Issue #2 March 2010

HALLETTSVILLE ISD

DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

“Building Leaders:Today they learn.Tomorrow they lead.”

Inside this Issue:

3 HES: Public SchoolWeek Adventure3 HJH Prepares for Public School Week

“Destination Success: Accelerated Learning in HISD”

4 HHS CelebratesPublic School Week 4 Technology Tidbits5 ProfessionalLearning6 Focus on Facilities7 HHS RenovationProject8 HISD Calendar 2010-2011

A common goal in schooldistricts across the state is toclose the achievement gapand bring all subgroups of students toa higher level of success on formalassessments and in life.In order to accomplish this goal,students attending HISD have teamsof highly qualified professionalsworking together to provideindividualized educational programs based on needs and interests.At HISD, each student in grades Pre-K through 12 is assigned a homeroomteacher who maintains a red folder called a Personal Education Plan(PEP). These folders contain reportsof students’ progress on standardizedassessments as well as interventionplans and documentation of parentconferences and efforts that have been made to help students succeed.Periodically, grade level teachersmeet to discuss students’ data andprogress in their classes. During theseProfessional Learning Community(PLC) meetings, teachers share ideasand discuss times and methods for providing small group and one-on-one assistance.Some of the small group strategies inHISD include Title I pull-out classesat the Elementary School, supportteachers who assist in the regular class at the Junior High School, andspecialized TAKS preparation classesat Hallettsville High School.All teachers in the HallettsvilleIndependent School District are now

Home of the BrahmasHBLB

Issue #2 March 2010

Yours for Excellence in Education,Dr. Jo Ann BludauSuperintendent of Hallettsville ISDrequired to obtain Gifted andTalented (GT) training so thatthey can provide acceleratedlessons to all students in theregular classroom.One of the newest approachesthat HISD will be using duringthe 2010-2011 school year toaccelerate student learning is anoptional flexible calendar. Thisprogram, which is allowed bythe Texas Education Agencythrough a waiver, uses smallgroup, focused lessons to helpall students succeed.With the optional flexiblecalendar, the district will offer 180 days of instructionincluding eight flex days wherestudents who do not perform ata satisfactory level onstandardized and benchmark tests will be required to attend,and those who meet or exceedexpectations will be exemptfrom coming to school on thosedays.Some of the flex days includeColumbus Day, Stock ShowDay, Presidents Day, and thelast day of school. Other dayshave been strategically placedso that teachers can haveintense test preparation tutoringsessions with students whoreally need it. During these days,teachers may also have anopportunity to work withstudents in danger of failing for the school year. The board-approved optional flexiblecalendar for 2010-2011 is printedon the last page of this newsletter.Teachers will continue to informparents of student progressthrough periodic progress reportsand report cards as well asthrough the Family Access onlinegrade system. Parents who havenot yet received their passwordsmay contact the PEIMScoordinator on each campus.Teachers will also be having fallconferences with parents andoffering optional springconferences to discuss studentprogress.In addition to focusing on studentprogress, we are also making aneffort to evaluate our progress asa district. Each December campus principals ask staff torespond to a survey containingtwo basic questions including 1)What is working well for us? and2) What would you like tochange in our district or on your campus? This feedback isdiscussed among administrators,and appropriate action is taken.We are considering expandingthis survey to other stakeholdersin our school community in thefuture so that we can better servethe students of our district.We have also asked former students of HHS to complete asurvey to inform us of what wedid that allowed them to besuccessful in college and/or theworkplace as well as what wecould have done to better prepare them. All recentgraduates are encouraged tocomplete an online survey at thefollowing link www.surveymonkey.com/s/for merstudentsurvey.HISD engages in this process of continuous improvementthroughout the school year andreflects on progress and successas well as significant needs. Wewelcome your input andinvolvement in our schools.Again, thank you for joining usas we “Capture the Adventure”

For an online version of this newsletter, please visit our website at www.hisdbrahmas.org

Family Access Contacts

HES: Dottie LeopoldHJH: Peggy Vanek HHS: Geraldine Dornak

Issue #2 March 2010

HES: Public School WeekAdventure

During the month of March,schools across the state will beopening their doors to familiesand hosting special events toengage parents in their children's education.Please join HallettsvilleElementary as we celebrateour successes and honor TexasPublic Schools this spring atHES.

•

March 8

-12

—Join us for lunch

•

March 10

—“ThankYou”Community/Volunteer Luncheon 11:00

•

March 11

—3

GradeMusical Production “It’sSaturday” 6:00 p.m.

•

April 30

—Elementary FieldDay “The Adventure Never Ends” 12:30 @ BrahmaMemorial Stadium

•

May 6

—KindergartenMother’s Day Brunch 7:55 a.m.

•

May 7

—2

grade “Celebrateour Grandparents” Program9:00 a.m.

•

May 10

—TechnologyShowcase

•

May 27

—KindergartenGraduation 8:30 a.m.Success is a part of every day atHallettsville Elementary; for example, some of our recentaccomplishments include

•

Hallettsville Elementary, 2009 TexasEducation Agency,

Exemplary

Campus

•

Hallettsville Elementary, 2009 TexasEducation Agency,

Distinguished Performance Award

•

Hallettsville Elementary,

2010 Certificate of Appreciation

, VietnamVeterans of America

•

Hallettsville Elementary, 2010 JumpRope for Heart Fund Raiser,$3,500.00

•

South Texas Foundation for NursingExcellence,

2009 Top Ten Nominee

,Tobi Appelt

•

Hallettsville Chamber of Commerce

2010 Hospitality Award

, RidaChovanetz

•

Lavaca County VFW

2010

Teacher of the Year

, Monica Barnes

In relation to this year’s themefor Public School week,“Building Leaders: Today theylearn. Tomorrow they lead,”HJHS has prepared activities oncampus that will highlightstudents’ abilities to lead.Monday, March 8

, begins theLittle Ceasar’s Pizza fundraiser to pay for student incentiveactivities. Students selling themost in each grade will berecognized at the end of the year awards assemblies.National Jr. Honor Society willhave new member induction at12:00 noon on Monday in theHJHS Library. Parents andrelatives are invited to attend.On Tuesday, HJHS StudentCouncil members will show their appreciation for parental support by greeting parents in the back parking lot for their annual Drive-Thru Breakfast. Student Councilmembers will be serving juice anddonuts to parents from 7:35 – 7:55a.m.HJHS Yearling Band memberswill participate in the MiddleSchool Concert and Sight Readingcontest in Manor on Tuesday.The public is invited to attend theconcert portion of the contest.Thursday, please join us at theannual Texas Tea, which will beheld in the HJHS Band Hall.Famous Texans will come alivethrough the “autobiographical”presentations given by seventhgrade students.HISD will also recognize itsvolunteers with a “Thank You”Luncheon on Thursday.Yearling and Lady Yearling track members will compete in theTidehaven Track meet on Friday,March 12

where 7

and 8

grade boys and girls willrepresent HJHS in track and fieldevents and work toward winningthe gold.