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Inside FWISD May 31, 2018

Graduation Season Has Begun

Graduation ceremonies for Fort Worth ISD’s Class of 2018 will be in full swing throughout this weekend.

For all things graduation, be sure to visit the FWISD Graduation page, where you can learn about this year’s valedictorian and salutatorian recipients, other 2018 graduates and their accomplishments, view photos from previous 2018 graduation ceremonies and find dates and times for the upcoming commencement events.

Before you go, make yourself aware of the restricted items that are prohibited from some of the scheduled graduation venues.

All Fort Worth ISD graduations scheduled for facilities at Texas Christian University (TCU) are subject to a strict policy regarding bags and purses. The complete list of rules can be found here.

The following are Fort Worth ISD’s remaining 2018 graduation ceremonies:

Friday, June 1, 2018

Metro Opportunity – School Cafeteria- 1 p.m.

Paschal High School Ed & Rae Schollmaier Arena (TCU) – 7 p.m.

Eastern Hills High School Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center – 7 p.m.

Success High School Trimble Technical Auditorium – 8 p.m.

Saturday, June 2, 2018

Marine Creek Collegiate High School Will Rogers Auditorium – 8:30 a.m.

Benbrook High School Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center – 8:30 a.m.

South Hills High School Ed & Rae Schollmaier Arena (TCU) – 11 a.m.

Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences Will Rogers Auditorium – 12 p.m.

Carter-Riverside High School Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center – 12 p.m.

Polytechnic High School Will Rogers Auditorium – 4 p.m.

Western Hills High School Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center – 4 p.m.

Trimble Technical High School Ed & Rae Schollmaier Arena (TCU) – 6 p.m.

Diamond Hill Jarvis High School Will Rogers Auditorium – 8 p.m.

Dunbar High School Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center – 8 p.m.

Sunday, June 3, 2018

North Side High School Ed & Rae Schollmaier Arena (TCU) – 12 p.m.

Southwest High School Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center – 1 p.m.

Young Women’s Leadership Academy Will Rogers Auditorium – 1 p.m.

Arlington Heights High School Ed & Rae Schollmaier Arena (TCU) – 6 p.m.

O.D. Wyatt High School Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center – 5 p.m.

Young Men’s Leadership Academy Will Rogers Auditorium – 5 p.m.

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Jo Kelly School – School Gym, 1 p.m.

For more graduation details, visit www.fwisd.org/graduation.

2018 CHAIR FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED

Applications are now being accepted for Fort Worth ISD’s 2018 Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence. This is the first time the process must be completed entirely online.

This program recognizes outstanding classroom teachers in FWISD. Recipients are awarded the title of Chair for Teaching Excellence and a $5,000 honorarium.

The Chairs for Teaching Excellence program was established by the FWISD in 1994. It is modeled after the university-level chair program and is designed to recognize and reward exemplary teachers. This program is unique because of its role in a public-school setting and for its rigorous selection process.

Teachers may self-nominate or they may be nominated by principals, colleagues, or parents. Each nominee must complete an application online, and their principal and a colleague must submit a recommendation online as well. If selected for further consideration, the teacher will be interviewed and must agree to be recorded teaching a lesson to students. There are separate selection committees for each Chair.

Selectees are honored at an awards luncheon to be held in November 2018, at a location to be announced. Teachers selected as Chairs are encouraged to pursue further education and training and share knowledge and expertise with colleagues.

Many more teachers apply for this honor than are selected. Since its inception, generous sponsors have awarded more than $1 million to teachers.

Applications must be submitted through the online form on the Partnerships website here. The deadline is close of business, June 29, 2018.

Anyone interested in learning more about the eligibility criteria for Chairs for Teaching Excellence or how to support the teachers of Fort Worth ISD may contact Danielle.stenger@fwisd.org.

FWISD To Host Hiring, Substitute Appreciation Events June 7

Several departments from the Fort Worth Independent School District will participate in hiring events, Thursday, June 7 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center.

The District’s Human Capital Management Department is gearing up to host its 2018 Hiring Fair, for teachers and auxiliary staff, and the Career and Technical Education Department (CTE) is hosting Hiring Fair 2018 for the District’s 2018 senior class and recent graduates, ages 17 to 21. All events will take place throughout Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibit Halls in the Will Rogers Memorial Center, 3401 W. Lancaster Ave.

Fort Worth ISD high school cheerleaders and drumlines are expected to attend to welcome job fair applicants.

HCM officials and campus principals will interview new and experienced teachers at the elementary and secondary levels from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Prospective teacher candidates interested in attending are encouraged to apply to the 2018-19 School Year Teacher Vacancy Pool at www.fwisd.org/careers to be considered for this invitation-only event.

Invitations are not required for the auxiliary portion of the hiring fair, which will take place from 9 a.m. to noon. District supervisors and staff from the Central Calling, Child Nutrition Services, Maintenance, Safety and Security and Transportation departments will interview eligible candidates for substitute, cafeteria service, custodial service, campus monitor and bus driver positions.

“We’re looking for people with a servant’s heart to come ‘back to school’ and work to provide learning opportunities for kids,” said Carlos Mendoza, HCM director of staffing.

For more details, call HCM at 817-814-2717.

Now in its 25th year, the CTE Hiring Fair, is a one-stop shop event where recent high school graduates and seniors can meet with more than 130 employers to discuss approximately 9,000 entry-level part-time, full-time and summer job opportunities. The event will be held from noon to 4 p.m.

Hiring Fair 2018 also offers workshop sessions on dressing for success and presentation and a service offering resume review and creation for recent grads. Attendees are encouraged to dress for success and bring plenty of resumes.

Recognized as one of the largest employer-attended job fairs in Fort Worth and Tarrant County, Fort Worth ISD is believed to be the only school district in Texas offering a job fair targeting recent graduates that includes multiple participating employers and services.

“Hiring Fair 2018 is about connecting young job seekers and college-bound graduates with a job, a career, and education assistance to help them fulfill their dreams,” said Lila Boydston, event coordinator.

For more details in English and Spanish, call the Hiring Fair Information Line at 817-871-3247 or visit www.fwisd.org/HiringFair2018.

Free parking is available at Farrington Field for the June 7 events. Parking is $10 at Will Rogers. There is also a city bus stop (Trinity Metro) at Farrington Field.

FWISD Launches Recruiting Campaign in Arizona

Current teachers, or students just earning education degrees, driving through Phoenix, Arizona will see five highway billboards inviting them to work for the Fort Worth Independent School District.

Like similar billboards that went up earlier this month in Oklahoma, the advertisements will carry the same message encouraging teachers that their future is in a Fort Worth classroom. The message displays the starting salary for teachers in the Fort Worth ISD, $52,000! The campaign began on Monday, May 28.

The billboards placed in Oklahoma earlier this month not only caught the attention of teachers but also many media outlets. Teachers from Oklahoma made their way to the District’s Human Capital Management Career Fair on Saturday, May 19, and of those that attended, one each was hired at the elementary and secondary levels. Other teachers continue to inquire.

As the school year closes, there are teachers retiring from the District and some who are resigning. The billboard campaign is just one way the District is utilizing to recruit teachers to fill those vacancies.

Fort Worth Independent School District is a vibrant, growing urban district of 86,000 students, 143 campuses and more than 10,000 employees. Our new teacher starting salary is $52,000. The District is committed to a plan of improving early years literacy, achieving significant success in middle years math, and ensuring that ALL students are prepared for college, career and community leadership.

Our goals are ambitious but well supported within the community. For example, our 100 x 25 FWTX program is on target to ensure that all third graders are reading at or above grade level by the year 2025. This city-wide effort is supported by the community group Read Fort Worth led by Matt Rose, executive chairman of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, and energetically supported by Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price.

The District has just recently embarked on a $750 million Capital Improvement Program overwhelmingly approved by voters last fall. The program will build new schools, remodel existing learning spaces and provide technological improvements across the entire District.

“If you want to work where your dedication is appreciated and where you will have the tools needed to improve student achievement, then we want to talk with you,” said Superintendent Kent P. Scribner.

For more information about working in the Fort Worth Independent School District visit www.fwisd.org/careers.

Convocation 2018 Slated for August 17

What: Fort Worth ISD Convocation for 2018-2019 School Year

When: Friday, August 17, 2018, 9 a.m.

Where: Originating at Board Conference Room, 2903 Shotts St. and streamed to all schools and campuses

Who: Superintendent Dr. Kent P. Scribner; The Rev. Charles Foster Johnson, founder of Pastors for TEXAS Children; FWISD Board of Education; all District educators, administrators and a select group of students

Summary: This year’s Fort Worth ISD Convocation will be both virtual and live –and teachers will be able to watch from their respective campus.

The Friday, August 17, event begins at 9 a.m. and will be an hour long, or less, so that teachers can maximize their time preparing for the first day of school on August 20.

Rev.Johnson leads the statewide ecumenical organization, Pastors for TEXAS Children, which mobilizes the faith community for public education support and advocacy. Pastors for TEXAS Children promotes school assistance programs in communities all over the state, cultivates community partners for public education, and mobilizes clergy to advocate for sound public education policy in state government. Rev. Johnson is a frequent speaker in university, church, business, education, and non-profit circles.

Superintendent Scribner and Rev. Johnson will speak live from the Fort Worth ISD Board Room before an audience of students. The platform will be YouTube Live and will resemble a “Ted talk,” informal yet informative. Each FWISD campus will watch as a group.

Information about the stream connections will be sent as we get closer to the day of Convocation. We will also broadcast the event live on cable via Charter (Spectrum), Channel 192 and AT&T U-verse, Channel 99.

SUMMERTIME SAFETY TIPS

Summertime means fun in the sun, on the water, playground, bicycling, watching fireworks, grilling and eating outside. Pay attention to safety and have a great summer!

  • Use insect repellents containing DEET to prevent insect-related diseases. Ticks can transmit Lyme disease, and mosquitoes can transmit West Nile Virus and other viruses.
  • DEET should not be used on children younger than 2 months of age. Be sure to wash off repellent when children return indoors.
  • Playgrounds should have safety-tested mats or loose-fill materials (shredded rubber, sand, wood chips or bark) at least 9 inches installed at least 6 feet (more for slides and swings) in all directions from equipment. [National Safety Council suggests 12 inches].
  • Do not allow children to play barefoot on the playground.
  • Parents should supervise children on play equipment to make sure they are safe. Any playground equipment surface can reach temperatures hot enough to burn a child. Be mindful as you visit your neighborhood parks or use your outdoor play equipment.
  • Make sure your child’s bike is the right size. Oversized bikes are very dangerous.
  • Make sure your child wears a helmet every time he/she rides a bike. Many injuries happen in driveways, on sidewalks, close to home. Helmets should be snug on the head, but not overly tight. Helmet sizing pads can help improve the fit. Now is a great time to start teaching your kids about personal safety.
  • All skateboarders and scooter-riders should wear protective gear, helmets are particularly important for preventing and minimizing head injuries.
  • Inexperienced riders should only ride as fast as they can comfortably slow down, and they should practice falling on grass or other soft surfaces.
  • Riders should never skate alone. Children under the age of eight should be closely supervised at all times.
  • Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water.
  • Set limits based on each person’s ability, do not allow anyone to play around drains and suction fittings in swimming pools. Do not allow swimmers to hyperventilate before swimming under what or have breath-holding contests.
  • Actively supervise children whenever around water—even if lifeguards are present.
  • Always stay within arm’s reach of young children and avoid distractions when supervising children around water.
  • Be mindful of temperature and heat index as summer heats up. Hydration is very important when kids begin playing outside.
  • Severe storms can occur during the summer. Lightning can strike as far as 10 miles from any rainfall. If thunder roars, go indoors.

Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics, Consumer Product Safety Commission, National Safety Council, National Weather Service, & American Red Cross

Trimble Tech's Earnest Colvin Recognized for nearly Four Decades With FWISD

For nearly four decades, Ernest Colvin, band director at Trimble Tech High School, has instructed students on the power of music and its ability to break down barriers.

Throughout his tenure he’s instilled in hundreds of students that personal and professional growth can be achieved through music. Mr. Colvin said that music often “reaches” students who are struggling with other academic studies. He credits student-teacher trust with his successes.

After 38 years with the District, Mr. Colvin will retire at the end of the school year. On Tuesday, May 22, his work was recognized at the FWISD Board of Education meeting.

Mr. Colvin joined the District in 1980, teaching at William James Middle School. Throughout his career with FWISD, he’s taught at North Side High School and spent the last 17 years developing an exemplary band program at Trimble Tech High School.

Mr. Colvin, along with his wife, Alfreida, principal at Harlean Beal Elementary, are among the nearly 250 employees retiring from the school District this school year.

The District is hosting a Retirees Recognition Reception at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 31, at the North Side High School Culinary Arts Facility to recognize this year’s retirees, some of which have been with FWISD more than 40 years.

Northside Mariachi Espuelas de Plata, under the direction of Ramon Nino and Corina Cantu, is the featured entertainment for the evening. A slide show of “then” and “now” photos with some sage advice from a group of elementary students will also be shown at the event.

Board of Education Second Vice President Ann Sutherland is expected to deliver opening remarks at the reception. Superintendent Kent P. Scribner will be in attendance to recognize employees retiring from the District.

Fourth Man To Walk on Moon, FWISD Wall of Fame Honoree Capt. Alan Bean Dies At 86

Fort Worth ISD is saddened at the passing of Paschal High School alumnus and Wall of Fame recipient, Capt. Alan Bean, the fourth human to walk on the moon.

Capt. Bean died Saturday, May 26, in Houston. He was 86. According to an obituary released on the Bean family’s behalf by NASA, Capt. Bean died two weeks after suddenly becoming ill while traveling in Indiana.

“Alan was the strongest and kindest man I ever knew. He was the love of my life and I miss him dearly,” his wife, Leslie, said in the NASA obituary. “A native Texan, Alan died peacefully in Houston surrounded by those who loved him.”

Capt. Bean was born March 15, 1932, in Wheeler in the Texas Panhandle. His father’s job as a scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture brought the family to Fort Worth, he wrote on his website. Capt. Bean is a 1950 graduate of R.L. Paschal High School and is among one of the first people recognized as a Wall of Fame honoree, which celebrates successful FWISD students.

Following his graduation from Paschal, he enrolled at the University of Texas where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering. He attended Navy Test Pilot School and was among 14 trainees from the U.S. Navy selected in 1963 by NASA to become one of its third group of astronauts.

The Apollo and Skylab astronaut traveled to space twice. In November 1969, he was a lunar module pilot on Apollo 12, the country’s second moon landing mission. In July 1973, he was a commander aboard the U.S. second crew flight traveling to Skylab, the first U.S. space station.

A Star-Telegram obituary states that Capt. Bean “carried pennants and mementos from Paschal High School into space as the lunar module pilot on Apollo 12.”

A Paschal High flag and Capt. Bean’s patch that he wore on the Apollo 12 mission was presented to the faculty and students at the high school in December 1969. It currently hangs in a frame on a wall in the high school along with a framed portrait of the astronaut.

The Fort Worth Library has images of the December 22, 1969 parade in Capt. Bean's honor in Fort Worth and a copy of the Paschal yearbook when he attended school there.

Capt. Bean retired from the Navy in 1975, and he retired from NASA six years later. Following his career at NASA, he became an accomplished artist who for nearly four decades painted Apollo-themed pieces. According to NASA, the canvases were “textured with lunar boot prints,” and the acrylics were “embedded with small pieces of his moon dust-stained mission patches.”

“He was a one-of-a-kind combination of technical achievement as an astronaut and artistic achievement as a painter,” said astronaut Mike Massimino in the statement released by NASA. “But what was truly extraordinary was his deep caring for others and his willingness to inspire and teach by sharing his personal journey so openly. Anyone who had the opportunity to know Alan was a better person for it, and we were better astronauts by following his example.”

Capt. Bean is survived by his wife Leslie, of 40 years, two children, Amy Sue and Clay from a previous marriage, and his sister, Paula.

All of us at Fort Worth ISD extend our deepest sympathy to Capt. Bean’s loved ones and friends.

Business During School Hours

Teachers may only visit with vendors, outside service providers and employee organizations before and after school.

In a recent memorandum to principals from the chiefs of elementary and secondary schools, it notes that employee lunch time is no longer an option.

“Per CHE (LOCAL) ‘Solicitors, vendors, collectors or salespersons shall not be permitted to be with students or employees during school hours without prior approval of the Superintendent or designee,’” the memo reads. “Under no circumstances shall such persons be permitted to interrupt classes or conduct business with employees.”

Principals at school facilities will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the policy, according to the memo.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Ask Elsie is a column where Chief Financial Officer Elsie Schiro tackles employee queries, or in areas outside her purview, asks other District leaders to answer them.

Dear Elsie,

A recent May 21 report on superintendent salaries and perks comes in the wake of a decision Fort Worth ISD is considering at this time regarding older teachers. The decision being discussed is to cut the salaries of teachers with 32 or more years of experience. In the past, this District’s teacher pay scale has reflected salary adjustments that have helped and encouraged experienced teachers. The Board of Trustees, superintendent, and the well-compensated central office administration want to decrease the salaries of teachers with 32 years of experience or more. This older group of teachers is the only one being targeted. My question to you Elsie is - Why?

Thanks,

Carmelita Gage

Dear Ms. Cage,

I thank you for reaching out to me. I would like to let you know that our effort to make changes to our salary schedule is not to negatively impact any individual. Our effort is to ensure that we can continue to support our teachers in a positive way for many years to come.

This proposed change will in no way affect those who are currently at step 31. In my presentation on this issue, I told the Board of Education that those employees at Step 31 would be grandfathered and not affected by this proposed change for the 18-19 SY. I completely understand your concerns, and I will continue to strive to develop a compensation system that FWISD can maintain now and in the future. Our main effort is to motivate, retain and recruit employees to our District and at the same time keep within our budgetary constraints.

Once again, I thank you for reaching out to me and I hope my response puts your mind at ease. Please know that we value all of our employees and we understand the effort that each individual contributes to our District and that nothing can be accomplished without the dedication and hard work from you and every FWISD employee.

Cordially,

Elsie

Dear Elsie,

Can someone please explain to me why we are surplussing teachers left and right, but then also spending all this money advertising for teachers in Oklahoma and Arizona? Also, why are we surplussing all these teachers? Surplussing teachers, some with 25-plus years of experience, doesn't make sense to me. Could downtown communicate with the teachers better so we could ALL get a uniform and reliable reason for all of this instead of leaving it up the school’s principal to inform us and getting conflicted stories and reasons? These actions have left many, many teachers and staff feeling like they are NOT important to this District and are disposable!

Vickie L. Ward

Dear Ms. Ward,

I reached out to Cynthia Rincón, chief of Human Capital Management, and she had this to say on the matter: “The District values our teachers and the impact they have on the success of all FWISD children. Each year, the District hires approximately 700 additional teachers to start the new school year. This is due to approximately 500 resignations or retirements beginning about mid-April.

Each year, teachers at both elementary and secondary schools are identified as surplus or excess teachers on their current campus due to enrollment projections, program change or adherence to staffing guidelines. These teachers are then reassigned to other campuses throughout the District. All teachers identified as surplus or excess have a position guaranteed for the 2018-19 school year, and School Leadership is currently working to place all teachers.

Many teachers will be reassigned by June 2, and all teachers will be placed before the start of the new school year. We will need to hire additional teachers before the new year, as we do every year. Thus, the District will continue to advertise for teachers, especially in hard to fill areas such as bilingual and other teaching areas.”

Thank you for your question Ms. Ward, and thank you Ms. Rincón for your response.

Elsie

Direct your questions to Inside@fwisd.org and put the words "Ask Elsie" in the subject line. Please close your letter with your preferred signature as you wish it to appear in the column. When there are multiple queries on the same subject, we will select the one that is most representative of the subject. We will try to answer as many questions as possible.

Honors History U.S. Staff Ride Helps Students Explore 'We the People'

A group of 20, mostly Fort Worth ISD JROTC students, took a field trip this semester with the assignment of linking together the American Revolution, the Constitution, the Civil War (specifically Gettysburg), the atrocities of World War II, and the American Civil Rights movement, all under the over-arching theme of “We the People…”

Those students spent five days in historic Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C. and Virginia searching for the answers. It was all a part of what’s called an Experiential Staff Ride, hosted by the JROTC Department working in conjunction with the District’s Social Studies Department. A Staff Ride is a historical study of a campaign or battle done on the grounds of the actual event.

This was the seventh Staff Ride conducted by the District as part of the Honors U.S. Military History program.

“We use the Staff Rides to provide a select group of students a greater understanding of a military heritage and the significance it has had on our country,” said Lt. Col. Richard Crossley, director of JROTC Programs.

Specifically, students visited:

  • The Museum of the American Revolution
  • Liberty Bell
  • Independence Hall
  • The first House of Representatives and U.S. Senate
  • The National Constitution Center
  • Valley Forge National Historical Park
  • Gettysburg National Historic Park (including the David Wills House)
  • The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
  • The National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • The Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorials
  • The National World War II Memorial
  • The Vietnam Veterans Memorial
  • The Korean War Veterans Memorial and
  • The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery

Each evening students were divided into groups for a period of reflection and to help them begin the task of completing an essay that summarizes the personal feelings they discovered during the trip, as well as completing their primary assignment.

Evans Boodhna, a junior from South Hills High School, said “I learned that ‘We the People’ created the Constitution and that the United States would not be the same without us. It is our decision if we want something in the Constitution to change. This program has definitely prepared me to be a better citizen.”

Student Stephanie Trevino, also a junior at South Hills High School told us: “I have learned so much more about the Constitution and how it is interpreted. Ultimately, the question is where do I stand and so I want to learn more so I can exactly determine where I stand as a citizen.”

A photographic gallery covering the five day staff ride is available on our Photo Gallery page.

You can experience this five day walk through history by following these students through our video on YouTube of on the Fort Worth ISD website.

FWISD Recognizes Pamela Day Award Honorees

Fort Worth Independent School District recently recognized its 2018 Pamela Day Award for Family Engagement honorees.

This year’s recipients are Patricia Mendiola, family communications liaison at M.H. Moore Elementary School, and the Westside Kiwanis Club of Fort Worth.

Named for a former educator and administrator, the Pamela Day Award for Family Engagement recognizes individuals and groups committed to helping FWISD students, families and the community.

Ms. Mendiola, lovingly known as “Ms. Pat,” has worked 15 years as a family communications liaison. She is retiring at the end of the school year.

Chartered in 1947, the Westside Kiwanis Club of Fort Worth has spent the entire school year recognizing students at Western Hills Elementary School who’ve brought up their grades through its BUGs (Bringing Up Grades) program. Additionally, the club in recent years has purchased school uniforms for students, sponsored Key Clubs at the high school level and organized a teacher appreciation event. The club purchased a washer and dryer for Western Hills Elementary to assist students in need, and it created a free on-campus clothes closet for children and adults.

The 2018 Pamela Day Award for Family Engagement recipients were recognized at the May 22 Board of Education meeting.

Last Call for Annual Report Submissions

This is the last call for 2017-2018 Fort Worth ISD Annual Report submittals.

We want to know about the best stories, accomplishments, or anything especially memorable from the 2017-18 year that occurred to you, on your campus or in your departments. The submissions will be considered for the District’s 2017-2018 Annual Report.

Submit your highlights or significant stories for the current year to Rebecca Slack, special projects coordinator, at rebecca.slack@fwisd.org no later than Thursday, June 7. The Communications Department will consider the ideas for the next annual report.

The report, which shares the District’s story with the entire community, will be distributed throughout the school year to business, community organizations and others.

Need inspiration for what to submit? View the latest annual reports here.

Greenbriar ES Recognized As Common Sense Certified School

Greenbriar Elementary School is the latest Fort Worth ISD campus to receive the Common Sense Certified School: Digital Citizenship designation from national nonprofit organization, Common Sense.

The designation signifies a school’s commitment to creating a culture of digital teaching and citizenship.

"We're honored to be recognized as a Common Sense School," said Mrs. Nicole Montalvo, Greenbriar Elementary principal said in a recent statement. "By preparing our students to use technology safely and responsibly, we are providing them unlimited opportunities to maximize and personalize their learning."

Other FWISD schools certified as Common Sense schools this year include:

Glen Park Elementary

South Hills High School

Stripling Middle School

Luella Merrett Elementary

Riverside Applied Learning

Mitchell Boulevard

The education arm of nonprofit Common Sense offers high-quality digital literacy and citizenship programs to educators and school communities and also empowers students to utilize technology in their education and everyday life. Common Sense is dedicated to helping children and their families thrive through the use of technology and digital media.

To learn more about how to be recognized as a Common Sense School, visit www.commonsense.org/education/recognition-schools.

#ThankYouThursday: Fort Worth Police Department

Thank you to the Fort Worth Police Department.

The department recently hosted students from Eastern Hills High School’s Pathways to Justice Careers for Youth program on a guided tour of the Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex. Over the course of the tour, students learned about what it takes to become a Fort Worth police officer.

Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald greeted the students and spoke with them about job opportunities with the City of Fort Worth.

Pathways to Justice Careers for Youth tours expose students to the job opportunities in justice, emergency services and other related fields.

The program is funded by the Department of Labor. It includes a high-school based curriculum, group mentoring, guidance counseling, career exploration tours, internship and summer employment opportunities provided through Fort Worth-based nonprofit organization, Community Learning Center, Inc.

The tour of the public safety complex took place Tuesday, April 17.

HOW ARE YOU SPENDING YOUR SUMMER VACATION?

The Fort Worth ISD Communications Department will continue to publish Inside FWISD throughout the summer months.

Let us know how you're spending your summer.

Throughout the summer break, don't forget to email us with photos of your travels, professional development activities and just simply how you're spending your vacation. We'd love to share some of those photos with your colleagues in future Inside FWISD editions throughout the summer.

EDITOR'S NOTE: In the latest edition of Fort Worth Snapshot, we share photos of some recent events hosted across the District within the last week.

Battle of the Books 2018

Middle School College and Career Fair Expo

My Brother's Keeper Stole Draping Ceremony

Leadership Academy House Celebration

See more images from this week and this school year here.

May is Asian/ Pacific American Heritage Month

2018 Graduation ceremonies, continues through Wednesday, June 13

Retirees Recognition Reception, Thursday, May 31

Kindergarten Online Registration, Continues through Friday, June 1

Last Day of School, Friday, June 1

Teachers, please share this information with your students about the Summer Reading Incentive

Dallas Wings Teacher Appreciation Night, Saturday, June 2

ELITE (Excellent Literacy Instruction to Empower) Summer Institute, Session 1 is June 4-21 and Session 2 is July 9-25

Ram Readers Summer reading Clinic for K-5 Students, Session 1 is June 4-21 and Session 2 is July 9-25

I.M. Terrell “Meet and Greet” Informational meeting, Tuesday, June 5

FWISD Summer Semester 2018

Elementary Literacy Professional Learning Opportunities

Secondary Literacy Professional Learning Opportunities, Register in Eduphoria

FWISD Summer Food Program, Wednesday, June 6-Wednesday, June 27

2018 Fort Worth ISD Career Fairs, Thursday, June 7. Interviews for auxiliary candidates will take place from 9 a.m. to noon, and teacher interviews are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Apply to www.fwisd.org/careers to be considered for an invitation.

Professional Learning Opportunities for Sixth-Grade Literacy, Social Studies and Music Teachers and Campus Librarians

Elementary Math Summer Learning Opportunities

Fort Worth ISD’s 2018 Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence application deadline, Friday, June 29

AAIL Summer Academy, Monday, July 23- Thursday, July 26

The Advanced, Accelerated, and Innovative Learning department will be hosting their annual summer academy and renewal opportunities for gifted and talented certification July 23-26, 2018. The event will be held at the Applied Learning Academy on Camp Bowie, and participants may register on Eduphoria.

Visit the Inside FWISD blog on Mondays for a look at The Week Ahead.

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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