Inside DSISD - dsisdtx.us€¦ · 2013 season come to an end. T his year’s seniors were Meghan...
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Inside DSISD DRIPPING SPRINGS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER December 2013 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Superintendent’s Message 2 Lockdown Drill at DSMS 2 Student is Youth Tour Winner 2 Audit Results 3 Colonial Days at DSES 3 FLL Robotics Meet 3 LRFPC Update 3 DSHS Senior Signs 4 DSISD Losses 4 Holiday Performances 4 Campus Happenings 5 Tiger Shack 5 DSEF Teachers of the Month 6 Board Briefs 6 The Alamo at DSMS 6 IMPORTANT DATES December 6 Interim Grade Report December 16-19 Final Exams and Prep Days December 16 Regular Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m., Board Room, DSISD Administrative Offices December 6 Nine-Week Grade Report December 23-January 3 Winter Break January 6 Student Holiday/Staff Workday DSHS Volleyball is State Semifinalist Meengs are being held to collect input from key stakeholder groups on the qualies that a new head football coach should possess. This input will be used to develop a profile that will be used during the selecon process. Parents and community member will have the opportunity to share com- ments on Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. in the Board Room at DSISD Central Office. In addion, input can be e-mailed to “[email protected].” Bob Schultz had resigned as head coach on Nov. 14, 2013, but will connue to teach and serve as assistant track coach through his contract. What a season! The Dripping Springs High School volleyball team made an impressive playoff run that landed the Tigers in the state tournament in Garland. DSHS, under the direcon of head coach Michael Kane, posted a 40-10 sea- son record that included a nine-match win streak. Aſter winning the district tle with an 11-1 record, Dripping Springs bi-district beat Ausn Reagan in the first round of playoffs, defeated Hays High School in the area match, beat Vista Ridge in the regional quarterfinal, beat Calallen in the regional semifinal match, and defeated district rival Cedar Park in the regional final. The Tigers advanced to the state tournament, where they faced Prosper High School. Despite an enthusiasc crowd and great effort, DSHS dropped three sets (19-25, 21-25, 22-25) to see the 2013 season come to an end. T his year’s seniors were Meghan Bes, Dominique Arnold and Nicole Moody. Bes was selected as member of the 2013 Texas Girls Coaches Associaon All-State Team. “The community support for the team was amazing, especially the state send-off, which was an experience the girls will always remember,” said Coach Kane. “The experiences these players gained this season were life-long ... and they should be really proud of their ac- complishments. We are already using this as fuel to movate returning players driven to want to get back (to the state tournament) next year.” Team photo of 2013 DSHS Lady Tigers taken in Corpus Chris on the USS Lexington during the regional tournament. Community Meeting for Input on Coach
Transcript of Inside DSISD - dsisdtx.us€¦ · 2013 season come to an end. T his year’s seniors were Meghan...
Inside DSISDDRIPPING SPRINGS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER December 2013
INSIDE THIS ISSUESuperintendent’s Message 2Lockdown Drill at DSMS 2Student is Youth Tour Winner 2Audit Results 3Colonial Days at DSES 3FLL Robotics Meet 3LRFPC Update 3DSHS Senior Signs 4DSISD Losses 4Holiday Performances 4Campus Happenings 5Tiger Shack 5DSEF Teachers of the Month 6Board Briefs 6The Alamo at DSMS 6
IMPORTaNT DaTESDecember 6Interim Grade Report
December 16-19Final Exams and Prep Days
December 16Regular Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m., Board Room, DSISD Administrative Offices
December 6Nine-Week Grade Report
December 23-January 3Winter Break
January 6 Student Holiday/Staff Workday
DSHS Volleyball is State Semifinalist
Meetingsarebeingheldtocollectinputfromkeystakeholdergroupsonthequalitiesthatanewheadfootballcoachshouldpossess.Thisinputwillbeusedtodevelopaprofilethatwillbeusedduringtheselectionprocess. Parentsandcommunitymemberwillhavetheopportunitytosharecom-mentsonDec.10at6p.m.intheBoardRoomatDSISDCentralOffice.Inaddition,inputcanbee-mailedto“[email protected].” BobSchultzhadresignedasheadcoachonNov.14,2013,butwillcontinuetoteachandserveasassistanttrackcoachthroughhiscontract.
Whataseason!TheDrippingSpringsHighSchoolvolleyballteammadeanimpressiveplayoffrunthatlandedtheTigersinthestatetournamentinGarland. DSHS,underthedirectionofheadcoachMichaelKane,posteda40-10sea-sonrecordthatincludedanine-matchwinstreak.Afterwinningthedistricttitlewithan11-1record,DrippingSpringsbi-districtbeatAustinReaganinthefirstroundofplayoffs,defeatedHaysHighSchoolintheareamatch,beatVistaRidgeintheregionalquarterfinal,beatCalallenintheregionalsemifinalmatch,anddefeateddistrictrivalCedarParkintheregionalfinal. TheTigersadvancedtothestatetournament,wheretheyfacedProsperHighSchool.Despiteanenthusiastic
crowdandgreateffort,DSHSdroppedthreesets(19-25,21-25,22-25)toseethe2013seasoncometoanend.T hisyear’sseniorswereMeghanBettis,DominiqueArnoldandNicoleMoody.Bettiswasselectedasmemberofthe2013TexasGirlsCoachesAssociationAll-StateTeam. “Thecommunitysupportfortheteamwasamazing,especiallythestatesend-off,whichwasanexperiencethegirlswillalwaysremember,”saidCoachKane.“Theexperiencestheseplayersgainedthisseasonwerelife-long...andtheyshouldbereallyproudoftheirac-complishments.Wearealreadyusingthisasfueltomotivatereturningplayersdriventowanttogetback(tothestatetournament)nextyear.”
Team photo of 2013 DSHS Lady Tigers taken in Corpus Christi on the USS Lexington during the regional tournament.
Community Meeting for Input on Coach
Message from the SuperintendentBruce Gearing, Ed.D.
IhopeeveryonehadarestfulandenjoyableThanksgivingbreak.Duringthetwoyearsthatwehavehadafullweekoff,Ihavereceivedpositivefeed-backfromfamilies.The2014-15schoolcalendar,whichrecentlywasapprovedbytheBoardofTrusteesandpostedonourwebsite,alsoincludesafullweekThanks-givingbreak. Iwouldliketoextendmycongratu-lationstotheDrippingSpringsHighSchoolvolleyballteam.TheLadyTigershadanexceptionalseason,whichwascappedoffwithatriptothestatetournament.Itisquiteanaccomplishmenttoadvancethatfarinplayoffcompetition,especiallycom-ingoutofaverycompetitivedistrictsuchasours.GreatjobCoachKaneandteam! Pleasestayup-to-dateontheprog-ressthathasbeenmadeinplanningthefutureofourdistrict.Asthepaceofourenrollmentincreaseshaspickedup,wearedeterminingthebestcourseofactiontotakeinplanningnewfacilities.Welikely
willbeproposingabondreferendumin2014toprepareforourdistrict’sneedsinfutureyears.Specifically,ourelementaryschoolsandmiddleschoolarenearingcapacityandwehavestudiedoptionstoservefuturestudentsatthosegradelev-els.PleaseseetherelatedstoryonPage3ofthisnewsletter. I’dalsoliketobrieflyreflectonafewnewinitiativeswehaveimplementedthisfall.Asadistrict,weembarkedupona“BYOD”(BringYourOwnDevice)pro-gramthatallowedelectronicdevicestobeusedinaninstructionalsetting.Someparentswereconcernedattheoutsetthattheywouldbeexpectedtopurchasenewdevicesfortheirkids.Wehavebeengath-eringfeedbackfromteachersonhowthishasbeenworking,anditsoundslikeforthemostpart,therehavebeenenoughdevicestogoaround.Thisinstructionaltoollendsitselfbettertosomesubjectsthanothers,andIbelieveourteachersareeffectivelyexploringwhatfitswellwiththeirclassesandlessons.Ihavesaidbeforeitisnotaboutthetool,itaboutthelearning;Iwouldratherallowteachers
tohavemanytoolsfromwhichtochoosewhendevelopinglessonplans. AnothernewtwistthisfallwastheCentersforLearningandInnovation.Formerlythelibraries,wehavetriedtopositionthecentersastruecampushubs,wherestudentscanexploretheirinterestsandhavethesupporttheyneedtobecreativeandcollaborative.Atthesametime,Ithinkparents,students,andstaffhaverealizedthattraditionallibraryser-vicesarestillavailableinthecenter,butinadditionstudentshavebetteraccesstotechnologyandevenvideostudios!WewillcontinuetorefinehowtheCLIscanbestservestudents. Pleasejoinmeingivingourcam-pusesaroundofapplauseonasuccessulfallsemester.Asalways,thanksforbeinginvolvedinDSISD. Sincerely,
BruceGearing Superintendent
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It’s Just a Drill!OnFriday,Dec.13,DrippingSpringsMiddleSchoolwillworkwiththeHaysCountySheriff’sOffice,HaysCountyOfficeofEmergencyManagementandotheremergencyresponderstohostalockdowndrill.Thedrillwillhelpfamiliarizeemergencyresponderswiththecampusand,asisthecasewithanysafe-tydrill,willhelptrainstaffandstudentsonappropriateproce-durestotakeincasetheyeverfacealockdownsituation.Thedrillwillstartatapproximately1:00p.m.andisexpectedtolastabout30minutes.Severalemer-gencyvehicleswillbeparkedatthecampus.
HS Student Is a Youth Tour Winner SeniorCassidyMatousekisoneofsixwinnersofthe2014YouthTourContestsponsoredbyPeder-nalesElectricCoop-erative.Inhonorofits75thanniversary,theCo-opthisyearaskedstudentstowriteanessayfromtheper-spectiveofsomeone75yearsago,whenelectricityfirstilluminatedtheruralHillCountry. Tenfinalistswereselectedfromafieldof450entriestopresenttheiressaysinNovemberandinterviewwithajudge;thenthesixwinnerswerechosen.The
sixwinnerswillreceiveanexpense-paidtriptoWashington,D.C.,nextJunetotourhistoricalsites,learnaboutcooperativebusiness,andmeetpoliticalrepresenta-tives.InadditiontoCassidy,thereweretwowinnerseachfromHaysandCanyonLakehighschoolsandonefromWimber-leyHighSchool.DSHSstudentLaurenSanderswasoneofthe10finalists. ThewinnersalsowerehonoredatadinnerandreceptionattheLBJLibraryinNovember. PEChasparticipatedintheYouthTourprogramformorethan30years.PresidentLyndonB.Johnsonwasinstru-mentalinhelpingestablishbothPECandthenationalYouthTourprogram.
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DrippingSpringsISDreceivedanunqualifiedopinion(thebestopinionadistrictcanreceiveinanexternalaudit)inthe2012-13finalauditthatwaspresent-edattheNovember18Boardmeeting.NosignificantdeficiencieswerefoundbytheaccountingfirmPadgettStratemann,whichcompletedtheaudit. “DrippingSpringsISDcontinuestostandonsoundfinancialfootingdespitechallengeswehavefacedoverthelastseveralyears,”saidSuperintendentBruceGearing.“Oneofourhighestprioritiesinthecomingyearswillbeprovidingforourcontinuedgrowthinstudentenrollment.”TheauditreportalsostatedthatDSISDwasincompliancewithrequirementsforlocalgovernmentsandnon-profitorgani-zations. DSISD’sbudgetendedtheyearwithasurplus,whichexceededthedistrict’sgoalofbalancingrevenuesandexpendi-tures.Earlierthisyear,DSISDreceivedaperfectscoreandSuperiorratingontheFIRST(FinancialIntegrityRatingSystemofTexas)report.
Audit Results Good
Update on Long-Range Committee Atthebeginningoftheschoolyear,DrippingSpringsISDhadinvitedparentsandcommunitytobepartoftheLong-RangeFacilityPlanningCommitteetostudythedistrict’sfuturefacilityneeds.Thisyear,theenrollmentofDSISDhasincreasedsignificantly(6.5percent)anditisclearthatourelementaryandmiddleschoolswillreachcapacityintheforesee-ablefuture. TheLong-RangeFacilityPlanningCommittee(LRFPC)hasbeenmeet-ingthroughoutthefalltostudythesedemographictrends,researchoptionsforfacilitiestoservedistrictstudents,andprioritizeprojectsthatmaybeplacedinabondprogram.InDecemberthiscommit-teewillturnoverinformationtoaBondSteeringCommitteethatwillmakearecommendationtotheBoardofTrusteesforanupcomingbondreferendum. ThedistricthiredthefirmHucka-beeandAssociatestoguidethedistrictthroughtheplanningprocess.LRFPCstarteditstaskbystudyingdemographictrends,learningaboutthedistrict’sfinancialstandingasitrelatestobondingcapacity,andreviewingbuildingcapacitiesanddistrict-widefacilityneeds.Sub-com-mitteeswereformedearlyintheprocess,witheachfocusingonaspecificarea:• elementary/middleschools• athletic/extracurricularfacilities• maintenance/technology• finance Eachsub-committeetookanin-depthlookatcurrentdistrictproperties/facilities,identifiedneeds,compiledalistofoptionstofillthem,andplaced
projectsinaprioritizedlist.ThearchitectfirmHuckabeethendevelopedroughestimatesofcostsforvariousconstructionprojectsandfacilitatedtheworkofthesub-committees. Asistypicalofthistypeofprocessinschooldistricts,thelistofallpotentialprojectsexceededthebondingcapacitythatisavailabletothedistrict(projectedtobeintherangeof$70-90million).Thelistofallneedsidentifiedbythesub-committeestotalednearly$130million.InlateNovember,theLRFPCdiscussedthelistofitemsandoptionsanddiscussedpossibleconfigurationstoservestudentsinPK-8thGrades.Mostofthediscussionhasleanedtowardsusingthe50acresownedbythedistrictonSawyerRanchRoad,andbuildinganelementaryschoolandmiddleschoolthatwouldpossiblysharesomecorefacilitiessuchasakitchenandmechanicalrooms.Manyotheritemsareincludedonthepotentialprojectlist,includingastadium,technology,comple-tionofbaseball/softballfieldsatthehighschool,andrepairstocurrentbuildings. ThenextstepisthatmanyLRFPCmemberswillshiftintorolesonaBondSteeringCommittee,whichwillreviewpotentialprojectsanddeveloparecom-mendationforabondprogramthatwillbepresentedtotheBoard.AcommunitytelephonesurveyalsowillcollectdatainthenextfewweeksthatwillhelptheSteeringCommitteewithitsdecisions. InordertogotobondinMay2014,theBoardwouldhavetomakethatdeci-sioninFebruary2014.
Fifth-graders at Dripping Springs Elementary research an aspect of colo-nial life, prepared a display, and made presentations at the Colonial Fair in November. At left, Ian Stinson shares information about the use of herbs in Colonial america.
Colonial Times at DSE
DrippingSpringsISDwillhosttheFIRST®(ForInspirationandRecognitionofScienceandTechnology)LEGO®League(FLL)QualifyingTournamentonSatur-day,Dec.7,from9a.m.-4p.m.TheFLLevent,whichwillinvolveapproximately25middleschoolteamsfromtheCentralTexasregionincludingDrippingSpringsMiddleSchool,willtakeplaceatDrippingSpringsHighSchool. TheChallengeconsistsofahead-to-headroboticscompetition,wherethestudentsdesign,buildandprogramaLegorobottoperformspecifictasks.Italsoincludesareal-worldproblem-solvingprojectandpresentationbaseduponthethemeof“Nature’sFury.”Inaddition,theteamisjudgedonitsuseoftheFLLCoreValuesduringthecompetition. TheFirstLegoLeaguecompetitionisdesignedtopromoteScience,Technol-ogy,EngineeringandMatheducation(STEM)inmiddleschool.Thecompetitionisfreeandopentothepublic. ThisisthethirdyearthatDrippingSpringsMiddleSchoolhasfieldedarobot-icsteamandtheFLLteamisoneoftwogroupsofstudents(theothercompetedintheBESTcompetitioninNovember).TheDSMSteamsaresponsoredbyteacherDanaNorman.
ROBOTICS MEET DECEMBER 7
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DrippingSpringsHighSchoolseniorbaseballplayerLakeDabneysignedanationalletterofintentNov.18withtheUniversityofMissouri.Dabneywasjoinedbycoaches,parents,friendsandDSHSstaffinannouncinghiscommitment. Dabney,aleft-handedpitcher,earnedvarsitylettersasbothasopho-moreandjunior.In2013,heearnedhon-orablementionontheall-districtteamafterrecordingthreewins,alossandasavein10appearancesfortheTigers.Healsoposted15strikeoutsanda2.14ERAandledDrippingSpringstoadistricttitle.DabneyisexpectedtoplayakeyrolefortheTigersunderthedirectionofHeadCoachChrisPayneagainthisspring. InadditiontohissuccessatDSHS,DabneyhascompetedfortheAustinSlamorganization,leadinghisteamtothePre-mierNationalChampionshipin2013.ThesonofTriciaDabneyandJackDab-ney,Lakehasbeeninvolvedinmultiplecommunityserviceprojectsduringhishighschoolyears.Recently,heandothermembersoftheTigerbaseballteamhavevisitedWalnutSpringsElementarytoreadbooksaboutpositivecharactertraitstoyoungerstudents. Twoothersigningceremonieswillbeheldinthespring.
DrippingSpringsISDlostthreemembersofitsextendedfamilyinthepastmonth.RecentlyretiredDrippingSpringsHighSchoolsoftballcoachandteacherKeithTuckdiedsuddenlyNov.7,2013.Hissuccessstretchedfarbeyondwinsonthesoftballdiamond,ashehadatremendousimpactonmanystudent-athletes. FormerDSHSprincipalDonForresterpassedawayathishomeinNewMexicoinmid-November.Mr.Forresterledthecampusintheearly1990safterservingasanassistantprincipalatboththehighschoolandelementaryschool.Well-respectedandwell-liked,hewasknownforhisfavoritepieceofadvice:“Rememberwhoyouareandwhereyoucomefrom.” OnDec.1,WalnutSpringsElementary’sLSSP(LicensedSpecialistinSchoolPsy-chologist)AnnaMorgan-Penzdiedinacaraccident.ShewasinherfirstyearwithDSISDandalreadyhadmadeapositiveimpactonthatcampus. Thedistrict’ssincerecondolencesgotofamilymembersofCoachTuck,Mr.For-rester,andMrs.Morgan-Penz.Thepositiveinfluencetheyhadonthelivesofyoungpeoplewilllastforever.
DSISD Loses Three Former, Current StaffPitcher SignsWith Mizzou
Don Forrester Anna Morgan-Penz Keith Tuck
Severalmusicalgroupsfromthemiddleandhighschoolswillbeperformingholi-dayconcertsinDecember. BoththemiddleschoolandhighschoolchoirsareplanningcarolingtoursthatwillincludestopsatDSISDelementaryschools,BartonCreekMallandHillCountryCare.Themiddle school group alsowill participate in “Christmas onMercer Street” during thecommunitytreelightingceremonyonSaturday,Dec.7,startingat6:00p.m. All events on the following schedule will be held at the Dripping Springs HighSchoolauditorium.Concertsarefreeandopentothepublic.
Dec. 9: DSMS7th/8thGradeBandConcert,6:30p.m.Dec. 10:DSHSBandHolidayConcert,6:30p.m.Dec. 11: DSMSWinterChoirConcert,7:00p.m.Dec. 12:DSHSChoirHolidayConcert,7:30p.m.Dec. 15: DSHSJazzBandandJazzCatsConcert,3:00p.m.
Holiday Musical Performances Scheduled in December
Campus HappeningsDripping Springs High School:• DrippingSpringsHighSchoolFFAstudentsexperiencedsuccessintherecentdistrictLeadershipDevelopmentEvent,earning
theSweepstakesAwardandqualifyingfortheAreaLeadershipDevelopmentcompetitioninsixevents.Teamsplacingfirstwere:SeniorChapterConductingandGreenhandChapterConducting.Placingsecond(qualifiedforarea)wereClaireGravell(JobInterview),FFABroadcastingTeam,GreenhandSkillsandGreenhandQuiz.AttheAreaLDE,theSeniorChapterConduct-ingTeamwassixthandtheGreenhandChapterConductingTeamplaced10th.
Dripping Springs Middle School:• NineDanceIIstudentsand11DSMSCheerleaderswonaspottoperformattheHoustonRocketsgameonNov.16through
anessaycontestheldbysponsorLaChelleDougherty.TheDSMSDanceIIstudentswere:ErikaDoyle,RyleeKirkey,BaileyLewallen,AlexiaPappas,GraceMallett,MargaretMarable,LilyMau,BriannaSutter&NatalieTompso.TheDSMScheer-leaderswere:JillianBohuslav,EmilyBrown,KennedyGroves,SageHandley,LaurenKell,SophieMarek,AmandaMeneses,MadelynOlivas,LilianaReyes,PaightonSalceandKaitlynWebb.
Dripping Springs Elementary:• FIfth-gradeStudentLeadersareworkingwiththeorganizationAmber’sAngelstocollectcoloringbooksandcrayonsfor
patientsatDellChildren’sHospital.• DSEalsoparticipatedintheannualcollectionforCoatsforKidsofCentralTexas.
Rooster Springs Elementary:• RSESwillhosta“Scratchmarathon”onDec.11,from3:25-4:30p.m.ScratchisafreeprogramdesignedbyMITtointro-
ducestudentstotheexcitingworldofcomputercoding.Childrenmustberegisteredtoparticipate.• RSEparticipatedintheannualcollectionforCoatsforKidsofCentralTexas.
Walnut Springs Elementary:• WSEisholdingafooddriveforTheSpringsFoodPantrythroughDec.13,2013.• WalnutSpringsisintherunningforagrantforadditionalsecurityequipmentfromStanleyTools.Votescanbecaston-line
byloggingintowww.stanleysaferschools.com,searchingschoolsbyname(WalnutSprings),forupto$200,000infunding.
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Tiger Shack Provides Spirit Wear, Hands-On Experience TheTigerShackschoolstoreatDrippingSpringsHighSchoolopenedlastspring,creatingauniquelearningopportunity.Notonlyareapparelandotherspirititemsavailableatthestore,butstudentsaregainingvaluableexperienceinhowtomanageabusiness. JuniorsandseniorstakingtheBusinessEntrepreneurshipcoursearegettinghands-onexperienceinbookkeeping,marketing,inventorycontrol,staffing,scheduling,andmore.Forinstance,intermsofmarketing,studentssecuredspon-sorsduringfootballseasonthatproducedT-shirtstothrowintothestandspromotingtheTigerShack.Inaddition,studentssoldproductsathomegamesthisfall.Also,thestaffisplanningvariouspromo-tionsforbasketballandothersports.ThisfallTigerShackstudentsstartedattendingDrippingSpringsChamberofCommercemeetings,andrecentlymadeapresentationaboutwhattheyaredoing. “WhenIfirstgotinvolvedinthestore,wewerejustpickingoutproducts,andIdidn’texpecttolearnsomuchaboutsomanythings,”saidseniorErinRunyon,whoservesasthegroup’sCommunicationsDirector.“I’venotonlylearnedaboutrunningabusiness,butalsoaboutworkingwithotherstowardsacommongoal.” ThestorecarriesproductsbyHurley,NikeandJanSport.Mer-chandiseincludesT-shirts,sweatshirts,sweatpants,hats,gymbags,dufflebags,flip-flops,lanyards,coffeemugs,waterbottlesandmore.HoursareMondays,WednesdaysandFridaysfrom8:15-8:55a.m.andfrom4:15-4:55p.m. TheTigerShackhasapresenceonFacebookandTwittertolearnmoreaboutproductsandspecials.
The Tiger Shack was featured in a segment on KEYE’s School of the Week feature in November. Pictured are (left to right): Daniel Caceres, Lukas Blackman and Braden Gilbert.
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Inside DSISDistheDrippingSpringsIndependentSchool
Districtnewsletterforparents,friendsandtheentireDripping
Springscommunity.
Thosewishingtosubmitphotosorstorysuggestions,pleasecon-tactDirectorofCommunicationsDaleWhitaker(dale.whitaker@
dsisd.txed.net).
DRIPPING SPRINGS ISDBoard of Trustees:
BarbaraStroud,presidentCarolinePekarek,vicepresident
ShellyReeves,secretaryAlanAtwood
CarrieFontanaKrollTimKurpiewskiJonThompson
Superintendent: BruceGearing,Ed.D.
November Board Briefs TheNovemberBoardmeetingbeganwithareportontheFinancialIn-tegritySystemofTexas(FIRST)reportandpublichearing. TwostudentswhoplacedsecondandthirdintheVeteransDayEssayCon-test--AndjaBjeletichandJordanNolen--wererecognized.AboveandBeyondstaffawardswerepresentedto:LindseyMahany(DrippingSpringsElementary),DonnaMamrosh,MaryWittmanandtheRSESCafeteriastaff(RoosterSpringsElementary),GayKlassen(WalnutSpringsElementary),RachelFrimelandLarinHin-son(DrippingSpringsMiddleSchool),andJordanBlountandCalenMcNett(DrippingSpringsHighSchool).Thecampusspot-lightfeaturedmiddleschoolstudentsinthecastof“Annie”performingamedleyofsongs. KerriRanneyfromHuckabeeandAssociatesprovidedanupdateonlong-rangefacilityplanning.ShetalkedaboutprogressoftheLong-RangeFacilityPlanningCommittee,whichcurrentlyisworkingtowardsdevelopmentofrecom-mendationstosharewithaBondSteeringCommittee. DuringtheBoardDiscussionpartofthemeeting,firstreadingwasdoneforTASBUpdate98,whichresultedfromthe83rdlegislativesession.Inaddition,the
contractforservicesprovidedbythear-chitecturalfirmHuckabeeandAssociateswasreviewedandapproved. SuperintendentBruceGearingre-viewedupdateddistrictenrollmentnum-bersasofNov.18(5,087).HealsopointedoutinformationfromtheCityregardingproposedsubdivisions. MikeO’BrienfromthefirmPadgettStratemannpresentedareportonthe2012-13financialaudit.Thedistrictreceivedanunqualifiedopinion,withnosignificantdeficiencies. The2014-15schoolcalendarthatwasrecommendedbytheDistrictAdvi-soryCouncilwasapproved. AssistantSuperintendentforBusi-nessServicesElaineCogburnintroducedmonthlyfinancialreportsaswellasanewreportonnon-cashdonations. AnagendareviewmeetingwillnotbeheldinDecember,becauseofthewinterbreak.ThenextregularBoardmeetingisDec.16at6p.m.intheBoardRoomattheAdministrationBuilding. TheDSISDBoardofTrusteesconsistsof:BarbaraStroud,president;CarolinePekarek,vicepresident;ShellyReeves,secretary;AlanAtwood;CarrieFontana-Kroll;TimKurpiewski;andJonThompson.
The Alamo Comes to DSMS
DSMS seventh-graders recently recreated the Alamo. Students surveyed a field behind the school to accurately reflect the size of the original Alamo, and bleach-ers represented the main structure that finally was breached. Some students played the role of Texan defenders and others were Mexican troops. Teachers who planned this hands-on lesson were Paige Frontera, Blake Hurta and Jason Haydon. Above, Mr. Hurta teaches students to reload the “cannon.”
DSEF Teachers of the Month
TheDrippingSpringsEducationFoundationhonorsDSISDteachersthroughthe“TeacheroftheMonth”pro-gram.Eachmonthateacherfromadiffer-entschoolisrecognized,withcampusesdeterminingtheselectionprocess. InNovemberteachersfrombothDrippingSpringsElementaryandRoosterSpringsElementarywererecognized.ForDSE,therecipientwasfifth-gradeScienceandSocialStudiesteacherJenniferWe-ger.,whoseloveoflearningiscontagioustobothstudentsandfellowteachingstaff.Fourth-gradeteacherPeggyYoungwashonoredfromRoosterSpringsElementa-ry.Mrs.YoungwasnominatedbyPrincipalBerneroforherstrongcommitmenttobuildinglifelonglearnersinherclassroom. TheawardissponsoredbyLoneStarBank.
J. Weger P. Young
