News Briefs

Students from L.V. Stockard Middle School’s AVID program had the opportunity to visit Southern Methodist University in November to discover what life is really like as a college student. While at SMU, students visited with a professor of Journalism, took a tour of the school’s media center, and learned about different scholarships that are available to students looking to attend SMU. The AVID program at Stockard is working to erase the opportunity gap and provide our students with life experiences they might not otherwise have. AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a program that teaches students skills such as note-taking…

Dallas ISD’s Stevens Park Elementary School dedicated its new learning garden at a special event on Wednesday, Dec. 6. The outdoor classroom was generously donated by surrounding neighborhood associations Stevens Park Estates, Stevens Park Village and the Old Oak Cliff Heritage Society. Also attending was Dallas ISD District 7 Trustee Audrey Pinkerton. The school’s choir and cheerleaders performed for guests, who also enjoyed refreshments in the new garden.

After graduating in 1992 as a star basketball player from South Oak Cliff High School, Derrick Battie went on to play as a starter for all four of his years at Temple University — one of the top NCAA men’s basketball programs in the country. Under the leadership of Hall of Fame coach John Chaney, Battie earned a trip to two NCAA Tournament Sweet 16s and one Elite 8 appearance. After spending some time playing basketball in the NBA and overseas, Battie is now giving back as a community liaison for his alma mater. The Hub checked in with with Battie…

Students at one Dallas ISD elementary school are benefitting from a donation of the proper footwear just in time to prepare them for wet, winter weather. Samuel Bistrian, owner of Roma Boots, recently donated a pair of rain boots for every student at Jill Stone Elementary School at Vickery Meadow. The special-edition “Wonder Boot” was developed in a partnership with Lionsgate, the company that produced the recently released movie, “Wonder.” Roma Boots is on a mission to donate 1 million boots by the year 2020. Alexia MacIntosh from the Shops at Park Lane, where the Dallas Roma Boots store is…