News from Lubbock Independent School District

The E-Reporter is once again asking LISD employees who travel over spring break to share photos of their adventures. Both digital and traditional film submissions are welcome. For digital photos, the camera resolution setting must be set on the highest numerical value, or simply "high" or "fine" to be usable. Recognizable landmarks in the background (i.e. Mount Rushmore, The Eiffel Tower, etc.) are always a plus. If traveling with a large group, please remember that smaller groupings will make faces much more identifiable in the final image. The intended publication date for these photos will be Friday, March 23. The deadline for submission (either by mail or delivery to the Communications and Community Relations Office) is 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 21.

Job Fair for Lubbock area youth

Workforce Solutions in conjunction with the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce will hold a job fair on Thursday, March 15 at the Holiday Inn and Towers at 801 Avenue Q from 1-5 p.m. Students are encouraged to come dressed for success and to bring copies of their resume to hand out to prospective employers. Full-time, part-time and summer employment opportunities will be available.

French Clubs help build Cambodian school

French Clubs from Lubbock ISD high schools have combined their efforts with hopes to raise $13,000 to sponsor the building and furnishing of a middle school in Cambodia. They have coined the phrase "Change for Cambodia," and have encouraged fellow students to donate pocket change to this worthwhile project. The students will collectively decide on an appropriate name for the school, and some even hope to travel to Cambodia for the school's dedication when the project is completed! French teachers Cindy McBrayer, Renée Holman and Diana Belsan are hopeful the project will result in a lifelong relationship between LISD and Cambodian students. The sponsored school is located in Kampong Thom Province, Kampong Svay District, about 115 miles from Phnom Penh. To date, they have raised almost $8,000!

Between 1975 and 1978, an estimated two million Cambodians died by execution, forced labor and famine. In 1978, Vietnamese troops invaded this former French colony, capturing Phnom Penh in early 1979. A moderate Communist government was established, and Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge retreated back into the jungle.

Today in rural Cambodia, hundreds of villages still lack a functional primary and secondary school. American Assistance for Cambodia (AAfC) was established by American journalist Bernie Krisher and operates interlinked programs across Cambodia in the areas of education, health, rural development and technology. The Rural Schools Project, founded in 1999, has led the effort to construct more than 400 primary and lower secondary schools, with matching funds from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, to help promote education in rural Cambodia.

Youth Art Month receptions honor students

Katrina Bueno, tenth-grade art student at the Advanced Technology Center, stands beside her Blue Ribbon winner. In addition to winning the coveted Blue Ribbon award, Bueno's artwork was selected as the poster for this year's Youth Art Month (YAM) activities, and the cover art for this year's YAM receptions programs. The Blue Ribbon winners from across the district were recognized at the YAM kickoff receptions on March 6.

LISD to host educational leadership event

Learn about programs to earn an advanced degree in Educational Leadership from representatives from four Texas universities. Lubbock ISD will host the first Educational Leadership Information Session on Tuesday, March 20 from 4:30 - 6 p.m. for all LISD employees. Representatives from Lamar University, Lubbock Christian University, Texas Tech University and Wayland Baptist University will be present to provide program information and answer questions. Although the event is come-and-go, each university will present an overview of its program from 5:00 - 5:45 p.m. For additional information, please contact the Professional Development Department at 766-1042.

Annual golf tournament slated for May 14

Registration is now open for the 13th Annual Lubbock ISD Foundation for Excellence (FFE) Golf Tournament benefiting LISD students and teachers. Join the excitement on Monday, May 14 at Hillcrest Country Club. Both an 8:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. tee time are both offered, however space is limited.

Sponsorship levels vary and include a school scholarship sponsorship for $1,000. Participants will have an opportunity to interact with community business leaders and LISD teachers and administrators. Players can also bid on unique gifts in the silent auction, win door prizes, compete in closest to the hole and longest drive competitions, win a big screen television and take home a special goodie bag!

All proceeds benefit FFE scholarships awarded to LISD students and teachers. For more information about the tournament or sponsorships please call Linsey at 766-1066 or lmccutchin@lubbockisd.org.

Atomic-powered learning available online

Atomic Learning's online training solutions answer "How do I do that?" Atom

questions through a library of over 50,000 short (2-3 minutes), easy-to-understand tutorial movies covering 180 pieces of software. Lubbock ISD makes Atomic Learning available to all faculty, staff and students; additionally, families of any LISD student can have access to this wonderful library making it easy to learn new technologies such as Microsoft Office 2010.

Below are questions and answers about logging into Atomic Learning:

1. Where do faculty/staff and students go to log in to Atomic Learning?

* Type in https://www.atomiclearning.com/login/lubbockisd OR http://lubbockisd.org/,click on the Staff menu and go to Online Resources.

* Once there, usernames and passwords are the same used to log on to a LISD computer.

2. Where do family members of LISD students go to log in to Atomic Learning?

* Type in www.atomiclearning.com OR http://lubbockisd.org/, click on the Parent menu and go to Online Resources.

* Generic usernames and passwords have been created for each campus. Contact your child's campus for a username and password which can be used to access Atomic Learning. If families have more than one student attending LISD schools, they may choose the campus username and password they want to use.

3. Where can families access Atomic Learning if they do not have internet access?

* Atomic Learning can be accessed anywhere the internet can be accessed; such as public libraries, campus libraries; restaurants or stores that provide free wireless access to the internet.

Online grade book to transition to TEAMS

For the 2012-13 school year, Lubbock ISD will transition from eSembler grade book system to the TEAMS grade book module. This change will have several benefits for our staff and parents including:

*   Teachers will no longer be required to use two separate systems for attendance and grades.
*   Office clerks' workload will be streamlined with a single system for parent contact information and grade reporting process.
*   Teachers will no longer have to wait overnight to view new students in their grade book
*   Teachers will have access to previous grades when new students are transferred to their class.
*   Improve data quality.
*   Parents will be able to view data in real-time rather than experience delays for nightly updates.
*   Increase parent involvement with improved security.
*   School office staff will be able to control parental login.
*   Provide better information for parents & internal dashboards.
*   Prepare LISD to implement an online registration system and future mobile apps for parents and administrators.
*   Support the new End-of-Course 15% rules (as final requirements are released).
*   This will also save the District approximately $35,000 per year.

In the coming weeks, Administrative Services will be sending more information about this process.

Parents without access to a computer at home may use the computer work stations at the public libraries. Additional access points may become available at the Byron Martin ATC. The TEAMS online grade book will also be accessible through smart phones and tablets.

Today concludes National Social Work Week

Social Workers

Pictured above top row (L to R) Hollye Ladd, Quadrant 1; Beatrice Hernandez, Bayless and Parkway ES and Bonnie Quintana, Quadrant 2. Seated (L to R) Ruby Vidaurre, Quadrant 2 and Adelaida Montemayor, Quadrant 4.

According to Frederick Douglass, "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." This was true when he penned it in the 1880s, and is just as true today.

In celebration of the efforts that social workers give to build strong children, March 5 - 9 was designated as Social Work Week by the National Association of Social Workers. Lubbock ISD is fortunate to have five licensed, veteran social workers who collectively have worked 94 years in the social work arena. They work tirelessly every day to provide social services and assistance in order to improve the social/emotional/academic functioning of children and their families. Thank you to our Social Workers for their commitment to LISD children.

Matadors named semifinal runners up

The photo above was taken following the Estacado High School Matadors regional championship victory over Wylie on Saturday, March 3. The Mats were defeated by Argyle 41-34 in the semifinal round of the state tournament, March 8. We're proud of Coach Wagner and the team for their stellar season and third trip to state.

Welcome home Lieutenant Quinn

Lubbock High alumna and 1st Lieutenant Cammie Quinn, United States Air Force, surprised her younger brother and sister who attend Coronado when she showed up at their classrooms (unannounced) from a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan. Shown above (L to R) are Alex Quinn, Lt. Quinn and Cullen Quinn. Inset: Alex Quinn's shock and joy at seeing her sister for the first time in more than nine months.

Swap Shop, Cheers and LISD Family News

FOR RENT: Nice 3/2/2 duplex located at 110th and Indiana Avenue. Pets welcome with deposit. $950 per month. Please call Mark at 778-4273 for more information.
FOR SALE: Frog prince/princess crib set. Includes blanket, bumpers, crib skirt, picture, clock, lamp, shelf, sheets, and more. Lavender, sage green, and yellow. Used with both a boy and a girl. Retails for over $1,000. $400 OBO. Please text or call 300-4518.
FOR SALE: Frigidaire Upright Freezer, 13.7 cubic ft., exterior easy set controls, interior light, basket door lock/alarm & 3 wire shelves, automatic alerts, frost-free operation, lock with pop-out key feature, $375; Yamaha Integrated Mixer EM Series Model 300, sound mixing board, 12 channel input, two graphic equalizers, used but excellent condition, $300; Paragon High Fire Kiln, interior 22 inch deep, 18 inch diameter, $800; Lockerbie Kick Wheel, model K, $400. Please call Mary at 470-6269.
GARAGE SALE: Sat. March 10, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. 3703 104th Street. Lawn equipment, including a self-propelled mower, edgers and weed eaters. Baby furniture, clothing and miscellaneous household items.
GARAGE SALE: Sat. March 10, 8 a.m. 8109 Elkridge Avenue. Two family's treasures put together for one big sale.
GARAGE SALE: Sat. March 17, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. 7412 95th Street, in Regency Park off 82nd and Upland Avenue. Clothing, toys, kitchen items, decorative items and much more.
SERVICE: Need a new fence or repair on an existing one? Please call Sean Jackson at 548-0933 for a free estimate.
WANTED: Job coaches and residential instructors needed for Project SWEEP: (Summer Work Experience and Empowerment Program), a five week summer work program for teenagers with visual impairments. Project SWEEP: will begin on June 25 and conclude July 27. Job coaches will provide work skills training and support for teenagers working in the community (Monday - Friday). Residential instructors will supervise, train, and support areas of daily living skills and recreational activities of young adults in late afternoons and evenings (Sunday - Thursday). Salary will be $10 per hour. Must have high school diploma or equivalent, and experience working with individuals with disabilities. For additional information or to obtain an application, please call Laurie Adams or Barbara Marin at the Division for Blind Services, 783-2930 or contact them by email laurie.adams@dars.state.tx.us or Barbara.Marin@dars.state.tx.us.
WANTED: A loving, caring individual to care for our sweet six month old child, she's our first. Would like to find a retired teacher or caregiver that is available 25 to 30 hours per week, either in our home or yours. Pay rate is open for discussion. Please call Lisa at 55-7470.
WANTED: Desperately need a 3 bedroom house to rent in Hale Center. Please call Dorene at 831-4623.

CHEERS TO: Amy Stoesser, special education visual impairment teacher will soon graduate Magna cum Laude from Lubbock Christian University with a master's degree in Educational Administration. She is the daughter of Ron and Darnell Dingle, LISD retirees. Congratulations!--Pam Dalton, Special Education
CHEERS TO: The O.L. Slaton Future Problem Solvers team qualified to participate in the State Bowl in Austin, Texas. It is a huge accomplishment for the first-time participants Alexis Carter, Miranda Minjarez, Callie Watson, Rosemary Minjarez and Isys Villegas. Congratulations to first year coach Chandra Garrett. All your hard work paid off. Well done, Knights!-Kristi Starr, O.L. Slaton

CONGRATULATIONS TO: Jacqui Russell, art teacher at Bayless ES and Maedgen ES on the birth of her son Rhett William Russell, born February 29.

SYMPATHY TO: Rosemary Mendez, senior buyer in Purchasing, on the loss of her sister, Yolanda Martinez, February 24. Yolanda was a former library clerk at Alderson MS.