Inside Dallas ISD

Arturo Salazar Elementary School kicked of Hispanic Heritage Month with a festive celebration. Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs Sept. 15–Oct. 15, is a celebration of the historical and cultural contributions of Americans with Spanish, Mexican, Caribbean, and Central and South American ancestries. As part of the celebration at Salazar Elementary, students dressed in traditional costumes, parents served traditional food and drinks, and the W.E. Greiner Mariachi band played some fantastic music. District 7 Trustee Audrey Pinkerton also made an appearance. Watch the above video to learn more.

An official from the USDA got a firsthand look at food and culinary programs at two Dallas ISD schools on Thursday, Sept. 15. Audrey Rowe, who oversees School Nutrition programs for the federal organization, visited Wilmer-Hutchins High School to eat breakfast with students and get a taste of the breakfast smoothie program. The second stop was at the Balch Springs Young Women’s STEAM Academy, where Rowe sampled vegetable quesadillas, salsa and drinks prepared by students in the Lifetime Nutrition and Wellness Class. The corn salsa used this month’s Harvest of the Month – fresh sweet corn from J&B Farms in…

More than 40 students at Dallas ISD’s Boude Storey Middle School and John Neely Bryan Elementary School will be able to focus a little better in class thanks to donated eyeglasses they received on Monday, Sept. 12. The donated glasses were made possible by a partnership between the Essilor Vision Foundation and Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities. Students from both schools received free vision screenings at an Aug. 17 back-to-school event where they also received donated school uniforms, free haircuts, free dental care and food to take home. At Boude Storey, students receiving their glasses were a mix of those who had worn…

The Junior League of Dallas celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Grants for Innovative Teaching program Sept. 7 by awarding 54 grants totaling $93,000 to Dallas ISD educators. The grant program funds innovative school and classroom projects proposed by district teachers and administrators. This year, four librarians received funding for literacy-related activities, which is a great advantage to students said Gay Patrick, director of Library and Media Services. “The library is a bigger classroom,” Patrick said. “Junior League grants awarded to librarians allow students across grade levels and cultures to learn and share together, bringing a wealth of experiences and…