October 7, 2016

Calendar of Events

October 2016
Principals' Month 

October 7
BHS Homecoming

CTHS Homecoming 

October 10 
Student Holiday/ District Staff Professional Learning Day

October 10-14
National School Lunch Week

October 14
SHS Homecoming 

October 17
National Boss' Day

Regular Board Meeting

October 17-21
National School Bus Safety Week 

October 20 
Gold Card Luncheon 

Saginaw Chamber's Taste of Northwest

October 23-31
Red Ribbon Week 

Quick Links
Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD eNews
Welcome to your bi-weekly eNews update! EMS ISD eNews is one way our families can stay up to date on community events, programs, and news around the district. Click on the headlines below for highlights of district news. In addition, the "News Links" tab on the left will take you to campus, athletic, and fine arts news. To visit the EMS ISD website, click here.
EMS gearing up for homecoming 

It all begins tonight! 

We invite you to come out and support our EMS high schools as they compete at their annual homecoming games.

Tonight, the Varsity Boswell football team will take on Brewer High School at 7 p.m., and the Chisholm Trail Rangers Varsity team will go head-to-head with Eaton High School at 7 p.m. 

Next Friday, The SHS Rough Riders Varsity football team will take on Azle High School at 7 p.m. 

We hope to see you there! Remember, Gold Card members get in free! 

For additional Gold Card information click here
EMS Board recognized during state convention

The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD School Board was recognized as one of five state Honor Board finalists during the annual convention hosted by Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) and Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) in September. More than 4,000 educators, administrators, and school board members from across the state were in attendance.
  
"We are honored to be recognized for doing something we love," said Steven G. Newcom, Board President. "As an elected body, our goal is to always make decisions with the best interests of students and staff in mind. We work to honor the strong history and tradition of this community and district, while also building on those foundations to continue expanding and enhancing our programs to make sure students are prepared for their futures. It is our privilege to serve and we are so appreciative of this recognition."


Each year, TASA's School Board Awards program recognizes outstanding Texas school boards at the regional and state levels for their commitment and service that has made a positive impact on Texas public school students. Of this year's 15 regional winners, five were selected as state finalists based on specific criteria including support for educational performance, support for educational improvement projects, commitment to a code of ethics, and maintenance of harmonious and supportive relationships among board members.

Click here to read more. 

Chisholm Ridge Elementary School's new 'Buddy Bench' promotes friendships and builds sense of community
Three teachers from Chisholm Ridge Elementary School implemented a new program called the "Buddy Bench," a bench in the school playground where children can go when they're lonely or looking to talk or join in a game. The Buddy Bench concept originally began overseas and has now made its way to schools across the U.S.
 
"We started the buddy bench to evoke a sense of community within our school," said Katie Grice, third-grade CRES teacher. "It gives the students an opportunity to reach out to and care for one another. We wanted to teach them that sometimes the simplest gesture can make a big difference in a person's day and life." 
 
Grice and her fellow third-grade teachers, Erin Abernathy and Miranda Maples, originally created the bench for their students, but after noticing the impact it had on them they opened it up to the entire school. 
 
"The Buddy Bench has helped promote relationship building at recess," said Susan Cook, Chisholm Ridge Elementary School principal. "Students are more aware of the needs of others around them and now have a recognized method for making friends. Even shy students can sit on a bench; they don't have to ask someone to play with them - people ask them! This has translated into the classroom and other areas of school. Parents love knowing that their students can make new friends in an easy and risk-free environment. We love the Buddy Bench!"  
 
View the video below to see what Abernathy, Grice, Maples, and their students had to say about the success of CRES' Buddy Bench.


Deadline this month! Nominate your favorite educator for HEB's Excellence in Education Award

Do you know a teacher, principal, or other educator who deserves recognition for all the time and dedication they put into their role in and out of the classroom? Now's your chance to show your appreciation for their hard work by nominating a hardworking EMS ISD educator for HEB's Excellence in Education Award. Nominations are available here through October 23, 2016. 

The nomination process only takes a matter of minutes. The winning teachers receive $5,000-$10,000 for themselves as well as another $5,000-$10,000 in campus grants that benefit EMS ISD students and staff. Help show your appreciation with this simple nomination!

District Highlights 
Click the headlines for additional information on each story. 

The Boswell High School Band of Gold competed in the H-E-B Marching Band Competition in Bedford on Saturday, October 1, against 24 5A and 6A classification bands. 

Chisholm Trail High School's Ranger Regiment competed against 26 bands from across the state on Saturday, October 1, at the Golden Triangle Marching Competition in Denton.
 
The Hafley Development Center was awarded a $3,000 Quality Grant on Wednesday, September 21, at the Texas Rising Star conference in Hurst for meeting the new state Texas Rising Star accreditations.  
 
The Spirit of Saginaw band competed in the U.S. Bands Dallas Regional Marching Contest on Saturday, September 24, in Denton, where they won first in both the Group V Open Class and the captions for Overall Effect, Visuals, and Percussion.

Stay connected through social media 

Check out the EMS ISD Facebook page, Twitter feed, and Youtube channel! Follow your school on social media, too! 

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Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD | [email protected] | http://www.emsisd.com
1200 Old Decatur Road
Fort Worth, TX 76179