Conducting a Mid-Year Check-Up For Your Student:

As students and families get back into the swing of school, it is important for parents to understand how to support and guide students toward a successful educational experience.

The winter break was a time to rest and reflect on the accomplishments as well as the areas of improvement for students as they transition back into the routine of the classroom setting. In this time, it is important for parents and guardians to revisit communication with teachers and administrators at a student’s school, to discuss ways in which they can support student learning at home, and what opportunities exist at school to provide an extension of learning or additional reinforcement of concepts and objectives through tutoring or other means of academic support.

I want to encourage parents and guardians to become familiar with a student’s schedule and courses and talk with them about how to balance their academic responsibilities while discussing ways to extend learning in real world settings by visiting local libraries, museums or exhibits.

No matter what time of year, students prosper when a supportive party is involved and shows active care and concern for their progress and development. When a student knows someone cares, students care to work a little harder, possibly give a little more in their academic pursuits.

As teachers, parents, guardians and administrators continue creating a “village” of social, emotional and intellectual support for our students, we further propel our students forward, toward greater success. Read with your student, ensure they are on time to school each day, attend school meetings and conferences and actively monitor grades and attendance through tools such as Parent Portal which can be accessed from any smartphone or computer.

In District 6 News:

Jimmie Tyler Brashear Elementary School was recently recognized by the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees as one of four district schools named as finalists to The National Center for Urban School Transformation for the Excellence in Education Award which recognizes the top urban schools in the country that are excelling despite the many challenges its students face.

The Sons of the American Revolution announced Boude Storey Middle School Eighth Grade History Teacher Shareefah Nadir Mason as the recipient of the American History Teacher Award which recognizes outstanding instruction on the Revolutionary War. Nadir Mason will receive a monetary award and a trip to Freedoms Foundation Summer Teacher Graduate Workshop at Valley Forge, PA. Mason was also named Boude Storey’s December Teacher of the Month.

Accolades for Boude Storey’s girls soccer team for their hard work in competing to make middle soccer playoffs. Be sure to support all of our District 6 athletics teams as soccer, basketball, and wrestling are in full swing. For athletics schedules and game results, visit www.dallasisd.org/athletics or follow @DallasAthletics on Twitter for up-to-the-minute sports information and updates.

Eight district students were chosen as finalists to advance to the 23rd Annual Gardere Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Competition held Jan. 16 at the Majestic Theater.

Of the eight finalists, District 6 extends congratulations to Thomas L. Marsalis Elementary School fourth grader Serenity Dugan and Thomas Tolbert Elementary School fifth grader Camilla Meza.

Each of the students wrote original essays and competed at the campus level for the opportunity to represent their school in the districtwide competition. Each student was judged on stage presence, delivery, content interpretation and memorization. The MLK Oratory Competition was sponsored by the Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP law firm.

John Leslie Patton Jr. Academic Center hosted a college fair from 10 a.m. to noon, Jan. 27 for students to learn about college opportunities for those approaching graduation.

Dallas ISD’s STEM Day will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 31, at Skyline High School. The 2015 Dallas ISD STEM Day will feature interactive sessions that engage students in stem activity. The event is free and open to all district prekindergarten- through twelfth-grade students and their parents.

In honor of National School Counselors Week observed Feb. 2-6, twenty two Dallas ISD schools, involving 78 counselors, received the prestigious CREST (Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas) award recognizing outstanding school counseling programs and reinforces the school counselor’s role in the academic, personal, social, and career development of students.

Congratulations to Valeria Hill, Nellisia Toliver, Alcina McFarland and Camille Vaughn, Justin F. Kimball’s counselors, for their receipt of the honor.

District 6 schools, parents and communities are invited to an Open Mike event discussing Early Childhood Education at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 10 at David W. Carter High School, 1819 W. Wheatland Road. All are invited to come and learn about educational programs designed to provide learning foundations for students as young as age three.