INSIDE DSISD

Ever considered driving a school bus? Looking to make a difference in the Dripping Springs community? Stop by the DSISD Service Center (2430 Hwy 290 W) on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. to visit with the DSISD transportation staff and see if driving a school bus is the perfect fit for you!

DSISD is holding three community bond information meetings over the next two weeks. Superintendent Dr. Holly Morris-Kuentz and Deputy Superintendent Elaine Cogburn will present information on the 2022 Bond and answer questions from community members. More information on the 2022 Bond can be found at dsisdbond.com.

Wednesday, September 28 • 6:15 p.m.

Sycamore Springs Middle School Cafeteria

Tuesday, October 4 • 6:15 p.m.
Cypress Springs Elementary Cafeteria

Wednesday, October 5 • 6:15 p.m.

Dripping Springs High School Cafeteria

The first Parent University of the school year will be held Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 6:00-7:15 p.m. in the Dripping Springs High School Lecture Hall. Dr. Rich Gilman, President of Terrace Metrics, will present "The Pressures of Perfectionism: How Can Parents Help?" A recording will be available on the DSISD website for parents unable to attend.

• Understand how perfectionism can interfere with personal, social, and academic progress
• Learn how some aspects of perfectionism are actually positive and meaningful
• Learn helpful ways to turn negative perfectionistic tendencies into positive outcomes

Are you looking for a way to honor a Dripping Springs ISD employee? DSISD's employee recognition program, Tiger Stripes for Staff, invites staff, students, parents and community members to submit a positive note about an employee through a short Google form submission. For more information on the program, visit dsisdtx.us/tigerstripes.

A record eight Dripping Springs High School seniors have been named National Merit Semifinalists in the 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Semifinalists, who represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, were the highest-scoring students on the 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®).

DSHS students earning the prestigious recognition are Teresa Brod, Evelyn Chis, Michael Goertz, Bailey Inglish, Maxwell Ingram, Shaun Kurian, Nicholas Misko and Kinsey Silcox. The eight Semifinalists surpassed the previous DSHS record of five set in 2016.

From over 16,000 Semifinalists, more than 15,000 students are expected to advance to the Finalist level, which is announced in February 2023.

To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT® or ACT® scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

Dripping Springs High School science teacher Chelsea Bivens has been named a 2022 Teaching Excellence Award finalist by the Phi Beta Kappa Alumni Association of Greater Austin.

The winning teacher, to be announced in October, will receive $2,500 with an additional $500 going to the winner’s school to be spent on a project determined by the teacher.

The Teaching Excellence Award recognizes Austin area high school teachers who have demonstrated instructional expertise; classroom innovation; the ability to cultivate their students’ love of learning and their ability for critical thinking; who expand their own knowledge in the liberal arts and sciences; and who share their own classroom success for the benefit of their colleagues.

Bivens, one of four finalists, is in her third year at DSHS and teaches aquatic science. Other finalists are McNeil High School’s Erin Balfour, Austin Waldorf School’s Deborah Mann and Pflugerville High School’s Heidi Reich.

Congratulations to seniors Carter Larsen and Jesse Bookbinder on being named the 2022 Dripping Springs High School Homecoming King and Queen!