Author: The Hub

Studies show that students can lose up to a full month of instructional growth by not actively reading over the summer. Dallas ISD is working to close the summer reading gap by providing a range of opportunities for students, parents and other members of the community to beat the heat through books. Library Media Services last summer opened 31 school libraries as part of their summer reading effort. This year, Library and Media Services is opening 32 school libraries across the district from 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m. from June 15–July 16. Gay Patrick, director of Library Media Services, said parents, students, and community members checked…

We all know the three R’s of the environment: reduce, reuse and recycle. But did you know the three R’s are in that order for a reason? Reduce is the most effective of the three R’s because using fewer resources will cut down waste and conserve energy. Reuse anything that’s resourceful before considering recycling. An empty jam jar can be used to store leftovers, and use silverware and dishes instead of disposable plastic utensils and plates. Most people already practice recycling, the third R. But consider ways to reuse items or reduce use of items in the future.

Elementary students across 10 campuses used science, technology, engineering and math to create, explore and invent during the weeklong summer enrichment program Camp Invention. Ignacio Zaragoza Elementary, featured in the photo gallery above, participated in the camp for the third year. Cesar Reyes, Zaragoza Elementary instructional coach, said students ages 7 to 12 are learned to collaborate with one another and welcomed peer imagination. Other schools that participated in Camp Invention were John Quincy Adams Elementary, Felix Botello Elementary, Federick Douglass Elementary, H.I. Holland Elementary at Lisbon, Clara Oliver Elementary, Thelma Elizabeth Page Richardson Elementary, Oran M. Roberts Elementary, Clinton P. Russell…

Muchos acontecimientos notables han estado sucediendo en Dallas ISD, como los alumnos de segundo grado de Knight Elementary que recibieron una carta del presidente Barack Obama, y los estudiantes que ayudaron al alcalde a inaugurar la Ciudad del Aprendizaje. Show and Tell es un apartado de The Hub que resume acontecimientos del distrito en un solo lugar. Si tiene alguna sugerencia para incluir en Show and Tell, envíe un correo a: thehub@dallasisd.org. El presidente Barack Obama envía una carta a alumnos de segundo grado de Knight Elementary School. (From TJ High School Feeder Pattern Newsletter) hace unas semanas, los estudiantes…

Noting the district’s strong financial position, Dallas ISD Chief of Finance Jim Terry told trustees on Thursday that the district is now projecting to end the year with approximately $330 million in the reserve fund balance. The state recommends a school district have a reserve fund balance, which is basically a school district’s equivalent of a person’s savings fund, to cover two months in expenses; Dallas ISD’s reserve fund balance would cover three months in expenses. Terry noted that the district’s projected $330 million fund balance is significantly higher than just six years ago, when the fund balance was $37…

One mom was so determined to turn in an application for her child to attend one of the district’s two new Transformation Schools opening next year, she dropped off the application in-person while on her way to the hospital with pregnancy-related contractions. Meanwhile, district staff who called other parents to tell them their child could attend one of the Transformation Schools next school year were often greeted with screams of joy. Mike Koprowski, chief of transformation and innovation, shared these stories with trustees on Thursday to describe the excitement surrounding the Transformation Schools. “The response really exceeded our expectations,” he said.…

For those who want to relive the graduation ceremonies or see them for the first time, Dallas ISD has compiled videos of the ceremonies into one place. Click here to see a playlist of the videos from the ceremonies. More ceremonies will be added to the playlist as they become available.

Whittling down 542 nominations to a list of 40 is no easy task. Judges for the Dallas Business Journal’s 2015 40 Under 40 list recently accomplished that task, reviewing reams of papers describing young professionals making their mark on the Dallas community. In the end, Alan Cohen, the Executive Director of Dallas ISD Early Childhood and Community Partnerships, was one who rose to the top. “I will admit that it made me smile,” Cohen noted. Cohen went on to say that he considers it an honor to be named to the 40 Under 40 list alongside other professionals he admires…

Participating in debate requires students to spend hours in research, writing, and team practice, all of which help cultivate self-discipline, problem solving and critical thinking skills. Studies say debate increases the likelihood of college attendance and promotes intellectual abilities that range from stronger written and oral communication skills to better reading comprehension and increased knowledge of current events. Some Dallas ISD debaters recently learned that public recognition is another benefit of debate, as the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance presented middle and high school competitors with awards and recognition for their efforts this school year. A nonprofit organization, the Dallas Urban…

Una encuesta realizada de manera independiente muestra que cerca del 81% de los padres del Distrito Escolar Independiente de Dallas están muy de acuerdo o de acuerdo con la dirección del distrito. Los resultados de la encuesta muestran un incremento notable comparados con los resultados de la encuesta de la primavera del 2014, en la que el 70% de los padres dijo estar de acuerdo o muy de acuerdo con la dirección del distrito. Más de 18,000 padres respondieron a la encuesta conducida por el Servicio Nacional de Investigaciones, con base en Fort Worth. La directora ejecutiva de relaciones intergubernamentales…