A Message to Parents

BISD students will be STAAR/EOC testing on March 31 - April 4, 2014. The STAAR/EOC tests are timed. Student attendance on these days is critical. Please stress the importance of rest, proper diet, and a positive attitude so that our students do their very best. It is also important that students arrive to school on time. Please note that no cell phones or electronic devices are allowed on BISD campuses during testing. As per the Texas Education Code, “Any irregularities in test security or confidential integrity may result in the invalidation of student results.” Thank you for your support of our students, schools and district.

Apply for Summer School

The 2014 BISD Summer School online applications are now open. Current, full-time employees may apply here. Late applications will not be accepted after Monday, April 7 at 5 pm.

Drumbeat to Success

The Porter High School Indoor Percussion Ensemble captured first place in Scholastic Marching AA at the Texas Educational Color Guard Association (TECA) state contest held at Canyon High School in New Braunfels, Texas. Congratulations to John Taylor, Drum Line Captain; Luis Solis, Front Ensemble Captain; Victor Camacho, Adrian Cantu, Eros Cisneros, Miguel Cortez, Ricky Garay, Jacob Hernandez, Ricky Hernandez, Ruben Hernandez, Alex Herrera, Juan Macias, Alfredo Morales, Lourdes Ruiz, Manny Rodriguez, and Laura Vera. The ensemble is under the direction of David Jimenez and Michael Segura serves as the percussion tech. This is the culmination of a dream for the Porter group.

3 BISD Schools Advance in One Act Play Competition

After amazing performances by all BISD high schools at the One Act Play Zone competition, Hanna, Veterans Memorial and Porter, were selected to advance to District 32-5A competition in Harlingen on March 26. Holly Sada from Pace and Shelby Mena from Hanna were named Best Actresses and Matthew Rodriguez from Hanna was named Best Actor. Congratulations to all theatre students and their directors. View more information about the upcoming District competition.

Drumbeat to Success

The Porter High School Indoor Percussion Ensemble captured first place in Scholastic Marching AA at the Texas Educational Color Guard Association (TECA) state contest held at Canyon High School in New Braunfels, Texas. Congratulations to John Taylor, Drum Line Captain; Luis Solis, Front Ensemble Captain; Victor Camacho, Adrian Cantu, Eros Cisneros, Miguel Cortez, Ricky Garay, Jacob Hernandez, Ricky Hernandez, Ruben Hernandez, Alex Herrera, Juan Macias, Alfredo Morales, Lourdes Ruiz, Manny Rodriguez, and Laura Vera. The ensemble is under the direction of David Jimenez and Michael Segura serves as the percussion tech. This is the culmination of a dream for the Porter group.

Middle Schools Make Beautiful Music

Our middle school choirs are the best in the region! At the Region 28 UIL Concert and Sightreading contest, BISD middle school students brought home 16 Sweepstakes trophies. The choirs earned sweepstakes by receiving a 1-Superior rating in both Concert and Sightreading. Job well done to the BISD directors and students. View the result by campus.

Porter Business Students Will Attend National Conference

Top students from Gladys Porter High School will be attending the Business Professionals of America (BPA) 2014 National Leadership Conference, “Accelerate Your Future,” in Indianapolis, Indiana, on April 3 - May 4, 2014. Gladys Porter High School chapter members, Jacob R. Benavides (12th), Jesus Castillo (12th), Gilbert Renteria, Jr. (12th), and Juan Vela (12th) will join over 5,000 other conference delegates from across the nation to participate in national level business skills competitions, workshops, general sessions, and the national officer candidate campaigns and elections. Besides having the opportunity to excel, they will experience the city of Indianapolis, Indiana. Business Professionals of America is a national organization for middle school, high school, and college students preparing for careers in business and information technology. The organization’s activities and programs complement classroom instruction by giving students practical experience through application of the skills learned at school. Alberto Velez is the BPA sponsor at Porter High School.

Let’s Play Football!

Brownsville ISD, in conjunction with the Brownsville Parks and Recreation Department, is pleased to announce the 2014 NFL Flag Football schedule for 4th and 5th grade BISD students. All games will be played after school at Oliveira Park, located at 104 El Paso Road, behind the swimming pool. Students must be enrolled at the participating elementaries. For more information, call Fred Tamez, BISD PE/Health Specialist, at 698-0149. View the list of established elementary teams and games.

Our Girls Are Powerful!

Congratulations to the BISD female high school powerlifters who placed at the State Championship in Corpus Christi. View their results.

Let's Celebrate 5 Early College High Schools!

Brownsville ISD will proudly announce that five of the district’s schools have received the Early College High School (ECHS) designation from the Texas Education Agency at a ceremony on Friday, March 7. Educational partners, school district and campus administrators, high school student leaders, and parents are expected to attend the announcement, scheduled for 10:30 AM in the Board Room at 1900 Price Road. Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams gave final approval to five district high schools, Hanna, Lopez, Pace, Rivera and Veterans Memorial. Brownsville ISD received the largest number of designations, earning 5 of the 44 new ECHS designations awarded statewide. The district already has one ECHS in operation with the Brownsville Early College High School located at the University of Texas - Brownsville campus. Texas now has a total of 109 ECHS campuses across the state. View the release.

Attention Employees

BISD 2014 summer school applications will be available beginning on Tuesday, March 25 at 8:00 am through Tuesday, April 8 at 5:00 pm.

2014-2015 BISD Calendar

At the meeting held on Tuesday, March 4, BISD Board of Trustees approved the calendar for the 2014-2015 school year. View the calendar.

W2’s on Employee Online

BISD’s new Employee Online feature has added the 2013 Employee W2 forms. Located on the BISD homepage, Employee Online can be accessed using devices both inside and outside the district network. BISD Employees can view or print their own payroll and benefit information including check stubs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call the Business Solution Help Desk at (956) 698-1254 for assistance. BISD’s new Employee Online feature has added the 2013 Employee W2 forms. Located on the BISD homepage, Employee Online can be accessed using devices both inside and outside the district network. BISD Employees can view or print their own payroll and benefit information including check stubs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call the Business Solution Help Desk at (956) 698-1254 for assistance.

9 Teams Earn Trip to State DI

A total of nine Brownsville ISD Destination Imagination (DI) teams will advance to the 2014 state tournament to be held on April 11-12 in Austin, Texas. Congratulations to Aiken, Gonzalez, Hudson, Morningside, Sharp and Skinner (2 teams) Elementary Schools and Stell and Stillman Middle Schools. DI is a school-based program devoted to helping students gain practical life skills through interesting, entertaining, and mind-boggling challenges. There are DI affiliates in most states but Texas has the largest number. Approximately 20,000 Texas students participated in Destination Imagination this school year. Congratulations to our DI students and the parents, educators, and community volunteers who support the art and skill of creative problem solving

Thank You!

Governor Rick Perry has proclaimed March 3-7, 2014 to be Educational Diagnosticians’ Week in Texas. Diagnosticians play a vital role in the success of students. Brownsville ISD joins districts across Texas in thanking educational diagnosticians for their many contributions. View the Governor’s proclamation.

Spelling Bee Champs

Brownsville ISD will send its top 8 spellers to the 26th Rio Grande Valley Regional Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 1 at 9 am at the Irma Rangel Building on the Texas State Technical College campus. The public is invited to attend. The students representing BISD are: Omar Nissan Hussain, Hudson Elementary (2014 BISD Champion) Abigail Ytzel Morales, Perkins Middle School (2014 BISD Runner-Up BISD) Soren Bugtong, Vela Middle School Starlika Milinda Bauskar, Burns Elementary School Danna Paola Villanueva, Ortiz Elementary School Oscar Odilio Alejandro, Faulk Middle School Alfonoso Reyna III, Gallegos Elementary School Autumn Nichole Harrison, Benavides Elementary School A total of 55 RGV spellers will compete for the opportunity to advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee which will take place on May 25-31 in the Washington, D. C. area.

Employee Health Screenings

The BISD Employee Benefits/Risk Management Department is pleased to announce that the Board of Trustees has approved free biometric health screenings for all full-time insured BISD employees. Screenings are already taking place at campuses and departments throughout the district. Employees are reminded to fast 10 hours prior to their screenings and water is encouraged. It is important to know your numbers, it could save your life. For questions, call 548-8061 or visit www.WellnessIsHotStuff.com. View the current schedule of district screenings.

5 BISD High Schools Approved for Early College

It’s official! Texas Commissioner of Education Michael Williams has announced that five Brownsville ISD high schools, Hanna, Pace, Lopez, Rivera, and Veterans Memorial, have received Early College High School (ECHS) designations for the 2014-2015 school year. The announcement came on Monday, February 24. BISD received the largest number, earning 5 of the 44 new ECHS designations. The district already has one ECHS with the Brownsville Early College High School located at the University of Texas-Brownsville campus. Texas now has a total of 109 ECHS campuses across the state. “We are thrilled with this news. Five new early college high schools will offer opportunities to our Brownsville ISD students like never before. Our entire community will reap the benefits from these local high schools that allow students to earn substantial college hours and a high school diploma at the same time,” said Superintendent Dr. Carl A. Montoya. View the Texas Education Agency media release.

High Schools Artists Advance

A total of 25 BISD high school visual art students qualified to advance to the state Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) competition to be held on Saturday, April 12 in Bryan, Texas. The students’ work excelled at the regional competition in McAllen, Texas on Saturday, February 22. Congratulations to these BISD students and their teachers. Visual arts students continue to “Keep the Arts Alive” in our district. View the regional results by high school campus.

Community Leaders Go Back to School

Brownsville ISD hosted its popular Principal for a Day (PFAD) activity on Friday, February 21. Each BISD campus invited a business or community leader to serve as a guest principal for one entire morning. Guest principals began the day at their respective schools where they shadowed the campus administrator and participated in a variety of school activities. The day concluded with a luncheon where participants shared stories about the morning they spent in the principal’s office. Started in 1992, PFAD has enabled hundreds of local leaders to experience the joys and challenges of school administration. View the 2014 BISD Principals for a Day.

Canales Ready to Rumble!

The State of Texas took on the State of Oklahoma in the 2nd Annual Think Through Math Red River Rumble. Congratulations to Canales Elementary School fifth grade students. They were the 4th highest in Texas to have passed 10 lessons or more with the highest percentage. Canales will compete against students in Conroe ISD, Dallas ISD, Aledo ISD, and Midland ISD in the final round of competition which runs from February 24 to March 3, 2014 for the grand prize. Best of luck to the Canales 5th grade Bulldogs!