Irving Celebration of Excellence

The tenth annual Irving Celebration of Excellence (ICE) Awards, scheduled for Thursday, February 25, recognizes the ongoing hard work and dedication of Irving ISD schools, faculty and students. Hosted this year at Irving High School, a reception at 6:00 p.m. will kick-off the event with the awards program beginning at 7 p.m. in the auditorium.

The ICE Awards will be hosted this year by Jody Dean, host of Jody Dean & the Morning Team on 98.7 KLUV radio. A 30-year veteran of the broadcasting industry, Dean began his career at WBAP-TV (KXAS) in 1973. He has worked at KXOL in Fort Worth and at KVIL, KLIF and KRLD in Dallas. In 1997, Dean became co-host of the CBS-11 program Positively Texas! From 2001-2007 Dean served as co-anchor of the CBS-11 noon, four and five o’clock newscasts. In 2007 Dean became the host of the morning show on 98.7 KLUV. Author of Finding God in the Evening News, Dean is also an Emmy award winner and member of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.

The Irving ISD Board of Trustees will also present their esteemed Golden Apple Awards during the ceremony. Selected by the Board from open nominations, Golden Apples are given to honor individuals and groups who have set new standards in service to Irving ISD.

The Irving All-City Jazz Band, as well as students performing solo instrumental and vocal pieces, will provide musical entertainment.

View a complete list of ICE Awards finalists by accessing www.irvingisd.net/iceawards/2010Finalists.htm.
For more information, visit www.irvingisd.net/iceawards.

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Partners Recognized for Volunteerism

Three Irving ISD partners in education - City of Irving Water Utilities Department, Verizon North Texas Hispanic Support Organization, and MJB Wood Group, Inc. - were recognized January 26 at the Texas Association of Partners in Education (TAPE) annual conference, with Irving’s Water Utilities Department winning a gold award for their efforts with students at Cardwell Career Preparatory Center (CCPC).

Begun in 2008, the Water Utilities Department partnership helps prepare CCPC students in the applied technology career pathway to become water industry employees. Through 20 hours of hands-on instruction from city employees, students learn meter repair, sample collection, confined space training, leak detection, and various other skills. Upon graduation from high school, applied technology students take the state licensing exam for Class “D” Basic Water & Wastewater Collection.

A TAPE award finalist, Verizon began their partnership with MacArthur High School in 2004. Verizon employees mentor high school students to support college interest and readiness among students. Meetings with Verizon employees and students include communicating effectively, choosing the right college, scholarship and financial aid information, setting career goals, and health and wellness. In 2008-2009, 100 percent of seniors participating in the mentoring program graduated from high school.

TAPE award finalist MJB Wood Group, Inc., provides volunteers who visit John Haley Elementary School on a weekly basis to tutor children in the areas of reading and math. Predominately working with first and second grade students, MJB Wood Group employees have helped struggling students increase scores on standardized reading and English tests. Additionally, the company has donated office supplies to the school, and has donated items for families in need during the holidays.

TAPE recognizes exemplary partners and partnership programs across Texas. Award winners are selected based upon a set of criteria established by the TAPE Board of Director's, with particular emphasis placed on impact and measured change in students progress. To learn more about TAPE and their partnership awards, access www.tape.org.

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DECA Students Qualify for State

Members of DECA from Irving High School and MacArthur High School qualified for state competition as a result of scores from District 7 competition in Dallas February 5-7.

Nine students from Irving High and 21 from MacArthur qualified in a combined 16 individual and team marketing-related events. DECA, a national association of marketing education students, provides teachers and members with educational and leadership development activities to merge with the education classroom instructional program.

DECA students from Irving High School and MacArthur High School celebrate following District 7 competition February 5-7, where students qualified to advance to state competition.

State DECA competition will be February 19-21 at the Fort Worth Convention Center. For the complete list of IISD students qualifying for state, access www.irvingisd.net/articles/deca2010.htm.

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German Students Prepare for State Competition

German students from Nimitz High School won fourth place overall in the regional German competition in Plano February 6.

In addition to their fourth place win, the 17 Nimitz students also received sweepstakes points for their first place win in the Sportsday competition held in October — the second consecutive Sportsday victory for the program. 

Students placing in cultural or academic areas at regional competition were: Carly Taylor, Culture, Vocal Group, Skit, and Duet Acting; Parker Hillis, Listening, Sight Reading, and Vocabulary, Maggie Stiggleman, Sight Reading and Spelling; Jessica Alvarez, Culture and Puppet Play; Mariah Barksdale, Vocal Group, Duet Acting, and Skit; Aaron Mallon, Culture and Skit; Tyler Calvert, Skit and Vocal Group; Mary Schuessler, Vocal Group, Puppet Play, Non-Tradiitional Gingerbread House, and JV Pass Auf; Kevin Sanchez, Instrumental Solo, Puppet Play, and JV Pass Auf; Lauren Edgar, Tortes, Puppet Play, and JV Pass Auf; Jordan Shelton, Puppet Play, and Non-Traditional Gingerbread House; India Burton, JV Pass Auf, Puppet play; Bailey McMullen and Robby Pacheco, Traditional Gingerbread House; Brianna Dennis, Listening; and Allison Roderick, Puppet Play.

The students will compete in the state contest in Austin February 27.

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Athletes of the Month

Jill Hernandez, senior at Irving High School, and Jake Morrison, sophomore at Irving High, are Athletes of the Month for February.

Jill Hernandez

Jake Morrison

Hernandez has been a captain on the girl’s varsity soccer team two of her four years on the team. She maintains an “A” average in school, is a member of DECA, and plays on the Sting Royal West ’92 club soccer team.

Morrison qualified for regional competition in all four of his swimming events at district competition, and was named district Male Swimmer of the Year. He is on the Irving High Honor Roll, is president of the sophomore class, and is a certified lifeguard.

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Black History Month

February is observed nationwide as Black History Month, and several IISD schools have scheduled events and activities.

Elliott Elementary School will host a Black History Celebration, with performances scheduled at 8:15 and 9:15 a.m. February 19.

Farine Elementary School will host a storyteller, kindergarteners will recite I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King Jr., and a dance team from MacArthur High School will perform, all beginning at 8:30 a.m. February 19.

Houston Middle School will present A Tribute to Motown in the Houston Café from 6-7 p.m. February 23.

Lively Elementary School will host a Black History Showcase February 26 in the school cafeteria, including performances from each class and a musical storytelling of African American influence on local culture. Grades K-2 will be from 8:30-10 a.m. and grades 3-5 will be 1-2:30 p.m.

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