Palestine ISD Happenings for 1-25-09

PISD NEWS

• Gifted and Talented Nominations — Each year, parents, guardians, students, and community members are given the opportunity to nominate students for the Gifted and Talented Program in Palestine ISD. According to TheTexas State Plan and Guidelines for the Education of the Gifted and Talents. “Gifted and talented students are those who perform at or show the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment who: Exhibit high performance capability in an intellectual, creative or artistic area; possess an unusual capacity for leadership; or excels in a specific academic field.” Research indicates approximately three to five percent of all students are truly gifted.

Anyone interested in nominating a PISD student who is currently in grades K-11 to be screened, tested and considered for this program should complete a “Gifted/Talented Program Nomination Survey” form. Forms are available in the campus counselors’ offices. Nominations will be accepted from February 2 through February 27, 2009 in the counselors’ offices. Questions should be directed to your child's campus counselor.

• Web Site — Log on to our web site, www.palestineschools.org, for current information about the school district. You can check on your children’s grades and attendance, see teacher web sites, lunch menus, athletic schedules, parenting tips and much more.

HIGH SCHOOL

• PHS Athletics — PHS is very proud to announce that Jessica Granberry was named a recipient of the2008-2009 Academic All-State Award for Athletic Training Students.  She was one of 69 students from 47 different High Schools in the whole state of Texas.  Great work Jessica!

• PHS Band — Congratulations to the 5 PHS Band Members who were selected for the Texas All-State Band.  These students are: Sara Bates – Flute, Ashley Conner – Contra Clarinet, Christi Haines – Clarinet, Tayler Kimbrough – Alto Clarinet, and Laura Witt – French Horn.

This is wonderful and difficult achievement by all.  The competition at the Area level is extremely high.  We think that this may be the most PHS Band members that have ever made State in a single year that anyone can remember! These students will travel to San Antonio in February to perform with the TX All-State Band at the Texas Music Educators Convention.  Thank you for representing the PHS Band at the highest level!

• PHS English Department — Mrs. Buckland would like to thank her English classes for their hard work, dedication, and success on the ELA testing this past week. Way to go!

• PHS Interact — PHS Interact members attending RYLA leadership conference were Hayley Abernathy, Sulema Estrada, Elizabeth Jenkins, Garrett Johnson, Maike Rusch, Wesley Seale, and Amber Wilcox.  There were over 250 members present for the conference and Palestine’s very own Wesley Seale was selected to attend next year’s conference as a counselor.  Way to go, Wesley!  These Interact members, as well as their sponsors, would like to thank the Palestine Rotary Club for investing in the leadership of these students.

PHS Parents — Parents, remember TAKS testing is only a few weeks away and there are a few things you can do to help ensure your students success on this test.  (1) Make sure your child has plenty of sleep the night before the test. (2) Make sure your child has breakfast the day of the test. The cafeteria offers free breakfast for all students. (3) Make sure your child is awake and fully alert prior to the test. Wake them early on these days.  Finally, (4) Be sure your child knows how important their success on this test is to you. Involved parents are a teacher’s greatest ally. Failure is not an Option!      

STORY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

• Third Grade — It’s hard to believe how fast the school year is passing by. The third grade students at Story are working hard. In the past months, we have been busy, busy and busy. In Math, we have learned many life long essential skills such as, adding 3 digit numbers, subtracting across the zero, multiplication, division, and fractions.

In Reading, we learned how to predict our reading, comprehend what we have read, and understand the importance of story elements. AR scores rise higher and higher as we experience a variety of genres, enhance our reading fluency, and increase our enjoyment for reading.

This week is another prime example of the hard work and dedication as our third graders prepare for a Math CBA and then follow with a Reading CBA. As always, we expect the best. Encourage your child to read for 20 minutes every day. It is important for their future success in life. GO STORY LIONS!!

• Fourth Grade — Fourth grade students have been “electrified” as they discovered how electricity travels through wires. Students built simple circuits using flashlight bulbs, batteries and wires. They tested various materials to determine the difference between conductors and insulators. In Math, they just completed fractions, including ordering, comparing and finding equivalent fractions. Next week’s focus will be locating fractions and decimals on number lines.

Students are practicing their “power-writing” skills during Writing Academy, which meets daily in the library. They are learning to make their beautiful word pictures jump to life. They are also racing ahead in AR reading as classes compete against each other for the most AR points. Challenge your child to read at least 30 minutes or 2 chapters each night.

• Fifth Grade — The fifth grade continues to roll in an exemplary way through the school year. After our successful TAKS practice last week, we are continuing to do our best in all that we do. This week in Science, we are exploring the properties of the sun, the star that gives us our energy. In Math, we are working on our shapes and how they can change as they move. We are also keeping up with our arithmetic skills (add-subtract-multiply-divide). In Reading, we are keeping up with our library book reading, including our Six Flags Six Hour Reading. This week we are also working on our writing skills. We are making it harder and harder for you to be “Smarter than a Fifth Grader”!

• From the Palette of Debbie Nethery — The 4th and 5th graders are creating a picture using the neutral colors of black and white. They are creating their artwork by drawing different shaped overlapping bottles. They are adding patterns and lines to create value and texture.

• Yearbooks 2008-09 — Yearbooks are still on sale for $20. Get your “Road Trip” yearbook before they are all sold out. They will be here soon!

SOUTHSIDE PRIMARY SCHOOL

• MLK Celebration — Southside students honored the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. by reading excerpts of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech during morning announcements. Student readers were: Kosi Odiaka, Lacee Wilson, Bryston Lewis, Fazaria Edwards, and Alayna Richter.

• Second Grade — The students in Mrs. Rodgers' class practiced writing from 1 to 1000 in math. The students were honored with a title in the Math Kingdom of 2008-2009. Madeline Gierkey and Caroline Calhoontied for Math Queen 08-09. Our class math princesses are VianeyGloria (first), Kennedy Hanson (second), and Jasmine Mills (third). Brooks Tormaholds the title of Math King of 2008-2009. We are still waiting to see who will be honored with the math "prince" places. We are proud of each student who is trying to stretch their math mind.

Mrs. Rodgers' class also wrote individual stories titled "The Day the Sun Did Not Shine." They used their imaginations to create a plot for why the sun did not shine. Then the characters of the stories had to solve the problem and help the sun shine again. The class hopes this doesn't happen in real life, but will be ready to "save the day" if it does. (These articles were submitted by Mrs. Rodgers' students, Caroline Calhoon and Madeline Gierkey.)

Mrs. Herbrough'sclass is doing a unit on penguins and learning all about their habitats, diets and different sizes. There are at least 17 different types of penguin species that live mostly in the southern hemisphere of the world. The students are choosing one type of penguin and doing a projectover it. They will present their project to the class at a later date.

Second graders are very busy! In Mrs. Hazel's class celebrated good behavior. They filled their 100 marbles jar for good behavior and good deeds. Each time someone does something very special, without being told, or they get a compliment from a teacher, they earn marbles. Wow, they made it! Now Mrs. Hazel's students are starting over and working on 100 more!

• Library — Library classes studied the book Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King, Jr. by Jean Marzollo. The students listened to the book on tape and discussed the importance of Dr. King's work.

• Applause — Our heartfelt gratitude goes to Wal-Mart Distribution Center No. 6036 for the $1000 Community Grant which was awarded to our Physical Education Department. Proceeds will be used for our Fitness Friday program as well as playground equipment.

• Blue Ribbon Awards — The winners of our "traveling" Wildcat Mum for the week of January 12-16 are: First Lunch, Mrs. Mendietta; Second Lunch, Mrs. Masters; and Third Lunch, Mrs. Hardin.

NORTHSIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER

• Pre-K Learning — Mrs. Herring and Mrs. White's Pre- K class have been studying about winter during the first week of January. They went ice skating (in shaving cream), sledding (sledding down the hill), and even made snowflake waffles.

• Martin Luther King Holiday — The students enjoyed a holiday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, January 19.

• Wildlife on Wheels — Charlotte Henley, from Ellen Trout Zoo in Lufkin, came to Northside on January 21-23 for in-classroom programs designed to expand on wildlife oriented curriculum for elementary students.  Subjects included endangered species, animal adaptations, animal taxonomy, and rainforest environments.  Ellen Trout Zoo began offering formalized educational programs in 1977 to schools in the East Texas area. We want to thank the zoo for visiting our campus and teaching our students about animals.

• Upcoming Events — Hoops for Hearts, Friday.