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Regional Elementary Science Fair Winners |
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This year's Regional Elementary Science Fair was held on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at the Garland Special Events Center. RISD students participated in the regional fair with students from the Allen, Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Garland, McKinney, Mesquite and Plano school districts. The focus of the fair is on learning science through inquiry, fun and celebration of student achievement.
Participants in the Regional Science Fair have already received a Grand Prize award from their school and have already won their grade level science fair. Congratulations not only to students who won awards this year, but to all of the students who entered projects at the school level.
1st place
Lanse Blois – Lake Highlands Elementary – "Trajectory"
Connor Irwin – Moss Haven Elementary – "Reused Water"
Emma Dawson – Prairie Creek Elementary – "Get Your Head in the Game"
Allie LaMay – Springridge Elementary – "Do Artificial Dyes Affect the Way a Mammal Thinks?"
Anna Schrader, Caroline Tipton and Annie Hutton – White Rock Elementary – "Do Soils Affect the pH of Rainwater?"
2nd place
Jordyn Galvan – Big Springs Elementary – "It Gives Paws"
Jasmine Tran – Big Springs Elementary – "Heat busters"
Josh Huff – Brentfield Intermediate – "Melting Chocolate"
Syed Ahma Ali – Richland Elementary – "Battle of the Seeds"
Hadia Siddiqui – Math/Science/Technology Magnet – "What's Leading Lead Into You"
3rd place
Daniel Wood – Arapaho Classical Magnet – "Got Worms?"
Max Pfeifer-Frederick – Canyon Creek Elementary – "Swing and Flight"
Calissa Castro – Prairie Creek Elementary – "Flow of Electricity Through Various Wire Thicknesses"
Yasmine Abbas – Stults Road Elementary – "The Effect of Exposure to Air, Sunlight & Temperature on Vitamin C Content of Orange Juice"
Charley Bauman – Yale Elementary – "Cool Down"
Askel Feeley – Yale Elementary – "Chemicals in our Water"
Abigail Lee – Bowie Elementary – "No! Don't Eat Me…"
Chleo SLaughter, Lacey Zolton - Mohawk Elementary - "Candy Cane Quandary"
Honorable Mention
Emily Morrison – Arapaho Classical Magnet – "PETrified"
Erin Wilhelm – Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet – "Beware of the Avalanche"
Heleana Fine, Molly Barkis and Priscilla Hunt – Mohawk Elementary – "Sunscreen Everlasting"
Taylor Thomas, Rebecca Spurlock - Springridge Elementary - "Rough Riders" >Top |
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Bond Restructuring To Reduce Interest Costs For RISD |
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The RISD Board of Trustees has voted to restructure $20.3 million in debt, which will save up to $7 million in interest costs over the remaining life of the bonds. The restructuring is a part of the district's ongoing efforts to take advantage of historically low interest rates and to refinance or restructure existing debt when savings can occur.
The bond refunding will convert variable-rate debt to fixed-rate debt, which will eliminate the risk that interest rates might increase in the future. The interest savings is expected to be realized without extending the life of the bonds. The involved debt is scheduled to mature no later than 2022.
RISD works closely with its financial advisors to continually monitor current bond markets, stipulations and interest rates of existing debt, and long-range bond plans to identify opportunities to lower the District's interest expenses.
For more information, please read the Feb. 7 edition of Board Brief (PDF). >Top |
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Board of Trustees To Hold Candidate Training Session |
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RISD's Board of Trustees will conduct a candidate training session Feb. 28 for those interested in running for the two positions up for election this May.
Topics covered in the training session will include general election information; a presentation on RISD's vision, mission and goals; facts about RISD; key responsibilities of the superintendent; and the responsibilities, authority, ethics, required training and other commitments required of a trustee.
Training will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, in Room 107 of the RISD Administration Building, 400 S. Greenville Ave., Richardson.
The deadline to file for the May 12 election is March 5. The Board's Election Calendar can be found here. >Top |
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Additional Class Period Requirements for Juniors and Seniors? - Take the Survey! |
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Richardson ISD is researching the possibility of requiring students to enroll in seven classes all four years of high school.
Currently, only 9th and 10th grade students must enroll in seven classes. Eleventh grade students are required to enroll in six classes, and 12th grade students are required to enroll in five classes.
The reasons RISD is considering this change are compelling. Data trends show that, overall, many high school graduates are not as prepared as they should be for success in college or the workforce, especially in core subjects like math and English.
National data that the College Board collected from 2010 high school graduates revealed that:
- Almost half, 45%, felt that high school graduation requirements should be more challenging.
- More than half, 54%, found college courses to be more difficult than expected.
- Almost 1 in 4, 24%, had to take remedial courses in college because they were not adequately prepared in high school.
- The majority of students wished they had taken more math, science and writing-intensive courses in high school.
Employers have clearly communicated a critical need for better-educated employees. The top five skills employers want their employees to have are:
- An established work ethic
- Developed physical skills
- Strong verbal communication
- Solid written communication
- Team building skills
The American Diploma Project, a workplace study, found that:
- The highest-paid employees have taken rigorous high school mathematics courses
- Strong preparation in English language arts provides an edge in the labor market
- Occupational preparation should begin sometime in high school
- Today's youth can access whatever career they want - as long as they are held to strong educational standards
A full credit class schedule aligns with RISD's Vision 2020 goals for college and career readiness, student engagement and the 26 credit graduation requirement.
The district has prepared a survey for parents and other stakeholders to share their thoughts. The survey is brief - please consider taking a moment to provide your feedback. >Top |
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RISD Council of PTAs 30th Annual Used Book Fair - Feb. 16-18 |
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David Seitz, a 2010 Richardson High School graduate, is a sophomore at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music – his dream college. He was one of the 2010 recipients of a Council of PTAs college scholarship.
"The scholarship I received from PTA helped make it possible for me to attend this outstanding college – I am so grateful!" David said. "Through my major in theater design and production with a specialty in lighting design and technology, I was given the chance to assist the team producing the lighting program at Superbowl XLVI. It was a great experience!"
The scholarship David received was from profits collected through the annual Used Book Fair sponsored by the Richardson Council of PTAs, the umbrella organization for the 57 local PTA school units in RISD. Scholarships to 4-year universities and 2-year community colleges are awarded to high school seniors from all four RISD high schools. Scholarships are also granted to select RISD teachers with an eye on continuing their educations.
The 2012 Used Book Fair will take place 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Feb. 16-18 and noon-6 p.m. Feb. 19 in Dal-Rich Village at the southeast corner of Belt Line and Coit roads.
Book, CD and DVD prices are 25 cents to $2. Categories include collectable books, mystery novels, romance, cookbooks, children's books, Westerns, history, and nonfiction.
To donate books, you can call your local school PTA, bring them to the book store site from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Feb. 8-10 or 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 11, or call Council of PTAs President Linda Holstien at 972-931-6353. >Top |
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Solar Panels Generate Electricity For HPPM |
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101st Day Celebration at prestonwood elementary |
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2012 Young Master Exhibition selection |
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The O'Donnell Foundation and AP Strategies are proud to announce that out of 42 Studio AP art students that were selected to participate in the 2012 Young Masters Exhibition at the Dallas Museum of Art, four of them came from Richardson ISD!
Jurors deliberated over 475 entries to determine the final art works for the show. It will be on display through April 8. Congratulations to each artist that submitted work and to each art teacher for their outstanding job in AP® Studio Art.
- Kathy Tran, Richardson High School, Art Teacher: Sonia Krusleski
- Julio Celis, Richardson High School, Art Teacher: Randy Findley
- Yordi Calix, Lake Highlands High School, Art Teacher: Sharin Clark
- Elizabeth Housewright, Lake Highlands High School, Art Teacher: Jason Young
Awards will be announced at the awards ceremony and reception 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28 at the DMA. >Top |
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Prestonwood First Graders Get An Amphibian Surprise |
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HPPM Students Create Valentines For Veterans |
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RHS Senior Kathy Tran Featured in Dallas Morning News |
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Forestridge Wears Red For Heart Awareness |
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RISD Council of PTAs Honors Past Presidents |
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RISD Council of PTAs Seek Donations for Annual Prom Dress Boutique |
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Parkhill Tenor Bass Choir to Sing at National Choral Conference |
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The Tenor Bass Choir from Parkhill Jr. High will perform for the National Middle School and Junior High Choral Conference being held in Dallas on Feb. 29. The conference performance will be at 4:45 p.m. in the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing Arts auditorium. This is the first national conference specifically designed for middle school/junior high choral music educators.
The Tenor Bass Choir was selected by submission of recordings from the 2009-10 and 2010-11 years of performances. The boys will present a 25-minute concert for choral music educators from across the nation and within our community. The Tenor Bass Choir is a class of 7th and 8th grade boys who have selected choir without a music prerequisite or audition. The director, Jennifer Carter, is in her 24th year of teaching MS/JH choral music in the Dallas area. This is her 16th year directing choirs at Parkhill Jr. High.
Members of the choir include: Jack Hamilton, Nathaniel Thigpen, Brady Pemble, Samuel Snyder, Andres Comacho, Braden Hance, Graham Knox, Wesley Hudson, Brad Weatherford, Sam Judd, Graham Hefner, Dexter Leibow, Curtis Glatz, Jack Weatherford, Trevor Norris, John Adam Jovicich, Keith Kent, Daniel Goodfriend, Grant Oliphint, Jake Kennedy, Daniel Lee and Collin Hitt. >Top |
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Texas Elks State Association Hoop Shoot Competition |
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Reminder: RISD To Implement New Visitor management System |
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A new visitor and volunteer management system and guidelines will be implemented in February and March 2012 throughout RISD. Under the new guidelines, all campus visitors and volunteers will be required to furnish a valid, government-issued photo identification to gain admittance to an RISD school or facility.
One of RISD's top priorities is to maintain a safe and secure environment for all students and employees, and the new system will help to achieve that goal. It is not designed to and will not be used to unreasonably deny parents the opportunity to participate in their child's education.
Raptorware V-soft (Raptor) equipment will be installed at all schools Feb. 17-24. At high schools, the new policies and procedures will go into effect upon installation. A "grace period" will be in effect at elementary schools and junior highs until the new visitor guidelines become mandatory March 19.
When visitors arrive at a campus, front office staff will scan visitors' IDs through the Raptor system, and they will be issued a badge to be worn throughout that day's visit to a campus. The badge should be returned to the office at the completion of the visit.
The Raptor system will identify a visitor who is a registered sex offender or otherwise restricted from being on campus. District staff will be alerted, and an administrator will determine whether to approve the on-campus visit with proper supervision.
Acceptable forms of government-issued identification include: driver's license, state identification card, passport, concealed handgun license, military identification card, government identification card, police or firefighter identification, or Homeland Security-approved identification cards.
Use of the Raptor system will typically occur during regular school or facility operating hours and may be suspended for certain large events for which it is deemed inappropriate. Information stored in the Raptor system will be treated as confidential.
RISD will join a number of area districts in implementing a visitor management system.
To read the full RISD Visitor and Volunteer Registration System Operating Guidelines, please click here. >Top |
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Berkner High School
Berkner STEM Graduate Advances In 'American Idol'
Cortez Shaw, a 2010 Berkner STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Academy graduate, is advancing to Hollywood in this season's American Idol. Cortez is a former Berkner Idol winner and auditioned in Galveston.
To watch a video of Cortez, please click here, and to watch a video of his audition, please click here. >Top |
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Lake Highlands High School
LHHS Wrestling Championship Is 20th For Coach
Lake Highlands wrestlers won their fifth consecutive district team championship, and an amazing 20th for Coach Pete Grieder. To read a full story from Lake Highlands Today about the LHHS wrestling team's championship, please click here. >Top |
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Pearce High School
Pearce Swimmers Place Second at District
The Pearce Mustangs finished second at the District 13 meet on Jan. 28. Pearce will be taking 19 swimmers to the Regional meet in mid-February.
Co-captain Adam Bull claimed two gold medals (200 IM and 500 free) and was named Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet for the fourth year. Co-captain Austin Buonasera won gold in the 100 free and bronze in the 50. Senior Jaziel Saucedo received a gold medal in the 100 butterfly and silver in the 200 IM, and sophomore Madeleine Marcos won the gold in the 500 free and silver in the 200.
It was a true team effort, with five more Mustangs racking up another seven individual medals for second and third places. Ten other PHS swimmers also qualified for regionals (placing fourth through sixth), and additional points were scored by another five team members. All six PHS relay teams will also advance.
"We had some good swims at this meet, with quite a few kids qualifying for regionals," said Coach Dan Hafner, last year's Region 4-4A Coach of the Year. "We will now shift our focus to the regional meet, where I look forward to seeing some faster times." >Top |
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Richardson High School
RHS Senior Tops 2,000 Career Points In Basketball
Senior Farrin Bell has topped 2,000 points in her high school varsity basketball career. She has averaged more than 16.5 points throughout her career at Richardson High School. Farrin has been named District Newcomer of the Year and District Offensive Player of the Year, and has earned First Team All-District for three consecutive years. She has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball at SMU starting next fall. >Top |
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RHS Girls Swim Team Wins
4th Consecutive District Championship
RISD's Richardson High School girls swim team successfully defended its District 10 5-A championship title Feb. 3, winning the team's fourth consecutive district championship.
RHS senior Lauren Fuerst received the Female Swimmer of the Meet award, placing first in all four of her events. In addition, Richardson High's Regina Moss won the District Girls Coach of the Year, while Berkner's Talyna Neff was awarded the District Girls Diving Coach of the Year.
The top six finishers in each event advanced to the Region III-5A meet, which takes place through Feb. 11 in Mansfield.
"We are so proud to achieve a fourth consecutive championship for the girls," RHS coach Moss said. "The RHS girls pulled together this season and tonight. It took an entire team effort." >Top |
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Pearce Theater's 'The Phantom of the Opera' - Feb. 12-26 |
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SCHOOL TIMES NOW! ARCHIVE |
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Did you miss an issue of School Times Now!? Click here to view the archives. >Top |
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The Berkner Ramblers will hold a dance workshop for school-aged children ages 5 and up from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18 in the Berkner cafeteria. Registration is $25, and people who register by Jan. 25 will receive a T-shirt. On-site registration is available as well.
Informing parents and teachers about the services provided by the RISD Transition Program. Discuss graduation options depending on what STAAR tests students take during the year and how the Transition Program connects students to careers and the community after high school. These services are provided to all students in all special education programs.
