Employee Newsletter 'e-nlightened' Feb. 12, 2010

February 12, 2010

The Communications Department produces the employee newsletter "e-nlightened" each week so that staff can keep in touch with what is going on across the district. E-mail your pictures and a brief description to Communications and we will include them as space permits.

BISD Closed Friday, Feb. 12, 2010

Due to the current winter weather conditions, BISD will be closed
Friday, February 12.
Students will return Tuesday, February 16. Staff will return Monday, February 15 for Professional Learning.

Note: BISD's bad weather make-up day is Friday, April 2. This is to make up for being closed on Thursday, Jan. 7. BISD will not have a make-up day for being closed on Friday, Feb. 12.

BISD Recently Revised District's Beliefs, Vision and Mission Statement

Mission:
We engage and encourage students and staff every day through meaningful work in a safe and caring enviornment.

>BISD Mission video

New Start/End Times for Birdville ISD
Beginning 2010-11 school year

BISD is changing school start times and end times beginning with the 2010-11 school year. This change will reduce the number of early morning pickups for many students, provide sufficient time for routes to handle increased traffic congestion, provide the capacity to manage future growth, and improve scheduling and efficiency of field trips.
New Start/End Times

Kindergarten
New: 8 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Current: 8 a.m. - 2:25 p.m.
Elementary (Remains the Same)
8 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Middle School
New: 8:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Current: 8 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
High School
New: 8:55 a.m. - 4:10 p.m.
Current: 8 a.m. - 3:26 p.m.

This change in start/end times has a projected cost savings of more than $200,000 per year.

Middle School Young Authors

Share Their Skills

Six-, seventh-, and eight-grade authors from North Oaks Middle School recently worked with fourth-grade students at Stowe Elementary. Stowe has invited these young authors back to share writing lessons in order to help prepare fourth-grade students for the writing TAKS test.

Title I Distinguished Campuses

Congratulations to The Academy at C.F. Thomas, Smith, Foster Village, Holiday Heights, Richland and Watauga elementaries for being named Title I Distinguished Campuses. These campuses were recognized by the Division of NCLB Program Coordinator at the Texas Education Agency for outstanding academic performance.

Successes

Congratulations to the wrestlers from Haltom, Richland, and Birdville high schools for qualifying for the UIL Regional Wrestling Tournament. The tournament will be in El Paso.

Congratulations to Haltom High School's Lady Buffs basketball team for qualifying for the UIL State Playoffs for the third consecutive year. The Lady Buffs will play Arlington Bowie in the Bi-District round of the playoffs at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 15 at Wilkerson Greines Activity Center. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students.

Congratulations to Swim Team & Coach

Congratulations to the Birdville High School boys swim team for winning the 6-4A District Swimming Championship. Tyler Burk was named male swimmer of the meet and Coach Mike Teague was named Swim Coach of the Year. Several girls and boys from Birdville will compete at the Regional Swim Meet at the Wilkerson Greines Activity Center.

Congratulations to the 23 swimmers from Haltom and Richland high schools for qualifying for the Regional Swim Meet in Lubbock.

Providing positive, accurate and timely information and support is the goal of Birdville ISD's Communications Department. Be a part of the latest and become a fan of BISD on facebook.