HOSA Wins at Area Contest

The Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) from Singley Academy won Outstanding HOSA Chapter, as well as several individual awards, at Area 5 Leadership Conference at Ryan High School in Denton January 15-16.

Members of Health Occupations Students of America from Singley Academy competed at Area 5 Leadership Conference in Denton January 15-16.

Outstanding Chapter was presented to the seniors for the third consecutive year and they will compete for the same honor at the state level in April.

In individual competition, seniors Wlla Elbosiry, Farhan Sahawneh, Emil Kallor, Anthony Anosike, and June N’gan’ga advanced to state in Kaiser Healthcare Issues Exam. Farhan Sahawneh won second in Prepared Speaking and will advance to state. Nicole Akpunku and Tye Miller won first and second place, respectively, in Job Seeking Skills. Ines Garcia won second in for Interviewing Skills, and Melissa Wilson won fifth place for Nursing Assisting. Senior Vy Nguyen won the Area 5 Texas HOSA $1,000 Scholarship.

In team competition, Junior Community Awareness won third place and will advance to state. Team members are Elizabeth Chavez, Elizabeth Thomas, and Inshal Syed. Placing fourth in Biomedical Debate were team members Emilio Saenz, Giju Lim, Marvin Aguilera, and Nihal Chowdhury. The Senior Health Education team won fifth place. Team members are Alejandra Perez, Chelsea Garcia, and Jocelyn Reyes. Medical Reading also placed fifth in their event with team members N’gan’ga, Elbosiry and Karen Martinez.

State HOSA competition will be April 15-18 in Houston. For more information about Texas HOSA, access www.texashosa.org/updates.htm.

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de Zavala Begins TAKS Academy

On January 23, de Zavala Middle School began its 2010 TAKS Academy program with 229 students in attendance.

During the course of nine Saturdays, de Zavala will host the morning interactive academy, offering tutoring and mentoring sessions for students. Sessions are designed to help students master Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS) in math, reading and math and science vocabulary. The three study areas provide students extra exposure to the TEKS that are tested each year on the TAKS test.

Last year, as a result of the Saturday studies, eighth grade students’ scores on the first round of TAKS tests increased four percentage points in reading and increased nine percentage points in math. The added percentage points brought de Zavala eighth graders to 93 percent passing reading and 75 percent passing math.

In addition to gaining knowledge, strategies and confidence in preparing for TAKS tests, the sessions led by 22 de Zavala teachers will help build positive relationships between students and their teachers. Breakfast is provided for students at 7:45 a.m., and classes are from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

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Medical Students Volunteer at Vision Fest

Singley Academy students in the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) organization volunteered at Kids Vision Fest at J. Erik Jonsson Central Library in Dallas January 19.

Out of the total 150 volunteers at the event, HOSA provided 67 students to assist with registration, vision screening, escorting children to and from eye exams, and more. Attended by special guest, former First Lady Barbara Bush, the event was centered on the importance of good vision care for education.

Sixty-seven members of Health Occupations Students of America from Singley Academy volunteered at Kids Vision Fest in Dallas January 19, and some had the opportunity to meet former First Lady Laura Bush (second from right). Pictured with the former first lady are (from left) Inshal Syed, Nilam Gajera, and Elizabeth Thomas.

The event was co-sponsored by Essilor Vision Foundation and Kids Vision for Life Coalition. During the Vision Fest, approximately 1,000 children and families attended, and about 500 children received free exams and glasses.

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Preliminary Culinary Competition at Singley Academy

Singley Academy will host preliminary SkillsUSA culinary competitions January 27-29.

The Culinary Arts Competition will be in the culinary lab from 3:15-6:15 p.m. January 27; Commercial Baking Competition will also be in the culinary lab 3:15-6:15 January 28; and Food & Beverage Service Competition will be 2:35-4 p.m. January 29 in the Singley Academy Bistro. Viewing is open to the public.

Thirty-five Academy students will compete to be among the 15 that will represent the school at district competition at Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts in Dallas January 30.

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Band Students Place at Area Audition

Students from Irving ISD high schools traveled to Waco January 9 to audition for All-Area Band.

Though IISD students did not earn places in All-Area groups, students from Irving High School and MacArthur High School performed well among competition from schools ranging from Dallas to north of Houston. From Irving High School, French Horn Player Susan Taylor finished 15^th overall among 31 other players, and Percussionist Hugo Rodriguez finished 14^th among 23 others. From MacArthur High School, Trombonist Austin James finished 10^th out of 23.

IISD high school music students now look toward solo and ensemble competition in February.

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