News Briefs

As families across Dallas prepare for the first day of school, parents that are sending their little ones off to kindergarten often face an emotional roller coaster—joy, anxiety, excitement, apprehension—and it’s all completely normal, according to multiple Dallas ISD teachers. The Hub talked with three Dallas ISD teachers to get tips that could help parents and their students transition into “big kid school,” beginning before class even starts. Before the First Day Vaccinate: Remember to get your child all the necessary vaccinations for the first day of school. All schools require updated vaccination and health records for every students. You can find…

Eight Dallas Independent School District campuses are among 500 high schools nationwide honored by Newsweek for preparing students at an economic disadvantage for college. According to the magazine, Newsweek “evaluates schools on a broad range of criteria in order to identify schools that excel at preparing students for college and overcome the obstacles posed by socioeconomic inequality.” The following Dallas ISD campuses were recognized for “Beating The Odds,” along with their respective rankings: School of Science and Engineering – No. 5 Irma L. Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School – No. 10 School for the Talented and Gifted – No. 23 Trinidad “Trini” Garza Early…

This weekend Dallas ISD teamed up with JCPenney to provide a unique shopping experience for families who have special needs children, specifically students with autism. The idea was to offer a less intrusive shopping experience for families who often times need more privacy and time to shop uninterrupted. The JCPenney flagship on Skillman, answered the call and opened its doors to dozens of families for two hours, before opening to the general public on Sunday, Aug. 14. The Dallas Morning News featured an article on the event. To read the full story, click here .

Magellan Healthcare, Dallas ISD’s mental health provider, has some helpful advice on how parents can reduce anxiety for them and their child. Share positive stories If a child expresses hesitancy about the upcoming year, he or she may get reassurance from one of the many age-appropriate books showing children overcoming their fears. Also, describe for your child how you once felt scared when starting something new. Explain how most children have these feelings, yet everything turns out fine. Promote resilience When saying goodbye to a young child each day, use a fun phrase or gesture you can share. Repeated use of…