Alice ISD - ISC Gazette
April 2017
Remain Optimistic
Much hard work has gone into the 2016-2017 school year and much is still to be done.
"When individuals decide to become teachers, they enter an unbreakable pact with the future. They promise to do the best they can with what they have and with what they know in order to mold successfully the next generation. As educators, we know that it is our obligation to grow, to learn, and to reflect on how to improve ourselves every year so that we leave the future of this world in the best, most capable, most educated hands imaginable."
Source: Deliberate Optimism by Silver, Berckemeyer and Baenen
Someone once said the essentials for happiness were something to love, something to do and something to hope for. May you have all three. Thanks for all you do for the students of Alice I.S.D.
Dr. Grace Everett and Staff Recognized by City of Alice
She was presented with a beautiful plaque with the following inscription:
Creating a Better Community
Office of the Mayor
Ike Ornelas
WHEREAS, Today we recognize Dr. Grace Everett for her commitment towards Creating a Better Community; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Everett acts and speaks from passion and it is electrifying and contagious towards others, which makes you committed towards Creating a Better Community; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Grace Everett fills the room with personality, she inspires all those around her and gives without any expectations in return, she exemplified selflessness and service; and
WHEREAS, It is assuring that she foresee consequences and act accordingly towards the need of our community; and
NOW THEREFORE, I, Ike Ornelas, Mayor of the City of Alice, do hereby proclaim March 20, 2017 as:
"Dr. Grace Everett Day"
and is recognized for her contributions in Creating a Better Community.
Federal and Special Programs
CCISD Planetarium
CiCi's Pizza
What a day!
Bilingual Students Visit Planetarium
Bilingual students from Noonan Elementary and Saenz Elementary enjoyed a wonderful visit at the Planetarium at King High School in the Corpus Christi Independent School District and lunch at Cici's Pizza.
Students were treated to a couple of videos that were shown on the round domed ceiling. Students also learned about the stars. Eduarernesto said, "It made me happy to go to the planetarium because it was so interesting and I liked learning about the black hole." He found the stars amazing. Sophia stated that she loved learning about the solar system and the stars. She also loves pizza and ate 4 slices.
TELPAS
The Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System or TELPAS fulfills federal requirement for assessing the English Language proficiency of English language learners in kindergarten through grade 12 in four language domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. TELPAS assesses students in alignment with the Texas English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS), which are part of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Student performance is reported in terms of four English language proficiency levels: beginning, intermediate, advanced, and advanced high. TELPAS results are used to meet state and federal reporting and accountability requirements. We see some of the results in the indicators of the Performance Based Monitoring Analysis System (PBMAS), part of TEA's overall evaluation of school district's performance and program effectiveness.
It all sounds a bit of confusing, but basically the TELPAS is important because it tells us whether we are helping our English Language learners increase their English proficiency, which is something we all want to do for our students.
Strategy of the month
- Make two sets of cards that you will use in your card sorts. Label some cards A and some Cards B
- Place various pictures on the different cards. For example use this visuals for cards A.
- Make three cards with a visual for Heating and Label them A and three cards for Cooling and Label them A
- Then make the B cards: Melting, Freezing, Condensation, Evaporation, Liquid becoming a solid, Solid becoming a liquid
- Shuffle the cards in stack A and shuffle the cards in stack B.
- Students will draw a card from stack A and one from stack B.
- Have the students state how the two cards are connected or why they are not connected and use the sentence stem:
- _____________________connects/does not connect to______________________because....... For example: Cooling connects to condensation because a gas condenses into a liquid when it cools.
- Cards are returned to the bottom of the stack and the next student draws two cards and states the connection on non-connection.
Card sorts can be used by any content area to help students make connections, show similarities or differences, etc.
Guest Speaker Ronny Cabrera Motivates and Inspires Students
Mr. Ronny Cabrera Motivates and Inspires Alice ISD Students, Parents and Teachers
Through the use of music, videos, media, culture, as well as real-life experiences and the love for sports and learning, Mr. Cabrera sent a powerful message to the students and parents he spoke to on March 23, 2017. Ronny shared his insights on achievement and how he coped with insurmountable obstacles throughout his early life. In his presentation he explained to students what it takes to go beyond challenges in an ever-changing world, so they can become champions in their personal and professional lives.
Ronny's message transformed both parents and students’ minds, touched their hearts, ignited their spirits, and expanded their vision of life. Mr. Cabrera's goal is always the same: he wants students and parents to understand that it is possible to design and live an exceptional life, but they must make crucial decisions and become equipped with the skills necessary to achieve their full potential in all areas of their lives, not only as individuals, but also as a family, as well as a community.
Ronny's inspirational life story helped both parents, students and teachers recognize the importance of goal setting, decision making, having perseverance, finding your passion, finding the courage to keep moving forward and making a commitment to never let go of your dreams which ultimately can lead them to realize their real purpose in life.
Thank you students and staff members from Williams Adams Middle School and Dubose and Memorial Intermediate Schools for being a part of this wonderful event. We are thankful for the wonderful, warm and respectful welcome that was shown to Mr. Cabrera. He was truly impressed with our awesome students and parents. Also, a big thank you to the parents and family members who came to hear Mr. Cabrera's presentation the evening of March 23rd.
Katelyn Ramirez Inspired by Speech
Cheyenne White Enjoyed the Message
8th Graders Come By to Shake Hands
Inspirational Speech Energized Chris Garza
7th grade Girls Pose for a Picture
Angelica Flores Expresses Gratitude to Ronny for Coming
Dubose Student Harleigh Garcia
Angelynn Guerra Catching Up with Ronny
Mr. Cabrera with Dr. Holmgreen, Sandra Smithwick and Marta Salazar
Dubose and Memorial Students Packed the AHS Auditorium
Ronny Captured the 7th Graders' Attention
WAMS 8th Graders - All Eyes and Ears Were on the Speaker
Mom Alexis Ramirez Expressing Her Thanks for the Message
Memorial student Chelsy Ann Martinez All Smiles at Parent Presentation.
Thank you Janette & J.P. Pruneda for Attending the Parent Program
Parents Were Eager to Speak to Mr. Cabrera
Parent Program Was a Success!
Thank you Parents for Attending
Math4Texas
Each grade level is designed in a similar layout. Each grade level starts with an introduction to the big ideas or concepts students at the grade level should master by the end of the school year. Then, grade level concepts are grouped into math related topics. These topics may include number operations, number relationships, measurement, geometry, data & graphing, problem solving, and strategies. Each of these topics has subtopics that have a common theme. For example, the topic of fractions for a grade level may include the subtopics of adding fractions, subtracting fractions, and equivalent fractions.
T.I.P.S. stands for TEKS in Parent or Plain Speaking. Example has an example of that student expectation or topic with hints to solve and possible solutions. Digital Tools are external links that have activities or games related to that student expectation or topic. Resources are external research or articles about the topic.
Check out this video about the area model for multiplication and how it relates to the traditional algorithm. Area Model Multiplication
or this one on strip diagrams to model multi-step problems: Strip Diagrams
Math Talk
Dubose student Isela Torres advances to State Science Fair
Congratulations to Isela Torres!
Alice F.F.A Student Wins District Office
Brianna Nichole Reyes daughter of Debra and Russell Reyes is a sophomore at Alice High School. Brianna was a Jr. FFA member from third grade to eighth, she transitioned to the Sr. FFA when she became a freshman and joined her first ag class. As a green hand she participated in various activities including Area Green hand camps as well as Horse judging and LDE’s (Leadership Development Events). She also attended the Coastal Bend FFA district convention as well as the Area X FFA convention. As freshman she ran for a local office and was elected to the reporter’s position. Brianna’s sophomore year she attended the Coastal Bend FFA district leadership camp in Alice. Brianna’s sophomore year began with placing 2nd with the Ag Issues team at the Coastal Bend FFA district LDE’s in Robstown and advancing to the Area X competition in Kingsville on the campus of Texas A&M University. Brianna also has been involved in the local county fair since she was eight years old, exhibiting lambs and Horses and this year winning Grand Champion in the registered gelding category.
This year she decided to run for an office at the district level. The Coastal Bend FFA District is comprised of schools in Duval, Brooks, Jim wells, Kleberg and Nueces Counties. Brianna was elected to the Reporter’s position and is the first ever member in the history of Alice FFA history to ever be elected to such a high office. Brianna will be part of an Officer team with FFA Members from Calallen, Orange Grove, Banqute, and Tuloso Midway, Academy Pride.
Noonan Elementary Hosts Writing Showcase
Schallert Writing Lock-In and STAAR Night
The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program Teams Up with Arthur! AIM (Arthur Interactive Media) Buddy Project is an Interactive Character Development Program for Elementary Children!
Encourage social, emotional, and character development in elementary children with the Arthur Interactive Media (AIM) Buddy Project.
The AIM Buddy Project is a supplemental social, emotional, and character development curriculum that uses interactive media, the characters from the PBS series ARTHUR, and cross-grade buddy pairs. Students partner with a buddy to work on interactive comics and games that focus on five important topics –empathy, honesty, forgiveness, generosity, and learning from others. As buddy pairs engage with the ARTHUR characters they talk about and reflect on things like feelings, perspective-taking, and problem-solving. Begin learning all about the AIM program by watching the Welcome to AIM video.
Use the Educator's Guide & Videos resources to find everything you need to plan and implement the AIM program with your students. The Educator's Guide will point you to the students' Classroom Media (interactive stories and games).
Read the Initial Research Highlights from the AIM research study. The final research findings will be available June 2017.
Kids and Bullying: 5 Things to Talk About...
Article by: Joseph A. Shrand M.D.
At our core, we all want to feel valuable to someone else. Bullying threatens to undo this fundamental human desire, distorting our own sense of value until we question our worth and potential, being slowly ground to the dust of perceived powerlessness.
Bullying is not a rite of passage. Although it has been around for thousands of years, it is familiar but not comfortable. Bullying now is perhaps more dangerous than ever as it has inculcated itself into the cyberspace that increasingly encroaches upon the lives of our kids, through cell phones, face-book, and emails. Relentless and apparently unavoidable, cyberbullying leaves no safe place for a kid to turn; not the classroom, the playground, the school bus, or home.
But no kid is powerless. No parent/teacher need feel unable to address the cruelty of bullying. Here are five things to talk with your kids about bullying, and move their own sense of small into tall.
A bully is trying to take something from you: your self-esteem.
Your kid need never forget how amazing they are, and that no bully can ever change that. A kid who feels good about themselves is a much less likely target of a bully. Kids need to know that not only will they be protected, but they can protect themselves by understanding what a bully wants: to feel puffed up and powerful by making someone else feel small and weak. Bullies may have been bullied themselves, and have lost their own sense of value, and are now trying to take it from you.
Gather your friends around you.
Being valued translates to having friends, and there is strength in numbers. Bullies target kids who they think are weak and vulnerable, preying on the insecurity that may come with feeling isolated and alone. Parents can create ways for kids to be with other kids, to be seen as a person other kids want to be with, to be valued by peers and not just the family. Make play dates. Get to know the other parents. Get your kid involved in after-school activities. Help them always recognize how valuable they really are. Parents need not be afraid to teach and assist their kids in building social currency.
Never be alone with a bully.
Visibility is a deterrent. If a kid tries to bully you, make it visible. Bullies thrive on the belief that you will not stand up to them, certainly not in public. Be with your friends, and be willing to say something like, “Hey, are you trying to bully me?” Call it like it is.
Bullying is not something to be tolerated.
You don’t have to solve the problem on your own. Talk to a grown-up you trust and strategize about how to deal with the bully. Parents have to address their kids’ fear that they will be retaliated against if they involve you in solving the problem. Be clear with your kid: You don’t have to put up with being bullied nor tolerate bullying towards others! Don’t stand by if you see someone else being bullied. Bystanders can help prevent bullying by aligning with the target: once again, there is safety in numbers.
Never lose sight of empathy.
We all want to feel valuable. Even a bully. This does not mean you tolerate bullying. Just the opposite. But by teaching our kids to feel sorry for kids who have lost their own way, their own self-esteem, their own value to the extent that the only way they can feel good is to try and make someone else feel bad, we teach our own kids how precious each of us truly is, and how desperate we are to be heard, understood, guided, and valued.
All of these tips can just as easily be applied in the workplace, the sports field, and even at home. We can do this!
Source: The Fear Reflex: Five Ways to Overcome it and Trust Your Imperfect Self. Joseph Shrand, MD Hazelden Press 2014
Technology Corner
Google Keep in the classroom
How to use a Chromebook
Thanks for Thinking of Us
Over 700 cupcakes were delivered to campuses in the last few weeks.
Alice ISD
Contributors:
Dr. Grace Everett
Velma Soliz-Garcia
Anna Holmgreen
Erika Vasquez
Elida De Leon
Marta Salazar
Dina Hinojosa
Ric Gonzalez
Gracie Garcia
Dr. Alma Garcia
Email: velma.solizgarcia@aliceisd.net
Website: www.aliceisd.net
Location: 2 Coyote Trail, Alice, TX, United States
Phone: 361-664-0981