News Briefs

Gym class every Thursday at the Young Men’s Leadership Academy at Fred F. Florence in Pleasant Grove is unusual. Instead of typical sports or activities, the Boy Scouts take over, teaching the students camping and other skills. Something else sets this school apart: It’s the district’s first all-boys school that’s not a magnet campus. Read the entire article from KERA here. Learn  more about the many choices in Dallas ISD by visiting dallasisd.org/yourchoices. Applications for magnet schools, choice schools and specialty programs are being accepted now through Jan. 31, 2018.

Students from Billy Earl Dade Middle School participated in a “WE Day Texas” event, hosted by the Dallas-based nonprofit, Urban Specialists, in conjunction with the WE Volunteer Now Speaking Tour, that included captivating speeches and interactive workshops. Students learned about and discussed how they can use their time and talents in pursuit of a greater good. WE Schools, affiliated with the WE Charity network, “empowers young people to take meaningful action and become active local and global citizens” at WE Day events throughout the country. Lincoln High School will host a “WE Day Texas” event on Dec. 14.

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.