The Official Newsletter of GISD
April 3, 2014
District News

Pre-Kindergarten Registration set for Thursday, April 24
 

Pre-K Registration will take place on Thursday, April 24 from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at the GISD Support Center Annex A, 3906 Ave. T. 

 

Pre-Kindergarten is available to children three or four years of age on or before September 1 of the current school year who meet eligibility requirements in one or more of the following areas:

  • Child is unable to speak and comprehend the English language. Language test will be given.
  • Child is Economically Disadvantaged - Verification of income required.
  • Child is an Active Military Dependent - Military I.D. required
  • Child is Homeless. McKinney-Vento form provided at registration.
  • Child who is in or ever has been in conservatorship of Department of Family and Protective Services (CPS). Documentation from CPS is required.

Pre-K registration will take place in a centralized location for eligible GISD residents. Only a parent or legal guardian with I.D. can register a child. Registration is on a first-come-first serve basis. All required documents must be presented at time of registration. Items you will need for registration:

  • Birth Certificate (State Issued)
  • Immunization Record
  • Social Security Card (for your child)
  • Photo Copy of Parent ID (Texas State Issued)
  • Proof of Residence (rental contract and/or proof of homeownership)
  • Utility bill (with valid address)
  • Proof of Income (current check stubs)

Please contact Mary Patrick at mary_patrick@gisd.org or (409) 766-5177 with any additional questions.  

 

Click here to download the flyer... 

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 GISD students take 1st, 3rd place at Rotary Club Spelling Bee

 

GALVESTON - For more than 50 years, the Rotary Club of Galveston has sponsored a Citywide Spelling Bee for fifth-graders. At the recent event at Austin Middle School, all students received a medallion and a certificate of participation.

 

What made this year's event even more significant is that Andrew Weeks from Crenshaw Elementary in Bolivar participated via Skype - since he was unable to attend the event because of the Galveston Bay oil spill and no ferry service.

 

Rotarians who organized the spelling bee included Jennifer Goodman, Zoula Zein-Elden, Ruth Suhler, Linda Ott-Thompson and David Bowers. Carol Greaney-Wurst also participated.

 

Schools represented included Austin Middle School, Central Middle School, Crenshaw Elementary/Middle School, Holy Family Catholic School, Kipp Academy, Odyssey Academy, Scott Collegiate Academy, Satori School and Trinity Episcopal School.

  

This year's winners were Shashank Kota, first place, Austin Middle School; Alexis Makris, second place, Holy Family Catholic School; and Emma Howser, third place, Scott Collegiate Academy.

 

Photo: Alexis Makris, second place, Holy Family Catholic School; Shashank Kota, first place, Austin Middle School; Emma Howser, third place, Scott Collegiate Academy.  
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GISD students to perform at Grand Kids Festival

Several GISD groups will be performing this weekend at the 19th Annual Grand Kids Festival, to be held on Postoffice Street between 23nd and 20th streets this Saturday, April 5 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

 

The following groups to perform include:

Ball High Cheerleaders - 10 a.m. - Stage A
Scott Collegiate Academy Choir - 1:30 p.m. - Stage A
Scott Collegiate Academy Band - 2 p.m. - Stage A

Austin Middle School 5th Grade Beginner Band - 3:30 p.m. - Stage A

Austin Middle School - 6th Grade Intermediate Band - 4 p.m. - Stage A

Austin Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Band - 4:30 p.m. - Stage A

 

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GISD students win Symphonie Fantastique Art Competition

Galveston Symphony announced the winners of the Symphonie Fantastique Art Competition. There were 68 entries from schools across Galveston County, and each entry was an excellent example of the high degree of artistic talent found in schools. Judging took place at College of the Mainland.  

 

The following list of artists placed in the competition. The winners will be announced during intermission at a March 9 concert. Teachers and students were invited to attend the concert. The artworks were on display at a reception held in Edna's Room next to the Opera House immediately following the concert.

 

Grand Prize $300: Camden Roeder, Movement #3, Austin MS, GISD, Teacher - Jareth Arcane

First Prize $150: Seda Turk, Opiates Folly, Ball HS, GISD, Teacher - Candace Lepo

Second Prize $100: Inari Washington, Loud, Parker Elementary, GISD, Teacher - Gregg Ludwig 

 

Click here for more winners... 

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GISD participates in Mardi Gras parades

Kudos today to the 21 Centiry Community Learning Centers team for organizing GISD 21CCLC participation in the Mardi Gras Children's parade.

  

Not only did kids in the 21 Century program perform in the parade, the Oppe Mariachi Dancers marched and performed. KIPP Coastal Village also participated. 

 

Special thanks to Galveston ISD Police Chief Amador for the use of his trailer. Also special thanks to Marianne Pascal-Beerstecher, Selah Tacconi, and the entire 21 Century team for their hard work and coordination on this community participation event.

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Galveston ISD Educational Foundation News 

 
  
 
Tickets now on sale for GEF Annual Spring Eventnull
  

Galvestonians will get a chance to stamp their ticket for local schools on Friday, April 25 at the GEF Annual Spring Event.

Set for 7-10 p.m. at the Moody Gardens Atrium, tickets are $100 a person, $40 for GISD teachers. The event will include food, drinks, live music, and more. Proceeds of the event will go towards the GEF's grants program that awards teachers and schools in the Spring and Fall for projects that might not otherwise be paid for under the Galveston ISD general fund.

One of the most exciting things being offered at this year's event is a raffle for a chance to win a six-day Carribean cruise donated by Moody National Bank, a Rene Wiley original oil painting donated by Rene Wiley Gallery, and a mini-iPad donated by the GEF Board of Directors.

The event will also include a variety of excellent auction items including a vacation home stay in Park City, Utah; signed memoriabila by Nick Williams, a BHS graduate who plays for the Texas Rangers; a UT Football package with 50 -yard line seats; and a sunset cruise dinner aboard a 40 foot boat with food catered by Farley Girls.

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Support GEF by going to the Galveston County Rodeo, April 10
  

Help the Galveston ISD Educational Foundation by attending the Galveston County Fair & Rodeo Thursday, April 10. $1 of every ticket sold on this night will be distributed to participating education foundations. Order tickets online and $1 will be donated to the education foundation of your choice.

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Ball High News 
 
     
 

UIL One-Act Play, "Of Mice and Men" wins district awards, to be shown tonight 

Tuffy/Ball High

The public is invited to see Ball High School's award-winning UIL One Act Play "Of Mice and Men," by John Steinbeck, at 6:30 p.m. tonight in the school's auditorium, 4115 Ave. O.

 

Admission is free and open to the public.

Donations to the school's theater program will be gratefully accepted.

 

Students who won awards for this production include Mason Aiken, All Star Cast medal for his role as George, Ryan VanDewalli, All Star Cast medal for his role as Lennie, Damon Gibson, Honorable Mention All Star Cast (Slim), and Brianna Alcazar, Honorable Mention All Star Cast (Curley's wife).

"Of Mice and Men" is a novella written by John Steinbeck. Ball High School's UIL cast will transport you back in time to 1932 California, enacting an unforgettable and moving performance.

 

Directed by Ball High School faculty members William Nealon and McKay Talley, the company features Mason Aiken, Brianna Alcazar, Dominykas Bytautas, Colton Ford, Michael Ford, Morgan Fowler, Chey French, Xochitl Fuentes, Damon Gibson, Emery Glover, Danny Grasso, Kelvin Hernandez, Charles King, Max LeBlanc, Tristen Lyons, Amena Masswi, Devon Profitt and Ryan Van Dewalli.

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Ball High Student Art Exhibition now showing at Galveston College

The Ball High Art Department is pleased to announce the showing of it's annual student art exhibition at the Galveston College Gallery, 4015 Avenue Q in Galveston. This is a community project of the Ball High chapter of the National Art Honor Society. The show will run through April 10 and will feature artwork completed by high school art students.  
 

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PALS looking for Relay For Life Sponsors
  

Ever heard of Relay For Life? Want to help support research for the American Cancer Society? PALS plans on participate in Relay For Life on May 2. PALS is an on-campus, peer collaboration between the NHS students and the lifeskills students at Ball High School. As participants in Relay For Life, the goals is to raise at least $5,000. In order to reach this goal, students are trying to raise $100 each in order to be pre-registered for the event.
  

If you would like to sponsor a student or if you have any questions, please contact Paige Dubose at Ball High School at 409-766-5724 or via email at paigedubose@gisd.org.

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April 9 last day to register for AP exams

Students have until April 9 to register and pay for AP exams. April 1 was the last day to pay for AP exams with no late fee. From April 2-April 9 there is a $20 fee. Again, April 9, is the LAST day to register. Students can register by clicking here. Please pay by check or cash to Mrs. Santos, counselors, or Mrs. Longoria. If you have any questions, please contact your child's counselor. 

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Tornettes host Dance Camp, ready Spring Show for April 10-11 

The Ball High Tornettes will host a Junior Dance Camp thisSaturday, April 5 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. in Ball High's Upper Gym benefiting and associated with the Tornettes Spring Show. For $20, young dancers will receive an event t-shirt, four hours of fun-filled dance instruction and an opportunity to perform the Junior Camp routine in both evenings of Spring Show. Those who participated in the first camp will get free admission to this camp and will be referred to as leaders throughout the process.  

 

Click here for the flyer & registration form attached.

 

On Monday, April 7 from 3-8 p.m. all guest teams will be assigned a block of stage time to rehearse in the space where Spring Show will be held in Ball High's Auditorium.

 

The Tornettes Spring Show will take place Thursday & Friday, April 10 & 11 beginning at 7 p.m. in Ball High's Auditorium (4115 Ave. O). Tickets will be $7 in advance, $10 at the door.  

 

The theme is "Dancing Through Space." The first act is the more creative half, which will happen under an arching moon. The second act is the upbeat half, which will happen under an arching sun.  

  
Please contact Lindsay Griffin at lindsay_griffin@gisd.org for more information.

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AIM College and Career Preparatory News

Galveston College Workforce Directors present to AIM studentsAIM College and Career Preparatory

 

Galveston College program directors from seven workforce programs visited with AIM students to present their programs to this past Friday, March 28. Students had the opportunity to ask questions about the different career programs at the post-secondary school.
 
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Austin Middle School Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Magnet News
 
    
Austin student wins state writing competition

 

Roselle Ngishu recently received a CertificateAustin Middle School of Appreciation and a cash award as a winner in the Texas Outdoor Writers Association (TOWA) Youth Writers Competition sponsored by the Dallas Safari Club. Ngishu is one of the first students from Galveston to win this statewide writing competition. The presentation of the Certificate and cash award was made by Tom Linton, Director, TOWA Youth Writing Initiative.  

 

PHOTO: Austin teacher Nelda Brittain, winner Roselle Ngishu, Tom Linton, Austin Middle School, and teacher Veronica Arneson 

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Austin Middle School track teams place in district

Congratulations to the entire Austin Middle School track and field team. For the third year in a row, 7th and 8th grade girls finished first place in the district. The 7th and 8th grade boys both placed second overall. A special thanks to all the Ball High coaches and athletes, athletic trainers, parents, teachers and volunteers that helped run the district meet. The teams would not have been successful without your support.  

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Central Middle School Media Arts Technology News

Central's award-winning Kickstart Karate Team win at Houston City Championships 

Central's Kick Start Kids Central Middle SchoolTeam competed at the City Championships for Houston last weekend. Only students that placed at this year's qualifying tournaments were allowed to compete. Six students competed and all of them are going to the State Championships on April 19 in Navasota, TX. The team earned a total of ten medals and plaques, five of them being 1st place City Champion titles.

 

Austin Willard    1st place City Champion in forms

                          1st place City Champion in weapons

                          2nd place Team fighting

 

Estella Carasco  1st place City Champion in forms

                           1st place City Champion in sparring

 

April Mendiola    1st place City Champion in forms

                           2nd place in Sparring

 

Calvin Brown       3rd place in forms

 

Chloe Willard        3rd place in forms

 

Anna Richardson  3rd place in forms

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Oppe Elementary School of Coastal Studies News


 

Oppe students sweep the UTMB Name That Book competition
 
Oppe Elementary students swept the recent Sir William Osler's Name That BookOppe Elementary School Competition at UT-Medical Branch for the second year in a row, taking 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place (top photo). Afterwards, they all met at their favorite ice cream place, Rita's (bottom photo), to celebrate.

The Name That Book competition features several GISD schools in which teams answer questions based on books on a given reading list. The teams meet with volunteer medical students from UTMB over the course of several weeks, culminating in a showdown with local public schools at the Levin Hall Auditorium. The competition took place on Feb. 15.

"Judy Decker, our librarian, was integral in getting copies of the books for my kids to read," said Oppe teacher Lana Polzin. "Also, we had medical students from UTMB, Chelsea Therrien, Tracy Cable, and Jonathan Lee, who mentored our teams, came out every Friday to read to the children and help prepare them for the competition."

Team members were David Benard, Genevieve Brown, Kaley Bureman, Will Clore, Emory Dotson, Dayana Enamorado, Arleth Flores, Ethan Fox, Eyleen Fuentes, David Garcia, Edward Hoffman, Hailey Monakino, Isabel Ramos, Mehar Sharma, Santosh Soule, Blake Taylor, and Kate Walker.
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Oppe announces fourth six weeks A/AB Honor Roll
  
Oppe Elementary recently announced it's A and AB Honor roll for the fourth six weeks. In order to make the A Honor Roll, students must make at least 90 percent in all classes. In order to make the AB Honor Roll, students must make at least 80 percent in all classes.

Click here to see the list of scholars...
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GOOD NATURED FUN IN THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL

 

Agoraphobia, spray cheese, road kill, kleptomania, flan, and disco - these are just a few of the subjects covered in the hit Off-Broadway comedy THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL.

Some of ETC's favorite actresses, Robin Lusby Schaefer, Sandi Morgan, Penny Rieger, and Katie Harrison will be joined by Hanna Harper, Luther Chakurian, and Brandon del Castillo in this over-the-top musical, which focuses on the lives and loves of a North Florida trailer park community, Armadillo Acres.

 

ETC Artistic Director Kim Mytelka directs this rollicking good fun show. She is assisted by Carol Daubert (Musical Director), Jennifer Daugherty (Choreographer), and Chelsea McGee (Stage Manager).

 

THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL features music and lyrics by David Nehls and a book by Betsy Kelso. It will run weekends through April 12. Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m. There will be two Sunday matinees on March 23 and March 30 at 2:30 p.m.

 

Island ETC (East-End Theatre Company) is located at 2317 Mechanic Street in Galveston.

 

Ticket prices range from $22.00 - $27.00. Tickets are available online at www.islandetc.org.

 

For additional information, to reserve your current season tickets, or for group rates, please call ETC at (409) 762-3556.

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Students take home various awards at 2014 GISD Drama Fest   

Dozens of students competed at the 2014 GISD Drama Fest, recently hosted by Ball High School. 
 
Crenshaw earned Champion School honors for its excellent performances across several categories.

 

Places given are by Division.
First Division - Superior Performance
Second Division - Excellent Performance
Third Division - Good Performance 

 

This is a festival grading system similar to that used by UIL Music.   

 

Congratulations to all the students who did a great job!

Click here for the list of winners... 
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Ball High Fall Athletic Banquet set for April 7

Ball High will host its Fall Athletic Banquet for football, cross country, power lifting, swimming/diving and volleyball this Monday, April 7 in the Ball High cafeteria. Doors open at 5:15 p.m., dinner will be served from 5:30-6:15 p.m., and the banquet will start at 6:30 p.m. 

Pre-sale tickets are still available for $10/$15 at the door. Please contact Athletic Office for tickets or more information at 409-766-6883.

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For questions, comments, or Wave submissions, contact the GISD Communications Department at
(409) 766-5145 or email:

Composed and compiled by  
Johnston Farrow

� Copyright Galveston Independent School District 2012

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.