Fort Worth ISD Board of Education Rewards Eligible Employees for Exemplary Service During Pandemic: All Trustees Read from Resolution Praising FWISD Employees for Work “Above and Beyond to Ensure the Success of the District” | Board President Shares Video About Decision to Award Eligible Employees a One-Time Stipend | Report Cards To Post To Parent Portal On Friday | Holiday Meal Slated for Lunch Menu This Week: Meal Available Curbside for FWISD’s Virtual Students | FWISD Puts Spotlight On Chair For Teaching Excellence Honorees | FWISD Stakeholders’ Survey Underway! | Important Information From Educational Technology | Message Regarding Phone Disruptions On Friday, Saturday | Warm And Fuzzies: FWISD Staffers, Volunteers Make 200 Blankets for Students This Winter | Gold Seal Application Results To Come In 2021: Over 4,300 Applications Submitted by December 4 Deadline | COVID-19 Testing Update | FWISD Modifies Quarantine Protocol | District Announces 2020-2021 SafeSchools Completion Deadline | Food Available At Multiple Sites Through December | Inside FWISD News Briefs | Fort Worth ISD Snapshot | Community Resources | Calendar | View more stories throughout the week on the Inside FWISD Blog
Fort Worth ISD Board of Education Rewards Eligible Employees for Exemplary Service During Pandemic
All Trustees Read from Resolution Praising FWISD Employees for Work “Above and Beyond to Ensure the Success of [the]District”
The Fort Worth ISD Board of Education on Tuesday evening awarded all eligible employees a one-time stipend in recognition of their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the December 8, 2020 meeting, trustees unanimously voted to support the resolution which will result in:
- A one-time, take-home stipend of $1,000 for all eligible full-time employees.
- A one-time, take-home stipend of $500 for all part-time employees.
All District part-time and full-time eligible employees who were employed with the District on December 8, 2020, regardless of start date, and were working and were paid their base pay at any time between July 1 and December 4, are eligible if they meet the other criteria stated in the Resolution shall receive the one-time stipend.
Before the vote, each trustee read a part of the resolution, acknowledging the “courage and sacrifice” of FWISD employees.
“…[T]he Board acknowledges that in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic, significant numbers of District personnel have, during the 2020-21 school year, been called upon to go above and beyond in order to ensure the success of District Operations…” the resolution reads in part.
“We are absolutely in awe of how everyone – teachers, principals, nutrition workers, custodians, bus drivers, and all staff have responded, adjusted and supported our kids,” President Ramos said.
Steven Poole, the executive director of the United Educators Association, praised the action: “The teachers and staff have done a tremendous job under difficult circumstances this school year and they certainly deserve this surprise stipend from the school board. We appreciate the school board, the superintendent, and his team for the recognition of their hard work.”
Here are the specifics for employee eligibility to receive the one-time stipend:
Full-time employee
All full-time employees who have worked and been paid since 7/1/2020 would receive a stipend that will result in take home pay of $1,000
180-day substitutes who have worked and been paid since 7/1/2020 would receive a stipend that will result in take home pay of $1,000
Part-time employees
Part-time employees listed in the MUNIS system as Part-Time who have worked at least 80 hours from 7/1/2020 through 12/4/2020 would receive a stipend that will result in take home pay of $500
Substitutes
Substitutes of any type, except “180 day” subs, who have worked at least 20 full days from 7/1/2020 through 12/4/2020, would be paid a stipend that will result in take home pay of $500
Employment status for eligibility
For all the above, they must be employed as of December 8, 2020, in order to receive the stipend. Anyone terminated after that date (mid-term retirees, etc.) would remain eligible to receive the stipend.
>> Read the complete resolution.
Employees with questions about the resolution are encouraged to email payroll@fwisd.org.
Board President Shares Video About Decision to Award Eligible Employees a One-Time Stipend
The Fort Worth ISD Board of Education on Tuesday evening awarded all eligible employees a one-time stipend in recognition of their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the December 8, 2020 meeting, trustees unanimously voted to support the resolution which will result in:
- A one-time, take-home stipend of $1,000 for all eligible full-time employees
- A one-time, take-home stipend of $500 for all part-time employees
Before the vote, each trustee read a part of the resolution, acknowledging the “courage and sacrifice” of FWISD employees. And, Board President Jacinto Ramos Jr. took a few minutes to share his thoughts on behalf of trustees about this decision.
Please watch this video – and share.
You can learn more about the one-time stipend here.
Report Cards To Post To Parent Portal On Friday
Report cards for the 2020-2021 second six weeks grading period will be available for parents to view via the Fort Worth ISD Parent Portal on Friday, December 11.
Last school year, the Fort Worth ISD transitioned to paperless report cards, making student grades available via Parent Portal. Parents who prefer a paper copy of report cards must request one from their child’s campus.
For Parent Portal access, visit www.fwisd.org/parentportal. Parents or guardians need their child’s student identification (ID) information, birth date and their email address to register.
The third six weeks officially began Monday, December 7 and concludes January 29. The second six weeks ended Friday, December 4.
Holiday Meal Slated for Friday Lunch Menu
Meal Available Curbside for FWISD’s Virtual Students
Sodexo MAGIC, Fort Worth ISD’s food management service, will serve a special holiday meal for students and employees this week.
The in-person menu, being prepared for Friday, December 11, includes meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, roasted broccoli, a dinner roll, cinnamon sugar apples with a choice of milk. The curbside meal for students participating in virtual learning was distributed today, December 10 and included roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, a dinner roll, apple slices and a choice of milk.
FWISD Meals To Go service is available at 28 convenient District curbside sites. Heating instructions are also available for families that are receiving a curbside meal.
The meal is free for all students because of a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcement earlier this year that free meals are available to ALL students, regardless of economic status for the rest of the school year. However, the lunch is available for purchase to District employees who load or already have funds available in their online MySchoolBucks account.
For additional details, visit https://fwisd.sodexomyway.com/ or contact Child Nutrition Services at 817-814-3500.
FWISD Puts Spotlight on Chair for Teaching Excellence Honorees
Get to know Fort Worth ISD’s 2020-2021 Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence honorees.
Over the next several weeks, the Fort Worth ISD, will post 16 individual videos spotlighting this year’s honorees on the District homepage and social media platforms.
Last week, the District announced that 16 teachers were conferred with the 2020-2021 Chair for Teaching Excellence title for one year and will receive a $5,000 honorarium. Each Teaching Chair’s campus will receive a banner to display in a prominent location. Additionally, a photograph of each winner will be displayed at the District’s Professional Development Center for one year.
This year, a record 140 teachers applied across the 16 categories. They answered new application questions about teaching in a pandemic, and they submitted video demonstrations of teaching in their virtual classrooms. The panelists interviewed the finalists via Zoom and once again asked about the challenges of teaching and engaging with students in the face of a public health crisis. Through it all, teachers impressed the judges with the creativity, ingenuity, and grit they displayed as they navigated the challenges of teaching this school year.
Learn more about the Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence recognition here and look for the videos spotlighting this year’s honorees at www.fwisd.org and on FWISD social media platforms.
FWISD STAKEHOLDERS’ SURVEY UNDERWAY!
The 2020-2021 Annual Stakeholders’ Surveys are now open and will run through December 18, 2020.
This year there are two surveys for different stakeholder groups.
The first survey is for all Students (3rd grade to 12th grade) and all Teachers. They are taking the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) survey from Panorama.
Students can access their survey through the Panorama icon in Classlink using their Student ID.
Teachers have already received an email in the fwisd.org account with their unique survey link. If you have not received that link be sure to check clutter or junk mail for “Panorama Education Team support+fwisd@panoramaed.com. "
The second survey is for principals, assistant principals, non-instructional school staff, district staff, and parents who are taking the historic FWISD Stakeholders’ Climate Survey.
FWISD Stakeholders’ Climate Survey for Principals, Assistant Principals, Non-instructional school staff, District staff, and parents can access the 2021-2020 FWISD Stakeholders’ Climate Survey at: https://fortworthisd.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8HCXsCUJGe78HeB. Or by the 2020-2021 Stakeholder’s Survey QR code.
WHAT’S INVOLVED?
Each school has the autonomy to administer the survey to students according to its own schedule anytime during the survey administration time period. The survey format will automatically adjust to most electronic devices (computers, iPads, and cell phones).
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
All responses are anonymous. FWISD students and employees will be asked to enter their student or employee ID to authenticate their association with the District however, names and other individual identifiers will not be included in the data set.
In addition, FWISD employees (including all teachers) who have students attending our schools can take the FWISD Climate survey as a parent without using the authenticator.
Thank you for your cooperation and participation in administrating the 2020-2021 stakeholders’ surveys. If you have any questions, please contact the Grants Compliance and Monitoring department at 817-814-1850 or via email at Askeval@fwisd.org.
Important Information from Educational Technology
No one likes it when your internet meetings are interrupted or you can’t access your email. Our network teams have been diligently investigating all Interruptions reported on WiFi (Network connectivity).
Although many of our co-workers are well-meaning when they install a "soft access point" or an inexpensive “wireless router” it is likely that such devices are actually a threat to our network security and could potentially allow access by unauthorized parties.
Personal devices whether they are routers, WiFi hubs or radio wave transmitting devices, cause signal interference and not only should not be used on the FWISD network but should be removed immediately. Rogue devices are considered the most common source of wireless intrusion and interruption.
We cannot stress the importance of removing these devices which, in fact, are banned by District policy:
10.0 UNACCEPTABLE USE: Despite the value electronic communications can bring, the improper use of such resources or e-mail can be counterproductive to the educational mission of the District. All users are advised that the use of the computer network, the Intranet, the Internet, and other District-owned communication devices is, therefore, a privilege, not a right. Any user who violates this agreement shall, at a minimum, have his or her access to the network and Internet terminated and is subject to disciplinary action by the school administrator. The following are examples of unacceptable use of network nodes on the Fort Worth ISD Electronic Communication system. Due to the rapidly evolving nature of technology, this list is not exhaustive nor does it detail every conceivable inappropriate use of the electronic communication system. When the conformance of a particular activity to policy or regulation is unclear, this list should be used as a guide to gauge whether it is acceptable or not. These guidelines apply to District administrators, all faculty and staff, as well as students and the general public.
Attached are sample pictures of devices that cause interference and violate the AUP.
Message Regarding Phone Disruptions On Friday, Saturday
Beginning this Friday, December 11 at 6 p.m. and continuing through Saturday morning, December 12, the District will be installing updates to our phone system. Phone users may experience a short break in service as the update is applied to each device.
Warm And Fuzzies
FWISD Staffers, Volunteers Make 200 Blankets for Students This Winter
More than 200 Fort Worth ISD elementary students will keep warm this winter, thanks to the generosity of about 20 current and former District employees and local residents.
Last week, approximately 205 multicolored flannel blankets ranging in size from about a yard to 2 yards-by 60 inches wide filled a conference room at the Fort Worth ISD Administration Building.
The first batch of blankets were distributed to approximately 60 students staying at a local shelter on Wednesday. The remaining blankets will be sent to counselors across the District for distribution to elementary students in need.
A Fort Worth ISD employee who wants to remain anonymous organized the blanket drive. Since October, blankets have been distributed to students. The employee said they had excess fabric at home and decided to make blankets. A call was put out for quilters and anyone with sewing capabilities, and within a couple months, more than 200 blankets were made by five current and retired employees and 16 volunteers in the Benbrook community.
“I know this is a need, especially for students in our shelters. Because of hygiene awareness, blankets are pretty disposable and so they always need them at the shelter,” said Jo Carter, liaison for FWISD’s O.P.E.N. Doors Homeless Education Department.
The prints and patterns of the blankets vary including bees, Dallas Cowboys, sea animals, butterflies, hearts, plaid, military, unicorns, lady bugs, Minnie Mouse, birds, baseball and superheroes. Each blanket has a personal story and some blankets were made for students with parents serving in the military, Ms. Carter said.
Mary Kolling has volunteered at the Leadership Academy at Como Elementary School for nearly a decade assisting teachers and students in the classroom through her church Christ Chapel and reading with students through the Reading Partners program. Because the pandemic and COVID-19 protocols restrict volunteers from physically being allowed on campuses, Ms. Kolling sought the next best thing – making blankets for students. Overall, she sewed more than 60 blankets over several weeks, according to organizers.
Ms. Kolling said that it’s neat to know that the children will open the blankets as Christmas gifts and that they will keep them warm.
“This was a great opportunity for me to still reach out and help students,” Ms. Kolling said. “I sew sporadically. It had been a while since I had been sewing so I was looking forward to jumping in.
“I love the opportunity to be able to help how I can. Some of the patterns … were just precious.”
Chris Tomich, a retired data clerk from Southwest High School, is an avid quilter who’s sewn face masks for the community and blankets for babies in the neonatal intensive care unit at Cook Children’s Medical Center. She made 33 quilts to keep FWISD students warm this winter.
“Anyone who needs help with sewing, I’m available. I just like giving back to the community,” Ms. Tomich said. “I’m a real sucker for little children and even bigger children. I know this is a tough time for parents, and if we can give a child something they can call theirs that means a whole lot to me.”
The number of quilts produced overwhelmed Ms. Carter, who expected approximately 30 to be donated, she said.
“I’m thrilled and I can’t believe the number of blankets they produced. I’m happy for the kids,” she said. “I'm really thankful that these [volunteers] had a heart to do this. I know this takes a lot of time and energy but that’s what the season is about, thinking of other people, and they certainly did that.”
Gold Seal Application Results To Come In 2021
Over 4,300 Applications Submitted by December 4 Deadline
More than 4,300 students submitted applications for consideration to Fort Worth ISD’s 2021-2022 Gold Seal Programs and Schools of Choice by the December 4 deadline, according to District officials. Notifications on the application status will be emailed to applicants in 2021.
In a year unlike any other Gold Seal Programs and Schools of Choice said they were pleased with the 4,317 applications received. The District informed the public about the Gold Seal application process from October through December in print, digital and radio advertisements, social media, email messages/newsletters, calls to families, catalogs and postcards mailed to students and interviews with local media outlets In that timeframe, the Gold Seal website received more than 85,000 pageviews.
“I felt really good about it,” said Karen Ponder, coordinator for FWISD’s Choice programming, referring to the number of applicants. “I think it was a team effort.”
The District accepted Gold Seal applications November 6-December 4. Students who completed the online application received a confirmation as receipt that the application was received. Email notifications will go out to families in January 2021 with instructions for accessing their child’s Gold Seal results.
Applicants will be admitted to Gold Seal schools and programs by a computer-generated lottery. Board policy determines the weighted ranking order students receive in the lottery process:
Gold Seal Programs Of Choice
- Students living in the school’s attendance zone
- Siblings of resident students who are concurrently enrolled in the school’s Program of Choice
- Children of resident District employees
- Students living in the District but outside of the attendance zone
- Children of non-resident District employees
- Students living outside of the District
Gold Seal Schools Of Choice
- Siblings of resident students who are concurrently enrolled in the school
- Children of resident District employees
- Students living in the District
- Children of non-resident District employees
- Students living outside of the District
Applicants selected to their first choice will receive instructions on how to register for the program. Failure to register by the date and time indicated in the email notification forfeits the child’s space in the program.
Students not selected to their first choice will be placed on a waiting list for that choice unless the choice is Arlington Heights Dance, Young Women’s Leadership Academy or I.M. Terrell Academy Visual and Performing Arts. Applicants not identified as eligible through the screening process for the three programs will be placed on a waiting list for their second choice if not admitted to the second choice.
The District will announce a date for students to submit late applications to programs and schools with available spaces early next year.
Gold Seal Programs of Choice and Schools of Choice appeal to student interests and passions and equip students with skills to thrive in college and the workforce. The rigorous program categories include aviation, cybersecurity, cosmetology, fine arts, STEM, Early College High School, P-TECH (Pathways in Technology) and much more. The programs allow students to complete high school college-and-career-ready and with opportunities to obtain multiple college credits, professional licensures and certifications.
Learn more about FWISD’s Gold Seal Programs and Schools of Choice at www.fwisd.org/choice.
COVID-19 Testing Update
Colleagues:
Here is updated information about employee COVID-19 testing. This information includes pre-registration steps and locations.
Testing will continue through next week but will be suspended during the winter break. COVID-19 testing will resume Tuesday January 5.
FWISD is partnering with Virtual Care for Families to offer select employees with free Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 testing. All eligible employees must preregister to receive the test. The following employees/ departments are eligible for testing:
- Teachers
- Transportation
- Maintenance and Operations
- Custodians
- Child Nutrition Services
- Special Education personnel
District employees experiencing COVID-19 symptoms are advised not to arrive at a designated FWISD testing location and to contact their doctor or visit www.virtualcarefamilies.com to be connected with a provider.
Register today and get additional details at www.virtualcarefamilies.com/fwisd-abbott.
FWISD Modifies Quarantine Protocol
Based on new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, Texas Education Agency, and Tarrant County Public Health, the Fort Worth ISD will update its quarantine protocol for staff and students who have had a confirmed close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual to 10 days from last date of contact.
This is a change from the previous guideline of 14 days from date of contact. This is only true for individuals not experiencing any symptoms. Quarantine dispositions will reflect this change beginning Thursday, December 10. Any quarantines in progress will maintain the current end date.
DISTRICT ANNOUNCES 2020-2021 SAFESCHOOLS COMPLETION DEADLINE
Editor's Note: The following memorandum from Classified Learning refers to upcoming SafeSchool training deadlines. This year employees will be able to test out and not have to view all courses with the exception of the Employee Handbook, Title IX Compliance Overview, Texas Cybersecurity and two coronavirus videos. Employees who decide to test out of a module and who pass will not receive a certificate, but their training will meet District compliance requirements for 2020-2021. Employees who opt to test out of a training and who do not pass with 80% must watch the module and retake the test.
- Employees will receive generated SafeSchools emails that contain three modules that were assigned in May. These modules were not assigned for the 2020-2021 school year because of the pandemic but are required by state and federal laws. Cybersecurity is two hours because of Texas HB 3834. Title IX Compliance is a new federal requirement.
- This year employees may test out of select courses. Courses exempt from the test out include the Employee Handbook, Title IX Compliance Overview, Texas Cybersecurity and the two Coronavirus videos. Additionally, this functionality is not available in District created modules like the Active Shooter module.
- Employees may test out of any of the other modules by clicking "Test Out." Employees who decide to test out of any modules but who do not pass with an 80%, will have to watch the module and retake the test.
- Please note that employees who decide to use the "Test Out" functionality will not receive a certificate, but their training plan will state “Tested Out”. This is still meeting the District's compliance requirements for this 2020-2021 school year.
All courses are due by February 15, 2021 except forTitle IX Compliance Overview that is due January 8, 2021.
For additional FAQs and information please click here.
FOOD AVAILABLE AT MULTIPLE SITES THROUGH DECEMBER
Multiple organizations across Fort Worth are offering food to help families through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since March, the Fort Worth ISD has partnered with multiple organizations to share information and organize food distribution events for families.
Curbside Meals-To-Go breakfast and lunch service is available at 28 designated FWISD locations for FWISD virtual learners. Twice weekly on Monday and Thursday mornings, FWISD students participating in virtual learning may pick up a combination of breakfast and lunch meals at any of the 28 designated meal pickup sites. For more information, contact the FWISD Child Nutrition Department at 817-814-3500.
The Fort Worth ISD has compiled a list of locations to find free and nutritious food here.
Food is available at these locations throughout December 2020:
Food Distribution
1. Monday and Wednesday, Times vary
YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth Grab and Go Meals
Multiple Locations
The YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth is serving free meals to youth 18 and under at multiple branch locations. Learn more here.
2. Monday through Friday
Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County
Curbside individually packaged meals and snacks are available for free to children ages 18 and younger while supplies last at Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County branch locations. Weekly at home learn resources will also be distributed with each meal. Other meal distribution options are also available.
Click here or contact LaToyia Greyer at LGreyer@bgcgtc.org for more information.
3. Friday, December 11, 8-11 a.m.
Herman Clark Stadium
5201 CA Roberson Blvd.
Fort Worth ISD is partnering with Tarrant Area Food Bank to host a Mega Mobile Market food distribution event. Approximately 1,000 boxes of nonperishable food will be provided to families on a first-come, first-served basis. Each family will receive 100 pounds of high-quality produce, meat dairy and groceries.
4. Saturday, December 12, 9 a.m.
Christ Church Fort Worth
5301 Altamesa Blvd.
Free drive-through, contactless food distribution event. Volunteers are screened for COVID-19 and wear masks. For additional details, call 817-292-9292.
5. Sunday, December 13, 2:30-5:30 p.m.
Fellowship Church
508 Carroll St.
Fellowship Church will host its Hope For Our City Event that offers families nonperishable groceries this winter season. The event will include children’s activities, family photo areas, games and more. To reserve a food package, visit FellowhsipChrurch.com/Hope-For-Our-City or call 972-471-6316.
6. Tuesday, December 15
Dickies Arena
1911 Montgomery St.
The Goodfellow Fund will distribute free holiday meal kits to families facing hardships at a drive-through event. The 90-pound food kits will include a smoked turkey and/or ham and four food boxes.
Families must apply for the holiday meal kits via goodfellowfundfw.com or submit a request in writing to Goodfellow Fund, P.O. Box 1870, Fort Worth, 76101. Families will receive an approval letter with details for how to pick up the kits.
7. Wednesday, December 16, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Bethlehem Baptist Church
1188 W. Broad St., Mansfield
Free, drive-thru food distribution open to everyone
For additional information, call 817-473-1236
8. Thursday, December 17
Globe Life Field
734 Stadium Drive, Arlington
The Goodfellow Fund will distribute free holiday meal kits to families facing hardships at a drive-through event. The 90-pound food kits will include a smoked turkey and/or ham and four food boxes.
Families must apply for the holiday meal kits via goodfellowfundfw.com or submit a request in writing to Goodfellow Fund, P.O. Box 1870, Fort Worth, 76101. Families will receive an approval letter with details for how to pick up the kits.
9. Saturday, December 19, 8-10 a.m.
St. Peter & St. Paul Anglican Church
3900 Morris Lane, Arlington
Everyone is welcome to the Tarrant Area Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry event.
For the complete Tarrant Area Mobile Food Pantry Schedule, visit https://www.tafb.org/wp-content/uploads/mobile/mobile-pantry-schedule.pdf. Need food delivered? Call 817-534-0814 to speak with a live representative about how to access nutritious food.
Other food resources are also available:
- Find Food - https://tafb.org/find-food/
- Seniors and Homebound Individuals – Call 817-336-0912 or visit https://mealsonwheels.org/programs or https://mealsonwheels.org/refer/
- Community Resources- Visit https://tafb.org/community-resources/ or speak with a Community Resource Specialist at 1-866-430-6143 for help with applying for the programs
- Go Healthy! Recipe Library - https://tafb.org/recipes/
INSIDE FWISD NEWS BRIEFS
EDITOR'S NOTE: Inside FWISD Briefs are quick-hit stories of activities and events happening locally and nationally.
FWISD’s Nakia Cole Recognized As Hometown Hero
Nakia Cole, a coordinator for Fort Worth ISD’s Family Action Center, is among the latest individuals recognized as a Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Lockheed Martin Hometown Hero.
The weekly Hometown Hero series highlights 28 people and their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Steve Gay, a retired FWISD employee, nominated Ms. Cole for the recognition because of her efforts to go above and beyond assisting people in need, he told the Star-Telegram.
“Love is who she is,” he told the paper. “She doesn’t let any kind of parameters stop her from reaching people in need.”
Throughout the pandemic Ms. Cole continues to organize food deliveries for needy families twice weekly, help people with resources for housing and other assistance.
Learn more about Hometown Hero Nakia Cole here.
Commissioners Court Joins Scribner In Asking Governor That Teachers Be Among First Considered For COVID-19 Vaccines
The Tarrant County Commissioner’s Court is among the latest groups asking Gov. Greg Abbott to consider teachers among the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available.
The county judge and all county commissioners penned a letter to the governor with the request on Tuesday, December 8. Earlier this month, Superintendent Kent P. Scribner, representing both the Fort Worth ISD and in his capacity as chair of the Texas Urban Council of Superintendents, initially asked Gov. Abbott to consider teachers to be among the first to receive COVID vaccines when available.
“We echo Dr. Kent P. Scribner’s letter to you requesting that educators should have the vaccine available to them alongside healthcare workers,” the letter reads. “While we know the decisions that are being made regarding who does and does not get the vaccine are difficult, it is essential that we support those who are on the front lines of our future – our educators – to provide a place for children to learn and achieve their dreams.”
View the letter below.
Gasca’s Got Spirit
In a year that’s turned the world upside down, Christiopher Gasca, a second-grade teacher at M.H. Moore Elementary, is looking to offer a sense of normalcy for his students.
His efforts recently caught the attention of NBC 5 DFW (KXAS-TV) and were featured in the station’s “Something Good” segment. This school year he’s continued the tradition of spirit theme weeks for in-person and virtual students dressing in a wide array of colorful outfits.
“I go on dressing in holiday gear, joking with the kids, trying to make lessons fun because my students should not suffer,” Mr. Gasca recently told a colleague.
Click here to view the “Something Good” segment featuring Mr. Gasca
New Video Featuring FWISD Students, Educators Goes Viral
Fifth graders from FWISD’s Leadership Academy at Como Elementary School are all about G.O.A.L.S. in a new music video. The song “G.O.A.L.S. 2,” written by Como fifth-grade math teacher Thomas Mayfield, debuted earlier this month. The song is the sequel to G.O.A.L.S. (Greatness Overcomes All Life’s Obstacles) which first premiered in 2018.
Since its November 9 debut, “G.O.A.L.S. 2” has caught the attention of national media outlets like Now This and Good Morning America.
The music video is not the first from Mr. Mayfield gaining national attention. In 2019, a video featuring students touting about excelling in school and making successes of themselves caught the attention of comedienne and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres who invited Mr. Mayfield, Counselor Tomeka McGee and then Principal Valencia Rhines on her show where she presented them with a $50,000 donation. The gift was put toward funding laptops for Como students and to support the campus food pantry. Also in 2019, Mr. Mayfield’s videos appeared in CBS This Morning’s School Matters series.
Mr. Mayfield's videos are viral online sensations that garner views anywhere between 300,000 to more than 1 million on Facebook. They've been featured in stories by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, USA Today, on local TV news and radio programs and shared on Facebook by legendary soul singer Gladys Knight.
City, County Announces COVID-19 Testing Sites Through The Holidays
The City of Fort Worth and Tarrant County has expanded its free community COVID-19 testing sites. Locations for testing include two Fort Worth ISD sites. The following are upcoming events where COVID-19 tests are available.
Spreading Joy: A special thank you to the Park Hill Neighborhood Association which recently donated Christmas gifts for 100 students at Hubbard Heights Elementary School.
Elf on the Shelf Selfies: Students at M.L. Phillips Elementary School recently had some fun with holiday selfies in the school library.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Extended COVID-19 Coverage
No-cost COVID-19 Testing
Wear A Mask
CDC Tips on Properly Wearing A Cloth Mask
FWISD Partners With Virtual Care For Kids To Offer Students Telehealth Services
In efforts to reduce COVID-19 spread, the Fort Worth ISD has partnered with Virtual Care for Kids to offer students and their families telehealth services.
Students can see a Texas-based pediatrician within minutes from home virtually via computer, smartphone or tablet for urgent care services including minor colds, the flu, sore throat, cough, ear concerns, headaches, sinus or allergy issues or pink eye. Additionally, Virtual Care for Kids is offering coronavirus screening and testing in English and Spanish. Visit https://urgentcarekids.com/fwisd/ to register for services.
Employee Assistance Program Resources for FWISD Employees
Families First Coronavirus Response Act
Follow COVID-19 updates from the City of Fort Worth at fortworthtexas.gov/COVID-19/
Report Cards Issued, December 11
Holiday Read Aloud (Teachers are encouraged to check their email for a link to the LIVE event), December 15
Registration for January 15 Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Ends, December 16
Winter Break, December 21-January 4
Registration for January 23 Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Ends, December 23
Staff Return to Work, January 5
Students Return For Classes, January 6
Registration for February 6 Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Ends, January 6
SafeSchools Title IX Course Deadline, January 8
Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, January 18
Fort Worth Technology Conference, January 23
End of Fall Semester, January 29
Share your story ideas, successes, calendar items, photos, questions and feedback with us at Inside@FWISD.org. Check the Inside FWISD blog, www.fwisd.org/insidefwisd, regularly updated throughout the week with additional content and features.
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