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Five days out of school due to inclement weather is unprecedented for North Texas, and we are announcing one date change to the bad weather makeup days. After receiving input from across the district, our two bad weather makeup days will be Monday, February 21 (instead of Friday, June 3) and Friday, April 22, as originally scheduled. Input from campus leaders districtwide indicated a need for students to have an opportunity to make up some of the lost instructional time during the year and prior to the administration of the first TAKS assessment. We realize that February 21 is Presidents' Day, and campus activities across the district will highlight the importance of this holiday. Students' last day of instruction will now be Thursday, June 2. At this time, we intend to seek a waiver from TEA for the three additional missed days of instruction.
Last week in Austin, I attended an annual meeting with superintendents from across the state, and the focus of our discussions with TEA Commissioner Robert Scott and legislators was the state deficit and its potential impact to public education. Discussions at the state level include increasing the current classroom cap of 22:1 at grades PK-4, establishing furloughs days for staff (instead of layoffs) and reducing salaries. For school districts to take these actions, the Legislature would have to change existing law. Within the past week, Sen. Florence Shapiro and Rep. Mark Shelton filed bills to provide flexibility to local districts. Whether the bills will receive full support and when they would take effect is contingent upon House and Senate negotiations and approval.
With these pending decisions at the state level, we will continue our budget planning process for the 2011-12 school year. On February 8, we discussed possible budget reductions and revenue enhancements with the RISD Board. We are in the process of soliciting feedback from all staff regarding additional budget reductions. As a reminder, I have made only one 2011-12 budget recommendation -- to freeze salaries for all employees. We will continue to inform you of the budget discussions within the 82nd Legislature and how it may impact RISD.
We also will continue our planning for the bond proposal initiative. We appreciate comments, questions and attendance of RISD stakeholders at the four Proposed 2011 Bond Town Hall Meetings, which occurred the last two weeks of January. We are moving forward with the $170 million bond proposal, which does not include a tax rate increase. The RISD Board will consider calling this election at the February 21 meeting. For more details about the proposed bond, please visit www.risd.org/bond.
As always, we appreciate and value your feedback. Please feel free to send comments and questions to us at risd@risd.org. >Top
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RHS Desperados Get Late invite to Super Bowl |
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Thanks to former LHHS and RISD Teacher of the Year Katha Black, the RHS Desperados got a late invitation to the Super Bowl. Black was approached by the North Texas Super Bowl Committee when the need arose for 20 Texas-style meeters and greeters to assist guests at Cowboys Stadium. RHS teacher and Desperados sponsor Shannon Carlton, a former student of Black's, got the call, and the red, white & blue-clad Desperados were going to Super Bowl XLV!
Before their duties, they were able to join Country & Western performance artist (and Berkner H.S. graduate) Jolie Holliday.
Special thanks to Katha Black Entertainment for making it happen. >Top |
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16 RISD Schools Earn NCEA Higher Performing Status |
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The National Center for Educational Achievement recently released its list of Higher Performing Schools in Texas – "elementary, middle, and high schools that have consistently outperformed their peers that serve similar student populations--and recognizes their achievement in bringing more students to college and career readiness than expected," according to NCEA.
Schools on the list are identified by one of two measures: academic growth of students at the school and/or absolute achievement of students at the school using the TAKS' Commended Performance level.
NCEA (formerly known as Just for the Kids) began identifying Higher Performing Schools in 1998 and continues to annually release these lists as well as College and Career Readiness Charts for every public school in Texas.
RISD's 2010 NCEA Higher Performing Schools
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Apollo Junior High
Berkner High School
Brentfield Elementary
Canyon Creek Elementary
Bukhair Elementary
Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet
Lake Highlands Freshman Center
MST Magnet |
Merriman Park Elementary
Parkhill Junior High
Pearce High School
Prairie Creek Elementary
RISD Academy
Richardson High School
Richardson North Junior High
Westwood Junior High |
For more information, please visit the NCEA website here. >Top |
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Student athletes at all four RISD high schools realized a dream last week by signing National Letters of Intent to play collegiate athletics. Congratulations to the following RISD seniors:
Berkner High School
Aric Stock, Football, Harding University
Spencer Edmonds, Football, Air Force Academy
Courtney Baxter, Soccer, Dallas Baptist University
Jade Grant, Football, Tarleton State University
Marcus Bradley, Football, Harding University
Lake Highlands High School
Meron Fessahi, Cross Country, Rice University
Emmet Kumeh, Soccer, Southern Methodist University
Desmond Roland, Football, Oklahoma State University
Derek Floyd, Football, University of Central Oklahoma >Top |
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Pearce High School
Rosa Medina, Soccer, Oklahoma State University
Tim Llewellyn, Football, Henderson State
Brooke Johnston, Soccer, University of Central Arkansas
Kiele Miller, Soccer, MIT >Top |
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Richardson High School
Nikki Colson, Softball, Clarendon College
Mitchell Penton, Soccer, Rogers State
Taurean Bundage, Football, Texas A&M-Commerce
Jordan Booty, Football, Angelo State
Dequinte Flournoy, Football, McPherson College
Torrance Carr, Football, Oklahoma State
Avery Lewis, Football, Yale University >Top |
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Apollo's "Team of One" Wins Excellence Award |
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Apollo Junior High student Joshua Chari, competing as a team of one, faced off recently against teams from public and private schools around the Metroplex in the North Texas Future City construction project competition. The competition involved students, working in teams with a volunteer-mentor, first generating a computerized design of a future city, then building a scale model, researching and writing an essay on an assigned technical topic, and finally publicly presenting their projects to a panel of judges.
When the dust settled, the judges awarded Joshua the "Excellence in Civil Engineering Infrastructure Award," from the American Society of Civil Engineers, along with a $150 gift certificate.
Congratulations Joshua! >Top |
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TROYKA EARNS STATE RECOGNITION |
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 Berkner Band Director Frank Troyka has been chosen as a recipient of the 2010 UIL Sponsor Excellence Award.
The award, now in its 20th year, was created to identify and recognize outstanding sponsors who enable students to develop and refine their extracurricular talents to the highest degree possible within the educational system.
Frank is one of just 15 winners from around Texas.
Congratulations! >Top |
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RISD Hosts Academic Decathlon |
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Richardson ISD recently hosted 28 high schools from RISD, Rockwall, Dallas, Garland, Plano, Highland Park and Forney in the Regional Academic Decathlon competition. The winners of the Large (5A) and Medium (4A) schools advanced to state competition later this month, along with the next 15 highest scoring teams.
In the Medium School division, Rockwall High School won, with Highland Park second, JJ Pearce third and Rockwall Heath fourth. All four schools advanced to state.
In the Large School division, Plano Senior High won, Berkner came in second (by a hair!), Plano East third, Rowlett High school fourth, Garland High School fifth and Sachse High School sixth, with all six schools advancing to state. |
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| This event was a grueling two days, with students giving their all to help their teams in a series of competitions and categories. The theme this year was the Great Depression. Congratulations to all the students who participated in the competition, and special thanks to the coaches, organizers and volunteers who helped make it happen. >Top |
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 When: Saturday, March 5 - Registration & Packet Pick-Up begins at 7:30 a.m.; the 5k Run / Walk will begin at 9 a.m.
Where: Richardson High School, 1250 West Belt Line Road, Richardson, 75080 - Parking is available at lots on Dogwood Dr. and on Belt Line Rd. at the RHS tennis courts.
Registration: Registration is available online at www.rhs5k.com now through February 27. Registration is also available by mail or in person at Run On! Richardson.
Click here to download the RHS 5k brochure.
The RHS 5K is the primary annual fundraiser for the RHS Eagle Fund. The purpose of the RHS Eagle Fund is to maintain the tradition of academic excellence at Richardson High School by supporting academic programs such as tutoring, extended library hours, AP Exam scholarships and classroom technology grants.
For more information, please visit the RHS Eagle Fund online at www.rhseaglefund.org. >Top |
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 Get your game on! The 8th Annual Hoops in the Highlands Basketball Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, March 26th at Highland Oaks Church of Christ, 10805 Walnut Hill @ Plano Rd.
This three-on-three basketball tournament is open to all competitors in 1st through 8th grades. Hosted by Lake Highlands, Northlake, Wallace and White Rock Elementaries and Lake Highlands Junior High, this annual fundraiser benefits all five schools.
Hoops in the Highlands is a ton of fun and features food, live music and the ever-popular Fun Zone, created especially for little fans. This popular tournament continues to draw competitors from schools and school districts through out the Dallas area.
Registration forms are available at any of the five host schools or on-line at www.hoopsinthehighlands.net Deadline to register is March 4th and the entry fee is $64 per team, four players per team.
Need more info about the event, sponsorship or volunteer opportunities? Contact Hoops Event Chairs, Susan and Scott Swanner at info@hoopsinthehighlands.net. >Top |
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RISD Excellence in Education Presents: An Evening of Honors - Technology Triumphs! Gala
April 8, 2011 at the Renaissance Dallas Richardson Hotel
Keynote Address: Dr. James Reilly - LHHS Graduate & Former Astronaut
Click here to download the flyer. >Top |
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BERKNER HIGH SCHOOL MULTICULTURAL OPEN HOUSE |
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Upcoming High School Performances |
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 Berkner High School Presents: Once Upon a Mattress
Berkner High School is pleased to announce the incredible performances of Once Upon A Mattress Feb. 11-12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Berkner High School auditorium.
This is the musical story of the "Princess and the Pea" written by Mary Rogers and Marshal Barer. The cast has been rehearsing dances, songs, and all manner of pageantry to bring you the best show possible on a high school stage. This fairy tale is suitable for all lords and ladies no matter what their age in years!
Tickets are available from Jan Flesch (469-593-7002) jan.flesch@risd.org for $8.00 in advance for students and $10.00 for adults. Tickets at the door will be $12.00 for students and adults. >Top |
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 Pearce High School Presents: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels The Musical
February 17-27, 2011 - Reserved seats $9-$15 are now available online here.
General admission tickets $5 & $8
available at Box Office only.
See Buy Tickets tab for Box Office hours.
The musical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, is based on a popular 1998 film by the same title. It's about two fraudsters, Lawrence Jameson and Freddy Benson, living on the French Riviera. Lawrence is a cultivated and suave gentleman who cons rich ladies out of their money. Freddy on the other hand is a small time American thief who cons women into giving him money by telling made up stories about his sick grandmother. The two men soon find out that the small French town they live in isn't big enough to support two scammers, so they setup a challenge. The battle between them offers many twists, turns and laughs along the way. >Top |
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SCHOOL TIMES NOW! ARCHIVE |
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Did you miss an issue of School Times Now!? Click here to view the archives. >Top |
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