INSIDE DSISD
The latest news from Dripping Springs ISD
WEEK OF JANUARY 17, 2022
FIVE DSHS FOOTBALL PLAYERS NAMED ALL-CENTEX
Five Dripping Springs High School football players were named to the Austin American-Statesman's All-Centex Team for the 2021 season. Sophomore wide receiver Kyle Koch (pictured) was named Newcomer of the Year.
First Team Offense
- Senior offensive lineman Tino Bacelis helped the Tiger offense average 52 points and 513 yards of offense for the 2021 season.
Second Team Offense
- Sophomore wide receiver Kyle Koch ranked second among all sophomores in the state of Texas with 71 receptions and 1,313 receiving yards for 20 touchdowns.
- Junior placekicker Walker Wright was perfect on the season, going 6-for-6 on field goals and connecting on all 62 PATs.
Second Team Defense
- Senior defensive back Shel Hudson totaled 73 tackles and three interceptions for the DSHS defense.
Third Team Offense
- Senior running back Preston Alford rushed for 1,245 yards and 28 touchdowns on the season.
DSHS SENIOR PLACES SIXTH AT UIL STATE CONGRESS
Dripping Springs High School senior Lizzie Galassini placed sixth at the two-day UIL 5A State Congress Tournament held Jan. 11-12 at the Texas State Capitol in Austin. Galassini competed against 50 state qualifiers and was one of 18 students to advance to the finals.
Galassini captured the UIL Region 13 Congress Tournament title in November to qualify for the state tournament.
Topics debated at the state tournament included establishing a universal basic income, designating Election Day as a federal holiday, decriminalizing drug use, instituting a carbon tax, providing tuition-free college or trade school, and increasing funding for non-lethal weapons for police officers.
Congress is an individual contest in a large group setting that models the legislative process of the United States Congress. Within this mock legislative assembly competition, contestants draft legislation (proposed laws and position statements) submitted to the tournament, and they research the docket of bills and resolutions dealing with real-world social and political policies prior to the contest to prepare their speeches. At the tournament, students caucus in committees, deliver formal discourse on the merits and disadvantages of each piece of legislation, and vote to pass or defeat the measures they have examined.
PTA REFLECTIONS STATE QUALIFIERS ANNOUNCED
The creative work of 25 Dripping Springs ISD students has been honored by the DSISD Council of PTAs in the 2021-22 National PTA Reflections program with 13 of those students earning Outstanding Interpretation to advance to the Texas PTA State Contest.
The National PTA Reflections program encourages students of all ages and abilities to explore and be involved in the arts. Through the program, National, Texas PTA and Dripping Springs local PTAs urge students at all grade levels to create and submit original works of art in the medium of their choice, reflecting on a specific theme. This year’s theme was “I Will Change the World By…” Pieces were selected to represent DSISD from various grade divisions (Primary, Intermediate, Middle, and Senior) and categories (Dance Choreography, Visual Arts, Literature, Music Composition, Photography and Film Production).
The Texas PTA will announce state award winners later this spring.
STATE QUALIFIERS
Dance Choreography
Middle School – McKenna Robinson, “We Are the World” (SSMS, 6th grade)
Film Productions
Intermediate – Darby Engels, “Water Protection” (RSE, 5th grade)
Literature
Primary – Brody Sansone, “Diary of A Sansone Kid - How the King Will Change the World” (CSE, 1st grade)
Intermediate – Amelia Callas, “We Should All Help the Environment” (RSE, 3rd grade)
Music Composition
Intermediate – Odin Magee, “Sunshine” (RSE, 5th grade)
Middle School – Abir Kulkarni, “Step By Step” (SSMS, 8th grade)
Special Artist – Finley McKeag, “I Can Change the World By” (RSE, 4th grade)
Photography
Primary – Remy Engels, “Tree Frog” (RSE, PK)
Intermediate – Liza Engels, “Green Guys Recycling” (RSE, 5th grade)
Visual Arts
Primary – Ivy Lake, “Jungle Living” (RSE, 2nd grade)
Intermediate – Annika Revill, “Knowledge” (DSE, 5th grade)
Middle School – Julia Craigg, “Helpful Honey Combs” (DSMS, 8th grade)
Senior – Katherine Ferno, “Telling a Story” (DSHS, 11th grade)
Additional district awards were presented as well. At the primary level, Grace Fox (RSE), Elsie Kopperud (RSE) and Brody Sansone (CSE) earned the Award of Excellence in Visual Arts, while Emma Wilson (DSE) received the Merit Award. Earning the Award of Excellence among Intermediate entries were: Blake Aylstock (CSE, Visual Arts), Kylar Boyd (DSE, Music Composition and Visual Arts), Bryce Magee (RSE, Music Composition), Brenna McKeag (RSE, Visual Arts) and Annika Revill (DSE, Visual Arts). Tucker Bethke (RSE, Visual Arts) earned the Merit Award. Evelyn Heitmann (DSMS), Lauren Jennings (DSMS), and Callie Schumacher (DSMS) earned the Award of Excellence in Middle School Visual Arts entries, while Shawn Aylstock (SSMS) received the Merit Award in Visual Arts.
BOARD FILING PERIOD NOW OPEN
The window to file an application to be a Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees candidate for the May 2022 election is Jan. 19-Feb. 18, 2022. Click here for information on filing for a place on the ballot and to download an application form.
Applications can be filed until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 18:
- In person to: DSISD Administration Building at 510 W. Mercer St., Dripping Springs
- By mail to: DSISD, attn: Sheila Lamb, PO Box 479, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
- By email to: sheila.lamb@dsisdtx.us
- By fax to: 512-858-3099
An informational "Candidates Academy" will be held Feb. 3 in the DSISD Administration Building, where Superintendent Dr. Holly Morris-Kuentz will share information about the role and responsibilities of Board members, and answer questions. Attending the meeting does not commit an individual to running for a trustee seat; it is informational in nature. A time is still to be determined; more information will be posted here.
Board of Trustee candidates in Texas must meet the following qualifications:
- Be a United States citizen
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Not be mentally incapacitated (as defined in policy)
- Have not been convicted of a felony
- Be a resident of Texas and the district for a specified period of time (see policy)
- Be a registered voter from the territory of the office sought
See Board Policy BBA Legal for details on the above qualifications and other specific requirements.
Two seats will be up for re-election in 2022 – those currently held by Joanna Day and Marisa Grijalva. DSISD trustees do not represent "places," but rather are at-large representatives.
SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH
Please click here for more information on the DSISD Board of Trustees.