Rohrs Named National Merit Scholar

Christopher Rohrs, senior at Nimitz High School, has been awarded a college-funded scholarship through the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Named as a National Merit Semifinalist in September 2009, Rohrs has been offered a scholarship from University of Oklahoma. College-funded scholarships range in size from $500 to $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the awarding institution.

Rohrs is among 2,800 winners of college-funded scholarships announced May 26. Another group of scholars will be announced in July and ultimately about 8,400 high school seniors will have been offered undergraduate funding.

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Partnerships in Education Events

The IISD partnerships in education program is tasked with providing progressive businesses with a meaningful way to make a significant contribution to Irving ISD youth. As part of that mission, partnerships in education helps coordinate the Student Internship Training Experience (SITE), and the annual IISD Graduate Summer Job & Volunteer Fair.

Approximately 100 companies were honored at the seventh annual SITE Employer Appreciation Reception held at Singley Academy May 3. A total of 161 Academy SITE interns presented their internship supervisors with a certificate of appreciation and a token gift. The intern program began with 30 interns in 2003, and has grown each year since. The three companies with the largest number of interns placed for the 2009-2010 school year are Baylor Medical Center at Irving, City of Irving, and Irving ISD.

Christine Hadley (left), development services manager with City of Irving Planning & Inspections Department, is recognized by her intern Josh Lara, senior at Singley Academy.

City of Irving’s Lively Pointe Recreation Center was the host location for the third annual Irving ISD Graduate Job & Volunteer Fair May 6. Thirty companies and nonprofit agencies participated in the event this year and approximately 300 Irving ISD students attended the fair. Job seekers explored different job and volunteer opportunities available during the summer months. Non-profit agencies showcased volunteer opportunities to engage in giving back to the community.

Learn more about all of the efforts of IISD partnerships in education by accessing www.irvingisd.net/pie.

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Expanding the Science Classroom

According to the IISD vision statement, the district is committed to educational excellence and equity for all students in a multicultural and engaged learning environment. IISD staff and faculty often take extra strides to support this vision to engage students’ interest in their studies.

In honor of National Lab Day May 12, eighth grade science classes at de Zavala Middle School dissected squid. Joined by Board of Trustees Vice President Nancy L. Jones, the students studied a salt water squid from class cephalopoda as part of their units on lab techniques and the interaction of body systems.

Board of Trustees Vice President Nancy L. Jones visited students in Megan Marshall’s eighth grade science class May 12, where she and students dissected a salt water squid.

Students were also visited by Krista Jenks, crime scene technician from the Ellis County Sherrif’s Office, on May 14. Jenks demonstrated fingerprinting techniques with the eighth graders. National Lab Day is a nationwide initiative to build local communities of support that will foster ongoing collaborations among volunteers, students and educators.

Krista Jenks, crime scene technician with Ellis County Sherriff’s Office, demonstrates fingerprinting techniques with eighth graders at de Zavala Middle School.

To learn more about National Lab Day, access www.nationallabday.org/about.

At Britain Elementary School, fifth grader Kabra Lile was awarded a finalist certificate for the Texas Rabies Poster Contest. A member of John Bowman’s class, Lile and her classmates worked with Britain school nurse Deborah Swartz to learn about ways to prevent rabies exposures and infections, and about the importance of vaccinations for dogs, cats, ferrets and livestock. Students created posters and submitted them to Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Learn more about the Texas DSHS rabies poster contest at http://bit.ly/PosterContest.

To see more examples of innovative activities used to engage students interest, access www.irvingisd.net/ppage/MadScience.htm

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May 31 is Student/Teacher Holiday

IISD schools and offices will be closed May 31 for a student/teacher holiday.

May 31 was originally scheduled as one of two bad-weather makeup days, however IISD Board of Trustees utilized April 2 to make up for closing school February 12.

Schools and offices will re-open and classes will resume June 1. Please visit www.irvingisd.net/calendars to view the complete IISD calendar.

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This Week on Irving Schools Television

This week Irving Schools Television (ISTV) will feature the IISD Retiree Awards, Lively Elementary School Choir welcoming troops at DFW Airport, Multicultural Day at Stipes, and the jersey retirement for MacArthur High School Senior Odyssey Sims.

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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