May 25, 2015
Student and Teacher Holiday
(possible bad weather
make-up day)

June 3, 2015
Student Early Release Day
(three hours early)

June 4, 2015
Student Early Release Day
(three hours early)

Last Day of School for Students

June 5, 2015
Dickinson High School Graduation, 7:30 p.m.

Week of January 19, 2015

DHS Musical The community is invited to the come out this weekend and see the Dickinson High School Theatre Department's musical production, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee." This is the third annual musical at DHS and the cast and crew are excited to show off the newly renovated DHS auditorium, which was completed at the beginning of this school year.

The show opens this Friday, January 23 and continues through Monday, January 26. Ticket prices are $8 for students and $10 for adults and can be purchased at the door.

Five show times are planned including:

7 p.m. Friday, January 23
10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 24
7 p.m. Saturday, January 24
2:30 p.m. Sunday, January 25
7 p.m. Monday, January 26

"Camp Invention" offers fun activities while reinforcing academic concepts

Students will start the summer off as inventors as the Dickinson Independent School District partners with Camp Invention for a one-week day camp. The district has received several requests from parents over the past few years looking for camp opportunities to keep their younger students occupied in the summer months. Camp Invention provides fun activities which reinforce academic concepts.

"We are excited to bring this opportunity to our students by allowing them to relate the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) skills they learn during the school year to real-life challenges in fun and creative projects," said Carla Voelkel, Deputy Superintendent for Educational Services.

Camp Invention, which will take place from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. June 15-18 at Bay Colony Elementary, was created by the National Inventors Hall of Fame. It allows students entering grades 1-6 to use their imagination and be challenged to create new things by placing them into age-appropriate groups where they explore four different modules.

In the "Inducted" module, students will explore marine science through an underwater archaeological challenge, building a marine exploration vehicle and racing to collect bioluminescent specimens. The "Design Studio" module provides students with challenges based on design thinking allowing them to participate in brainstorming and idea selection sessions.

In "I Can Invent," students will explore video game design by prototyping their own video game, creating characters and deciding how the hero saves the day. In the fourth module, "Kartwheel," campers will get hands-on experience with the STEM skills taught in school by building a working kart that will withstand water and navigate the obstacle course as a team to achieve the fastest speed.

In some of the modules, students will get to use practical, everyday items from home to make new creations by taking apart the old appliance and using some of the parts for a new invention.

No camp is complete without showcasing student's work and accomplishments. An Inventors Showcase is featured on the final afternoon to allow campers to show off their new inventions and other camp accomplishments to family and friends.

To find out more information or to register your Dickinson ISD student for Camp Invention, visit www.campinvention.org. You may also contact Bonnie Fried, Director of Curriculum Services, in the Dickinson ISD Education Support Center if you have additional questions. Cost of the four-day camp is $220, but those registering before March 20 can save $25 with a cost of $195.

DHS's Cameron Martin earns KUBE Channel 57
Football Player of the Year honor for 2014 season

Most preseason predictions didn't have the Dickinson Gators with a chance at winning a district championship and they certainly did not think Cameron Martin would be one of the premier quarterbacks in the Houston area. Cameron and the Gators proved them wrong.

Last week Martin got his honors in an even bigger way when he was chosen as the KUBE Channel 57 Player of the Year out of the Greater Houston area. Each week during football season, the KUBE broadcasts a Friday night game and playoff games. They choose a Player of the Week throughout the season and then a Player of the Year at the end of the season.

"I really didn't think it would be me because there were some other players there who had made all-district and all-state," Martin said. "But I knew when they started talking about our game with Pearland that I probably had won. She (the station's sports reporter Brooke Bentley) acted like that was the best game they had ever broadcast and I was proud it was the Gators!

Not only did he lead the Gators to a 10-0 regular season 24-6A District Championship, he led them to three post season victories over teams that most people thought they had no chance of beating. Against Pearland, Martin had 237 yards passing, completing 13 of 18, rushed for 47 yards and piled up a total of four touchdowns to help lead the Gators to a 35-21 victory in the Area round of the playoffs.

"I think that was a great game just because we were big underdogs," Martin said. "All of us players were like, we are going to win this game. We are going to beat the odds and show everyone we are for real. All the wins were great this year but I just think that game had a lot of meaning."

Martin, who has just given a verbal commitment to Kilgore College to play football for the Rangers next year, credits Coach John Snelson and his coaching staff for his success. He says he never would have been anywhere without them.

"The coaches were like fathers to me," he said. "The one thing that is so different about here is that our coaches teach us that it's more than just football. Football is what we do but it's more about life. I would have never learned those lessons without Coach Snelson and the other coaches."

"Cameron was very deserving," Snelson said. "He was a true leader on and off the field and did a good job controlling the game on the field. I am very proud of him."

Martin finished the year with 1,993 yards and 19 touchdowns, and completed 146 out of 212 passes.

Taking a plunge
for Special Olympics

A shout out to several Dickinson ISD employees from the Technology Department and the Special Programs Department who participated in the Polar Plunge this past Saturday. They braved the cold Gulf waters by "plunging" into the water on Stewart Beach in Galveston. The event is held every January to raise money for Special Olympics. Dickinson ISD has students participate in the Special Olympics bowling and track and field events every school year.

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