Luling ISD May ENews
Go Eagles!
This is it. The last Enews for the 2018-19 school year. I cannot believe how fast this year has gone. We have had some incredible moments that will make this year unforgettable. Academically, athletically, vocationally and through fine arts, our students have excelled this school year and have made me so proud!
All of the successes this year would not have been possible without our teachers. We have an awesome and dedicated staff. Appropriately, it's National Teacher Appreciation Week and the campuses have amazing plans to show the staff how much we value all that they do each and every day.
This week we are administering STAAR End-Of-Course assessments and next week STAAR for grades 3-8. If your child is absent, please call the school office that morning to let them know. We are confident that if each student does their very best, we will be successful. Our students and teachers, along with your support and help, have worked very hard this year to make the academic gains required by the Texas standards. I am confident that our students are prepared and ready to rock the STAAR.
This last month of school is chalk full of events and activities. We will end the year with field days, end of year celebrations, promotion ceremonies, graduation, etc. There are many opportunities for you to volunteer, participate, or observe at the campuses. We would love for you to be involved! Please visit the campus and district calendars (link at the end of the newsletter) frequently to see the latest information.
Lastly, I would like to recognize the families and community members for your involvement, feedback, and positive energy this year. A sincere thanks to everyone for allowing me to be your interim superintendent. This is an incredible school district and I'm honored to work for you.
Have an enjoyable and restful summer. When August comes, and it will be here before you know it, let's be ready to share in the excitement of yet another school year.
-Mrs. Warren
The Bond Passed!
The Board of Trustees and I thank the community for your support and commit to being good stewards of your tax dollars as we move forward with design and construction.
Teacher and Nurse Appreciation Week!
Our school nurses are amazing! They provide outstanding care for our students each and every day! Thank you Nurse Almaguer and Nurse Thwing!
May Spotlight Staff Member
Dyral Thomas!!
If you are lucky enough to encounter Mr. Thomas in the halls of Gerdes Junior High interacting with students, or pass him on the sidewalk anywhere in the district, you will always be welcomed by a warm smile, a cheerful song, and a polite “good morning” or “good afternoon, how are you doing?” Mr. Dyral Thomas, the LISD Spotlight Staff Member for May, is a quiet, humble, servant leader who is always 100% focused on students and is always willing to help anyone in any way he can. Mr. Thomas was a huge contributor to the LISD Black History program by helping to organize the GJH step team and provide us with his rendition of the Negro National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Not only is Mr. Thomas an asset to the GJH team academically, but he is also an accomplished chef. If you have a sweet tooth, you can not go wrong with Mr. Thomas famous chocolate brownies and homemade peach cobbler.
He is a graduate of the University of Houston where he was inducted into the University of Houston Hall of Fame for football and began his membership in the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Mr. Thomas signed a contract to play for the Atlanta Falcons as a professional football player, but was unable to play due to an injury. In addition to this, Mr. Thomas served 15 years as a professional Firefighter in Houston Texas. He is the proud father of 1 daughter, 1 son, and has 3 granddaughters. We are grateful for everything Mr. Thomas does for our students and the district.
Primary News!
Principal's Writing Challenge
Pennies for Patients
Easter Egg Hunt
Principal’s Writing Challenge
All Primary students were challenged with writing a response to the prompt, “How do you show kindness?” Students were asked to use the writing process in creating their responses. Students brainstormed ideas about ways to show kindness, wrote a rough draft of their response, revising and editing with their teacher, and then wrote a final draft. Writing samples were evaluated for content and correctness, and students who won the first challenge were treated to a special celebration and received a special notebook and pen to encourage continued writing. The following students were named the winners of the first Principal’s Writing Challenge for the 2018-2019 school year: Danica Brown, Adilynn DeCamp, Nolan Garcia, Ophelia Garcia, Keilly Hernandez, Benjamin Lopez, Penelope Palacios, Benjamin Perez, Enevelyn Perez, Mia Polk, Aaron Sullivan, and Mia Telez.
Students completed the second writing at the end of this month with a response to “How do you show respect?”
Pennies for Patients
Luling Primary students demonstrated kindness and responsibility by collecting and donating pennies to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society during the Pennies for Patients campaign. The campus goal this year was to raise $425. Our students demonstrated their generosity by raising almost three times the amount set for the goal. Our students collected and donated $1273.10 to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to cure cancer. The winning class will be rewarded with a class party and all of our students will receive a treat to celebrate their accomplishment. We are so proud of our students for their effort.
Easter Celebrations
Luling Primary students learned about cultures and traditions during the month of April and culminated the unit with an Easter tradition of hunting for eggs. Students had a lot of fun and used math at the same time, as they were assigned a number and had to identify it to collect their eggs.
-Mr. Weikert, Primary Principal
Shanklin News!
Breakfast of Champions
CIS Recognition
Spring Literacy/Math Family Night
Breakfast Of Champions & STAAR Pep Rally
On April 8, Shanklin fourth and fifth grade students were honored with a special breakfast as the campus wished them well on their STAAR assessments. Students in second and third grades
wrote letters of encouragement to their testing buddies, and made signs and posters to cheer on the testing students as they entered the cafeteria for
their special breakfast.
That same afternoon, students and staff members from all grade levels cheered on test takers with chants, songs, dances, and races during their STAAR Pep Rally celebration.
Shanklin fourth grade students took the Writing STAAR and fifth grade students took the Math
and Reading STAAR on April 9 and 10. All the encouragement and well wishes made a
difference. Results of the fifth grade Reading and Math STAAR assessments are already back
and our students made phenomenal progress. Congratulations Eagles!
Communities In Schools Recognition
Our very own CIS (Communities in Schools) Site Coordinator, Amanda Matthews, was honored
in April by the Caldwell County District Attorney’s Office of Victim Services for her dedication
and positive impact on our children. We are appreciative that she joined the Shanklin Family as
her service is truly a blessing to our community! Congratulations Amanda!
Spring Literacy/Math Family Night
Shanklin Elementary Staff provided oceans of fun at the April 16 Spring Literacy/Math Family
Night. Lots of smiles were seen as families traveled to the grade level stations that fit the “A
Day At The Beach” theme. Our ACE After School Site Coordinator (Sherri Gibson) partnered
with our Communities In Schools Site Coordinator (Amanda Matthews) to provide tote bags and treats for attendees…including free books for families to add to their personal home libraries.
-Mrs. Ewald, Shanklin Principal
Elementary Curriculum & Instruction
Texas Reads One Book
Reading to Family!
New ELAR Adoption Resources
NEW Standard of Reading
Our inaugural launch of Texas Reads One Book was a success! Students were beyond excited to receive their own chapter book, Friendship According to Humphrey, and read with their families and friends at home! Teachers have implemented question challenges from the previous days assigned chapter to inspire deeper reading and students are asking for time to continue reading at school. Parents are asked to send in pictures of reading aloud at home! We celebrate planting the love of reading… at home!
“Children should learn that reading is pleasure, not just something that teachers make you do in school.” - Beverly Cleary
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies… The man who never reads lives only one.” - George R.R. Martin
NEW Standards of Learning
Raising our expectations of reading is a big part of our instructional purpose this year. Giving students opportunities to explore, explain their learning in new ways, and elaborate on their interests (3 of the “5 E’s) has exploded in classroom success. Teachers have a wonderful opportunity to review new textbooks as part of the ELAR Adoption Proclamation Committee and teach a lesson with new resources. We are excited that the new TEKS use all the best practice strategies we have already used! Reading and Writing while comparing themes in a variety of genres!!
“When you lower the definition of success to such a level that any person can reach it, you don’t teach people to have big dreams; instead you inspirit mediocrity and nurture people’s inadequacies.” ― Shannon L. Alder
-Dr. Weikert, Director of Elementary C&I
AVID
-Mr. Fox, AVID Director & Professional Learning Coordinator
Gerdes News!
Perfect Attendance Field Trip to Dairy Queen
Congratulations to 68 students who had perfect attendance during the 5th grading period. These students enjoyed walking to Dairy Queen to pick up their lunch and then eat and play at the park. Attendance is the foundation to ensuring students have the opportunity to be successful. When students are absent they miss out. A huge shout out to our parents and guardians of these 68 students too. Parents who encourage their students to attend and engage in school build expectations with their students about the importance of school. Click here to get tips for parents to help encourage attendance.
One School, One Book
On April 15th, Gerdes Junior High launched the One School, One Book reading program. For the next few weeks during Eagle Reading all students at Gerdes are reading the book Restart by Gordon Korman. After students read the book, they get to keep their copy. During our House Meetings on April 15th, students received a personal message from the author himself about why he chose to write this book. Click here to view the book trailer and get insight about what your child is reading.
-Mrs. Meshell, Gerdes Principal
High School News!
Since 1985, Texas high schools are required to help students register to vote. In addition to the voter participation unit that is covered in U.S. Government, social studies classes at Luling High School dedicated a day in late-March to inform students about the importance of voting. Following the lesson, teachers distributed voter registration applications to eligible students. Over fifty (50) students registered to vote, while several students had already completed the process.
In late-April, Mrs. Warren presented information about the voting process as well as what was on the May ballot, including information about the LISD bond proposition. During the next couple of days during early voting, almost all the students who registered in March exercised his/her right to vote for the first time.
The future of the state and country depends on voters being engaged and informed, which is why teaching students the importance of voting is critical.
Physics
Students in physics learned and completed a hands-on activity using circuits. Students used a simple series circuit with a wire battery and light bulb. During the activity, students had the opportunity to create a series of circuits and see first hand how currents flow. In addition, students learned that charge movement through a circuit depends on the resistance and arrangement of the circuit components.
-Mr. Alvarez, High School Principal
Secondary Curriculum & Instruction
Luling ISD offers all secondary students an opportunity to participate in advanced academic experiences by providing rigorous learning through Pre-AP, Advanced Placement, Dual Credit, and Dual Enrollment courses. Students may choose to take Pre-AP courses in the core academic areas (English, Math, Science, and Social Studies) to prepare them for the critical thinking and complex skills they will experience in the advanced academic courses. Advanced Placement courses are taught by a high school teacher using curriculum created by the College Board. Students may receive college credit by earning a qualifying score on an assessment at the end of the course. Dual Credit courses are provided through Austin Community College and students may earn both high school and college credit by passing a course. Finally, dual enrollment, through UT OnRamps, provides students an opportunity to earn both UT Austin credit from a UT faculty member and high school credit from a Luling High School teacher. According to Jobs for the Future, “if a student enrolls in dual credit [advanced academics], they are two times as likely to complete a degree within six years.” For more information regarding advanced academic opportunities, please contact Errin Jennings, Director of Secondary Curriculum & Instruction, or your student’s counselor. -Mrs. Jennings, Director of Secondary C&I
Summer Camps
-ACE Summer Camps at Shanklin and Gerdes JH - FREE!
June 3-July 18 (no camp the week of July 4th)
8am - 12pm, Monday-Thursday
*Please contact Sherri Gibson (Shanklin) or Alphonso Rincon (Gerdes) for more information.
-Musical Theater Summer Camp
See flyer below
-Girls Basketball Camp
See flyer below
Upcoming Events
We are a busy district with lots of opportunities to participate in campus activities!
Keep up with upcoming events by clicking on this link:
https://www.luling.txed.net/apps/events/
Erin Warren, Interim Superintendent
Email: ewarren@luling.txed.net
Website: www.lulingtxed.net
Location: 212 East Bowie Street, Luling, TX, USA
Phone: (830) 875-3191