News Briefs

On Saturday, Dec. 8, Dallas ISD high school cheerleading squads tuned up their routines to prepare for the UIL State Spirit Competition. The Dallas ISD Cheer Challenge was conducted at Ellis Davis Field House. Here is how the top squads fared: 3A and 4A • 1st Place, Hillcrest High School • 2nd Place, L.G. Pinkston High School • 3rd Place, Franklin D. Roosevelt High School 5A, Division II • 1st Place, W.H. Adamson High School • 2nd Place, Justin F. Kimball High School • 3rd Place, Seagoville High School • 4th Place, South Oak Cliff High School 5A Division 1/Coed…

Students at Geneva Heights Elementary School are shopping ’til they drop as part of an incentive program to reward good behavior and attendance during the third six weeks. Students were awarded “Cougar Cash” in order to buy presents for themselves, a friend or family member. Each student started with $10 and then could earn more during the six weeks. The “Heights Holiday Store” features donated jewelry, candles, toys and trinkets, mugs, frames, gift wrap, ribbons, tape, tags and money donated by Geneva Heights parents and community members. Parents Sarah Shopay and Julie Kim organized the holiday store. The store was…

The Research in Mathematics Education unit at Southern Methodist University has named Dallas ISD Chief Academic Officer Ivonne Durant as the recipient of its Impact in Leadership Award. SMU stated they selected Durant for her “outstanding contributions to policy, research and practice in STEM Education.” “Of particular note, this year’s conference theme focuses on access and equity,” states a letter from the Research in Mathematics Education (RME) unit. “(Durant’s) relentless efforts to ensure all students have access to high-quality STEM educational opportunities is inspiring.” The criteria for nomination and selection for the award was quite rigorous, and included the following:…

The number of meals served to youth by Dallas ISD Food and Child Nutrition Services staff during Thanksgiving break nearly tripled this year. Break Meals, a district program designed to help ensure students have access to healthy, delicious meals when schools are not in session, were served at 34 schools Nov. 19-23. The number of meals represents a 260 percent increase over the previous year. Meals will also be offered during Winter Break, 8-9 a.m. and 11 a.m.-noon Dec. 21, Dec. 26-28 and Jan. 2-4 at designated schools. Break Meals are free to all children participating in an educational or…