MacArthur Students Win at State UIL

Pearl Choi, senior at MacArthur High School, won first place at the state UIL Academics Competition in the Ready Writing event.

Students from MacArthur High School won top awards at state University Interscholastic League (UIL) Academic Competition May 7-8 at University of Texas at Austin.

Pearl Choi won first place in Ready Writing over more than 68 students competing in the category. The Social Studies team won third place, with Jin Ae Sakai wining fifth place overall in the category. The Spelling & Vocabulary team won fifth place.

MacArthur UIL Academics coaches are Janice Battles, Ready Writing; Cody Dollar, Social Studies; Blaine Mountain, Spelling & Vocabulary; and Assistant Principal Connie Riley is the MacArthur UIL administrative coordinator.

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Trustees Break Ground on Net Zero School

During an official groundbreaking ceremony May 11, Irving ISD Board of Trustees and senior administration began construction on what will become the largest net zero middle school in the United States, and the first of its kind in Texas.

During the groundbreaking, planners who worked with IISD staff to develop the concept were recognized: Susan Smith, vice president of architect firm Corgan Associates, Inc.; Don Penn, president of consulting engineer firm IEG Engineers; and Charlie Devoe, president of construction contractor Charter Builders. Amanda Childress-Kannan, executive director of the U.S. Green Building Council of North Texas (USGBC), spoke regarding the facility’s impact on today’s youth and environmental education.

A net zero energy building is one that produces as much energy as it consumes. Through efficiency technologies and on-site power generation, the use of renewable energies allows the building to produce as much energy as it consumes from the electric grid. In the event of excess production, energy could be sold back to the electric provider, creating a revenue source for the district.

The net zero school will reinforce teaching and learning as it becomes an extended classroom. Because of the use of efficient materials and cutting-edge renewable energy technology, the building becomes a three-dimensional learning space. Students will learn through practical, hands-on experiences. Issues such as geothermal science, rainwater collection, solar panel usage, and wind turbine efficiency will help students learn responsibility for energy conservation.

Architect’s rendering of the eighth middle school for Irving ISD.

According to Scott Layne, assistant superintendent for support services, the construction of this 150,000 square-foot, net-zero building will help reverse negative trends associated with climate change. Layne said the building would be constructed using the most energy efficient materials and systems available. By doing so, energy consumption would be approximately half the consumption of a typical middle school building.

For more information regarding the net-zero concept, including an in-depth presentation of net-zero technologies and a virtual representation of the new school, access www.irvingisd.net/ppage/NetZeroMiddleSchool2.htm.

To discuss partnering with IISD in the concept, contact Scott Layne at 972-600-5400.

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IISD High School Final Exams Exemption and Schedule

The Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) exemption for final exams was adopted in 2003 as a way to encourage students to perform well on the spring TAKS test, and students who pass TAKS may elect to not take the final exam in the tested subject area.

Students who pass TAKS may choose to average the three six weeks’ grades for an exam grade, providing the average meets a minimum of 70 percent. Conversely, students wishing to improve upon the average may take the final and will receive the higher grade between the two. Additionally, students who earned a commended rating on TAKS will receive five points added to the final six week’s grade in the commended subject area.

Students exercising the option to not take a final must still report to class on time on exam day. Failure to report for the final exam will result in forfeiture of the option. For an unexcused absence, a student will receive a grade of “0” on the exam; for an excused absence, the student must take a make-up exam. Causing a classroom disruption will also result in forfeiture of the exam option.

Juniors and seniors are exempt from a final exam in a class provided the student has a semester grade average at the end of the fifth week of the last six week’s grading period of 85 percent or higher. Also the student must have had no more than two absences for the class during the spring semester.

Final exams at Irving High School, MacArthur High School, Nimitz High School and Cardwell Career Preparatory Center will be May 28-June 3. Final exams at Singley Academy will be May 27-June 3. Middle school final exams will be June 1-3 and early dismissal for all students will be June 2 and 3.

For complete final exam schedule information, access www.irvingisd.net/ppage/SemesterExamSchedule.htm.

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Sick Leave Bank Directors Elected

The Sick Leave Bank Board of Directors met May 4 and certified the election of the following IISD employees to serve on the board for the next two years:

The new directors join seven other members on the board: Nancy Chandler, Jimmy Collins, Melanie Weekly, Vanessa Vega, and Glenda Shelton. Judyann Robinson, risk manager, and Bill Althoff, acting assistant superintendent for personnel & administration, serve as ex-officio members of the board.

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Athletes of the Month

Nina Castillo, junior at Nimitz High School, and Glen Morrison, senior at Irving High School, have been named IISD Athletes of the Month for May.

Nina Castillo

Glen Morrison

Castillo has a .414 batting average with 12 doubles, 2 home runs, 29 runs-batted-in and 6 stolen bases, with only 3 defensive errors for the season. She maintains an “A” average in class and participates in the Peer Assistance and Leadership program.

Morrison has played on the varsity baseball team for Irving High since his sophomore year, and was named to All-District teams as a sophomore and junior. He is ranked ninth out of 480 in his class and has been on the Irving High Honor Roll for 36 straight six-weeks grading periods.

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Irving ISD Parent Involvement Program coordinators Erin Yacho, Juan Carlos Martinez and Maurice Walker represented IISD at the City of Irving annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Senter Park May 1.

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This Week on Irving Schools Television

From May 8-14, Irving Schools Television (ISTV) will feature the IISD Service Awards, Hispanic Heritage Celebration at John Haley Elementary School, Athletes of the Month, and the groundbreaking event for IISD Middle School #8. Features appear during District News, airing at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. daily.

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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Keep up with the latest Irving ISD news and events with three Tweets per day, Monday through Friday. Follow Irving ISD on Twitter with your cell phone or online. http://twitter.com/IrvingISD. 

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