District in Pictures
September 13, 2019
Career Education Center Introduces New Water Course
For the first time, WFISD students have the opportunity to take a Water Operator Class D Certification course as part of their curriculum in plumbing, horticulture, agriculture, and greenhouse operations. The 27-week class on water treatment and waste water treatment facilities is a collaboration between WFISD and the City of Wichita Falls. The City is purchasing the materials for the students; WFISD will pay half of the certification test fee for students after they complete the course. The course has been on the City’s and WFISD’s Wish List for the past four years and has finally taken shape. Pictured here, Daniel Nix (in green) and Harrold Burris (in plaid) teach the course Friday at the CEC. Mr. Nix explains that Wichita Falls has records of its bacteriological water samples taken throughout its system back to the 1930s, “which has been very helpful,” he said. According to regulations by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, only Mr. Nix and Mr. Burris may teach the course.
New Community Ambassador Program to Tutor Community Members in WFISD Intricacies
WFISD is creating a new way for community members to advocate for the largest school district in North Texas. WFISD has created the Community Ambassador Program and is accepting applications through Sept. 20 for its first class. Participants will meet eight times as part of an elite group of 25 members selected by the Partners in Education Advisory Board. The members will be introduced to the operations of WFISD, including its instructional and administrative services. “The mission is to create a sense of pride and knowledge among program graduates to enable them to act as ambassadors and advocates for WFISD,” said Ashley Thomas, communications officer. If you are someone you know would be interested in participating, please click on the following link to apply: https://forms.gle/8NvcjHmUzXFpAUjUA
Milam 5th Grade Students Learn About Density with Density Towers
It pays to attend workshops. Milam 5th grade science teacher Melinda Alexander attended a workshop where fellow WFISD teacher Lexi Law introduced the Density Tower activity, and Mrs. Alexander latched onto it. After teaching her students about the properties of matter, they put it all together by pouring various liquids into glass beakers to make Density Towers. “They see how the different layers will ‘sit’ on top of each other due to their difference in density,” said Mrs. Alexander. The bottom layer was syrup – very thick. Then students added vegetable oil, water with blue food coloring, liquid dish soap and rubbing alcohol tinted with red food coloring. “At the end, we dropped a few small items in the tower to see where they ‘landed,’” she said.
McNiel Middle School Band Director Uses Straw to Teach 'Buzz' to Beginning Trumpet Students
Music is big at McNiel, where Band Director Alex Collins interacts with 252 students daily. Here, he uses a straw technique to teach beginner trumpet players. “The vibration of the lips is the most crucial aspect of playing any brass instrument,” said Mr. Collins. Trumpet players can create the vibration, or buzzing, by holding firm the corners of the mouth and blowing air through a hole in the lips, called the aperture. “This is one of the first big hurdles a beginner must overcome -- training the muscles in the face to be set properly to produce the tone on demand,” he said. Like an athlete gradually increases weight or resistance to grow stronger, beginning instrumentalists build endurance by playing daily, he said. By adding a straw to the end of the mouthpiece, students learn proper air- flow technique to create the buzz sound.
Rider High School Sports Medicine Class Outlines Foot Bones
You’ve been using them all your life, but do you really know what’s under the skin of those two feet you slip into shoes every day? Rider students in Brittnee Harder’s Sports Medicine 2 class made an effort to visualize and label the bones in their feet using a picture Ms. Harder uploaded to Google Classroom. “It gives the students a fun way to memorize the bones of the foot as well as where they are located,” she said.
Horticulture Class Ramps Up Activity with 7,000 Plants
Between now and the Horticulture program’s annual Plant Sale in the spring, Amber West’s Horticulture students will propagate and plant 7,000 plants. But first things first: Cleaning. “At the beginning of the year, we clean the greenhouse to make it free of spiders, webs and other pests,” she said. Students also clean pots to ready them for planting. To keep costs down, they turn to their “mother plants” to propagate cuttings. Pictured here: The Career Education Center greenhouse is already bursting with green.
Jefferson Elementary’s Jaguar Jungle Club Enjoys Redesigned Outdoor Learning Space
Jefferson’s Ashlei Humpert redesigned an outdoor learning space specifically for the Jaguar Jungle Club, pictured here Sept. 6. She created an Amazon Wish List, shared her vision on social media, and encouraged community involvement. She envisioned a spot where students could enjoy imaginative, unstructured, student-led play. She relished the great response. “It’s a work in progress, but the kiddos loved it,” she said. “Play is so extremely important and essential to learning.”
Counseling and Mental Health Class Publishes First Weekly Newsletter
Students in the Counseling and Mental Health Class practicum, which is taught by Amanda Gamble, just published their first weekly newsletter. The mission of the project is to encourage readers to become comfortable talking about mental health. It addresses test anxiety, developing a healthy routine, and how to make friends. It also includes a frank discussion about “the elephant in the room” – the scariness of suicide.
Haynes Northwest Academy Gives Its First Monthly #BeBold Award
Haynes teacher Cathy Nielson is the first recipient of the Haynes Northwest Academy’s new #BeBold award, which is given to staff members who work in their “stretch zone.” Award-winners represent teachers who work through Haynes’ school initiatives –- Seidlitz, Capturing Kids’ Hearts, and Marzano High Reliability Schools – and share their ideas generously with others. “A stretch zone is when you get out of your comfort zone, but not so far that you are in the panic zone,” said Ms. Nielson. She switched this year from 4th grade to 1st grade and is working on her master’s degree. Her award included a traveling trophy, plaque, and goodie bag with self-care items donated by PIE Partners.
West Foundation Elementary Receives Colorful Bleachers
Talk about fun, flexible seating. West Foundation Elementary School received this colorful set of bleachers for its C Pod as a gift from Gymnastics Sports Center Storm. “Our students will enjoy having some additional fun seating options,” said Principal Kim Smith.
Fain Elementary Students Use Furry Helpers as They Learn to Add
Stuffed animals came to the rescue when Fain teacher Allyson Edge looked for a real-world, engaging lesson on addition. “We used stuffed animals to represent numbers on our part-part-whole,” she said. One student rolled a giant dice to pinpoint a number; another student put the animal in the appropriate part of the equation. Then, everybody added up the parts to get the sum.
Construction, Engineering Classes Collaborate on MSU Display
Unseen, unsung heroes of the Midwestern State University-Burns Fantasy of Lights annual Christmas displays are Career Education Center students. Every year, students in Scott Little’s construction class refurbish and repair some of the displays each year. This year, construction students collaborated with WFISD engineering students on the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ferris wheel. This year, they also added lights to the rotating display.
Lamar Elementary Art Teacher Makes, Sells Welding Caps to Fund Classroom Art
When you’re an art teacher, you need supplies—and lots of them. Lamar teacher Megan Halford makes colorful welding caps for welders and oil field workers, then sells them to bring in money for her classroom supplies. Her best recent purchase for her classroom with the money earned? Ice cube trays with lids. She uses them for paint storage. “It has been a game changer,” she said.
Hirschi High School is Loved by its Neighbors
Folks at the Maurine Street 7-11 have a soft spot in their heart for one of their neighbors – Hirschi High School. Employees show it by serving coffee and a smile while wearing Hirschi T-shirts to support Hirschi volleyball, Hirschi band, and more.
McNiel Middle School History Students Present Reader’s Theater Complete with Costumes
As part of her constant mission to bring history alive, McNiel history teacher Kimbra Thomas created a class activity called Reader’s Theater for her Advanced U.S. History class. Even McNiel Principal Summer Bynum participated in a recent presentation called “Trouble at Jamestown,” where students used the classroom closet’s colonial clothing to act out their parts. “It makes it a lot of fun, and there is much laughter,” said Ms. Thomas. “History can be so much more than facts and dates. It’s full of exciting stories and adventures. Jamestown is a perfect example of that!”
Career Education Center Welding Student Brands Gloves
When students in Stephen Davis’ class do a particularly good job on a project, Mr. Davis encourages them to brand it. Pictured here, welding student Jonathan Siple brands his gloves with a special design he made on the CEC’s CNC (computer numerically controlled) machine.
Kirby Middle School Students Celebrate Their Culture with Culture Quilt
At Kirby, 65 English-as-Second-Language students did their part to make a culture quilt that is displayed outside the ESL classroom. Each of the 65 students in grades 6 through 8 colored and decorated one quilt square to depict special aspects of his or her country of origin. “Mexico, Germany and Vietnam are represented,” said Kirby ESL teacher Diane Perry.
Career Education Center Becomes Dual Credit Satellite Campus
This is the first year that the Career Education Center has doubled as a dual credit satellite campus. Seventy-seven students are currently enrolled in a dual credit class connected with Vernon College but taught at the CEC. For a dual credit course, students take on college-level work to receive both college credit and high school credit simultaneously. At a cost of just $125 per course for the student, he pays about a third of what a typical college student pays, despite earning credits that transfer to any public Texas college or university when he earns at least a grade “C.” Pictured here: Vernon College Government Instructor Deborah Goodman (far right) teaches a recent class. Other dual credit subjects taught Monday through Thursday at the CEC are U.S. History, English 3 and English 4.
Student Cooks French Fries for FFA Back-to-School Bash
About 100 people attended the FFA’s Back-to-School Bash held recently at the Ag Farm. Pictured here, student Cody Callahan does his part for the festivities by cooking up some French fries.
Milam Elementary Pre-K Practices Drawing Shapes and Numbers in Shaving Cream
Students in Shannon White’s pre-k class put all hands on deck for their shaving cream activity. First, Ms. White modeled how to draw shapes and numbers in the shaving cream. Then, students mimicked her, drawing shapes and numbers to match hers. “Then I let them ‘free draw’ in the shaving cream,” said Ms. White. “At the end of Center Time, they helped me wipe down the table. They loved how clean it made our room smell!”
West Foundation’s Special Ed Students Enjoy ‘Fun Food Friday’
In Sara White-Jones’ classroom, students followed a visual recipe and, as a class, made Sand Pudding as their afternoon snack. She established “Fun Food Friday” as a way to teach hands-on life skills and cooking in her classroom.
Lamar Elementary Students Sign In Every Class Day, Writing on Vertical Surface, for Amazing Physical Benefits
Typically, Lamar teacher Maria Anguiano has had her students sign in to class each morning by putting their signature on a paper lying on a desk. But she changed that this year. Now she hangs her Sign-In Sheet on the wall. When students write on a vertical surface, they will benefit in many ways, she said. They will build their shoulder/elbow stability, strengthen the developmental skill of crossing the midline, build wrist extension/pencil grasp, strengthen hand/eye coordination and core strength and posture. “They also use the chalkboard we have in our classroom, which continues to promote these same benefits,” said Ms. Anguiano.
WFISD Athletics Hosts First Media Luncheon to Introduce Coaches, Star Students
Hirschi High School’s Community-Based Instruction Class Assists at Humane Society
Hirschi’s Community-Based Instruction Class, under the direction of teacher Jordan Darnell, began working at a new job site this year. On Tuesdays, students visit the Humane Society and walk dogs that live at the shelter. Pictured with the smaller shelter dogs are several of her students: Ryan Pineau, Felicia Davis, Dustin Webb, Alicia Davis and Jamale Guinn.
Bistro at Career Education Center Opened for Lunch on Thursday
McNiel Middle School Teacher Tantalizes Students with Books on ‘Book Talk Day’
McNiel teacher Missy McCartney began giving a weekly “Book Talk” to her students years ago, and now it’s her favorite part of the week. She chooses a book she’s read and liked, introducing it to students in a way that will pique their interest enough to want to read it. “Sometimes the book is so interesting, they are hanging on my every word as I’m talking! I have had reluctant readers actually want me to help them find the book in the library,” she said. Last week she featured Obsessed: A Memoir of My Life with OCD, by Allison Britz, a true story about a girl with sudden-onset adolescent OCD. “It was wonderful because I was able to speak to the kids about mental illness and the stigma that surrounds it,” said Ms. McCartney. She gives the weekly book talks through December. Then, in January, she encourages students to begin giving their own book talks.
Fain Elementary Students Create Masks in Study of Symmetry
In Audra Miller’s art class, Fain 4th graders made masks to incorporate their lessons on descriptive lines, symmetry and detail. First, they studied African masks. Then they drew their own masks, folding the paper in half and drawing half a mask, then tracing the other half against the window to make it symmetrical. Then they taped each mask to a piece of metal sheeting, tracing the mask to allow the metal to emboss. They added lines for detail, traced it a few more times to raise the metal, then added color with marker pens and embellished the masks with ribbons and beads. Many of the masks will be showcased soon in the Education Center’s display cases.
Kirby Middle School Teacher Creates Harry Potter-Themed Digital Breakout
Melissa Saisuwan, an ELAR 7th grade teacher at Kirby, decided to review the writing process with her students in a new way. She collaborated with Brandice Snowden (pictured left) to create a Harry Potter-themed digital breakout, complete with costumes and British accent. They used academic language, incorporating even scaffolding/modifications into their theme. “Brandice came up with the structure, and I put it together into the Google Form,” said Mrs. Saisuwan. “I have no idea how I started talking British, but I ran with it.” She wore a shirt from Azkaban prison, explaining to students that she had escaped and was hiding in the last spot anyone would look for her. “The kids are still asking me if ‘Mrs. Bellchant’ was caught by the dementors,” said Mrs. Saisuwan.
Rider High School Teacher Solves Classroom Problem -- By Teaching Expectations
Noisy – that’s how Rider English teacher Heather Preston experienced her classroom last year when her students were working collaboratively and even when they switched to individual activities. It bothered her until she realized that she had never specifically taught them which volume level was acceptable in her room at what times. “Sometimes we expect our students to already understand our expectations, and then we become frustrated when our students don’t meet them,” she said. “Now, I’ve taught my expectations. And I reteach when necessary. Much improved.”
#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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