11/20/2008
 Fort Worth After School has been selected by the Fort Worth Chapter 1 of the National Association of Women in Construction to participate with The Block Kids Building Program. Fort Worth After School has collaborated for the past eight years to present this annual project. Participating elementary schools through the years have included: C.C. Moss, A.M. Pate, Luella Merrett, M.L. Phillips, Washington Heights, Kirkpatrick Elem., Seminary Hills Park, Greenbrier, D. McRae, Lowery Road and S.S. Dillow.
The National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC) Block Kids Building Program teaches children in grades 1-6 about the many interesting and rewarding careers in the construction industry. The highlight of the program is a building contest. Builders have 60 minutes to design and build any construction project their imaginations can create using 100 legos blocks. This is a national contest sponsored by NAWIC chapters throughout the United States.
The First Place winner of the contest receives a $100 U.S. Savings Bond and the opportunity for their winning design to enter in the City competition and compete for Regional champion and then for the coveted National title. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners receive trophies.
During the 2007-08 competition, Misael Gonzalez, 5th grade student at S.S. Dillow Elementary, design advanced to the National level competition representing Fort Worth. He was awarded 3rd place in the National competition that was announced at the recent Fall National NAWIC conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is the first time that a Fort Worth After School/FWISD student has won National.
Misael Gonzalez, now a student at William James Middle, helped to kick off the 2008-09 Fall contest by speaking to the students at Maude I. Logan ES about his winning design and the competition. M.I. Logan is this year’s selected campus. The 2008-09 Fall Contest date is:
Thursday, November 20, 2008
M.I. Logan ES -2300 Dillard Street
Student Competition: 4:00 p.m.
Awards Ceremony: 5:30 p.m.
Sandy Martinez, Fort Worth’s chapter chairperson of the NAWIC Block Kids Program, states, “NAWIC members want to make a difference in the lives of area young people and ensure our industry’s ability to meet the growing demand for skilled construction designers and builders.”
We would like to send a heartfelt THANKS to the industry professionals who willingly continue to share their talents with the students each year. 11/19/2008Kaye Boyer, New Teacher Adviser at Morningside Elementary, shares this news:
"Our school garden is second to none, including the Botanic Gardens of Fort Worth. Mr. Mitchell, a retired principal, tends our garden as a part-time employee of FWISD. We also have a rain forest in our green house. Each classroom has a plot in our garden, and students are instructed in the art of gardening.
"Our career day is Friday, and that is an interesting day here. Students may dress as the profession they are interested in." About 3 months ago one of our language center teachers was diagnosed with MDS, a blood disease categorized as pre-leukemia. She wanted to be a part of a case study at the Mayo Clinic/MD Anderson, but had not heard from the program, so Mr. Braudaway initiated a bone marrow donor drive, just in case she needed a bone marrow transplant. We had 17 join the bone marrow registry from Poly.
Our teacher, Dr. Tanya Chancey found out recently she was accepted into the MD Anderson clinical trial and won't need the bone marrow, but we are ready to help someone else if needed.
I don't know how the overall giving for United Way is turning out, but for Poly, our contributions in2006 were $2351.In 2007 they were $3995, and this year, when each faculty member is already giving so much emotionally, academically, and financially, our contributions were $6,080!!! We also doubled the number of contributors this year.
During the cross country season, we had a teacher show up to watch the race and realized that her shoes were better than a student who was running. At the starting line, the teacher and student switched shoes and the student ran a great race. Another one of our new-to-Poly teachers ran with the cross country team each morning to help the coach (for no money!) and got some of his running buddies to donate shoes to the students. Our tennis coach also gave up the shoes on his feet for a student at a fall tournament.
Each of our coaches goes above and beyond. They take students, most of whom have never played the sport before, and certainly have not had private lessons, and encourage them, give them the skills and confidence to compete, and often provide them with transportation home from practices and basic pieces of the uniforms that the District does not provide.
This is also true of our band director. When our volleyball team did not have enough members to scrimmage effectively, the coach asked for teachers to help during practice.The librarian, the boy's soccer coach, one of our teacher mentors, and two math teachers practiced regularly with the team in order to help them improve their skills.
Each person goes above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of students. They do not go the extra mile because they are expected to do it, or even because they feel like they have to, most do it without even giving it a second thought.
Wendy Coleman
Academic/SIP Coordinator
Polytechnic High School 11/18/2008
The Early Childhood Department invites you to participate in our second annual Angel Tree Project. Fort Worth ISD has over 200 students attending PK in six Satellite Centers in at risk areas of Fort Worth. All of these students are from low income families and some are even homeless. Starting Friday, November 20th you may come by our office (Admin. SE 222) and adopt an angel or several angels of your choosing.
If you choose to adopt an angel, we suggest you purchase an article of clothing and a small toy. Our office will provide you with correct sizes and a suggested toy. Please bring your wrapped gift to the Early Childhood office the by December 12th. Be sure you have the child’s name on the package. This is an anonymous donation, so we ask that you write “From: Santa”.
Thanks!
The Early Childhood Department First winners of the Fort Worth ISD Bright Ideas contest are Lucynda Nicholson, Career & Technical Education teacher at Western Hills High School and Diana Villarreal, data clerk at North Side HS.
Lucinda and Diana will each receive a $50 gift card toward a dinner for two to Hoffbrau Steak House. The card may be used at any of the five Hoffbrau locations in Fort Worth, Arlington, Haltom City, Dallas and Amarillo.
Lucinda suggested we used Interoffice-style envelopes in mailing within the District rather than a new envelope for each message.
Diana came up with the idea of using three-part copy forms for the emergency cards rather than ask parents to complete multiple copies. This will improve efficiency, save District time and help parents save time as well.
These are just two of the excellent ideas submitted in October – but they were ideas which we could immediately implement and will result in a savings of money or time or both!
As for the other entries, we wanted to let you know we have taken them all under advisement, and will continue to research their viability.
In particular, we wanted to let you know:
We are currently doing an audit of parking spaces.
In researching the idea of a four day work week in the summer, we found the money it would save the District is negligible. We also can find no way to do it equitably.
Our process of rehiring longtime employees is being examined, especially making them go through the entire hiring process again.
We’re also looking into the question of lighting in the garage on weekends and other times when the garage is closed.
The use of remanufactured toner cartridges has been under consideration for a while now and we are exploring using one vendor. However, there are some potential problems associated with the use of these products and we are being very cautious as we proceed.
These and other “bright idea” submissions came from:
Matthew Booth, Horizons Alternative School
Scott Brewer, William James Middle School
Kathleen Campbell, Department of Fine Arts
Irene Cortez, Accounting
Cheryl K. Creamer, Early Childhood Department
Kathleen Garza, Art Department
Laura Litton, Art Education
Laurie Sager, Lowery Road Elementary School
Delia Shiflet, Greenbriar Elementary School
Each of you will receive a Fort Worth ISD branded notebook, along with our thanks and our encouragement to send more ideas and try again.
The Fort Worth ISD wants to encourage and reward employee ideas to make this an even better District. Do you have a bright idea that will make this a better District in which to work?
Submit your best ideas to brightideas@fwisd.org Entries will be judged on the basis of how they help the District achieve any of our three Strategic goals:academic success, efficiency and effectiveness, and improved parent and community involvement. Christopher Thornton from Tanglewood Elementary represented Fort Worth ISD at the Regional Reading Bee.
The Reading Bee is sponsored by Score A Goal In The Classroom for 2nd graders across the area. He competed against over 20 district and private school representatives and placed 2nd.
Way to go! Denisha Greenwood a senior national merit scholar semi finalist at O.D. Wyatt High School was recently honored at the One Church One School, 13th Annual Partnership Conference held in Dallas, Texas, October 23-24, 2008. The One Church One School partnership in Fort Worth, Texas is formed between O.D. Wyatt High School and Carter Metropolitan Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
Denisha was nominated and awarded one of two scholarships recognizing students of the year. She was presented her scholarship by Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr., the founder of the One Church One School partnership and Ms. Phedonia Johnson, the National Education Director of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Steven Johnson is the principal of O.D. Wyatt High School and Rev. Jerome B. Price, Sr., is the pastor of Carter Metropolitan Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
11/14/2008Alice Barrientez, liaison for the American Indian Education Program, was recognized Thursday night as the American Indian Community Individual of the Year for her outstanding work with FWISD American Indian students. The award was presented at the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Texas Annual Awards Banquet.The event was held at The American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum. 11/13/2008 The JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps) students at FWISD’s R.L. Paschal High School understand the meaning of Veterans Day. The cadets spent several days leading up to Veterans Day by collecting comfort items and cash to purchase additional comfort items for military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those items have been donated to the “Give 2 Our Troops” program for shipment overseas. Three former Paschal students are currently serving in foreign tours and keep in touch with the current students.
Attached are photos from our cadets visiting veterans at the Community Care Center (a long term care facility) on Monday after school. Every year, our cadets write Veterans Day, Christmas and Valentines Day cards for the veterans who are residents at the Center (located across the street from Trimble Tech). For Veterans Day, SGM Sanchez, along with several cadets, delivered the cards along with flags for each Veteran. It is always a moving experience for the cadets and the veterans.
 The 8th grade Leonard Middle School Lady Longhorns volleyball team ended their 2008 season with a winning streak on Saturday, November 1. Led by Coach Russell and Coach Wright, the Lady Longhorns ended regular season play with a record of seven wins and only one loss. They earned Fifth Place honors in the Fort Worth ISDN City Championship tournament.
The Lady Longhorns are pictured: Front Row, AL-R: Kaili Kennedy, Drew Bessinger, Arissa Ayala, Kourtnie Renfro, and Amy Dowell; Back Row, L-R: Coach Russell, Kenley Elam, Audrey Stevens, Danielle Hankins, Erin Shaw, Megan McNeal, Aimee Springfield, and Coach Wright.
Not shown: Dani Chaverini and Kendra Adams. | Edit in Browser | /_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif | /inside/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XsnLocation={ItemUrl}&OpenIn=Browser | 0x0 | 0x1 | FileType | xsn | 255 | | Edit in Browser | /_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif | /inside/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XmlLocation={ItemUrl}&OpenIn=Browser | 0x0 | 0x1 | ProgId | InfoPath.Document | 255 | | Edit in Browser | /_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif | /inside/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XmlLocation={ItemUrl}&OpenIn=Browser | 0x0 | 0x1 | ProgId | InfoPath.Document.2 | 255 | | Edit in Browser | /_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif | /inside/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XmlLocation={ItemUrl}&OpenIn=Browser | 0x0 | 0x1 | ProgId | InfoPath.Document.3 | 255 | | Edit in Browser | /_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif | /inside/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XmlLocation={ItemUrl}&OpenIn=Browser | 0x0 | 0x1 | ProgId | InfoPath.Document.4 | 255 | | View in Web Browser | /_layouts/images/ichtmxls.gif | /inside/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?listguid={ListId}&itemid={ItemId}&DefaultItemOpen=1 | 0x0 | 0x1 | FileType | xlsx | 255 | | View in Web Browser | /_layouts/images/ichtmxls.gif | /inside/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?listguid={ListId}&itemid={ItemId}&DefaultItemOpen=1 | 0x0 | 0x1 | FileType | xlsb | 255 | | Snapshot in Excel | /_layouts/images/ewr134.gif | /inside/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?listguid={ListId}&itemid={ItemId}&Snapshot=1 | 0x0 | 0x1 | FileType | xlsx | 256 | | Snapshot in Excel | /_layouts/images/ewr134.gif | /inside/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?listguid={ListId}&itemid={ItemId}&Snapshot=1 | 0x0 | 0x1 | FileType | xlsb | 256 |
|
|
|
|
|