Teachers to Attend Math, Science Academy

Ten IISD elementary teachers and coordinators have been selected to attend the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy June 20-25 at The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center north of Houston.

Selected IISD staff are: Luz Amezaga, Davis Elementary School; Whitney Bruno, Townsell Elementary School; Jennifer Burchfiel, elementary math coordinator; Molly Greenlee, Brown Elementary School; Claudia Gonzalez, Gilbert Elementary School; Sara Harrison, Johnston Elementary School; Yolanda Neel, Davis Elementary School; Katie O’Gorman, Johnston Elementary School; Joy Siljan, Farine Elementary School; and Beverly Wilson, elementary math coordinator.

The Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy is a summer camp designed for teachers to build instructional skills in math and science through experimentation in order to share with students in the classroom. The Academy was started by pro golfer Phil Mickelson and his wife, Amy. They worked with ExxonMobil to create a special learning environment for teachers. At the academy, math and science experts from the National Science Teachers Association and Math Solutions will teach lessons and share techniques for teachers to bring back to their respective districts.

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Art Students Win at State VASE

Fourteen IISD students from Irving High School, MacArthur High School, and  Singley Academy were awarded gold medals for their submissions in the state level Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) April 9-10.

A total of 24 IISD students advanced to state VASE, competing at University of Houston at Clearlake. Student work was exhibited and judged among more than 1,700 pieces submitted from across Texas. Students were rated on a scale of 1 to 4 on intent, execution and technical skills, use of the elements and principles of art, asthetics and critical judgment, and personal expression. In addition to the competitive events, students participated in workshops, viewed demonstrations, and received instruction from professional artists.

For a complete list of participants and gold medalists, access www.irvingisd.net/articles/vase2010.htm.

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High School Concert & Sightreading Results

IISD high school choir and bands competed at Region 20 University Interscholastic League Concert & Sightreading Competitions April 6-8 and April 13-15, respectively.

Nimitz High School junior varsity Treble Choir earned a superior rating and a plaque for their concert performance. Earning second division ratings were Irving High School mixed chorus and MacArthur High School mixed chorus, and earning third division ratings was MacArthur treble chorus.

Nimitz High School junior varsity Treble Choir earned a superior rating for their concert performance at the Region 20 University Interscholastic League Concert & Sightreading Competition April 8.

At the band contest, Nimitz High School non-varsity band won a plaque for first division ratings in the concert portion. Earning second division ratings was Irving High, MacArthur and Nimitz varsity bands, and earning third division ratings were MacArthur non-varsity and MacArthur sub non-varsity bands.

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FCCLA Delegation Wins at State

Students participating in the Family, Career & Community Leaders of America organization at Singley Academy competed at the state conference in Dallas April 8-10, winning 12 gold and silver awards.

Competitive events included job interview, culinary arts, etiquette and hospitality. Earning first place in Hospitality were Sophomores Magaly Rodriguez, Jonathan Ramirez, and Tabitha Kenyanya. These students will advance to the national FCCLA competition in Chicago, Illinois in July.

Students and teachers from Singley Academy represented Irving ISD at Family, Career & Community Leaders of America state conference in Dallas April 10.

Students also attended leadership presentations, heard motivational speakers, and attended three general sessions. Singley Academy seniors Amber Gill and Lupita Jimenez served as event consultants for competitive events.

For the complete list of students who won top awards, access www.irvingisd.net/articles/FCCLA2010.htm.

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IISD in Pilot for In-School SAT

In partnership with The College Board, Irving ISD was one of only two school districts in the nation to participate in a pilot program for in-school administration of the SAT college entrance exam April 14.

Typically administered on a Saturday or Sunday only at designated sites to students who register months in advance, Irving ISD was invited in February to have each high school participate. Despite final details regarding student registration not being received until after Spring Break, 1,394 students registered for the in-school SAT, and approximately 1,200 took the exam. Students who registered but were not in school April 14 due to excused absences for school-sponsored activities received fee waivers from The College Board to take the SAT in June at a regular testing site.

According to Dr. Whit Johnstone, director of planning, evaluation & research, IISD will receive the results for the students who took the SAT this summer.  Johnstone said this will be the first time that the district has had SAT results on a large enough cross-section of students to conduct meaningful analysis of the data.  He said that district officials expect that the data will reveal some gaps in students’ preparation and college readiness, but also that it will help the district to identify ways in which we might strengthen the curriculum to support the college aspirations of our students. 

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Students enrolled in marketing classes at MacArthur High School have begun work on a marketing plan for the IISD Academic Resources & Instructional Strategies for Educators (ARISE) program.

The ARISE program is a teacher professional development program for English as a second language (ESL) teachers. ARISE training is offered to teachers in grades prekindergarten-12 who receive an ESL supplement. Teachers in the ARISE program receive an additional stipend for the 12 hours of training they attend. ARISE provides training in applying English language proficiency standards, lesson preparation, strategies for building vocabulary, ideas for building fluency, teacher support materials, and interventions for struggling English language learners.

MacArthur High School marketing students will be creating a marketing plan for the district’s ARISE English as a second language program. Students and the language they contribute to the plan are (from left) Zacmari Leon, Spanish; Janki Patel, Gujarati/Hindi; Dolly Patel, Gujarati/Hindi; Manar Kawasmi, Arabic; and Tiffany Pham, Vietnamese.

The MacArthur students plan to create marketing materials in a variety of languages, including English, Arabic, Hindi, Spanish and Vietnamese. The materials will be designed to create interest among teachers to participate in the ARISE program.

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Foundation Awards Five Teacher Grants

Irving Schools Foundation (ISF) has awarded five Teacher & Paraprofessional Enrichment Grants for the month of March.

Grant recipients are: Gayle Benage, Austin Middle School; Cle'tse Long, Thomas Haley Elementary School; Mary Pruit, Thomas Haley; Amber Whitcomb, Farine Elementary School; and Glynnis Wright, Austin.

Teacher Enrichment Grants are awarded for as much as $500 and provide funding for professional development opportunities including attendance at seminars and workshops. Applications from teachers and school administrators are due by the 10th of each month and are distributed September through May. For more information about ISF or Teacher Enrichment Grants, please visit www.irvingisd.net/foundation.

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Early Childhood Information Meetings

Irving ISD early childhood schools will host informational meetings at 5:30 p.m. May 10 at each early childhood campus.

There will be no student registration at the informational meetings. To obtain prekindergarten registration information for the 2010-2011 school year, please attend the informational meeting at the early childhood school in your attendance area:

For more information regarding information sessions, registration, and required documents, access www.irvingisd.net/ppage/Pre-K_Registration.htm

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Middle School Groundbreaking

Groundbreaking for the eighth Irving ISD middle school is scheduled for 10 a.m. May 11 in the vicinity of 1800 Willow Creek Drive.

Approved by IISD voters as part of the 2007 bond construction package, middle school #8 — which has yet to be named by the Board of Trustees — will be built around a net-zero concept. The design for the building will allow it to produce as much energy as it consumes through efficiency technology and on-site power generation. Scheduled to open in the fall of 2011, the facility will be the largest net-zero middle school in the United States.

Attendees are asked to approach the area using Willow Creek Drive from Belt Line Road, or on Aubrey Hawkins Lane from Airport Freeway (HWY 183). Parking will be made available in the parking lot at AMF Irving Bowling Lanes.

For more information, call 972-600-5400.

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