(July 31, 2008)  Irving ISD will conduct summer school graduation ceremonies for high school students at 7 p.m., August 19 at Irving High School Auditorium.

Summer school graduates from the four IISD high schools will be recognized during the ceremony and the IISD Board of Trustees will award diplomas. Irving High alumnus Robert Stephenson, executive chef at the Cool River Café in Irving, is scheduled to deliver the graduate address. Stephenson graduated from Irving High in 1981 and was recognized by IISD as an Outstanding Graduate in 1999.

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Irving ISD Releases Free/Reduced Lunch Policy

(August 5, 2008)  Irving Independent School District has announced its policy for providing free and reduced price meals for children served under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. The IISD Food Service Office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party.

The household size and income criteria identified in the attachment will be used to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price benefits. Children from households whose income is at or below the levels indicated are eligible for free or reduced price meals. Foster children who are the legal responsibility of a welfare agency or court may also be eligible for benefits regardless of the income of the household with whom they reside. Eligibility for the foster child is based on the child’s income.

Application forms are being distributed to all households with a letter informing households of the availability of free and reduced price meals for their children. Applications also are available at the principal’s office in each school. To apply for free and reduced price meals, households must fill out the application and return it to the school. Applications may be submitted anytime during the school year. The information households provide on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and verification of data. Applications may be verified at any time during the school year.

For school officials to determine eligibility for free and reduced price benefits, households receiving food stamps or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) only have to list their child’s name and food stamp or TANF case number. An adult household member must sign the application.

Households that do not list a food stamp or TANF case number must list the names of all household members, the amount and source of income received by each household member, and the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application. If the adult who signs the application does not have a Social Security number, the household member must indicate that the person does not have a Social Security number. The application must be signed by an adult household member.

Applications can be filled out at the IISD School Meal Application Center at 800 N. O’Connor Road from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday.

Under the provisions of the free and reduced price policy, the IISD Food Service Office will review applications and determine eligibility. Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the ruling of the official may wish to discuss the decision with the reviewing official on an informal basis. Parents wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request either orally or in writing to Debbie Cabrera, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance, 2621 W. Airport Freeway, Irving, TX 75062 or 972-215-5405.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call 800-795-3272 or 202-720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Academy Student Honored for Aspirations in Technology

Garza will join 27 young women from across the United States to be honored August 2 at the 2008 Stars of the Future Technology Showcase and Awards Ceremony in Charlotte, North Carolina. The recognition is sponsored in cooperation between Bank of America and the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT).

The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing recognizes young high school women for their computing-related achievements and interests. The award was created to acknowledge young women’s goals of entering the field of technology, as well as introducing them to leadership opportunities in the field and generating visibility for women’s participation in computing-related pursuits.

Award winners were selected from metro-area high schools in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas and New York City. Garza joins four other young women from the Dallas area in traveling to Charlotte to receive the award. Winners will receive $500, a laptop computer, an engraved award for the student and her school, inclusion in a video highlighting the student’s accomplishments, and the opportunity to apply for a three-year internship with Bank of America following the student’s freshman year of college.

For more information regarding the award, access http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/bank-america-national-center-women/story.aspx?guid={4CCEBE61-8044-4D7D-9382-BD78A8B0A1B0}&dist=hppr

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Abel Named Principal at Houston Middle School

(July 15, 2008)  Irving ISD Superintendent Jack Singley has announced that Robert Abel has been named principal of Houston Middle School.

Prior to his appointment as principal, Abel has served as a vice principal in Irving ISD at Crockett Middle School and most recently at de Zavala Middle School. He came to Irving ISD in 2004 from DeSoto ISD where he served as the Assistant Principal at DeSoto High School. Abel was a Chemistry and Pre-AP Physics teacher at DeSoto High School prior to his administrative assignment.

Abel’s appointment to Houston fills the vacancy left by Rick Nolly following his being named principal of Nimitz High School.

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New Irving ISD Principals Announced for 2008‑2009

(July 14, 2008)  Irving ISD Superintendent Jack Singley has announced new principal appointments for the 2008-2009 school year:

  ■  Jacquelyn Gorena is the new principal at Stipes Elementary School, replacing Marty French. Gorena previously served as principal at Brown Elementary School.

  ■  Adam Grinage, Ed.D., will replace Gorena at Brown and most recently has served as principal at Webb Elementary School in Arlington ISD. Grinage served previously with Irving ISD as assistant principal at Britain Elementary School.

  ■  Lisa Molinar is the new principal at Thomas Haley Elementary School, replacing Hilda Rodriguez. Molinar previously served as vice principal at Farine Elementary School.

  ■  Rick Nolly is the new principal at Nimitz High School, replacing Sam Bean. Nolly previously served as principal at Houston Middle School.

Remaining principal positions at Houston and Wheeler Transition & Development Center will be announced at a later date.

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Irving ISD New Student Registration Schedule

(June 24, 2008)  Irving ISD has announced student registration schedules for the 2008-2009 school year.

To register a student at any grade level, the following must be provided: updated immunization records, birth certificate, Social Security card, and proof of residency (lease or utility bill).

The first day of school for IISD is Monday, August 25. For more information regarding new student registration, access http://www.irvingisd.net/ppage/Registration.htm.

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Supplies for Success

(June 24, 2008) Irving businesses and individuals are invited to participate in the Fourth Annual Mayor and Firefighters’ Supplies for Success school supply drive. This city-wide event is held to collect school supplies for economically disadvantaged students who attend school in Irving ISD.

All Irving fire stations will be collecting donations from July 7–August 8. Persons wishing to donate supplies are encouraged to visit their neighborhood fire station. School supplies will be sorted and delivered to counselors at every Irving ISD school. The counselors will give economically disadvantaged students supplies that they need at the beginning of the school year.

School supplies needed include: backpacks, zippered notebook binders, one-, two-, or three-inch notebook binders, one-subject spiral notebooks, construction paper, dry-erase markers and highlighter sets, pens, pencils, erasers, wide-rule notebook paper, colored pencil and marker sets, large glue sticks, and 16- and 24-count Crayons.

Parents in need of assistance with supplies should contact their Irving ISD school counselors. Businesses interested in donating supplies are encouraged to contact Thelma Cantu, Partnerships in Education Coordinator, at 972-215-5017, or via email to tcantu@irvingisd.net.

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Student Interns Ready to Work

(July 15, 2008)  The Academy of Irving ISD has approximately 250 senior high school student interns ready to work in area businesses for the upcoming school year.

These students, who are 17-18 years of age, have qualified for the Student Internship Training Experience (SITE) program. This unique internship program gives seniors the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learned during their three years of education and training in their career specialty area.

Students must meet the program’s qualifications to participate. The qualifications include:

• Completion of 300-plus hours of specialized classroom training in their career area
• High employability skills grade (timeliness, professionalism, meeting goals, teamwork, and technology ethics)
• Proficient in use of technology

Companies who integrate interns into their business reap the rewards of utilizing young talent with fresh ideas and perspectives in a cost-effective manner. Hiring interns also gives staff members within a company the opportunity to mentor and supervise young persons exploring their industry.

Businesses interested in placing one or more interns in their workplace may interview and select from a pool of candidates. Students are available to work from September 2, 2008 to May 29, 2009. Internships can be paid or non-paid, depending on the industry standard. Interns can work 15-20 hours each week, and schedules can be set individually.

Interns are available in the following areas: Medical/Dental, Technology, Hospitality & Tourism, Education & Early Childhood, Legal & Criminal Justice, Marketing, and Visual Arts & Media Technology.

For more information, contact Thelma Cantu, partnerships in education coordinator 972-258-5324 or tcantu@irvingisd.net.

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Irving ISD Awarded Five National PR Honors

(June 24, 2008)  The Irving ISD Public Information Department has won five awards in the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) 2008 Publications & Electronic Media Contest.

IISD won an Award of Excellence for the submission of the Teacher Recruiting CD. Three NSPRA Awards of Merit were awarded for the submissions: IISD Information Folder, Inside IISD, and Basic Facts 2007-2008. An Award of Honorable Mention was awarded for the Annual Report 2007.

National School Public Relations Association

There were 895 entries in the publications division of the national contest, with 76 receiving Awards of Excellence, 206 receiving Awards of Merit, and 223 receiving Awards of Honorable Mention.

In the electronic media division, there were 169 entries and 18 received Awards of Excellence, 22 received Awards of Merit, and 25 received Awards of Honorable Mention.

Since 1935, NSPRA has been providing school communication training and services to school leaders throughout the United States, Canada and U.S.-dependent schools worldwide. For more information on NSPRA and a complete list of winning entries, visit www.nspra.org.

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Bradley Wins History Award

(June 24, 2008) Helen Bradley, history teacher at Nimitz High School, has been named as 2008 Preserve America History Teacher of the Year for Texas.

Sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the Preserve America program will recognize Bradley in the fall after school begins. In addition to the honor, Bradley was awarded $1,000, Nimitz will receive an archive for the school library donated in Bradley’s name, and she is automatically entered in the contest for National Preserve America History Teacher of the Year.

The award comes as a result of Bradley’s nomination submitted earlier in the Spring. Cable Television Specialist Billy Rudolph assisted in the efforts to produce the video nomination for Bradley.

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Closing Dates for Independence Day

(June 24, 2008) All Irving ISD schools and offices will be closed July 3-4 in observance of Independence Day. Offices will reopen on Monday, July 7.

Irving ISD schools and offices are currently operating according to district summer work hours and offices are open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday, with offices closed on Friday. Observance of Independence Day July 3-4 will be the only time during summer work hours that offices are closed Thursday and Friday.

For the complete Irving ISD calendar, access www.irvingisd.net/Calendars/Printable_School_Calendar.htm.

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