Author: The Hub

The Dallas ISD Special Education Department is hosting a free mini-conference for parents of students with special needs. The mini-conference is happening Friday, April 1, from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. at Pleasant Oaks Recreation Center, 8701 Greenmound Ave. The conference will feature different sessions focusing on topics such as asperger’s and high functioning autism, moving through the cycle of grief, and ADHD vs. ADD. The conference will also have sensory stations that will give parents an idea of what it is like to have special needs. Dallas ISD Translation Services will provide simultaneous translation. Dallas ISD Special Education Social Workers will also…

Camp M&M Reloaded – no, that’s not the name of a teen movie sequel. That’s the recently completed spring break extravaganza between Marsh Preparatory Academy and Medrano Middle School. The two schools got together to enjoy a four-day Metroplex excursion that took 60 students, all part of Big Thought’s Thriving Minds program, to a variety of destinations that provided a perfect combo of learning and fun. The camp included four parent volunteers as well as our own Shianne Patrick, Thriving Minds Program Manager at Marsh Preparatory Academy. Social media was always part of the plan – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram…

On Tuesday, March 29, McDonald’s is offering a free breakfast for students in grades 3–8 who are taking the STAAR exam.  Of course, a hot, tasty breakfast is nothing unusual for Dallas ISD students. The district’s increasingly popular Breakfast in the Classroom program provides a free nutritious breakfast to students. For those interested in the McDonald’s offer, students can choose either a fruit and maple oatmeal or Egg White Delight McMuffin sandwich. The meal comes with apple juice and apple slices or milk and apple slices. Here are the details: The promotion goes from 5:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m. Student(s) must be accompanied by a…

The Dallas Morning News has a great story on a first-of-its-kind robotics team at Sunset High School. From the Dallas Morning News: Sunset’s Robo*Flash team has about eight students with various physical and mental disabilities. Many fall along the autism spectrum. Some have Down syndrome, learning disorders or vision problems. One member can’t speak. “But you put him in front of a robot and he’ll shoo you away, take it apart and put it back together,” said Pauline Tatum, a life skills teacher who has taught at Sunset for 16 years. Click here to read the DMN story and learn…

Approximately 90 percent of human brain development happens before age 5. In other words, a parent who registers their child in a Dallas ISD preK program is giving their child the gift of a brighter future. Qualifying parents are encouraged to set their students up for success by registering their child during Dallas ISD PreK Registration Week happening April 4–8. Studies show that, as adults, a child who attended preK will earn higher incomes, on average, than similar students who do not attend preK. Studies also show that kids who attend preK are: 5 times more likely to be ready…

Time’s running out to apply for the Compass Alternative Certification Teacher Academy of Dallas ISD. The March 27 deadline gives prospective candidates a large enough window to completely work through the application. The Compass program prepares professionals wanting to transition into education to become classroom leaders. Senior Talent Leader Dominique McCain emphasized the support provided throughout the program to give candidates the best chance for success. “The most important thing for our candidates to know is that they are not in this alone,” said McCain. “We know teaching is not easy, so our program combines direct training, live coaching and…

Students at John B. Hood Middle School, which is named after a Confederate general, have selected a new name for the school: Piedmont Global Academy. The Dallas Morning News reports that 63 percent of the students voted for the new name. From the Dallas Morning News: Former students and community members who live nearby will get to weigh in before the recommendation is forwarded to the district administration. Final approval of the name change must come from the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees. Click here for the full Dallas Morning News story.

Let’s hear it for the boys! The Lincoln Tigers Boys Basketball team, that is. The Dallas ISD Board of Trustees recognized the “comeback kids” for claiming a state title in San Antonio earlier this month. The Tigers claimed their last title in 2002 when they finished the season 40-0. That team featured a college-bound cast of talent, including Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat. Meanwhile, alumni, families and community are invited to attend a celebratory parade for the Tigers team at noon this Saturday, March 26. The parade will begin at the corner of Fitzhugh and Second Avenue and end at…

A record number of students at Carter High School have received full-ride scholarships to attend Texas Christian University. Six seniors at Carter were awarded the TCU Community Scholarships, each valued at more than $250,000, at a ceremony on Thursday. Tissues were passed out freely as the scholarship recipients, their families, classmates, teachers and staff cried in joy throughout the ceremony. Trustee Joyce Foreman also attended the event and looked on proudly. “This is one of the opportunities that you do not get but once in a lifetime,” Principal Fred Davis told the scholarship recipients. “And we know you will make…

It rained hard the night before, but nothing could dampen the enthusiasm surrounding a new learning garden at Dan D. Rogers Elementary. Nonprofit REAL School Gardens, along with corporate partners Texas Instruments, Fossil Group and FedEx, joined students, teachers and staff to install the new garden on Thursday, March 24. Principal Lisa Lovato said the garden will bring to life lessons in science, mathematics and engineering, possibly planting the seeds of future careers – even jobs that don’t yet exist. The garden will also reinforce healthy lifestyles that are being promoted throughout the school. Lovato sees the garden as a…