Zipper Named National Merit Scholar
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Emarric
Zipper |
Emarric Zipper,
senior at Nimitz High School, has been awarded a $2,500 scholarship
funded by United Parcel Service Foundation through the 2008 National
Merit Scholarship Program.
Zipper, named as a
National Merit finalist earlier in the spring, is among 1,100 high
school seniors winning scholarships sponsored by companies, foundations
and other business organizations. National Merit scholars are chosen
from more than 15,000 finalists.
At the conclusion of
the 2008 program in June, about 8,200 finalists will earn the title of
National Merit Scholar and receive more than $36 million in
scholarships.
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Students Compete at
Leadership Conference
A delegation of 38
students from The Academy of Irving ISD, MacArthur, Irving, and Nimitz
high schools attended the Family, Career, and Community, Leaders of
America (FCCLA) State Conference in Galveston April 3-5.
Students from all four IISD
high schools attended the Family, Career, and Community,
Leaders of America (FCCLA) state conference in Galveston
April 3-5, participating in competitive events and state
leadership duties. |
All IISD students
competed in Students Taking Action for Recognition (STAR) competitive
events or Leadership Enhancement Opportunities. FCCLA student officers
from the Academy fulfilled duties at the conference and competition
events and were elected to state office. Amber Gill, sophomore at the
Academy, was elected to the State Executive Council as vice president of
STAR Events for 2008-2009. Joseph Lees, 2007-2009 FCCLA Region III
president and senior at the Academy, was awarded two scholarships for a
total of $17,000.
The FCCLA State
Conference included leadership training and elections, motivational
speakers, and workshops for the students to attend. For a complete list
of conference competition results, access
www.irvingisd.net/articles/fccla.htm.
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Trustee Candidates Interviewed
The Irving ISD Public Information Department offered all candidates in
the May 10 IISD Trustee election the opportunity to be featured on
Irving Schools Television (ISTV) and IISD website through short
interviews.
The
interviews can be viewed on ISTV via Time Warner Cable Channel 98 and
Verizon FiOS Channel 33 through May 8. The daily broadcast times are 11
a.m., 3 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 11 p.m. The interviews can also be viewed
through the IISD website using the link below.
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Students Place at State SkillsUSA, HOSA
Students from The Academy of Irving ISD traveled to Corpus Christi for
the state SkillsUSA championships March 27-29, and to Austin April 10-12
for Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) state conference.
Amy Preston, sophomore at the Academy, won first place in the food &
beverage service competition and will advance to the SkillsUSA national
competition held in Kansas City this summer.
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Amy Preston, sophomore at
The Academy of Irving ISD and president of the SkillsUSA
chapter, won the Gold Medal and a $4,000 scholarship for
Food & Beverage Service at the state SkillsUSA competition
in Corpus Christi March 27-29. |
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From their success at HOSA state conference, Academy HOSA teams and
individuals will compete at the national level in Health Education,
Career Health Display, and Kaiser Health Care Issues. The senior HOSA
chapter, represented by Devanshi Somaya, will for the second consecutive
year be competing for Outstanding HOSA Chapter.
For complete Academy students’
state contest and conference results, access
www.irvingisd.net/articles/skillsUSA.htm.
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PreK, Elementary
Registration Scheduled
IISD early childhood and elementary schools have scheduled informational
meetings and registration dates for the 2008-2009 school year.
Early childhood schools will host informational meetings May 6 the three
early childhood schools and parents are invited to attend the meeting at
the school in their child’s attendance area. Although there will be no
registering of new students at the meeting, prekindergarten registration
is scheduled for 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m., July 29-31 at the three respective
schools. Students must be four years old on or before September 1, 2008,
and meet income, language, homeless and/or military dependency
requirements.
Elementary registration for students new to IISD will be 8 a.m.-3:30
p.m., May 5-23 and August 11-19. The following items are required for
registration: updated immunization records, birth certificates, proof of
residence and the child’s social security card.
For complete information regarding
new student registration, access
www.irvingisd.net/ppage/registration.htm.
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Chess Team Returns in National Contest
Houston Middle School’s eighth grade chess team competed at the 2008
National Junior High Chess Championship April 4-6 at the Hyatt Regency
D/FW, winning 12th place out of 18 teams in the K-9 unrated division.
Each team member received a medal, and in a ceremony at the school
April 9, Houston Principal Rick Nolly was presented with the team’s
trophy.
The Houston
Middle School eighth grade chess team won 12th place among
18 teams competing in the unrated division of the National
Junior High Chess Championship April 4-6. Team members and
coaches are (from left to right):
Kevin Chile, Scott Watson, K’ Darious Bell,
John Smith, Danny Howe, and Naya Stromile-Beckley. |
Following several years of dormancy, the Houston chess team was
restarted in January 2008 to coincide with the school’s 30th
anniversary. The entire 18-member chess team meets for 20 minutes on
alternating Fridays. John Smith, eighth grade reading teacher, and Scott
Watson, sixth grade math teacher, sponsor the team. At the national
championship, the eighth grade team competed in the unrated division,
meaning team members had never before competed in a United States Chess
Federation event.
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Athletes of the Month
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Katherine Beach |
The IISD female athlete of the month is Katherine Beach,
senior at Irving High School. In addition to her athletic
involvement in track and cross country, Beach is involved in
Student Council,
National Honor Society, KIRV, Crime Stoppers, and
Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Beach
has not lost a race in the 800-meter event this season and
has only lost once in the 400-meter run.
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Chad Bruce |
IISD male athlete of the month is Chad Bruce, senior at
Nimitz High School.
Bruce recently won his second tennis city championship in
boys’ doubles with his partner Yang Nguyen and was
undefeated in singles in the fall. Bruce was named first
team All-District, and second team-All-District at doubles.
In spring play, Bruce has lost only one match in singles or
doubles. He has played tennis at Nimitz for four years and
is a three-year letterman. In addition to athletics, Bruce
is an honors student, a German club member, and National
Honors Society member. Bruce is actively involved in music
at his church and plans to attend Baylor University. |
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District to Receive Innovation Award
The IISD Risk Management Department has been selected to receive the
Innovation Award from the Risk Management Fund (RMF) Board of Trustees,
sponsored by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB).
The
award comes as a result of the production of informational videos
pertaining to voluntary insurance benefits presented in both English and
Spanish. The videos were produced through cooperation between the Risk
Management Department and Billy Rudolph, cable television specialist in
the Public Information Department.
The award was established by the TASB RMF Board of Trustees as a way to
recognize members that have demonstrated creativity, innovation and
success with local risk management efforts. In addition to being
publicly recognized, the award includes $1,000 to be used toward any
risk management effort. The award will be presented during the RMF
annual members’ conference April 20-22.
The award-winning videos can be seen online at
www.irvingisd.net/ppage/BenefitsVideos.htm.
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Independent Study Presentations
Students involved in the IISD Independent Study Mentorship
Program will present their work and have it reviewed by judges from
5:30-8:20 p.m. April 21 at The Academy of Irving ISD and Nimitz High
School, and April 22 at the Academy and Irving High School.
The IISM is a research-based, advanced level, active-learning
course designed to provide high school juniors and seniors the
opportunity to explore an area of study of their own choosing. Students
will make public presentations of their work at the event, and their
products and performances will be evaluated by a panel of expert judges.
The IISM is coordinated by the IISD Gifted & Talented
Department. For more information, contact Deborah George at
972-215-5050.
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Spring
Athletes Swing into Championships
At the high school level, tennis, golf and track athletes
recently competed at district in their respective sports, claiming a
total of 50 places in regional competition which is scheduled for April
21-26 at Texas Tech University.
At the middle school level, Bowie Middle School boasts city
championship teams in three grade divisions, each capping an undefeated
season by winning their respective championship April 3 at Irving
Schools Stadium.
For a complete list of spring high school athletes
and their respective sports, access
www.irvingisd.net/articles/springathletics.htm.
For team information on the Bowie track & field athletes,
access
www.irvingisd.net/articles/citychampions2008.htm.
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