Gainesville ISD Spotlight - Winter 2022

FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

Dear Gainesville ISD Community,

It is with great pride that we present to you the 5th edition of our “Spotlight” magazine where we highlight the awesome work taking place here in the Gainesville Independent School District. This work has been heavily driven by our recently adopted strategic plan, entitled Vision 2026, which is a compilation of the wants, desires and recommendations of our faculty, staff, students, and community. It is through collaborative efforts such as these that we can fully understand programmatic expectations as well as identify other needs within our school organization and community. As I have continued to say, TOGETHER we can accomplish anything. Over the past 4 years we have gone from a TEA District accountability rating of 70(C) to an 84(B). That’s a 14-point difference……. WOW!!!!!! This is an AMAZING accomplishment, but we are not finished. Our teachers and our kids are working hard to achieve an accountability rating of an “A”.

We have taken a comprehensive look at what needs to be done in order to return GISD to “flagship” district status, but more importantly to better prepare our students for an ever-changing world. We find ourselves trying to hit a moving target, due to the fact that we are preparing our kids for jobs that do not currently exist. One of the most asked questions a child tries to answer is,” What do you want to be when you grow up?” Answers vary from a police officer to a teacher, a doctor, a lawyer, a mechanic, an astronaut, gamer and the ever-popular YouTuber. In a 21st century world, the options are endless. We want to equip every GISD student to follow whichever path they so choose, whether that means college, starting a career, or joining the military. Parents, this is where we need you. One of the key pillars of our strategic plan is CONNECTEDNESS. This is not just referring to our kids, but our community of adults as well. We strive to have more parental presence on our campuses working together with our staff as we continue molding the leaders of tomorrow. Campuses are open for volunteers and we are actively recruiting dads for our WATCH DOG programs at Edison, Chalmers and Gainesville Intermediate. We also have an increasing number of parents involved in my Superintendent Parent Advisory Committee. So, if you have one minute, one hour, or one day that you can spend on one of our campuses, we will welcome you with open arms.

As we plan for the future, it is imperative that we ALL have a seat at the table. The reality that we face in GISD, is that we are GROWING. For us, this is super exciting, but also a huge concern. Currently in GISD, 4 out of our 5 academic campuses are over 90% capacity, which means that with new growth, we could be forced to look at portable learning spaces to accommodate all students within a classroom setting. To better plan for the years to come, I will be putting together a facilities steering committee so that as a collective community we will have the opportunity to discuss the state of our instructional facilities, safety & security, and student learning. It’s time for the GISD community for ALL to get CONNECTED. Lastly, let me say THANKS for your ongoing support of our GISD faculty, staff and students. Because of you, our kids come to school every day ready to learn and be successful. TOGETHER we will get this done. Thanks for ALL that you do for the faculty, staff and students of GISD.

Sincerely,

DesMontes Stewart, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools

Gainesville ISD

Board of Trustees

District Leadership

Campus Leadership

Dr. DesMontes Stewart Superintendent

LaCreasha Stille Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources

William Szczurek Director of Child Nutrition

Alyce Greer Director of Finance

Dana Dudenhoeffer Executive Director of Curriculum & Instruction

Neil Searcy Athletic Director

Mary Flanagan Director of Special Services

Jennifer Coleman Director of Technology

Joe Warren Director of Maintenance & Operations

Antonio Daniels Director of Fine Arts & Bands

Leslie Crutsinger Director of Communications

Alvin Thomas Director of Transportation

Amber Rains Director of Bilingual/ESL & Director of Federal Programs

Lawanna Wisian Chief of GISD Police

David Glancy GHS Principal

Josh Kelly GJH Principal

Claudia Brito Intermediate Principal

Brandon Whiten Chalmers Principal Ruben Dominguez Edison Principal

April Waggoner Head Start Principal

Corey Hardin President Marvin Royal Vice President Nathan Dempsey Secretary Phil Neelley Latecia Hendricks Dan Doss Laura Otts

LEOPARD PRIDE!

We are proud to showcase our district to our community, parents, and beyond! This edition of the Gainesville ISD Leopard SPOTlight is a semi-annual publication celebrating our students, staff, and GISD family. Help us celebrate our amazing students! All future editions of Gainesville ISD SPOTlight will feature advertising opportunities for local businesses. Contact us about options for your business!

lcrutsinger@gainesvilleisd.org

• 940.668.3625

PUBLISHERS

Scott & Kelly Murray

EDITORS

Jana Melton

Bobbi Byrne

Leslie Crutsinger

Sydney Bottum

CONTRIBUTORS

Gainesville ISD

ADVERTISING

Leslie Crutsinger

lcrutsinger@gainesvilleisd.org

PRODUCTION

Graphic Designers

Nancy Winberg

Cayla Davis

Hallie Preece

Jessica Seitz

Sydney Bottum

Letters

GISD SPOTlight welcomes reader feedback, story suggestions and general comments. Email lcrutsinger@gainesvilleisd.org. All submissions become the sole property of Murray Media Group.

Receive Regional Recognition GISD TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

GISD celebrates outstanding teachers throughout the school year and each year two are named Teacher of the Year. In May 2022, Nora Moreno was selected as the GISD Elementary Teacher of the Year and Stephanie Lindenborn was selected as the GISD Secondary Teacher of the Year. In August 2022, Moreno and Lindenborn attended the Regional awards banquet and it was announced that Moreno won the coveted Regional Elementary Teacher of the Year.

Moreno and Gainesville ISD came out on top in a very competitive region which encompasses 40 school districts, including districts as large as Fort Worth ISD. Moreno went on to represent Region 11 in the State Elementary Teacher of the Year competition.

Moreno has been at Edison Elementary since 2002, but she began her career in education in the early 1990s as an ESL instructional aide, learning to speak English alongside with her students. Her passion is for educating the Spanish-speaking population, both students and families.

“Being a bilingual teacher and growing up as a limited English-speaking parent myself, I knew the struggles that a parent goes through in trying to help their child read,” Moreno said. “I knew that if I could guide parents in reading strategies and how to help the whole child, they could be successful not only in the classroom, but outside as well.”

It is teachers like Nora Moreno whose inspiration in the classroom echoes in the students’ families, causing a ripple effect of positivity, confidence, and self-improvement in not only the district, but the entire community.

Stephanie Lindenborn’s path to teaching was also somewhat nontraditional. Originally obtaining a degree and pursuing a career in visual communication design, Stephanie ended up falling in love with teaching when she became a substitute teacher at GISD in 2017. She returned to college and graduated with a Masters in Education in 2019 and became a full-time teacher at Gainesville Junior High.

“While some may see teaching as a job, I truly see it as a calling,” Lindenborn

said. “In my previous career, I didn't feel like I was making a difference in the lives of others, and I ultimately changed career paths as a result. As educators, we have a great responsibility to advocate for our students and what is best for them.”

Stephanie desires to always lead with excellence, but most importantly to lead by example. “I set high expectations for all of my students both academically and personally, because I know they can reach those expectations,” she said.

Stephanie’s advice to her fellow teachers is to “remember everything you do for others, specifically for your students, is noticed and has the power to change the world!”

Everything you do for others, specifically for your students, is noticed and has the power to change the world! ”

National Merit COMMENDED SCHOLAR

In September, GHS Senior Nolan Gardner was notified of his recognition as a Commended Scholar by the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. Nolan is one of approximately 34,000 nationwide who received a Letter of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. Approximately 1.5 million high school juniors enter the program each year, and approximately 50,000 qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Only the top 3-4% will qualify for Commended, and the top 1% will be named Semifinalists.

“The two main things that helped me were the prep course and taking the test

multiple times,” Nolan said. “Each time I was able to retake it, I was able to come back stronger and I was able to improve my score each time.”

Although Commended Students do not continue in the competition for National Merit scholarships, this elite group can become candidates for special scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.

Nolan is currently taking dual credit

classes and is en route to have an Associate Degree before graduating high school. Topping off his list of four-year universities are the University of Evansville and the University of Texas at Austin. Depending on acceptance and scholarship opportunities, Yale, UC San Diego, and Berkeley are on his “reach” list of possible universities. Nolan will be working towards becoming a psychiatrist.

GISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Invests In Our Students

In November, the Gainesville ISD Education Foundation Board prize patrol circulated the GISD campuses spreading holiday cheer by surprising the 2022-2023 Innovative Teaching Grant recipients.

The Education Foundation Board of Directors works throughout the year to generate funds and distribute resources to enrich, maintain and expand programs needed to meet the district’s stated mission of excellence and to enhance education in GISD. This year, 25 grants were awarded for a combined total of $37,905.68.

Edison Elementary received six grants totaling $9,888.19. Pre-K students will get to enjoy a field trip to the Frank Buck Zoo and various dramatic play materials for all six classrooms. Kindergarten will go on a field trip to the Crayola Experience and math manipulatives will be utilized in the kindergarten classrooms. The entire campus was able to attend a concert by Stephen Fite. The district as a whole will benefit from the relaxation techniques provided by a grant for staff yoga training.

Chalmers Elementary was awarded five grants totaling $9,524.80. Second grade will get to enjoy a field trip to Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch, third grade a trip to Frank Buck Zoo and supplies to dissect owl pellets, and fourth grade will get to take a field trip to Sea Life Aquarium and Legoland. There will be a field trip to the Crayola Experience specifically for the life skills special education students and also a trip for the Gifted & Talented students to AT&T Stadium.

Gainesville Intermediate was awarded two grants amounting to $2,527.83. The music department received a grant for music software to assist students with music timing. Fifth-grade teachers received a grant to assist both ELAR and social studies with purchasing a collection of novels focused on US History events.

Junior High was awarded $3,874.70

and four grants. Life skills received a grant for an iPad with software to assist in interactive learning. Literature guides and “Flocabulary” will help engage students in a 7th grade ELAR classroom, and 7th and 8th grade will all benefit from a grant to give them an immersive, hands-on experience with dissection in the science classroom.

Gainesville High School was awarded the most this year, with eight grants totaling $12,090.16. Culinary students will benefit from supplies to assist in baking and cookie-making in the classroom. The life skills class will receive decibel readers and timers to help monitor noise and help

with time in the classroom. Visual arts received a grant for printmaking tools and supplies. AATV technology will build, program, and code mBot robots. The agriculture department received a grant to purchase a small greenhouse so they can grow their own flora and fauna. Physics and engineering received a grant for rocketry altimeters and in-flight cameras for their model rocket project. The accounting class will be able to purchase their own heat press to make shirts and other items on campus to sell in their campus store. Health sciences received a grant for an EKG simulator with training and curriculum.

“These grants serve as a bridge to close the gap between what the district is able to provide financially and what the teachers can imagine for their classrooms and students. We are blessed to have

very creative teachers who come up with innovative means to provide extraordinary learning experiences for their students. Foundation steps in to help with the funding so their creativity can be put into practice.”

Since 2004, the GISD Education Foundation has awarded $456,224.15 in Innovative Teaching grants to the district. “Because of the continued support of our foundation, our teachers and staff are able

to take teaching and learning well beyond the state standards while making it fun for ALL students,” GISD Superintendent Dr. Stewart said. The Education Foundation, relies on community and business donations to allow for the continued support to GISD. For more information on the Education Foundation grants or to make a donation, please visit www.gainesvilleisd.org/foundation.

Because of the continued support of our foundation our teachers and staff are able to take teaching and learning well beyond the state standards while making it fun for ALL students. ”

TRADITION A

Christmas Christmas

The7th annual GISD Christmas card design contest was once again a success. Students from across the district were encouraged to participate. Under the guidance of the art teachers, hundreds of students carefully created their artistic designs to enter in the contest. The art was reviewed at the campus level, and the top designs from each campus were judged by a district-level committee. Shortly after Thanksgiving, Dr. Stewart surprised all five campus winners and announced their achievements in front of their peers. All five card designs were used to create the 2022 GISD Christmas card.

GJH 8th-grade student Abigail Brewster won first place overall, and her art was used on the cover of the card. GHS Sophomore Aubrie Perkins placed second, and her art was placed on the inside cover. Additional campus-winning art designs displayed on the back of the card were designed by Tyler Wolf (6th grade), Kaydence Pedroza (3rd grade), and Victoria Delgadillo (1st grade).

Thank you to all of our talented GISD students who participated in the contest. We hope to continue this Christmas tradition for many years to come. We are proud to share the artistic talent of our students with our community!

Thank you to all of our talented GISD students who participated in the contest.

Overcoming Obstacles & Achieving Success

AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, but it truly stands for so much more. It is a safe haven for students to be vulnerable with themselves and with others, to build genuine relationships, to grow and be challenged academically, to explore and discover new career paths, to ignite and instill a passion for learning, to build self-confidence, and to encourage having fun. AVID opens the door to endless possibilities and gives our students hopes and dreams for a brighter future.

At GJH, students who choose to take AVID as an elective are taught various skills that will assist them in all of their courses, as well as prepare them for college and career readiness. These are skills such as organization, learning how to take focused notes, participating in tutorials, encouraging school involvement, goal setting, building public speaking skills, enhancing writing and reading skills, and promoting collaboration with peers.

Although AVID has been an elective course at GHS for many years, it was only recently extended down through 7th grade. Due to popular demand, there are currently two sections of AVID in 7th grade and three sections in 8th grade, all of which are taught by Mrs. Stephanie Lindenborn. Students have had many unique learning opportunities this school year. They have taken focused notes over interesting topics and have learned ways to keep themselves organized through

utilizing binders and agendas. Students have weekly agenda and binder checks, as well as binder and backpack dumps.

After learning about the tutorial process, students recreated the process with their own 10-step tutorial and then put the tutorial process into action by trying to solve a murder mystery. Students have read various articles, some of which were considered to be controversial, and then held socratic seminars or philosophical chairs. These activities allow students to discuss various topics with their peers utilizing either dialogue or debate. Students have also had the opportunity to build relational capacity with their peers through fun activities which encourage students to rely on one another to complete a certain task. Students have written their own bio poems and passion speeches, and then presented them to their peers.

At the high school level, the focus becomes preparing future graduates for college, including the application process, scholarship opportunities, financial aid, and ACT and SAT prep. Juniors and seniors attend various college tours as well as engage with speakers that come into the class to share information about a particular college or university.

AVID’s mission is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college and career readiness and success in a global society. AVID is more than just a class for a select few, it truly is for every Leopard!

STEAM NIGHT Family

TheGISD STEAM night in November was a wonderful success for our families in the Gainesville community. Students of all ages were invited to attend the event, and more than 400 participated in the fun! Upon entering, students picked up a “passport” that outlined the location of the 14 hands-on, creative stations, including two activities hosted by the University of North Texas Engineering department. The district provided hot dogs, Frito pies, cookies, and drinks for all those in attendance.

Some of our stations included:

• A chemistry activity producing a take-home lava lamp using vegetable oil, water, food coloring, and reactive antacid tablets.

• An apple pie sensory station promoting math for our younger-aged students where they had to follow the recipe to put apples, cinnamon sticks, and oats in their pie pans in the correct amounts.

• A creative engineering station where students assembled boats out of foil and were asked questions about their designs, and they tested their designs in water.

According to the Department of Commerce, STEM-related careers worldwide are predicted to grow 24% compared to other types of occupations. STEM careers today provide a higher salary vs. non-stem jobs. Increasing STEM education in GISD creates critical thinkers and problem solvers, so our future leaders are prepared with the skills needed to lead as innovators.

• A team of four faculty and graduate students from the Institute for the Integration of Technology into Teaching and Learning (http://iittl.unt.edu) in the Department of Learning Technologies at the University of North Texas hosted hands-on learning engagement activities developed as part of the NASA Space Science Education Consortium (NNX16AL63A, 2016-2022). IITTL Co-Director Dr. Gerald Knezek, Research Associate Dr. Samson Lepcha, Ph.D. candidate Anila Das and doctoral student Samantha Norton guided standing-room-only lines of GISD students and their families through piloting drones to a simulated landing on Mars. They used virtual reality through the Mission: ISS application to explore the International Space Station with a simulated feeling of a sense of weightlessness similar to what astronauts feel and experience in how to move and work in zero-gravity, use space tools, dock a space capsule, and take a spacewalk. Contributed by Anila Das, UNT Ph.D. candidate.

• Titans of Space, another virtual reality application, allowed students to explore a holographic replica of the Solar System and travel to the planets and the sun and beyond to some of the greatest stars in the universe. Augmented reality with the

A STEAM night is a family gathering of fun that incorporates science, technology, engineering, art, and math learning opportunities in a creative and collaborative environment.

Spacecraft AR app on iPads gave students a realistic sense of driving rovers on Mars and using spacecraft to bring explorers to other parts of the solar system. Approximately 400 informal learning participants spanning all ages from pre-kindergarten to grandparents experienced at least one of the technology-based space science applications. — Contributed by Anila Das, UNT Ph.D. candidate.

Each station had volunteers from our Gainesville High School National Honors Society, Key Club, and Student Council. The dedication of their efforts was impressive, and they were fantastic mentors to the younger students. These future leaders guided the participants with problem solving-questions and steps during the experiments. We look forward to seeing more of our community attend the next STEAM night!

Creating An Ins p i red Learning Env ironment

In March 2022, Gainesville ISD administration gave all GISD teachers a chance to upgrade their classrooms with flexible seating and various innovative furniture. The teachers were asked to apply and provide detailed descriptions of the requested items, prices, and example pictures. Each teacher also had to share how the furniture would impact classroom engagement and exactly how it would be implemented in their classrooms.

Applications were submitted and reviewed by a district-level committee, and 18 teachers received the exciting news that their wishes had been granted! The shopping began, and the winning classrooms were filled with new furniture as it was received during the late summer and fall semester.

A few examples of items that were requested were wobble chairs, lounge rockers, bean bag chairs, floor seats, portable work surfaces, flex space wipe and write collaboration zones (tables), squiggle tables, round floor tables, activity tables, trapezoid tables, triangle creator tables, storage benches and organizers.

The substantial monetary contribution by the district to this project has proven to be a worthwhile investment. Students and teachers are loving the additional seating options and the new learning environment in their classrooms. Third grade teacher Nancy Castorena and Kindergarten teacher Julie Woods were two of the 18 lucky teachers who received significant upgrades to their classrooms.

“We started the year with our old furniture but when we came back from Thanksgiving break, we had a whole

new room,” Woods said. “I prepared them before it came so that they would understand the rules and expectations when it finally arrived. The kids were so excited when they saw the new furniture! It has completely changed the climate of my classroom.” For Mrs. Woods, the new furniture has created a calm and engaging environment. “I am seeing a lot more participation and less behavior problems,” she said.

“The students feel empowered by

“I am seeing a lot more participation and less behavior problems.”

having a choice,” Castorena said. “The seating choices help them physically also because they can wobble, rock, or bounce which increases oxygen flow to the brain.”

Classrooms are one of the first and most important places where kids learn how to communicate with peers and with teachers. The furniture in the classroom plays a crucial role in student learning because comfort, posture, and support all affect students' ability to concentrate and work. This is why it is so important that classrooms are comfortable, functional, engaging, and safe for every child.

“Flexible seating options help me to provide an adaptive learning environment that is structured to meet the needs of my students in a seemingly less structured environment,” Woods said.

Innovative classroom furniture provides flexibility and variety, helping to minimize learning challenges. Flexible furniture can be moved around the classroom quickly and easily according to the needs of the lesson or the activities they are planning for the class. Furniture can bring students together, or intuitively and quietly separate functions. It creates zones, provokes conversations, personalized spaces, offers choices, and helps students relax so they can think and focus. This arrangement creates a more open environment where students feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas with their peers.

Due to the success seen in the classrooms, Gainesville ISD is releasing the second round of applications and will outfit even more classrooms for the 2023-2024 school year.

“The seating choices help them physically also because they can wobble, rock, or bounce which increases oxygen flow to the brain.”

MING HOME C

Once a Leopard, Always A Leopard!

receiving phone calls from former Leopards in the coaching profession who wanted to come “home”. “I think that is huge,” Searcy said. “I was so happy to know that there were other guys that have graduated from Gainesville, been alumni of Gainesville that wanted to come back home. Gainesville is special to a lot of people… So, it was very important for me to find guys that understood what it is to be a Gainesville Leopard.”

Trey Gray (‘94) came back to GHS as Offensive Coordinator after spending the past six years with Searcy in Killeen as quarterbacks coach. Chris Lewis (‘90) returned as Searcy’s Assistant Head Coach. Darrell Dennis (‘87), Robbie Newton (‘98 ), and Hunter Turbeville (‘17) also returned home to coach. There were already several GHS alumni on the coaching staff in a variety of sports, including LJ Searcy (‘03 ), Danny Franco (‘09), Hector Sagrero (‘15), and Devin Mims (‘15). On the girls side, Shateria Calhoun (‘03), also returned home to Gainesville.

The first football season for the Leopards under the helm of Coach Searcy has proven successful. The Gainesville Leopards advanced to the Area playoffs and ended with a 4-2 district record and 5-7 for the season, and improvement from the recent years.

It was a true Homecoming for the Leopards this Fall when many GHS alumni returned home to coach at their alma mater. The surge began with the hiring of Coach Neil Searcy, GHS Class of 1990, as Athletic Director and Head Football Coach.

“It's something that I've always wanted to do,” Searcy said. “I wanted to be able to give back to the community, to the school district, to those kids, exactly how people in the community and school district poured into me over 30 years ago.”

Immediately after announcing he was coming back to Gainesville, he began

“This was not my best season as far as record is concerned as a coach, but it was the most enjoyable one I have ever had,” Searcy said. “ The way the kids battled every week and never gave up in any game was special to see! For a team that was only picked to win one game, I think they proved a lot of folks wrong. I will always remember the 2022 Gainesville Leopards as the team that made us feel good about being back at home!” Athletic success was evident in the fall in many areas. The boys cross country team, coached by Deontre Haynes, finished second in district advancing to Area. This is the highest team finish in recent history and the first team to advance to Regionals in seven years.

Coach Morgan Mathews led the Gainesville volleyball team to its first playoff match in nine years, before ultimately falling to the defending state champions. The Lady Leopards team is young, and looks to take the success this year and build upon it for the 2023 season.

The future is bright for the Leopards and Lady Leopards! GO BIG RED!

I wanted to be able to give back to the community, to the school district, to those kids, exactly how people in the community and school district poured into me over 30 years ago.

FFA CONTINUES TO THRIVE

Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.

TheGainesville FFA chapter had a busy and successful fall semester. In July, seven of the eight chapter officers had a seat on the delegate floor and voted for our new Texas State FFA Officer at the week-long State Convention in Fort Worth. During the convention, our FFA officers also met with other chapter members in the area, gained community service hours, and planned chapter meetings for the year.

In August, the officers put together a “Welcome Back Meeting” and invited Jr. FFA members, parents, and anyone else in the community to show their support and love for our FFA program. The students with Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects got to tell everyone about their animals and the shows they plan to attend next year.

Another highly-anticipated Fall event for our students is the State Fair. This year, 60

Gainesville FFA students participated in the State Fair Ag Awareness Day and the college/trade school fair. Three Gainesville FFA students also showed heifers at the State Fair. Bryce Martin placed 2nd in the youth Maine-Anjou show, Julissa Medina placed 5th in the open Simmentals, and 4th in the youth Simmental show and Katelyn Murphy placed 8th in the available Shorthorn show and 9th in the youth Shorthorn show.

The ag mechanics students visited the Dallas Construction College and were able to tour the campus and see the hands-on classes. They spoke to people that work in the various parts of the construction trade. They learned about PVC plumbing and even tested out their newly gained knowledge in HVAC.

The support for Gainesville FFA expands beyond Gainesville and Cooke County. The Zimmerer. Kubota & Equipment store

in Denton allowed six of our students to memorize and recite the FFA Creed and win a jacket with their name on it. These students practiced for two weeks to prepare for this event and made GHS very proud!

Eighteen Gainesville FFA students also competed in the Invitational LDE contest at Tarleton State University. They competed in the Senior FFA Quiz, Greenhand FFA Quiz, Radio Broadcasting, Spanish Creed, Senior Creed, and Greenhand Creed. These students spent countless hours studying and memorizing in preparation for this contest.

Nine students from the FFA chapter competed in five events in the District 5 LDE contest. Isabel Rojas received 1st in Spanish Creed and advanced to Area. Kyra Richardson received 6th in Senior Creed, and Savannah Roessler received 4th in Greenhand Creed. Julissa Medina,

Nic McBath, and Timoni Solomon received 8th in Senior Radio. Mary Gomulak, James Babcock, Kyra Richardson, and Natalie Montoya received 7th in the Senior Quiz. At the Area 5 LDE Contest, Isabel Rojas placed 10th in the Spanish Creed.

The Spring will also be busy for Gainesville FFA as they prepare to take their show projects to the Cooke County Livestock Show, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Houston. The Gainesville FFA is under the leadership new teachers Tracy Cofield and Saige Brown. We are excited to see what the rest of the year has in store for our FFA program and students.

Celebrating HISPANIC HERITAGE

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from September 15 to October 15 in the United States. It is a recognition of the history, culture, and traditions of Spanish-speaking countries and culture, and their rich and valuable contribution to American society and culture. It is an important celebration in our schools because it encourages and celebrates diversity.

This celebration promotes our students’ values by focusing specifically on empathy, tolerance, and respect for others. These values enable us to create positive members in the community and prepare students to become global citizens. Tolerance teaches us to respect other people's ideologies or customs even though they are foreign to ours. We are all different, and our society is diverse. Practicing these values in the school community translates to implementing these values in our immediate society.

During the annual celebration, teachers throughout the district create vibrant lessons to celebrate the Hispanic culture. The halls of Chalmers Elementary were especially festive this year, and our international teachers played a significant role in the celebrations. “We want students to feel proud of who they are and to see these representations around them,” said dual language teacher Isreal Garcia. Chalmers students and staff

honored all the families representing different Spanish-speaking countries in the United States.

Among the cultural activities carried out in the classrooms were the preparation and tasting of typical cultural dishes, the study of traditions, and the discussion of flags and murals from Spanish-speaking countries. Students also researched people of Hispanic origin who helped make this country a better place and interviewed relatives to find out the origin of their ancestors. In addition, students danced to the sound of traditional music from various Spanish-speaking cultures.

“Celebrating Hispanic heritage makes me proud of where my parents and grandparents are from,'' says fourth-grade student Ruben Melendez-Chavarria.

Previously held during Hispanic Heritage Month, the annual Fiesta Night celebration is held in late April/early May and is a community celebration of Cinco de Mayo.

Music Education BEGINS EARLY

At GISD, we are proud to once again have music education at all of our elementary schools. Music education is extremely important for children as it helps develop fine motor skills, creates opportunities for collaboration and teamwork, and lends itself to learning other subject areas through song. Children can also benefit emotionally from exploring songs with meaningful messages and learning skills that improve their self-esteem.

Music class begins at Edison Elementary with Ms. Julia Gray and is all about singing, dancing, and playing! Every child belongs, whether it’s playing instruments together to sound like a rainstorm, moving scarves along to a song played by an orchestra, or singing a song together in a circle. Our kids get many opportunities to collaborate with one another as well as use their own creativity. Pre-K students spend a lot of time singing familiar songs and learning new ones, all while staying active and moving. Kindergarten focuses on “comparatives”- fast and slow, loud and soft, high and low, long and short, etc. These concepts are wonderful for student-led activities, and children love recognizing and applying them to their favorite songs and games. First graders develop their musical literacy skills by learning to read rhythms and notes by speaking, singing, and playing various instruments.

At Chalmers Elementary, Mrs. Karleen King’s students build on the foundation that Ms. Gray created at Edison. In 2nd grade, the students learn half note and half rest, along with single eighth notes. Students have already learned the pitch/ solfege named So, Mi, and La, so they are introduced to the solfege low Do and Re In 3rd grade, students learn the sixteenth note pattern along with whole notes and whole rests. They continue filling the major scale, teaching low So, low La, and

high Do and analyze music by identifying the form, meter, and dynamics. In 4th grade, students learn advanced rhythms associated with sixteenth notes. They also learn dotted notes and are introduced to the pitch Fa and Ti and discuss the meter of 3. Students in 3rd and 4th grade are invited to audition to be in the Chalmers Show Choir. This past December, they sang Christmas Carols at multiple nursing homes and will have two more performances in the spring semester. “While learning in my classroom, we sing, say, dance, and play instruments,” King said. “When you enter my classroom, you will see students engaged, smiling, and having fun!”

Music at Gainesville Intermediate is all about honing the skills taught in previous grades and preparing students for either band or choir in 6th grade. At the beginning of the year, music teacher Claire Makowski focuses on rhythm by using songs to make their ability to read rhythm rock solid. You will often see this through the drumming skills utilized in a class by artists that students know, such as Bruno Mars or Imagine Dragons. These 5th graders work together to create incredible music and help each other learn each of the different sections. As the year progresses, students are introduced to reading music that transfers to the Orff Instruments. Through this process, 5th graders utilize

their rhythm practice from the first half of the year to work together to create songs using multiple instruments at the same time. Lastly, throughout the year, 5th graders are encouraged and shown how to create their own music, whether it be a simple rhythm song, to songs that they can play for their classmates.

Music education at Gainesville

Intermediate is extremely important for our students to create healthy social skills, learn how to express their emotions, and continue to develop collaboration and teamwork skills. Music is something that, most of the time, is a team effort, and not one student can do alone. Students practice each day how to work with others and learning how to lift each other up creates a lifelong skill. Students also learn how to express themselves through music helps instill healthy habits for the future.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

Troupe #7988 Earns National Spotlight

“Places!” Every actor, technician, and crew member is running around backstage as quietly as possible, trying to prepare for a perfect show. From an outside observer’s point of view, it’s chaos, but to the Gainesville High School Theatre Department, it’s the magic of theatre. These students have used this magic to prove there’s nothing they can’t accomplish.

GHS Theatre is a student-led program; every member has input into the program. The program has eight student officers who all have unique roles in the troupe. In the 2021-2022 school year, the officers were able to collaborate together for GHS Theatre to earn recognition as an Honor Troupe. In order to receive this recognition, the officers had to complete a six-month Leadership Academy and submit monthly assignments to Texas Thespians.

GHS Theatre is also part of an

internationally recognized honor society called the International Thespian Society. To be allowed into ITS, prospective members must devote 100 hours of work in theatre. To maintain membership status, thespians must complete community service, attend meetings, and maintain passing grades. The troupe has led many community service projects, including DASH – a food delivery service to homebound individuals – and helping at the Head Start Fall Festival.

by Student contributor: Ava Blaskovich, GHS Junior

Although historically very busy with activity, there is also a lot of ‘new’ in 2022. For the first time, GHS had one of its own students, Senior Jazlynna Bergeron, on the Texas Thespians State Thespian Officer Board. State Thespian Officers, or STOs, are a group of students from around the state who organize the State Festival in November, which is a three-day long event at the Gaylord filled with competitions and workshops.

At the 2022 State Festival, three Gainesville students advanced to the national level in various competitions. Qualification for the national competition

the Fall is a busy time for the troupe as they always showcase their incredible talents in a musical. This year, the troupe performed Little Shop of Horrors. This show is quirky, scary, and interesting. The technical element of the show was exciting for students to tackle. Every company member made a miniature venus fly trap puppet to run out into the aisles during the finale. The acting part of the show was exciting, too. Senior Jayelynn Graham played the lead female role of Audrey. “I felt incredible the entire time I performed as Audrey,” Jayelynn said. “It has always been a dream role of mine. The entire process felt like climbing uphill, but when I walked out on stage and heard the applause, I could see the big picture.” Although the musical is for entertainment purposes only, the fall show keeps the

requires competitors to receive a ‘superior’ rating from a panel of three judges.

Seniors Jayelynn Graham and Adrianna Galano advanced individually with a Solo Monologue entry, and Senior Jazlynna Bergeron advanced individually with a Solo Musical entry.

Also at the Festival, Texas Thespians created a new program called Honor Crew. Honor Crew is a group of hand-selected students who keep the technical side of the festival running. They help move sets and control sound and lights for shows and ceremonies at the festival. Senior Melaina Denison served on the first Texas Thespians Honor Crew Team.

In addition to attending the festival,

thespians in action on the stage and allows for a multitude of public performances for the community of Gainesville.

The close-knit family of the troupe continues to achieve great success, creating beautiful art, and grows year after year. In theatre director Morgan Sims’s words, students of Gainesville theatre are “reaching for the stars so that one day they will become one.”

REDCOAT BAND Marches On

TheGainesville High School Redcoat Band is a staple not only in the high school, but also in the district and the community. The band is introduced to the community in the annual Redcoat Showcase in August, which launches the busy marching and contest season for the band.

In addition to the many football games, hours and hours of practice helped prepare the Redcoats for the fall marching contests. In September, they competed and earned first place in Class A for the second consecutive year at the Golden Triangle Classic in Denton. Later that same day, they earned third overall out of twelve bands at the Chris Lovejoy Memorial Festival in Whitesboro. These contests were quickly followed by the Aubrey Marching Classic, where the Redcoats competed against other

4A

competed in the USBands Tournament at AT&T Stadium for the first time, placing 7th overall. In Celina, the Redcoats earned 11th place.

Unfortunately, the Redcoat streak of earning a Division I in the Regional contest came to an end this year with the last-minute score change of one judge, resulting in an overall rating of Division II.

“I am proud of the students, the obstacles that we have faced, and what we have been able to accomplish,” said Tony Daniels, Director of Fine Arts and Bands. “It is humbling to be a part of such a resilient group of teens, parents and administrators. This group of students continued to face adversity and did not quit.”

The band preparations for the spring concert season began even earlier this

year, with plans to enter the Outstanding Performance Series (OPS) circuit for the Association for Small School Texas Bands (ASSTB). This would be another first because Gainesville has never entered the concert band recording circuit. Although the UIL, US Bands, and Bands of America circuits are more visual to the public, the OPS Concert circuit is much more competitive.

Although the UIL competition had some setbacks, band members did progress in the All-region band auditions. Not only did the band host the All-Region contest for the first time in 20 years, but we also saw 11 students make it into the All-Region band, and four students advanced to All-Area. This is an improvement on last year’s audition prospects and is nearly double the amount of students in All-Region from last year, and four times

bands from the Area. The Redcoats

as many who made it to Area. The students who made the All-Region band were Jenifer Mejia, Paola Rico and alternate Ruby Martinez (flutes), Isabel Hernandez, Alexis Rico and Melaina Denison (clarinets), Jesus Melchor, Johany Marin and Kohen Stuck (trumpets), Amira Kahn (french horn), Phoenix Kemp (euphonium), and Loredo Balderas Galan (tuba). Advancing to Area were Jesus Melchor, Johany Marin,

Junior High Band

Phoenix Kemp, and Loredo Balderas Galan.

Dr. Ellen Gay has joined the staff this year as the Director of Percussion. She comes to GISD with 22 years of experience teaching. In her short time here, she is already well respected by the students and staff alike. Dr. Gay’s educational philosophy for her students is to “keep going” and this surfaces in areas of mental toughness and focus. With a young drumline, patience and nurturing ways will pay dividends for the group as their playing levels increase.

Loredo Balderas Galan.

The Junior High Bands also had a busy Fall, performing for the student body at pep rallies and at the Veteran's Day assembly. The GJH Band also got to experience being a member of the Redcoat Marching Band during the Leopards football game in October. The band also had its share of celebrations when eight students made the All-Region Band: Rithika Chitoor, Matthew Becerra, Ariel Aguilera, Isaac Martinez, Jennifer Rodriguez, Logan Davis, Ruby Kemp, Shawn Rucker, and Abel Aguilera.

Diverse Learning With International Teachers

Gainesville ISD, along with school districts throughout the US, has experienced teacher shortages, which have been amplified in recent years. For this reason, and in an effort to diversify the teacher pool, GISD has expanded recruitment efforts to international countries through the Texas Education Agency (TEA) visiting international teacher (VIT) program.

To be eligible for VIT, individuals must hold a valid teaching credential in another country and the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree or higher in the US. The teacher must also demonstrate oral English language proficiency and subject matter competence in the subject area they will be teaching.

In 2022-2023, GISD employs seven teachers through the Global Educational Concepts (GEC) Teach USA program, an approved J-1 Visa Exchange Program Sponsor. At GHS, Brahian Arciniegas teaches Spanish 2, Ashalene Francisco teaches Algebra II & Pre-Cal, and Jair Villar teaches Spanish 3 & 4. At Chalmers, Gabriela Guzman and Gleydis Herrera teach second grade, and Cielo Roa teaches third grade. Andrea Mendez is teaching Pre-K at Edison. These seven teachers come from Colombia, Belize, Costa Rica, and Honduras and have a combined total of more than 60 years of teaching experience.

Ms. Mendez taught for five years in Costa Rica before coming to Edison. "Being here is my dream come true. This is something that I always wanted,” Mendez said. “Getting to share my culture with my students, co-workers and families is an amazing opportunity.” Mendez said that the moment she met Mrs. Dana Dudenhoeffer and Mr. Brandon Whiten, she knew Gainesville ISD was where she wanted to be.

"I'm so happy to be part of Gainesville ISD,” Mendez said. “I'm learning a lot from my Pre-K team.”

Mr. Villar taught English and Spanish in Colombia for ten years and is currently teaching Spanish at GHS. Villar’s family joins him in Gainesville, and his daughter is attending Edison Elementary. Villar joined the GEC program because he wanted “to give better opportunities to my family and to improve professionally.”

“Our international teachers bring instructional expertise with a unique perspective from their home countries,” said GHS Principal David Glancy. “They quickly demonstrated high level instructional skills and have assimilated very well. They are present at all of our extracurricular events and have formed great relationships with students and staff.”

The initial challenges of housing, transportation, and living arrangements for these educators was fully supported by our GISD teaching family.

“It was a difficult transition at first, but

thanks to the help offered by the GISD community, Mr. Glancy, and some friendly teachers, it has become smoother and easier,” Villar said.

As part of the TEA-approved J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program, the participating teachers are eligible to receive the visiting international teacher certificate, which is valid for three years and may be extended two additional years, for a maximum total of five years, as long as they remain in good standing with the program.

COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF NORTH TEXAS

Now Serving GIS and GJH

In the Fall of 2021, GISD added new support services for our students at the Intermediate campus. GISD listened to the needs of our families and contracted with Communities In Schools of North Texas to bring a full-time employee into the school. The district felt the impact that CIS made at GIS last year, and opted to expand the services to Gainesville Junior High this fall.

Communities In Schools of North Texas (CISNT) mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. CISNT provides wraparound services during the school day to address students’ physical, social, emotional, and academic needs, ensuring they have the tools to succeed in their education. Services are provided in one-to-one, small group, and school-wide settings.

CISNT provides services on the school campus at Gainesville Intermediate and Gainesville Junior High School. Each CISNT campus has a full-time CIS Site

Coordinator who provides ongoing support to a caseload of 80-100 students, as well as support to the whole school population. Yoana Gonzalez is the Site Coordinator at Gainesville Intermediate, and Maria Corona is the Site Coordinator at Gainesville Junior High. When a student requires additional support, whether it be basic needs resources, goal setting, or mental health support, they can be referred to the CIS program. The Site Coordinator works with the student to determine what services will help them achieve their fullest potential. Some examples of services that Yoana and Maria provide include small groups to improve student’s social skills, self-esteem, or self-regulation; one-to-one supportive guidance; goal setting and academic progress monitoring; connections for families to resources in the community; and parent and family activities on the school campus. CIS also provides school-wide services, including holiday assistance and access to on-campus nutrition hubs.

If you know a student or family who may benefit from the CIS program, or if you would like to donate basic needs items to the program, please contact Yoana Gonzalez for Gainesville Intermediate, ygonzalez@gainesvilleisd.org, or Maria Corona for Gainesville Junior High, mcorona@gainesvilleisd.org. There are also opportunities to engage the community in this work! If you would like to get involved as a volunteer mentor or tutor and help invest in student success, please contact volunteer@cisnt.org.

Communities in Schools of North Texas and Gainesville ISD are working together to ensure that all kids have the resources that they need to thrive in school and life!

WORKFORCE Ready

Career and Technical Education (CTE) is a broad term for education that combines academic and technical skills with the knowledge and training needed to succeed in today’s labor market.

Career and technical education programs offer a sequence of courses aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in current or emerging professions. Gainesville High School offers 14 CTE programs of study and 17 industry-based certifications (IBC) within a variety of career clusters.

In Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources, there are a total of 204 students currently enrolled in Animal Science, Applied Agricultural Engineering, and Plant Science. The Animal Science program focuses on the science, research, and business of animals and other living organisms. It teaches CTE learners how to apply biology and life science to real-world life processes of animals and wildlife, either in laboratories or in the field. GHS offers the Certified Veterinary Assistant, Level I certification.

Health Science and Culinary Arts each have a current enrollment of 127,

and both areas continue to grow with additional interest and certification opportunities. The Health Science Career Cluster focuses on planning, managing, and providing therapeutic services, diagnostics services, health informatics, support services, and biotechnology research and development. These offerings are available to GHS students due to the District of Innovation status and the dedicated instruction of two full-time Registered Nurse instructors. Since 2019, 43 students have passed Certified Clinical Medical Assistant requirements, and an additional 23 Patient Care Technician Certifications were added in 2022.

The Culinary Arts program of study introduces students to occupations and educational opportunities related to the planning, directing, or coordinating of activities of a food and beverage organization or department. This program of study also explores opportunities involved in directing and participating in the preparation and cooking of food. GHS

students have the opportunity to earn certifications such as Texas Food Handler, ServSafe Food Protection Manager, and Certified Fundamentals Cook.

Through the Accounting and Financial Services program of study, students learn the skills necessary to perform financial services, prepare financial statements, interpret accounting records, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. These students are able to obtain the Intuit QuickBooks Certified User IBC.

Additional programs of study available at GHS are Law Enforcement, Automotive, Digital Communications, Engineering, Welding, Cosmetology, and Manufacturing Technology.

The Texas Education Agency accounts for high school students who earn an industry-based certification (IBC) as one indicator within the student achievement domain of the state's public school accountability system. Industry-based certifications are a valuable component of strong student pathways.

Are On a Roll! Nutritious Meals

In May 2022, Chartwells K12, Gainesville ISD’s contracted food management company, invested in a food truck to enhance the meal program throughout the District. The food truck expansion has already impacted the services provided by offering catering and summer meals throughout the community. From utilizing the food truck to serve meals to students on campus, to field day events and community engagement, the Child Nutrition team has even bigger goals for the food truck.

The food truck enables the district to hit multiple locations throughout the day/week when serving summer meals, making a more significant impact in the community. Using the food truck during the summer, in addition to the designated school cafeterias, the Child Nutrition Department provided a total of 10,770 meals in June and July 2022!

Child Nutrition’s Catering Team has also utilized the food truck as a fun and exciting way to serve a creative catering menu. Call the Gainesville ISD Child Nutrition office at 940.668.3626 for more information on how to have the food truck at your next catering event.

Doors Open FOR GHS STUDENTS

Graduating seniors from Gainesville High School are eligible to receive a last-dollar scholarship that covers tuition and fees for up to 60 credit hours after financial aid awards, and other scholarships are applied. Red River Promise students also have access to a success coach to support them through their higher education journey, as well as Greenlight Student Locker, an online software program to assist students in managing their educational records.

Red River Promise officially launched in January 2022, and GHS students attended their first pledge rally in February. The positive impact of the Red River Promise at GHS is evident, considering the results of the 2022 high school graduates. The GHS Class of 22 increased college applications to NCTC by 23%, FAFSA applications by 38%, scholarship applications by 500%, and increased enrollment at NCTC by 105%. 2022 graduates of Gainesville High School also submitted 503 hours of community service during their senior year.

NCTC hosted the second GHS Red River Promise Pledge Rally in October. The Class of 2023 signed the pledge banner, received a T-shirt and yard sign, and celebrated the opportunity to be a

River Promise is a collaboration between North Texas school districts, North Central Texas College, universities, industry, and community, with a commitment to improving access to education and strengthening the local workforce.

Red

The Red River Promise opened a door for me and gave me hope to attend college which is something exciting that I thought I would never be able to do! ”

Promise scholar. The Promise timeline begins each year in September.

“The Red River Promise opened a door for me and gave me hope to attend college which is something exciting that I thought I would never be able to do!” –stated a 2023 GHS graduate.

Great regions and great economies invest in developing an equitable talent pipeline. NCTC aims to inspire communities and develop a stronger operational plan to produce the skilled and credentialed talent that our region needs and deserves.

You can partner with Red River Promise to make last-dollar scholarships available for Gainesville High School graduates who will be attending North Central Texas College. Follow the QR Code to the right to learn more.

redriverpromise.org