Garland ISD news: April 20-24
GISD hosts regional VASE, showcases state-bound talent
Due to its abundance of creative students, Garland ISD was selected to host the Texas Art Education Association’s Region 10 east Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) March 7 at Garland High School. The regional affair proved to be successful, showcasing GISD’s hardworking staff and talented students.“Many collective hours were spent organizing and planning this event,” said GHS teacher Jessica Thompson. “All art teachers, from kindergarten through 12th grade, volunteered to work that day. The outstanding team effort and positive attitudes resulted in a very cool, calm and collected atmosphere, which made all other visiting districts, students and teachers feel truly welcomed.”
The impressive event featured college and student-led workshops, fun activities in the waiting area, food trucks, greeters and guest welcome rooms. In addition, certified jurors interviewed all participants and evaluated their work based on a four-level standard rating. Originality of concept, technical expertise, understanding of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for visual art, and the interpretation of the student’s stated intent were all considered during judging.
The 2014-15 competition included 1,532 entries, including 652 district-submitted pieces. Just 89 submissions were chosen to go to state, with nearly half of those qualifiers hailing from GISD.
“We have 42 students advancing to state,” Thompson revealed. “The best thing about state VASE is that the kids just get to enjoy it, as there are no more interviews or paperwork to be completed. VASE is all about seeing what is out there, getting feedback from judges, becoming inspired to work harder and creating more art. VASE gives students an outside, unbiased opinion that can really propel them to a higher level with their art. It is such a valuable experience.”
GISD’s state-bound high schoolers will get to enjoy that experience April 24-25 at the Dallas Convention Center.
For more information about VASE, visit the competition’s website.
Story photo courtesy of Jessica Thompson.
District jazz bands shine at local competition
Showcasing talent and charisma, five Garland ISD jazz bands wowed audiences during the 38th-annual Texas Christian University Jazz Festival March 20-21. Groups from Naaman Forest and Rowlett high schools, as well as Austin Academy for Excellence, won high honors at the music competition for their excellent performances.“Congratulations to Austin Academy, Rowlett and Naaman Forest for earning top ratings in addition to trophies in their classifications,” said Director of Fine Arts George Jones. “We are proud of these outstanding students and their wonderful teachers.”
After showcasing their skills, Austin Academy Jazz One and Rowlett Jazz Two snagged first-place in their respective divisions. Rowlett Jazz One and Naaman Forest Jazz Orchestra also performed well, winning second and third place in their categories. And, Austin Academy Jazz Two received high marks for their act, as well.
Individual students were also recognized for their abilities. The following 20 performers were acknowledged for outstanding musicianship.
- Aaron Goins, Austin Academy Jazz One
- Alexander Lovrine, Naaman Forest Jazz Orchestra
- Annie Hilbun, Austin Academy Jazz Two
- Braden Jones, Austin Academy Jazz One
- Brennan Youngblood, Austin Academy Jazz One
- Camden Gonzales, Austin Academy Jazz One
- Chi-Thien Nguyen, Naaman Forest Jazz Orchestra
- David Galvez, Austin Academy Jazz Two
- Dylan Mansfield, Austin Academy Jazz One
- Jack Hardy, Rowlett Jazz Two
- Jason Hoang, Austin Academy Jazz One
- Keaton McGill, Austin Academy Jazz One
- Natalie Trejo, Naaman Forest Jazz Orchestra
- Patrick Hill, Rowlett Jazz One and Two
- Rachel Guenther, Naaman Forest Jazz Orchestra
- Rileigh McCullough, Austin Academy Jazz Two
- Sabian Carthen, Austin Academy Jazz One
- Sierra Cougot, Austin Academy Jazz Two
- Tanner Sanderson, Austin Academy Jazz One
- Zack Renning, Austin Academy Jazz Two
Story photo courtesy of George Jones.
RHS Student Council partners with fellow campuses, community for charitable cause
Four Garland ISD campuses recently joined forces to help homeless youth. Students and staff from Coyle Middle School, Keeley and Rowlett elementary schools, and Rowlett High School collected more than 1,000 pairs of jeans for the national Teens for Jeans campaign. Spearheaded by Rowlett High School’s Student Council, the altruistic act proved to be a heartwarming success.“More than one million young people experience homelessness in the United States every year, and one of the most requested items by that group is a pair of jeans,” said Student Council President Hunter Wright in a press release. “Teens for Jeans encourages young people across the country to run a jean drive in their school or community to help provide clothing for homeless youth.”
All four campuses, along with some local businesses, conducted individual drives earlier this spring. RHS encouraged their students and staff to give to the cause by offering casual dress days.
“Students were given opportunities to wear hats or pajamas to school in exchange for jeans donations,” Wright explained. “Michelle Bounds, RHS principal, also allowed staff members to wear jeans for one week in exchange for their donations.”
A friendly prank devised by RHS staff motivated contributions, as well.
“What began as a practical joke to fill Mrs. Bounds’ office with jeans turned into a philanthropic project, resulting in a total of 1,025 pairs of jeans collected for homeless teenagers,” Wright commented.
And as a result of their dedicated efforts, RHS won fifth-place in a regional Teens for Jeans competition. But winning recognition was not all the students gained from this experience.
“I hope my students learned that it is possible to make a difference in the lives of their peers who are less fortunate,” said RHS history teacher and Student Council advisor J.R. Hughes. “Beyond that, I hope my Student Council leaders gained some insight about setting a goal and putting together a stragetic plan—partnering with other schools and the community and coming up with motivating incentives to make that goal a reality.”
Story photo courtesy of J.R. Hughes.
STEAM education buzzing in GISD
Committed to 21st-century education, Garland ISD launched a science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) initiative last fall. Cultivating this rigorous culture, STEAM-fueled activities, challenges and events have been occurring across the district all year.At Kimberlin Academy for Excellence, students started practicing a skill they would not typically encounter until high school. Fifth-grade bilingual teacher Bonnie Martinez introduced her class to coding.
“I think it is great how she is integrating innovation with her kids,” said GISD Elementary Technology Integration Facilitator Brian Dean.
Coding, or the process of creating programming language that runs everything from software to mobile apps, is essential to computer science. And, with the current nationwide need for engineers and scientists, teaching coding at the elementary level might arm students with skills for a successful future.
Southgate Elementary School is also focusing on the careers of tomorrow. The campus recently hosted an interactive hallway exhibit, inviting every student to learn more about college and STEM.
“The exhibit defined what STEM is and what the jobs of the 21st-century look like. We are trying to help these kids see the future through words of excitement and things they will remember,” said Counselor Virginia Schafroth. “We know that college is important for our kids and that the more information they get at a young age, the more excited they are about going to college.”
Southgate’s eight-station exhibit featured critical thinking activities, goal-oriented endeavors and technology-driven items. From February-March, students in every class were given 3-7 minutes to visit each station in groups of four or five.
“It was about your college, career and education,” said fourth-grader Yvette Rosales. “The further you go [in school], the better you get and the more you will learn. It was really fun because you get to do teamwork and learn at the same time.”
Some of Rosales’ older peers were also able to work in teams and expand their knowledge at a STEM event outside of GISD. Students from Jackson Technology Center for Math & Science participated in Southern Methodist University’s Visioneering 2015 in February, earning high honors in the competition.
“Morris Goldade asked our seventh and eighth-grade students–who wanted to learn more about engineering–if they were interested in participating,” said Jackson Campus Technology Assistant Linda Marzolf. “A team was formed, and the adventure began as they started to work on communication skills and learn from each other in preparation for the event.”
Visioneering invites students from the region to solve a real-world problem using engineering concepts.
“The students were tasked with bringing water from a distant river to a Ugandan town with a population that is quickly increasing,” the event’s website states. “They needed to design a treatment facility and the distribution system to bring water to town.”
Jackson’s team faced 70 others during the competition and won one of just six awards up for grabs—the Smart Solutions Award presented by Bell Helicopter.
The district has presented some of its own STEAM honors as well. Seven students were named Elementary Regional Science Fair winners, including Pearson Elementary School students Madi Lindsey, Sarah Mayes and Shelby Chesier. The trio won first-place in the fifth-grade engineering category for their project titled, “How Do We Save Humpty Dumpty?”
Embracing the Maker Creator stage of GISD’s four-phase STEAM initiative, Bussey Middle School held an invention convention.
“What I like about Maker Creator is the fact that it gives my students more options than just the science fair,” said Bussey science teacher Bethanie Robinson. “Last year, we had kids who were making things and just told me about them. I thought I would throw the idea of Maker Creator to my students and get feedback from them. The ideas for projects just started flowing in—even more than what was proposed on the STEAM initiative potential creation list. It was awesome.”
In the end, students crafted everything from a smartphone holder to a new sports drink flavor to a dog collar.
And though the 2014-15 year is nearing its end, the STEAM buzz is not over yet. All these efforts will culminate in the district’s one-day STEAMposium, May 16 at the Curtis Culwell Center. The mega affair will showcase projects from all four phases and award a STEAMLY Cup to one winning school area.
For more information, visit the Curriculum and Instruction Department’s website.
CCC honored by ‘Venues Today’ for third-consecutive year
Every year, international trade publication Venues Today ranks the nation’s Top Stops for concerts and events. For the third-consecutive year, Garland ISD’s Curtis Culwell Center (CCC) has been named one of Texas’ Top Stops—a title just 19 venues received statewide.
“It feels very rewarding to be a three-time Top Stops honoree,” said CCC Director John Wilborn. “We received the title because of the volume of events we have the pleasure to accommodate.”
As North Texas’ sole venue designated a Top Stop in the 5,001-10,000 capacity category, the CCC proves to be one of the area’s leading event centers. In 2014, the CCC hosted 31 shows with more than 100,000 people in attendance, granting it fifth place in the division.
Although the first-class facility’s amenities may have contributed to this reoccurring success, Wilborn credits his staff for the distinction.
“You always want to have a niche market. The sales team does a great job targeting that market,” Wilborn explained. “I hope we can remain competitive and always make the Top Stops listing in the future.”
In addition to its recent recognition, the CCC also snagged the Most Spirit Award for hosting a number of peppy events last year.
“The Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas wins the award for having the most team spirit, hosting nine cheerleading events in 2014,” Venues Today stated in a press release. “The competitions and celebrations were promoted by United Cheer, CGS & Spirit Celebration, Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders, Redline, CGS Nationals and Varsity Spirit.”
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