Health Students Qualify for Nationals

Students from Singley Academy Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) competed at the HOSA State Leadership Conference April 15-17 in Houston, with the several members qualifying for nationals.

Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) participants from Singley Academy celebrate their success at the HOSA State Leadership Conference.

This is the third consecutive year that a senior group from Singley Academy has advanced to national competition to compete for Outstanding HOSA Chapter. Representing the seniors at state competition was Chapter Historian Carly Heshmat and Chapter Secretary Nasrul Bhuiyan at nationals. Also qualifying are seniors Nicole Akpunku, Job Seeking Skills; Ines Garcia, Interviewing Skills; and Farhan Sahawneh and Emil Kalloor, Kaiser Healthcare Issues Exam.  

The National Leadership Conference will be held June 23-26 in Orlando. HOSA is a career and technical student organization for high school and postsecondary students who plan to pursue a health care career. Learn more about HOSA by accessing www.hosa.org.

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First Parent Academy Scheduled

Irving ISD has scheduled the district’s first Parent Academy for 8 a.m.-1 p.m., May 15 at Austin Middle School.

Activities include registration and childcare check-in, refreshments, information booths and an agency fair, entertainment, a key note address, and concurrent session topics.

“How to Help” session topics include those for parents of children in all age groups, for parents of infants-second grade; parents of third-fifth grade children, parents of fourth-eighth grade children, and for parents of seventh-twelfth grade children. Sessions will be offered from 10 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Austin Middle School is located at 825 E. Union Bower. Learn more about the IISD Parent Academy at www.irvingisd.net/ppage/ParentAcademy.htm.

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Calling the Play for Service

In cooperation between the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee and area school districts, the Big Thought creative learning organization has developed SLANT 45: Service Learning Adventures in North Texas.

IISD schools currently planning to participate in SLANT 45 are Britain Elementary School, Brandenburg Elementary School, Elliott Elementary School, John Haley Elementary School, and Schulze Elementary School.

According to Big Thought, SLANT 45 will prove to be one of the largest community-wide service-learning initiatives undertaken by an NFL Super Bowl Host Committee. Considering the way the program is designed, it is estimated that more than 20,000 metroplex students may log a combined 45,000 service hours to the region.

To learn more about SLANT 45, access www.slant45.org.

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Service Learning at Nimitz

Students and faculty from Nimitz High School attended the 21^st Annual National Learn & Serve Conference March 24-27 in San Jose, California.

Students were selected to attend based on their commitment to service learning through participation in the National Day of Service event held on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 18. The conference increased students’ knowledge of innovative ways to help address problems in their community. Initiatives addressed local issues — such as littering and drinking and driving — and more global issues such as world peace and contaminated drinking water in third world countries. Students also attended presentations from notable speakers such as Haru Inouye, CEO of the Shinnyo-en Foundation, as well as from students across the United States.

Pictured at the National Learn & Serve Conference in San Jose are Nimitz High School students and faculty (back row, from left) Bernard Manale, Mauricio Nunez, Demi Salinas, Tammy Clark, Rebecca Kelly, Josh Cook, Jennifer Turcios, and Deborah Johnston; and (front row from left) Jessica Gamez, Courtney Kelly, Ashley Lenart, Jennifer Kurian, and Mark Jones.

For more information about Learn & Serve programs at Nimitz, contact Deborah Johnston or Tammy Clark at 972-600-5700.

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PTA Awards Honorary Memberships

Irving ISD Council of Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) hosted the Life Membership Banquet April 23 at Las Colinas Country Club, recognizing school and district personnel with various awards and recognitions.

Former IISD Superintendent, the late Jack Singley, was honored with a brick in Recognition Square at Texas PTA headquarters. Jearlene Miller, Council of PTAs board member, and Maurice Walker, parent involvement coordinator, were awarded Honorary Texas Life Memberships.

Individual school PTA units conducted the following award recognitions:

• Irving High School: Paris Bahcall and Sharon Gross, Texas Honorary Life Memberships

• MacArthur High School: Pam Benson and Paul Benson, Texas Honorary Life Memberships; and Nancy Poynter, Texas PTA Extended Service Award

• Nimitz High School: Jeremy Chumley, Michael Nkwocha, and Susie Sorrell, Texas Honorary Life Memberships.

• Bowie Middle School: Donald Cummings and Kyle McKinzey, Texas Honorary Life Memberships

• Crockett Middle School: Emily Garza and Missie Mejia, Texas Honorary Life Memberships

• de Zavala Middle School: Wendy Bennett and Maria Biasi, Texas PTA Extended Service Award

• Houston Middle School: Angela Newby and Nora Smith, Texas Honorary Life Memberships

• Lamar Middle School: Diana Jauregui and Patti Tiller, Texas Honorary Life Memberships

• Travis Middle School: Lisa Austin, Natalie Bentley, Nancy Medina, and Teresa Young; Texas Honorary Life Memberships

• Brandenburg Elementary School: Kimberly Becerra, Karyn Beauchamp, and Heather Claxton, Texas Honorary Life Memberships

• Britain Elementary School: Dana Bailey and Andrea Spevak, Texas Honorary Life Memberships

• Brown Elementary School: Charlie Riggs and Kay Riggs, Texas PTA Extended Service Awards; and Barbara Schreyer and Michelle West, Texas Honorary Life Memberships

• Davis Elementary School: George Swan and Robert Villanueva, Texas Honorary Life Memberships

• Elliott Elementary School: Belinda McDonald and Kim Scott, Texas Honorary Life Memberships

• John Haley Elementary School: Raleigh Mae Stevenson, Texas Honorary Life Memberships

• Thomas Haley Elementary School: Tanya Jones and Glynn Shipley, Texas Honorary Life Memberships

• Hanes Elementary School: Sandra Malocha, Texas Honorary Life Membership

• Lee Elementary School: Ray Estrada, Texas Honorary Life Membership

• Lively Elementary School: Iris Armendariz and Ronnie Parker, Texas Honorary Life Memberships

• Stipes Elementary School: Melissa Murray and Catherine Rollins, Texas Honorary Life Memberships

• Townley Elementary School: Robin Hurt and Sam Manning, Texas Honorary Life Memberships

• Townsell Elementary School: Khalid Shahnewaj, Texas Honorary Life Membership

• Clifton Early Childhood School: Janet Newton, Texas Honorary Life Membership

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Fellows to be Honored at ISF Ceremony

Irving Schools Foundation (ISF) will host its annual Perpetual Giving Tree Ceremony from 5:30-7 p.m. May 12 in the IISD Administration Building atrium.

The 2010 ceremony continues the celebration for the ISF 25-year anniversary. Honored during the ceremony will be the 2010 Fellows announced during Breakfast with the Stars April 12, and during the 2009 Fall Education Luncheon. ISF Fellows – a $1,000 contribution designated for the ISF general endowment fund – were named in honor of Dr. Neil and Paula Dugger, Lisa Hamilton, Judy Medina, Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Texas Stadium. The Fellows will have their names engraved on the Perpetual Giving Tree, located in the atrium of the Administration Building.

The ceremony will also serve to recognize and dedicate four new scholarships that were presented at the 2010 Breakfast with the Stars. Scholarships are: Brandenburg Idol Scholarship, Erika & German Clouet Memorial Scholarship, Ike Guest Memorial Scholarship, Irving Quilt Guild Scholarship, Jack Singley Scholarships, Judy Coyle Irving ATPE Scholarship, Leadership Irving-Las Colinas Class of 2010 Scholarship, Plastronics Perseverance Scholarship, and Terry Davis Memorial Scholarship.

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This Week on Irving Schools Television

Irving Schools Television (ISTV) will feature the Dual Language Program offered at Brandenburg Elementary School, Farine Elementary School, and Travis Elementary School. Immediately following the Dual Language feature, the Home Instruction Program for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) will be highlighted. District News airs at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. daily.

Meet the Candidate profiles will air until Friday as part of the district information loop at 1-7 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 8 p.m., and 11 p.m. Also, the May 3 Board of Trustees Meeting is replayed each day at 7 p.m.

Watch ISTV on Time Warner Cable Channel 98, Verizon FiOS Channel 33, and view the complete schedule of ISTV programming online at www.irvingisd.net/ISTV.

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