News Briefs

A combination of Fair Days and staff development days will give all Dallas ISD students days off from school on Friday, Oct. 13, and Friday, Oct. 20. Friday, Oct. 13 • Elementary schools will be closed for Fair Day. • Middle and high school students are off; campus employees will have a staff development day. Friday, Oct. 20 • Elementary students are off; campus employees will have a staff development day. • Middle and high schools will be closed for Fair Day. The State Fair of Texas offers family fun, fantastic exhibits, learning opportunities and the flavor of the Lone…

This year’s theme for National School Lunch Week (NSLW) is “Rock the Week,” and the fun starts Monday, Oct. 9, in cafeterias across Dallas ISD. Themed days will celebrate the tasty, nutritious food served including “’50s Day” on Tuesday Oct. 10; “’80s Day” on Wednesday, Oct. 11; and “Bring a Parent to Lunch Day” on Thursday, Oct. 12. To celebrate NSLW, cafeteria teams at multiple schools rocked out and showed off their dance moves. NSLW has been celebrated by school districts throughout the country since 1962. The celebration was initiated by President John F. Kennedy, who understood the importance of healthy,…

Parents who are looking for effective ways to support their children’s academic progress should be sure to take advantage of this week’s parent-teacher conferences. Parent-teacher conferences for high school students are Monday, Oct. 9; conferences for middle school students are Tuesday, Oct. 10; and conferences for elementary students are Thursday, Oct. 12. The conferences are an opportunity for parents to check in with their child’s teachers, discuss their child’s classroom behavior, homework habits, and other factors that can impact student progress. Consider these tips to get the most from conferences: Conferences are a good time for parents and teachers to…

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.”