Breakfast Highlights Senior Success

Irving Schools Foundation (ISF) awarded more than $150,000 in scholarships to 94 IISD students and two teachers at the annual Nissan Breakfast with the Stars at the Four Seasons Resort & Club April 12.

As part of the breakfast program, former IISD Superintendent Jack Singley was honored with the event dedicated in his name, and ISF founder Anne Pfaff was recognized for the 25 years she has been involved with the organization.

Four IISD students were awarded the Dr Pepper Scholarship. Students are (from left) Mario Sanchez, Singley Academy; Emmanuel Okelola; MacArthur High School; Jennifer Miller-White, Nimitz High School; and Vi Do, Irving High School.

Nine new scholarships were awarded including: Brandenburg Idol Scholarship, Erika and German Clouet Memorial Scholarship, Ike Guest Memorial Scholarship, Irving Quilt Guild, Jack Singley Scholarship, Judy Coyle Irving ATPE Scholarship, Leadership Irving-Las Colinas Class of 2010 Scholarship, Plastronics Perseverance Scholarship, and Terry Davis Memorial Scholarship. Nissan North America, the title sponsor for the event, also awarded two scholarships to students: Nissan North America Scholarship and Nissan-Irving Professional Firefighters 9-11 Memorial Scholarship.

Once proceeds have been totaled, ISF officials estimate the event will gross more than in previous years, including proceeds from donations, ticket sales, auctions and raffles. Student scholarships were limited to those who had not received a full scholarship from other sources. Recipients were selected by independent committees on the basis of grade point average, leadership and community/social service.

More information regarding the Irving Schools Foundation, student scholarships, and Breakfast with the Stars, can be accessed on the web at www.irvingisd.net/foundation.

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Nimitz Students Raise Suicide Awareness

Students in the sixth period Computer Multimedia Animation Technology (CMAT) class at Nimitz High School are sponsoring Out of the Darkness Campus Walk suicide prevention event from 4:30-7:30 p.m. May 14 at Nimitz.

The walk is a fundraiser in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Suicide & Crisis Center of North Texas. The purpose of the event is to raise money to help fund scientific research, educate the public about mood disorders and suicide prevention, and to help promote policies and legislation that impact suicide prevention.

Led by research from CMAT student Shelby Pendleton, the students are currently working on a website, are creating videos and animations, and printed materials. Materials the students create in their CMAT class will serve to encourage the prevention of teenage suicide.

Walkers will travel along a three-mile track on the Nimitz campus, raising money for suicide awareness. Angela Warr, teacher for the sixth period CMAT class, said registration is necessary to walk in the event, and the entire Nimitz and Irving ISD community are encouraged to participate.

The class is also currently accepting community sponsorships for the event. Businesses — such as restaurants and party supply stores — wishing to sponsor this event are encouraged to contact Warr at 972-600-5700. The website on which students are currently working can be accessed at http://sites.google.com/site/livelifeonceagain.

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Chac to Experience Weightless Flight

Jael Chac, second grade bilingual teacher at Hanes Elementary School, has been selected to participate in the Northrop Grumman Weightless Flights of Discovery program in McAllen April 10 and 30.

Jael Chac, second grade bilingual teacher at Hanes Elementary School, gets fitted with her flight suit in preparation for the Northrop Grumman Weightless Flights of Discovery program.

Chac and 29 teachers from across Texas attended a workshop April 10 where they learned the details of the flight and began designing experiments teachers will conduct during the flight. Chac said she would like to design an experiment that can involve her whole school, and is considering online voting for the experiment she will take with her on the flight.

Chac said she found out about applying for the flight while reading a story about Northrop Grumman’s teacher programs on CNN.com. She accessed the Northrop Grumman website, filled out the application and asked her principal, Brenda Bingham, for a recommendation. She said she completed the entire application process before going home for the day.

Chac said she has always been mesmerized by space, and while in the fourth grade she outlined the four careers she wanted to do: teacher, astronaut, designer and psychologist. She said this experience will “take her one step closer to fulfilling the ‘astronaut’ dream.”

Learn more about the Northrop Grumman program by accessing www.northropgrumman.com/goweightless.

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Cosmetology Wins in First Trip to State

IISD students involved in the cosmetology program offered through Ratteree Career Development Center won first and second place awards at SkillsUSA state competition in Corpus Christi March 24-27.

The trip to state competition was the first for the IISD Cosmetology program and for the students who competed. Winners in the Fantasy category from Irving High School are: Lucy Ochoa, first place and Best in Show certificate; Melissa Anzures, first place; Neydy Florez, second place; and Karen Martinez, second place. MacArthur High School students Briseyda Vellegas and Glendy Arana won second place scores in Fantasy.

In the Braiding category, Nimitz High School student Joselin Vasques won first place.

IISD students’ cosmetology services are open to the public, are supervised by cosmetology instructors, and are offered daily at Ratteree Career Development Center. For more information about the cosmetology program, access www.irvingisd.net/ratteree/Cosmetology.htm.

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Athletes of the Month

Mallory Hart, sophomore at Nimitz High School, and Brett Davis, junior at Nimitz, are IISD Male & Female Athlete of the Month for April.

Mallory Hart

Brett Davis

A straight-A student in the classroom, Hart plays shortstop for the Nimitz softball team. She has a batting average of .396 in district games, has earned five doubles, one triple, eight runs-batted-in, and has earned five stolen bases.

Davis, a mixed-doubles specialist on the Nimitz tennis team, is a third-seed along with partner Kathryn Garza in the upcoming district tournament. Davis and Garza won fourth place at the Bell High School Tournament and have only lost five matches this season. In addition to doubles play, Davis is the number-two singles player on the Nimitz team.

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Irving Film Fiesta

Irving ISD Instructional Technology Department is hosting the Irving Film Fiesta for IISD students with the theme My Community, My Eyes: Stories of Inspiration.

Cesar Jimenez, student at Singley Academy, created a series of posters to advertise the Film Fiesta. To see all five, access www.irvingisd.net/iff/Posters.htm.

Students are encouraged to submit videos according to the fiesta rules and scoring rubric located online at www.irvingisd.net/iff. Deadline for submission is May 1. Top entries will be viewed from 6:30-8:30 p.m. May 11 at Singley Academy auditorium.

For more information and to register for the Irving Film Fiesta, access www.irvingisd.net/iff.

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Retiree Awards May 20

Irving ISD staff, faculty and classified personnel who are retiring from service will be honored at the annual Retiree Awards at 7 p.m. May 20 at the DFW Airport Marriott Hotel.

IISD employees intending to retire at the end of the current school year are encouraged to contact the Public Information Department in order to receive a reservation packet and biographical information form. The packet will help determine the number of honorees attending with their complementary guests. Biographical information will be used to build the slide presentation that is shown during the ceremony. Packets were sent to previously-identified retirees April 5, and Public Information requests that all retirees complete their packet and return the information no later than May 3. IISD employees intending to retire this year but who have not received an invitation packet are encouraged to call Public Information at 972-600-5200.

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