Need back to school information? The 2014-2015 Back to School packet is a parent's one stop resource for everything related to planning for the new school year. Registration information, dress code, school calendar, school supplies, immunizations, football and volleyball schedules, signing up for text message alerts, meal prices and more can all be found in the packet.

Click here to view
the 2014-2015
Back to School packet.

Bus Drivers Needed

Are you interested in a position that is challenging and rewarding which will allow you to have the same schedule as your school age children? Are you retired and looking for something to supplement your retirement pay?

Becoming a school bus driver is what you are looking for!

School bus drivers work a split shift from approximately 5:45-8:30 a.m. and 1:50-4:30 p.m. Opportunities for additional hours are available.

Starting pay with no experience is $14.50 per hour. If you are an experienced driver from another district, your pay will be adjusted based on your years of experience. Training is available from our highly qualified and professional staff.

Apply at the Dickinson ISD Transportation Department, 4005 Video Street in Dickinson or online at www.dickinsonisd.org.

Week of August 18, 2014

Welcome Back Students and Staff...

Students return Monday, August 25
for the 2014-2015 school year

Teachers and other district employees are busy making final preparations to welcome back what we expect to be at least 10,000 students when school starts Monday, August 25.

Secondary students (those in grades 5-12) will start school 10 minutes earlier than last year with the tardy bell ringing at 7:20 a.m. Dismissal times will remain 2:30 p.m. During the first two days of school, secondary schools will dismiss 30 minutes early at 2 p.m. to give these schools a little extra time for dismissing students and making sure buses are ready for elementary dismissal. Elementary hours will remain the same, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Bus routes and times can be found on the district website by clicking here. After entering your address, you will see a list of the schools in which you are zoned and the bus route, location and pickup/drop-off times. Please note that times will vary some during the first few days of school, especially for drop-off, until students, the campuses and bus drivers all get into the new school year routine.

Are you ready for some football?

Gators kickoff season with scrimmage against Dobie on Friday, August 22

The excitement of the 2014-2015 school year is in full swing in Dickinson ISD, and with that is the anticipation of another Dickinson ISD tradition -- Friday Night Lights.

The Dickinson High School Varsity Fighting Gators football team will be kicking off the season with a scrimmage against Dobie High School at 7 p.m. Friday, August 22. Admission to the scrimmage with be $1, with all proceeds being donated to the Texas High School Coaches Association Benevolence Fund. This fund was established to assist athletes and coaches with special needs or hardship.

They will follow up the scrimmage the following week with a new experience for students by hosting an out-of-state football team from Panama City, Florida. The Bay High School Tornados will be traveling to Dickinson to take on the Gators at 7 p.m. Friday, August 29 in Sam Vitanza Stadium.

The Tornados are similar to the Gators in student enrollment, demographics as well as the football team's season performance last year. "This is an awesome way to showcase Dickinson ISD and the great facilities we have for our students, while also giving our students a new experience with an out-of-state team," said Dickinson ISD Athletic Director and Head Football Coach John Snelson.

Football games in Dickinson ISD are about much more than football as it is an opportunity to spotlight the talents of hundreds of other students in band, dance, cheerleading, athletic trainers and video technology.

The Dickinson High School Gator Marching Band will debut their new halftime and marching competition show, "Arabian Nights". This is a big competition year for the band where they have the opportunity to advance to state competition which is only held every two years. In 2012, the band placed 18th among over 400 bands from across Texas.

The Diamonds Dance Team will dazzle the crowds at halftime with new choreographed dances, while the cheerleaders will get the crowds pumped and motivated with some Gator cheers. Student athletic trainers are on the field helping to respond to football player needs and minor injuries. The digital scoreboard provides an avenue for students interested in broadcast journalism to learn valuable career skills in videography and covering a live event.

Tickets for the August 29 game against Bay High School can be purchased in advance at the Field House on the Dickinson High School campus from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-12 noon on game day Friday. Tickets are $8 for the reserve section, $6 for general admission and $4 for students. Reserve and general admission tickets are also available at the gate on game night. Student ticket prices are only available for purchase in advance, not at the gate.

Another successful summer for the Calder-Cover Connection

Students who reside in the Jordan Cove Apartment Complex enjoyed a summer of reading and writing thanks to some dedicated teachers from Calder Road Elementary.

During the summer months, educators often wonder if their former students are keeping up their reading and writing skills. Fortunately, many of our kindergarten through fourth grade students took advantage of the Calder-Cove Connection program where they had the opportunity to maintain and enhance their reading and writing abilities.

Two Calder Road teachers were available daily at the Jordan Cove Community Center to provide guidance and instruction. The children were encouraged to choose a "just right" book from a variety of genres, including fiction and non-fiction, and they read aloud to a teacher or peer. The children were able to respond to their reading using reader response journals and by creating story foldables.

In addition, several laptops were brought into the complex so they could take Accelerated Reader quizzes. The AR program tracks the students' individual progress and allows them to move up and read increasingly more challenging books. The kids were excited to take the AR quizzes and to receive awards for showing growth.

Breakfast and snacks were provided to all students and they even enjoyed a pizza party on the last day to celebrate their success! The program was made possible through a grant received from the Dickinson ISD Education Foundation. The literacy program ran Monday-Thursday throughout June and July.

Teachers learn valuable writing processes and strategies
during three-week ABYDOS Summer Literacy Institute

Twenty-three Dickinson ISD educators are starting off the 2014-2015 school year with three weeks of specialized literacy training and lots of news ideas to share with students. The teachers spent the first three weeks of summer vacation in the ABYDOS Summer Literacy Institute.

They now have proven and successful reading and writing processes to use this year with their students. Instead of mountains of worksheets, authentic strategies and student writing will occur. Student-centered classrooms will teach students how to address a variety of audiences and write for many purposes.

As part of the Institute, teachers engage in the writing process and each completed their own unique writing piece. The writing pieces were compiled and on the final day of the Summer Institute, each teacher was presented with a special copy of the Gator Tales Anthology.

"These teachers are shining stars of Dickinson ISD. They are committed to our students and have given valuable time for this learning experience. We sincerely appreciate their dedication as we work to prepare Dickinson ISD students who are ready for college, careers and life," said Carla Voelkel, Dickinson ISD Deputy Superintendent for Educational Services.

Teachers who participated in the training included Marta Brown, Lauren Carpenter, Elaine Cates, Deborah Fields, Michael Fontaine, Sandra Gomez, Amy Gray, Ellen Hall, Lou Harris, Courtney James, Sharon Jenkins, Deborah Kenas, Robin McCardell, Desiree McCulloch, Michaelann Ruiz, Patrick Spies, Stefanie Taylor, Cathryn Watkins, Elizabeth Weld, Lawanda Williams, Patrice Williams, Diane Wonio and Ann Zamora.

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