Dickinson ISD Gator Bytes

Dickinson ISD schools and administrative offices will be closed for Spring Break from March 14-18. School will resume on Monday, March 21. We wish everyone a safe and happy Spring Break!!

DHS Gatorzillas win numerous awards

Congratulations to the Dickinson High School Gatorzillas Robotics Team for earning third place out of 66 teams at the Alamo Regionals Robotics Competition in San Antonio last week. In addition to the outstanding overall finish, the team received an Imagery Award, a Safety Award and various awards from other participating teams. Gatorzillas team member Becky Lindsey also earned the Star Safety Captain Award. The Gatorzillas will compete next at the Houston Regionals March 17-19 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The event is free and open to the public, so the team encourages everyone to come out for a Spring Break outing and support the DHS Robotics Team.

DISD employees recognized for safe practices

Claims Adminstrative Services, Inc. is honoring Dickinson ISD with the Billy Hibbs Safety award for exemplary safety practices. The district had the lowest loss ratio, which resulted in very low compensation claims, during the 2009-2010 school year.

The district received a plaque and a $500 scholarship to be awarded to a Dickinson High School senior at the end of the year.

Silbernagel student chosen for Power of Art contest

Silbernagel Elementary third grader Ulysees Almanza has been selected as a finalist for this year's Reliant Energy "Power of Art" contest. Only 27 finalists were chosen in the greater Houston area. The winners are determined by voting, which takes place March 7- April 8. You can vote in person at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, inside the Reliant Center in a drop box, or online at www.reliant.com/powerofart. Ulysees' piece is the first picture on the second row, featuring a truck carrying pumpkins and a red barn. The three entries with the most votes will win: A special "Power of Art" gift package, $1,000 in art supplies to the winning student's school district and $1,000 in art supplies to the winning student's school. Please spread the word and get everyone to vote for Ulysees Almanza's artwork!

McAdams basketball teams have

tremendous season

Several McAdams teams and coaches are being honored for their accomplishments this basketball season. The 8th grade A team, coached by Tony Carse, was crowned zone champions and district runner-up. Matthew Klingenberg's 8th grade B team was named district champions. Coach Johnnie Freeman led his 7th grade A team to zone and district champs. The 7th grade B team finished as district runner up, coached by Brendan Flannery. Congratulations to all McAdams boys basketball players for a great, award-winning season!!

DISD employees walk for a cause

DISD employees Laura Batson, Jamie Harbuck, Larreen Hawks, Tanya Pedersen, Georgeanna Santarelli and Laurie Goforth spent their Saturday walking for a cause. NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) held a walk in Alvin with its main goal to promote awareness for mental illness issues. Along with the walk, many individuals, businesses and schools participated in the "Spread the Word to End the Word Campaign". The word they are referring to is retard or retarded, that is often used in common conversation. The campaign aims to stop that from happening, due to the pain that word can cause some dealing with mental issues. If you would like to take the pledge to Spread the Word to the End the Word, visit http://www.r-word.org/.