Nimitz Homecoming

Nimitz High School Vikings celebrate homecoming this week. Highlights of the homecoming schedule include:

• Parade
       – Thursday, 3 p.m., Nimitz

• Pep Rally & Lighting of the V
       – Thursday, 7 p.m., Nimitz

• Grand Prairie Gophers vs. Nimitz Vikings
       – Friday, 7:30 p.m., Irving Schools Stadium

• Crowning of Homecoming Queen
       – Friday, halftime of homecoming game

• Dance
       – Saturday, 7 p.m., The Studios at Las Colinas

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IISD Orchestra Reaches New Benchmark

For the first time in 20 years, each secondary school that offers an orchestra program has had at least one student qualify for Texas Music Educators Association/University Interscholastic League (TMEA/UIL) Region 20 All-Region Orchestra.

According to Marla Maletic, orchestra director at Nimitz High School, in her career with IISD, this is the first year that at least one student from each high school and middle school has earned a seat in a TMEA/UIL Region 20 All-Region group. The orchestras to which students may audition are the Honor’s Orchestra, for grades 9-12; Symphonic Orchestra, for grades 6-9; or Concert Orchestra, for middle school students in grades 6-8.

The All-Region Orchestras will perform a concert at 4 p.m. November 14 at Nimitz Auditorium. For a complete list of IISD students who earned seats in an All-Region Orchestra, access www.irvingisd.net/articles/allregionorchestra2009.htm.

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Nimitz Begins Robotics Program

Students in Angela Warr’s engineering class at Nimitz High School have spent the month of October, in class and on Saturdays, working toward their first trip to Dallas Boosting Engineering Science Technology (BEST) Robotics Competition, scheduled for October 24 at University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) gymnasium.

According to Warr, BEST Robotics Inc. is a non-profit, volunteer organization with a mission to inspire and motivate students to pursue careers in engineering, science, technology and math through an annual sports-like robotics competition. She believes that one of the best ways to teach engineering to high school students is to get them involved in engineering competitions.

To prepare for their first BEST Robotics competition, Nimitz students divided into groups to develop various elements of the robot’s design. Warr said each group studied the game strategy, discussed the ideal design, and gave presentations. The students then selected the best design and started the building process. In addition to numerous classroom tests, students attended qualifications October 17.  Students practiced activities they may conduct again during the upcoming competition such as collecting water, carbon dioxide, and benzene objects.

Warr said several parents and local businesses have provided invaluable support to the students in their first year of robotics. Billy James, a principal member of structural engineering firm Structural Engenuity, loaned power tools and provided design support, and Chris May, a test engineer with Lockheed Martin, provided advice and support. Warr said parents Sylvester Contreras, Monica Tidwell, and Florencio Miranda were key in helping the first-year program succeed.

Students created a YouTube video highlighting their preparation and experiences designing and building a robot. The video can be accessed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=e55SAI5s0Tc.

For more information about the Dallas BEST Robotics Competition, access www.dallas-best.org.

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Students Named to District Choir, Two Advance to Region

Three choir students from Irving High School have earned places in the district-level of Texas Music Educator/University Interscholastic League (TMEA/UIL) Region 20 Choir auditions and two IISD students have advanced to the regional level.

From Irving High, T.J. Cook earned first-chair tenor in district auditions, and Paulses Kollie and Bobby Moore earned second-chair bass seating. Having earned placement in the district choir, Cook, Moore and Kollie were then qualified to audition for TMEA/UIL Region Choir.

In regional auditions held October 17, Collie and Cory Jones from Nimitz High School earned seats with the region choir and may continue to All-State auditions in the spring.

The TMEA/UIL Region 20 choral concert for district and region choir is scheduled for 4 p.m. November 14 at Duncanville High School, located at 802 S. Main Street in Duncanville.

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Lusty Appointed Special Education Director

Mollie Lusty, middle school special education coordinator, has been appointed as IISD special education program director.

Lusty began her career in 1974 as general and special education teacher with Dallas ISD at Terry Elementary School. She joined Irving ISD in 1985, as a  special education teacher at Crockett Middle School. In 1994, Lusty became inclusion specialist for IISD, and in 1996 she was appointed to the role of middle school special education coordinator.

Lusty earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Education Degrees from Texas Woman’s University. She is a member of various professional organizations including Council for Exceptional Children, Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development, Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, and Texas State Teachers Association.

Lusty’s appointment fills the vacancy left by the retirement of Madalyn Teal.

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Videos for Kids, Parents Posted Online

Irving ISD Parent & Student Services department has partnered with Michael Hall and Strong Fathers/Strong Families to produce a range of videos designed to address alcohol and drug awareness, internet safety, and ways for parents to talk to children.

With the help of IISD students, the Parent & Student Services department taped, edited and produced four videos in English and Spanish, each approximately seven minutes long, geared toward helping students and parents.

To view videos produced by Parent & Student Services, access www.irvingisd.net/parentstudentservices/strongfathers1.htm

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Parent Information Night Scheduled

The IISD Special Education Department will sponsor its annual parent information night from 6-8 p.m. November 5 at MacArthur High School cafeteria.

The event is designed to make families aware of the various agencies and community resources available in the Irving area. Representatives from area agencies will also be available to answer questions. Agencies represented include: Dallas Metro Care, ARC of Dallas, North Lake College and Dallas County Community Colleges, Department of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), and Special Care & Career Services.

Several concurrent information seminars will also be presented in two sessions throughout the evening: guardianship, supplemental security income, DARS- transitioning into the workforce, and parents and the transition process. Most sessions run in 30-minute periods from 6:15-6:45 p.m. and from 7-7:30 p.m., with the guardianship session running from 6:15-7 p.m. and again at 7:15-8 p.m.

MacArthur cafeteria is located at 3700 N. MacArthur Blvd. Child care and refreshments will be provided.

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After learning about elements of various cultures in social studies class, sixth graders at Bowie Middle School were treated to a performance from the Polynesian dance group Mana Toa from Maui, Hawaii October 8.

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The local alumni chapter of Wabash College, located in Crawfordsville, Indiana, sponsored a service day during which the group donated and assembled a new picnic table and bench and performed maintenance for the garden at Good Elementary School. Pictured (from left) are Chris Bird; Mike Gregory; Jensy Gregory, kindergarten teacher at Good; Terry Schuck; Dan Susie; and Jim Thomas.

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