News Briefs

Friendly reminder: With STAAR testing next week, wake up to a smart start with a school breakfast.  A school breakfast provides a balance of low-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables, whole-rich grains and lean protein for maximum brain power.  Starting a day smart with a school breakfast will help students move to the front of the class in time for STAAR testing, as well as every other day of the year!

On Saturday, the Dallas ISD “Giving Back” Student Film Festival will showcase videos students created to highlight ways to serve the community. Students in grades kindergarten-12 were invited to participate by submitting videos on or before April 10. The best films will be screened 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 18, at Skyline High School, 7777 Forney Road. The winning entries will be announced at the festival. This is the first year the district’s Social Studies Department is coordinating the film festival. The short films – 3 minutes or less – focus on community needs, volunteering and community service, mentoring and other ways…

The Dallas Morning News profiled a new professional network group that connects notable Booker T. Washington High School alumni with current students. Called BTWConnect, the network has brought in performers and artists such as Robert Duvall, Sidney Poitier, and Kevin Bacon. Click here to read the full story. Photo courtesy Dallas Morning News

A fundraiser for the family of Ning Sian Et, a first-grader who went to Hotchkiss Elementary, has raised more than $2,000. The fundraiser organized by the Hotchkiss Elementary Family had raised $2,161 out of its $2,500 goal as of April 20. Et died when she and her mother were struck by a car near their home on March 30. Et’s mother suffered serious injuries in the accident and had to stay in the hospital for several days. The online fundraiser will help the family pay for some of the medical expenses as well as provide money for other expenses that might…