District in Pictures
February 15, 2019
WFISD Sweeps ACE Awards at TAME Divisional Meet Held at Career Education Center
Students from Wichita Falls, Nocona, Chillicothe, Burkburnett, Holliday and Iowa Park competed Feb. 9 in the TAME (Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering) Divisional Meet at WFISD’s Career Education Center. Each competitor took math and science tests, then participated in the Conoco Engineering Challenge. Students with the highest combined math and science scores on the test at each grade level won the Halliburton ACE Award for each grade. In every case, the ACE winner was a WFISD student. ACE Winners were: 6th grade, Aarya Tanjavur, McNiel; 7th grade, Sai Chada, McNiel; 8th grade, Maverick McKown, McNiel; 9th grade, Harley Ferguson, Rider, and Steven Lee, Rider; 10th grade, Robert Horvath, WFHS; 11th grade, Abigail Kaspar, WFHS; 12th grade, Hung Dao, Rider.
Lamar Elementary Teacher Wins February Spotlight Award
Lamar Elementary first grade bilingual teacher Claudia Lopez (pictured center) was named February’s “Be the One” Teacher Spotlight Award Winner. She was honored by News Channel 6 KAUZ, WFISD and First Bank. The monthly "Be the One" award was developed to recognize teachers for going above and beyond in the classroom. Special thanks to PIE partners Star Brite Cleaners, United Market Street and River Bend Nature Center for providing prizes for our winners each month. Pictured left to right: KAUZ’s Charis Walters, Ms. Lopez, and First Bank’s Amber Gee.
Hirschi High School Wins Sportsmanship Award for Third Consecutive Year
The North Texas Football Officials Association has given its prestigious Sportsmanship Award to the 2018 Hirschi High School football team. This is the third consecutive year that the Officials Association has bestowed its one award for the entire area on the Hirschi Huskies. “Our athletes represent the student body,” said Hirschi Principal Doug Albus. “We have good compliments from many organizations for the way our students represent our campus and our district at many events. This honor is just a reflection of our campus.”
It's Official: WFISD has Two National Merit Finalists
The College Board made it official in its 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program contest: National Merit Semifinalists Kerri Lu (from Rider High School) and Ryan Faulkner (from Wichita Falls High School) have officially advanced to National Merit Finalist standing. They are two of the 15,000 to reach this point and be considered for a variety of scholarships. The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955 and draws 1.6 million entrants each year.
Lamar Elementary Hosts 'Donuts for Dads' as Valentine's Day Activity
Lamar Elementary celebrated Valentine’s Day by hosting "Donuts for Dads" during breakfast. More than 75 dads attended to devour four boxes of donuts donated by Circle M. Pictured here are two students, K. Jemison and J. Jemison, enjoying a donut with their Uncle Oscar as they all Facetime with the girls’ dad (pictured on the cell phone), who is serving in the Navy in South Carolina. Students were able to take a picture with their dads or mentors at the Valentine Photo Booth set up at the school.
Kirby Middle School Sensory-based Writing Lesson Also Taps Science
Kirby eighth-grade writing teachers Marques Bowden and Brandice Snowden created a writing lesson that borrowed from the science lab. To get students to think about some of their most vivid memories, they asked students to sniff several liquids ranging from sunscreen to baby lotion to vanilla extract. Each smell was intended to spur a memory that they could then share with a partner, then describe using a graphic organizer.
Zundy Elementary Students Present Solar System Projects--and What You Need to Know About Pluto
Zundy Elementary third-grade teachers Adriana Avila and Maris Jalowy led their students in a study of the solar system, then asked students to make a model of the solar system with its eight planets. Not so unusual, right? But this assignment is not as simple as it once was. The big question: What to do about Pluto? Even Google leaves it out when it lists our solar system’s eight planets. “Today, Pluto is considered a dwarf planet,” said Madeline Eubanks. “Students were given the option to include it in their solar system. We hear it sparked quite the conversation in many homes, as most parents were taught it was a planet!”
Southern Hills Elementary First-Graders Learn the Value of Money
Few things can be as practical as lessons about money. Southern Hills first-grade bilingual teacher Jessica Esteves wanted her students to make a real-life connection with her money lesson, so she asked them to bring wrappers of items purchased in their homes. They eagerly brought wrappers, empty boxes, cans and bottles. They learned what each item cost and learned “how math is an everyday thing,” she said.
Pet Groomers Launched Services to Community This Week
The nearly 60 students in the Career Education Center’s Pet Grooming classes began offering their services to the public on Tuesday. They will groom pets on Tuesdays and Fridays. Students worked on one rabbit and several dogs during their first week of serving the community. Students who take the class are generally pursuing the veterinary medicine pathway. At year’s end, they will take a certification test that will certify them to work at a grooming facility.
Recycling is Ever on the Minds of Milam Third-Graders, Even with Valentines
Milam third-grade teachers are always mindful to recycle, reuse and reduce, said teacher Rulinda Eakin. So, what would be the best way for classes to create the annual Valentine’s Day mailbags? The teachers decided to repurpose donated grocery bags into mailbags to hold the students’ valentines instead of purchasing new white bags, as is typically done. “Hopefully our students are realizing that the three Rs – recycle, reuse and reduce – are important for the future of our planet,” said Mrs. Eakin.
'Parents as Teachers' Ambassador Visits Austin on Educator Errand
Parents as Teachers representatives Yolanda Lewis (pictured left) and Anouchka Hernandez met with Rep. James Frank, Texas Senator Pat Fallon and Patricia Vojack in Austin this week to discuss several issues of concern to educators. They talked about increasing funding for Texas Home Visiting Programs and the prevention of child abuse. “James Frank (pictured right) wanted us to set up another meeting with him in Wichita Falls,” said Ms. Hernandez. “He would like to join Parents as Teachers in home visits to see the services we provide for the Wichita Falls community."
Quiz: Where Do Lockers Mimic Bookshelves?
Every school building in the District has its unique features or décor that distinguishes it from all other schools. We don’t have cookie-cutter design. That’s abundantly clear at this school (Quiz: Where is it?) where art students painted lockers to look like a bookshelf line-up of classics, like The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank, As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, and more. “One of the English teachers saw the idea, and we kinda liked it,” said the art teacher Chris Mayfield. Where is it? Wichita Falls High School.
Collision Repair Student Grinds Welds Down
Zaiden Lemay, a junior, is working his way through the basic techniques of collision repair: First he welds cuts and tears in metal, then he grinds the welds down, then he finishes with body filler and wet sanding before priming and painting. He is pictured here grinding the welds down.
Rider High School Hosts Dallas Black Dance Theatre
The oldest continuously operating professional dance company in Dallas visited Rider High School last week for a performance that wowed students and staff alike. The Dallas Black Dance Theatre, led by Artistic Director Melissa Young, performed Friday for Rider’s fine arts students at the school’s auditorium. Young also introduced the audience to the arm positions for ballet, modern and jazz dance. While in town, the 13 members of the traveling company performed with the Wichita Falls Ballet Theatre at Fain Fine Arts Theatre.
Fain Elementary Kinders' Artwork Blooms at Wichita Falls Public Library
The artwork of kindergarteners in Audra Roberson-Miller’s classroom at Fain Elementary is on display at the Wichita Falls Public Library. The paper flowers fill two windows at the library. “The art is amazing and has really livened up our space,” said Angela Hill, who arranged the art work in the library windows.
Wichita Falls High School Has Two BPA State Qualifiers
Wichita Falls High School will send two students to the Business Professionals of America state competition in March. Aubrie Kuhrt (left) and Laryssa Villareal (right) qualified for the state competition at the BPA Regional Competition in Keller. WFHS’s BPA sponsor is Amanda Rasor.
Kirby Middle School Teacher Uses Speed Debating to Teach Argument, Debate Skills
Cunningham Elementary's First Career Day Features 60 Presenters
On Friday, Cunningham Elementary hosted its first Career Day. Third-grade teacher Deandra West coordinated the visits and presentations of 60 community participants. Children learned from firefighters, police officers, Todd Griffin and his Mobile Dairy with his cow named Sandra, baker Shannon Baum from Market Street, dental hygienist Megan Sorge, and representatives from Crash Works STEAM Studio, Wild Bird Rescue and many more local businesses. WFISD board member Mike Rucker, a race car driver when he is not serving as a minister and a school board member, brought his race car to the school for the children to see. Students also viewed fire trucks and tractors. "Careers are something you love to do. You can love many things," said Michael Olaya from Dexter Learning. He explained what scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs do and urged the children to think beyond just having one career and not to limit themselves to thinking careers were all in their future. "Think of how you can be all these things," he said. "You can be all of these things right now."
Rider High School Band Bids Goodbye to Old Uniforms with Museum of Memorabilia
Rider High School Band Director Loy Studer set out a small museum of Rider band memorabilia in the orchestra room last week to educate his students about the program’s long and illustrious history. He bid the band uniforms goodbye with a nostalgic tweet about all the activities of the last 10 years: “Goodbye old uniforms. It was real. 1 trip to London, 2 state semifinal football games, 3 head football coaches, 4 principals, 5 area performances, 7 drum majors, 8 victories over WFHS, 8 sweepstakes, 100-plus performances, countless memories, and the beginning of ONE FAMILY.” The uniforms saw only one band director, he said. “It hasn’t always been easy following Poney Thompson and his 32 years, but we are doing our best to continue the legacy in our own way,” said Mr. Studer.
McNiel Middle School Writing Teacher Uses Versatile Story Cubes
McNiel Middle School Writing Teacher Hannah Reames uses a tool called “Story Cubes” to get her seventh-graders writing and having fun doing it. She rolls the Story Cubes, or dice, three at a time, which turns up three elements that students must incorporate into a sentence. Or, she’ll use them for collaborative storytelling. “I give them three dice to introduce into the beginning of the story,” she said. “Then they swap papers. I give them a few more dice for the middle of the story.” She may also let them choose partners for a choose-your-own-adventure story, then roll the dice to establish the setting, then roll two different sets of dice for the rising action, climax, falling action and resolution. They choose which set to use. “I think the kids enjoy it because it’s fun. Plain and simple,” she said. “Yes, I have a test I’m teaching, but if my kids don’t learn to love writing, they’ll never work in my class. I have to take time to foster creativity.”
Burgess Elementary Students Applaud Slime Project
Burgess Elementary fifth-grade reading teacher Natalie Bennett used her Friday Craft Club to introduce a chemistry-like project she knew her students would enjoy: making slime. What goes into slime? For this batch, it was liquid starch and glue. “I learned that a lot of the students make it at home, so it was fun for them to get to teach me something,” said Ms. Bennett. “We also experimented by putting in paint and glitter to change the colors. We also learned that heat makes it a lot more sticky!”
Head Start Parent Initiates 'Love Bug' Project
A Head Start parent, Kiera Simmons, helped Head Start students create “love bugs” with hand prints and paint. One of the goals of Head Start is to encourage parental involvement, said Carol Gibbs. “We were so proud to have Kiera Simmons visit and help students with this creative project.”
Milam Elementary Kindness Week Culminates in LOVE Aerial Photo
You can’t overdo kindness, so Ben Milam Elementary went all out last week to emphasize the importance of Kindness Week. Counselor Debby Compton planned the week’s activities and made sure that all students and staff wore matching shirts with the words, “Just Love,” printed on the front. She scheduled a drone to fly over the school to take the picture of everyone positioned to form the word, “LOVE.”
Fowler Elementary Student Delivers Valentines to Windmill Rehab Center
Fowler pre-K student Zion Miller, pictured here, hand-delivered Valentines to residents at the Windmill Rehabilitation Center while they were gathered in the cafeteria. Valentines were made by Erin Mitchell’s art classes in grades preK-5. “Zion looked around the cafeteria and then hand-selected a Valentine for each resident, who he went to individually,” said NiCole Coker, speech-language pathologist assistant. “He received so much gratitude from each person. We went down the hall to see residents who didn’t make it to the cafeteria. A few were asleep and had oxygen masks on their faces. Zion quietly chose a card and placed it on their side table, “for when they wake up!” he said. They went on to pass out Valentines at TJ Maxx, Ross, and Taco Casa. “They were all elated to receive a Valentine,” said Ms. Coker. “Who would have thought such a simple act could spur so much happiness?”
Jefferson Elementary Teacher Accidentally Uses Gamification in Good Behavior Activity
When Jefferson Elementary fourth-grade ELAR teacher Carly Guilliams introduced the game, Kerplunk!, to her class, it was her intention to use the game as a good-behavior activity. “When my homeroom is caught following directions, they get to pull out a stick,” she said. “When all of the marbles fall, we get a class reward!” She tweeted about the activity, which drew the following observation from Rider High School teacher Chris Preston: “This is a simple way of using gamification in the classroom to develop good learning skills.” Ms. Guilliams admits that she didn’t associate the activity with any fancy technique. “I didn’t know I was using gamification,” she said with a smile. She adopted it simply because her homeroom “loves visuals and games.”
Lamar Elementary Art Students Make Paper Mache People
Lamar Elementary art students are taking a cue from artist Keith Herring’s blocky, pop art dancing figures and making their own paper mache people. “They’re using kindergarten and pre-K kids to trace for their models,” said Lamar art teacher Megan Halford. “The kids have been posing in all sorts of fun ways,” said Ms. Halford, like flossing, doing The Fortnite Dance and even imitating a Michael Jordan logo.
Booker T. Washington Students Tour Midwestern State University
There’s nothing like a tour – boots on the ground – to get a feeling for a new place. Booker T. Washington students toured Midwestern State University, with many visiting the campus for the first time. “It was a great opportunity for kids to see options for their future,” said Kellie Hare. Next up: a tour of Wichita Falls’ River Bend Nature Center.
Jefferson Elementary Math Teacher Turns Math Fact Practice into Game
In Jefferson math teacher Shelby Emerson’s room, third-graders finish up their regular must-do work, then begin a new math fact practice game. “Kids pick the set of facts they want to practice and, depending on if it’s a hand or foot, they have to hit or stomp on it to claim it and say the correct answer!” said Ms. Emerson. “They play it about two to three times a week.”
Lamar Elementary Celebrates International Week of Kindness
Mireya Aleman and Denyz Ramirez set up a Valentine photo backdrop (pictured here) and also a Kindness Tree that "leafed out" as students and staff did acts of kindness and posted them, like leaves, on the tree. “This week at Lamar, we have included spreading kindness to all cafeteria workers, custodians, front office workers, paraprofessionals, teachers, staff, students, EMTs, and fire and police departments,” said Kaycie Taylor, Lamar at-risk coordinator.
Wichita Falls High School Lady Coyotes Soccer Team Honors Player's Memory with Yellow Rose
The WFHS Lady Coyotes Soccer Team Coach Robert Woodard retired the Number 8 from his junior-varsity line-up in honor and memory of Yajaira Garcia, who died Nov. 3, 2018. His nickname for Yajaira was Rose Petal, which prompted the team to add a yellow rose to their jerseys in honor of her. The coaches added a yellow rose to their hats. “Yajaira was an incredibly sweet young woman with a gentle heart who would do anything for her friends, classmates, and even strangers,” said Coach Woodard. “Her positive attitude and determination was a constant, and her impact on all of us will be missed, but never lost.”
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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.)