Ector County Independent School District eNewsletter
2/25/2016
In This Issue


 

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Bush NTO Students ready to take on the world

AVID in Action
 
USGS researcher helps make science real for ECISD students


New calendar approved


On Tuesday, the Board of Trustees approved next year's traditional school calendar, and it has a bit of a new look. A legislative change made last spring now requires students to be in school 75,600 minutes each year - the requirement used to be 180 days. The "minutes" requirement was put in place to allow school districts more flexibility in creating a calendar.
 
Next year, ECISD will lengthen the school day, while reducing the number of days students are in school. Teachers are still required to work 187 days. A quick overview: school starts on August 22, teachers & students are off the whole week at Thanksgiving, the two weeks around Christmas, and Spring Break from March 13-17. The last day of school is Thursday, May 25. Graduations will be held May 26 & 27, and teachers will have a work day on the 26th and two staff development days on May 30 & 31. There are 166 i nstructional days at 456 minutes per day.
  
If you are wondering, this year there are 175 instructional days in our calendar; and these are the minutes per day in effect: Elementary 435; Middle School 455; New Tech, early college high schools & alt center 440; PHS & OHS 465.
 
You can see the new calendar HERE. The calendar for Gale Pond/Alamo year-round magnet elementary will be presented to the school board in March.
Energy Excellence 
 
ECISD's energy management program crossed another major threshold in December when the district hit $5 million in energy savings since implementing it just over three years ago.



Representatives from Cenergistic attended the February 23 school board meeting to present the Energy Excellence Award and show off the big check that represents the 26% savings! The Energy Excellence Award celebrates a solid, sustainable program and the support and cooperation of administration, faculty and staff. The effort is led by ECISD's energy specialists but is only possible because of our employees' dedication to saving energy. From teachers to secretaries, and maintenance crews, custodians, and technicians - all share credit in receiving the award!
Strumming to state
 
Earlier this month 35 classical Guitar students from Odessa High School competed in the UIL Solo & Ensemble contest. These Bronchos had a very good day with 32 students receiving a 1 rating (the top rating) on their solo performances. Thirteen of the students qualified for the State contest which will be in Austin in May! Well done!

 
Pictured are the state qualifiers from the varsity group: Rajel Amesquita, Hope Villa, Oscar Lozoya, Austyn Renteria, Kolby Giles, Luis Salazar, Dori Garcia, Max Tabarez, Allen Alvarez, Kassandra Hernandez, Charmaine Tejada, and Benito Hernandez (individual.) Edward Galvan also qualified but is not pictured.

 
Celebrating success
 
In December ten Permian High School football players earned All-State or Academic All-State honors. The boys and their families were recognized for their accomplishments at the school board meeting this week.
 
Four players were named to the Associated Press 6A All-State Team - running back Brandon Bailey was a 1st team selection, while linebacker Josh Nguyen, cornerback Des Smith, and safety Jax Welch made honorable mention.
 
In addition, six players were named to the Texas High School Coaches Association Academic All-State squad - Andrew Blackstone, Jack Fawcett, and Trace Notley were chosen as 1st team Academic All-State, with Dakota Delao, Chance Holder, and Jax Welch selected as honorable mention.
 
The boys are in the front row and pictured from left to right with family members & others: Brandon Bailey, Des Smith, Josh Nguyen, Jax Welch, Jack Fawcett, and Trace Notley. Not pictured: Andrew Blackstone, Dakota Delao, and Chance Holder.
World Class Leader in Education
 
Shana Elguezabal, a Career & Technical Education Health Science Teacher at the George H.W. Bush New Tech Odessa campus is ECISD's World Class Leader in Education for February!



Shana has taught Health Sciences for the past four years. Before that she was a teacher at Goliad Elementary School. She is also a nurse and works weekends at the hospital in McCamey. Her co-workers say Shana is the kind of teacher you want your own children to have. She is the teacher who goes above and beyond on a daily basis. She works as a team with the Health Sciences Department and collaborates with Odessa College's Allied Health Department scheduling clinical hours for CNA students. She stays after hours on the phone with clinical sites, OC colleagues, parents and students tirelessly making arrangements for our students, and preparing them to test for certification.
 
Shana is the teacher you go to when you need a new textbook reviewed. She is the one who will go to a great professional development event and come back and present to the faculty, at a level that makes you feel like you are at the actual conference. She takes the time to mentor and grow new teachers without being asked. She brings to students not just the knowledge needed to succeed in college and in the workforce, but teaches them daily with her actions what it really looks like to be an outstanding professional.

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Ector County ISD does not discriminate on the basis of gender, age, race, nationality, religion, disability, socioeconomic standing or non-proficiency in English language skills in providing educational services for students' benefit.