July 25, 2014

Preparing for the New Year

BISD Superintendet Dr. Carl A. Montoya has announced the administrative reassignments and area assistant superintendent cluster assignments for the 2014-2015 school Year. View the reassignments/AA clusters.

Elementary Math & Science Professional Development Opportunities!

The newly adopted math and science textbooks will be arriving on campuses in the near future. The Curriculum and Instruction Department will be offering teacher trainings from July 28 through July 30, 2014. Please view this link for dates and times. For more information, call 548-8121.

Elementary Math & Science Professional Development Opportunities!

In 2012, the State Board of Education reviewed and revised the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for mathematics in kindergarten through grade 8 as well as for high school mathematics courses. The 2014-2015 school year will be the first year of implementation for the newly revised mathematics TEKS for kindergarten through grade 8. TEA has indicated that due to the extensive nature of the changes in mathematics, TEKS for kindergarten through grade 8 and the STAAR testing program for students in grades 3-8 will be significantly affected. The spring 2015 STAAR mathematics assessment for students in grades 3-8 will involve a unique administration based on curriculum frameworks created with the revised TEKS. During the 2014-2015 school year, the Student Success Initiative (SSI) retest opportunities for grades 5 and 8 mathematics will be offered in May and June 2015. Please note that the SSI will still be in effect for reading for grades 5 and 8. View the BISD Board Resolution.

Elementary Math & Science Policy EIE (Local) Suspended for 2014-2015 School Year

In 2012, the State Board of Education reviewed and revised the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for mathematics in kindergarten through grade 8 as well as for high school mathematics courses. The 2014-2015 school year will be the first year of implementation for the newly revised mathematics TEKS for kindergarten through grade 8. TEA has indicated that due to the extensive nature of the changes in mathematics, TEKS for kindergarten through grade 8 and the STAAR testing program for students in grades 3-8 will be significantly affected. The spring 2015 STAAR mathematics assessment for students in grades 3-8 will involve a unique administration based on curriculum frameworks created with the revised TEKS. During the 2014-2015 school year, the Student Success Initiative (SSI) retest opportunities for grades 5 and 8 mathematics will be offered in May and June 2015. Please note that the SSI will still be in effect for reading for grades 5 and 8. View the BISD Board Resolution.

Substitute Teacher Information

The application will be open online until Monday, July 21, 2014. Please call the Human Resource Department at 548-8051 to verify that your application and documentation (i.e., reference forms and transcripts) have been submitted for processing. Deadline to submit documentation is Monday, July, 28, 2014. Requirements: •Complete Substitute Teacher Application (Visit www.bisd.us). •Submit high school diploma or GED equivalent in English that is recognized by the Texas Education Agency or a regional accrediting agency (Title I and NCLB-No Child Left Behind Act Requirement). •Submit proof of associate degree. •Submit proof of associate degree or higher; or minimum of forty-eight (48) semester college credit hours. (Remedial, vocational, technical and repeated courses will not be accepted.) •Complete references (3 supervisors). •Complete mandatory online training program which will be available July 29 through August 22, 2014.

Porter Students Wins Car

Illeana Quintanilla, a 2014 Porter High School graduate, is the winner of a brand new 2014 Mazda 3 Hatchback in the BISD Perfect Attendance Contest drawing held on Monday, June 23 at Cardenas Motors in Brownsville. She was one of the 14 finalists, 2 for each BISD high school, who were pre-selected from a pool of 9,570 eligible students. The car giveaway was the finale to the year long contest designed to improve student attendance and enrollment. Superintendent Dr. Carl A. Montoya drew Illeana’s winning number at the event which was attended by high school students, district and campus personnel, local dignitaries and representatives of Cardenas Autoplex and Mazda North American Operations, Gulf Region. Three 1st-3rd runner up prizes were also awarded. Sophia Jimenez, 9th grade, Hanna HS, won a Microsoft Surface tablet; Aguilar Trejo, 12th grade, Porter HS, won Dr Dre Beats; and Jose Moreno, 11th grade, Pace High School, won Dr Dre Beats.

ES/MS Grand Prize Bundles Awarded

Twelve BISD elementary and middle school students won grand prize bundles in the Believe in BISD Perfect Attendance drawing held on Monday, June 23 at 3 pm in the Sunrise Mall Food Court. The giveaway was the culmination of the 2013-2014 contest designed to improve student attendance and enrollment. A total of 96 finalists, 2 per school, were pre-drawn at an earlier date to determine eligibility. Superintendent Dr. Carl A. Montoya drew the winners of the bundles which contained 2 bikes, Dr Dre Beats, 40” Smart TV, Xbox One, iPod nano, and Microsoft Surface. Eight elementary and four middle school students won bundles valued at over $2,000 each. The Canales Elementary School Conjunto performed at the event. Attending school each day pays off in several ways at BISD! Congratulations to Eduardo Casas, Breeden ES; Daniel Garcia, Castaneda ES; Andrea Mendoza, Champion ES; Emily Lozano, Del Castillo ES; Sophia Delgado, Gonzalez ES; Julio Ledezma, Hudson ES; Reyna Morales, Martin ES; Jason Perez, Vermillion ES; Rebecca Pena, Besteiro MS; Maral Sanchez, Garcia MS; Jesus Rodriguez, Stell MS; and Jorge Bentancourt, Vela MS.

Attendance Earns Rewards

Twelve BISD elementary and middle school students will win grand prize bundles in the Believe in BISD Perfect Attendance drawing to be held on Monday, June 23 at 3 pm in the Sunrise Mall Food Court. The giveaway is the culmination of the 2013-2014 contest designed to improve student attendance and enrollment. A total of 96 finalists, 2 per school, were pre-drawn at an earlier date to determine eligibility. Superintendent Dr. Carl Montoya will draw the winners of the bundles which contain 2 bikes, Dr Dre Beats, 40” Smart TV, Xbox One, iPod nano, and Microsoft Surface. Eight elementary and four middle school students will win bundles valued at over $2,000 each. The Canales Elementary School Conjunto will perform at the event. Attending school each day pays off in several ways at BISD!

One BISD Student Will Win a New Car

Twelve BISD elementary and middle school students will win grand prize bundles in the Believe in BISD Perfect Attendance drawing to be held on Monday, June 23 at 3 pm in the Sunrise Mall Food Court. The giveaway is the culmination of the 2013-2014 contest designed to improve student attendance and enrollment. A total of 96 finalists, 2 per school, were pre-drawn at an earlier date to determine eligibility. Superintendent Dr. Carl Montoya will draw the winners of the bundles which contain 2 bikes, Dr Dre Beats, 40” Smart TV, Xbox One, iPod nano, and Microsoft Surface. Eight elementary and four middle school students will win bundles valued at over $2,000 each. The Canales Elementary School Conjunto will perform at the event. Attending school each day pays off in several ways at BISD!

A College-Going Culture

Brownsville ISD high school seniors are applying to colleges in record numbers using the APPLY TEXAS APPLICATION. The June 6, 2014 report shows high percentages for 7 BISD high schools. Counts for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will not be reported until the end of February. The Brownsville Learning Academy, Lincoln Park School and Brownsville Academic Center are included in the counts. Current student enrollment numbers are used in the calculation. For questions, call Pilar Janis in Guidance and Counseling at 548-8251. High School # Apply Texas Applications Apply Texas % FAFSA Counts FAFSA% TASFA Counts FAFSA/ TAFSA% Hanna 587 100% 501 85% 27 90% Porter 354 100% 306 86% 38 97% Pace 326 100% 285 87% 30 97% Rivera 411 100% 321 78% 31 86% Lopez 387 100% 361 93% 26 100% Veterans 421 100% 337 80% 33 88% BECHS 53 100% 47 89% 6 100%

Operation Lone Star Offers Health Services in August

Operation Lone Star will be held in Brownsville, Texas on August 4-8 at Manzano Middle School, located at 2580 W. Alton Gloor Boulevard. Residents who visit Manzano will receive a range of free health services. Operation Lone Star is an annual joint military and civil humanitarian medical mission. The purpose of this collaborative effort is to conduct Medical Innovative Readiness Training Exercises while simultaneously providing free medical services to residents across the Rio Grande Valley. Operation Lone Star has provided free health and medical services to Brownsville citizens for many years. View the detailed information in English and Spanish.

BISD Hosts World’s Largest Swimming Lesson

The Margaret M. Clark Aquatic Center will join the nation’s top water safety and training organizations to present The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) on Friday, June 20 at 10 am. The WLSL event is designed to build awareness about the vital importance of teaching children to swim to help prevent drowning. On June 20 at the same time, waterparks, pools, and other aquatic facilities worldwide will simultaneously present a swimming lesson in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record. Join in this free lesson at the district’s Clark Aquatic Center located at 2901 FM 802. Children need to register by 9:30 am. The same swimming lesson will be taught promptly at 10 am across the globe. For more information, call the Clark Aquatic Center at (956) 698-0060.