Regional Roundup

Kansas

There are more than a thousand school districts in Texas and each one has success stories. Regional Roundup highlights some of the achievements happening in our public schools. When something special happens in your school district, let us know! Send news to comm@atpe.org.

6 Oklahoma

5

WINTERS

4

LA VEGA

3

HALLSVILLE

BRYAN

2 1

KLEIN CYPRESSFAIRBANKS

From Across the State

1Texas’ First Space Force JROTC Program Launches

In January, Klein High School held a conversion ceremony to turn its Air Force JROTC into the first Space Force JROTC in Texas. The new unit is one of just 10 in the United States. Units chosen for the Space Force JROTC conversion need to be in good standing, close to space facilities, and top performers. The ceremony Arkansas was attended by students, parents, community members, and military guests, including the deputy commander of the U.S. Space Command.

kleinisd.net

2Four-Legged Librarian Comforts Students

One of the newest staff members at Copeland Elementary School in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD is a Louisiana 1-year-old English cream retriever named Trixie. She is the district’s second comfort dog and will help create safer social environments for students on campus. Trixie was screened for her enjoyment of people, strangers, and school activities during her eight months of training. Copeland’s librarian has been trained to serve as Trixie’s official handler.

cfisd.net

3Award-Winning Author Makes Surprise Visit

Award-winning author Kwame Alexander made a trip all the way from London to surprise students at Bryan High School. English teacher Abby Scoresby sent Alexander a letter explaining how his books had impacted her students. Alexander said he could feel her passion for literature in the letter and wanted to personally thank Scoresby and her students for their support. Alexander is a New York Timesbestselling author of 35 books and has received both the Newbery and Caldecott medals.

bryanisd.org

4Vending Machine for Bookworms

La Vega ISD’s Bookworm Vending Machine dispenses brain-smart, no-calorie choices to eager preschool and kindergarten students for the price of a few good deeds. Children at La Vega Primary School’s Phil Bancale Campus “purchase” a book from the machine’s 144 selections with a token earned for two BUG (Being Unusually Good) awards. The district’s Pirate Education Foundation donated the machine to the school in memory of Lillian Bancale, wife of 43-year La Vega ISD school board member Phillip Bancale.

lavegaisd.org

5Students Organize Color Run to Help Classmate

Fifth grade students at Hallsville Intermediate School raised more than $10,000 to aid a fellow student who is battling a health issue. Their teacher Alaina Hamilton encouraged them to find ways to raise money for the community, and the students decided they wanted to help Ellie Kate Williams, who was born with the rare neurological disorder Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood (AHC). The students created the Color Our Community with Kindness Color Run, which more than 250 family and community members attended.

hisd.org

6Business Lunches Let Students Practice Real-life Skills

For the past four years, Cypress Street Station in Abilene has opened its doors to Winters ISD students to allow them to practice the professional skills they have learned. Most recently, 43 students were matched with 38 business professionals from their fields of interest at the restaurant for dinner. This gave students the opportunity to engage in conversations about goals and career options in a real-world setting.

wintersisd.org