Elementary Scientists Get Results

Brownsville ISD hosted the 2015-2016 Elementary Science Fair for Clusters 1-4 over two weekends. Students received awards in four categories for each grade level. Awards were presented to the Grand Champion and 1st – 3rd Runners-Up. Thank you to the hosting campuses and middle school sites and the many volunteers who made the BISD elementary science fair possible. View the list of winners.

Apply to STAMP/SPACE Programs

The Brownsville ISD STAMP (Science, Technology, Architecture, Medical Professions) and SPACE (STEM Programs for Aerospace & Careers in Engineering) Programs are now taking applications for the 2016-2017 school year. BISD students may pick applications up from their 8th grade counselors. Students who attend school outside of BISD may download an application packet online at www.bisd.us/stamp or call 956-574-5657.

Hanna Writing Winners

Several Hanna ECHS students placed in the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival Writing Contest. Their teacher is Adriana Tovar. View the winners.

Employers & Educators Meet to Create Supply Chain

BISD Career and Technical Education teachers and local industry and business representatives will meet on Tuesday, November 17 at 8 am at the Historic Brownsville Museum. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss ways to create a pipeline for a skilled, talented workforce for Brownsville, Texas. View the flyer.

GenTx Week in BISD

Brownsville ISD will join school districts across the state in participating in GenTx College Application Week on November 16-21, 2015. GenTx Week is sponsored by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. During the campaign, students at BISD early college high schools will be assisted as they complete college applications during the school day. The goal for GenTx Week is that each participating student will submit at least one college application to any of the 148 public and independent institutions of higher education in Texas, or any institution of higher education they choose. The purpose of GenTx Week is to share information and build awareness of the college application process, provide advice, assist in completing applications, engage parents and community, and help students make decisions and plan ahead. For more information, call BISD Guidance and Counseling at 548-8251.

Cummings Team in Samsung Top Five

A Cummings Middle School team composed of National Junior Honor Society students has been selected as one of the five Texas finalists in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest. Out of more than 4,100 applications, the Cummings entry stood out as one of the top five, earning an award of two Samsung Galaxy Tabs. All teams are vying for an opportunity to win a share of $2 million in technology and prizes for their school. Congratulations to Efrain Amaro, Rudy Nava, Dominique Fraguso, Gaby Resendez, Clarrisa Puentes, Nohelia Contreras, Britney Flores, Ashley Cruz, and Rebecca Alvarez, the teacher sponsor. The Cummings team will now advance to the second phase of the contest by submitting a brief activity plan that will serve as the outline for the team’s project. The activity plan will be used to make a video in phase three of the contest. Congratulations to these outstanding Cummings Red Ants and best of luck as they advance through the next two stages of this competition.

BISD Farmers’ Market

To educate students about nutritious, locally grown food, Brownsville ISD will host a Farmers’ market for Aiken Elementary students in grades kinder through 5th and Besteiro Middle School students with perfect attendance on Wednesday, November 18 from 9 am to 2 pm in the Besteiro gym. The students will use BISD “B” Bucks to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers. View the flyer.

Elementary Scientists Get Results

Brownsville ISD hosted the 2015-2016 Elementary Science Fair for Clusters 1-4 over two weekends. Students received awards in four categories for each grade level. Awards were presented to the Grand Champion and 1st – 3rd Runners-Up. Thank you to the hosting campuses and middle school sites and the many volunteers who made the BISD elementary science fair possible. View the list of winners.

BISD Earns State’s Highest Fiscal Accountability Rating

Brownsville Independent School District officials announced that the district received a rating of “P” for “Passed” under the Texas School FIRST financial accountability rating system. The “Passed” rating is the state’s highest, demonstrating the quality of Brownsville ISD’s financial management and reporting system. View the media release.

Cummings Team in Samsung Top Five

A Cummings Middle School team composed of National Junior Honor Society students has been selected as one of the five Texas finalists in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest. Out of more than 4,100 applications, the Cummings entry stood out as one of the top five, earning an award of two Samsung Galaxy Tabs. All teams are vying for an opportunity to win a share of $2 million in technology and prizes for their school. Congratulations to Efrain Amaro, Rudy Nava, Dominique Fraguso, Gaby Resendez, Clarrisa Puentes, Nohelia Contreras, Britney Flores, Ashley Cruz, and Rebecca Alvarez, the teacher sponsor. The Cummings team will now advance to the second phase of the contest by submitting a brief activity plan that will serve as the outline for the team’s project. The activity plan will be used to make a video in phase three of the contest. Congratulations to these outstanding Cummings Red Ants and best of luck as they advance through the next two stages of this competition.

ENDGAME Star to Visit ECHS

Actor Efren Ramirez, who currently plays Mr. Alvarado in the ENDGAME chess movie and formerly portrayed Pedro in Napoleon Dynamite, will visit with BISD early college high school theater arts and chess students on Friday, November 6 according to the following schedule: • 9:00 am Hanna ECHS at Buchanan Center • 10:00 am Lopez ECHS Auditorium (Porter will bus students to Lopez) • 11:00 am Pace ECHS Auditorium • 12:30 pm Veterans ECHS Auditorium (Rivera will bus students to Veterans)

BAC to Honor Vets

Prior or current members of the U.S. Military are cordially invited to attend a Veterans Day ceremony on Wednesday, November 11 at 11 am at the Brownsville Academic Center gymnasium located at 3308 Robindale Road. For more information, call 956-504-6305.

BISD Earns State’s Highest Fiscal Accountability Rating

Brownsville Independent School District officials announced that the district received a rating of “P” for “Passed” under the Texas School FIRST financial accountability rating system. The “Passed” rating is the state’s highest, demonstrating the quality of Brownsville ISD’s financial management and reporting system. This is the district’s 12th top rating in the School FIRST (Financial Accountability Rating System of Texas), a financial accountability system for Texas school districts developed by the Texas Education Agency in response to Senate Bill 875 of the 76th Texas Legislature in 1999. Major changes to the School FIRST system were implemented by the Texas Education Agency in August 2015 that combined financial indicators with financial solvency indicators, in accordance with House Bill 5, 83rd Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2013. The primary goal of School FIRST is to achieve quality performance in the management of school districts’ financial resources, a goal made more significant due to the complexity of accounting associated with the Texas school finance system. The Texas Education Agency converted School FIRST to a two-tier rating system of either “P” for “Pass” or “F” for Substandard Achievement” for the 2014-2015 rating year.

Public Hearing

Brownsville ISD will hold a public hearing to discuss the district’s state financial accountability rating on Tuesday, November 17 at 5:30 pm in the Boardroom of the Administration Building located at 1900 Price Rd.

BISD Elementary Scientists to Compete

Brownsville ISD will hold the annual Elementary Science Fair on Saturday, November 7 for Clusters 1, 2, and 3 at Besteiro, Stillman and Vela Middle Schools. Cluster 4 schools will hold their science fair on Saturday, November 14 at Lucio Middle School. BISD’s young scientists have entered several hundred projects into this year’s competition. Special thanks to the hosting schools and many judges and volunteers who make this annual student competition successful.

CTE Students Attend Documentary Screening

A total of 800 Career and Technical Education (CTE) students will have the opportunity to view the documentary, “He Named Me Malala,” on Thursday, November 5 at 10 am at the Cinemark Theater in Sunrise Mall. This opportunity was made possible by Michael Rivera, a Rivera ECHS teacher, who applied for funding @DonorsChoose.org which paid for the movie tickets and bus transportation for students and their teachers. Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest ever Nobel Prize laureate. Her advocacy has grown into an international movement. In preparation for the documentary, the CTE teachers have been discussing Malala’s inspirational life and passion for education.