Richardson ISD has announced its ten 2007 STARS teachers of the year. RISD Tomorrow, the district’s non-profit foundation working for excellence in education for all RISD students, once again sponsored the selection and recognition of this year’s STARS teachers.

Each were notified via surprise visits to their classrooms from a delegation led by RISD Superintendent Dr. David Simmons, complete with flowers, balloons and a check for $1000.

RISD's 2007 STARS teachers include:

Sean Dowlatshahi - Pearce High School
George Hademenos - Richardson High School
Kristen Hames - Richardson North Junior High
Carlla Holt - Wallace Elementary
Bryant Lewis - Stults Road Elementary
Alicia Mills - Forestridge Elementary
Keldrick Robinson - Lake Highlands Junior High
Judy Rowland - Aikin Elementary
Doug Valentine - Skyview Elementary
Kellee Wilkinson - Richardson West Junior High

Shown right, STARS Teachers receive recognition at RISD's Night at the Rangers. >Top

Last weekend, 250 RISD students gathered at Berkner High School to compete in the third annual Lone Star Challenge, which is an academic competition for elementary students based on the Academic Decathlon model used at the secondary level.

Twenty-two teams of up to twelve students each entered this year’s competition. The teams competed in three areas: essay writing; written tests in Math/Science and Language Arts/Social Studies; and a live Super Quiz. Each team was coached by volunteer coaches from their respective schools. The coaches started work in January, and most teams began practice in earnest in March.

The topic for this year’s LSC was Celebrating Jamestown: 1607-2007. Students learned about map skills including latitude and longitude, topographical maps and geographical features; Europeans who shaped Colonial America in 17th century England and America; math skills including graphs and charts; plants and animals in the new world. The information covered Math, Science, Reading, and Social Studies, while enhancing study skills, teamwork, and TAKS performance.

Both team and individual winners were awarded with medals and trophies at the Awards Ceremony Saturday evening. The Top Team winners were:

• 1st place: Yale Elementary
• 2nd place: Brentfield Elementary
• 3rd place: Wallace Elementary

All-Around Individual winners were:

• 4th grade, Dylan Winkler from Hamilton
  Park Pacesetter Magnet
• 5th grade, Amber Chen from Brentfield Elementary
• 6th grade, Garrett Jones from Yale Elementary >Top

When RISD seniors graduate later his month, almost 600 will do so while wearing a special medallion signifying a Service Learning Award. The award is given to students who complete a substantial amount of volunteer community service during their senior year. In all, more than 31,000 hours were volunteered by the class of 2007 - great job! >Top

The Lake Highlands High School Interact Club got creative to raise money for the wheelchair foundation. Volunteers rode in wheelchairs through the halls to raise awareness, and more than 100 students signed a banner in support of the effort. In all, the club was pleased to provide more than $1,300 to a great cause. >Top

Honest, diligent, amazing, appreciative, and positive were some of the words used to describe the RISD Transition Program’s students recently at the annual Transition Services Business Appreciation Luncheon.

Transition students, their teachers and the businesses they work for celebrated their partnerships in recognition of another successful year.

Guest Speakers Bob Yates and Darryl Thornton, both from the Dallas Morning News and employers of Transition students, shared their thoughts and were very appreciative to be part of the program.

With outstanding students come outstanding teachers and staff, so congratulations to Transition Services and thanks for your time, energy and talents. >Top

Richardson High School's Drawing 2 class is again participating in this year's Wildflower Arts & Music Festival's Art Guitar Program. Students use electric and acoustic guitars as their canvas to create unique works of art to promote art awareness and participation at the secondary level.

All of the guitar entries will be on display in the foyer of the Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts throughout the Festival, May 18-20. In addition, a silent auction of all of the guitars will be held during the festival weekend and the proceeds will benefit RISD's secondary fine arts programs and the Network of Community Ministries. >Top

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