Irving Schools Foundation (ISF) has received a $20,000 donation of scholarship funds to provide for one scholarship of $1,000 to be awarded annually to an IISD graduating senior.

Named the Plastronics Perseverance Scholarship, the award will go to a homeless student who has had to work full-time to support themselves and who is determined to earn an education. The student must show college-admission grades, and the scholarship is open to all students in day or evening classes.

The Pfaff family has donated $20,000 to Irving Schools Foundation to fund the Plastronics Perseverance Scholarship for an IISD graduating senior. Pictured are family members (from left) David, Sharon, Cate, Andrew, Diana, Wayne and Anne Pfaff.

The donation was given by the Pfaff family. Anne Pfaff was instrumental in founding ISF in 1985, and Diana Pfaff, her daughter, has served as president of ISF and continues to volunteer and serve with the foundation in various capacities.

ISF scholarship applications for graduating seniors and teachers are due in January and are awarded each year at the Breakfast with the Stars in April. For more information about ISF or about applying or endowing a scholarship, access www.irvingisd.net/foundation. 

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Middle School Solo & Ensemble Contest

Irving ISD middle school choir solo & ensemble competition was held at Travis Middle School on November 7, with 95 students earning superior ratings and 12 earning excellent ratings.

A total of 107 students performed during the district competition. Three ensembles from Lamar Middle School and four ensembles from Travis Middle School also performed, and all ensembles earned superior ratings.

Irving ISD middle school choir directors are Charles Salter, Austin Middle School; Jennifer Miller, Bowie Middle School; Andrea Hobson, Crockett Middle School; Sarissa Coffey, de Zavala Middle School; Tina Mertes, Houston Middle School; Barbara Lee, Lamar; and Rebecca Wright, Travis.

For a complete list of IISD middle school solo & ensemble results, access www.irvingisd.net/articles/MSCompetition.htm.

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Students Win at Karate Tournament

IISD students from Austin Middle School, Crockett, Middle School, Houston Middle School, and Lamar Middle School competed at the KickStart Karate Tournament October 24 in Lancaster, winning several top awards.

KickStart was formed in August 1990 by Chuck Norris. The program currently operates in 44 schools in the Houston, Dallas, Galveston and Austin areas. More than 6,300 Texas students are served by the program and the purpose is to help provide an alternative to drugs and gang activities related to peer pressure. Martial arts training serves as a vehicle to instill the values and skills necessary to combat the peer pressures associated with at-risk behaviors. The core philosophy of martial arts stresses the vital importance of a healthy mind and body necessary to lead a productive life.

Students from Lamar Middle School joined students from Austin, Crockett and Houston middle schools to compete at the KickStart Karate Tournament in Lancaster October 24. Pictured are Lamar students (back row, from left) Jazmine Garcia, Erin Fread, and Aaryn Carter. Front row, from left are Jacqueline Flores, Haley Ivey, Collin Holt and Jamie Bennett.

In Irving ISD, KickStart is offered through the physical education department at four middle schools. Schools and instructors are: Austin, Wallace Smedley; Crockett, Cassie Henden; Houston, Scott Carrasco; and Lamar, Mark Wilkinson. For more information about the KickStart program, access www.kick-start.org.  For a complete list of IISD middle schoolers who earned top awards at the tournament, access www.irvingisd.net/articles/kickstart2009.htm.

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November Athletes of the Month

Lizette Partida, junior at Nimitz High School, and Winford Tennell, senior at Irving High School, have been named Athletes of the Month for November.

Lizette Partida

Winford Tennell

Partida is a captain on the Nimitz Girls’ Basketball Team. She is also involved in the Peer Assistance & Leadership program at Nimitz and maintains an “A” average.

Tennell is a key member of the Irving High Football Team. Through eight games this season Tennell had 50 catches for 566 yards and three touchdowns. He averages more than 20 yards per kickoff return and also has three interceptions. Tennell plays football, baseball and basketball at Irving High.

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Readers on Parade

IISD schools have devised creative ways of generating enthusiasm among students for reading. In addition to participating in The Big Read last month, several elementary schools have scheduled hallway parades and gymnasium camp outs to inspire young readers.

Elliott Elementary School celebrated the school’s first Camp Read-A-Lot on November 10, where fourth graders performed a readers theater at the parent-teacher association meeting then students, teachers and families went to the school gym to read in tents by the “campfire” and play reading games.

Staff and students at Britain Elementary School participated in book character dress-up day November 6, and held a hallway parade dressed as their favorite characters.

Kindergarteners at Brown Elementary School dressed as their favorite book characters for a hallway parade November 13.

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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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