District in Pictures
November 15, 2019
WFISD Hosts Veterans Day Ceremony at McNiel Middle School Gymnasium
The annual WFISD’s Veterans Day ceremony, which usually takes place at Memorial Stadium, was moved inside this year due to cold, blustery, rainy weather. The Nov. 11 ceremony featured guest speaker Col. Kenyon Bell from Sheppard Air Force Base. He reflected on the origin of Veterans Day in 1918 – 101 years ago – and the brave men of WWI and other conflicts. “We stand on the shoulders of giants,” he said. He praised the “amazing fighting spirit” of today’s military men and women as well. “There remain real threats to our national values and our way of life,” said Col. Bell. He said he greets new airmen arriving at Sheppard every day, and community members can sleep well, knowing today’s military exhibits the same courage and selflessness as those who came before them.
Education Center Employees Trained in Cybersecurity
“This won’t be boring,” promised Ryan Cloutier, a speaker on Cybersecurity from Sourcewell Technologies. He addressed Education Center employees Nov. 6. The time has come to treat our digital world as physically real as the rest of our lives – and protect it, he said. Now, code can take down a plane, open doors, turn off security cameras – and the perpetrator could be anyone, even a curious kid, he said. He advised WFISD employees to use phrases for passwords, call vendors before paying their bills to confirm they -- and not hackers -- were the ones who sent the bills, and avoid technologies like Alexa that operate 24/7 and can access all your data. He told the story of a friend who wired up his new home as a "smart house," with its many features coded to operate from his cell phone, then challenged Mr. Cloutier to hack the system. Mr. Cloutier went to the front door, said, "Hey, Siri, Unlock the front door," and the door opened. His friend promptly disconnected his smart house.
Rider High School Student Council Members Make Mums, Garters for Special Ed Students
Rider High School Student Council members celebrated some of Rider’s Special Education students on the school’s Mum Day – the day all Rider students spend in silence as ROHO spirit builds for the day’s Pep Rally. Student Council members made five mums and 15 garters for special education students to wear. “Their disabilities range far and wide, but they are all excited to receive a mum or garter,” said Julie Johnson, college and career advisor. Students paired up with Special Ed students for photos, below. “It is somewhat eye-opening for some of our students, and some of the Sped students don’t really understand, but we are 'One Family One Team'!” said Ms. Johnson.
Students in Certified Nursing Assistant Program Began Clinicals This Week
Some courses, like the Certified Nursing Assistant Program, require a period of lectures prior to students getting hands-on experience with patients. The lecture portion of the CNA program ended last week and, this week, “clinicals” began. That means students will visit Advance Rehab and Healthcare of Wichita Falls, located at 4810 Kemp Blvd., daily during their class periods to learn about the nursing facility and begin to serve. Currently, instructor Carl Bishop oversees three classes with a total of 51 students as they earn their required 40 hours of clinical experience. In February, they will start preparing for their state exam, which they take in April. After taking the state exam, Mr. Bishop will take his students to other facilities to show them the wide range of places that will employ them. Mr. Bishop is in his 23rd year as an instructor with WFISD. He is pictured (center) with juniors Blanca Villarreal (left) and Adela Gutierrez (right), both Hirschi High School students in the CNA program.
Rider High School Ag Student Selected to Attend Prestigious Conference
Rider High School junior Riley Wood was one of 52 high school students from across the nation invited to attend the 2019 Future Collegiate Leaders Conference Nov. 9-10 at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. The high school juniors and seniors were included in this prestigious conference to introduce them to the campus, expose them to leadership training, and participate in activities related to agriculture specialties. In one activity, students used liquid nitrogen to make a type of Dippin' Dots ice cream. In another activity, students toured the meat processing building, where Riley said she would like to work as a college student. Riley is in the CEC's vet med program. She is pictured front row, far right, with her small group from the conference.
Fain, Fowler Elementary Students Earn Junior Black Belts in Local Karate Program
Two WFISD students earned their junior black belt at local karate program Warrior’s Way. Fain 5th grader Brayden Gore (left) and Fowler 4th grader Mason Jones (center) completed the four-hour test Friday to earn the coveted junior black belt. Test-takers completed a 25-minute run, 50 push-ups, 50 leg lifts, passed a written exam of 100 Chinese terms, and a verbal exam on Bruce Lee history and facts. They delivered more than 500 punches and 250 kicks to a mannequin, then completed three two-minute rounds of sparring, the last one with Sifu Harley Elmore, Warriors Way owner. Fowler 4th grade teacher Kristi Moffett attended to cheer on her student, Mason Jones. “I was surprised at how agile he was,” she said. “His dedication and discipline were unwavering.” These students are part of an after-school program, with busing made available from eight WFISD elementary campuses and Barwise and McNiel Middle Schools.
Scotland Park Elementary Students Enjoy ‘Lunch Learning’
Scotland Park kindergarten teacher Amy Gilleland doesn’t waste any time helping her kindergarten students learn their required 25 high frequency words. During her lunch duty, she brings her sight word flashcards to the lunchroom and reviews with students as they eat. The students enjoy their “lunch learning,” she said. The challenge continues: In first grade, students will be required to learn 100 words.
Career Education Center Med Lab Students Learn to Draw Blood
Students in Sabrina Bradley’s Med Lab class recently completed their Phlebotomy Unit where students learned how to properly draw blood from patients. They practiced on mannequins and test arms. Med Lab students are now in their second rotation of clinicals, serving at United Regional, Kell West, Clinics of North Texas, and other facilities. Students are doing a variety of hands-on work, she said. “Many of my students are drawing blood from patients and running simple tests on patient samples,” said Ms. Bradley. “I’ve also had students do testing on students at the Public Health Department.” Pictured here: Rider High School student Makenzie McClure labels patient blood samples.
Chartwells Celebrates ‘Make-It-At-Home Month’ in WFISD Cafeteria Kitchens
This month, Chartwells is teaching students about homemade, from-scratch cooking, including many of the Chartwells practices that are utilized throughout the year in WFISD kitchens. “No boxed potatoes here,” said Emily Kincaid, Chartwells marketing director. “We use real, whole potatoes to make mashed potatoes.” Also, all pizza served in WFISD cafeterias is made from scratch, she said. “It’s no surprise that it’s a fan favorite.”
Fowler Elementary Class Dresses for Future Careers
As part of Fowler’s Drug and Bully-Free Week theme “Live for the Future,” all children at Fowler dressed in the clothes they might wear in their future careers. Here, students in Joy McBride’s class show off their futures through their sartorial choices. “We had a missionary, several teachers, veterinarians, a football player, a nurse and a cowgirl,” said Ms. McBride, (back row, far right) who wore a Hawaii T-shirt, sun hat and sunscreen slathered on her nose. Her future? “I am going to retire on a beach in Hawaii.”
Sheppard Elementary ‘T.I.E. Club’ Focuses on More Than Ties
The Sheppard T. I. E. Club, led by Military Family Life Counselor Kyle Hargrove and long-term substitute teacher Kyle Clark, helps Sheppard’s 5th and 6th grade boys learn manners, respect, service to others, accountability and character. T.I.E. stands for Transforming, Improving, Excelling. Boys learn how a courteous young gentleman behaves and are given opportunities to practice the elements they learn each week. Each boy is required to wear a tie and appropriate clothing for every Thursday meeting. “The end goal is to see young men practicing good stewardship, leadership and respect, both at home and school," said Mr. Hargrove. In the spring, the men will teach each boy how to tie a tie. Pictured here: Kyle Clark (left) and Kyle Hargrove (right) with Sheppard T.I.E.Club members.
Wichita Falls High School Child Development Students Learn Sketchnote Skill
Lexi Law’s students in her Child Development class at WFHS were hesitant when she introduced them to the note-taking skill of Sketchnote as she read them the book, “The Napping House,” by Audrey Wood. “And then they learned they loved it,” she said. Sketchnote is a note-taking technique focused on ideas and created with a mix of handwriting, drawing, hand-drawn typography, shapes, arrows and boxes. “It is a skill that I think could benefit these students in their current classes and also post-secondary,” said Ms. Law. With every unit, she has asked her students to create something that shows their learning. She directed them to a series of YouTube videos to develop a toolbox of icons, arrows and fonts to use in their Sketchnotes. “I have read them children’s books to help them get used to the speed of taking notes in this format,” said Ms. Law. Soon they will tackle a new unit on toddlers and will create a large Sketchnote using all the new information they glean.
Fain Elementary Kinders Celebrate Weather with Parade
Kindergartners at Fain Elementary ended their project-based learning unit by holding a Weather Parade through the Fain hallways. Students were divided into groups by seasons – summer, winter, fall, spring – and dressed to match their season. Family members and teachers lined the hallways to cheer as the kinder storm clouds, rain, sunbeams, snowflakes, wind, leaves, and snowballs passed by.
Milam STEAM Club Builds Roller Coaster
Fourth-grade science teacher Tara Skipper had her science classes working on a unit about force and motion. So when she looked for a project for her 4th grade STEAM Club that would complement their class work, she asked them to build a roller coaster. She set out a variety of supplies, gave them 30 minutes and told them to “Build away!” She challenged them to include at least one loop of track for a marble to travel without falling off. “They had to use their knowledge of force and motion to make it work and had a lot of fun doing it!” said Ms. Skipper.
Southern Hills Teacher Introduces ‘Attitude of Gratitude’ for Even Tough Days
“Attitude of gratitude is all about perspective,” said Jennifer Ferguson, Southern Hills counselor. In her November character education lesson, she stressed with second-graders that gratitude is a choice. Students learned it is easy to be grateful for air they breathe, their families, and a cozy home. “It is moments of struggle where we have to work on our perspective,” she said. They discussed how to react to an event like ripping their pants. This bad situation – with an attitude of gratitude – could lead to learning to sew the tear or going shopping for a new pair of pants. Even a flat tire on a car, with an attitude of gratitude, can lead to getting some exercise, calling a tow truck, and helping someone. She challenged them to see the good in all situations. Students then chose a template of glasses, colored them, cut them out, and glued them together. They wore them (pictured below) as their reminder of perspective and keeping an Attitude of Gratitude.
Haynes Northwest Academy Enjoys Read 2 Learn Day
At Haynes, 30 volunteers come regularly to read with 2nd grade students in the Read 2 Learn program, said Adrian Cargal. Student Support Coordinator Marcus Mathis asked Midwestern State University Coach Scott Linn if his team would like to help, and the MSU tennis team responded by gifting Haynes with many volunteer hours when they read weekly with students. Pictured: An MSU tennis player reads with a Haynes student.
Milam 4th Graders Choose Book for Fiction Unit
In Laurie Whisnand’s class, the students chose the novel they will read for their Fiction Unit. Ms. Whisnand helped the process by creating a Book Tasting event – complete with tasty treats -- to allow students to sample two novels, decide which one they wanted to study, and then vote for their favorite. While snacking on cookies and lemonade, they perused The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo and The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail, by Richard Peck. “It was a close vote, but The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail was the winner,” said Ms. Whisnand. “It was a fun activity, and students enjoyed choosing what we will read.”
Jefferson Third-Grade Teacher Creates ‘Critical Thinking Board’
Jefferson 3rd grade teacher Shelby Emerson made critical thinking an official skill in her classroom by creating a Critical Thinking Board. It’s her way of bringing in higher-order thinking skills into her math class. She posts a Problem of the Week, asking students to think critically and logically and solve it using prior knowledge of math skills. This week’s question gives them six numbers -- 4,5,6,7,8, and 9 -- and asks them to make three, two-digit numbers, then add them to get the greatest value possible. (Did you figure it out? 98 + 76 + 54 = 228)
Lamar Elementary Opens New Sensory Room
Lamar Elementary now has its own sensory room for students. Students will use the room to work through their emotions, said Principal Amanda Garcia. “When a student needs to regain control of their emotions, they may visit this room if accompanied by an adult,” she said. The room was designed by Lindsay Miller and her mother, Lisa.
Sports Medicine Student Takes ‘Blindfold Challenge’
When Rider High School student Abby Webb, a senior athletic trainer, said she wanted to get better and faster at taping up ankles, Rider Assistant Athletic Trainer Brittnee Harder suggested she take the “Blindfold Challenge.” Why? “I use the blindfold challenge to get used to the motion of an ankle tape job,” said Ms. Harder. “If you can tape an ankle blindfolded, you will be able to tape an ankle in any situation, like being distracted by high school students. It’s a fun way to help her get better at her skills.”
Fain Elementary Recycles Old ‘District in Pictures’ Stories
We all know that you can use old newspapers to line the bird cage or clean windows without streaking. But what can you do with old District in Pictures stories from this e-newsletter? At Fain Elementary, the e-newsletter District in Pictures is printed off, and any story that features Fain Elementary teachers or students is tacked to a bulletin board near the school’s entry for anyone to read.
Floral Design Students Create November Floral Arrangements
On Tuesday, Floral Design students at the Career Education Center were tackling the November Floral Arrangements of the Month: a bud vase and a cornucopia of flowers. Under the direction of ag science instructor Keyla McGuire (pictured top left photo), students learn simple tricks to recreate the model arrangement she introduces. Anyone interested in receiving a floral creation every month can sign up for the service at any time, said Ms. McGuire. Contact her at KGMcguire@WFISD.net.
Community Ambassadors Program Meets Second Time
The 26 community members who signed onto WFISD’s Community Ambassadors Program spent Tuesday evening at the Career Education Center participating in discussions about curriculum and instruction. They learned about Texas’ required list of lessons – the TEKS – and the District’s accountability requirements. Participants also toured the CEC. Program sponsors First Bank and Taco Casa donated dinner for the group. Pictured: Vicki Boyle and Crystal Johnson match test questions with the appropriate curriculum grade levels.
Barwise Middle School Students Tour CEC Wednesday
The 8th graders from Barwise Middle School were guests at the Career Education Center Wednesday for tours of the building’s 26 career programs. Pictured here, Wichita Falls High School art teacher Chris Mayfield (right) explains fine arts opportunities available at the high school level.
‘Principal for a Day’ Participant Changed by Her Experience at McNiel Middle School
When Christina Bell, director of Membership Development for the Chamber of Commerce, spent the morning with McNiel Middle School Principal Summer Bynum as Principal for a Day on Oct. 30, she saw school the way she’d never seen it before. “I can’t put into words how blown away I am by this experience,” she wrote. “It is definitely a day I will NEVER forget! Mrs. Summer Bynum and the team at McNiel are truly a rock star team…I was moved to say the least and have a new-found appreciation for all involved in WFISD! This is something every individual should go through!” WFISD invites community members into its schools twice a year for the Principal for a Day program, where business people shadow a school principal for a morning, then attend a luncheon to share what they learned with others who also served as Principal for a Day. Pictured left to right: Christina Bell, Summer Bynum.
New This Year: Instructional Coaches at Middle and High Schools
This year, WFISD has put instructional coaches for all core subjects at each of the secondary campuses. They provide instructional support for campus teachers, focusing particularly on new teachers and helping long-term substitute teachers. For example, science instructional coaches are Ferran Kaspar (Barwise), Laura Checki (Kirby), Cheryl Nix (McNiel), Arlene Mallis (Hirschi), Bryce Henderson (Rider), and Elizabeth Reynolds (Wichita Falls High School). Secondary Science Curriculum Director Steve Henderson has asked his CILs to work with their science teachers to identify an instructional goal that they can develop during this academic year. Pictured here: Ferran Kaspar (standing, far left) and others tour Christopher Freeman's Barwise classroom while students work on coding in Minecraft.
Lamar Elementary Nurse Helps Students Make Paper Dolls
When students in a Lamar Elementary art class were introduced to the retro art project of making paper dolls, the Lamar nurse, Rosalind Alicea, couldn’t resist joining in. Students were also introduced to the old-fashioned Spirograph, a geometric drawing toy that was first sold in 1965.
Fowler Elementary Veterans Day Program Draws Rave from Grandparent
Fowler grandparent Byron Cline was so impressed by Fowler’s Veterans Day Program that he took to Facebook to brag about it. “It kind of restored my faith in our local school system,” he wrote. “The presentation of the colors, Pledge of Allegiance, and The Star Spangled Banner were proudly performed. They had the veterans from the different branches of service stand while they sang that branch’s service song. At the end, students walked to the veterans in the audience and gave them American flag lapel pins. The final song was Lee Greenwood’s ‘God Bless the USA.’ Those kids made ME proud to be an American tonight! I cannot express how important it is for these young kids to learn how to show respect for our veterans and country. I’m so afraid it’s being ignored – but NOT here and NOT tonight! Well done, Fowler Elementary teachers!”
#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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Location: 1104 Broad Street, Wichita Falls, TX, USA
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