School Times Now!
 
 
SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH UPDATE
The Board of Trustees has posted its Monday night agenda and may consider naming a sole finalist for the RISD superintendent's position. If the board takes action, an announcement and details will be sent to you Monday night after the meeting.
IN THIS ISSUE
Red Ribbon Week
Secretary of State Visits RHS
Gold Performance Acknowledgements
Shhh! I'm Reading
Family Math Night

BHS Debate Team
Sweeps Competition
Science Night at MST
Bukhair Reading Night
Immunization Drive
LHE Science Lab
On the Field or in the Stands?!
Now Showing
Partners Corner
Inside RISD Invitation
RISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES VICE PRESIDENT KAREN ELLIS
ELECTED TO STATEWIDE ASSOCIATION BOARD

The Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) has elected Karen Ellis of Richardson ISD to a three-year term on the TASB Board of Directors, representing TASB Region 10A. She has served on her local board since 1999 and has held the positions of secretary and vice-president.

Ellis works professionally as an executive account manager/wholesale apparel representative for Eddie Leon of Leon & Associates. Active in her community, she has served as PTA president at every public school level, was membership vice-president for the district’s Council of PTAs, and has received a Texas PTA Life Membership and Extended Service Awards. Ellis has served as curriculum advisor and mentor for Leadership Richardson and as president of its advisory board; she also is active in the Richardson East Rotary Club and Heights Baptist Church.

A Leadership TASB graduate and master trustee, Ellis is on the executive board of the North Texas Area Association of School Boards. She has served on TASB’s Legislative Advisory Council, as a representative to the Association’s Delegate Assembly, and participated in panels and presentations at major TASB events. As a member of the TASB School Board Advocacy Network, she testified before the House Committee on State Affairs and House Committee on Education’s subcommittee on best practices. Ellis attended Montpelier (Vermont) High and the University of North Texas.

TASB is a nonprofit organization established in 1949 to serve local Texas school districts. School board members are the largest group of publicly elected officials in the state. The districts they represent have a combined annual budget of $38 billion, employ approximately 580,000 people, and serve more than 4.4 million public school students.
 
RED RIBBON WEEK
Red Ribbon Week, a national tribute to drug and alcohol prevention awareness, was celebrated across the district. Staff and students wore silly hats, colorful socks, pajamas, and even interesting clothing in order to get the message across that substance abuse is not good for students. Groups including Peer Mediators from high schools and celebrities, police officers and local firefighters made special presentations throughout the week. Pictured below is a puppet show at Jess Harben Elementary presented by Berkner students, former Notre Dame Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown at White Rock Elementary, and puppeteer Carol Herod at Dobie Primary. >Top
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TEXAS VISITS RHS
The 105th Secretary of State for Texas, Roger Williams, visited the Government and Law classes of Regina Moss and Sara Hofeditz at Richardson High School on Thursday, October 26th to speak with students about the importance and power of voting. After answering questions, Secretary Williams presented a state proclamation honoring Richardson High School. >Top
GOLD PERFORMANCE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Final 2006 state accountability ratings and Gold Performance Acknowledgments (GPA) are now available on the Texas Education Association website at: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/.

Richardson ISD earned a total of 193 Gold Performance Acknowledgements for individual campuses and the district overall. GPAs recognized districts and campuses across the state for high academic performance on various indicators such as commended performance on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), college admission tests, and Advanced Placement exams. The total for 2006 is up from 171 the previous year.

Dr. Michael Strozeski, assistant superintendent for accountability, said, “While the number seems high, the actual data shows some areas of concern, especially in the secondary schools. We are taking steps to correct those deficits to help every child be successful in every subject.” >Top
SHHH! I'M READING
Richardson Read-It Day created silence at campuses across the district as they allowed students to read silently at virtually every class period. On Oct. 25, students and staff alike were engaged in their own reading material, whether it be novels, homework, newspapers or magazines. Photos are from Richardson High School and Berkner High School. >Top
Liberty Junior High participated with encouragement from staff. They all wore t-shirts that said, "Liberty Junior High - Read It." At Lake Highlands Freshman Center their staff t-shirts said "Books - The Other Channel."
FAMILY MATH NIGHT AT YALE ELEMENTARY
Math lovers of all ages and sizes joined their teachers for a fun-filled night of Math exploration at the first ever Yale PTA Family Math Night.

Parents, students and teachers made and wore hats displaying patterns. These pattern hats helped students learn sequencing and patterns related to math. >Top
BERKNER DEBATE TEAM SWEEPS TOP 3 PLACES

The Berkner debate team swept 1st, 2nd and 3rd place at the Richardson Invitation Debate Tournament. The tournament consisted of 19 schools from across the metroplex. Great job Debaters!

And good luck to the Mighty Ram Band, participating in State UIL Marching Competition this week in San Antonio. >Top
SCIENCE NIGHT AT MST
On October 19, the Math/Science/Technology Magnet Elementary hosted their annual Science Night. Parents and students participated in hands-on science activities set up by each grade level. >Top
BUKHAIR ELEMENTARY READING NIGHT
Bukhair Elementary students and their parents arrive at the Carolyn Bukhair Reading Night held last Thursday evening. Reading at home was the topic, as students received free grade-level books. Parents learned tips on how to form guiding questions that lead to successful home reading. Dr. Carolyn Bukhair was the honored guest and helped pass out the free books and visit with students and parents. >Top
NORTHLAKE ELEMENTARY IMMUNIZATION DRIVE
Thursday, October 19, Care Van sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield, came to Northlake Elementary to administer immunization shots to RISD students.  There were a total of 123 students immunized, and 93 students were screened with a total of 237 shots administered.

The Children’s Health Insurance Program, CHIPS, had representatives present. They were able to register 40 families to receive health insurance for their children.  One family walked from Abrams and Royal Lane to get the children immunized.

This event was organized by Christiane Ramirez, NLE nurse.  Refreshments for the families were provided by donations from the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association.  Plans for next year are already in the works. >Top
LHE SCIENCE LAB
In the Lake Highlands Elementary Science Lab’s "ongoing study of all things living," a sixth grader gets up close and personal with a snail. >Top
ON THE FIELD OR IN THE STANDS?!
Lake Highlands marching band students were thrilled with the support they received at their recent UIL Marching Band competition in Mesquite. In a change from the norm, members of the football team, cheerleading squads and drill teams traveled together to sit in the stands and cheer on their Wildcats. Now that is real school spirit! >Top
  
NOW SHOWING
 
 
The senior class at Richardson High School Theatre Arts Magnet will be presenting the world premiere of “My Last 50 Friends” at 7:30 p.m., November 6 and 7, at the RHS Black Box Theatre. This production is completely written, staged, and performed by the senior class.

Tickets for both performances are open to the public. Tickets are only $3 and can be purchased at the door. The RHS Black Box Theatre is located inside the Fine Arts building at Richardson High School, 1250 West Belt Line Road, Richardson, 75080. To find out the year-long schedule of upcoming productions, or for more information, go to www.rhstheatre.org or call 469-593-3193. The school’s next production will be the musical “Cats,” which is coming on February 1-4, 2007. >Top
PARTNERS CORNER
LHHS Learns the Delicacy of Silk Fabric
The Lake Highlands High School classes of Fashion Marketing, Interior Design, AP World History and Chemistry enjoyed a dynamic presentation on the production of SILK by Mr. Michael Cook.  As an expert on this topic, Mr. Cook shared the history of its development in ancient China, the life cycle of the silk worm, the production of the silk fabric and its use in the world of fashion.

Students learned about the importance of silk to the ancient Chinese Empire and how the production of silk was kept secret for centuries. In addition, the lesson included group activities such as handling finished silk fabrics to watching the reeling of silk filament from actual cocoons. >Top
INSIDE RISD INVITATION
 

Last January, the district initiated a class for community members to learn more about the district. Principals nominated emerging leaders from their communities to become part of the inaugural class of Inside RISD.

That class will graduate in December. They have met once a month in early morning sessions to learn about the inner workings of the school district as a whole.
     
It is now time to put together the 2007 class of Inside RISD. Once again, several principals have nominated community members, but the district is expanding the size of the group and about 15 slots remain open.

As a subscriber to School Times Now! you are eligible to be part of the class. If you are interested, and feel you can commit to monthly meetings during the school year, January through December, then please let us know. Seating is limited, so please contact Elaine Simmons at elaine.simmons@risd.org or at 469-593-0301 by Friday, November 10.

Again, the commitment is to learn about the district and spread the word in your community. Meetings are held from 7:30 a.m. until 10 a.m. once a month during the school year, with optional sessions during the summer months. Breakfast and coffee are always served, and there is no charge for the classes.

This year, the 2006 class of Inside RISD learned about budget, administration, fine arts, athletics, curriculum and instruction, transportation, student services, Enterprise City, accountability and staff development. They visited elementary, junior high and high schools across the district, as well as the facility services areas, the planetarium and the bus lot. I can honestly say they were amazed at what they learned.

Check our www.risd.org/Community/InsideRISD.htm to find out more about the class.

If you want to know more about RISD and can make a serious commitment of time once a month, please come join us for the 2007 class of Inside RISD.

We look forward to hearing from you. >Top
SCHOOL TIMES NOW! ARCHIVE
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