Monday Message
From the desk of Dr. Harrell
September 23, 2019
“We are the Caretakers of the Student’s souls."
-Kevin Carroll
This week I want to share my third piece of the Believe in U thoughts. I Believe in ‘U’CISD – Our educational community. The old adage there is Strength in Numbers is absolutely true. We can do much more as a team as opposed to individually. I believe the UCISD team will bring the dream.
I have always known how important it is for students to know that their teacher(s) believes in them. We have the ability to either limit a student’s ability based on what we say, do, and/or provide or leaving one as ordinary or we can build them up to extraordinary. Students don’t have one teacher in their educational career they will have a community of educators consisting of teachers, librarians, counselors, administrators, cafeteria workers, custodians and the list continues. We as educators often think of what we do in isolation but in truth from the student’s perspective, they encounter many adults every day and look to us as a system. ‘U’CISD has 750 staff members, where else will a student have 750 people working daily to ensure the best educational experiences await them.
I recently read a piece from Jo Boaler who shared that her daughter’s self-belief was shattered by a teacher creating a fixed mindset within her that dismantled her learning and confidence for a long time. We have the ability to instill a growth mindset within students, one that loves exploring and is challenging but it must be done throughout our educational community.
The importance of students thinking their educators believe in them was confirmed in a recent study that had an extremely powerful result (Cohen & Garcia, 2014). In this study, students wrote essays and received critical diagnostic feedback from their teachers, but half the students received a single extra sentence on the bottom of the feedback. The students who received the extra sentence achieved at significantly higher levels a year later. It may seem incredible that one sentence could change students’ learning trajectories to the extent that they achieve at higher levels a year later, with no other change, but this was the extra sentence: “I am giving you this feedback because I believe in you.” Significant. ‘U’CISD believes in U.
This effect was particularly significant for students of color, who often feel less valued by their teachers (Cohen & Garcia, 2014). I share this finding with teachers (community of teachers) frequently, and always fully understand its significance. I do not share the result in the hope that teachers will add this same sentence to all of their students’ work. That would lead students to think the sentence was not genuine. I share it to emphasize the power of teachers’ words and the beliefs they hold about students and to encourage teachers to instill positive belief messages at all times.
Teachers can communicate positive expectations to students by using encouraging words, and it is easy to do this with students who appear motivated or who learn easily. But it is even more important to communicate positive beliefs and expectations to students who are slow, appear unmotivated, or struggle. You can be the person who turns things around for them and liberates their learning path. It usually takes just one person—a person whom students will never forget. Think about if we ‘U’CISD are the community that shares that we ‘Believe in U’. A community where We Believe in ‘U’CISD.
I had the opportunity to hear Manny Scott speak this past Saturday. He had an incredible story and a strong message. I found this piece (linked below) written by him that I wanted to share.
Crossroads Academy First Graduate
On Tuesday, September 10th Crossroads Academy celebrated a great success. Delilah Hernandez Anderson is the first Crossroads Academy High School Graduate! In three short weeks, Delilah was able to complete the necessary credits to meet graduation requirements. Delilah's goal is to achieve a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing.
Marcela Robles
All-Region Jazz
First Place Alto Saxophone
All-Region Jazz Band tryouts are held every September at Medina Valley High School in Castroville. This year’s competition was held on Saturday, September 14th and included over 10 schools from Region 11. The tryout material consisted of 4 rounds of competition: performance of three prepared pieces of college-level difficulty, followed by each contestant’s demonstration of solo improvisation. This is also a very advanced skill, as improvisation is “spontaneous composition” of melody: literally creating music on the spot - out of one’s own imagination! Marcela Robles, a UHS junior, scored the highest on all 4 rounds in the alto saxophone category at this year’s competition!
This won her a spot in the All-Region Jazz Ensemble. She will be leading the saxophone section at the All-Region Jazz concert in Eagle Pass in November.
Marcela has been playing the alto saxophone since the 7th grade and credits alumni UHS Jazz members as her inspiration to pursue Jazz. Her sister, Adriana, is among those alumni and was an award-winning singer during her association with the UHS combo, Shades of Blue.
Marcela is also a drum major at UHS this year and is the first chair alto saxophone in the UHS Wind Ensemble. We are incredibly proud of her achievement! What a wonderful ambassador for Uvalde CISD, Uvalde High School, and Uvalde!
Physical Properties of Matter
Pablo Picasso, Cubism and Colors
Students in Miss. J.Simpson's Fine Arts class have been working on lessons on cool and warm colors and are starting a new lesson on Pablo Picasso and cubism which is art created in the early 20th century where art was made up of geometric shapes and collages. Students will create their own version of a face using geometric shapes. On Wednesday her students discussed the impact September 11th has had on our lives today. Her students also created cards to thank local first responders for their dedication to the community.
KVOU Uvalde CISD Weekly Update
On Thursday, September 19th, our district was represented on Coyote Country 104.9 KVOU by UHS Hi-Stepper Sponsor Bertha Garcia, RT Gonzalez, along with UHS Hi-Steppers Kandie Medina, Juliana Garza, Hannah Bermea, and Aaliyah Lopez. The interview included information on athletic groups, the Sports App, Hi-Stepper Activities, and upcoming competitions and the outstanding commitment our students are putting forth! The Hi-Steppers stressed the importance of academics and practice to be the best student and performer. The interview had great information, highlighted our students, and invited our community to district events.
STEM at Robb Elementary
Robb’s STEM teacher Ms. Monica Martinez has created a perfect environment for what her students will be engaging in her classroom this school year. Students this week created their own “safety goggles” using a certain set of materials, problem solving and creativity. Ms. Martinez stated, “I am loving this opportunity to work with students on STEM lessons!” Ms. Martinez is also Robb’s Robotics coach and stated she is learning a lot about robotics as she begins to put her team together.
Texas History In Action
Texas History teachers Mr. Escamilla, Mr. Menchaca, and Mr. Bonnin, introduced mission life to their classes. They incorporated technology, critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and made learning relevant to their students. Thank you, teachers, for dressing up and taking relevance to a new level!
Dalton Milk and Cookies
On Wednesday, September 18th Dalton hosted the first Milk and Cookies parent engagement. It was a great success with a full library of children and parents. The parent, student, and staff engagement created a great atmosphere of collaboration and support.
Story Hour at El Progreso Memorial Library
On Wednesday, September 18th, Dr. Hal Harrell read, "The Seals on the Bus" to a wonderful group of preschoolers during story hour at El Progreso Memorial Library. The children enjoyed the storyline which included, two children and their parents board a city bus on their way to a party. At the next stop, who should get on but a group of seals, who holler "errp, errp, errp" at the top of their lungs. Each time the bus stops a new kind of animal joins the passengers and adds to the din, to the children's delight and the parents' annoyance. But when several hissing skunks want to come aboard, even the children cry "help! help! help!" This was a fun and exciting story hour! We are thankful to El Progreso Memorial Library for the opportunity.
Building Health Bodies
Flores Elementary Students spent the week strengthening their upper bodies, improving eye-hand coordination, reflexes and balance by using skills such as setting, blocking, passing, spiking, and serving during a Volleyball Tournament in P. E. Classes. About seven teams in each class period competed throughout the week. Winners were announced at the end of the week for 2nd through 9th period. Healthy bodies are just as important as healthy minds.
Playing On and Off the Field
Uvalde High School Football Players visit Dalton on Friday, September 13th to greet students as they arrived at school, read stories, and walk students to class. Once all Dalton Students were in their classrooms it was time for a little Coyote Fun! Football Players took a trip down memory lane with a quick trip to the playground. There were lots of laughs and good old fashion fun!
Author’s Purpose
In Ms. Gutierrez ELAR class students were learning about Author's Purpose this week. She had an amazing group activity where students had to come up with the author's purpose for the passage and provide three types of evidence. This activity sparked a great discussion among the students.
Robb ACE is the Place to Be
Students participating in the Robb ACE Program under the leadership of Santa Zamora are having a great time with the variety of programs being offered. The program includes a Self Defense Club, Homework Help, a Writing Club, and much more. Students are having a great time and learning
Identifying Physical Properties
Students in Mrs. Sanchez's science class observed and measured physical properties in order to identify minerals. Physical properties which included identifying color, streak, and cleavage or fracture breaks. Students measured minerals for mass using a balance beam and volume using the water displacement method.
Mr. Joel Barbosa, Uvalde High School Assistant Principal, is seeking Uvalde CISD students between the ages of 16-18 that may be a good fit for the Texas Challenge Academy. The target audience are students who are disengaged from school and have outside issues that are preventing them from reaching their full potential. The goal of this program is to help build these kids up enough where they are able to overcome many of these struggles. Please read the attached brochure and send the names of possible candidates that may fit the criteria.
If you would like to print the brochure and talk to these students that would be great as well. Please refer them to Mr. Joel Barbosa before September 23rd. There will be an informational meeting on September 24th. Please contact Mr. Joel Barbosa by email at jbarbosa3489@uvaldecisd.net or by phone at 830-591-2950.
District Training
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
Niki Henderson, M.Ed., LPC
UCISD Lead Family-Student Support Counselor
(830) 591-4954 ext. 5510
Register for the training in Eduphoria.
Events
Submit order by September 25, 2019
Point of Contact:
Amanda Dockal -
830-279-2298
Uvalde CISD Staff who purchase a 2019 Dig Pink T-shirt will be allowed to wear
the Dig Pink T-shirt, jeans, and tennis shoes on Monday, October 21, 2019.
Order forms will be picked up at each campus and central office on Thursday, September 26th.