Schools Observe 9-11 Anniversary

All IISD schools are observing a solemn anniversary today, one year after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Students, faculty and staff in every school and department will be invited to observe a moment of silence to remember those who were killed in the attacks. Most elementary students will be wearing red, white and blue. Some schools have also planned memorial activities.

At MacArthur High School, students will take part in a closed-circuit television program with a video, remarks by the principal, and the Pledge of Allegiance.

The junior class at Irving High School will pass out red, white and blue ribbons.

At Bowie Middle School, English students have written poetry, expressing their emotions about the tragedy.

Austin Middle School students are making cards of appreciation to give to local firefighters.

Farine Elementary is celebrating a “Day of Heroes” with a ceremonial flag-raising, writing projects about American heroes, and visits to the school from local police and fire fighters.

Townley Elementary PTA will give a flag to each student at that school and students will get a lesson in flag etiquette.

On Friday, Kinkeade Early Childhood School will hold Freedom Day parades that will finish at the flagpole where students will recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The parades will begin at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Also on Friday, Keyes Elementary will host a parent involvement day titled, "We Are All Americans."

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Air Force Flag Flies at Administration Building

A United States flag was donated to the Irving ISD that was flown on board an AC130H spectre gunship on several night combat missions during Operation Anaconda in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The flag is being displayed at the Administration Building.

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Teachers of the Year

Natalie Picquet, humanities teacher at Travis Middle School, and Deborah Augustin, third grade teacher at Thomas Haley Elementary School, will be honored as IISD Teachers of the Year at the September 16 Board of Trustees meeting. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. in the Nimitz High School auditorium. A reception honoring Picquet, Augustin and other campus Teachers of the Year will be at 6:15 p.m. at Nimitz.

Picquet and Augustin were chosen from among 32 campus Teachers of the Year. The other 30 teachers to receive the honor are: Jack Brockette, Irving High School; Bruce Coleman, MacArthur High School; Rea Jean Johnson, Nimitz High School; Eric Creeger, The Academy of Irving ISD; Nancy Tucker, Union Bower Center for Learning; Charles Tandy, Austin Middle School; Mary McKean, Bowie Middle School; Kimberly Johnson, Crockett Middle School; Debbie Psencik, Houston Middle School; Carol Holder, Lamar Middle School; Allan London, Secondary Reassignment Center; Annissa Macon, Gilbert Transitional Center; Pat Clements, Barton Elementary School; Sherry Walker, Brandenburg Elementary School; Lori Cross, Britain Elementary School; Sandy Hawkins, Brown Elementary School; Dawn Hamilton, Davis Elementary School; Jennifer Burchfiel, Elliott Elementary School; Gina Dickson, Farine Elementary School; Marsha Brown, Gilbert Elementary School; Frank Ramirez, Good Elementary School; Susan Rice, John Haley Elementary School; Paula Green, Hanes Elementary School; Melissa Andrae, Johnston Elementary School; Marilyn Mutchler, Keyes Elementary School; Heather Lamb, Lee Elementary School; Coleen Couch, Lively Elementary School; Janice Thomas, Schulze Elementary School; Myra Scrabeck, Townley Elementary School; and Laura Sandidge, Clifton Early Childhood School.

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United Way Campaign Begins September 16

The district’s annual United Way fund-raising campaign begins Monday when IISD employees will be encouraged to give to "One Way That Helps Us All."

Employees can participate simply by filling out a pledge card and returning it to campus United Way coordinators at their school or department. Donations will be accepted through September 27.

Last year, IISD employees set a record with their generosity, giving more than $39,000 for United Way affiliates to help provide food, shelter, care, counseling and help for thousands of people.

The 2002 United Way coordinators are: Maurice Evans, MacArthur High School; James Peugh, Nimitz High School; Rick Nolly, Irving High School; Michael Plankenhorn, The Academy of Irving ISD; Debbie Howard, Union Bower Center for Learning; Randy Godsey, Secondary Reassignment Center; Raul Pena, Austin Middle School; Kyna Eastlick, Bowie Middle School; Debra Hargrove, Crockett Middle School; Curtis Mauricio, de Zavala Middle School; Melinda Schott, Houston Middle School; Trudie Jackson, Lamar Middle School; Brandy Johnson, Travis Middle School; Linda Davis, Barton Elementary School; Michael Crotty, Brandenburg Elementary School; Richard Burton, Britain Elementary School; Patrick Schott, Brown Elementary School; Myrna Baker, Davis Elementary School; Dwight Hood, Elliott Elementary School; Erin Yacho, Farine Elementary School; Anabelle Lugo, Gilbert Elementary School; Leigh Ann Tooke, Good Elementary School; Felecia Myers, Hanes Elementary School; Brenda McGeorge, John Haley Elementary School; Karen Nash, Thomas Haley Elementary School; Karen Wilson, Johnston Elementary School; Patty Bustamante, Keyes Elementary School; Jamie Jones, Lee Elementary School; Virginia Howard, Lively Elementary School; Ron Jennings, Schulze Elementary School; Robin Hurt, Townley Elementary School; Barbara Copeland, Clifton Early Childhood School; Jennifer Dunbar, Kinkeade Early Childhood School; Dorinda Fleming, Pierce Early Childhood School; Jane Kneece, School for the Deaf; Susie Sorrell, Food Service; Norma Bailey, Instructional Center; Pat Lamb, Maintenance; Nancy Ogle, Special Education; Jan Dickson, Technology/Staff Development Center; Paullette Young, Gilbert Center; Beverly Owen, Elementary Development Center; Rosalie Lopez, Bilingual/ESL; and Lida de la Pena, Ratteree Career Development Center.

For more information on the United Way campaign, please contact your coordinator or the Public Information Department at 972-273-6091.

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Teachers Offered Historical Tour of Irving

IISD teachers can get a free history lesson to help them celebrate Irving’s upcoming centennial. The Irving Centennial Education Committee has organized two historical tours of the city for Irving educators.

Both tours will depart from the Irving Civic Center by bus at 9 a.m. and lunch will be provided upon return to the Civic Center. Participants will also receive an Irving Centennial T-shirt. The Irving Civic Center is located at 825 West Irving Boulevard.

The first tour is scheduled for Saturday, September 28, and its registration deadline is Friday, September 20. The second tour is Saturday, October 5, and its registration deadline is Friday, September 27.

The tour is free and a certificate for staff development credit earned will be given.

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IISD Teachers Race for the Cure

This year, for the first time, IISD employees will run, walk and march together at the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The event, held in Dallas every year to raise money for breast cancer research, usually draws teams from several IISD schools. This year, Lively Elementary School librarian Karen Kessel has helped organize all of the district’s participants into a team that will run to “Close the Book on Cancer.” Participants can also get a T-shirt with that slogan and their names printed on it.

The Komen Dallas Race for the Cure is Saturday, October 19 at North Park Center in Dallas. Registration for the event is $20 (plus $8 for the optional T-shirt) and due to Kessel by Wednesday, September 25.

For more information, contact Karen Kessel at KKessel@irvingisd.net or 972-273-6706.

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College Night at the Academy

Representatives from dozens of colleges, universities, technical schools, and other institutes of higher learning will be at The Academy from 7 to 9 p.m. September 19 to talk with IISD high school students and parents about post-secondary opportunities.

Wed., September 11, 2002

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Boys Choir Auditions

The Irving Boys Choir is busy auditioning for its 2002-2003 season. Boys in third, fourth, fifth and sixth grades are welcome to audition for the choir. Rehearsals are held at Lamar at 4:15 p.m. every Thursday. This year, the choir will produce a CD, compete at a Children’s Choral Festival in Huntsville, and sing with the Irving Chorale.

For more information about the choir or auditions, contact Frederica Braidfoot at FBraidfoot@irvingisd.net or call 972-313-4441 or 972-399-0501.