Before the serious work of educating their students begins on Monday, Aug. 22, staff members from the schools in the H. Grady Spruce Feeder Pattern joined together for a fun and not-so-serious pep rally on Aug. 17.
Spruce Principal Danielle Petters welcomed the other schools, and mentioned that she and her staff had been walking the neighborhood to reach out to more than 300 incoming freshmen earlier in the day.
Executive Director Brian Lusk noted that the feeder – among the largest, if not the largest group of schools in Dallas ISD – serves about 10,500 students. With significant academic gains ths past year, it appears to be serving them well.
Lusk noted that the entire feeder was rated as “Met Standard” this year for what might be only the second time in 10 years. Ten of the schools had double-digit increases for STAAR scores. He also recognized Tanya Shelton, principal at Richard Lagow Elementary, who is one of the current Principals of the Year.
District 4 Trustee Jaime Resendez spoke to the crowd about growing up in Pleasant Grove, and now in representing the area on the board he committed his support.
Then, the fun began. With help from Spruce cheerleaders, dancers and members of the band, the pep-rally spirit cranked into high gear. Each school performed a skit of sorts on stage, and then took turns shouting out cheers.
The Feeder Pattern includes:
• High school: H. Grady Spruce
• Middle schools: Young Women’s STEAM Academy at Balch Springs; E.B. Comstock
• Elementary schools: William M. Anderson; W.A. Blair; Gilbert Cuellar Jr.; Julius Dorsey; Frederick Douglass; Henry B. Gonzalez; Richard Lagow; B.H. Macon; and Nancy Moseley.
