Tigers Earn Football Playoff Spot

For the first time in four years, the Irving High School Tigers are advancing to post-season play, scheduled to face Wylie High School Pirates at 9 p.m., November 14 at Texas Stadium.

Irving High School enters the first round of bi-district playoffs with a 5-5 record; ranked fourth in District 7-5A and 108 in the state. The Tigers closed the regular season with a win over MacArthur High School – the first time Irving High has beaten MacArthur in five years. Wylie holds an 8-2 record placing them third in District 8-5A and 21 in the state. The Pirates only losses were at Plano Senior High School and at Allen High School.

Tickets are currently available at the Irving High cashier's office, Athletic Department ticket office in the IISD Administration Building, Crockett Middle School, Austin Middle School, and at de Zavala Middle School. Adult tickets are $8.00, student tickets are $7.00, and children age four and under are admitted free. Parking at Texas Stadium is $5.00 for the playoffs, and all tickets at the gate are $10.

Duncanville High School faces Plano Senior High School at 6 p.m. November 14, and the ticket price allows for admission to both games as long as spectators remain at the stadium for both. Teacher passes, UIL district passes, or any other pass will not be honored during playoff games.

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The National Society of Hispanic MBAs (Master of Business Administration), a partner in education with The Academy of Irving ISD, has been awarded an Employers for Education Excellence Silver Award from the Texas Education Agency. To be considered for a Silver Award, NSHMBA was required to meet criteria such as: written policies supporting parent attendance at parent-teacher conferences, maintain records showing employees attended conferences or volunteered at schools, and support at least 1 percent of employee workforce participation in volunteer activities on an annual basis.

The driving force behind NSHMBA’s award comes from the organization’s volunteer work with the Academy’s annual college summit. Cooperation for the summit began four years ago when it was realized NSHMBA national headquarters was located in Irving. Due to the high percentage of Hispanic students in Irving schools, officials felt it was natural for Irving ISD and NSHMBA to partner.

The first year of the summit was 2004 and only thirty students and their parents attended the summit. However according to Thelma Cantu, partnerships in education coordinator, attendance grew to approximately 150 the next year as word was passed of the information, resources, and real-life experiences shared by Hispanic business leaders and college administrators.

Businesses wishing to sponsor or participate in the next IISD college summit should contact Thelma Cantu at 972-215-5017 or by email to tcantu@irvingisd.net.

Gustavo Frank, a vice president at Citi and member of National Society of Hispanic MBAs, delivers a presentation to parents and students during an annual college summit at The Academy of Irving ISD.

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Jail Internship Program Launched

On September 8, four seniors from The Academy of Irving ISD were selected to join the new Irving Police Department Jail Internship Program.

Academy seniors selected for the program are Elizabeth Garcia, Sesilie Rico, Maclovio Martinez, and Ricardo Ordaz. Application requirements included: an essay about why they wanted to work at City of Irving Detention Facility; a letter of recommendation written by Justin Harper, Academy criminal justice teacher; a written application to the city; and attend an open house at the city detention facility with their parents. Selected students were interviewed by detention facility supervisors and a background check was conducted on each student – two standard processes the city conducts when hiring any employee for the facility.

Academy of Irving ISD students Sesilie Rico (front left), Elizabeth Garcia (front right), Maclovio Martinez (back left) and Ricardo Ordaz were accepted into the Irving Police Department jail internship program.

The only program of its kind in the nation, Irving Police Department was selected as a pilot site for a national high school internship program for recruiting students interested in a career in corrections, detentions and police work. The internship will consist of 300 hours of non-contact jail training, meaning students’ duties will not expose them to inmates. Additionally, students will receive 77 hours toward their Corrections Certification as part of class work at the Academy.

In the coming year, the internship will expand to include emergency dispatch training with the city. Interns will begin the year either at the detention facility or at emergency dispatch centers and students will exchange mid-year. At the Academy, Harper is preparing students for dispatch internships through his new emergency communications class. Over the past year, Harper attended state and local training to earn a dispatcher’s license, dispatcher’s instructor’s license, and Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards & Education instructor’s license. All these licenses are state required instructor licenses that will allow Academy students to receive a dispatcher’s certification at age 18 after taking Harper’s classes.

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Students Highlight Diabetes Awareness

November is American Diabetes Month and students and faculty at Lively Elementary School, Brown Elementary School, and Irving High School are doing their part to bring awareness for the disease and funding for research.

At Lively, students, faculty and sponsors participated in a School Walk for Diabetes October 31, sponsored by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Through their combined efforts, more than $2,500 was raised for ADA. School Walk for Diabetes is an educational school fund-raising program that schools can schedule independently and promotes healthy living, school spirit and community involvement. Students learn about diabetes and the importance of making healthy choices including eating nutritional foods and exercising every day.

Students in Tarenthia Clemons’ physical education class, Latresea McGill’s sports & entertainment marketing class, and Sarah McIntyre’s family health class at Irving High have been studying different types of diabetes and ways to prevent the disease. Students from the three classes, along with fellow students and staff from Irving High, will host a School Walk on November 15 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Irving High track. Students are requesting sponsorship donations from area businesses and individuals. Those interested in sponsoring the fundraiser are encouraged to call Latresea McGill at 972-273-8300.

Sponsored by the physical education class, Brown has scheduled their School Walk for January after classes resume. Schools interested in registering their own School Walk for Diabetes, or anyone wishing to sponsor or donate to a scheduled Walk, are encouraged to access http://schoolwalk.diabetes.org.

Students from Lively Elementary School celebrate after their School Walk for Diabetes fundraiser October 31 where they raised $2,500 for American Diabetes Association.

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Athletes of the Month

Bethany Maynard, senior at MacArthur High School, is IISD Female Athlete of the Month for November and Zacharey Frazier, senior at Nimitz High School, is Male Athlete of the Month.

Bethany Maynard

Zacharey Frazier

Maynard is a co-captain of the MacArthur varsity volleyball team and has played on the varsity squad for two years. In addition to volleyball, she maintains an A average in school and is a senior class officer. Maynard participates in student council, Distributive Education Clubs of America, and a cooperative internship program. Away from school she is president of her church youth group and volunteers in her community.

Frazier is a first year member of the Nimitz football team and plays the position of kicker. He maintains a B average in school and plans to attend Texas A&M University, majoring in electrical engineering. Frazier volunteers with the Annual Region X Sports Extravaganza for blind and visually impaired children, and is a member of the youth group at Grace Pointe Church.

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