Klein Connects March 2012
2
March 2012 Project HOPE at Strack Intermediate Promotes Peace in the KISD Texas Public Schools Week (March 5-9) was first celebrated in 1950 to show visible support of public education. Typically it is celebrated to coincide with the March 2, 1836, anniversary of the Texas Declaration of Independence. During this week in March we will host many open houses and our newest school, Blackshear Elementary, will be dedicated. In the Klein ISD, however, we choose to celebrate every day. Public schools in Texas and in Klein are achieving more today than ever. Our employees are working harder and smarter than ever before, and their passion is exemplified throughout the district in the faces of the students they encounter daily. I want to thank each of you for choosing Klein ISD and for making a difference in the lives of public school children each and every day. Dr. Jim Cain, KISD Superintendent Education is not the answer to the question. Education is the means to the answer to all questions. ~William Allin Klein C nnects a monthly publication for Klein ISD employees Klein C nnects Project HOPE (Helping Others to create Peace Everywhere) began during the spring of 2011, with the goal of promoting respect and tolerance among all members of the Klein community. The intent is to annually hold an evening event by Strack Intermediate theatre arts students, as well as participate in ongoing outreach projects throughout the school year. Students involved choose a theme that aligns with the program goal, and find ways to explore the ideas of respect and tolerance. Last year, theatre arts teacher Lauren McCarthy selected Cherie Bennett’s Anne Frank and Me as Strack Intermediate’s entry into the Klein ISD One Act Play Festival. The goal was to produce a show to challenge the students to take on more intense, dramatic themes while still being relatable on an individual character level. The play provided a relatable background for an honest view into the life of a Parisian Jewish family as they went from a privileged existence to a life in hiding, and then ultimately to a concentration camp. In the beginning McCarthy had students immerse themselves into the time period by researching the issues that mattered to the characters, and explore themes and questions in the play. Rehearsals began with students assigned research questions regarding everything from 40s fashion to details of the Vel d’Hiv roundup of Parisian Jews. Students also used a curriculum trunk borrowed from the Holocaust Museum of Houston. Within days, students began to be engaged. The dramaturgy wall that began with just a few posters exploded into an expanding database of images and information from students. Soon, English classes visited the wall as if it were a mini-museum. In order to bring the wall to life, the company also began a series of field trips. During a tour at the Houston Holocaust Museum, they were inspired as the museum guide, Leonard Roth, compared the Holocaust to “simple bullying to the one millionth degree.” It was about this time when her students started inquiring on how to do more. “This was humbling as I initially started the process simply in an effort to direct a show with some meaning and context, and here were my junior high students begging me for an opportunity to make a difference,” recalled McCarthy. Students also watched the documentary Paperclips, in which students had collected paperclips to symbolize the Norwegian resistance during WWII and represent the millions of Holocaust victims. Afterwards, Strack students began a project they titled Paperclips for Peace and wore paperclips on their collars, just as Norwegian students had in the 40s. When asked about their peculiar fashion accessories, they told the story of the Norwegian resistance and talked about standing up to intolerance. This initiated an even greater desire in her students to spread the message of respect out to more people. McCarthy began adding on to the evening performance of Strack’s annual play. First, their dramaturgy work was displayed in the lobby, and information booths about Paperclips for Peace and No Place for Hate clubs were displayed. The Unite for Understanding Council joined the initiative as well. Students made butterflies to send to the HMH Butterfly Project, which memorializes child victims of the Holocaust. This expanded to include audience members. The Holocaust Museum of Houston’s speaker bureau helped McCarthy secure a guest speaker for the event that included Holocaust survivor Lili Gordon. The cast and crew dubbed the performance night An Evening of Remembrance. The evening had 500 audience members who donated more than $2,000, which was given to the Houston Council of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and the Holocaust Museum. Also, nearly 500 butterflies were shipped to The Butterfly Project. Most importantly, the experience inspired McCarthy to make this an annual event at Strack. The annual event evolved into Project HOPE. The students felt this title incorporated all of their original intentions and goals while leaving room for growth. This year’s one act play is Bridge to Terabithia because of its focus on open-minded thinking, friendship and respect. For the first part of the event, the students want to focus on anti-bullying messages and students are gathering real-life stories from their peers about experiences with school bullies to share in a video on the evening of the event. Students are also working to find experienced representatives across the district to form a panel to answer bullying questions. Advanced theatre production classes have researched real-life stories about cyber-bullying and are now writing and producing short films to showcase at the event and to enter into the national No Bull video competition. They hope to promote anti-bullying at Strack and offer real-life success stories and solutions to encourage bystanders to become allies. Anne Frank & Me wasn’t just a play. It was an experience, a lesson, and one of the best times of my life! I remember anticipating the end of school, and not for the reason that I wanted to wiggle out of math and into TV watching at home, but because I wanted to be in the place I felt most happy. I remember, most honestly, looking up at the clock during rehearsal and wishing the hands would slow down. - Carleigh Newland, student Community Dinner - March 1, 2012 Kleb Intermediate
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KISD Monthly Employee Newsletter
Transcript of Klein Connects March 2012
March 2012
Project HOPE at Strack Intermediate Promotes Peace in the KISD
Dr.
Cain
’s Co
rner
Texas Public Schools Week (March 5-9) was first celebrated in 1950 to show visible support of public education. Typically it is celebrated to coincide with the March 2, 1836, anniversary of the Texas Declaration of Independence. During this week in March we will host many open houses and our newest school, Blackshear Elementary, will be dedicated. In the Klein ISD, however, we choose to celebrate every day. Public schools in Texas and in Klein are achieving more today than ever. Our employees are working harder and smarter than ever before, and their passion is exemplified throughout the district in the faces of the students they encounter daily. I want to thank each of you for choosing Klein ISD and for making a difference in the lives of public school children each and every day.
Dr. Jim Cain, KISD Superintendent
Education is not the answer to the question. Education is the means to the answer to all questions. ~William Allin
Klein C nnects a monthly publication for Klein ISD employees
Klein C nnects
Project HOPE (Helping Others to create Peace Everywhere) began during the spring of 2011, with the goal of promoting respect and tolerance among all members of the Klein community. The intent is to annually hold an evening event by Strack Intermediate theatre arts students, as well as participate in ongoing outreach projects throughout the school year. Students involved choose a theme that aligns with the program goal, and find ways to explore the ideas of respect and tolerance.
Last year, theatre arts teacher Lauren McCarthy selected Cherie Bennett’s Anne Frank and Me as Strack Intermediate’s entry into the Klein ISD One Act Play Festival. The goal was to produce a show to challenge the students to take on more intense, dramatic themes while still being relatable on an individual character level. The play provided a relatable background for an honest view into the life of a Parisian Jewish family as they went from a privileged existence to a life in hiding, and then ultimately to a concentration camp.
In the beginning McCarthy had students immerse themselves into the time period by researching the issues that mattered to the characters, and explore themes and questions in the play. Rehearsals began with students assigned research questions regarding everything from 40s fashion to details of the Vel d’Hiv roundup of Parisian Jews. Students also used a curriculum trunk borrowed from the Holocaust Museum of Houston. Within days, students began to be engaged. The dramaturgy wall that began with just a few posters exploded into an expanding database of images and information from students. Soon, English classes visited the wall as if it were a mini-museum. In order to bring the wall to life, the company also began a series of field trips. During a tour at the Houston Holocaust Museum, they were inspired as the museum guide, Leonard Roth, compared the Holocaust to “simple bullying to the one millionth degree.” It was about this time when her students started inquiring on how to do more.
“This was humbling as I initially started the process simply in an effort to direct a show with some meaning and context, and here were my junior high students begging me for an opportunity to make a difference,” recalled McCarthy.
Students also watched the documentary Paperclips, in which students had collected paperclips to symbolize the Norwegian resistance during WWII and represent the millions of Holocaust victims. Afterwards, Strack students began a project they titled Paperclips for Peace and wore paperclips on their collars, just as Norwegian students had in the 40s. When asked about their peculiar fashion accessories, they told the story of the Norwegian resistance and talked about standing up to intolerance. This initiated an even greater desire in her students to spread the message of respect out to more people.
McCarthy began adding on to the evening performance of Strack’s annual play. First, their dramaturgy work was displayed in the lobby, and information booths about Paperclips for Peace and No Place for Hate clubs were displayed. The Unite for Understanding Council joined the initiative as well. Students made butterflies to send to the HMH Butterfly Project, which memorializes child victims of the Holocaust. This expanded to include audience members. The Holocaust Museum of Houston’s speaker bureau helped McCarthy secure a guest speaker for the event that included Holocaust survivor Lili Gordon. The cast and crew dubbed the performance night An Evening of Remembrance. The evening had 500 audience members who donated more than $2,000, which was given to the Houston Council of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and the Holocaust Museum. Also, nearly 500 butterflies were shipped to The Butterfly Project. Most importantly, the experience inspired McCarthy to make this an annual event at Strack.
The annual event evolved into Project HOPE. The students felt this title incorporated all of their original intentions and goals while leaving room for growth. This year’s one act play is Bridge to Terabithia because of its focus on open-minded thinking, friendship and respect. For the first part of the event, the students want to focus on anti-bullying messages and students are gathering real-life stories from their peers about experiences with school bullies to share in a video on the evening of the event. Students are also working to find experienced representatives across the district to form a panel to answer bullying questions. Advanced theatre production classes have researched real-life stories about cyber-bullying and are now writing and producing short films to showcase at the event and to enter into the national No Bull video competition. They hope to promote anti-bullying at Strack and offer real-life success stories and solutions to encourage bystanders to become allies.
Anne Frank & Me wasn’t just a play. It was an experience, a lesson, and one of the best times of my life! I remember anticipating the end of school, and not for the reason that I wanted to wiggle out of math and into TV watching at home, but because I wanted to be in the place I felt most happy. I remember, most honestly, looking up at the clock during rehearsal and wishing the hands would slow down.
- Carleigh Newland, student
Community Dinner - March 1, 2012
Kleb Intermediate
How is a Dollar Spent in the Klein ISD?The Klein ISD is spending a total of $318,435,000 dollars in the 2011-12 school year to educate more than 46,000 students. The funds allocated for this school year are spent on transportation, maintenance and operations, instruction, technology, security, food service and other necessities needed to deliver education in an exceptional way for KISD students. To view how a dollar is spent in the Klein ISD, click here.
March 8: Blackshear DedicationMarch 11: Daylight Saving TimeMarch 12-16: Spring Break District closedMarch 17: St. Patrick’s DayMarch 21: Key CommunicatorsMarch 23: Vistas Clap OutMarch 26-28: STAAR testing beginsApril 5: Unite for UnderstandingApril 6: Good Friday, district closedApril 9: Board Meeting Student HolidayApril 10: National Library Workers Day
KISD activity calendar, click here
As the communications and planning department begins planning for next year, we want your feedback. What would you like to see in the Klein Connects employee newsletter? Tell us here.
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Did You Know?
Employee Spotlight
Marr has athletic training experience in all settings - professional, collegiate, clinical and high school. She worked with the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons and other districts before coming to Klein in 2007. At KCHS she teaches sports medicine and oversees students in the athletic training program. “We take care of the kids during athletics and provide treatments for those who need it during the season and after school,” she said. Christine loves working with her students and in KISD, and every year the group receives awards from the Greater Houston Area Trainers Workshop.
“I am really proud of my student trainers because I demand excellence from them, and they have to know things and be capable and responsible,” she boasted. “Getting to teach them is great. I am truly blessed.”
Catherine MarrAthletic Coordinator • Klein Collins High School
.
Carpenter and her staff arrive at McDougle at 6 a.m. every morning to prepare more than 1,200 meals each day. By 7:15 a.m. the group delivers bags for breakfast in the classrooms and then heads back to prepare for lunch which starts at roughly 10:45 a.m.
“It’s a busy day. I make sure the ladies have everything for the kids when they come to make them happy,” she said. “Students come through the line and you see their smiling faces and they always say thank you. The staff is really nice and appreciates what we do for them.”
Pat is a Klein High graduate who has worked in the KISD for 20 years. She manages seven staff members, orders and receives food for the campus, and organizes healthy meal preparations. McDougle is one of three to receive a Gold Award of Distinction from the HealthierUS School Challenge.
Pat CarpenterFood Manager • McDougle Elementary
UpcomingEvents
EmployeeDiscounts
Many businesses offer discounts for KISD employees. Visit Knet for a complete list. Here are the latest offers:
April 17 is Tax Day, Are you prepared?
All Klein ISD employees are eligible to receive a free tax advice consultation and 15% off any service provided by Intelligent Tax Solutions. They are experienced in areas of accounting and taxation, IRS problem resolution, business formation and planning. Tax Prep Starting at $65. Click here.
Know a business that would like to advertise discounts to KISD employees? Click on the “Business Partnerships” link on www.kleinisd.net, to get more information.
Spring into Fitness with Kleinwell!The Spring is going to be filled with a variety of activities with Kleinwell in the Klein ISD! See all the events taking place, and don’t forget to register with your wellness ambassador for the Spring into Fitness Challenge, click here.
Employees, We Want Your Feedback!
March 6 We’ve Got Your Back Seminar Dr. Dustin and Bruce Berry Strack Intermediate
March 27 Do you need a BIP to be HIP?Echo MansfieldKlein Collins High School
March 28 – April 25 Stop Smoking ProgramCentral Office, Room 200
March 20 – April 21 Spring Health Screenings At each Klein ISD location
March 25 – April 28 Spring into Fitness Challenge
April 28 Kleinwell Family Fitness Fair Klein Memorial Stadium
May 11-12 American Cancer Society Relay For Life Klein Oak High School
k l e i nw e l lHEALT HY L I V I N G P ROGRAM
Nation
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