Panther Press Volume 29
Excellence,Everywhere,Everyday
Greetings Panther Nation
Hard to believe that Friday, May 15, 2020, was the last day for the senior class of 2020. Everyone else finishes next Thursday. We're proud of the way the entire DHS community has come together to meet the challenges of finishing the school year while practicing social distancing!
We thank you all for working so hard during these past couple of months. It has been quite the adventure and without you and your support, it would not have been possible.
Our families and community continue to live up to our saying...#WeAreDville!
The Class of 2020 will graduate Saturday, June 20, 2020 @ 8:00 pm at Globe Life Field.
The Duncanville High School Class of 2020 has shown their resilience and grit, finishing their high school career in the midst of a health pandemic. Superintendent Dr. Marc Smith, school administrators and the senior advisors knew it was important to keep safety in mind while creating a graduation ceremony as exceptional as our seniors. After deliberating and making adjustments based on safety guidelines provided by local and state officials, a final decision has been made.
The Class of 2020 will graduate Saturday, June 20 at Globe Life Field. Check out the video announcement by Dr. Smith.
I appreciate the patience you have all demonstrated during this time. We are incredibly proud of you and your accomplishments and look forward to celebrating your graduation with you in person.
DHS Graduation Information
- Ticket Information will be forthcoming from Globe Life Park
- No Rehearsal for Graduation (Additional Information will be forthcoming about the actual Graduation Ceremony)
- Programs will be distributed at all entrances of Globe Life Park on the day of Graduation
- Additional Information will be provided later this week so please continue to monitor your email for the latest updates
UPDATE: A Note Regarding Grades and Assignment Submission
As of May 4, 2020, any assignments that have not been submitted via the Google Classroom or email submissions students will receive a ZERO in the Skyward Gradebook.
If your student has any zeros and/or missing work in Skyward, they will need to complete those assignments by Friday, May 22, 2020. We will not be accepting any late work past May 22nd. So please check your parent portal and help make sure your student has all of their work turned in prior to the end of the week.
I am including the grading guidelines chart here for your reference. We want every student to continue to engage in daily learning activities and submit their best work. Please review your child’s progress and communicate to your child’s teacher any questions or needs. We are here to support your student during this unprecedented time.
Please see the link below for our district's correspondence in relation to the Grading Policy.
Duncanville High School Cap & Gown Distribution
Chromebook Collections for Seniors
Seniors, if you received a chrome book, it must be returned or you will not receive your cap and gown.
1. Location: DHS West 9th Grade Parking (see red arrow)
2. Dates: May 26 and 27
3. Times: 8a-12p, 1-3p, 4-8p (each day)
Congratulations Seniors
We LOVED getting to see our seniors last week. We have missed them so much. It was emotional, it was exciting, it was bittersweet. Yard sign distribution was a success! Thank you to the faculty and staff who came out to help celebrate our seniors.
If you didn't get to pick-up your sign, there will be another opportunity on May 27.
Seniors 2020 Frequently Asked Questions
UIL’s Interscholastic League Press Conference announces Individual Achievement awards...
This week UIL’s Interscholastic League Press Conference announced the 2019-2020 Individual achievement awards. Duncanville high school senior Emily Cruz received 2020 Online Tops in Texas for her sports feature photo, and second place for her photo portfolio.
Senior Donaji Gutierrez received first place for her portrait photo. Emily Cruz and Pablo Gamon also received honorable mentions in sports and portrait photography. In the broadcast news category, D’aurus Poole, Mandy Bradley, Moises Garza, and Myriam Gomez received third place for their video graphics.
In the Dallas morning news high school journalism contest, Emily Cruz also took home top honors for sports photography and photography portfolio.
Advance Academic Updates
AP Exam Information
AP exams for students begin next week. Teachers and students have been diligently preparing for these exams. Parents and guardians can help students confidently prepare for exam day by
checking out the 2020 AP Testing Guide and watching the overview video. The comprehensive guide will help you walk through exam preparation, and the video will give you a sense of what students should experience on exam day.
Encourage your student to practice with the exam demo. You and your students now have access to an exam demo. Students should use the demo to practice the different ways to submit exam responses.
The most important step all students should take right now is to make sure they can log onto myap.collegeboard.org. Everything related to AP exams this year will be sent to the email address students have associated with this account. If students have any questions, they should contact their AP teacher.
Extended time for those with that accommodation are automatically built into the AP software and online AP exams are compatible with assistive technology and zoom functionality.
Students with technical or other issues on testing day will be directed to complete an application for late testing in June. Please note that Internet Explorer is not compatible with AP testing.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your scholar’s teacher or Amy Anderson at aanderson@duncanvilleisd.org.
#WeAreDVille
OnRamps Parent Pamphlet
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN TAKING ONRAMPS COURSES?
Why OnRamps Dual Credit from UT?
Many of our best-prepared students –even those who have taken the most rigorous coursework offered to them-still struggle in entry-level courses at universities. OnRamps Dual Credit gives high school students the opportunity to earn college credit from The University of Texas at Austin while engaging with rigorous content and practicing crucial skills to prepare them for success in university-level coursework.
Not only is OnRamps Dual Credit a cost-effective way for students to earn college credit, these Dual Credit courses provide some safety nets for students that is typically not part of the Dual credit experience, making OnRamps Dual Credit a solid option for students in Duncanville ISD.
What is OnRamps Dual Credit from UT?
OnRamps Dual Enrollment is a blended learning course to be offered to juniors and seniors for dual credit from the University of Texas at Austin.
OnRamps Dual Enrollment is an opportunity for students to receive UT content and UT credit without having to pass the TSI assessment. OnRamps Dual Enrollment courses are developed by the faculty at The University of Texas at Austin. DISD teachers receive course materials that:
- Align directly with content and skill expectations of entry-level university classes
- Applies the latest research about how students learn best.
OnRamps Dual Enrollment is an economical way for high school students to earn three to six hours of college math credit or college english credit prior to high school graduation.
Available 2020-2021 OnRamps Courses:
- Introduction to Rhetoric: Reading, Writing & Research/English 4
- College Algebra
- Discovery Pre-Calculus
Tools to Learn More
For more information, please visit UT OnRamps Overview
For a fun, informative video, please visit UT OnRamps Video
For information about the Pre-Calculus Course, please visit Pre-Calculus
For information about the College Algebra Course, please visit College Algebra
For information about the Rhetoric & Writing (English 4) Course, please visit English 4
If interested in taking an OnRamps course, please contact your counselor.
Skyward Update
If you need to update your email address or phone numbers, please know you can make those changes in Family Access.
Follow the steps below on how to make those changes in Family Access:
- Log into Family Access
- Click on My Account (top right corner)
- When the Account Settings screen opens, there is place for your email address and up to three phone numbers.
Please note – Each parent/guardian can enter one email address to receive communication via Skyward Message Center.
- Once changes are made, click Save.
If you're unable to log into Family Access, please try this additional options.
- Use the Forgot Your Password link from the Family Access login page
Need a Transcript or VOE? We are here to help!
If you are needing a Transcript for Scholarship Application or VOE, we are able to help you remotely via email! See directions below. Please allow 24 hour (business day) turn around on all requests.
Transcript for a Scholarship Application
- Email Marya Dancer, DHS Record Clerk @MDancer@duncanvilleisd.org
- Include full student name and ID number
VOE (Verification of Enrollment) for Driver's Permit/License
- 9th Grade, Email Brigitte Neal, Attendance Clerk @BNeal@duncanvilleisd.org
- 10th & 11th Grade, Email Anne Kimple, Attendance Clerk @ AKimple@duncanvilleisd.org
- 12th Grade, Email Elsa Gonzalez, Attendance Clerk, @ Elsgonzalez@duncanvilleisd.org
- Include full student name and ID number
DHS Library Still Open Online
Hi DHS Students!
We wanted to remind you that the library is still here to serve you virtually. We have a number of eBooks and audiobooks available through our Sora app so you can still check out books digitally! We also have a variety of online databases to help you with research, as well as individual codes to Open eBooks for authentic, safe online access to hundreds of popular books.
Miss chatting about books, anime, and more? We do too! Let’s meet virtually. Use the codes below to join our “clubs” via Google Classroom and check the stream often for updates. We are here to help with access to any of these resources. If you’re not able to find a book you’d like or if you need help finding resources for your research, please email us and we will be happy to help.
Anime Club Google Classroom code: pfqtri2.
Book Club Google Classroom code: kg44oi4
#WeAreDville
Mrs. Austin and Mrs. Garcia
DHS - Learning Online
Click here to directly access DHS learning online resource. For your convenience, individual grade levels have been provided below.
Remote Learning Tips
By now, you have already received work for various classes. It is really important, now more than ever to stay on top of your work. Here are a few tips to help you make your time meaningful and productive:
1. Try active study. This means asking yourself questions before, during, and after your studying. Questions such as, what do I already know about this topic, or while doing the work, what did I just read, can I paraphrase it, and then when you are done, what do I need to review before studying again.
2. Get a good night's sleep. It is really important to maintain a regular bedtime routine.
3. Study at the right time. This could be early morning or later in the day. You know yourself better than anyone, find the right time to do work.
4. Have a designated study area. This could be the kitchen table, or at a desk, if you have one. It is really important, though, to study away from the TV or other screens, such as your phone.
5. Eat properly. If you can, have snacks ready to go before you study.
6. Get chores out of the way. Many of your parents or guardians may have given you chores to do while you are at home. If this is the case, make sure they are done before studying.
7. Create a timetable. This is a fancy way of saying come up with a schedule. This means figure out how much time, and none is not an option, you need to spend on each subject. For instance, maybe you need to schedule more time for language arts, but not as much for social studies.
8. Set a timer. Your phone has one important use while you study, it has clock. If you know how, set a timer so you can keep track of your time spent on each subject.
Duncanville ISD family,
During this time when Duncanville ISD is closed due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we remain committed to taking care of children, in particular those who depend on meals served at school each day.
Beginning Monday, March 23, district nutrition services staff will distribute grab-and-go lunches to all school-age children.
The child does not need to be a student in the district. The child must be present to receive a meal and there is a limit of one meal per child. The lunches will be distributed through curbside pickup at the following schools.
Meal distribution will take place starting Monday, March 23 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Monday through Friday.
Fairmeadows Elementary School
101 E Fairmeadows Dr.
Duncanville, TX 75116
Merrifield Elementary School
102 E. Vinyard Rd.
Duncanville, TX 75137
Hyman Elementary School
8441 Fox Creek Trail
Dallas, TX 75249
Kennemer Middle School
7101 W Wheatland Rd.
Dallas, TX 75249
If you have questions about this program, email Director of Nutrition Services Donna Woodard-Thomas at dwoodardthomas@duncanvilleisd.org. Thank you.
STAAR TEST CANCELLED
What you Need to Know About Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
Stop the Spread of Germs
Michael McDonald
Location: 900 West Camp Wisdom Road, Duncanville, TX 75116, USA
Phone: 972-708-3700