September 4, 2014

AP Awards

A total of 83 current and former BISD high school students earned Scholar Awards in the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Program. The AP Program provides willing and academically prepared students with an opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school and to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. The program offers several AP Scholar Awards to recognize high school students who have demonstrated college-level achievement through AP Courses and Exams. Five BISD students earned the top AP Scholar with Distinction Award for receiving an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more exams. Eight BISD students earned the AP Scholar with Honor Awards which is granted to students who received an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more exams. A total of 70 district students earned the AP Scholar Award for receiving scores of 3 or higher on three or more exams. View the complete list of BISD students who were awarded these prestigious AP academic distinctions.

It All Starts with 60 Seconds

On International Literacy Day, September 8, Brownsville ISD will join organizations throughout the world to make literacy education accessible to all by supporting the “Lift Off to Literacy” campaign. The International Reading Association and NASA have partnered to help students “Lift Off to Literacy” by providing 60 seconds of literacy activities for 60 days. District educators will implement creative, cross-curricular activities that promote specific literacy skills and engage students of all ages. BISD will help share the international message that developing a habit of reading, writing, listening, and speaking will launch students into successful literate learners. After all, 60 seconds can change your life.

What’s for Supper?

Beginning on Monday, September 1, Brownsville ISD students will have access to a full meal at the end of the school day. Brownsville ISD is participating in the Supper Program through a federally funded program called the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) administered by the district’s Food and Nutrition Service and the Texas Department of Agriculture. The goal of the program is to improve and maintain children’s health and nutrition, promote good eating habits, and integrate nutritious food through organized after school programs. BISD campuses that offer afterschool programs or enrichment activities can also opt to have a cafeteria serving line at the end of the school day to serve supper. Students only need to provide a school ID to be served. BISD is participating in the Supper Program as part of a continuous effort to provide children with a quality learning environment and the tools necessary to succeed.

BISD Students Lead HOSA

BISD seniors will fill 3 of the 5 officer positions in the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) for Area 7 during the 2014-2015. Congratulations to Keila Trevino, Vice-President, Veterans Memorial HS, Advisor Brian Rookstool; Corina Rodriguez, Secretary, Veterans Memorial HS, Advisor Erika D. Martinez; and Matthew Rodriguez, Reporter, Hanna HS, Advisor Julie Parker-Garza. HOSA Area 7, composed of 7,000 members, is the largest in Texas and stretches from Corpus Christi to Laredo to Brownsville. The officer selection process included a rigorous exam, challenging interview, and extensive credentialing process. The preparation for both students and advisors was tremendous. Congratulations to our BISD HOSA officers!!

Our Faculty Artists

The 19th BISD Faculty Art Exhibit is currently on display at the Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts located at 660 E. Ringgold Street. The collection, “Collaborations,” features the art work of several of the district’s very talented teachers. For more information, call the Fine Arts Department at 982-3730.

BISD Schools to Receive Musical Instruments.

Three Brownsville ISD middle schools, Besteiro, Cummings and Lucio, will soon receive $134,882 in musical instruments, repairs, and mouthpieces thanks to The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. An application for support was submitted by the schools and the foundation found their programs to be a worthwhile investment, allowing more students to be able to play and experience the benefits of music education. “We applaud school leadership in Brownsville ISD for recognizing the importance of giving their students opportunities through music education. It’s our goal to remain a partner in the community to help more schools and more kids who want to play music,“ said Felice Mancini, President and CEO. View the release

3 BISD Schools Get Cafeteria Makeovers

When school started on Monday, August 25, students at Canales, Cromack, and Vermillion Elementary Schools were greeted with a big surprise. Their school cafeterias had received stunning, new facelifts over the summer. Students love the new spaces which were thoughtfully designed by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) staff with them in mind. The fresh, new cafeteria environments are energetic and very similar to the look and feel of popular chain restaurants. The new spaces sport vibrant colors, modern furniture, and large-scale signs that provide a kid-friendly atmosphere for students to dine and relax with their friends. “We wanted to get away from the traditional, institutionalized look of school cafeterias and make them inviting places for students to gather. This is part of our program’s new branding concept developed by our in-house team,” said Silverio Capistran, FNS Administrator.View the media release.

BISD Open for Labor Day

All BISD campuses and offices will be OPEN on Monday, September 1.

Summer Graduation 2014

Everyone is invited to attend the 2014 Summer Graduation honoring graduates from all BISD high schools on Thursday, August 28 at 7 pm in the Rivera High School gymnasium. Potential summer graduates need to contract a campus counselor immediately. Practice will be held on Thursday, August 28 at 10 am in the Rivera High School gym. Caps and gowns will be available for purchase before the ceremony from 5 – 6:45 pm. Cost is $15.00 for one 8 x 10 graduation photo. KBSD TV will videotape the ceremony.

School Board Election

Monday, August 25 at 5 pm is the deadline for a BISD school board candidate to withdraw his/her name from the ballot. For questions, call 547-4113.

Welcome Back Message

The Brownsville ISD Board of Trustees, Dr. Carl Montoya, and the Area Assistant Superintendents have prepared a message to welcome our students, parents and employees to the 2014-2015 school year. View the video here. Posted August 11, 2014

Overview of TEA Accountability System

The Texas Education Agency produced this brief video which helps explain the state’s annual ratings of schools and districts in less than 2 minutes. View the video here.

54 BISD Schools Meet Standard, Earn 204 Distinctions

The Texas Education Agency released a wealth of good news to Brownsville ISD in its latest 2014 accountability ratings. A total of 54 district schools earned the highest “Met Standard” rating according to the performance index framework which was established last school year. The BISD campuses earned the “Met Standard” rating by meeting four applicable index targets at the elementary and middle school levels and three targets at the high school level. The index targets are: 1-Student Achievement, 2-Student Progress, 3-Closing Performance Gaps, and 4-Postsecondary Readiness. Brownsville also “Met Standard” as a school district. BISD’s good news continues. On closer inspection, individual district campuses also earned 204 Distinction Designations, 134 in elementary, 43 in middle school, and 27 in high school. Distinction Designations are awarded for outstanding achievement in specific areas based on indicators of student performance when individual campuses are compared to 40 demographically similar campuses throughout the state. A total of 28 BISD campuses also earned 100% of their performance safeguards established by the state in the areas of reading and mathematics. Another 11 campuses earned 90-99% of their state safeguards. “These results are cause for celebration in Brownsville. Everyone involved deserves commendation. Our district and campus teams are passionate about student achievement and preparing students for college and careers. Student performance is a continuous process and the state accountability system is extremely complex. We will carefully analyze this student data and look for ways to continue improving our instruction,” said Dr. Carl Montoya, Superintendent. Read the release.

School Board Election

Brownsville ISD will have three school board positions open for the Tuesday, November 4, 2014 election. They are positions 1, 2, and 4. All are 4-year term, at-large positions. The last day to file for a place on the ballot is Monday, August 18 by 5 pm. Ballot applications are available at the BISD Administration Building, 1900 Price Road, Suite #306, Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM and online. For questions, call 547-4113. Download school board election forms here.

School News

Brownsville ISD is busy preparing for the start of the 2014-2015 school year. Check out the district’s Back to School newsletter to find out immunization requirements, necessary school supplies, grades online, SchoolMessenger information, and much, much more. View the newsletter in English and Spanish.

ubstitute Teacher Information: Revised Final Application Deadline

The application will be open online until Friday, August 15, 2014. Please call the Human Resources 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 Friday, August 22, 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 until August 31, 2014.