News Briefs

The traditional valedictory speech by the top student in a high school graduating class gives student leaders a chance to share their thoughts with classmates at a time when they’ve achieved a lifetime milestone. The recently completed Dallas ISD commencement season continued the tradition, providing parents, family members and school staff a glimpse into the minds of these next generation scholars and citizens. You can hear from a few of these youthful bright lights via links to selected commencement videos produced by Dallas Schools Television. Tatian Almendarez – 2015 valedictorian, A. Maceo Smith New Tech High School Kendell Long -…

Parents and their children can work together to go green. Showing children how to recycle by separating papers and plastics encourages them to recycle on their own as they get older. A family trip to the nearest recycling center is a great way to learn about the recycling process. Going outside every day with children to learn about insects and plants and the important roles they play for the environment are ways families can spend time together while learning to preserve the earth. These earth-friendly activities are fun ways to spend time together as a family.

Multiple Career Magnet Center Principal Lynn A. Smith and John Quincy Adams Elementary Principal Nancy Bernardino will attend an intensive principal’s training at Harvard University this summer thanks to the Raise Your Hand Texas Harvard Leadership program. Selected principals attend a weeklong session in which they receive executive leadership coaching aimed at supporting and developing principals and educational leaders through professional development. Smith hopes to share her experience with other principals in Dallas ISD and use what she’s gained to support her teachers’ instructional strategies’ growth. She believes growing her teachers’ instructional strategies is instrumental in the success of the…

This week, Dallas ISD students are winding up participation in the two-week annual Summer Dance Intensive at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. The camp provides focused instruction on particular styles of dance, from hip-hop to ballet, jazz to modern and beyond. Students were chosen to participate in the camp after auditions. The camp will culminate in a performance on Saturday, June 27.