Parenting class series continues into 2009

Denton ISD is hosting a series of “Practical Parent Education” classes to provide support to families in the Denton school district. The classes cover a variety of parenting topics for elementary and secondary students.

The next parenting class will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Newton Rayzor Elementary School, 1400 Malone in Denton. A light supper will be served and childcare will be provided. A parenting class also will be hosted at Newton Rayzor from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 2. All classes at the school will be conducted in English and Spanish. 

Paloma Creek Elementary, Providence Elementary, Sav­annah Elementary and Navo Middle will continue their Par­ent Academy classes from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, and Tuesday, Dec. 16, at Navo Middle. A light supper and child­care will be provided. The classes hosted at Navo Middle will be conducted in English on­ly.

Rivera Elementary’s parenting classes are conducted in conjunction with Borman Elementary at conducted at Rivera, located at 701 Newton St. They will continue from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Additional classes will be held in 2009 on Feb. 10, March 10, April 14, and May 12. Snacks for students and childcare will be provided. For more information, call 940-369-0599.

Denton High School

Dance instructor given top TDEA nomination

Denton High dance instructor Kerri Burgess was recently nominated for Educator of the Year by The Texas Dance Educator’s Association. She will be recognized for her nomination at the TDEA state convention on Jan. 10 in Houston.

Burgess is one of six finalists for the award and was nominated by Rachel Simpson, former student and the current dance and drill team instructor at Guyer High School. Burgess also will be recognized for a Lifetime Achievement Award by TDEA at the convention.

Denton High honors veterans with program

Denton High School will host a Veterans Day program to hon­or all veterans at 10:15 a.m. Tues­day in the school’s auditorium. The program will begin with a musical presentation, followed by the advancement of colors by members of the Denton High AFJROTC.

Michael Dash and David Ashcraft are the Denton High AFJROTC sponsors.

Guyer High School

Guard pays homage to veterans at ceremony

The Guyer High AFJROTC Color Guard invites the public and all military veterans to att­end a ceremony honoring military veterans at 8:30 a.m. Tues­day at the Guyer High flagpole.

The Guyer High cadets will be in mass formation, as the Color Guard raises the colors to half-staff. The National Anth­em will be sung and cadets will shake the hands of veterans in attendance.

Fred Ham and Blake Fent­ress are the Guyer High AFJROTC sponsors.

Ryan High School

Junior Drill Team Clinic set for Sat. Nov. 22

The Ryan High Strutters are hosting a Junior Drill Team Clinic from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, in the school’s gymnasium, located at 5101 E. McKinney in Denton.

The class is open to girls in kindergarten through eighth grade who are interested in dance and drill team.  A hip-hop class is being offered to boys who are 8 to 11 years old.

Registration is $20 until Wednesday, Nov. 12, and $25 thereafter. The cost includes tuition, a drill team shirt and a morning snack. Part­icipants will perform their routines for parents and guests at 12 p.m. in the Ryan High gymnasium. Following the clinic, participants are invited to return to the gymnasium at 2 p.m. as the Strutters will host their first annual Kick-A-Thon fundraiser. The Kick-A-Thon will feature kicking contests, skits, raffles, and a kick routine. To learn more, call 940-369-3000.

Ryan High students selected to All Region Orchestra

Ten Ryan High orchestra students recently were selected as members of the All-Region Orchestra.

The following violinists were selected: Lindsey Lassiter, senior; Sara Livingston, sophomore; Nathan Kam, freshman; and B.J. Johnson, junior.

Students selected for performing the viola were: Kayla Cunningham, sophomore; Rishi Paswan, sophomore, and Michaela Yarbrough, freshman.

Cello performers Kathryn French, freshman, and Matt Jenkins, junior, also were accepted.  Nathaniel Miles, junior, was selected for his bass performance.

Kayla Cunningham and Nathaniel Miles advanced to Area Orchestra and created an audition tape for the All-State Orchestra.

The following violinists also auditioned for All-Region Orchestra: Becca Malmberg, sophomore; Kelsey Holman, sophomore; Chris Guerrero, freshman; Alexandra Arcuri, sophomore, and Ann Adams, freshman.

Tami Peterson is the director of orchestras at Ryan High.

Students selected to All-Region Orchestra

Ten Ryan High orchestra students recently were selected as members of the All-Region Orchestra.

The following violinists were selected: Lindsey Lassiter, senior; Sara Livingston, sophomore; Nathan Kam, freshman; and B.J. Johnson, junior.

Students selected for performing the viola were: Kayla Cunningham, sophomore; Rishi Paswan, sophomore, and Michaela Yarbrough, freshman.

Cello performers Kathryn French, freshman, and Matt Jenkins, junior, also were accepted.  Nathaniel Miles, junior, was selected for his bass performance.

Kayla Cunningham and Nathaniel Miles advanced to Area Orchestra and created an audition tape for the All-State Orchestra.

The following violinists also auditioned for All-Region Orchestra: Becca Malmberg, sophomore; Kelsey Holman, soph­omore; Chris Guerrero, freshman; Alexandra Arcuri, sophomore, and Ann Adams, freshman.

Tami Peterson is the director of orchestras at Ryan High.

Harpool Middle School

School dedication scheduled for Monday

The dedication for Tom Harpool Middle School will start with special tours at 6:30 p.m. Monday, followed by a dedication ceremony at 7 p.m. at the school, located at 9601 Stacee Lane in Argyle.

The school is named after Robert Thomas “Tom” Harpool Jr., a local business leader for almost 70 years and former member of the Denton ISD Board of Trustees.

Harpool served as a school trustee in 1954 and then again from 1961 to 1974. During this time, he served as president of the board from 1969 through 1973, and as vice president from 1968 to 1969. During his tenure on the board, the district effectively integrated its schools.

Harpool is the former chairman of the board for the Denton Chamber of Commerce and received the Otis Fowler Award in 1963. He was a business leader in Denton for many years, which included owning two landscaping companies – Harpool Garden Center and Harpool Seed Inc. 

He was named “Jaycees Man of the Year” in 1952 and “Boss of the Year” in 1970 by the Denton Chapter of the National Sec­retaries Association. He was the Texas County Agricultural Ag­ents Association’s Man of the Year in 1971.

He was also active in the United Way of Denton County, Boy Scouts of America, 4-H Clubs, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church and has served on the board of local banks and financial institutions. He has also served on the board of the Upper Trinity River Authority. He is a past president and an active member of the Denton Noon Kiwanis Club, where he has been a member since 1941.

In high school, he was on Denton High School’s 1935 state championship basketball team. In 1975 he was president of the University of North Texas Alumni Association and has received the Distinguished Alumnus Award.

He was born in Hebron in south Denton County on May 11, 1918. Tours of the building will be conducted before the ceremony. Principal Mike Vance and Assistant Principals Kristin Hicks and Jeff Smith will participate in the official presentation of the building.

For directions or more information, call 940-369-1700.