Ikpatt Named National Scholar

Paula Ikpatt, senior at MacArthur High School, has been named a National Achievement Scholar by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), and will receive a $2,500 scholarship award.

Named National Achievement finalist earlier in the spring, Ikpatt joins 700 African-American students from across the nation being awarded a total of $2.6 million. Scholarships are funded either by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation or are corporate-sponsored awards, and awardees are chosen from among 1,300 finalists. Achievement Scholars are judged to have the strongest record of accomplishments and greatest potential for academic success in college. Ikpatt was also named a National Merit Commended Student last fall.

Back to top   

Breakfast with the Stars

Irving Schools Foundation (ISF) will present Breakfast with the Stars at 7 a.m. April 13 in the grand ballroom at Four Season Resort & Club.

With Nissan North America again serving as title sponsor, the annual breakfast is the premier event for ISF in presenting more than 71 scholarships totaling approximately $108,000 to IISD graduating seniors. Four new scholarships will be among those presented during the breakfast. In addition to scholarship presentations, Breakfast with the Stars also serves as the ISF’s primary fundraising activity.

The breakfast will begin at 7 a.m. April 13, and WFAA-TV anchor John McCaa will return as emcee. For more information, contact ISF at 972-215-5018 or access www.irvingisd.net/foundation.

Back to top   

Annual Exhibits to Display Student Art

Each year the Irving Arts Center hosts the Irving ISD District Art Show and the Senior Portfolio Exhibition, two events that give high school students the opportunity for city-wide recognition.

High School students in grades 9-12 from Irving High School, MacArthur High School, Nimitz High School, and The Academy of Irving ISD will have their work showcased April 9. More than 500 entries will be displayed at Irving Arts Center and awards will be presented for the best entry in each category, outstanding design in each category, best of show, and more. A reception will begin at 6 p.m. and the awards presentation begins at 7:30 p.m.

On April 16 at 6 p.m., the IISD Senior Portfolio Exhibition will showcase the culmination of four years of work from IISD high school students. More than 40 seniors will exhibit 8-10 pieces of their best work from throughout their high school career. Approximately 400 entries will be showcased with awards given in each category, best of show, and scholarships will be presented. The awards presentation begins at 7:30 p.m.

Both the district show and senior exhibition will feature art work in categories including drawing, painting, mixed media, ceramics, sculpture, fibers, jewelry, digital art, photography, and print making.

Irving Arts Center is located at 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd in Irving.

Back to top   

MacArthur Advances in UIL One-Act

Theater Arts at MacArthur High School won the 7-5A District UIL One-Act Play competition and will advance to area competition April 11 at Coppell High School Auditorium.

MacArthur will be the first troupe to perform at 12:30 p.m., presenting The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. Grand Prairie High School also advanced from District 7-5A to perform at the area contest, as well as Coppell High School, Plano Senior High School, Plano West High School, and Southlake Carroll High School from Districts 6 and 8.

Gemma Garcia from MacArthur High School was named best actress and Chris Ramirez from Nimitz High School was named best actor.

Coppell High is located at 185 West Parkway Blvd in Coppell. Admission to Area UIL One-Act Play Competition is free and open to the public.

Back to top   

Gilbert Students Visit King Tut Exhibit

Third and fourth grade students from Gilbert Elementary School attended the Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibition April 4 at the Dallas Museum of Art.

Led by Gilbert third and fourth grade teachers James Tiggeman and Yolanda Flores, students studied the exhibit in conjunction with related art, writing, social studies, and summative technology/video projects. Teachers said the visit allowed students to learn and study about King Tut and take advantage of the exhibit’s limited stay in the United States.

Tiggeman sought funding for the visit from Target Corporation, and was awarded an $800 grant from the Target Field Trip Grants program. The funding defrayed the cost of busing, admission tickets, and T-shirts students designed for the visit.

Third and fourth grade students from Gilbert Elementary School attended Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibition April 4 at the Dallas Museum of Art.

Back to top   

Athletes of the Month

QueenDenise Okeke and Jacob Dacus, seniors at Irving High School, have been named IISD Female and Male Athletes of the Month for April.

QueenDenise Okeke

Jacob Dacus

Okeke is a captain on the Lady Tiger Track Team, and in the first meet of the season won the long jump and placed third in the triple jump. As a freshman, Okeke competed at the state level in the 4x200 and 4x100 relays and regularly has advanced to regional competition in relay races, the triple jump, high jump and long jump events. She was named second team All-District Volleyball Team, All-Academic Team in volleyball, basketball and track, and was Tiger Volleyball Most Valuable Player of the Year for 2008-2009. Okeke maintains a 99.77 grade point average and is a member of National Honor Society and Math Club.

Dacus won all but two doubles tennis matches in fall 2008, and plans to attend University of Texas in August. He is a member of Tiger Guard, Irving High Student Council, and KIRV. Dacus is active in community service and is youth group leader at his church.

Back to top   

IISD Teacher Job Fair

The annual IISD Teacher Job Fair is scheduled for April 18 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at The Academy of Irving ISD.

Applicants should complete an electronic employment application at least three days prior to the job fair by accessing the IISD website at www.irvingisd.net/hr/default2.htm.  Applicants should bring copies of their resume and teaching certificate, college letter of anticipated completion, or a letter of acceptance if the candidate is enrolled in an approved alternative certification program.

School principals will be present to conduct interviews, some of which are estimated to last until 3:30 p.m. Representatives from various alternative certification programs also will be in attendance. Applicants interested in alternative certification should bring copies of their college transcripts.

The Academy is located at 4601 N. MacArthur Blvd. in Irving. For more information regarding IISD job fairs, access www.irvingisd.net/page/job_fair.htm.

Back to top   

Benefits Open Enrollment May 2009

In a change from previous years, open enrollment for IISD 2009-2010 insurance benefits is scheduled for May 1-31, instead of the usual August time frame.

Enrollment will be accomplished using the online MUNIS ESS system and every IISD employee must re-enroll. Benefit changes will be effective September 1 and since most benefit deductions are taken one month in advance, payroll changes will be reflected on the August 2009 paycheck.

Benefits personnel are requesting 10 minutes to speak with staff at each school before May 1 regarding basic information for open enrollment. School administrators are encouraged to contact the IISD benefits office with the date, time and location of the school’s April staff meetings.

Back to top