DENTON ISD

Two weather makeup days scheduled

Students in the Denton school district will begin spring break on Monday, March 15.

The doors of all schools will close at the regular time March 11 and reopen at the regularly scheduled time onMarch 22.

Makeup dates for the Jan. 7 and Feb. 11 inclement weather days have been scheduled for April 2 and May 24.

The school district has asked the Texas Education Agency for a waiver for Feb. 12. If the agency approves the waiver, a third makeup day will not be needed.

For high school students, April 2 will be a “B day” and May 24 will be an “A day.”

For additional information, call at 940-369-0006.

2010 Heritage Tour slated for next week

Real estate agents, business leaders and education partners will get to view firsthand the International Baccalaureate programs and the latest renovations and additions to local schools during the Denton school district’s 2010 Heritage Tour and Luncheon.

The event, sponsored by the district and its Adopt-A-School: Partners in Education Program, begins at 9:30 a.m. next Wednesday at the LaGrone Advanced Technology Complex, 1540 Long Road. It ends with a free 11:30 a.m. luncheon at LaGrone.

School officials will share information about the fast-growing district, including new campuses under construction and renovations to existing schools.

Residents and business leaders will get to ride a school bus to the district’s traditional schools, including elementary schools, Calhoun Middle School and Denton High School.

Participants will get a tour of the new renovations at Denton High led by IB students and student council officers. Some participants will receive “bus bag” prizes.

Those who take the tour will receive other items, including a book of essays on “why am I important to the census of 2010,” written and illustrated by district fourth- and fifth-graders.

Sponsors of the event include Charter Builders Ltd., A. Heery International Inc., DATCU, Denton Massage-Lynn Sallee, Denton Municipal Electric, the Denton Record-Chronicle, First Baptist Church of Denton, First State Bank, Fremaux’s Metropolitan Catering, Grayson Stone Inc., Hero’s the Party Experience, James Wood Auto Park, Jostens, Kumon Math & Reading of Denton, Mary Kay Cosmetics with Monica Broadhurst, attorney Mark Lewis, Meridian Bank Texas, Northstar Bank, O’Bryan’s Carpet Cleaning Inc., Pecan Creek Pediatrics, PointBank, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton, Sawko & Burroughs P.C., Sonic, Golden Chick, Stocker Woods Financial Inc., the University of North Texas College of Education, VLK Architects and Wells Fargo.

The Adopt-A-School program is a joint venture between DISD and the Denton Chamber of Commerce.

Seats are available for the free bus tour and lunch.

Anyone interested in attending should contact Sharon Cox, DISD director of communications and community relations, at 940-369-0006.

Top third-grade readers honored by district

The Denton school district recently recognized its top readers in third grade through its annual Hawkeye reading program, an educational plan established by the late Mildred McCauley Hawk.

The district recognized three Hawkeye readers from each elementary school, giving DISD a total of 60 top readers for the 2009-10 school year.

There were three districtwide winners honored: Grace Fullhart of Lee Elementary School, who earned a first-place trophy and $125; Samson Hudson of Wilson Elementary, who earned a second-place trophy and $75; and Jessica Park of Nelson Elementary, who earned a third-place trophy and $50.

The Hawkeye reading program was implemented during the 1999-2000 school year by Hawk as a way to encourage students to read and assist them with their reading skills.

Hawk donated $50,000 to the Denton Public School Foundation.

Hawkeye readers from each campus earned a financial reward for their recognition with the first-place recipient earning $25, second place $15 and third place $10.

This year’s school winners included:

• Blanton — Riley Brooks, first; Austin McNair, second; Skyla Seay, third

• Borman — Kyler Bullard, first; Alissa Cassady, second; Alexis Matute, third

• Evers Park — Paul Phillips, first; Daniel Valente, second; Jalen Mueller, third

• Ginnings — Lizeth Bernal, first; Lezlie Hernandez, second; Autumn Brown, third

• Hawk — Calista Hemarga, first; Maria DeCosta, second; Parker Dewitt, third

• Hodge — Connor Uek, first; Shelby Brown, second; Madeline Moore, third

• Houston — Kesavan Srivilliputhur, first; Matthew Iaia, second; Erica Pegg, third

• Lee — Grace Fullhart, first; Jorge Robles, second; Brylon Vidrine, third

• McNair — Shreya Vyas, first; Jesse Tovar, second; Janvi Patel, third

• Nelson — Jessica Park, first; Jordan Beminio, second; Cadon Hill, third

• Paloma Creek — Panashe Murota, first; Alexa Barnes, second; McKenna Burnside, third

• Pecan Creek — Yi Joung Koo, first; Hanjae Kim, second; Calvin Phillips, third

• Providence — Kiefer Sterzing, first; Madison Brown, second; Caleb Wertz, third

• Rivera — Nola Grace Wilson, first; Beyonce Andrews, second; Aliza Lopez, third

• E.P. Rayzor — Creed Nelson, first; Gabriel Lee, second; Aidan Quinn, third

• Newton Rayzor — Madeline Haskell, first; Chen-Yu Lin, second; Kenedy Sanchez, third

• W.S. Ryan — Chase Turner, first; Bailey Holliman, second; Pyrese Smith, third

• Savannah — Grace Alexander, first; Katelyn Wilcox, second; Hannah Richey, third

• Stephens — Rachel Brandt, first; Savannah Ekrut, second; Keiylah Demerson, third

• Wilson — Courtney Pedigo, first; Samson Hudson, second; James Foster, third

No Child Left Behind report cards available

The Denton school district is posting the annual results of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 on the district Web site. The No Child Left Behind report cards can be viewed at www.dentonisd.org/NCLBReportCards .

The report cards feature educational information about the district and each campus, including:graduation rates for secondary school students, assessments in core subjects for different grade levels, performance of the district and its campuses on adequate yearly progress measures, and professional qualifications of teachers on each campus.

The NCLB report cards carry information on the state, its school districts and their campuses and charter schools. The reports also are available through the Texas Education Agency’s Web site, www.tea.state.tx.us .

Copies of the report cards are available at DISD’s central office or through each campus principal’s office. Those with questions about the information should contact the appropriate campus principal or Chris Shade, federal programs director for Denton ISD, at cshade@dentonisd.org .

Calhoun Middle School

Student takes third in regional essay contest

Calhoun Middle School student Danielle Jacobson was recently named a third-place finisher in an essay contest in which students from North Texas described their favorite body system, what its function is, why it is important and how to keep it healthy.

The contest was sponsored by “Bodies: The Exhibition,” a display at the West End MarketPlace in Dallas that allows visitors an up-close look inside the skeletal, muscular, reproductive, respiratory, circulatory and other systems of the human body.

Jacobson, who wrote about the “amazing skeletal system,” won four tickets to the exhibit, which runs through April.

For more information on the exhibit, visit www.bodiestheexhibition.com .

Denton High School

International Dinner to be held Thursday

Denton High School’s world language department will host its annual International Dinner at 6 p.m. Thursday in the school cafeteria.

The dinner will feature cuisine from across the globe as well as karaoke.

The department uses the event as a way to build awareness about other cultures and their food as well as promote Denton High’s exclusive International Baccalaureate program, which is found in only 500 high schools across the country. All students enrolled in world language arts courses will provide a dish from an assigned country to share with other students, staff and invited guests.

For more information, contact Cristina Galindo, world languages department chairwoman at Denton High, at cgalindo@dentonisd.org .

Class of 1980 to celebrate 30 years

Registration is under way for the Denton High School Class of 1980 30-year reunion scheduled for June 11-12. The cost is $75 per person.

A social hour is scheduled for 5 p.m. June 11 at Embassy Suites Outdoor World in Grapevine, followed by a reunion dinner at 7 p.m. June 12, featuring local band Railhead and DHS alumnus Mark Sandefur.

For more information, e-mail William Droze at william.droze@troutmansanders.com  or Dana Benton Russell at dana.russell@gmail.com .

Guyer High School

Student represents Boys and Girls Club

Boys and Girls Club of Denton County member Zachary Simpson, 16, recently represented the club at the Youth of the Year program in Arlington.

A nationally sponsored event by the Reader’s Digest Foundation, the Youth of the Year program recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club; academic excellence; and personal challenges and obstacles overcome.

Candidates participating in the event delivered a three-minute speech on what the Boys and Girls Club means to them and were interviewed by the judges on topics such as what the club has done for them, interests at the club, what he or she wants as a career in the future, and how he or she is a role model to other club members.

Simpson, a Guyer High School student, competed with seven candidates from other Boys and Girls Clubs in Arlington, Fort Worth, Greater Dallas, Cooke County and Collin County.

Simpson received a Youth of the Year jacket and a gold medal. To qualify for the award, Simpson filled out an application, wrote an essay and gathered recommendations from teachers.

Three Guyer students win Rotary contest

Three Guyer High School students are winners of an annual four-way speech contest and a total of $900.

Guyer freshman Jahanara Hoqueon and seniors Sam Bruce and Brandan Perry participated in the contest hosted by the Rotary Club of Denton and the Rotary Club of Denton-South last week at DATCU headquarters in Denton.

They offered responses to what the Rotary Four Way Test means to them and how they apply it in their lives.

The four-way test, developed in 1932, asks the questions: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

The four questions are cornerstones of Rotary Club members’ beliefs about doing business and running their personal lives.

Bruce finished first and won $400, followed by Perry with $300 and Hoqueon with $200.

The contest’s top two finishers are eligible to participate in the district semifinals for larger prizes.

Pecan Creek Elementary

Kinder Cubs program introduces school

Pecan Creek Elementary School will launch its inaugural Kinder Cubs of Pecan Creek program from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. Thursday at the school playground.

The program is geared toward incoming kindergartners and their parents, allowing them to get a glimpse of everything that the school has to offer its students. Pecan Creek administrators, teachers and staff will be on hand to answer questions and meet prospective students through many planned activities this spring and the 2010-11 school year.

The Kinder Cubs program will debut with the playground meet-and-greet, allowing incoming kindergartners to play and interact while their parents get to know Pecan Creek kindergarten teachers, Interim Principal Emily McLarty and Assistant Principal Natalie Mead. Other planned events include:

• Story Time, 8:55 to 9:40 a.m. April 1;

• Art and Music Time, 8:55 to 9:40 a.m. April 22;

• Kindergarten Roundup, 9 to 10:30 a.m. May 13;

• P.E. Time, 8:55 to 9:40 a.m. May 27;

• Meet the Teacher, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 19.

All events require an RSVP, and parents must check in at the main office. For more information, call 940-369-4400.

AUBREY ISD

Monaco Elementary

Huddle assembly features competition

Monaco Elementary School recently held its “Huddle” assembly, an event that bring the campus community together to share student accomplishments and to experience a friendly competition between staff members and their “Vital Teams.”

Staff members are assisted in the competition by fifth-grade “Vital Friends” — students chosen by teachers for their classroom efforts during a six-week period.

At a recent Huddle event, teams participated in a paper airplane competition. Each team had two minutes to make a plane and then two attempts to fly the plane closest to a chosen spot. The top three teams in each competition earned points.

Monaco Elementary raises money for Haiti

Gifted and talented students at Aubrey’s Monaco Elementary School recently spearheaded Haiti Helpers, a campuswide fundraiser to assist those affected by that country’s recent earthquake.

Dropping coins into a large collection bottle each morning for two weeks, students donated $615.75, which was given to the Denton chapter of the American Red Cross.

KRUM ISD

Krum High School

Students demonstrate financial generosity

In response to the earthquake that struck Haiti recently, social studies students at Krum High School donated about $1,200 to the American Red Cross for relief efforts. The total included more than $500 in coins.

Blanche Dodd Intermediate School

Mobile planetarium makes stop in Krum

Blanche Dodd Intermediate School students became trapped in a black hole, watched the beauty of nebulas and analyzed constellations recently through a 45-minute simulation program.

With the assistance of Mobile Ed Productions, the school’s gymnasium became the temporary home of a mobile planetarium. The portable, inflatable sky watching tool travels around the country, taking students on a short journey through the universe.

Students had the opportunity to crawl through a tunnel and enter a dome that projected the night sky. Program organizers showed students graphics of the planets, the Big Dipper and Northern Hemisphere stars. Students learned about constellations and the history of their names.

School officials said the presentation was entertaining and provided advanced academic content tailored for the intermediate school age group.

For more information, visit www.mobileedproductions.com .