News Briefs

Little Kids Rock has supported Dallas teachers and students since the 2007-2008 school year, when the first 24 teachers received training and 500 guitars to start programs in their schools. Because Little Kids Rock believes “playing music is more than fun – it’s transformational”, the non-profit has now provided thousands of guitars, keyboards and stands, drum sets, annual workshops with teacher training and curriculum, with programs in more than 90 Dallas ISD schools. Because of this support to campus music programs through the district, Saturday marked the 8th Annual Dallas ISD Little Kids Rock/Modern Band Jam Summit, and 31 bands…

As a student at W.W. Samuell High School, William Kruse (Class of 1994) made the most of his JROTC experience, and today he credits what he learned in the program for preparing him to serve in the U.S. Marine Corp and putting him on a path for success. As a senior solutions architect for Dell and the owner of his own catering business, Kruse is living life on his own terms and serving others in the process. AlumNow, The Hub feature that profiles district alumni, caught up with Kruse and found him hard at work turning his dreams into reality.…

The Gooch Elementary Rocketry Club took flight at its seventh annual Rocket Blast-Off on Monday. Students launched the rockets they have worked on making every Saturday over the past two months. The project taught Rocketry Club students about the physical concepts of rocketry, the science of flight, laws of motion, and the Pythagorean theorem. The students measured the altitude their rocket flew and estimated its speed. Fellow students cheered on the rocket club members as their rockets shot up into the sky.

What happens when a second-grade bilingual teacher who loves the game of basketball and student achievement has a dream to teach basketball skills to students that do not have access to team play? The magnificent Anne Frank Elementary Basketball Club, which serves students in 2nd and 3rd grade, is what happens. Viviane Demorais-Johnson was awarded a grant on Donorchoose.com for equipment and then recruited a coaching team. Fellow teachers Maria Reyes, David Jasso and William Robinson volunteer their time every Monday after school to get this program off the ground. The membership to the club is free. Students are required to maintain at least…