Inside Dallas ISD

With the closure of schools and public places due to COVID-19, daily family routines have changed in most households. There is now more time to spend with family, so it’s important to create a routine to make the days a little more fun and educational for everyone at home. Mary Martinez, a librarian at Winnetka Elementary School, had the great idea of starting a Virtual Book Club to stay connected to her students, maintain a weekly routine and have them listen to a story read aloud. “My goal is to provide some normality to my students as they adjust to…

As Dallas ISD continues adapting to at-home learning, opportunities for students to once again participate in fun and engaging extracurricular activities are becoming increasingly available online. For students between grades 3 and 12 participating in chess programs at their local campuses, Dallas ISD has organized three exciting districtwide virtual tournaments taking place from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on April 18, April 25 and May 2. Using the ChessKid digital platform, players will be able to log in and play against other students of their same grade level with no limit to the number of players allowed. “Chess is one…

When schools closed to help slow the spread of COVID-19, Solar Preparatory School for Girls second-grader Lillian Longoria thought she wouldn’t get to celebrate with her Solar Prep sisters like she originally planned. However, Lillian’s parents–Meredith and Omar–organized a birthday parade for her featuring many of her classmates and even her second-grade teacher, Mrs. Elvir. “When we found out Lillian’s birthday was canceled this year, we knew we had to do something extra special. Her birthday is always one of her favorite days!” said Meredith Longoria. “We had a tremendous turnout with about 40 cars joining the parade!” “I was…

The Dallas ISD Student Activities Department is proud to continue supporting teachers and students as everyone adjusts to a new reality. In an effort to keep students engaged and in touch with one another while promoting the importance of fun and relevant competitions, some district extracurricular activities will be shifting online. Students will now be able to participate in the originally scheduled spring season of activities while representing their campuses from home! “Now more than ever students need activities that keep them engaged in learning and interacting with their peers,” said Sharla Hudspeth, director of Student Activities. “Coaches and students…