Employees and students can start contributing to Fort Worth ISD’s 2019 United Way Campaign on Monday.

FWISD employees will receive an email from United Way of Tarrant County on Monday, October 21 with personalized login information for donating online, details on what the nonprofit does and how to help.

Once again, employees can make online donations by credit/debit card or payroll deductions this year. Donations will be deducted from employee’s paychecks over eight months from January to August.

FWISD employees who submit online donations are eligible for multiple prizes including a two-night stay at the Embassy Suites in downtown Fort Worth and gift cards.

Employees wanting to submit a donation by check may do so by completing a paper pledge form by Friday, November 1 and returning it to their department/campus campaign coordinator.

When donating, employees can specify the agencies or programs they’d like their donations to support.

Students can participate in the campaign on their respective campuses through coin drives and other fundraising efforts.

Over 100 employee campaign coordinators attended rally sessions where they received an overview and materials for putting on an effective fundraising campaign, Tuesday October 15 at the FWISD Professional Development Center. Coordinators who missed the rally sessions and have not picked up their campaign materials are urged to contact Cindy Ybarra in the PDC to make arrangements for picking them up.

The 2019 District goal is increasing participation 20% above the number of participants in 2018.

FWISD’s 2019 United Way Campaign will run from Monday, October 21 to Friday, November 1. Employees have until Friday, November 8 to make online donations.

United Way of Tarrant County partners with over 45 nonprofit agencies to support more than 300,000 people annually in need with resources and various services.

For more details about FWISD’s 2019 United Way Campaign, contact Mrs. Ybarra at cindy.ybarra@fwisd.org or call 817-814-3350.

The Arlington Heights High School Pyramid Literacy Rally is back once again sharing literacy-based activities and giving out free books to elementary school-aged students.

The eighth annual event serving kids in the Arlington Heights pyramid is from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, October 19, on the high school’s front lawn, 4501 West Freeway in Fort Worth.

The free Literacy Rally is open to all FWISD families, with young students interacting with Arlington Heights students, and aligns with the District’s goal of all third graders reading on grade level by 2025. Early childhood literacy remains fundamental to the District mission of “preparing ALL students for success in college, career, and community leadership.”

“There is no better indicator of students’ future success than their ability to read on grade level at an early age,” Arlington Heights Principal Sarah Weeks said. “In order to support FWISD and the Arlington Heights Pyramid, we have created an event filled with reading, fun activities and free books! We hope to see you October 19th!”

The second annual Unity in the Community (UITC) Family and Youth Summit event aims to offer the public resources for enhancing their quality of life.

This free event is being hosted from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, October 19 at Dunbar High School, 5700 Ramey Ave. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. Free groceries will be offered, and participants are eligible for door prizes.

The Unity in the Community Coalition is partnering with various agencies to offer the public solutions-based resources and information for addressing situations that impact their daily lives.

Participants may attend information sessions of their choice focusing on three key areas: public awareness, mental health and wellness and financial literacy.

Representatives from Medicaid and CHIP; Adult Education; Tarrant Area Food Bank; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County and North Texas Area Community Health Centers will be available to meet one-on-one with summit participants at the Unity in the Community resource fair.

“This event is geared toward family. Sessions will focus on issues that our students face on a daily basis such as dating violence, human trafficking, police interaction, coping skills, and immigration. Students will also be able to receive community service hours,” said Carlos Walker, director of FWISD’s Family Action Center and a UITC summit organizer. "A session will be provided for parents and care givers on how to access Parent Portal to check grades and stay informed about their student’s performance. A FWISD counselor will conduct a session on helping our students become resilient: Yesterday’s Trauma, Today’s Trials, Tomorrow’s Triumph. Students will have an opportunity to demonstrate their leadership by participating as greeters and helping carry groceries for elderly participants.”

Registration is not required to attend this event. Additional details are available online at www.fwisd.org/uitc.

Colleagues,

In our latest edition of Inside FWISD, you will find information about:

• Sponsorship Supports Two FWISD Campus Food Pantries
• FWISD United Way Campaign Begins Monday
• Free Books, Literacy Activities Available at AHHS Pyramid Literacy Rally
• Unity in the Community Summit Set for Saturday
• Ask Elsie

• Fort Worth ISD Snapshot

And more stories and information about and for FWISD employees 

Don’t forget to view stories throughout the week on the Inside FWISD blog

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following content is from the Fort Worth Public Library

For those who root for the flute – or any kind of music – the Flutissimo! Flute Choir will bring its talented troupe of musicians to play a free concert at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Fort Worth Public Library-East Regional.

The October concert – titled “Shall We Dance?” – will feature music ranging from the Renaissance to the Big Band Era, including selections from ballets, operas and ethnic dances.

Flutissimo! Flute Choir was launched in 1997 as the Mid-Cities Flute Choir. “With eight members, no conductor, and we rehearsed in my den,” said Janice Spooner. Now the group plays with 30-35 members, ranging in age from 29 to 78, and continues to recruit additional flutists.

The group now practices weekly at a church in Hurst with regular area performances, and that playing time has paid off. For the past 12 years, Flutissimo! Flute Choir has won “Outstanding Amateur Ensemble” at the Texas Flute Festival and has been selected to play at the National Flute Association’s annual convention.

The group comprises lawyers, PhDs, an architect, a hospital pharmacist, an Army reservist, two retired military members and several educators at all levels. Several members of the flute choir also play in the Texas Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps.

“It is a very diverse group,” Spooner said. “We usually have two men who play, but only one is performing this fall, and his main instrument is clarinet. We also have one bassoonist, and we have two pairs of mother-daughter players.” The flutes that will be played are also diverse, featuring concert flutes, piccolos, alto flute sand bass flutes.

Flutissimo! Flute Choir’s appearance is just one of the rich musical offerings the Fort Worth Public Library hosts during the year. Others include the annual 3^rd Thursday Jazz Concert Series, Cliburn in the Community concerts and events with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.

The Library continues to create space for the arts and will host the choir again on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Southwest Regional Library and on Saturday, May 9, at the Ella Mae Shamblee Branch Library.

The Fort Worth ISD joins the nation today in observing White Cane Awareness Day. 

Celebrated in the United States on October 15, the observance honors the contributions made by blind and visually impaired Americans. In 1964, the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution designating October 15 as White Cane Awareness Day.

The Fort Worth ISD Board of Education acknowledged White Cane Awareness Day at its October 8 meeting and recognized three FWISD employees who work with the District’s blind and visually impaired students – Darenda Kirby, FWISD Regional Day School assistant director, Audra Bishop and Kelly Nicholson, FWISD orientation and mobility specialists.

“The white cane, in addition to being a practical mobility tool, serves as a symbol of dignity, freedom, and independence for individuals who are blind or visually impaired,” said Clint Bond, District spokesman at the Oct. 8 board meeting. “ The mission of White Cane Day is to educate the world about blindness and how the blind and visually impaired can live and work independently while giving back to their communities, to celebrate the abilities and successes achieved by  blind people in a sighted world, and to honor the many contributions being made by the blind and visually impaired.”

For more details on the observance, visit the National Federation of the Blind website.   

What: A Fort Worth ISD Teacher Hiring Event

When: 5- 7 p.m., Monday, October 14, 2019

Where: South Hills High School, 6101 McCart Avenue, Fort Worth, 76133

Summary: Your teaching career is calling. Answer it at a Fort Worth ISD Teacher Hiring Event taking place Monday, October 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. at South Hills High School.

The event is open to everyone interested in a teaching career – whether you’re a teacher wanting to relocate to Fort Worth ISD, whether you’re certified through a college program or an alternative certification process, or whether you’re a recent college graduate or will graduate in December 2019 or May 2020. All are welcome!

Fort Worth ISD is looking for teachers at all grade levels. Bring your passion, along with your resume, and be ready to interview.

Here’s what you can expect at the event:

• Meet and interview with principals on the spot
• Get answers to any questions you have about teaching and about our District. We will educate you on the steps to becoming a FWISD teacher.
• Learn everything Fort Worth ISD has to offer new teachers, including a starting salary of $54,000, all the professional development you will need to be an awesome teacher, and support and encouragement from all the FWISD family

For more information, contact Susan Rhoten at 817-814-HIRE.

Employee campaign managers are invited to attend one of two kickoff rally sessions in preparation for the launch of Fort Worth ISD’s 2019 United Way Campaign.

The sessions are being hosted Tuesday, October 15 at FWISD’s Professional Development Center, 3150 McCart Ave. From 8-9 a.m. and 4 to 5 p.m., attendees will receive a campaign overview and materials for putting on an effective fundraising campaign.

Earlier this week the District hosted a United Way Campaign kickoff breakfast for campus principals where they received details about this year’s fundraising efforts and how members of their staff can participate. The 2019 District goal is increasing participation 20% above the number of participants in 2018.

FWISD’S 2019 United Way Campaign officially begins October 21 and continues through November 1. Once again, employees may donate online or via payroll deduction this year.

United Way of Tarrant County partners with over 45 nonprofit agencies to support more than 300,000 people annually in need with resources and various services.

For more details, visit unitedwaytarrant.org.

There are no classes for Fort Worth ISD students, Monday, October 14, as it is a student holiday.

Monday will be the first flex day of the 2019-2020 school year for 187-day teacher employees. All 245, 240, 220, 217, 215, 210, 205, 198, 193, 188 and all other 187 workday employees must report to work Monday, according to the District’s Reporting and ending dates calendar.

Flex days are designated days in which classroom teachers receive extra training and professional development on days when classes are not in session. Teachers must complete 30 flex hours by March 31, 2020.

“Some have completed those hours, some are still earning those hours, some will participate on October 14th for those hours and some will not,” said Karen Molinar, FWISD Chief of Staff. “It is the option of the teacher if they attend sessions on October 14.”

For additional details, contact your supervisor or review the District’s 2019-2020 Reporting and Ending Date calendar below.

What: A Fort Worth ISD Teacher Hiring Event

When: 5- 7 p.m., Monday, October 14, 2019

Where: South Hills High School, 6101 McCart Avenue, Fort Worth, 76133

Summary: Your teaching career is calling. Answer it at a Fort Worth ISD Teacher Hiring Event taking place Monday, October 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. at South Hills High School.

The event is open to everyone interested in a teaching career – whether you’re a teacher wanting to relocate to Fort Worth ISD, whether you’re certified through a college program or an alternative certification process, or whether you’re a recent college graduate or will graduate in December 2019 or May 2020. All are welcome!

Fort Worth ISD is looking for teachers at all grade levels. Bring your passion, along with your resume, and be ready to interview.

Here’s what you can expect at the event:

• Meet and interview with principals on the spot
• Get answers to any questions you have about teaching and about our District. We will educate you on the steps to becoming a FWISD teacher.
• Learn everything Fort Worth ISD has to offer new teachers, including a starting salary of $54,000, all the professional development you will need to be an awesome teacher, and support and encouragement from all the FWISD family

For more information, contact Susan Rhoten at 817-814-HIRE.