Record Number of AP Scholars

The College Board has recognized 107 Irving ISD students with the designation of Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar in recognition of exceptional achievement on college-level Advanced Placement exams taken in May 2007.

About 18 percent of more than 1.6 million high school students who took AP exams performed at a high enough level to merit recognition at AP Scholars. IISD has seen an average increase in the number of AP Scholars in recent years. In 2005, 79 students in IISD were named AP Scholars, followed by 98 in 2006, 93 in 2007, and increasing to 107 in 2008.

The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students' performance on AP exams. AP exams are graded on a scale of one to five, with five being the highest grade. To qualify as AP Scholar, students must complete three or more AP exams with grades of three or higher. To qualify as AP Scholar with Honor, students must earn an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. To qualify as AP Scholar with Distinction, students must earn an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and grades of three or higher on five or more of these exams. To qualify as National AP Scholar, students must earn an average grade of four or higher on all AP exams taken and grades of four or higher on eight or more of these exams. For a complete list of Irving ISD AP Scholars, access www.irvingisd.net/articles/APScholars.htm.

Through 37 different college-level courses and exams, AP provides students with the opportunity to earn college credit or advanced placement, and to stand out in the college application process. With each exam being developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers, students are ensured they receive exams aligned with the same standards expected in college courses. Research consistently shows that AP students who score a three or higher on AP exams, typically experience greater academic success in college, as well as higher graduation rates than students who do not participate in Advanced Placement.

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Bringing Home Gold

Twenty-six IISD schools have received a total of 66 commendations in the annual Gold Performance Acknowledgement program sponsored by the Texas Education Agency.

Schools and the number of performance commendations they received are:

At the district level, IISD received a Gold Performance Acknowledgement for commended scores in social studies.

The Gold Performance Acknowledgement system recognizes schools for high performance on 14 different indicators other than those used to determine accountability ratings. Indicators include but are not limited to: reading, mathematics, writing, science, social studies, attendance, advanced course/dual enrollment completion, and rigorous graduation programs.

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Live the United Way

Irving ISD employees are encouraged to contribute to the community programs and services of the United Way (UW) through the annual UW fundraising campaign scheduled November 3-7.

Last year, through the generosity of IISD employees, $32,411 was raised for UW affiliates that provide food, shelter, care, counseling, and help to thousands of our neighbors. Among school districts that donated to United Way of Metropolitan Dallas last year, Irving ISD's campaign was second only to Dallas ISD in the amount of funds raised.

UW building coordinators have additional information and pledge cards available for donations through various means: payroll deduction, credit card, or cash gift. Also available is a list of organizations in Irving that directly benefit from United Way support. Please consider making a donation and return your pledge card to your building coordinator by November 7.

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Administrator Information Session

IISD teachers who are interested in becoming a school administrator are invited to attend an information session at 4:15 p.m., November 6 in the IISD Boardroom.

Current administrators will be present to discuss their jobs and to answer questions. Topics to be discussed include: changing roles of campus administration, future opportunities in IISD, educational and certification requirements, IISD Leadership Development Academy, and University of Texas at Arlington Administrative Internship program.

Teachers requesting further information about the session should call 972-215-5210.

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Adopt-A-Family

Irving ISD will sponsor the annual Holiday Adopt-A-Family program from November 3 to December 5. This valuable program gives individuals, organizations and companies the opportunity to "adopt" one or more disadvantaged Irving ISD students and their families for the holiday season.

Individuals, organizations and companies interested in adopting a family in need are encouraged to contact Thelma Cantu at 972-215-5017 or tcantu@irvingisd.net.  She will connect you to a counselor at a participating school. Families in need wishing to be adopted should contact the counselor at their child's school in order to participate.

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Red Ribbon Week

In conjunction with schools across the nation, many Irving ISD schools observed Red Ribbon Week during which students participated in drug prevention and awareness activities.

The nationwide Red Ribbon Week campaign is sponsored by the Red Ribbon Coalition, a partnership hosted by the Irvine, California, Community Drug Prevention department. Begun in 1987, the campaign is traditionally held during the last full week in October and is designed to highlight and support continuing drug prevention, early intervention and treatment programs, and services occurring on and off school campuses throughout the year.

In support of Red Ribbon Week, staff and students from Stipes Elementary School wear their favorite team jerseys to illustrate their slogan "Do Sports, Not Drugs".

Brown Elementary School students and faculty celebrated Red Ribbon Week October 20-24 with school staff dressing as their "hero" on Friday to perform the Red Ribbon Rally skit.

Students in Omega Love's LIFE skills class at Johnston Elementary School wore "crazy" socks for Sock Out Drugs day during the school's Red Ribbon Week activities.

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