News Briefs

A caped-crusader stopped by Highland Meadows Elementary School to enlist students to help save the Earth from the evils of pollution and wasteful habits. Among Mr. Eco’s environmentally conscious rap songs was encouragement to avoid single-use water bottles with “Bottles are for Babies” and to be kind and respectful of animals as “Wildlife Warriors.” He urged students to recycle with “Recycle Robot” and deputized them to be Eco Heroes with the “Ecohero Anthem.” His visit helped kick off Earth Month, which is 30 days of raising awareness about what individuals can do to make a positive global impact on the…

Dallas Morning News spotlighted a film by Francheska Johnson and Jamichael Morgan, freshmen at Dallas ISD’s Lincoln High School and Communications/Humanities Magnet, that is screening next week at a film festival. The Blue Ribbon, the students’ film, is about a destructive relationship between a father and daughter after the death of their wife and mother. The film is screening as part of the North Texas High School Shorts at the Dallas International Film Festival. The screening is scheduled for April 12 at 4 p.m. at Perot Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 N. Field St. To read the great Dallas Morning News profile,…

After retiring from Dallas ISD—having worked as an English Language Arts instructional coach and teacher— in 2013, Valerie Wright-Fleming soon began volunteering for the district one year later. Wright-Fleming learned through her church that R. C. Burleson Elementary was in need of volunteers to read to students for Dr. Suess’ birthday and has been volunteering ever since. As a retired educator, Wright-Fleming engages primarily with fourth-grade students and helps with their writing. Sharing the joy with students who have achieved a goal they have been striving toward and helping the teachers make student success a reality are what make volunteering a…

Vanessa Sánchez, a fourth-grade student at Martin Weiss Elementary, took home first place in the National Association of Bilingual Educators (NABE) Bilingual Essay contest for grades 3–5. Students who participated in the contest had to be enrolled in a bilingual classroom, have a B average or better, and a 90-percent attendance record. Essays were submitted in English and judged on development of the theme, originality, content and clarity of expression, grammar and mechanics. Sánchez and her family were invited to be honored at the NABE Awards Luncheon held March 6, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Below is Sánchez’ essay: I am Proud…