary Club; board member on the Irving-Las
Colinas Chamber of Commerce; and president of the TAMU-Commerce Alumni
Association board of directors. Castilla has also served as a member of
the Dallas ISD Board of Education for seven years, has won numerous
awards from the Texas State Teachers Association for his education
reporting, and has been the recipient of a number of civic awards from
organizations such as the Dallas Real Estate Council and Dallas
Historical Society.
Often noted as Irving’s version of Oscar night, awards will be presented
in elementary, middle and high school divisions in the areas of
humanities, math/science, fine arts, athletics & physical education,
community service/citizenship, and special campus/district. Finalists
and awardees are selected by the Excellence Now Committee, comprised of
members from the Irving community and Irving ISD. For a complete list of
finalists, visit
www.irvingisd.net/iceawards/2008Finalists.htm.
The Irving ISD Board of Trustees will also present their esteemed Golden
Apple Awards during the ceremony. Selected by the Board from open
nominations, Golden Apples are given to honor individuals and groups who
have set new standards in service to Irving ISD.
The Irving All-City Stage Band, as well as students named to All-City
and All-State performance groups, will provide musical entertainment.
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Ellington Appointed to Naval Academy
Steven Ellington, senior at MacArthur High School, has received an
appointment to attend the United States Naval Academy, entering this
fall with the class of 2012.
Ellington is the son of Michael and Monica Ellington and received his
appointment following a nomination from Congressman Kenny Marchant.
Students are selected for nomination based on the combination of
scholastic achievements, athletics, extracurricular and charity
involvement, recommendations from school and community leaders, and
interviews.
Students interested in applying for an academy nomination from
Congressman Marchant must submit a complete application, found on
Marchant's web site at
www.house.gov/marchant or by calling his office at 972.556.0162.
On average, the monetary value of each education received at a U.S.
service academy values at approximately $250,000.
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Mayor Visits Johnston
Irving Mayor Herbert Gears visited second grade students at Johnston
Elementary School February 11.
Students in second
grade teacher Luis Arocha’s class had been studying communities and
government, and as part of a class project began to email the mayor’s
office with their questions about the operations of city government. At
the class’ invitation, Mayor Gears visited the students in Johnston’s
library and spoke regarding the many functions of local government and
how city lawmakers interact with state and federal agencies.
Gears also visited
Arocha’s class to answer more of the student’s questions and take a more
detailed tour of the school.
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Irving Mayor Herbert Gears visited Johnston Elementary
School February 11 to discuss the activities of local
government and how different levels of government interact.
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Students Advance to State DECA Competition
Thirty-four
Irving ISD DECA students will advance to competition at the Texas State
Leadership Conference in Corpus Christi, March 2−6, as a result of
district competition.
DECA/Delta Epsilon
Chi is an international association of high school and college students
studying marketing, management and entrepreneurship in business,
finance, hospitality and marketing sales and service.
Complete list of students advancing to state competition.
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Elementary Schools Win USDA Award
Eleven schools in
Irving ISD won the USDA HealthierUS Challenge Silver School award for
2007-2009 in recognition of the schools’ food service programs. In order
to achieve bronze, silver or gold status, schools must meet certain
levels of criteria that foster healthy school environments by promoting
good nutrition and physical activity.
IISD elementary
schools achieving silver status include:
Barton, Britain, John
Haley, Johnston, Lively, Schulze, Brandenburg, Hanes, Davis, Gilbert,
and Stipes.
With a donation from
DairyMax, Johnston Elementary School joins Hanes and Farine
elementary schools in offering free breakfast to all
students enrolled. The Johnston program differs from the
other schools in that instead of taking students to the
cafeteria for breakfast, students are served breakfast in
their classrooms to start the day. Johnston was awarded the
USDA HealthierUS Challenge Silver School award for 2007-2009
in recognition of the schools’ food service programs. |
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Viking Choir Sees Regional Success
Choir students from Nimitz High School recently competed in the Region
20 Solo & Ensemble Festival, bringing home nine top solo ratings and two
top ensemble ratings.
Receiving First Division solo ratings were: Jackie Foster, Amanda Garza,
Cory Jones, and Chris Ramirez; Garza, Jones and Ramirez qualified for
state competition. Receiving Second Division solo ratings were: Ashley
Chaffin, Anna Schuessler, Mary Schuessler, and Stephanie Stockton.
The Madrigal Singers ensemble - consisting of Stockton, Garza, Jones,
Ramirez, Anna and Mary Schuessler, Jackie Estes, Robert Martinez, and
Amanda Nunez - received a First Division rating and qualified for state
competition. The Varsity Mixed Ensemble of Chaffin, Vanessa Bermudez,
Jackson Enberg, Amber Hertzog, Conner Joyner, Michelle Martinez, and
Rachel Pullum received a Second Division rating.
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No
Newsletter Next Week
The District Weekly will not be published next week. The next
issue of the newsletter will be published Wednesday, February 27.
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