District in Pictures
February 14, 2020
Three Hirschi High School National Merit Semifinalists Advance to Finalist Status
Kirby Middle School Library Named for Former Kirby Principal Diann Taylor
In a ceremony Wednesday, the newly renovated Kirby library was officially named "The Diann Taylor Library of Excellence" after Diann Taylor, who served as Kirby's principal from 1992 through 2004. She received many prestigious honors during her WFISD career that began 45 years ago when she was hired as a teacher/coach at Kirby in 1975. She was recognized with the Terrel H. Bell Leadership Award during that time. Under her leadership, Kirby was recognized as the number one magnet school in America.
Southern Hills Elementary Teacher Honored as February's 'Be Bold' Winner
Booker T. Washington Elementary Classes Write Letters to Principal’s Military Unit
It’s pretty special when your principal, Angela Rooney, is part of the U.S. Air Force Reserves. Fifth-grade teacher Angela Nunn and interventionist Cristina Manzel took advantage of that connection by having their students write letters to Mrs. Rooney’s military unit. The project gave students a chance to put their writing to good, practical use, said Ms. Manzel. She also contacted families of everyone she knew who was deployed, collected their addresses and showed the soldiers' pictures to students so they could write to all of them. “The letters were amazing,” said Mrs. Rooney. “Some of them thanked my unit for keeping their families safe, to include their dogs and cats. Several students thanked us for fighting the bad guys. And one student said, ‘GOOOOO TROOOOOOPSSS!!!’ That got a good laugh out of all the members!”
Franklin Elementary Hosts ‘Living Museum”
On Tuesday, Franklin Elementary fourth-grade reading teachers Courtney Kittrell and Kinsey Flaherty hosted the Living Museum – an event that drew parents and community members to its cafeteria and gym to see students dressed as famous historical figures. When a visitor stepped on the red dot in front of each child, the student came to life and “became” their famous figure, reciting by memory a script written by the student about the subject. Students impressively embodied presidents (Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan), sports figures (Muhammad Ali, Tim Tebow, Babe Ruth, Simone Biles), contemporary figures (Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Bindi Irwin, Steve Jobs), singers (Elvis, Michael Jackson), and more.
Milam Elementary Teacher Uses Sugar Cubes to Illustrate Weathering, Erosion
When Milam 4th grade science/social studies teacher Tara Skipper searched for a way to illustrate how weathering and erosion can change a rock or landform, she came up with an idea: Sugar! Students received five sugar cubes, which represented rocks, and put four into a container and shook it 60 times. Then they compared the cubes to the one untouched cube. “They were able to see the changes that were happening,” said Ms. Skipper. “It really connected when they took their test and there was a question with a picture of a jagged rock and a smooth, rounded rock. They were like, ‘Hey, this is like the sugar cubes!’”
Crockett Elementary Opts for Ipevos over More Costly Mimeos
In the past, interactive whiteboards were popular – but expensive. Now, Crockett Elementary has opted for a new technology that works in a similar way but costs a fraction of what interactive “Mimeo” boards cost. Crockett Principal Jesse Thomas purchased 10 Ipevos, which turn whiteboards into interactive teaching tools, and put at least one in each grade level. They’ve become so popular that “now teachers ask for them,” said Mr. Thomas.
Education Students Draw Out Importance of Communication
When Erin Dillard wanted to teach her Education 1 students about the importance of clear, effective communication in the classroom, she came up with a unique activity. Students divided into teams. One member of the team described a picture or scene to his or her teammates. The teammates had to recreate the image using only the description spoken to them. Here, students show off the pictures they drew. These students are pursuing a teaching career and are taking the first of two education classes at the Career Education Center.
Burgess Elementary Hosts HeART Family Night
Jefferson Elementary Students Make Fruit Pizzas in Chartwells’ Discovery Kitchen
Chartwells Dietician Sarena Glenn taught Jefferson Elementary students how to make fruit pizzas during their Discovery Kitchen event last week. Ms. Glenn introduced the students to a variety of berries and fruits and explained how they keep their bodies strong. Then students prepared a delicious fruit pizza, starting with a lightly toasted cinnamon sugar flatbed. They layered it with cream cheese and a variety of berries and fruit.
Jefferson Elementary Teacher Creates Digital Intervention
When students in Jefferson teacher Kristin Howard’s 5th grade math class struggle with a specific TEK, they now have a place to go to make progress. She created a Google Slide activity called The Digital Intervention and Enrichment. She made 90 percent of the slides herself. “We keep a data binder in my class and document their grades on each TEK learned,” said Mrs. Howard. “This gives us data to determine where each child is struggling. The Slide Presentation has a video, activity and exit ticket for each TEK in 5th grade. Students work on the TEKS that they are still not understanding.” Students earn badges on exit tickets where they score 80 or higher. If a student can’t score an 80, Mrs. Howard does some interventions, reteaches, and then lets them try the exit ticket again. Her program includes enrichment activities for students who master all TEKS: brain puzzles, mystery pictures, a project to create their own vocabulary book, and digital breakouts for each TEK.
McNiel Middle School Students Participate in the ‘Great Reading Game’
Thirty-four students in McNiel Dyslexia teacher Sara Tayntor’s classes are reading, reading, reading with the hopes of winning the “Great Reading Game” race, coordinated by Learning Ally. The company provides motivational prizes to students who meet reading goals. So far, her students have read 53,670 pages from books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Hate U Give, The Babysitters Club, and Stepping on the Cracks. The contest began Jan. 13 and concludes Feb. 28. There are 36,000 students participating at 2,800 schools at all grade levels. “Those students have read over 7 millon pages and over 6 million minutes,” said Ms. Tayntor. “Students are building their vocabulary, comprehension and critical-thinking skills. The goal is for students to double their reading time, triple their reading fluency and read at or above grade level.”
Milam Elementary Goals Explode Over Walls
At Milam, when a student reaches a goal, he writes it on a sticky note and posts it to the wall in a hallway marked, “Goal Getters.” Or, at least, the wall was marked “Goal Getters” until even that was covered with sticky notes. The sticky notes – each one representing one goal reached – cover one wall and now cover both sides of the hallway. “Students who reach their goals or do well on their unit tests get to visit the Celebration Bins in the office,” said Principal Gena Ayers. “It’s a great way to promote success and keep them motivated!” Students’ names are also read during Announcement Time.
Fowler Teacher Asks Students What They Need from Her – and Is Surprised at the Answers
Fowler teacher Britney Prickett has been pleased with how her students affirmed one another in class but noticed that their motivation for reading and writing was trending downward. So she decided to ask something she’d never asked them before. “I asked what they needed from me. This was eye opening,” she said. Some students said, “No homework.” One student said he’d like her to come to his basketball game. Another said she needed more help with writing. “Some students said they didn’t need anything …just to keep being a good teacher. It was eye opening to see students brave enough to ask for things on paper that they might not ask in person.” Mrs. Prickett said she would continue to ask this question at least once every semester.
Popular WFISD Teacher Speaks to Packed House…Again
Jamie Jo Morgan, a teacher for WFISD’s Talented and Gifted (TAG) program, has a reputation now for packing out the sessions she teaches at annual technology conferences like TCEA. Lines snake down the hallways outside her door with many interested conferees turned away. In her 5th year of presentations at TCEA recently, she presented, “Choose Your Own Adventure Stories with Google,” “Gifted Technology Tools,” and “Easy Accommodation and Assessment Tools.” Sessions may fill up because of what else is available at that time period, but it might also be that she tries to present the things she knows SHE would like to learn, she said. “It is important to think about how many others would want that information, and I love to share resources with others,” she said. “Anything to make the lives of educators better makes me excited to share!” She is still asked to present one of her original, popular talks, “If You Give a Kindergartner a Chromebook.” This year’s presentation, “Choose Your Own Adventure,” allowed her to help teachers learn to create stories for reluctant writers and readers using hyperlinks to create interactive stories. She posts her notes to the TCEA app, which allows anyone at the conference who missed her talk to get its notes. Pictured: Mrs. Morgan (far right) with TCEA friends.
Kirby Middle School Teacher Fits ‘Happy Calls’ into Her Busy Days
It just makes sense that parents would love to get a phone call from a teacher about how well their child is doing in school. But what teacher has the time to make such calls? Kirby Principal Shannon Cunningham challenged her staff to find time to make at least one positive phone call to a parent every day – and said to take courage -- that administrators would be doing the same. Kirby 6th grade reading teacher Tameka Stanley-Pierre accepted the challenge and began fitting the calls into her conference period and after-school time. “For me, it’s a joy knowing that I’m calling home to give good news!” she said. Her favorite call came last week when she called a mother who, over the past few months, had received many calls from Ms. Stanley-Pierre when she had been the bearer of bad news. The mother had accepted the calls gracefully and gave her full support. “So when her son showed the slightest improvement in my class, I couldn’t wait to make that call,” said Ms. Stanley-Pierre. “She was so happy to get this call.” Since the positive phone call, her son has been performing even better in her class. “He is making an effort to do better, and I intend to continue making those calls home,” she said.
Red Lobster Donates Food for WFISD Community Ambassador Program
WFISD’s Community Ambassador Program brings together a group of community members who have set aside time to learn about how the Wichita Falls ISD school district operates. Red Lobster donated food for the January 14 meeting held at the WFISD Garage, a special technology facility located on the Carrigan campus. Ambassadors were introduced to the District’s STEAM and Talented and Gifted programs. They also learned how technology is used in the classrooms and throughout the WFISD infrastructure. First Bank is another sponsor of the Community Ambassador Program.
Lamar Elementary Students Display a ‘Growth Mindset’
Lamar Elementary staff members Emily Halverson and Stephanie Shepley are rewarding Lamar students who display a growth mindset. The emphasis is part of Lamar’s character education program. The photos of students are displayed in the cafeteria.
Scotland Park Elementary Receives Food, Snacks for Pantries
Members of the Rotary Club North presented Scotland Park’s At-Risk Coordinator Joe Clement with food items for the Scotland Park Family Food Pantry. They also donated snacks for the school’s Student Snack Pantry.
Graphic Design Student Submits T-Shirt Design to Special Event
Rider High School student Yaquelin Anaya, who is deaf, excels at graphic design and takes classes in it at the Career Education Center. She submitted a T-shirt design to the 2020 Imagination Texas Weekend for the Deaf event that will be held April 3-4 at Tarrant County College/Trinity River campus in downtown Fort Worth. The Imagination Texas Special Weekend for the Deaf will celebrate its 30th year during the April event. The weekend brings deaf and hard-of-hearing students together from across the state to attend fine arts workshops. Pictured: Yaquelin shows off her design, which is pictured on her computer.
McNiel Middle School Celebrates Its Counselors
West Foundation Elementary Students Enjoy New Learning Spaces
Students at West Foundation are using four tiny houses as part of their new student flexible seating and learning areas. The houses were installed at the school with donations from PIE Partner Rock Star Nails and West’s Parent Teacher Organization – and with installation help from WFISD’s Maintenance team, who built and painted each house. “Some wonderful parent volunteers and teachers added the painted decorations,” said Principal Kim Smith. “Our students are enjoying the new learning spaces.”
Two Fowler Elementary Students Serve as Principal, Assistant Principal for a Day
Would you believe students paid for the opportunity to be Principal and Assistant Principal for a Day? Fowler offered up the experience as part of its PTO Fundraiser, allowing parents and families the opportunity to bid on the one-day “job” in its Silent Auction. Tucker H. got the chance to serve as the principal; Josie C. served as assistant principal. They spent their morning doing teacher walk-throughs, passing out candy to teachers, stocking copy paper, sporting benchmark buckets, making budget transfers, and denying time-off requests for extended lunches. “They were very busy,” said Amy Simmons, a “real” assistant principal at Fowler.
Hirschi High School Math Teacher Takes a Lesson from His Student
Hirschi math teacher Anthony Newberry is practically a legend at Hirschi for his math teaching, coaching and competitive contest wins, helping build many state math champions during the past 21 years. But sometimes the teacher learns from the student, he says. “It was one of my former math team competitors, Quang Vo from the Class of 2005, who inspired me with his open and honest communication, done in a caring manner, to pursue better health and weight loss,” he said. In response, Mr. Newberry has lost almost 65 pounds since their conversation that occurred on June 10, 2018. “Sometimes it’s someone you teach who comes back to teach you something,” said Mr. Newberry. Pictured: Before and after shots of Mr. Newberry’s weight loss.
'Dancing For the Stars' Fundraiser Happens Tonight at MPEC
#IAMWFISD
District in Pictures is a weekly publication developed by the WFISD Community Relations department. If you have events, recognitions or classroom activities taking place on your campus that you would like us to cover, please let us know by emailing Ashley Thomas at athomas@wfisd.net or Ann Work Goodrich at awork@wfisd.net. We would love to include you in our weekly district news. (Please know that we will do our best to cover every story idea submitted but it may not be possible to include everything every week due to time constraints.)
Email: athomas@wfisd.net
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