1:1 Symposium - Sharing What Works

Irving ISD Technology Department will sponsor the annual 1:1 Laptop Symposium November 13-14 at Jack E. Singley Academy.

According to IISD instructional technology administrators, the symposium is designed for school districts to meet, share and become better at one-to-one laptop programs and instructional technology initiatives. Practitioners, instructors and technicians have been invited to deliver presentations related to their respective areas of expertise. Keynote presenters and their discussion topics include:

Anita Givens, Texas Education Agency associate commissioner, will give an update on the 81st Texas Legislative Session and the impact new legislation will have on schools and technology. She will also share initiatives that are occurring at the national level through her work with State Educational Technology Directors Association and other organizations.

Storyboarding, the first stage of producing a successful multimedia project, is a tool for planning and organization that promotes creativity while bridging the gap between concept and production. Marco Torres, former California Teacher of the Year, will discuss this stage as well as strategies for successful planning and pre-production.

The presentation by Gary Stager, executive director of The Constructivist Consortium, will promote sustainable school innovation via lessons learned over 19 years of working in laptop schools. The educational case for truly personal computing will be made through entertaining vignettes and video-based case studies of best practices.

David Thornburg, technology author and consultant, will explore the promise of modern educational computer use. With powerful “netbooks” selling for little more than the cost of paper textbooks, and the rapid development of amazing web-based services, the face of classroom practice is poised for a dynamic change.

For IISD employees, there are still some slots available to register for symposium. Though content is directed at 1:1 secondary campuses, according Dr. Alice Owen, executive director of technology, all IISD faculty may find the program helpful and learn a great deal about using technology for instruction. For registration information, access www.irvingisd.net/symposium/about.htm.

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Nimitz JROTC Wins at Drill Meet

Nimitz High School Naval Junior Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) students won five top awards at the Pride of North Texas Drill Meet at Lewisville High School October 30, placing first and qualifying for state competition.

The Nimitz High School Naval JROTC Armed Drill Team competes at the Pride of North Texas Drill Meet at Lewisville High School October 30.

Twenty-four high school JROTC programs competed in six categories: academics; armed drill; unarmed drill; male, female or mixed color guard; physical fitness; and marksmanship. Nimitz NJROTC awards included first place inspection for Team Armed Drill; second place overall for Team Unarmed Drill; second place for Team Unarmed Regulation Drill; first place inspection for Team Male Color Guard; and third place kneeling for Marksmanship by Hunter Bates.

After computing Championship Points – overall points from every event – Nimitz NJROTC was ranked first at the competition and qualified for the state NJROTC Championship, scheduled for February 26 at Texas A&M University.

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Grants for Charitable Schools

Seven Irving ISD middle and high schools have each been awarded $500 grants from the Meadows Foundation to implement a Charitable Schools project.

Schools and their faculty coordinators receiving grants are Irving High School, Tracy Womble; Nimitz High School, Helen Bradley; Austin Middle School, Ellen Batchelor and Rhonda Parker; Bowie Middle School; Maria Work; de Zavala Middle School, Karen Dendy and Wendy Bennett; Houston Middle School, Yvonne Beacham; and Lamar Middle School, Patty Donovan.

According to Nickie Weaver, grant services director, each project will encourage and support youth volunteerism, develop student leadership skills, and foster a sense of personal responsibility for the welfare of others. Weaver said grant funds will support students as they plan and execute community service projects. The goal of the projects is to empower students to discover, through their own efforts, that they have the capacity to effect change in the world.

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District, Community Fine Arts Experiences

From marching bands to symphony orchestras, the city of Irving and Irving ISD offer a full gamut of fine arts experiences.

On October 26, approximately 2,500 IISD fourth graders attended a performance by the Las Colinas Symphony at Calvary Church. Students were also introduced to each instrument in a symphony through individual demonstrations. Fifth grade students are invited to the next Las Colinas Symphony Youth Concerts at either 9 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. November 5 at Calvary Church. The concert for seventh grade students is November 6 at 9 a.m. or 10:30 a.m.

Approximately 500 Irving ISD orchestra students in grades seven through 12 participated in the Orchestra Fall Festival October 29 at Nimitz High School Gymnasium.

Irving ISD orchestra students in grades seven through 12 participated in the Orchestra Fall Festival October 29 at Nimitz High School Gymnasium. Approximately 500 students performed selections including God Bless America, Japanese Kabuki and music from Star Wars. Ensembles included the combined middle school orchestra and two combined high school orchestras.

The Nimitz High School Marching Band was awarded a superior rating at Mesquite Marching Festival October 3 and at the UIL marching contest October 17.

The Nimitz High School Marching Band capped its season by winning superior ratings at the Mesquite Marching Festival October 3 and at University Interscholastic League (UIL) marching contest October 17. Nimitz marching band is conducted by Dr. Jay Smith; assistant directors Ben Price and James Bachrach; associate directors Dan Gelber, Kyle McKinzey, Sergio Mendez and Jung Mour; and Color Guard Instructor Jessica Atkinson.

Irving ISD Fine Arts Department maintains a comprehensive district fine arts calendar on the web at www.irvingisd.net/finearts.

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Superintendent Search Community Input Meetings

IISD Board of Trustees has begun work to select a new superintendent of schools with assistance from the Texas Association of School Boards Executive Search Services. As a part of that process, a TASB consultant would like to meet with various groups to begin developing the qualifications and characteristics of the ideal superintendent for Irving ISD.

To provide the public an opportunity to offer input, a number of meetings have been scheduled.

Public attendance and comments are greatly appreciated. Meetings are expected to last approximately one hour. At the meetings, participants will also have the opportunity to complete a printed form providing your input. If a resident is unable to attend a meeting, forms will be available at the IISD Administration Building, located at 2621 W. Airport Freeway, Irving, Texas 75062. Comments may be submitted by completing an online survey. The link to the survey may be found on the District website at www.irvingisd.net under Hot Links.

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Schedule for November 23-27

All Irving ISD schools and offices will be closed for the Thanksgiving holidays, November 25-27.

Monday and Tuesday, November 23-24, are holidays for students and IISD employees will participate in staff development. During these two days, all schools will be closed, but central administrative offices will be open for regular business hours.

Offices reopen and classes resume November 30. IISD 2009-2010 school calendars can be found online by accessing www.irvingisd.net/Calendars/highlights.htm.

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