Garland ISD news Sept. 1-25
South Garland HS welcomes new international students
Adjusting to a new school may be a daunting task for any student, especially one from another country learning a new language. But several first-year South Garland High School students are easily acclimating to their new campus, thanks to a special orientation. More than 30 families who now call the U.S. home received a warm welcome at South Garland’s Newcomer Orientation last month.
“This inaugural event was phenomenal,” said Assistant Principal Victoria Acevedo. “We had a great turnout, met students and their families, and got to see our current students take ownership of the event.”
The jam-packed affair featured helpful information, door prizes, dinner, a campus tour and keynote speaker, Univision radio and television host Danny Luna. Following Principal Tracy Curtis’ kickoff address, participants attended four 15-minute sessions, which were parent and student-specific. Parents learned everything from attendance guidelines to graduation requirements, while students discovered clubs, organizations and campus life.
“All sessions were in Spanish, and current Colonels led the student-focused ones,” Acevedo explained. “I realized there was not only a need to make our newcomers feel welcomed, but to also assist them in understanding school, policies and procedures. We also wanted to introduce them to what our campus offers in hopes of planting a seed of interest that could lead to a desire for academic excellence and a future career.”
Setting youths up for a success in their new home was Acevedo’s goal from the start.
“My husband was a newcomer. He told me it would have been helpful to have a good group of friends who could help him understand school and the U.S. culture,” she stated. “Many of these students have gone through unimaginable struggles. School and making friends should not be one more.”
After the three-hour event, the Colonel community’s newest members were excited to be engaged throughout 2015-16.
“Parents were very grateful at the end of the night and stayed to ask questions, as well as volunteer for future events,” Acevedo said. “We had a lot of positive feedback from district personnel, students, parents and staff. I hope this year’s parents are part of next year’s event.”
GISD director receives Texas Choral Excellence Award
Six times, Garland ISD has been named a Best Community for Music Education. So it comes as no surprise several Fine Arts instructors boast awards of their own. Garland High School Choir Director Cheryl Wilson recently received the Texas Choral Excellence Award from the Texas Choral Directors Association (TCDA).Wilson has been the head director at GHS for 16 years. Her choirs continually bring acclaim and recognition to the district through their high level of musical artistry. Her students also rack up several individual accomplishments every year. And her alumni often carry the foundations, high expectations and beauty learned at Garland High into their own teaching.
Much like Wilson, the TCDA seeks to instill a love of music in every Texas school, church and community singer by supporting choral directors and music teachers statewide. Honoring its members who show exceptional talents and dedication to their chosen profession, the Choral Excellence Award recognizes contributions to music education, mentorship, inspiration to colleagues and students, and advocacy for the future of choral singing.
Former students and colleagues alike agree Wilson was a perfect candidate.
“Her ability to share her love and passion for music through her teaching inspires her students to be lifelong musicians and in many cases, future music educators, like myself,” said former student Aaron Lucero. “For me, she was not only a teacher, but also a mentor, guidance counselor, role model, and now a friend and colleague.”
“She builds trust through her relationships with her students, and they have the utmost respect for her,” added coworker Nora Henson. “It’s as if you are observing a musical shorthand—she prepares her students to work at a strikingly advanced level, and they obviously love working with the intensity of a professional group. Day in and day out, year after year, Cheryl Wilson transforms ordinary students into extraordinary musicians.”
Photo courtesy of Cheryl Wilson.
District hosts innovative classroom furniture exhibition
A 21st-century education features interactive, student-driven and technologically advanced learning. To complement and enhance today’s education, classrooms across the country are incorporating innovative equipment and tools—a principle outlined in the district’s Strategic Plan. Moving toward that goal, Garland ISD gave administrators and teachers a chance to see the newest, state-of-the-art desks, chairs and tables at the GISD Furniture Show last month.“We recognize that innovative, child-centered furnishings are the key to 21st-century learning,” said Purchasing Director Mark Booker. “We invited manufacturers and dealers to come and show their furnishings, giving district staff a chance to feel, see, touch and evaluate products based on quality.”
Dozens of principals and teachers took advantage of that opportunity, gathering inspiration and trying out furniture their students could be using in the future.
“This was perfect for someone like me—a person who is visual. Seeing a product flat on a piece of paper is different from sitting in it, touching it and feeling it,” said Carver Elementary School Principal Wendy Williams. “I liked the fact that so many of the arrangements lent themselves to be flexible. The biggest thing we need to do now is move from rows of desks and chairs to innovative, forward-thinking concepts.”
Groundbreaking concepts were prevalent at the expo, as participants got a peek into the diverse world of modern classroom gear.
“I saw some flexible furniture that encourages collaborative learning. I also noticed the use of interesting fabrics, which is cool because it all used to just be wood and metal,” Booker explained. “So, now you have the fabrics, S-shaped library shelving and furnishings with adjustable heights. It is just amazing to see all of the variety there is today.”
Desks with whiteboard tops, large touch screens, tables with charging stations, and stools with wide, rounded trunks for easy rocking were all contemporary inventions showcased. Implementing cutting-edge items like those at the show is a priority for many in the GISD community.
“I feel like a teacher’s space is the foundation of all learning. It is even more foundational than classroom management, because a space is where you start. The room setup has to be functional because the needs of our learners have changed,” Williams expressed.
“As we move forward in reaching this generation’s learners, we have to not only change our mindset with technology, but also in the environment,” added Hickman Elementary School Principal Disa McEwen. “If we make the environment more conducive for their learning styles, our children will be more successful–and that is what it is all about.”
GISD assembling Menu Advisory Committee
Have questions about student nutrition? Want to weigh in on cafeteria choices? Garland ISD is launching a Menu Advisory Committee (MAC) open to all district students, parents and staff.
“This committee will review the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, providing members greater knowledge of USDA guidelines and regulations for daily meal service,” said Jennifer Craig, assistant director of nutrition and menu operations. “Additionally, MAC will give parents, students and staff an opportunity to provide valuable input into menu and food selection for school meals.”
Participants will sample and critique recipes under consideration. They will also discuss new programs such as Harvest of the Month and Chef’s Move to Schools. Meetings will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Marvin Padgett Building, located at 701 N. First St. Dates for 2015-16 include Sept. 29, Nov. 17, Feb. 2 and April 12.
To join the Menu Advisory Committee, please email [email protected]. For more information about Student Nutrition Services, visit the department’s web page.
Cafeterias to feature fresh, local produce
Garland ISD students will notice additional options in the cafeteria line this school year. Partnering with Go Texan, the district is offering a variety of local produce. GISD’s new Harvest of the Month program features fresh fruits or vegetables every first Friday.“We hope this program will bring nutritional education to life through increased knowledge and tasting opportunities,” said Jennifer Craig, assistant director of nutrition and menu operations. “Increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables will help set a foundation for healthy eating.”
In addition to the produce, Harvest of the Month provides information about the fruit or vegetable and where it was farmed. In September, students were treated to watermelon from GMC Produce in Henderson. An accompanying fact sheet details how watermelons grow, their nutritional value and different ways they can be served.
“We feel like it is a great opportunity to promote local farmers and the great service they provide to our community,” commented Craig. “The Student Nutrition Services Department also hopes to encourage students to try different varieties of produce.”
Harvest of the Month items can be chosen as a meal plan option or purchased à la carte. Those who participate will receive a trading card to keep track of their selections. At the end of the year, completed cards can be turned in for a special prize. Upcoming features include zucchini, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, peaches and blueberries.
For more information about Student Nutrition Services, visit the department’s web page.
GISD highlights Attendance Awareness Month
Showing up to school on time and every day is essential to academic success. If a student misses two class days every month, they will lose 10 percent of the school year, falling behind academically. With a goal to prepare students for a successful future, Garland ISD is stressing the important role this simple act plays on knowledge and life during Attendance Awareness Month this September.“Student attendance is directly connected to student achievement. The more a student attends school, the more likely they are to be successful,” said GISD Attendance Administrator Angela Daniels.
Making sure students realize that teachers, administrators and staff want to see them at school every day, inspiring messages and posters are displayed at campuses, on announcements and posted online. Bussey Middle School student Luis Beltran related to the messages, as the seventh grader has not missed one day of class since kindergarten.
“I come to school because I believe it is my responsibility and personal goal,” the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) student stated.
Hoping to instill that kind of determination in its students, Liberty Grove Elementary School launched a reward-driven campaign.
“In an effort to increase attendance and decrease tardiness, we are having a ‘Don’t be Tardy to the Party’ celebration every marking period,” said Assistant Principal Barry Horn. “Students with no absences or tardiness will be invited, and every party will have a mystery special event planned.”Campus-based efforts like these motivate attendance, but encouragement from home is also imperative.
“Parent support is vital to the success of students,” Daniels explained. “We want parents and students to be well informed about the consequences of nonattendance. Court is not the only consequence. Students risk losing course credit or repeating a grade if their attendance drops below 90 percent. The law requires that we advise parents about the results of poor attendance.”
The recently passed House Bill 2398 has impacted truancy management, decriminalizing the act. To help students, parents and the district comply by new guidelines, a General Attendance Contract was sent home to be reviewed and signed earlier this month. The document outlined attendance expectations and consequences in an effort to curb absences.
“The difference in the truancy process is how it is applied at the high school level,” Daniels revealed. “At this level, students who reach 10 unexcused absences after campus-applied interventions will be held civilly responsible for their truant acts, rather than criminally.”
Although this push will continue to buzz through September, GISD has been committed to student attendance for years.
“The number of student and parent cases reported each year has steadily declined over the last five years,” Daniels stated. “In addition, several of the requirements instated by the new law were already practiced in GISD.”
To learn more about attendance requirements, visit the Student Services Department’s website.
GISD principals singled out from thousands across state
Every year, the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals recognizes outstanding administrators from the state’s 20 regional education service centers. Principals and assistant principals are nominated and chosen by their peers for exemplary performance and outstanding leadership.
Two Garland ISD administrators claimed Region 10 Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year designations for 2015-16.
Ray Merrill was named Principal of the Year for not only leading Sachse High School, but his community and district as well. In just four years, he has helped implement innovative and technologically advanced initiatives. He has also represented GISD on the Sachse Chamber of Commerce and Sachse Library boards. And, he currently serves on a Dallas County Community College District committee to identify how to better foster valuable opportunities for high schoolers. Merrill’s dedication to enhancing the educational experience of students and staff can be credited with Sachse’s designation as one of the nation’s top high schools by The Washington Post and U.S. News and World Report.
Coleman Bruman earned an Assistant Principal of the Year title for his three-year tenure at Jackson Technology Center for Math and Science. He now leads Armstrong Elementary School, but continues to show the same devotion to preparing students for success. Bruman sees himself as a risk taker, visionary and leader of learners. He models the same drive toward professional growth he encourages in others. He also fosters a supportive environment on campus and possesses an admirable ability to create strong family-school partnerships.
As Region 10 winners, Merrill and Bruman are eligible to compete for state honors. They will also be recognized during a Texas Association of Secondary School Principals dinner next June.
Hispanic Heritage Month shines throughout GISD
Hispanic Heritage Month kicked off Sept. 15, initiating the celebration of Latin American culture and influence in the U.S. In Garland ISD, campuses launched fun and enlightening festivities. Parsons Prekindergarten School unveiled its Hispanic Heritage museum to celebrate, teaching four-year-olds about several Latin American countries.“As a school and district, we are very diverse. Many languages are spoken at Parsons Pre-K alone. I want to show them the different cultures we have in our school and world, and this is one of the best ways to do it,” said Instructional Support Aide Tina Pham. “I sent an email asking teachers if they had anything they wanted to showcase from their countries. With their help, I gathered items to create the museum.”
The one-room gallery displayed flags, fashion accessories, sports gear, toys and even kitchen tools. These visual elements exhibit slivers of Latin America’s history, ecosystem and lifestyle, which are subjects Pham wants students to comprehend on a basic level.
“I created a PowerPoint to share simple facts about different countries, and then showcase things from those countries,” she said.
During Pham’s presentation, students were exposed to agriculture, economics, geography and traditions. Students saw everything from Guatemala’s currency—the quetzal—to Costa Rica’s diverse frog population.
“It has been good. The kids really like it,” Pham stated. “One of the students walked in and said, ‘I love this class. This is my favorite class.’ It made me feel good that the display caught her eye, and she really liked it.”
Parson’s students are in for even more than the museum, as Pham has planned a special Hispanic Heritage cooking presentation to take place within the month.
“I do not know what I am going to make, but I am thinking tacos or something with tortillas.”
Like Parsons, several GISD campuses will observe Hispanic Heritage Month with special activities and programs. The district’s Mariachi Estrellas will make appearances at many campuses, while South Garland High School will host a reimagined production of Romeo and Juliet Oct. 15-17. Romeo y Julieta, set in modern-day Texas, will examine themes of immigration, race and Hispanic culture. Visit school websites to see what other campuses have planned for the monthlong observation.
Bond 2014 program seeks local business
Providing local businesses an opportunity to get involved with Garland ISD’s Bond 2014 program, the district’s project management company, Jacobs, hosted a Community Outreach Event Sept. 24 at the Curtis Culwell Center.Attendees learned about upcoming Phase 1 projects, how to bid for the contracts and how to become an approved vendor with the district. Networking opportunities were also available, as participants were able to meet with construction, consultation and architecture firm representatives. Jacobs plans to host additional Community Outreach Events before the start of each phase period.
For more information about the Bond 2014 program, visit www.garlandisdbond.com.
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