Now with video! March 24, 2011

mardigras
The Galveston Chamber of Commerce helped break ground on a new Parent
Liaison Room as part of Public School Week events

Galveston ISD Celebrates National Public School Week

Galveston Independent School District Schools celebrated National Public School Week from March 7-11 with a series of events that recognized the importance of public eduation. Students across the district took part in daily activities such as a Mardi Gras luncheon at Austin Middle School, Central hosting a breakfast and lunch, and ECU/Weis having muffins for mom and donuts for dad.

AIM College and Career Prep even had Fraction Day, in which students were encouraged to wear fractions using different colors, like socks, shirts and shoes.

Parker celebrated Parker Pride Day with students wearing all red and bringing their pet pelicans to school. OK, maybe not the last part. But everyone had fun, nonetheless.

Ball High and Ball Preparatory Academy

Ball High student council hosted a pancake lunch to recognize Ball High staff and administration on Tuesday, March 8. Mayor Joe Jaworski also made an appearance and gave a short speech.

The student council and the Ball High parent liaisons also hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the new parent resource room on Thursday, March 10. The Chamber of Commerce was in attendance for the festivities. Following the ceremony, the BHS Student Council and BEST program hosted tours and a lasagna luncheon. Lasagna, bread, salad, tea and a treat from Rita's Italian Ices for dessert were served.

Entertainment was provided by the BHS choir, jazz band and the members of the BHS Guitar Club.

The luncheon celebrated public school week and honored those who help students on a daily basis, including bus drivers, custodial staff, administration, maintenance and warehouse staff at Alamo, and all the teachers and staff at BHS.

Click here to read a Daily News guest column from Ball High Student Council Sponsor Lisa Schweitzer

Click here to view the proclamation given to Ball High by Mayor Joe Jaworski


mardigras
Shelby Fleener (left) and Kallie Kastis (right) present Mayor Joe Jaworski with a GECHS pin before he officially declared it Early College Day in Galveston

Galveston Early College Celebrates National Early College H.S. Week

Galveston Early College High School, one of the district's Exemplary campuses, celebrated Early College High School week with a series of celebrations at the campus. On Monday, the school welcomed the Brids of Prey group that showed off several wild birds. On Wednesday, Mayor Joe Jaworksi and City Council proclaimed March 23 Early College High School Day in Texas. The school also invited community leaders that evening for an official meet and greet event to raise awareness of the school and its many achievements.

GECHS Teacher Laura Schaaf talks about the importance of Early College High School


Austin

Social Media Policy Parent and Teacher Workshop Set for Thursday, April 7

Galveston Independent School District invites parents and community members to discuss social media use in an effort to produce possible recommendations to existing communications policies and procedures. The workshop will take place in the GISD Support Center Board Room on Thursday, April 7 at 5:30 p.m. Parents and community stakeholders are invited to attend the meeting.

The district is seeking input from Galvestonians regarding social media sites such as Facebook, texting, Twitter, and MySpace. These talks seek to prevent future instances of cyber bullying and abuse. Many times situations arise in the school setting caused by actions taken on social media sites and applications that threaten the safety of others within school hallways.

However, the district recognizes the potential for positive uses of social media and seeks to educate the public as well as the student body on ways to utilize it for educational purposes and how use it responsibly.

The goal of the workshop is to compile specific recommendations to add to existing policies. These recommendations will be presented to the Board of Trustees Policy Committee. If those are passed by GISD Trustees at a future board meeting, they will become part of the employee and student handbooks and serve as a guideline for uses of social media in Galveston ISD schools.

Please contact the GISD Communications Department with any questions or comments at communications@gisd.org or 409-766-5145.


Austin

Schools of Choice Second Round Applications Due Monday, April 11

For parents who have not filed an elementary or College Prep application, it is not too late. Applications are online, as well as the Support Center, located at 3904 Avenue T. The second round of applications will be received until Monday, April 11 at 4:00 p.m. Acceptance letters for the second round will be sent out by Monday, May 2.

Students in grades K-3 do not need to fill out an application if they plan to stay at their same school for 2011-2012. It is very important to turn in your applications early, to receive your school of choice. Below are the guidelines used when placing elementary students.

Priority for Admission

For each grade level where the number of School of Choice Applications received during the first consideration period exceed the number of spaces available, determination of space availability shall be made based on the following order of priority:

-Current students in grades K-3 may remain at their current campus
-Siblings will be given priority
-Those new applicants who are siblings of a student currently enrolled in a GISD school who also live at the same residence
-Children of school employees who reside within the district
-Children of school employees who reside outside of the district
-New student applicants who reside within the community and are not siblings of a currently enrolled student or the child of a school employee
-New student applicants who reside outside of the district

A lottery will be used once the priority list has been exhausted and seats are still available.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Gwen Jessel-Lisbony at gwenjessel-lisbony@gisd.org or 409-766-5123.


Austin
Help these kiddos raise money for field trips and much needed supplies

ECU/Weis Looking for Booth Sponsors for Spring Carnival

What: The Time Traveler’s Fantasy Carnival
When:  Saturday, May 21
Where: ECU–Weis Campus at 7100 Stewart�Road in Galveston, TX
Time:  10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Now is the time to book your booth space for the ECU-WEIS PTO spring carnival and fundraiser. Everyone is invited to the "Time Travelers Fantasy Carnival," which represents each students walk through time on their quest for learning. The school PTO is accepting applications and reservation forms until April 29 for booth space. Booth space is $25-$50, depending on the size of booth. The PTO is asking for a 10 percent donation from booth proceeds (optional).  

Each booth will contain one table. Each vendor/booth manager will be responsible for their own seating, canopies, decoration of booth, prizes, merchandise, as well as for the set- up and take-down of the booth.  All booths must have one adult present who is responsible for the management of each booth operated. 

Please contact Chairperson Tali Stearnes or PTO President Rose McCarroll at 409-761-6400 or mail forms to:

ECU-Weis, attn: Tali Stearnes 
7100 Stewart Road
Galveston, TX
77551

Or e-mail Ms. Stearnes at Thalia_Stearnes@gisd.org.




william2
Austin A Honor Roll students got a VIP look at the Aquarium Restaurant in Kemah

Austin Magnet A Honor Roll Visits Aquarium Restaurant

Students on Austin Magnet School’s 6th grade A Honor Roll was treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Aquarium Restaurant at Kemah on Friday, January 29. They were given an opportunity to learn the inner workings, filtration, fish food preparation from a staff biologist. They viewed the 50,000 gallon tank from above and touch and fed live stingrays. 

Pictured are:  Ty Burchfield, Katrina Caszatt, Courtney Mack, Skylar Simon, Katherine Stevens, Daniel Walsh, Leon Warnakulasuriya, Mickey Welsh, Maxx Wilson, Seth Nance, and Sarah Moore.


crenshaw GECaustin
Mayra Doroteo (top left) of Crenshaw took home 1st Place in Chemistry and Joseph Hugger (top right) took home 3rd Place in Engineering; Austin students show off their tropies (bottom)

GISD Recognizes District Science Fair Winners

Galveston Independent School District represented itself with several winners at the Galveston County Science Fair, held at UTMB on Saturday, Feb. 26. Seventeen students won awards at the event with three first place winners in the Behavioral Science (Junior), Zoology (Senior), and Chemistry (Junior) categories. Those winners will represent Galveston ISD at the regional science fair in Houston from April 7-9.

Congrats to all who participated!

Those who placed at the event include:

-Chandler Bentinck (Grade 9) of Ball Preparatory Academy - 1st place, Behavioral Science
-Jonah Gonzalez and Samuel Gutierrez (both Grade 9) of Ball Preparatory Academy - Honorable Mention, Environmental Science
-Emily Gao (Grade 11) of Ball Preparatory Academy - 3rd place, Biochemistry and Microbiology
-Shenali Warnakulasuriya (Grade 10) of Ball Preparatory Academy - 2nd place, Environmental Science
-Bryce Willey (Grade 10) of Ball Preparatory Academy - 3rd place, Environmental Science
-Heather Yang (Grade 10) of Ball Preparatory Academy - Honorable Mention, Environmental Science
-Ryan Coleman (Grade 10) of Ball Preparatory Academy- Honorable Mention, Engineering
-Keziah Thomas (Grade 10) of Ball Preparatory Academy - 3rd place, Medicine/Health
-Natalia Tesh (Grade 10) of Ball Preparatory Academy - 1st place, Zoology
-Mayra Doroteo (Grade 9) of Crenshaw Elementary and Middle School - 1st place, Chemistry
-Rose Coleman (Grade 7) of Austin Middle School - Honorable Mention, Chemistry
-Muriel Weathers (Grade 8) of Austin Middle School - 2nd place, Botany and 2nd place, Life Science
-Olawande Oduwole (Grade 7) of Austin Middle School - 3rd place, Medicine and Health
-Jay Alan Sims (Grade 7) of Austin Middle School - 3rd place, Physics
-Joseph Hugger (Grade 7) of Galveston Early College - 3rd place, Engineering

Meanwhile, schools recognized winners at the campus level. Click here to see the list of winners and photos

Photos: Top left - Mayra Doroteo of Crenshaw; Top Right - Joseph Hugger of Galveston Early College; Bottom - (From left to right) Austin students Rose Coleman (7th Grade): Honorable Mention in Chemistry, Muriel Weathers (8th Grade): 2nd Place in Botany and 2nd Place in the Life Science Division, Olawande Oduwole (7th Grade): 3rd in Medicine and Health, Jay Alan Sims (7th Grade): 3rd in Physics


GEF
The Galveston Education Foundation 2010 Event was the party of the year - don't miss the 2011 event

Galveston Education Foundation Set to Host Fine Arts Extravaganza on April 29

The Galveston Independent School District (GISD) Educational Foundation will host its Fine Arts Extravaganza, its annual fundraising event on Friday, April 29. The event features an evening with some the best and brightest GISD students and professional community artists displaying hands-on activities such as jewelry making, watercolor painting, quilting, ceramics and dance lessons, just to name a few.

The proceeds from the event to support the Foundation's Grants-to-Teachers program enabling GISD teachers to enhance fine arts-related learning experiences of their students. For example, the foundation supported grants for art history books for a new library, costumes for a school-wide play, music composition software and an outdoor art facility.

The Fine Arts Extravaganza will begin at 6:30 p.m. at The Grand 1894 Opera House. Individual tickets are $75 available at The Grand box office starting April 1. Tickets are $35 for GISD teachers, non-administrative staff and parents of the performers, available at the Galveston Education Foundation office at 3904 Ave. T. Admission will cover food, drinks and a fun-filled evening of artistic interactivity.

For more information or to make a reservation for the event, contact Julie Schmid at 409-766-5157 or e-mail foundation@gisd.org.


MiSwaco
The Central Middle School Dancing Dolls took home Sweepstakes Honors, Best in Class,
and Showmanship Awards in San Antonio

Central Middle School Dancing Dolls Win Multiple Awards, Sweepstakes

On Saturday, February 26, the Central Middle School Dancing Dolls competed in the Alamo City Showmakers of America Dance Competition in San Antonio. The Dolls earned Division I scores in all routines entered giving them Sweepstakes honors. They also received Best in Class and Showmanship award.

Photo: back row, left to right:� Princess Washington, Terralynn Franklin, Kreshaun Foreman, Meagan Simpson, Ebony Spiller Front Row, left to right: Reyna Barriontos, Reyna Motte, Dezmone Boxley-Jones, Tyra Brooks, Lesrelle Thomas, Kierra Thompson, Destini Tinsley


MiSwaco
Rabbi Jimmy Kessler, Jassiel Martinez, Larissa Stephens, Superintendent Larry Nichols, and Ball High teacher Bobby Weis at the awards ceremony

Ball High Students Awarded Lamar Scholarship Awards

Harmony Lodge #6 A.F. and A.M. recently presented the Lamar Scholarship Award to Ball High seniors Jassiel Martinez and Larissa Stephens on Monday, March 7. The ceremony took place at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in downtown Galveston.

Harmony Lodge provides a scholarship to selected graduating Ball High School seniors each year to assist the students with their continuing education. All students who are college bound or plan to attend a trade or technical school are eligible. 

Texas Masonry has been the forefront of Texas Education since it began, and Harmony Lodge #6 in Galveston continues to support M.B. Lamar's ideals.  Lamar was a member of the lodge here in Galveston, and his dream of a free, public education stands strong in our community. 

To that endeavor, Harmony Lodge #6 provides a scholarship to selected graduating Ball High School Seniors each year to assist the students with their continuing education. All students who are college bound or plan to attend a trade or technical school are eligible.


kinder
L.A. Morgan students build bridges out of recyclable material as part of their Engineering studies

L. A. Morgan Elementary Connects Life-Size Learning with Model Bridges

L.A. Morgan students excitedly took on the role of civil engineer in their science classes by constructing and testing bridges of their own design as part of the culminating project-based activity of their science unit on structure. The students sharpened team-building skills by working in groups to research bridges, brainstorming and developing an original design, and making blueprints, which they followed in order to build scaled-down models out of materials such as toilet paper rolls, cardboard and tape.�After testing their bridges with cars of similar scale, the students put their writing and presentation skills to work by explaining their designs and writing reports outlining the entire process.


Austin
Ball High yearbook staff took home honors at the ATPI Winter Conference

Ball High Yearbook Staff Take Home Top Honors at State Conference

The following students received honorable mention for their photos at the ATPI Winter Conference held at the University of Texas at Arlington. Picture from left to right is Tereza Sliter, Curtis Cole and Jontae Brown, all members of the yearbook staff.


parents

Free Public Technology and Spanish Classes Available Morgan

Morgan Elementary is offering enrichment classes to parents and community members every Tuesday and Thursday. Technology classes are offered on Thursday from 6-7 p.m. on April 7 and 24 as well as May 5 and 19. These classes will take place in the Morgan computer lab. Spanish classes will take place in Room 140 every Tuesday from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.


teacherlogo

My Favorite Teacher Contest
Deadline on Tuesday, March 29

Students are encouraged to write an essay or poem describing their favorite teacher and how that person has influenced and inspired them. GISD will collect the entries and submit them to the closestlocal Barnes & Noble store. A group of judges from Barnes & Noble will choose the winners and recognize both the teachers and the students at a special ceremony during Educator Appreciation Week at Barnes & Noble.

Although the form say March 18, the deadline is actually Tuesday, March 29. Students are asked to turn the writings into their teacher.

One winning teacher will be chosen from each store and will receive a special award acknowledging their achievement as well as a set of ten Sterling Children’s Classic books. They’ll also be entered in the regional contest where six regional winners will each receive a NOOK eBook Reader, a $500 Barnes & Noble Gift Card—and the chance to become the national winner of the "Barnes & Noble Teacher of the Year" award. The Barnes & Noble "Teacher of the Year" will receive $5,000 and will be recognized at a special event at a Barnes & Noble store. The winning teacher’s school will receive $5,000 as well and an event with a well-known author. The students who write the winning essays or poems will receive a certificate of recognition and will be honored at their local store during the ceremony for the winning teachers.

This is also a terrific vehicle to develop student's writing skills and to showcase their creativity. Entry forms for students are available from the school office or at the link below. Please encourage your students to consider participating and writing.

Please click here to download the entry form


Several GISD Students Place in Grand Kids Banner Festival

The Grand Kids Festival committee recently selected sixteen designs submitted from area students as winners of The Grand Kids Festival Banner Design Contest for 2010. First through fourth place winners from each of four different grade categories will recreate their designs on banners to be hung from light posts throughout the festival site.

Winners of the contest received a Grand Kids Festival t-shirt, tickets for their family to attend the festival, four tickets to the pre-festival event “Party with the Animals” on Friday April 1 and a set of greeting cards printed with their winning design. Greeting cards will also be available for sale at the festival.

Contest winners from GISD were:�

(Grades K-2) 1st place – Abi Albir, Oppe Elementary School; 2nd place – Libby Snider, Parker Elementary School; 4th place �– Natalie Kirmis, Oppe Elementary School

(Grades 3-4) 3rd place – Georgia Gir�n, Oppe Elementary

(Grades 5-6) 2nd place – Danielle Lang, Austin Middle School

(Grades 7-8) 4th place – Angela Lopez, Central Middle School.

The Grand Kids Festival, set for Saturday April 2, will be held from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on historic downtown Postoffice Street, between 20th and 23rd Streets, and the winning banners will be on display throughout the festival area.

Please click here for a complete list of the winners


Grand Kids Festival Now Accepting Krazy Kids Relay Applications

The Grand Kids Festival is accepting entries in the second annual "Krazy Kidz Relay" held during the festival on Saturday, April 2.�Open to children ages 3-10, the Krazy Kidz Relay events are events sure to motivate the younger set while having fun at the festival. All relay entrants will receive a relay t-shirt and all finishers will receive a special commemorative relay token. As well, all relay participants will be entered in a drawing for a bicycle or tricycle!� (Entrants ages 3-5 are eligible for the tricycle drawing, entrants ages 6-10 eligible for bicycle drawing).

Entry in the Krazy Kidz Relay events is $10 in advance and $12 the day of the events. Advance entries will also include admission to The Grand Kids Festival on Saturday, April 2 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in historic, downtown Galveston on Postoffice Street from 20th-23rd Streets. The Krazy Kidz Relays are sponsored by Fit to Run, the Galveston Health and Racquet Club Fit Kids program and Island Bicycle Company.

Please click here for more information


arts

Multiple Happenings and Events in the World of GISD Fine Arts

Ball High Art Show Now Viewing

The Ball High Art Show at Galveston College Show opened with a reception on March 24. It goes on through April. Come check out the work at the Galveston College Art Gallery on third floor of the fine arts building next to the Hermes Fitness Center at Galveston College.

Ball High Theatre UIL One Act Play Dates Set

The 2010 State Finalist Ball High Theatre unveils "The Farnsworth Invention" in the first round of the the UIL One Act Play contest. The first contest is Tuesday, March 29 at Pearland Dawson H.S. The shows begin at 4:00 p.m., but Ball High goes on third so its performance should go onstage at about 6:00 p.m. Try to be there by 5 p.m. Admission is $5.

GISD Fine Arts participates in the Grand Kids Festival

There will be lots of GISD students and groups involved as part of the Grand Kids Festival on April 2 from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. It takes place downtown by the Grand 1894 Opera House on Postoffice and 23rd.


arts

Tors Teams Featured in the Galveston Daily News this Week

The Daily News loves Ball High! OK, well, maybe the sports section does as Tors teams have been featured several times this past week.

The first story featured the hot water polo team in its 22-1 drubbing of Texas City.

Another great story came in the form of Ball High senior baseball pitcher Aaron Garza, who is completely tearing it up on the mound this year, making good on the promise shown last year when he threw two no-hitters. Garza will attend University of Houston on a full scholarship in the fall. His goal for his last year at Ball? Make it to playoffs and be a first-team, All-State pitcher.

Check out the coverage in the Galveston Daily News:

Stings water polo Tor-pedoed by Ball
Garza playing with faith


We thank you for your time and interest in Galveston schools. The Weekly Wave is compiled, written, and edited by Johnston Farrow. Mr. Farrow can be reached at johnston_farrow@gisd.org and welcomes comments and article suggestions.

Sincerely,

GISD Communications Department

Galveston Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.