Irving ISD District Weekly

Gold Performance Acknowledgements

Wed 11, November 2009 05:00:00 CMT

In the annual Gold Performance Acknowledgement program sponsored by the Texas Education Agency, 24 IISD schools have received a total of 60 acknowledgements, and the district received a commendation for social studies. Gold Performance Acknowledgements are a result of testing data from the 2008-2009 school year. Schools are recognized for high student performance on indicators such as reading, mathematics, writing, science, social studies, attendance, advanced course/dual enrollment completion, and rigorous graduation programs. Schools and the number of golf performance awards they received are …

Wind, Percussion Players Added to All-Region

Wed 11, November 2009 05:00:00 CMT

Three more Irving ISD students earned seats in All-Region Orchestras as a result of auditions at Region 20 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) wind and percussion auditions in Duncanville November 7. From Irving High School, Hugo Rodriguez earned second place percussion; Susan Taylor finished sixth for French horn; and Sharnise Gossett finished fifth for percussion. From MacArthur High School, Austin James earned second place in trumpet. Scores for James and Rodriguez qualified them to advance to area competition in January. The All-Region Orchestras will perform a concert at 4 p.m. November 14 at Nimitz High School Auditorium. For a complete list of IISD students who earned seats in an All-Region Orchestra, access www.irvingisd.net/articles/allregionorchestra2009.htm.

Litter Force to Visit IISD

Wed 11, November 2009 05:00:00 CMT

On November 18, the Don’t Mess with Texas Litter Force superheroes will visit first and second graders at Townley Elementary School at 8 a.m., and first graders at Stipes Elementary School at 1:45 p.m. The Litter Force – “Hawk, Bolt, Ultra and K-900” – were developed by the Texas Department of Transportation to help elementary-aged students become familiar with the Don’t Mess with Texas campaign. According to research conducted in 2007, first grader’s familiarity with the campaign was 91 percent compared to 50 percent prior to the Litter Force debut. During the visits to Townley and Stipes, Litter Force superheroes and their “trash foes” will perform an interactive play, and students will have the opportunity to view animated Litter Force public service announcements. For more information about the Litter Force …

Brandenburg Funds ISF Scholarship

Wed 11, November 2009 05:00:00 CMT

Students and staff at Brandenburg Elementary School have donated $2,500 to Irving Schools Foundation (ISF) to fund a scholarship for a graduating senior at MacArthur High School. Brandenburg used the school’s annual talent contest, “Brandenburg Idol”, to raise the funds. In previous years, the talent contest has been used to raise funds for campus projects, or has been donated to local agencies such as Irving Cares. The Brandenburg scholarship is designated for a graduating senior from MacArthur who also attended Brandenburg. The senior must have a 3.0 grade point average and plan to attend college or trade school following graduation. ISF scholarship applications …

Science and Math Across the Curriculum

Wed 11, November 2009 05:00:00 CMT

IISD science and math classes in various middle and elementary schools have used a variety of methods throughout the past weeks in delivering content to students. For more information on the activities students are exposed to in science classes, access www.irvingisd.net/sciencecenter

Fifth graders in Keesha Valtierra’s class at Gilbert Elementary School create and observe chemical reactions among baking soda, citric acid and water in class October 20.

Students in Heather McCarroll’s third grade art class at Johnston Elementary School learn about the historical process of making paper

Jeff Jamison, meteorologist for CBS Channel 11 visits students at Farine Elementary School to talk to students about the weather.

Katie O’Gorman, intervention teacher at Johnston Elementary School, takes on the roll of “The Mad Mathmatician” by giving students weekly math challenge questions during morning broadcasts on the school’s closed-circuit news show, then going to classrooms and surprising winners who answered correctly. Pictured is O’Gorman with Micaela Figueroa, fifth grader at Johnston.

November Teacher Enrichment Grants

Wed 11, November 2009 05:00:00 CMT

Irving Schools Foundation (ISF) has awarded 16 Teacher Enrichment Grants for the month of October. Teacher Enrichment Grants are awarded for as much as $500 and provide funding for professional development opportunities including attendance at seminars and workshops. Applications from teachers and school administrators are due by the 10th of each month and are distributed September through May. For more information about ISF or Teacher Enrichment Grants, please visit www.irvingisd.net/foundation. Grant recipients are ...

EMS Students Host Air Ambulance

Wed 11, November 2009 05:00:00 CMT

Emergency Medical Services students from Irving High School hosted a visit from a PHI Air Medical Group helicopter November 5.

First Concert in New Auditorium

Wed 11, November 2009 05:00:00 CMT

The choir at Jack E. Singley Academy performed the first concert in the school’s new auditorium November 4.

Students Recommend Art to White House

Wed 11, November 2009 05:00:00 CMT

With the help of Marci Inman, director of exhibitions and educational programs at Irving Arts Center, students in Vanessa Vega’s honors humanities class at Irving High School are preparing a list of recommended local artists’ work to be displayed in the White House in Washington, D.C.

Pierce Book Parade

Wed 11, November 2009 05:00:00 CMT

Students, staff and special guest readers at Pierce Early Childhood School celebrated Reading is Fundamental with a book character parade October 30.

Students Tour Professional Studio

Wed 11, November 2009 05:00:00 CMT

Irving High School students in Lisa Lobb’s Business Independent Study class toured CBS 11 studios in Fort Worth November 3.

Feast of Life

Wed 11, November 2009 05:00:00 CMT

Life Skills Students at Nimitz High School prepared a Halloween feast for classmates – one of their three such yearly feasts – on October 30.

Culture Celebration at Elliott

Wed 11, November 2009 05:00:00 CMT

Elliott Elementary School hosted their annual Latino Celebration October 9, highlighting the different Latino cultures represented at Elliott.