IISD Class of 2010 Graduates

On Friday and Saturday of this past weekend, Irving ISD high schools graduated a total of 1,761 seniors during four ceremonies at The Potters House Event Center.

Ana Maria Aldaba (right), Nimitz High School graduate, receives her diploma from IISD Board of Trustees President Valerie Jones during Nimitz graduation June 4.

High schools and their number of graduates are: Irving High School, 445; MacArthur High School, 491; Nimitz High School, 494; and Singley Academy, 331. The 2010 graduation total is 173 more students than in 2009.

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Schools in Contest for Cash Prizes

Brandenburg Elementary School, Keyes Elementary School, and Singley Academy have entered a video contest sponsored by Big Lots! that will award cash prizes to schools.

The Lots!2Give program will distribute $100,000 shared between 46 schools nationwide as part of the contest. Awards include one $10,000 grand prize and forty-five $2,000 first prizes. Participating schools were asked to put students’ creativity to the test by submitting a short video and brief essay explaining why the school is in need of financial support.

Vote for the participating IISD schools online at www.lots2give.com/vote/70lCX9h_GHE. Brandenburg is on the sixth line from the bottom; Academy fifth line from the bottom; and Keyes is on the bottom line.

Additionally, Brandenburg, Keyes, Singley Academy and Cardwell Career Preparatory Center are eligible to participate in an in-store donation program. Patrons can help IISD schools by donating $1 or $5 at participating Big Lots stores through July 5, and 100 percent of donations go to participating schools.

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Supplies for Success

Irving businesses and individuals are invited to participate in the Sixth Annual Mayor & Firefighters’ Supplies for Success school supply drive. This city-wide event is held to collect school supplies for economically disadvantaged students who attend school in Irving ISD.

All Irving fire stations will be collecting donations from July 5 to August 6. Persons wishing to donate supplies are encouraged to visit their neighborhood fire station. School supplies will be sorted and delivered by Chase Bank volunteers to counselors at every Irving ISD school. The counselors will give economically disadvantaged students supplies that they need at the beginning of the school year.

School supplies needed include: backpacks, one-subject spiral notebooks, one-, two-, or three-inch notebook binders, construction paper, dry-erase markers and highlighter sets, pens, pencils, erasers, wide-ruled notebook paper, colored pencil and marker sets, large glue sticks, and 16- and 24-count crayons.

Parents in need of assistance with supplies should contact their Irving ISD school counselors. Businesses interested in donating supplies or making financial contributions toward the purchase of supplies are encouraged to contact Thelma Cantu, partnerships in education coordinator, at 972-600-5017, or via email to tcantu@irvingisd.net.

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Teachers Awarded Foundation Grants

Four Irving ISD teachers were awarded grants for the month of May in the Teacher & Paraprofessional Enrichment Grants (TPEG) program from Irving Schools Foundation.

Teachers and the grants they received are: Barbara Allen, nurse at Houston Middle School, National Association of School Nurses national conference; Karen Lowman, music teacher at Schulze Elementary School, Orff Schulwerk - Levels I, II & III; Kristi Murrell, fifth grade teacher at Farine Elementary School, Loose in the Lab; and Mark Zeske, journalism teacher at Irving High School, Poynter Boot Camp for Scholastic Journalism Adivsers.

TPEG are professional development grants provided for seminars, workshops, and conferences not regularly paid for with district funds. Grants are awarded each month September through May during the school year. TPEG Applications must be submitted by the 10th of each month. Teachers wishing to apply for grants can access www.efoundationsolutions.com/ISF/ISF/grants. 

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Service Learning Program Accompanies Super Bowl

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.

Students are encouraged to join SLANT 45, and team up with other kids to become a “champion” of community service. SLANT 45 is a free youth education program developed for elementary-age children. Designed and managed by creative-learning nonprofit Big Thought in partnership with the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee, SLANT 45 aims to become one of the biggest communitywide service-learning programs for children in America. The goal is to recruit 20,000 kids from more than 100 North Texas cities to generate 45,000 hours of community service.

Teams of kids will work with an adult coach to create a project that will benefit their community – anything from blanket drives and community gardens, to painted murals and neighborhood walking programs. Key components of SLANT 45 include a reflective collage, a special touring art exhibition, and a January 2011 celebration even at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

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. However students and community youth-groups are not limited to participation with their school.

To learn more and to register, visit http://slant45.org.

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Construction Project Update

A district-wide effort to renovate early childhood school and elementary playgrounds began at Farine Elementary School June 1.

Architect’s rendering of new playground equipment to be installed at all IISD elementary schools.

Equipment will include an American’s With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant wheelchair accessible play area and rubber play surface under the new equipment. Playground renovation will take place at all IISD early childhood schools, elementary schools, and Wheeler Center, and will be complete by August 15.

Playground Report to the Board of Trustees

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Public Library Summer Programs

Irving Public Library is sponsoring summer reading programs, featuring reading clubs and prizes for readers of all ages.

The children’s summer reading club will recognize kids who read 20 minutes or more per day. With every 10 days of reading, children will receive certificates, books and prizes. Additionally, the library has scheduled activities to encourage reading. Activities include puppet shows, magic, juggling, circus clowns, movies, games, and live animal shows. Programs begin at 2:30 p.m. on specific days at respective branches: Monday, Southwest Branch Library; Tuesday, Northwest Branch Library; Wednesday, Valley Ranch Library; Thursday, East Branch Library; and Saturday, Central Library.

Teen summer reading club is for students in grades 6-12. Participants are rewarded for every five hours of reading. Teen library programs include author visits, movie marathons, Wii video game competitions, and crafts. The June teen program schedule is available online by accessing www.cityofirving.org/library.

The adult summer reading club is for ages 18 and older. Adults are required to read five books to be eligible for a prize. Irving Public Library offers a variety of book clubs to help participants meet reading requirements. For book club details and a list of adult reading club activities, access the library website.

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