Middle School All-Region Choir

Irving ISD middle school singers traveled to Red Oak High School in Red Oak, Texas, January 24 for middle school Region 20 all-region choir auditions.

More than 600 students auditioned for placement in one of three choirs: 6^th Grade Honor Choir, 7^th-8^th Grade Honor Girls’ Choir, and 7^th-8^th Grade Honor Mixed Choir. Students from the three choirs will perform a concert at 5 p.m. February 7 at Grand Prairie High School.

For a complete list of Irving ISD middle school students named to Region 20 choirs, access www.irvingisd.net/articles/MSAllRegionChoir2009.htm.

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Nursing Students Gain Insight, Experience

Fourteen nursing students from Texas Women’s University (TWU) and University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) will receive an orientation January 28 to begin their clinical learning experience at Irving ISD schools.

Irving ISD has been partnering with TWU since 1994 to provide real-world experience for TWU nursing students. IISD nurses provide instruction in school health as the student-nurses complete their required Community Health senior-level course.

According to Mary Kay Hartley, IISD director of health services, a goal of the agreement is to educate TWU and UTA nurses of the importance of being involved in the health issues school-age children face. Hartley said schools often care for many children with chronic health conditions who would not otherwise have access to public education if it were not for school nurses providing maintenance care, education and monitoring.

Complex medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, and pregnancy have caused an increase in the demand for school nurses. Hartley said a registered nurse is assigned to almost every school and learning center in IISD – 36 out of 38 – and that the two schools that share a nurse do so with the seamless cooperation of school administrators.

Prior to being employed, IISD prefers a nurse have at least two years of clinical training in a hospital. Several former nursing students who participated in the learning experience with IISD have shown interest in returning to Irving following their hospital training, which is also another main goal of the program.

For more information regarding Irving ISD health services, access www.irvingisd.net/health/default.htm.

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Elliott Students Win Video Contest

Three fifth grade students in Esther Martinez’s class at Elliott Elementary School were highlighted for video segments they produced for epals.com.

Produced with the assistance of Michael Mikkelson, instructional technology specialist at Elliott, student video segments were in response to a national contest called “Presidential Minute”. Students were challenged to give advice to President Barak Obama regarding what actions he should take upon entering office.

In the epals.com online contest, Cristina Lopez was among five winners in the Most Sincere category; Isaac Ruiz was among five students winning in the Best Advice category; and Jerson Reyes’ submission was ranked in the top 10 among all entries in the kindergarten-fifth grade category.

Epals.com is a web site focused toward networking and collaboration among kindergarten-12^th grade students and teachers. IISD student winners’ videos can be found by accessing www.epals.com/groups/elections/pages/presidential-minute-entries.aspx.

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ISF Announces January Enrichment Grants

Irving Schools Foundation has awarded $1,398 in Teacher Enrichment Grants for the month of January.

January grant recipients are: Lisa Molinar, principal, Thomas Haley Elementary School; Rick Orndoff, special education teacher, Keyes Elementary School; Arielle Stein, fifth grade/ESL gifted & talented teacher, Farine Elementary School; and Gloria Willingham, librarian, The Academy of Irving ISD.

Teacher Enrichment Grants – awarded for as much as $500 – provide funding for professional development opportunities including attendance at seminars and workshops. Applications from teachers and school administrators are due by the 10^th of each month and are distributed September through May.

For more information about the Irving Schools Foundation or Teacher Enrichment Grants, please visit www.irvingisd.net/foundation.

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Spellers Advance to County Bee

MacArthur High School Zone spelling bee champion Chibueze Umeakuana, eighth grader at Houston Middle School, and alternate Christian Vasquez, seventh grader at Travis Middle School, repeated last year’s performances as champion and alternate, respectively, at the MacArthur Zone bee January 21.

Nimitz High School Zone spelling bee champion Eappen Sebastian, fifth grader at Stipes Elementary School, and alternate Ehino Ehigiator, fifth grader at Townley Elementary School, receive their awards following the second IISD spelling bee January 22.

Zone champions Umeakuana and Sebastian – joined by the Irving High School Zone champion determined January 28 – will advance to the Dallas County Spelling Bee, scheduled for 7 p.m. February 26 at University of Texas at Dallas Conference Center.

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