Big Al with computerGator Bytes
Dickinson ISD E-News
 Week of September 05, 2011

Important
Dates

September 7
Gator Recovery Night 5:30 p.m.

 

September 8
Silbernagel 2nd & 3rd Grade Parent Orientation
6-7:30 p.m.

September 8
Hughes Road 4th Grade Parent Night 6 p.m.

September 9
DHS Band Booster fundraiser dinner before the football game in cafeteria

September 9
DHS Varsity Football vs. Dobie, home 7 p.m.

September 12
Board of Trustees Action Meeting 6:30 p.m. Executive Session
7 p.m.
Action Meeting
 
September 12
Silbernagel 4th Grade Parent Orientation
6-6:45 p.m.

 

September 14
Early Release Day
(2 hours early)

September 14
Rachel's Challenge Community Event
6-7 p.m. 
DHS Auditorium

September 15
Hughes Road 2nd & 3rd Grade Parent Night
6 p.m.

September 19
Board of Trustees Meeting
6:30 p.m.

September 20
DHS Open House 6:30-8 p.m.
 
September 26
Staff Development Day/Student Holiday

 
DISD enrollment up by almost 300 students from 2010-2011 school year

  

First Day of SchoolAlmost 300 more students are attending Dickinson ISD campuses this school year as the district ended the second week of school with 9,333 students. Increasing by several hundred students per year has been a trend in the district for the past several years.

 

Growth this school year has been spread out across the district at all grade levels. The district's six elementary campuses increased by a total of 91 students, middle schools were up by 29 students, McAdams Junior High has an additional 46 students and Dickinson High School enrollment increased by 114 students.

 

In the past eight years, Dickinson ISD enrollment has increased by more than 3,000 students, with an additional 200-500 added each year during that time period. Three bond issues approved by voters in the past 12 years (1999, 2005 and 2007) have provided new campuses and many renovations throughout the district to meet the growing student enrollment. The 2007 bond projects are finishing up throughout the district. Calder Road Elementary opened in August 2010 to help alleviate elementary growth, the district's new Education Support Center opened in March and the Transportation Department and Child Nutrition Services Department both relocated this past summer to new facilities at the former junior high site on Video Street.

 

Band Hall First DayApproximately $40 million in expansion and renovation is happening at Dickinson High School. A new field house, a new band hall, expanded and renovated kitchen and dining areas, renovations to the existing science labs and art areas as well as renovations to many of the school's restrooms have all been completed. A major expansion project on the east side of the school will be finished in Spring 2012 to provide a two-story academic wing with science labs and classrooms and a new triple-design competition gymnasium with combined seating for 2,400.

 

Top photo: Dickinson ISD students visit one of the campuses for Elementary Meet the Teacher Night. Bottom photo: Dickinson High School band students enjoy the new band hall on the first day of school.  

DHS hosting Rachel's Challenge  

community event Sept. 14  

 

Rachel's Challenge logoDickinson High School is hosting a Rachel's Challenge community event "A Message of Kindness" from 6-7 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Dickinson High School Auditorium. The program, which is open to the public, is centered at reaching out to students, parents, businesses, and community members to create a more positive, friendly, pro-active environment within the community. Rachel's Challenge is being presented at DHS and several other Galveston County schools through a sponsorship by AMOCO Federal Credit Union, the Galveston County Sheriff's Department and BP Texas City.   

 

Rachel Scott was the first student shot and killed at Columbine High School in 1999. Rachel kept a diary which outlined her ideas for a better world and her desire to make a difference through random acts of kindness. The Rachel's Challenge Program was formed by Rachel's family and has grown to a nationally recognized event. The program challenges students and community members to reach out to others to make the world a better place.

 

During Rachel's Challenge a powerful video will be shown, which combines scenes from the Columbine High School tragedy to Rachel's ideas for growth and what we can do as a community to make a difference.

 

DHS invites the Dickinson community to participate in Rachel's Challenge at the evening community event. Dickinson High School students will be seeing the program at assemblies during the school day of Sept. 14.