Author: The Hub

Friendly reminder: With STAAR testing next week, wake up to a smart start with a school breakfast.  A school breakfast provides a balance of low-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables, whole-rich grains and lean protein for maximum brain power.  Starting a day smart with a school breakfast will help students move to the front of the class in time for STAAR testing, as well as every other day of the year!

On Saturday, the Dallas ISD “Giving Back” Student Film Festival will showcase videos students created to highlight ways to serve the community. Students in grades kindergarten-12 were invited to participate by submitting videos on or before April 10. The best films will be screened 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 18, at Skyline High School, 7777 Forney Road. The winning entries will be announced at the festival. This is the first year the district’s Social Studies Department is coordinating the film festival. The short films – 3 minutes or less – focus on community needs, volunteering and community service, mentoring and other ways…

The Dallas Morning News profiled a new professional network group that connects notable Booker T. Washington High School alumni with current students. Called BTWConnect, the network has brought in performers and artists such as Robert Duvall, Sidney Poitier, and Kevin Bacon. Click here to read the full story. Photo courtesy Dallas Morning News

Five Dallas ISD teams will compete in the Destination Imagination (DI) Global Finals set for May 20-23 in Knoxville, Tenn. The teams advanced after placing well in the state tournament on April 11 at Skyline High School. The DI program emphasizes creativity and teamwork to solve various open-ended challenges. More than 100,000 schoolchildren across the U.S. vie to reach the Global Finals. The district teams advancing are: DI Postal Service, School for the Talented and Gifted, Project Outreach Challenge-Brand Aid Beats by DI, School for the Talented and Gifted, Scientific Challenge-Making Waves Literacy Militia (pictured), Bryan Adams High School, Project Outreach…

A fundraiser for the family of Ning Sian Et, a first-grader who went to Hotchkiss Elementary, has raised more than $2,000. The fundraiser organized by the Hotchkiss Elementary Family had raised $2,161 out of its $2,500 goal as of April 20. Et died when she and her mother were struck by a car near their home on March 30. Et’s mother suffered serious injuries in the accident and had to stay in the hospital for several days. The online fundraiser will help the family pay for some of the medical expenses as well as provide money for other expenses that might…

As part of National Volunteer Month, we are recognizing those who do great work in helping out at different schools within the district. Here is a letter Sara Suarez, a student at Stockard Middle School, wrote to Ms. Estrada, a volunteer at the school.

After years of being ineligible to receive federal subsidies to help schools and students access the internet and community better, E-Rate dollars are flowing again to Dallas ISD to the tune of more than $36 million over the last two years. District leaders say the millions brought in from federal reimbursements for technology purchases is further evidence of the district’s strong financial position. Within the last month, the district received nearly $18 million in E-Rate reimbursements, which is on top of the approximately $18.3 million received last school year. Prior to those two reimbursements, the district had not received any E-Rate…

Un reportaje en el canal de televisión 8 muestra los diferentes programas que ofrece el Dallas ISD para preparar a los estudiantes con conocimientos y habilidades para que estén mejor capacitados en varios tipos de carreras al terminar la preparatoria. Entre el 2009–10 y el 2013–14, el número de certificaciones recibidas por el distrito incrementó de 177 a 1,683, casi un 80%  Los cursos especializados de CTE son desde horticultura hasta técnico automotriz y se ofrecen en cada secundaria y preparatoria. Ver reportaje en inglés.

As part of the transition to the Teacher Excellence Initiative, the Dallas Independent School District’s Teacher of the Year selection process is being adjusted to align and coincide with teacher effectiveness results to be completed in September. The Teacher of the Year recognition program will be expanded to allow significantly more teachers from each campus to be honored for their efforts to go the extra mile on behalf of their students, Superintendent Mike Miles said. The Teacher of the Year program will now be aligned with the Teacher Excellence Initiative, the district’s effort to identify, support, and reward effective teachers. “We…

Susan Blanchard retired after 10 years of teaching to focus on ministry, but currently volunteers at Casa View Elementary and is now studying counseling. Her primary responsibility at Casa View is helping students with reading comprehension and decoding. Blanchard volunteers two days per week and is also a member of Casa View’s Site-Based Decision-Making Team.