Log into Facebook | Facebook
Bryan Adams Schools Updates
April 27, 2015
Great Community, Great Schools
Volunteer Appreciation
Congratulations to 5th grade students and teachers for STAAR Reading
Feeder Celebrations & Events
- Bryan Adams High School Scholars
- Congratulations Bryan Adams Senior Dominique James
- Bryan Adams Destination Imagination Team Placed 3rd at State
- Bryan Adams JROTC Celebrates Outstanding Cadets
- Bryan Adams JROTC Students Attends Davis Apparel Luncheon
- Bryan Adams Future Business Leaders with Mayor Rawlings
- Robert T. Hill Students Participate in Mayor's Race
- Robert T. Hill Orchestra Students
- Gill Math a Big Deal
- Reinhardt Red Ribbon Week
- Reinhardt Leadership ISD Fellow receives Volunteer Award
Upcoming Events:
- Bryan Adams Career Day May 21st from 9:00 - 11:30 Seeking Volunteers
- Reilly Family Fun Night & Fitness Fair, Friday, May 1st, 5:00 - 8:00 pm
- Bryan Adams HS Belles Spring Show - April 30, May 1,2
- DBA - May 6th at Hill MS
- BA Feeder Teacher Focus Group - 7th
- Kiest Family Movie Night -May 8th
- Hexter 5K 7 1k Run - May 9th
- Feeder Pattern Recruitment
From the Marshall Memo 583: Building Schools’ Capacity for Improving Teaching and Learning
Links for Feeder Use:
- BA Roaring Readers Volunteer Link
Dear Bryan Adams Feeder Family,
We have several things to celebrate this month, but none can top the positive impact of volunteerism in our schools. As a principal, I was honored to witness the work of amazing volunteers firsthand. These volunteers worked throughout the school as tutors, field trip chaperones, decorators, book fair helpers, fundraisers, and leaders of family events to strengthen our community. They remained steadfastly focused on our school’s mission and through the magnitude and unity of their efforts, helped the school achieve great things. The diversity of their generosity showed me that there are no boundaries for giving. From helping in the cafeteria, to managing a cross walk or an awesome home tour--- anything is possible.
I see this same type of hopeful and creative partnership developing within each of our schools. These partnership convey to children that their schooling is important. These partnerships also reinforce to staff that they are not alone, but that we are jointly responsible for the future of our children, community and country. There are never enough ways to show gratitude or enough time to capture all of the appreciated investments--- here are a few:
- Thanks to Patricia Arvanitis and Leadership ISD fellows for spearheading our Roaring Readers programs, which have grown in all nine elementary schools. Thanks to our reading volunteers for making a difference in lives of children by significantly contributing to our mission of ensuring all first graders can read on or above grade level.
- Thanks to Lane Shannon for creating Destination Bryan Adams and partnering with me and Trustee Micciche to host monthly meetings about our schools, needs and accomplishments. Thank you also to the parents and community members who regularly attend and share ideas for continuous improvement not just focused on their school, but on the development of our feeder pattern of 10,000 students.
- Thanks to Todd Williams, the Bryan Adams Student Council, and the many community members posting yard signs throughout our neighborhoods to build pride for our schools. This green and white visual communicates to others that our schools are united and growing strong.
- Thanks to student volunteers, like Jonas Veazey, for championing his feeder pattern and fighting for equity with local media groups. Media is a powerful tool in shaping opinions and our schools deserve positive coverage. So many great things are going on!
- Thanks to the many, many PTA and SBDM members from every school. The time you give sets a strong example for our children about the importance of education. Because of you, the PTA values of collaboration, advocacy, respect, commitment, and inclusivity are alive and strengthened in our Bryan Adams schools.
- Thanks to Trustee Dan Micciche. The hours he volunteers to represent our students, families, and schools are innumerable and invaluable. He connects us with resources, innovated ideas, and consistently shares a spirit of advocacy for our East Dallas schools.
For these contributions and so many more, thank you to our volunteers in April and throughout the year. Go Cougars!
Jolee Healey
Bryan Adams Feeder
Executive Director
-----------------------------------
STAAR UPDATE! CONGRATS TO BRYAN ADAMS FEEDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Congratulations to our Bryan Adams Feeder Elementary teachers and students for the first round of STAAR results in 5th grade Reading. The feeder average was 74.3 with growth of 7.6 points! Great job, Cougars!
Special recognition to the following schools:
- Reinhardt Elementary & Smith Elementary increased more than 20 points!
- Hexter Elementary scores #9 out of 150 elementary schools with 94% passing and 53% advanced!
Congratulations Bryan Adams Senior Dominique James!
Dominique James, currently ranked number 1 at Bryan Adams HS, has achieved a feat that is worthy of celebration. She has become the first person in Bryan Adams history to receive the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship. Gates selects 1,000 students throughout the country that exemplify strong leadership, community service and academic achievements to fully fund their undergraduate education and beyond.
Ms. James wants to become a biomedical engineer and is planning on attending the University of Rochester in New York. As part of the Gates Millennium Class of 2015, Dominique has been recognized as a Leader for America's future. This is just a culmination of all the hardwork Dominique James has done throughout her life--Captain of our Bryan Adams Drill Team, the Belles, part-time employee, member of the Academic Decathlon team, and so much more. Dominique exemplifies perserverance, academic excellence, but most importantly--humility. Congratulations on all of your future endeavors, Dominique!!
Bryan Adams Destination Imagination Team Placed Third at State Tournament
The senior Project Outreach group from Bryan Adams HS placed third at the state of Texas Destination Imagination tournament on Saturday, April 11th, and will be returning to Global finals in May 2015. The BA team was amazing and finished the highest in all of the Dallas ISD teams competing at the state level.
The team members are:
- Julian Carrillo
- Thomas Jennings
- Gabriel Ortiz
- Alejandro Arteaga
- Daniela Gonzalez
- Anel Quevedo
Karen Macias
Congratulations Cougars!
Bryan Adams JROTC Celebrates Outstanding Cadets
Earlier this month, the Bryan Adams JROTC held their annual JROTC Awards Ceremony. Every year, cadets are recognized for their outstanding service on campus and in the community. Congratulations to all recipients!
Bryan Adams JROTC Student Attends Davis Apparel Luncheon
On Monday, April 20th, top Cadets from each DISD high school were invited to be part of a luncheon in celebration of Davis Apparel, an African American community business celebrating 50 years of business. This was a significant event because the business began during the civil rights movement and overcame many obstacles. The event was celebrated by the Mayor of Dallas Mike Rawlings and Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson.
Cadet Francisco Murillo, represented Bryan Adams in his first official event as the new Bryan Adams JROTC Battalion Commander. Murillo was selected to lead the group in reciting the pledge of allegiance. Murillo is planning a career in the United States Army as an officer, after attending Texas A & M and applying to the Corps of Cadets. At the luncheon, Francisco got a chance to speak with Congresswoman Johnson, Mayor Mike Rawlings, and the Dallas ISD, JROTC Director of Army Instruction. He also heard first hand of the struggles that small, community businesses undergo to survive and how important they are to the community and the economy.
Bryan Adams Future Business Leaders of America
On April 10th, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, the Bryan Adams Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Team collaborated with Dallas Mayor Michael Rawlings and the city of Dallas to identify students that have shown exceptional employment skill sets. Congratulations to the following students who met the stringent qualifications necessary to represent Bryan Adams H.S. in the Mayor's Intern Fellows Program Job Fair: Adam Garcia, Antonio Barnes, Cesar Garcia, Genesis Morales, Karen Sanchez, and Oneida Ramirez.
Robert T. Hill Students Participate in Mayer's Race
Robert T. Hill Middle school had the highest percentage of participants for Middle Schools at the Mayor’s Race held on December 13, 2014. Lance Johnson presented Robert Rockwell, Reggie Jones, and Shelly Thibodaux with a $250.00 award.
Robert T. Hill Orchestra News
This has been a productive year for Orchestra at Hill Middle School. On April 9, the Hill Orchestra performed on stage for parents, teachers, and fellow students. The orchestra students performed 3 different pieces for the enthusiastic audience-“Apache” by former Dallas ISD teacher Carold Nunez, “Main Street March” by composer Robert S. Frost, and “Fiddles on Fire” by fiddler/composer Mark Williams. Each of the pieces allowed students to focus on different elements of music including contrasting styles of bow articulation.
At this time, the Highlander Orchestra is working on a short composition project aimed at improving music reading/writing skills of students and exploring music composition as a potential career path. Orchestra students are also working on new music and exploring shifting and vibrato technique in preparation for auditions for the Music Camp that will be hosted at Conrad High School in June.
Gill Elementary Hosts Family Math Night
Reinhardt Elementary Red Ribbon Contest Winners
National Red Ribbon Week “Drug Awareness” Poster Contest sponsored by the National Order of the Elks Clubs. (Reinhardt’s sponsoring lodge is: Dallas Elks Lodge #71.)
Local First place winners:
- Kira Chalk, 4th
- Jesus E. Melquiades, 3rd
Both received a check for $50.00. Posters have been entered into the state-wide competition where winners are eligible to receive up to $300 in Savings Bonds and their poster eligible for reproduction in the National Elks Drug Awareness Coloring Book.
Reinhardt's Leadership DISD Fellow Receives DISD Volunteer Impact Award
Reinhardt's Leadership DISD Fellow, Jacque Rauschuber, was the recipient of the DISD Volunteer Impact Award for Classroom Support. The nomination focused on her work with securing volunteers for our Roaring Readers Program and her support with the Donors Choose project for classroom libraries.
Up Coming Events
Bryan Adams Career Day Seeking Volunteers to Participate
Bryan Adams HS will be hosting our annual Career Day on Thursday, May 21st, 2015 from 9:00am- 11:30am and we are still seeking volunteers to participate.
Your participation is what makes this day eventful for our students!
Career Presentations:
Presentations will begin in the morning around 9:00 until about 11:30 a.m. Volunteers and participants will present to students according to the schedule. Sessions should last about 30 minutes with 10 minutes Q & A and five minutes change/prep time between presentations. Most presenters will remain in the same classroom and the students will rotate to the presenters. Class sizes are typically 19 – 30 students. Most classrooms have technology available should you need technology to present your career lesson. If you are interested and or if you know of anyone who may be interested please indicate below. If you cannot stay the duration of Career Day (9:00 – 11:30 ) please indicate the times you are available.
Presentations may include:
- Description of the nature of your job/profession
- Training/Education required
- Activities of a “typical day”
- Why did you select your current career?
- Share information about your career/field
- Answer students questions
- Hand-Outs and/or giveaways for students are welcomed, but not necessary
- Hands-On activities to peak student interest are also welcomed, but not necessary (i.e. “props” samples of your work related to your career and/or include an activity representative of your career)
Breakfast:
Volunteers and participants will have an orientation/breakfast in the media center (library) beginning at 8:00 a.m
If you are interested in participating, please complete the DISD volunteer form here: https://www2.dallasisd.org/partners/volreg_form.cfm and contact either Bryan Adams Counselor- Stephenie Givens (sgivens@dallasisd.org) or Bryan Adams Community Liaison- Shelby Lott (slott@dallasisd.org)
Main Office: 972-502-4900 – Counselor’s Office: 972-502-4925 or 972-502-5038 – Fa
Bryan Adams High School Belles Spring Show
Thursday, Apr 30, 2015, 06:30 PM
Bryan Adams High School Auditorium
It's that time of year again for the 8th Annual Spring Dance Show put on by the Bryan Adams Belles Dance Team. Pre-sale tickets are here. If you would like to purchase a ticket, please contact a Belle, new Belle or Kelly Spirit dancer at BA. The show will be at 6pm on Thursday April 30th, Friday May 1st and Saturday May 2nd. Tickets are $6 pre-sale for students and adults and $8.00 at the door. We always sell out so get your ticket fast! We look forward to seeing you there!
*Featuring Hill MS Sweethearts, Gaston MS Dancers, BA Cheerleaders, BA Drumline, Dance-Versity, Drama Club, Tech Theater, Folklorico Performance, Kiest Cheerleaders, and many more*
NO ADMISSION AFTER 7:00PM.
Reilly Elementary - Family Movie Night
And MARK YOUR CALENDARS for Future RTBAR Events!!
- Friday, May 1 from 5:00-8:00pm - Reilly Family, Fun and Fitness Fair - The whole neighborhood is invited up to Reilly to enjoy this FREE event!! Activities will include a Kids' Soccer Camp, Family Zumba, bounce houses, food samples, and a MOVIE UNDER THE STARS following the FF&F Fair!!
For more information about the group and/or specific events, please visit the RTBAR website atReady To Be A Ram - Martha Turner Reilly Elementary School - Dallas, Texas or contact Erin Melendez at erin.melendez@yahoo.com.
Destination Bryan Adams - DBA @ Hill MS
Wednesday, May 6, 2015, 06:30 PM
505 Easton Road, Dallas, TX, United States
Bryan Adams Teacher Focus Group
Thursday, May 7, 2015, 04:30 PM
Bryan Adams High School, Millmar Drive, Dallas, TX, United States
Kiest Elementary Family Movie Night
Friday, May 8, 2015, 06:00 PM
2611 Healey Drive, Dallas, TX, United States
Run for Dreams 5K & 1M Fun Run to support Hexter Family
Saturday, May 9, 2015 in Dallas, TX at Trinity Skyline Trail
5K Run/Walk at 9:00 AM
» $25.00 registration (through 4/30 at 11:59 PM US/Central)
» $35.00 late registration (4/30 at 11:59 PM US/Central through 5/7 at 11:59 PM US/Central)- 1 Mile Fun Run at 10:00 AM
» $15.00 registration (through 5/7 at 11:59 PM US/Central)
https://secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=120559
From the Marshall Memo #583
Building Schools’ Capacity for Improving Teaching and Learning
In his Education Week article, Jack Schneider (College of the Holy Cross) says the current conversation around improving teaching is “disturbingly misguided.” ...he says, most teachers in the U.S. are well-educated, highly motivated, hard-working, and quite competent. The problem is a set of professional working conditions that thwart growth.If we want to improve teaching and learning, he contends, we need what countries with a strong professional corps of teachers have put in place: a national philosophy and strategy for teacher development. Here are Schneider’s suggestions:
• Time for collaboration – Through rethinking the weekly schedule and school year and creative use of extracurriculars and paraprofessionals, teachers can be given time that is essential for planning, reflection, and collaboration.
• Curriculum – Teachers need access to common, high-quality instructional materials. “Developing a small set of world-class tools to replace a grab-bag of idiosyncratic resources should be a priority,” says Schneider. “Given the emergence of the Common Core State Standards, this is increasingly possible.”
• Embedded professional development – Rather than delivering PD in periodic one-shot workshops, it should be an integral part of teacher teamwork around strategies, goals, and analysis of student work.
• Observation, coaching, and evaluation – “If we are serious about teacher quality,” says Schneider, “we need to make a universal commitment to training and engaging instructional coaches and teacher mentors to regularly observe teachers, debrief with them, and help them set challenging personal goals. We also need to reorient our teacher-evaluation systems away from punitive ‘valuation’ and toward support for improvement.”
• Career ladders – Teachers who demonstrate their effectiveness should be given more autonomy, responsibility, and compensation, says Schneider, so they can spread their effective practices to colleagues within their schools and districts.
“Problems with Teaching Lie in the Profession” by Jack Schneider in Education Week, April 15, 2015 (Vol. 34, #27, p. 20-21), www.edweek.org; Schneider is at jschneid@holycross.edu.
Bryan Adams Feeder Pattern
Email: jhealey@dallasisd.org
Location: Dallas Independent School District, Dallas County, TX, United States
Phone: 972 925 3000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/projecthillba/