Home   |   Search Articles   |   Past Issues 

Academics Teams Advance to State

For the second consecutive year, Spelling and Social Studies teams from MacArthur High School will advance to state University Interscholastic League (UIL) Academics competitions in Austin May 5-7.

The Spelling and Social Studies UIL Academics teams from MacArthur High School won first place in their respective events and will compete at state May 5-7.

Regional competition was hosted at Texas Tech University April 16. In addition to Spelling and Social Studies, MacArthur had teams competing in Literary Criticism, Current Issues & Events, Calculator Applications and Ready Writing. Nimitz High School student Duyphuc Ta also competed in Current Issues & Events, finishing in tenth place overall.

For complete IISD UIL Regional Academic Contest results, access www.irvingisd.net/articles/UILAcademics2011.htm

Contests, Grants and Blue Shoes

MacArthur High School band earned a plaque for a first division rating in Sightreading during the UIL Concert & Sightreading contest April 12-14 at Duncanville High School.

Bands from Irving High School, MacArthur and Nimitz High School competed at the event. Irving High varsity, MacArthur non-varsity, and MacArthur varsity bands each improved a division level from last year to this year. Contest results can be accessed online at www.irvingisd.net/articles/UILConcert.htm

The Travis Middle School Varsity Orchestra celebrates its first Sweepstakes Trophy in 10 years at UIL Middle School Concert & Sightreading Competition April 8. Travis orchestra will perform at Sandy Lake Orchestra Funfest May 14.

Karen Lowman, music teacher at Schulze Elementary School, works with students in the Schulze Piano Lab, funded by a $5,500 grant Lowman won from Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority Foundation.

Michael Dyson, former student at Lee Elementary School and Irving ISD, presented The Blue Shoe Project: Bringing America’s Music to America’s Youth to fifth grade students at Lee Elementary School April 22.

Singley Academy Students Invited to NASA

Three students from Singley Academy have been invited to participate in the High School Aerospace Scholars program at Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston during the summer.

Juniors Oscar Escajeda, William Canales and Tanveer Baset will complete the program by attending six-day internship where selected students are encouraged to study math, science, engineering, or computer science by interacting with engineers at NASA JSC. Prior to the internship, students complete 10 web-based lessons that include a variety of activities such as reading online curriculum, writing essays, designing upgrades to be used on the Shuttle and ISS, solving math problems, and taking online quizzes. These lessons are aligned to the state and national standards.

During the summer, scholars attend a six-day summer session at JSC, which will include designing a human mission to Mars, tours of JSC facilities, mentoring by NASA engineers, participating in hands-on engineering activities, and briefings by astronauts, engineers, and other NASA experts.

Learn more about the program online at http://aerospacescholars.jsc.nasa.gov/abouthas.htm.

Prekindergarten, Elementary Registration

Registration for all elementary students new to Irving ISD will be May 9-20 and August 15-19 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. and 12:30-3:30 p.m. at the child’s neighborhood school.

The following documents are required for registration: updated immunization records, child’s birth certificate, proof of residence, and the child’s social security card. For more information regarding elementary registration, access www.irvingisd.net/ppage/registration_elementary.htm.

An informational meeting for prekindergarten will be at 5:30 p.m. May 17 at each early childhood school. Parents are encouraged to attend the registration meeting at the early childhood school served by their attendance area.

Prekindergarten registration is 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. July 26-July 28 at Crockett Middle School. Kinkeade registration is July 26, Pierce registration is July 27, and Clifton registration is July 28. Children who will be four years old on or before September 1, 2011 and who meet certain eligibility requirements may register. For complete requirements, access www.irvingisd.net/ppage/PreK_Registration.htm.

Week of the Young Child

Students and staff at Clifton Early Childhood School and Kinkeade Early Childhood School celebrated Week of the Young Child with a variety of enrichment activities April 11-15.

(Click on thumbnail below for full size image.)

	KIRBY and Buddy from Keep Irving Beautiful visited Clifton students and taught the importance of recycling.
	Representatives from Fritz Park Petting Zoo visited April 12 to teach Clifton students about animals and the different foods they eat.
	During Week of the Young Child, students at Kinkeade enjoyed music and movement from Miss Heather, storytelling from popular storybook characters, and nutritious snacks.
	Clifton students enjoyed Field Day, including parachute play, relays and Hippity Hop April 15.

KickStart Kids Go to State

Forty-nine IISD students participating in the KickStart program won the opportunity to advance to the state tournament following City Karate Championships April 16.

KickStart was formed in August 1990 by Chuck Norris. The program currently operates in 44 schools in the Houston, Dallas, Galveston and Austin areas. More than 6,300 Texas students are served by the program and the purpose is to help provide an alternative to drugs and gang activities related to peer pressure. In Irving ISD, KickStart is offered through the physical education department at five middle schools: Austin, Bowie, Crockett, Houston and Lamar.

For complete City Tournament results, access www.irvingisd.net/articles/Kickstart-2011.htm

IISD Athletics, PE Accomplishments

Courtney Riddle, senior at Nimitz High School, and Andrew McClelland, senior at MacArthur have been named IISD Athletes of the Month for April.

Riddle has a .512 batting average for the Nimitz Softball Team, has driven in 13 runs and has six extra-base hits for the season. She is also a member of Viking Crew and is on the A/B honor roll. Riddle has received a full scholarship to attend school and play softball at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in the fall.

McClelland is batting .368 overall, with seven doubles, one triple, 25 runs-batted-in, and 3 home runs for the season. He is ranked in the top 8 percent of students in his senior class, has been accepted to attend University of Texas at Austin, and has had 13 years of perfect attendance.

	Lively Elementary PE Department hosted their third annual Family Health &  Fitness night April 21 with students performing fitness skills, parents and teachers competed in a hula hoop contest, healthy food samples from IISD Food Service Department, and learning games and activities to play at home.
	Thirteen students from Stipes Elementary School won third and fourth in their relay races at the Texas Open – World Speed Stacking Tournament April 16 and 17 in Garland. Learn more by accessing www.thewssa.com/superstack/results/.
	The Bowie Middle School Seventh Grade Boys Track Team won the 2011 City Track Championships and were undefeated in their five meets of the season.

History in the Making

The team of Irving ISD librarians is among the final four to advance to the last round of the Celebrate Irving Trivia Contest, beginning at 2 p.m. May 1 at the Valley Ranch Library.

The IISD Librarians Trivia Team won in their semifinal round to advance to the Celebrate Irving trivia finals at 2 p.m. May 1 at Valley Ranch Library.

The IISD team, comprised of Gayle Benage, Austin Middle School; Sandra Bennett, Stipes Elementary School; Sandee Hicks, Brown Elementary School; and Audrey Pitts, Gilbert Elementary School, will face the Irving Convention & Visitors Bureau team. In the other matchup, the Henry Holmes Breakfast Forum-Arnold’s Team faces The Entertainment Series of Irving team.

The Valley Ranch Library is located at 401 Cimarron Trail in Irving. Celebrate Irving – The City and The Man is sponsored by the Irving Heritage Society, Irving Public Library, City of Irving and Irving ISD. The program is also made possible in part by a grant from Humanities Texas and in part by the City of Irving through the Irving Arts Board.. Birthday cake will also be served at the trivia contest in honor of Washington Irving’s 228^th birthday.

Back to top   

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. 

Back to top