IHS Awarded AVID Certification

During the first day of teacher in-service August 19, Irving High was announced as the first school in the district to be awarded national certification for the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program.

According to district AVID directors Paula Barnhouse, director for P-16 parent/student counseling, and Deborah George, director of gifted & talented services, AVID is a system to prepare students in the “academic middle” for four-year college eligibility. AVID targets “B” and “C” students who are capable of completing rigorous curriculum and who have the desire to go to college.

Faculty at Irving High School are congratulated by IISD central administrators for being the first school in the district to achieve AVID certification.

Barnhouse and George said students enrolled in pre-advanced placement (AP) and AP courses, and also in an AVID elective. For the AVID class period, students learn organizational and study skills, work on critical thinking and asking probing questions, get academic help from college tutors, and participate in motivational enrichment activities that make college seem attainable.

In order to be a nationally certified AVID site, a school must implement AVID for two years and meet rigorous national standards in its implementation. Irving High completed its second year in 2008-2009, was evaluated and met national certification standards. Austin Middle School, Crockett Middle School, and de Zavala Middle School completed the first year of AVID in 2008-09, and will be evaluated for certification this year. Nimitz High School, Bowie Middle School, and Lamar Middle School are implementing AVID during the 2009-2010 school year.

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Enrollment Opens for Sick Leave Bank

Applications are being accepted for IISD staff and faculty to enroll in the district sick leave bank.

The purpose of the sick leave bank is to provide additional sick leave days to members of the bank in the event of unexpected surgery, extended illness, or temporary disability due to an injury. Days may be requested from the bank only after the member has exhausted all accumulated state sick and personal leave, and local sick leave days. All full-time employees, 10-, 11-, and 12-month personnel of IISD are eligible for membership. In order to join the bank, applicants must agree to donate three local sick leave days in exchange for up to 30 days that could used during the school year.

For more information regarding sick leave bank, access www.irvingisd.net/riskmanagement/leaves/default.htm.

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Teacher Grant Announced

Doris Sledge, third grade teacher at Farine Elementary School, was announced as the first recipient for 2009-2010 of a Teacher Enrichment Grant from Irving Schools Foundation. She will attend “The Daily Five with ‘The Sisters’” September 14.

Teacher Enrichment Grants provide teachers with funding for professional development opportunities including attendance at seminars and workshops. Applications from teachers are due by the 10th of each month, are awarded for as much as $500 each, and are distributed September through May. For more information about the Irving Schools Foundation or Teacher Enrichment Grants, please visit www.irvingisd.net/foundation.

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Fall Credit By Examination

September 18 is the application deadline for the Irving ISD secondary-level fall administration of Credit By Examination (CBE) for advancement. CBE evaluates mastery of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for a particular subject or grade level.

At the secondary level (grades 6-12), the following options are available:

• Without Prior Instruction
  CBE is offered to students as an opportunity to receive credit for a course in which the student has received no prior instruction. A student may advance one grade level (6-8) or one course per subject area (9-12) in each testing period. Scores of 85 percent or above on an approved exam is required to receive credit.

• With Prior Instruction
  Students may earn CBE if they have received prior instruction in the subject for which the exam is taken. Scores of 70 percent or above on the course examination and/or completion of applicable projects is required.

Applications and information are available from the student’s school counselor.

Testing dates will be October 31, November 7, and November 14 at de Zavala Middle School, located at 707 W. Pioneer in Irving. For additional information, please see attached files or access www.irvingisd.net/ppage/credit_by_exam.htm.

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IISD First Day Activities

First graders in Ashley Atkinson’s class at Stipes Elementary School read lists posted in a hallway to find their new classroom and teacher.

Students and parents at Brown Elementary School enter to find their students’ classes as the school is opened for the first day.

Davis Elementary School conducts its welcome back to school flag ceremony, announcing to students and parents the school’s new Recognized rating, an improvement from being rating Academically Acceptable last year.

Kindergarteners in Erika Valcarcel’s class at Britain Elementary School learn the proper way to walk in the hallway during their first morning at school.

Parents of new kindergarteners at Farine Elementary School enjoy the Boo-Hoo breakfast hosted by Farine for parents sending their children off to school for the first time.

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Teachers at Lamar Middle School prepare for the first day of school, spending part of in-service training conducting teamwork activities.

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Follow IISD on Twitter

Keep up with the latest Irving ISD news and events. Follow Irving ISD on Twitter with your cell phone or online. http://twitter.com/IrvingISD.

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