District in Pictures
October 4, 2019
Thirty Teachers Win Prestigious West Teaching Excellence Award
Thirty WFISD teachers were surprised in their classrooms Sept. 27 with a balloon bouquet and great news: They were selected as West Teaching Excellence Award winners. The award is provided annually by the West family. It honors teaching excellence, no matter the teacher's subject area or years in the classroom. West winners: Beverly Albert and Jamie Newberry from Burgess; Amy Countiss from Early Learning; Emma Beshear from Kirby, Sheridan Woodward from Haynes, April Pate from Sheppard, Danielle Michaud from Scotland Park, Debbie Pepper from Wichita Falls High School, Jessica Rivers from Zundy, Marilyn Anderson from Crockett, John Davison and Adam Wood from Barwise, Tiffany Hutchison and Tara Skipper from Milam, Ashlei Humpert from Jefferson, Maria Cruz from Rider, Meghan Myracle and Britney Prickett from Fowler, Hannah Reames from McNiel, Lori Wallerich and Kathy Callaway from West, Harley James and Robbie Kelly from Fain; Claudia Lopez and Mindy Tedford from Lamar, Lacey Davis from Booker T. Washington; Scott Little and Brian Bass from the Career Education Center; Laura Garcia and Kelli Doley from Franklin. Pictured: Sheridan Woodward (wearing "Teaching is my jam" T-shirt)
Zundy Elementary Wins $3,000 School Spirit Loan Contest
On Tuesday, Texoma Community Credit Union recognized Zundy Elementary as the winner of its $3,000 School Spirit Loan Contest. Zundy staff and supporters cast 1,968 votes for Zundy Elementary during the online voting contest. The final vote tally put Zundy ahead by 500 votes compared to its second-place competitor. To celebrate, Principal Becky Hernandez assembled the entire school in the gym Tuesday at 2 p.m. to welcome Texoma Community Credit Union staff, who surprised the students and teachers with the good news. She promised that the $3,000 would be spent to make Zundy an even better school.
Art Teacher at Burgess, Booker T. Washington Elementary Schools Named ‘Be Bold’ Teacher of the Month
Alissa Donaldson, art teacher at Burgess Elementary and Booker T. Washington Elementary, was named September’s “Be Bold” Teacher of the Month. First Bank and KAUZ sponsor the monthly award that recognizes a teacher who goes above and beyond in the classroom. PIE Partners River Bend Nature Center, Star Brite Cleaners and United Market Street provide gifts to monthly winners.
Board Members Pass Amended Budget with Lower Tax Rate
In action Monday, WFISD board members adopted a balanced budged based on a $1.15 tax rate for the 2019 tax year. The new tax rate is 7 cents lower than last year. Board members set the new Maintenance and Operations tax rate at 97 cents per $100 property valuation (formerly $1.04) and kept the Interest and Sinking (debt) tax rate at 18 cents per $100 property valuation for a total tax rate of $1.15, down from last year’s $1.22. The adopted budget provides the aggressive pay raises that began showing up in teacher and staff paychecks Sept. 25. Pictured: Chief Financial Officer Tim Sherrod (standing) presents the balanced budget to WFISD board members.
Twenty Rider High School Choir Students Make Region Choir, with 12 Ranking in Top of Section
There were 33 Rider High School choir students who competed in Region Choir Auditions in Odessa Saturday, said Melanie Coons. Twenty students made the Region Choir, with two qualifying as alternates. Twelve ranked at the top of their section and will compete in Pre Area Auditions in November. Pre-Area students: Rebekah Woodward (1st chair), Angie Concepcion (2nd Chair), Ashton Mastalsz (2nd Chair), Jennie Claus, Cassie Coons, Aaron Hawkins, Robert Holloway, Amaia Martin, Londi Reid, Maranda Rose-Adame, Amberly Schell. Region Choir: Trinity Anderson, Maya Arrendondo, Makenzie Baker, Bela Campbell, Ashby Mayfield, Gage Oliver, Samantha Smith, Hanna Wilson. Alternates: Niel OK, Spencer Simmons
Wichita Falls High School Choir Students Make Region Choir
Five Wichita Falls High School Choir students earned a spot in the Texas Music Educators Association’s Region 6 All Region Choir. Two advance to Pre-Area: Claire Perry and Shannon Perry. Region Choir: Russell McCabe, Melanie Rose, Macie DiFilippo. Pictured: (Back row) Russell McCabe; (Front row left to right) Macie DiFilippo, Claire Perry, Shannon Perry, and Melanie Rose.
Farris Head Start Students Improve Coordination, Motor Skills by Traversing Rock Wall
Farris Head Start students in Stacie Scarborough’s pre-k 4 class spend hot weather days in the Farris gym. While there, PE teacher Gina Blair introduces them to the rock climbing wall. “The climbing helps the students improve their coordination and motor skills,” said Ms. Scarborough. “It also helps with their cognitive development through problem-solving, memory and feelings of fear and motivation.” Many who get on the wall are scared to come down and must work with the teacher and assistants to guide them across, she said.
Career Education Center Hosts Auction to Sell Student-Built House
With the Career Education Center’s student-built house unsold, the CEC will host an auction Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. The 900-square-foot home features 1 bedroom and bath, an open floor plan, energy efficiency, a covered porch and maintenance-free exterior. It was built to legal specifications so that it can be moved to a permanent location and serve as a mother-in-law house, deer lease, small office, or artist’s or writer’s studio.
Fain Elementary Teacher’s ‘Adjective Runway’ Highlights Uncommon Words
Fain teacher Laura Wetzel rolled out the red carpet, lined it with red balloons and – voila – created an “Adjective Runway.” Students strode down the runway carrying placards that featured uncommon words. The student pictured carries a sign that reads, “DULL. The trophy was dull because it was not polished.” The activity turned out to be fun -- and to accomplish all that Ms. Wetzel hoped it would. “I wanted my students to use uncommon words and see how to use them to modify the noun,” she said.
Administrators Work Behind the Scenes to Bring Grant Money to WFISD
An essay submitted by WFISD administrators qualified them to participate as one of 75 Texas teams at a Blended Learning workshop hosted by Raise Your Hand Texas. Attending the workshop was the second step in a process to qualify for a $300,000 grant. “At the conference, we worked on the development of a plan for how we could utilize the grant money to implement components of Blended Learning in WFISD,” said team member Erica Adkins, Jefferson Elementary Principal. The plan is due Nov. 14. Raise Your Hand Texas will analyze all 75 business plans and select 30 teams to move on to the next phase. Up to 20 teams will be selected to receive the grant. Workshop participants were (pictured left to right) Assistant Director of Technology Frank Murray, Associate Superintendent Peter Griffiths, Jefferson Elementary Principal Erica Adkins, RYHT founder Heather Staker, WFISD Superintendent Mike Kuhrt, Rider High School Principal Dr. Cody Blair.
Kirby Middle School Students Enjoy Picnic Tables Built by Construction Students
Since Kirby Middle School was built without windows, its outdoor courtyard is a beloved space that is well used for classes, clubs and lunch. Recently, Principal Shannon Cunningham wanted to add seating to the courtyard and learned that Scott Little’s construction students at the Career Education Center were building handsome picnic tables. She put in an order, requesting a few tables for Kirby. “We are so grateful for how the CEC staff and students support other schools,” she said. “Purchasing these was cost-efficient and helps money go back into projects that students can do to benefit the community.”
Burgess Elementary Teacher Recognized by Media Visitor
You don’t have to be a movie star to create excitement when you show up. Just be a teacher. When Samantha Forester from KAUZ News Channel 6 (pictured right) visited Burgess Elementary on Monday on a media assignment for the TV station, she happened to see Burgess kindergarten teacher Dana Arthur (left) in the hallway. Mrs. Arthur was her kindergarten teacher. They hugged with delight at their mini reunion.
Cunningham Elementary Teacher Chooses Friday as Praise Day
At the beginning of September, each student in Cunningham kindergarten teacher Jennifer Gillespie’s class made a personal goal for themselves – something they were currently unable to do. “Every Friday, I call them back to the teacher table. They bring their own Goal Sheet. We talk about meeting our goal or ‘still working,’” she said. If a student meets his goal, they color a smile face and get a high-five. “We stop the class and clap for our friend,” she said. Students who are “still working” get a “still working smile face” and a high-five. “I tell them I will check again with them next Friday. We don’t give up. We just keep trying,” she said. Pictured here, she captures the achievement of one student who met his goal and can now write his name.
Automotive Technology Students Complete 10 to 15 Jobs Per Week
Automotive tech students in Larry Krugle’s class at the Career Education Center are already serving the community by working on client cars. Students complete 10 to 15 jobs per week. They perform a wide array of services: tune-ups, oil and fluid changes, air conditioning service and repair, complete front-end repair, suspension repairs, shocks and struts, 4-wheel computerized alignments, tire replacement and balancing, brake jobs – including turning rotors and drums, cooling system service, electrical system diagnosis and repair, battery and charging systems checks, and FREE complete mechanical inspections, said Mr. Krugle. Pictured here: A student, Clayton, reaches up under a client’s car to remove cylinder heads in preparation for engine work.
Wichita Falls High School Testing Coordinator is Juggling Fast as she Serves 1,300 Students
Becky Perez, Wichita Falls High School Campus Test Coordinator, said she’s been chained to her desk recently, consumed with prepping for online TSI testing next week at Old High and prepping for the PSAT that will be given this month to 9th and 11th graders. She just completed her December End of Course Retest Registration List. “We have more than 1,300 students this year – over 100 more than last year – and I’m steadily keeping up with student data from test records as well as accommodations required for testing coming from SPED and 504,” she said. She works to strategically plan every test within specified windows and given parameters.
Video Production Team Creates Commercials, Produces Sports Show
The video production students in Chad Johnson’s class at the Career Education Center are getting plenty of real-world experience. The second-year students made four commercials advertising the CEC’s first student-built house, which has been for sale since May. “The construction students picked their favorite commercial to run on social media,” said Mr. Johnson. The class has also produced a sports show hosted by Athletic Director Scot Hafley that runs on social media channels @CECmediawfisd on both Twitter and Facebook. The shows feature interviews with coaches and student-athletes. “In October, we hope to start a similar show with Mr. (Mike) Kuhrt talking about topics around the District.” Pictured here, Rider Head Football Coach Marc Bindel (left) and Wichita Falls High School Head Football Coach Grant Freeman (right) answer rapid-fire questions in a segment called WFISD Athletics Blitz.
WFISD Educators Continue Down the Path of Earning Google Certifications
To date, WFISD has 91 Google Certified Educators at Level 1 and 223 educators who have earned Levels 1 and 2. There are also 25 Google Certified Trainers, according to Frank Murray, director of instructional technology. Pictured here, the WFISD technology team recently visited the classroom of Wichita Falls High School teacher/coach John Eakin (in red) to celebrate his earning Level 1 and Level 2 Google certifications.
McNiel Middle School Staff Finish First Six Weeks with Treats
McNiel administrators pulled out the treat cart to celebrate the end of the first six weeks of school. “We wanted to give our teachers a sweet treat for working so hard,” said Lisa Williams. She and Principal Summer Bynum delivered treats to one side of the school; counselors Polly Birkhead and Jeri Helton took the other side – serving 115 staff members in all. Pictured here, left to right: Lisa Williams, Summer Bynum.
Milam Elementary Teacher Pleads, ‘Save Mrs. Skipper’s Family!’
What do you do when your science teacher confesses that she returned home from her son’s football game, served her family a pot of soup on her kitchen counter labeled “5-Ingredient Soup” and when everyone ate it, they turned into aliens? If you’re a typical fourth-grader, you dutifully help her find a cure. “I told them I spoke with NASA, and they told me I needed to find out exactly what all the ingredients were so they could run tests to find a cure.” The students took on the task of separating the soup mixture and deciding if it was a mixture, a solution or both. “They pretty easily found four of the ingredients but the last one was harder – salt,” said Mrs. Skipper. “It had dissolved so the kids figured out that we needed to evaporate the liquid to separate the last ingredient from the soup.” In the end, she confessed her dilemma wasn’t real. “I had some kids really believing me. They were very worried about my family!” she said.
Barwise Middle School Offers Calligraphy Club
One creative way that local schools broaden their subject offerings is by setting up clubs that teach skills students would like to learn. Pictured here, one student at Barwise learns calligraphy. It’s one of more than 60 clubs offered at the school, including crime investigation, photography, cooking, chess, board games, beginning piano, crafts, gardening, golf, Legos, ping pong, volleyball and many more. Even teachers get to choose the club they want to host. “I chose calligraphy because I wanted to learn myself,” said science teacher Jennifer Parker. “Students really enjoy Club Day.” Barwise clubs meet every other Wednesday.
Crockett Elementary Introduces ‘Start with Hello’ Campaign
Crockett counselor Amy Collins coordinated Crockett’s newest campaign: the “Start with Hello Week.” Mayor Stephen Santellana (pictured) helped kick off the week by greeting Crockett students at the front door. The event was designed to create a culture of inclusion that shows every student he is valuable. It is a nationwide campaign started by the Sandy Hook Promise group as one way to promote empathy.
Cunningham Elementary Teacher Uses Her Absence to Teach Inferencing
On a day that Cunningham teacher Daryl Trotta was to be out of the classroom, she left morning work for students, asking them to figure out why she wasn’t at school that day. The project is “great for predicting and inferences,” she said. The correct answer this time: “I was at the ASOT training at Region 9!”
Kirby Middle School Homecoming Week Prompts Dress-Up
When Kirby Middle School students celebrate Homecoming, they do it in style. They followed a special dress code, such as Pajama Day or Hawaiian Day, each day of the week. Even staff joined in the fun. Pictured left to right: Principal Shannon Cunningham and counselor Blaire Robinson dress for "It's Time for Vacay" Day.
Fain Elementary Students Wage Art Battle to Design a Dr. Seuss Character
Fain art teacher Audra Miller is leading Fain’s first-ever Art Battle between the school’s various houses. Students designed their own Dr. Seuss characters. Students in the upper grades designed monsters in groups of four, with one child drawing the head, another drawing a body, another drawing legs and another drawing arms. “After the design was complete, they named their character, created a personality for it, a diet and a habitat,” said Ms. Miller. Younger students created their own individual characters. All students had 45 minutes to make their character. Top submissions from each house were displayed in the cafeteria by house color; each teacher received five votes to cast for their favorites.
Rider High School Biology Teacher Uses ‘Stump the Class’ Competition
When Rider Honors Biology teacher Alisha Crouch sought a more challenging “exit ticket” -- a quick assessment of their learning – for her class, fellow teacher Bryce Henderson suggested she try a “Stump the Class” competition. She asked students to formulate a question about biomolecules that they thought they could use to stump class members. When they presented six questions to the class the next day, they decided Alexandra Hamaker’s question was the toughest. She asked, “Are all saccharides carbohydrates?” “It spurred a great class debate,” said Ms. Crouch. (Now that you’re curious: The answer is yes, all saccharides are carbohydrates.)
Lamar Library Aide Uses Popcorn to Woo Students to Return Library Books
Every librarian has wondered how to get students to return their checked-out library books, but Lamar Elementary library aide Emily Halverson has probably found the best way of all. On Fridays, she pops a large batch of popcorn in the school’s newly repaired movie theater-style popcorn machine. She hands out individual bags of popcorn to the students in any class where everyone has returned their library book – about 80 bags of popcorn each week so far. “The students know that eating popcorn is a team effort,” said Mrs. Halverson.
Cunningham Elementary Students Perform Good Deeds in ‘Remember 9/11’ Activity
Cunningham social studies teacher Kim White led her students in a special “Remember 9/11” activity designed to recognize the impact of September 11 and pay kindness forward. For his 9-11 Good Deed Project, one student, Jude Gilbert (pictured), took cookies to Trans Star Ambulance to thank paramedics for all they do.
Wichita Falls High School’s LIFE Class Completes Experiment
Students in Brenda Shepherd’s LIFE Skills Class studied the states of matter in their science class. They learned how solids, liquids and gases show up in their daily lives – steam in a bowl of soup, water turning to ice cubes. Students are pictured watching a final activity where two states of matter combine to create a third.
Lamar Elementary Celebrates First Star Student Assembly
It was a packed house on Sept. 27 when Lamar Elementary celebrated its first Star Student Assembly. Staff recognized students in every grade who demonstrated friendship. Principal Amanda Garcia called students to the front of the gym in front of their friends, family and staff to receive a personalized certificate.
McNiel Middle School History Students Recite Declaration of Independence
For Celebrate Freedom Week, McNiel US History teacher Kimbra Thomas asked her 8th grade students to recite a portion of the Declaration of Independence. “A good number of them don the period hats and say the excerpt, loud and proud!” she said.
#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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