Lewisville Independent School District District News | Wednesday, October 9, 2013
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Lewisville ISD News!
Monthly Newsletter for District-Only Announcements, Events
 Lewisville ISD (LISD) is excited to announce it is expanding its communication efforts. In addition to the five feeder pattern-specific newsletters (Cougar Pride, Farmer Pride, Hawk Pride, Jaguar Pride and Marauder Pride), we now provide a district newsletter, which includes important information that applies to all of our students, parents/guardians, teachers, faculty, staff and community members district-wide. This edition will also be used for breaking news, such as bad weather, school closings or other time sensitive information. This is the first edition of LISD E-news! From here forward, a special edition of district news will be distributed once a month on Wednesdays following the LISD Board of Trustees meetings. We hope you find this a positive change as we focus on LISD pride in this edition, and feeder pattern pride in our other newsletters.
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LISD 2014-2015 Calendar Survey
Vote for Your Choice
 On Oct. 7, Lewisville ISD (LISD)'s Academic Calendar Committee, which includes students, parents, teachers and community members, shared two possible calendar options (Option A and Option B) for the 2014-2015 school year as an information item to LISD's Board of Trustees. LISD encourages its community to take a brief survey and vote for the calendar option they would like to see the district adopt for the 2014-2015 school year. The survey will be open from Wednesday, Oct. 9 through Monday, Oct. 28.
The two calendar options were developed by the committee based on the following state/district parameters:
- Two bad weather days
- Inclusion of Labor Day, Thanksgiving break, winter break, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, spring break, spring holiday and Memorial Day
- School start date of Aug. 25 (fourth Monday in August)
- 175 days of instruction
- Nine professional learning days plus three work days
The only difference between the two options is the placement of two of the nine student holidays/professional development days. Option A's student holidays/professional development days are Oct. 10 and April 2. Option B's professional development days are Feb. 13 and April 17.
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LISD Announces 2013-2014 National Merit Scholars
Approximately 266 Students Recognized
 Lewisville Independent School District (LISD) is proud to announce 266 high school students who were recently recognized for their outstanding academic achievement by The National Merit® Scholarship Program (NMSP), National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) and National Achievement Scholarship Program (NASP). Approximately 74 students were named National Merit Semi-Finalist Scholars across the district 151 National Merit Commended Scholars, 11 National Achievement Program Outstanding Participants and 30 National Hispanic Scholars.
The NMSP and NASP division recognize and provide scholarships to qualifying students. The NASP provides recognition for outstanding African-American high school students. NHRP is a division of The College Board, whose mission is to recognize outstanding Latino high school students. In order to receive these prestigious designations, students must display outstanding academic achievement on the SAT/NMSQT exam.
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LISD Leads National News
Education Week Visits After Hearing About 1:X
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Photo credit: Education Week
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Lewisville ISD (LISD) offers world-class learning and teaching and strives to engage learners through the use of technological tools to access, create and share content as well as collaborate with other learners throughout the world. Our 1:X™ initiative provides the devices necessary to help fulfill this promise to our community.
After hearing about LISD's efforts, Education Week, a well-known and well-respected national publication that focuses on the cutting edge of kindergarten through 12th-grade education, visited to learn about 1:X firsthand. As a result, LISD led Education Week's special edition on "Managing the Digital District" the week of Sept. 30.
"EdWeek's coverage validates that we're doing what's right for kids," LISD Superintendent Dr. Stephen F. Waddell said. "We're pioneers when it comes to an initiative as large as 1:X. It's rewarding to see students taking initiative in their learning and engaging at higher levels than ever before. As with all new initiatives, we have experienced some struggles, but more celebrations. When I walk in classrooms throughout LISD I see students and teachers excited about what they are learning."
Read the full story published by Education Week!
More 1:X Information
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LISD Students Exceed SAT Scores and College Readiness Preparation
2013 College-Bound Seniors Improved in All Sections of the Test
 Sept. 27, the College Board and Texas Education Agency (TEA) released new data that shows the 2012-2013 SAT scores and participation rates for Texas public school students increased from the previous school year. Lewisville ISD (LISD) also released its 2013 SAT data, which shows that 2013 LISD college-bound seniors outperformed the state and all other 2013 SAT test-takers worldwide.
On the 2013 SAT, LISD students scored an average of 530 in Critical Reading, 563 in Mathematics and 518 in Writing - a result that exceeds average state scores of 471 in Critical Reading; 496 in Mathematics; and 456 in Writing.
En Español
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iOS 7 Upgrade Affects LISD Device Security Settings Apple Acknowledges Global Issue, LISD Identifying and Reconfiguring Affected Devices
 Lewisville ISD (LISD) Communications received confirmation from Apple Inc. that iOS 7 upgrades on LISD devices, including iPads issued as part of LISD's 1:X™ initiative, have the potential to wipe proxy settings, which filter inappropriate content. The affects of this issue are apparent when district-owned devices are connected to the Internet outside the LISD wireless network. It is important to know that regardless of iOS 7 upgrades, anytime a device is connected to the LISD wireless network it is protected by network-layer content filtering.
As Apple engineers are onsite in LISD working to resolve the iOS 7 issue, LISD technologists are working diligently to identify iPads that have been affected and reconfigure those devices. The LISD team receives daily reports with this information, but the iOS 7 glitch has also rendered these reports inaccurate.
"Student safety and security is a priority for LISD. We are one of the few districts in the nation that provide web-content filtering on our devices even when they are connected to the Internet outside the LISD wireless network," LISD Chief Technology Officer Barbara Brown said.
En Español
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1:X™: Protecting Students from Inappropriate Content What LISD is Doing and What Parents/Guardians Can Do to Help
Lewisville ISD (LISD) is distributing live textbooks in the form of iPads to thousands of first- though 12th-grade students district-wide through its innovative 1:X™ initiative. While these devices are enhancing engagement, enrichment and rigor in classrooms, there are questions about what the district is doing to protect students from inappropriate content and what parents/guardians can do to help.
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LISD Board of Trustees Meeting Recap - Oct. 7
Lewisville ISD Board of Trustees Gather for Monthly Meeting
The Lewisville ISD (LISD) Board of Trustees met for their regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 7.
Awards and Recognition
Lewisville ISD (LISD) Director of Health Services, Melanie Vincelette, was recognized for recently being named the Texas School Nurses Organizations' 2013 School Nurse Administrator of the Year. Learn more about Vincelette here.
LISD Director of Guidance Services, Gayle Ladehoff, was recognized for recently being named the Texas Counseling Association's 2013 State Counseling Supervisor of the Year.
Texas Education Human Resources Professional Day - LISD Board Trustee Trisha Sheffield read a resolution declaring that Oct. 9, 2013 will be observed as Texas Education Human Resources Day throughout LISD.
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LISD Seeks Parents and High School Students
to Collaborate on HB 5 Decisions
Volunteers Needed for Community-Based Committee
 Lewisville Independent School District (LISD) is seeking parent and high school student volunteers to serve on the district's community House Bill 5 committee. The group will provide input and make recommendations for how LISD will implement HB 5 high school graduation requirements that go into effect for the 2014-15 freshmen class.
During the 83rd legislative session, the Texas House and Senate passed HB 5. This bill creates multiple pathways for high school students to earn a diploma. The changes include offering three graduation plans to choose from, Foundation Only, Foundation with an Endorsement and Distinguished Level of Achievement; each plan requires specific courses.
Currently, the State Board of Education (SBOE) is making policy decisions regarding which courses will count in specific subject areas. The SBOE has shared that decisions will be finalized in January. In the meantime, LISD will focus on requirements under the jurisdiction of the Board of Trustees.
Committee members will meet weekly beginning Oct. 24 from 6-8 p.m. The district anticipates this committee will meet minimally for four weeks.
If you would like to join the HB 5 committee, contact Karen Permetti at permettik@lisd.net.
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LISD Board of Trustees Special Election
Candidate and Voting Information
 Lewisville ISD's (LISD) Board of Trustees will hold a special Board election to fill Place 3. This election will be a part of the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 21. For more information and candidate names, click here.
LISD PTA Council will hold a candidate forum Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the LISD Bolin Administration Building (1565 W. Main St., Lewisville).
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LISD Announces 15th Annual Veterans Day Celebration
Join Us as We Salute Our American Veterans
 Lewisville ISD (LISD) will hold its 15th annual Veterans Day celebration Monday, Nov. 11.
9:30 a.m.: Veterans and their families are invited to attend a special recognition breakfast at Timber Creek Elementary (1900 Timber Creek Road, Flower Mound).
10:30 a.m.: The public is invited to join LISD in a "Salute to American Veterans" at the Timber Creek Administration Building (1800 Timber Creek Road, Flower Mound).
Reserved seating is available for veterans and their guests. Public may bring lawn chairs.
For more information, contact LISD Communications at 469.948.8152 or thomass@lisd.net.
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LISD Events & Announcements What's Happening Across the District? LISD Chester Boyd Agriculture Community Night - Oct. 21 The MHS Future Farmers of America would like to invite the community to attend Lewisville ISD (LISD)'s Chester Boyd Agriculture Community Night on Monday, Oct. 21 in the LISD Chester Boyd Agriculture Center located on Business 121 and Fish Hatchery Road in Lewisville. Planning to attend? RSVP here.
Middle School Parent University - Oct. 23
All Lewisville ISD (LISD) middle school parents/guardians are invited to attend Middle School Parent University on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 6 - 9 p.m. at Lamar Middle School (4000 Timber Creek Road, Flower Mound). Parents will have the opportunity to attend multiple presentations to learn more about topics such as: healthy friendships, bullying, drug trends, teen dating, embracing individuality, etc. Child care will be available. More Information
Gallup Student Poll Survey - Through Nov. 1
Attention Lewisville ISD (LISD) parents/guardians: LISD has elected to participate in the Gallup Student Poll - joining thousands of other schools across the United States to help measure the hope, engagement and well-being of America's students. This 10-minute web-based survey will be submitted to LISD students, fifth- through 12-grade, during October through Nov. 1. Each campus' principal determines when the survey is administered at their school. For more information about the survey, visit: www.gallupstudentpoll.com.
Greater Lewisville Special Education PTSA Events - Through Nov. 21
The Greater Lewisville Special Education PTSA has many informative meetings and social events coming up in the next few months. For a list of events and details, click here.
LISD Now Delivers Handouts, Promotional Materials Electronically
In an effort to streamline campus communication regarding information that may be beneficial to our students and families, the district now uses electronic communication for delivery of community handouts and promotional brochures. Materials are approved by The Office of Public Information & Community Relations and updated on a regular basis. Due to the constant update of information, the district will provide links and reminders to parents and the community through its Pride newsletters. For more information, or to post on this page, visit Distribution of Non-School Materials.
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LISD Office of Public Information
and Community Relations
1800 Timber Creek Road
Flower Mound, Texas 75028
469.948.8152
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Copyright © 2013. All Rights Reserved.
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