In the Know
An Internal Newsletter from the SISD Communications Dept.
Proposed 2020-2021 Academic Calendar
The proposed 2020-2021 academic calendar is now available for review, along with a survey that allows for input. Please review the proposed calendar, view our calendar video, and feel free to click here to provide additional feedback through our calendar survey. The survey will close on March 16, 2020.
Texas School Public Relations Association Awards Sherman ISD Communications Department
The Sherman ISD Communications Department received honors from the Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) for their outstanding work in education communications earning awards for excellence in communications. The awards were announced at TSPRA’s annual Star Awards Celebration held February 26, 2020, at the Omni Barton Creek Resort in Austin, Texas, during the association’s 58th annual conference.
This year the Sherman ISD’s Communications Department received ten Star Awards during the annual state conference, the most in the department’s history.
“It is an honor to have our work recognized by school communications professionals throughout the state of Texas,” SISD Director of Communications Kimberly Simpson said. “Throughout the year, our department works extremely hard to tell the story of Sherman ISD and share our district’s accomplishments in creative ways. We enjoy every bit of promoting our district and receiving these prestigious awards for our hard work is very humbling. I am extremely proud of the work my department produces, and I look forward to producing more.”
This year, 1,606 entries were submitted, which is the highest number of entries ever received since the Star Award program began. Entries are divided into three divisions based on the number of students the district, foundation or organizations that serve under 10,000 students; 10,000 to 30,000 students; and over 30,000 students. Independent judges evaluate and score each entry based on its own merit. Bronze, Silver, and Gold Stars are awarded based on set criteria. Sherman ISD competed in the under 10,000 student population division and took home the following Star Awards:
Gold Star Awards
Brochure-Sherman ISD bond Update Brochure
Invitation/Announcement-New Sherman High School Groundbreaking Ceremony Invitation
Marketing Campaign-Join Our Team! SISD Human Resources Marketing Campaign
Special Event-New Sherman High School Ground Breaking Ceremony
Education Good News Campaign-Bearcat Fire Crew Student Recognition Program
Silver Star Awards
Poster-Design-Sherman ISD Bearcats Poster
Brochure-Sherman ISD Building Bearcats Information Brochure
Writing-One Last Walk Magazine Article
Magazine Design-Bearcat Price Magazine
Bronze Star Award
Writing-Sherman ISD Recruits New Principals for a Day
The Sherman ISD Communications Department staff includes Kimberly Simpson, Director of Communications, and Sean Vanderveer Website and Social Media Coordinator.
SISD Visual Arts Department Prepares to Celebrate Youth Art Month and Texas Big Art Day in March
March is Youth Art Month, and the Sherman ISD Visual Arts Department is celebrating in a big way. Creative works by SISD art teachers and students will be on display for the Texas Big Art Day on March 5, a single-day art event celebration that will raise awareness of art education and art as a creative force in our community.
Each campus has planned activities to honor the day, which include creating Texas images murals of bluebonnets, lone stars, cowboys hats, and cactus, and inviting the community to join their favorite student and learn to “Paint Like Picasso.” For the complete list of campus activities, please click here.
To continue the month-long celebration, an Art Faculty Art Exhibit will kick off at the Sherman ISD Administration Building March 2 through March 27. The administration lobby will transform into an art gallery featuring the artwork of SISD art teachers. The community is invited to visit the gallery and attend the SISD Artists Reception honoring all SISD Art teachers on Monday, March 23, at the SISD Administration building (2701 Loy Lake Rd.) at 5:30 pm.
Additional events for the month are listed below:
- March 5-Texas Big Art Day
- March 21-April 1-SISD District-Wide Student Art exhibit at the Sherman Public Library
- March 23-Art Faculty recognition will take place after the art reception during the SISD board meeting that starts at 6:30 pm.
- March 31 - Art Awards Ceremony and Artists Reception at the Sherman Public Library at 6 pm
Youth Art Month is celebrated in March. To learn more about the month, click here.
#PumpWithAPurpose Selfie Challenge!
Sherman ISD is asking all district supporters to stop by the Sherman ISD Spirit gas pump at Lone Star Food Store located at 3707 S. U.S. Highway 75, in front of Schulman’s Movie Bowl Grille, to fill up your gas tank. Two cents from every gallon sold at the pump will be donated to Sherman ISD schools. The spirit pump is adorned in maroon and white with the Bearcat logo to represent Sherman ISD and Bearcat spirit.
Sherman ISD is also asking supporters to capture their gas pump experience on social media. Whenever customers stop by to gas up their vehicles, take a selfie and tag Sherman ISD on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #pumpwithapurpose to showcase your Bearcat spirit. Our goal is 500 selfies, so be sure to stop by, get gas, and snap a pic as soon as possible!
Tech Corner
Google Tip of the Week
Have you ever wished you could turn handwritten notes into typed text? Well, using Google drive you can convert handwritten notes or pictures of paper documents into text. Click here to watch a quick demonstration.
Human Resources Information
Summer School, Transfer Window, Retirement Deadlines
Transfer Window: If you would like to be considered for a transfer for the 2020-2021 school year, the transfer window is now open and will be open until May 15. All lateral transfer decisions should be made by May 29. The steps to apply are listed below.
Summer School 2020: Traditional summer school will be offered for Sherman High, Piner, Dillingham, and JDC/Boot Camp students. In addition, Douglass Early Childhood Center will host summer school for Pre-K and Kindergarten LEP students. The district will provide ESY services for students receiving special education services. If you are interested in applying for Sherman ISD summer school or ESY, please submit an employee transfer request through the Employee Service Center in TEAMS. The steps to apply for summer school are listed below. The deadline to apply for a director’s role is March 20, 2020. The deadline to apply for teaching/clerical roles is April 10, 2020. Please see the attached document for summer school dates and pay rates.
Steps to Apply: If you would like to be considered for a transfer for the 2020-2021 school year or for summer school, please complete an internal transfer request. This transfer request can be found through the Employee Service Center in TEAMS. Once you have logged in, please click on the tab labeled My Employment Records. From there, click on My Employee Transfer Request. Please find the job(s) you are interested in applying for and check the appropriate boxes. Please complete all tabs under Transfer Details. Finally, click Submit. If you decide to make any additions or changes to your request, please make sure you remember to hit Submit each time.
Retirement Deadlines: As you are aware, SISD pays you for a portion of unused local leave at retirement. This is in accordance with Board Policy DEC(Local). If a professional contracted employee intends to retire at the end of the 2020 and would like to be compensated for his/her unused local leave, he or she must submit a letter of resignation to Human Resources no later than 4:00 pm on the date listed below:
226 Day Contract Employee- March 26, 2020
If a non-contracted employee intends to retire and desires payment for local sick leave, then he or she must submit a letter of resignation to Human Resources no later than two weeks prior to the last day of employment. If a retiring SISD employee does not meet this requirement, he or she will not be paid for any local sick leave upon retirement as determined by SISD Board Policy.
Upcoming District Events
- March 2-6 - Diagnosticians Week, National School Breakfast Week, Texas Public School Week
- March 5-Texas Big Art Day
- March 5-SHS Boys & Girls Track at Whitesboro High School 8am
- March 6- SHS Boys Soccer vs Anna @ 5:30pm
- March 9-13 Spring Break
- March 21-April 1-SISD District-Wide Student Art exhibit at the Sherman Public Library
- March 23-Art Faculty recognition will take place after the art reception during the SISD board meeting that starts at 6:30 pm.
- March 31 - Art Awards Ceremony and Artists Reception at the Sherman Public Library at 6 pm