News Briefs

Dani Grimaldo, a fourth-grade teacher at L. P. Cowart Elementary,  embraces her Mexican culture and talks proudly about her heritage with her students as a way of relating with them. “I tell my students that growing up I had piñatas too and share with them that I come from an immigrant family like many of them,” she said. “My culture helps me connect with many of my students and parents. I want to help them learn about the importance of higher education, just like my parents taught me.”

What would it be like if you discovered your own magic tree house? Where and when would it take you? Who would you meet and what kind of adventures would you have there? The 2017 Dallas Celebration of Reading Contest is posing that question to DFW area 2nd–5th grade students. Mary Pope Osborne is one of the best-selling guest authors reading at the 16th Annual Celebration of Reading Dallas/Fort Worth event on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. This year’s essay contest is based on her award-winning Magic Tree House series. The books are filled with tales of Osborne’s characters Jack and…

The State Fair of Texas kicked off on Sept. 29, and the Fair Days for Dallas ISD students are quickly approaching. The State Fair of Texas offers family fun, fantastic exhibits, learning opportunities and the flavor of the Lone Star State through Oct. 22. This year, the Dallas ISD elementary school Fair Day is Friday, Oct. 13, and the middle and high school Fair is Friday, Oct. 20. All students have both of those days off from school due to staff development days.

In an effort to increase access to college and help all Dallas ISD students meet college and career readiness benchmarks, the district is funding the in-school administration of the ACT college entrance exam. Campus test coordinators are administering the ACT with Writing to all students in grade 12 during the regular school day on Tuesday, Oct. 3. Students participating in ACT School Day will receive college-reportable scores, just as they would if they tested on a Saturday for a national ACT administration, and have the additional opportunity to send four score reports to colleges of their choice for free.