Cardettes Dominate Nationals
The MacArthur High School Cardettes swept the National
Drill Team Competition in San Antonio recently, bringing home first
place honors in every category. The troupe won first place in Pom, Hip Hop, and Modern
competitions as well as first place overall in their Medium Class
division.
Other trophies snared by the dancers were: Super
Sweepstakes Trophy, Pom, Hip Hop, and Modern Choreography plaques, Best
Technique plaque, Best In Class plaque, and Winner Circle Cup.
Cardette officers took home a Super Sweepstakes Trophy
as well as plaques for Funk, Pop and Modern Choreography.
Catysue Bower entered a solo competition and received
a Division 1 rating.
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IHS Students Raise Flag at Normandy
Several
students, teachers and parents from Irving High School took part in a
memorable trip to France with some unforgettable moments of patriotism
this spring break.
The
highlight of the trip was a visit to the U.S. Cemetery at Normandy where
hundreds of American soldiers are buried and perfect rows of white
crosses memorialize their sacrifices made during World War II. Though
the trip had been planned for almost a year, it happened that the group
made their visit to the cemetery on March 11 – the six month anniversary
of the attacks on the World Trade Center.
The cemetery had planned a short ceremony for that day
in which a flag that had been flown over the U.S. Capitol would be
hoisted to the top of both of the cemetery’s flagpoles. The flag was en
route to Paris where it would be presented to the French Prime Minister
as a token of thanks from the United States for the French support in
the war on terrorism. When the cemetery director at Normandy learned
that there were Americans visiting his post, he offered them the honor
of handling the flag.
Irving High junior Kevin Turk was an Eagle Scout and
took to the job instinctively. “When they started playing Taps and
lowering the flag, it was really emotional,” Turk said.
The trip, organized by IHS English teachers Dana Davis
and Brian Massegee, was not sponsored by the school but included 21
students from Irving High and one from Nimitz.
Though groups from MacArthur High School often take
similar trips overseas, this was the first time that teachers from
Irving High had planned a trip. They said it won’t be the last.
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Breakfast With the Stars
Irving Schools Foundation will award $72,750 in
scholarships to 52 students and three faculty members on Friday, April 5
at the Fifteenth Annual Breakfast With the Stars.
Professional broadcaster Shane Johnson will emcee the
event which has an expected audience of 400. The breakfast will begin at
7 a.m. in the ballroom of the Four Seasons Resort in Las Colinas.
Scholarship recipients were selected by merit and/or
need based on leadership, community-school service, academic
achievement, career goals, and other criteria specific to each
scholarship. Selection committees were composed of community and
business volunteers.
This will be the first year that the foundation awards
the John Stipes Memorial Challenge Grant. The new award will be given to
six high school seniors who have overcome daunting obstacles to pursue
higher education. At $1,250 renewable for four years for tuition, books
and fees to the college of the recipients choice, the Stipes Award is
the largest offered by the foundation.
Major sponsors of the breakfast include Cousins
Properties and Dain Rauscher.
Individual seats at tables of 10 cost $40. The Irving
Schools Foundation is the state’s oldest continuous education
foundation. Proceeds from the Breakfast With the Stars are its primary
source of unrestricted operating funds.
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MacArthur Talent Show
The MacArthur High School senior class will host its
annual school-wide talent show on April 5 in the school’s auditorium.
Tickets are $5 at the door. The show will be divided into halves – the
first showcasing dance and singing acts, the second featuring bands and
instrumentalists.
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Baylor Offers Mammograms
The Irving Women’s Imaging Center will provide
mammograms for all IISD employees and their covered dependents during
April. The mammograms are free for women who are at least 40 years old
and enrolled in Blue Choice PPO or HMO Blue programs. If a patient
doesn’t meet these criteria, she will be charged a $75 fee.
The service is available from 7:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. April 8 – 12 and April 22 – May 1. Irving
Women’s Imaging Center is at Baylor Medical Center of Irving at 2001 N.
MacArthur. To make an appointment, call 972-254-1616 extension 2.
Patients will need the name of their insurer and the Social Security
number and campus of the insured to make the appointment. Appointments
should be made before April 19.
Patients should also bring several things to the
appointment – insurance card and picture identification, physician’s
name, and any previous mammograms taken at other facilities.
For more information, contact IISD Health Services
Director Thora Starke at 972-273-6039.
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Student Councils Honored at District Competition
The Nimitz and MacArthur high school student councils
received several awards at the District Convention in Azle on Saturday,
March 23.
Nimitz won: Outstanding Pride and Patriotism Program;
Outstanding Energy and Environment Program; Outstanding Drug, Alcohol,
Safety and Health (DASH) Program; Outstanding Student Council; and
Community Service Award.
MacArthur won: Most Active Student Council;
Sweepstakes Award for projects in Pride & Patriotism, Environmental and
DASH; Outstanding Student Council; and Community Service. MacArthur
student Jacque Bates was one of four to receive a $500 scholarship.
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Backpack Safety
As backpacks have become mobile lockers for some
students, educators at Davis Elementary School have taken a unique
approach to help prevent “backpack overload.”
Third graders at Davis got a visit from a chiropractor
recently to learn how to protect themselves from back injuries. Dr.
Dorit Shalom spoke to students about back support and strain. Students
weighed their backpacks, watched a video, and took home pamphlets about
backpack safety.
