District 6 Trustee Column: Joyce Foreman September 2015 : Helping Students Succeed

Dallas ISD is already well into the first six weeks and approaching the second six weeks of the academic calendar. It is important to note ways parents can support students and teachers in reaching the goal of academic success.

I would like to remind parents to be actively involved in your child’s education and school. Take time to join the Parent Teacher Association or the Site Based Decision Making Team on your child’s campus and register for Parent Portal, an online tool that allows parents to monitor grades, attendance and communicate with their student’s teachers.

One key way parents can support their student’s academic success is helping with homework.

Here are three ways parents can help their child succeed when he or she brings school work home:

1. Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit place to do homework without television or other distractions.

2. Make sure the materials your child needs are available. If special materials are needed for projects, get them in advance.

3. Help your child with time management by establishing a set time each day for doing homework.

Parent Conferences scheduled for Oct. 12-14

As the first six weeks of instruction will end Oct. 2, it is my hope that parents and guardians of District 6 students will make plans to attend parent conferences and meet your child’s teachers and school administrators.

• Oct. 12: Secondary Parent Conferences
• Oct. 13:Middle School Parent Conferences
• Oct. 14: Elementary Parent Conferences

Umphrey Lee named an ACE Campus

Umphrey Lee Elementary School was named one of several ACE (Accelerating Campus Excellence) campuses at the conclusion of the 2014-2015 school year.

ACE emphasizes three primary factors that drive campus success: a strong leadership team, an effective teacher in every classroom, and high expectations for both staff and students. The district’s goal is to improve student academic performance at ACE campuses.

Districtwide College Fair set for Sept. 23

Dallas ISD high school juniors and seniors are invited to attend the Districtwide College Fair from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Sept. 23, at Ellis Davis Fieldhouse located at 9191 S. Polk Street. Students can register for the event through their campus counselor. Registration and transportation to the event are free.

Accolades

Congratulations to Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Middle School science teacher Felicia Cummings and Justin F. Kimball High School engineering teacher Brandi Stennis on being named two of 18 teachers awarded the Texas Instruments Foundation’s Innovations in STEM Teaching Awards.

The program honors local secondary math and science teachers who demonstrate quality instruction and build student achievement in the STEM subjects. Each honoree received $10,000, of which $5,000 is directly awarded to the teacher.

Justin F. Kimball High School Academy of Engineering teacher Tracey Giardina was named to the Lenovo Scholar Network which provides application development curriculum to students. Lenovo will provide each of the participating schools Lenovo ThinkPad laptops and YOGA tablets to aid in the coding, testing and development of students’ mobile apps and help teachers implement Lenovo’s curriculum.

Lenovo Scholar Network student teams and schools will also participate in a national competition focused on designing and developing a mobile app and a business plan for taking the app to market.

Additional Opportunities to get involved at Kimball:

• 7:30 p.m., Fri, Oct. 2 at Sprague Stadium: Homecoming Football Kimball v. Adamson
• 9:30 a.m., Tues, Oct. 6 at Kimball Kingdom Community Center: Principal’s Roundtable
• 5 p.m., Mon, Oct. 26 at Kimball PLC Room: Site-Based Decision Making Team Meeting
• 6 p.m., Mon, Oct. 26 at Kimball Auditorium: PTSA Meeting