News Briefs

Students and staff at Dallas ISD’s Everett L. DeGolyer Elementary School recently conducted the school’s first Autism Walk to recognize the month of April as National Autism Month. Autism is a condition that is usually present in early childhood, characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts. Estimates suggest that 1 in 68 American children, ages 3 to 17, have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A goal of National Autism Awareness Month is to educate the public about autism and find ways to increase inclusion and support to help each person…

Trustee Jaime Resendez is holding a District 4 community meeting on Saturday, May 13, at 11 a.m. The meeting will be at the Eastfield Pleasant Grove Campus, 802 S. Buckner Blvd., Room 108. The meeting will include a discussion about a possible Tax Ratification Election for Dallas ISD. For more information, call 972-925-3721.

Monday, Aug. 28 is the first day of classes for the 2017-2018 school year. Each school day will have an additional 10 minutes during breakfast in the classroom. With the expanded day, the district will reach the state-mandated total minutes of instruction by June 1, the last day of classes. Other features: 171 days of instruction for students starting Monday, Aug. 28 10 teacher professional development/planning days, five preparation/work days and one day’s credit for teachers who attend both parent conference nights Two fair days for all students; elementary Fair Day, Friday, Oct. 13, and secondary Fair Day, Friday, Oct. 20; Elementary…

Last week, students, staff and parents at Benjamin Franklin Middle School celebrated diversity at the school’s second annual International Festival. Besides food and fun activities, the festival combined with the Cervantes Festival to celebrate the work of late Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes, best known for his novel, Don Quixote. The Cervantes Literacy Project, funded by a Junior League of Dallas Innovative Teaching Grant, created a space in the school’s courtyard with quotes and elements from Cervantes’ writings. The project included reading, research and drama presentations as well. Proceeds from the festival, which was Friday, April 21, will benefit the school’s departments,…