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June 3, 2008 - Vol. 4, No. 17

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In This Issue
From the Superintendent
Changes for 2008-2009
Now Hiring Bus Drivers
May Heartbeat Winner
Vocabulary in Motion
Reading up a storm
Summer School, Testing and Programs
Odds & Ends
Quick Links
Course Guides

Bell Schedules

Graduations Schedule

TAKS Exit Level Flowchart

AB-Student Calendar (printable)

Approved Fundraisers

Education Foundation
Short Cuts
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From the Superintendent

June 3, 2008


On behalf of the Administration and Board of Trustees, thank you for another great year in the Mansfield ISD. Thank you for taking this journey with us.

Parents, we thank you once again for entrusting your students in our care for their education.

Students, thank you for your hard work and perseverance through the changes that occur during a school year.

We hope each of you takes time for yourself this summer. Have a safe, happy, much-needed and much-deserved summer break.


Sincerely,

Mr. Vernon Newsom

Changes for 2008-2009

The Mansfield ISD would like to take an opportunity to give our Messenger readers a heads up on a few changes coming next school year:

Goodbye eSembler - Hello Infinite Campus
MISD has transitioned to a new student records program this spring and we look forward to offering new features for parents and students. The district will no longer offer eSembler for student grades and attendance next year. This information and more will soon be offered through a new parent portal system through Infinite Campus. More information will be available later in the summer.

Grading Periods
Mansfield ISD will also move from a  Nine (9) week grading period to a Six (6) week grading period for ALL levels. This change was needed to help with A-B Block Scheduling in the high schools.

Sports will compete in separate U.I.L. divisions
MISD athletic teams will be competing in two new divisions:
Class 5A District 4 - Mansfield and Mansfield Summit
Class 4A District 8 - Mansfield Legacy and Mansfield Timberview

Bus Routes all go AC
All regular bus routes will run on air-conditioned buses. Not a big deal? Tell that to students who have had to ride on a hot bus.

Technology Applications K-8 curriculum phase-in
Basic use of technology all the way up to advanced applications will begin a two year phase-in through Curriculum & Instruction.

Foreign Languages Offered at Ben Barber
Next year, Mandarin Chinese (NEW), Russian, and Latin Language classes will be offered at Ben Barber Career Tech Academy.
Now Hiring Bus Drivers

TransportationThe Transportation Department will hold Job Fair Dates during the month of June to hire Bus Drivers for the 2008-2009 school year. You'll be able to visit with bus drivers, apply in person and schedule interviews.

Friday, June 6, 2008
Mansfield HS, Timberview HS, and Legacy HS
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Saturday, June 7, 2008
Mansfield HS, Timberview HS, and Legacy HS
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

See more dates...

Tarver-Rendon May Heartbeat Winner
Staff recognition program

HeartbeatDawn Cyganowski of Tarver-Rendon Elementary School was named the May 2008 Recipient of the MISD Heartbeat Award. District Superintendent Vernon Newsom surprised Dawn with a cookie bouquet and a Heartbeat Team shirt in a presentation held in the 4th grade teacher's classroom.

Busy can barely describe Dawn Cyganowski's professional and personal life. She serves as the PTA representative, programs committee co-chair, Spelling Bee coordinator, after-school reading tutor, and Student Council sponsor. She does all of these extras while being a full-time 4th grade teacher. "She motivates her students and encourages us as a faculty," said fellow Tarver-Rendon4th grade teacher, Katie Anderson. "We truly need more teachers and people like her this world."

Read on...
Vocabulary in Motion
Buses that help teach

photoThe wheels on the bus may go round and round, but the words read left to right. The MISD Transportation Department provides bus-seat vocabulary slip-covers in a creative way to reach and teach students to and from school.

The project, Vocabulary in Motion - Thinking Inside the Bus, is provided through a $10,000 "Think Big" grant from the MISD Education Foundation. The grant funds were used to purchase 900 slipcovers prepared especially for this program. Each slipcover has a trio of vocabulary words and definitions screen-printed on the area immediately in front of seated bus riders. Each trio was selected from the academic vocabulary words that students need to master for success at all grade levels. Twelve of the words/definitions came from the Larry Bell series on advancing student comprehension of standardized tests. While instructions will be passive, with these words directly in their view, students will likely read out of sheer curiosity and available time (while riding the bus).

Read on...
Reading up a storm
Battle of the Books

Battle of the BooksIt was all in the details for 500 elementary students in Mansfield ISD who participated in the 6th Annual Battle of the Books.

On a rainy spring day in North Texas, approximately 500 elementary students gathered for the culmination of their year-long reading efforts. For the past five years, elementary students have been engaging in an annual Battle of the Books. Each year, the student participation grows in this unique reading initiative.

Battle of Books is a voluntary reading incentive program for students. The purpose is simply to encourage students to read good books and have fun while competing with peers. Students join book clubs and/or book discussions throughout the year at their campuses and read through the books on a predetermined list.

2008 Winners
The 2008 MISD Battle of the Books winning team is Davis Raging Readers from Kenneth Davis Elementary School. This is the second year in a row that a team from Davis has won this competition.

Read on...
 
Summer School, Testing and Programs

Summer SchoolThe Mansfield ISD will offer summer school, testing and programs for grades pre-k through high school.

A dedicated page has been created and will be the updated online resource for MISD 2008 summer session information.

Visit the 2008 Summer School, Testing and Programs page.
Odds & Ends

MISD Photo Gallery Updates
- 2nd Annual Fourth Grade Olympic Games @ MISD Stadium, Shark Dissection @ Thelma Jones, Latin Dancing @ PDC Meeting, Tarver-Rendon Career Week - Truckin' Day

Boren Elementary
students celebrate Hispanic Heritage with handmade pi�atas.

Students from the BBCTA Technology Student Association (TSA) competed in the State TSA Contest in Waco May 8-10.

Congratulations 2008 District and Campus Teachers of the Year

22 outstanding MISD 5th-8th grade students have been selected to participate in Education in Action's summer 2008 Lone Star Leadership.

Summer Links for Parents:
SUMMER READING
Summer Reading by Scholastic - activities, games, and challenges to keep kids engaged, as well as information for parents on how to make it happen.

SUMMER MATH
Math Cats: A Treasure Map to Math Jewels - summer math fun with manipulatives, games and crafts and much more.

SUMMER SCIENCE (GARDENING)
Hummingbirds - Find out what appeals to hummingbirds

Butterflys - A source of enjoyment to gardeners is the multitude of butterflies attracted by some flowers.

Frogland - you guessed it, frogs

SUMMER SUN
L'Oreal: Sunshine - Excellent explanation of the short- and long-term effects of sun exposure.

Sunwise Kids - learn more about the harmful effects of the sun and teach you ways to protect yourself

Teen's Health: Tanning

MISD Communications Department
[email protected]
817-299-6345