Irving ISD Breaks District AP Scholar Record

The College Board has recognized 110 Irving ISD students with the designation of Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar in recognition of exceptional achievement on college level AP exams taken in May 2009.

About 18 percent of more than 1.6 million high school students who took AP exams performed at a high enough level to merit recognition at AP Scholars. IISD has seen an average increase in the number of AP Scholars in recent years. In 2006, 98 students in IISD were named AP Scholars, followed by 93 in 2007, 107 in 2008, and 110 in 2009.

The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students' performance on AP exams. AP exams are graded on a scale of one to five, with five being the highest grade. To qualify as AP Scholar, students must complete three or more AP exams with grades of three or higher. To qualify as AP Scholar with Honor, students must earn an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. To qualify as AP Scholar with Distinction, students must earn an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and grades of three or higher on five or more of these exams. To qualify as National AP Scholar, students must earn an average grade of four or higher on all AP exams taken and grades of four or higher on eight or more of these exams.

Through 37 different college-level courses and exams, AP provides students with the opportunity to earn college credit or advanced placement, and to stand out in the college application process. With each exam being developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers, students are ensured they receive exams aligned with the same standards expected in college courses. Research consistently shows that AP students who score a three or higher on AP exams, typically experience greater academic success in college, as well as higher graduation rates than students who do not participate in Advanced Placement.

For a complete list of Irving ISD AP Scholars, access www.irvingisd.net/articles/AP2009.htm.

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Community Learning for the 21st Century

Irving ISD participates in the 21^st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) grant program, an initiative that serves as a supplementary program to enhance efforts to improve student academic achievement.

Currently in the sixth year of operation, CCLC grants are funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Funds are intended to provide opportunities to establish and expand community learning activities at high-need schools. Opportunities include academic enrichment and tutoring in core academic subjects; a broad array of additional youth development, fine arts and technology services; and opportunities for literacy and educational development programs for families including college and workforce readiness.

In Irving ISD, schools have received grant funding in all but two years of the program. CCLC grants are for a five-year period and if a district is awarded the grant the first year, they are eligible to re-apply for each of the next four years. Before applying for the grant, teams at each participating school meet weekly for four months to prepare the necessary application information.

Second grade students at Schulze Elementary School practice their reading skills with Carleen Michener, Schulze art teacher, during the first hour of Project QuESt

Students at de Zavala Middle School learn a new song with Andrew Moss, history teacher at de Zavala, during the second hour of Project S.A.F.E.

Grant funding is not intended to solely support the programs at each school, so IISD contributes a portion of the funding. Each participating school receives funding for 200 or 233 students, depending upon the needs identified by campus teams. Students must attend for 30 consecutive days between September and May in order for the campus to receive funding.

IISD currently has two cycles of CCLCs receiving funding. Project S.A.F.E. – Students, Academics-Focused on Excellence – serves Irving High School, Union Bower Center for Learning, de Zavala Middle School, John Haley Elementary School, and Lively Elementary School, is in the fourth year out of five. Project QuESt – Quality Education for Students – serves Nimitz High School, Austin Middle School, Bowie Middle School, Houston Middle School, Lamar Middle School, Travis Middle School, Britain Elementary School, Good Elementary School, Thomas Haley Elementary School, and Schulze Elementary School, is in the first of five years.

Project QuESt and Project S.A.F.E. received $1.9 million and $600,000 respectively to distribute among participating schools for the current year. Funding for each school is determined according to how many students are served. Campuses determine who is eligible to participate, but traditionally will accept as many students as space allows.

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Lee Student Goes From Class to Corporate

Hannah Nguyen, fourth grader at Lee Elementary School, has taken skills learned in her classes at Lee and has begun her own business.

Nguyen said art is one of her favorite classes and has had one of her pieces picked for display at Irving Arts Center. After visiting a friend who successfully designs and sells bottle cap jewelry, Nguyen became inspired to take her love of art and the inspiration from her friend to design her own line of button rings.

During technology classes at school, Nguyen learned how to effectively and efficiently use the computer and Internet to conduct research. She said she used that knowledge to learn the vector-based illustration program Lineform. Nguyen then used the software to create several different ring designs that were inspired by various influences in her life. Among her designs, she created a Lee-themed ring and a ring for a girl whom her family sponsors through Compassion International.

Hannah Nguyen, fourth grader at Lee Elementary School, displays samples of the button rings she has designed.

Taking the concept to the next level, Nguyen has obtained a business tax identification number and has her rings available for sale at stores in Grapevine and in California. She has created an Internet presence for herself at www.h-artshop.com and Facebook, and plans to showcase her rings at Irving Main Street Event September 26.

Known by her teachers at school to be a bit shy, she said that her teachers make her feel confident in her abilities. She said one of the next steps in her business is to be showcased on daytime television talk shows.

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100 Years for Texas PTA

Texas Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) will be having a 100^th birthday celebration from 2-6 p.m. October 18 at the Cotton Bowl during the State Fair of Texas. Tickets for the celebration are $15 for one or $12.50 for four or more, and include admission to the fair. Activities include stage entertainment, bounce houses, science activities, Texas author book signings, balloon sculptures, and face painting. For more information, access www.txpta.org/events.

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MacArthur High School Student Council members participated in Irving’s Trinity Trash Bash September 12 with 40 students volunteering to help city-wide clean-up efforts and collecting more than 700 pounds of litter and recyclable materials.

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