Mac Drama Sows Wild Oats

MacArthur High School’s auditorium is under construction, but it’s drama department says, "the show must go on." MacArthur students will present Wild Oats, a wild west comedy, in the school’s cafeteria this weekend. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students. Wild Oats is a play by James McLure.

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Any IISD employee interested in becoming an administrator or principal is invited to attend an information session from 4:15 to 5 p.m. November 9 in the Administration Building board room. Topics for discussion will include types of administrative roles in IISD, future opportunities in the district (including the Administrative Internship Program with the University of Texas at Arlington), educational requirements, and certification requirements. Current administrators will be on hand to answer questions.

To register for the session, log on to www.solutionwhere.com/irvingisd. Log in, search by category for "Personnel", and choose "Want to be a School Administrator." Registration is preferred, but not required.

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Nominations for the annual Golden Apple Awards are due to Superintendent Singley’s office by Friday, November 12. The Golden Apples honor one individual and one business or organization every year who have contributed time, money and effort, in partnership with IISD schools, to improving quality educational opportunities for its students. Nomination forms are available from the superintendent’s office or on the district website. Click on "Golden Apple Awards" in the "Hot Links" box on the district home page or click here.

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A two-way, dual-language pilot program at Brandenburg Elementary School reported its successes and findings to the Board of Trustees Monday evening. The program, in which students alternate between Spanish-only and English-only instruction every other day, is unique in the district. Classes are composed of half Spanish-speaking and half English-speaking students. Lessons are not repeated, so students are forced to learn material the first time it is presented, whether in English or Spanish.

After one year of implementation in two kindergarten classes, Brandenburg faculty had results to report from no less than eight assessment tools. In most cases, students exited their dual-language kindergarten class fluent in their native language, and four students reached fluency in both languages. Parent surveys revealed that 92 percent of parents of students in the program were extremely satisfied with their child’s learning and 100 percent reported that their child achieved or exceeded their expectations.

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Lee Elementary School students have invited parents and neighbors to their campus to recycle. From 7:15 to 7:45 a.m. every Monday, students on Lee’s Green Team help visitors unload carloads of cardboard and newspaper into the school’s recycling dumpster. The service is free and open to the public.

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Irving High Student Honored

Irving High School sophomore Shaun Figueroa was honored at a luncheon by the non-profit organization Believe In Yourself/Debes Creer En Ti last month at the Irving Arts Center. Figueroa is involved with Folkloric Arts Mentoring Amigos (FAMA), an after school program at Lively Park Recreation Center which promotes self-esteem and cultural awareness for Hispanic children and youth. Figueroa and Janet Santos, a student at Bowie, performed at the luncheon.

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The Board of Trustees named members to two important committees at its October 18 meeting.

Three people were appointed to one-year terms on the District Improvement Committee. They are Lori Lorenz (parent representative), Rachel Moon, and Trish Bujarski (business representatives). The DIC includes 10 parent members and four members from the Irving business community.

Fifteen teachers were named as chairs for textbook selection subcommittees in their respective areas of expertise. The members are Jaunice Hayslip, Spanish Grades 1-8; Ginger Cline, Spanish Grades 9-12; Becky Christenberry, German Grades 9-12; Sharon Wendzell, French Grades 9-12; Mark Slette, Latin Grades 9-12; Sheila Morgan, Elementary Art; Nancy Petty, Middle School Art; Chris Peterson, High School Art; Barbara Carter, Music; Tara Truex, Orchestra; Phil LaRocque, Band; Frederica Braidfoot, Choir; Ocie Robinson, Theater Arts; Troy Volkmann, Health; and Jeri Bailey, Physical Education.

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Bruce Coleman, theater arts teacher at MacArthur High School, was nominated for four Leon Rabin Awards from the Dallas Theatre League this fall. Three of the nominations were for his work with Irving Community Theater’s production of The Secret Garden. That show was nominated for Best Choreography, Best Set Design, and Best Costumes. Coleman was also nominated for Best Director for the Uptown Players’ production of the musical The Life. Coleman has won several Leon Rabin awards in the past. This year’s awards will be presented later this month.

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Veteran's Day Blood Drive

Union Bower Center for Learning will host a Veterans Day Blood Drive in the school’s parking lot from 1:30 to 6 p.m. next Thursday, November 11. The event is open to the public. Appointments are not necessary but may be beneficial. To schedule an appointment, contact Union Bower’s school nurse Kyra Manry at 972-273-6194.