Preparation and Involvement Key to Student Success

As we march full-swing to the latter half of the spring semester, we enter the time in which our older students are making decisions about college, preparing for college entrance exams, visiting prospective campuses and planning celebrations for their impending graduations.

Job well done to the parents, guardians, families, teachers and communities who have nurtured and supported these students to this juncture in their education. Let us remain diligent in seeing these students through to cross the graduation stage and commence their futures.

While we prepare to usher one class of students into college and career, let us be mindful of properly preparing our youngest learners for similar future experiences by giving them a foundation for success.

The Dallas ISD has a range of opportunities to begin enrolling students as young as three and four years old into our Early Childhood programs. Of these, consider the Two-Way Dual Language program available in 43 Dallas ISD campuses.

Students in Two-Way Dual Language programs have the opportunity to engage with other cultures, perform better academically, are better creative and critical thinkers and have the potential to earn more in their future careers due to their bilingual abilities.

The program is currently offered in District 6 at Jimmie Tyler Brashear and T.G. Terry Elementary Schools and will be offered at Daniel Webster, John W. Carpenter, Leslie A. Stemmons, Maria Moreno and Thomas Tolbert elementary schools next year.

Through Two-Way Dual Language, students learn to think, read, and write in Spanish while learning classroom curriculum.

For more information on Two-Way Dual Language and how to enroll your child in a District 6 Two-Way Dual Language program, visit www.dallasisd.org/duallanguage or make plans to attend an event on the program from 9 a.m. to noon, April 9 at Townview Center located at 1201 E. 8^th Street.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION REGISTRATION AND ENROLLMENT

Parents of early childhood education eligible students have an opportunity to learn about and register your child for PK3, PK4 and kindergarten enrollment for the 2016-2017 school year at schools across the district from April 4-8. The Pre-K and Kindergarten Round-up will take place in District 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mon., Apr. 4, at District 6 schools.

For more information or to enroll online, visit http://www.prekdallas.org.

CARTER’S COLLEGIATE ACADEMY SET to OPEN for 2016-2017

David W. Carter High School was recently named one of seven high school collegiate academies that are on the path to becoming Early College High Schools which will offer students the opportunity to earn up to two years of college as part of their high school curriculum. Carter will partner with Cedar Valley Community College of the Dallas County Community Colleges to provide students dual credit opportunities at no cost to the student or family.

For more information about Carter’s Collegiate Academy, contact Carter High School at 214-932-5700.

The ultimate goal of the David W Carter Collegiate Academy is to graduate students with a certification in a respected field and or an Associates’ degree.

STAAR PREP

As April approaches, parents and students are preparing to put forth their utmost performance on the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness which takes place March 29-31, May 2-6 and May 9-12.

In an effort to help students better prepare for STAAR testing, several schools will host STAAR Saturday School events through the month of April. For more information, please contact your campus.

Dallas ISD Budget Information Sessions

The district will be hosting a series of Budget Information Sessions over the next several weeks to gain your input on the 2016-17 Dallas ISD budget. The District 6 Budget Information Session will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Thomas L. Marsalis Elementary School located at 5640 S. Marsalis Ave.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT

Our students are most successful when there is a productive relationship between school and home. Parents, contact your child’s campus to attend a Coffee with the Principal event and join your campus principal in a discussion about programs and opportunities available to your child through their school.

Parent Teacher Association meetings and Site-based Decision Making Team Meetings are also great opportunities to get involved in your child’s school and be active on their campuses.

ATHLETICS

Spring sports are in full swing! Congrats to Kimball and Carter’s wrestling and basketball teams for hard fought seasons. Job well done to our student-athletes and coaches.

Track, softball and baseball are underway. Visit www.dallasisd.org/athletics to find out where your favorite teams are playing.

Please make it a point to support our student-athletes at their upcoming events.

KUDOS

District 6 Science Fair Winner

Congratulations to Chris Long of Boude Storey Middle School who took first place in the Junior division of the district’s recent Science Fair for his submission on Behavioral and Social Sciences titled “Does Pressure Affect Performance?”