Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Joint publication of the Denton Record-Chronicle and the Denton Independence School District.
Citation preview
2
K4
Welcome
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Denton ISD Update................4-5
Health.......................................9
Star student.............................10
Science......................................11
Teacher profiles........................11
Principal profile........................12
Dawn CobbEditor
Shawn ReneauAdvertising Manager
December 2010 | Vol. 4, No. 4Publisher: Bill Patterson
The contents of this free publicationare copyrighted by Denton Publish-ing Company, 2008, a subsidiary ofA.H. Belo Corp. (www.ahbelo.com,NYSE symbol: AHC) with all rightsreserved. Reproduction or use, with-out permission, of editorial or graph-ic content in any manner is prohibit-ed. Kid Life is published monthly byDenton Publishing Company, 314 E.Hickory St., Denton, TX 76201. E-mail: [email protected]
December2010
K4
Time to Kiln
Paint Your Own Pottery Studio!• Birthday Parties • Scout Groups • Spirit Teams
Open 7days aweek
www.TimetoKiln.net940-898-7447 721 I-35E South #143, Denton, TX 76205
Gifts for everyone on your list!
Bring in this ad for 10% off any 1 item
Kid Life wishesyou a happy holiday seasonand looks for-ward to bringingyou more news,photos and funstuff in 2011.
Sincerely,Dawn Cobbeditor
3
DENTAL & BRACES
(877) 55MYSMILESmileMagicDentists.com
Half-PriceBraces.com
SE HABLA ESPANOL - MEDICAID GLADLY ACCEPTED - LOCATIONS IN DENTON & LEWISVILLE~
McKinney Street
Spencer Street
3600 E. McKinney, Suite 190Denton, TX 76209
Behind the Medicaid Office
35
GoldenTriangle
Mall
JACK INTHE BOX
LOWES
COME INSIDE TOSEE OUR MOVIE
THEATRE & PLAY GYM
SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY, SEE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SHEET FOR DETAILS
MOVIE THEATRE
FREE POPCORN
&
FREE PIZZAVICEO GAMES
FREE PIZZAVIDEO GAMES
K 4
December2010
4Denton ISD Update
UNT Athletics hosts basketball game for local studentsWith wandering eyes, open
mouths and several shouts andcheers, more than 1,100 DentonIndependent School District stu-dents stepped into the Universityof North Texas Coliseum for themen’s basketball team’s seasonopener.
UNT Athletics hosted the sec-ond annual “My Day at UNT” bas-ketball game for Denton ISD stu-dents, teachers and parent volun-teers at noon, Friday, Nov. 12. Andit was easy to see the district beingexcited to be there as the standsand the court at the “Super Pit”were rocking from the get go.
“Looking up and seeing allthose kids excited and hootin’ andhollering – it was phenomenal,”said UNT basketball coach JonnyJones. “We’re always excited whenwe can have a day for Denton’syouth, but they were excited too. Iwas surprised to hear them cheerin unison and know when toholler.”
Students from Borman,Houston, Nelson, Pecan Creek,Rivera and Ryan elementaryschools joined the UNT faithful incheering on the Mean Greenagainst Henderson State. Theextra support was needed as UNTbroke open a close game – not sur-prisingly when most of the stu-dents were in their seats – to blowpast Henderson State for a 92-66victory.
The support came in various
Wielding talonsand their gamefaces; Bormanfifth graders (leftto right) MatthewKeyes; ChristianSpears and ZakArcher enjoy theFriday UNTEagles gameagainst theHenderson StateReddies. TheEagles won thegame 92 - 66.
Photo courtesyof the Dentonschool district
forms as Borman students camewith painted faces, Pecan Creekstudents came with Mean Green t-shirts and pom-poms and SamHouston students brought signs.Cheers came in all forms as wellwith UNT jump shots greeted by achorus of yells, Scrappy the mascotgetting high fives and cheerleadersgetting mobbed for autographs.
The game has grown throughthe partnership formed betweenthe university and school district inthe Adopt-A-School: Partners inEducation program. The programencourages local businesses and
the community to get involved withDenton ISD students in variousways, shapes and forms.
UNT Athletics decided to usethe event as a way to get studentson campus, at a fun college event,and get excited about the universi-ty.
Teachers and administratorsloved the idea because it wasanother tool to show students at anearly age that college is fun andattainable to anyone.
“Just getting out of the class-room and stepping foot on a col-lege campus for a couple of hours
shows them what they can attain inlife. You can talk about college allyou want, but until you see it inperson, and experience a part of itlike this, then it really stays withyou,” said Matt Cline, a fifth gradescience teacher at NelsonElementary.
Cline said his students wereexcited the entire week leading upto the event, which led to betterfocus in class and more questionsabout college and careers.
Cline said he even planned onusing the basketball game as a wayto discuss college further in the
classroom. Letting students have fun, while
also getting them excited about atopic, has to be a top priority onany educator’s list. Consideringhow many teachers and adminis-trators raved about the experienceafterward, the “My Day at UNT”basketball game is accomplishingthat goal.
“That was an awesome time!”said Patty Jensen, assistant princi-pal at Rivera Elementary, as she ledstudents to a bus after the game.“The kids won’t stop talking aboutit. They’re ready to do it again.”
STAR STUDENTJAMES DAKOTA OXENDINE
NNaammee:: James Dakota Oxendine NNiicckknnaammee:: DakotaCCoommmmuunniittyy//sscchhooooll aaccttiivviittiieess:: I
like to play with my friends andride bikes.
SScchhooooll//ggrraaddee:: Cross OaksElementary, 5th Grade
BBiirrtthhddaattee//ppllaaccee:: September 7;Arab, AL.
FFaammiillyy:: mom, Sabrina; dad,James and sister, Casey.
MMyy hhoobbbbiieess aarree:: football anddirt bikes.
MMyy ffaavvoorriittee sscchhooooll ssuubbjjeecctt iiss::Math.
TTwwoo ppeeooppllee II’’dd mmoosstt lliikkee ttoo mmeeeett
aarree:: Travis Pastrana and MarkIngram.
WWhhaatt’’ss iinn mmyy CCDD ppllaayyeerr rriigghhttnnooww:: Nickelback.
WWhheenn II ffiinniisshh sscchhooooll II ppllaann ttoo::
go to the Cayman Islands.TThhee bbeesstt bbooookk II eevveerr rreeaadd wwaass::
The Last Olympian by RickRiordan.
TThhee llaasstt mmoovviiee II ssaaww:: DespicableMe 3D.
TThhee bbeesstt mmoovviiee II’’vvee eevveerr sseeeenn iiss::Despicable Me 3D.
II wwiisshh II kknneeww hhooww ttoo:: do a back-flip on the ground.
II’’mm ssoo ssiicckk ooff:: waking up early.MMyy wwoorrsstt hhaabbiitt iiss:: biting my fin-
gernails.MMyy ffaavvoorriittee rreessttaauurraanntt iiss:: Villa
Grande.MMyy hheerrooss aarree:: my parents.
The Denton school boardunanimously approved the 2011-12 school calendar.
In a recent meeting, boardmembers approved a calendarthat includes a slight modificationfrom the current school calendar.
The approved calendar willallow both students and teachersthe entire week off forThanksgiving, Nov. 21-25, 2011.This year, a staff development dayis slated for the Monday prior tothe Thanksgiving holiday.
Classes will begin on Aug. 22,and the school year will end May31, 2012.
Graduation for the district’sthree traditional high schools willtake place the day after school’send and is slated to begin at 11a.m., with the final commence-ment ceremony at 6 p.m.
Next year’s fall semester for stu-dents ends Dec. 16 and classes willresume Jan. 3, 2012. Other impor-tant dates on the 2011-12 schoolcalendar include: winter break,Dec. 19-30; Martin Luther KingJr. Day, Jan. 16; spring break,March 12-16; bad-weather days, ifneeded, April 6 and May 25; andMemorial Day, May 28.
— Staff report
Denton’s 2011-12 calendar approved
December2010
5Notas sobre su zona escolar
La Universidad del Norte de Texas invita a alumnos a ver un juego de baloncestoCon ojos excitantes, bocas
abiertas y varios gritos y aclama-ciones, más de 1.100 alumnos delDistrito Escolar Independiente deDenton asistieron al juego deapertura del equipo de baloncestode los hombres en el coliseo de laUniversidad del Norte de Texas. La organización de Atletismo de launiversidad fueron los anfitrionesdel segundo evento anual “My Dayat UNT,” o “Mi Día en UNT,” en elcual invitó a los alumnos del distri-to, sus maestros y padres voluntar-ios a ver un juego de baloncesto elviernes, 12 de noviembre. Desdeun principio, los oficiales del dis-trito estuvieron emocionados deestar ahí en las tribunas apoyandoal Super Pit.
“Ver a todos los alumnos tanentusiasmados, gritando y boci-nando – fue fenomenal,” dijoJonny Jones, entrenador delequipo de baloncesto. “A nosotrosnos complace poder tener un díaespecial para la juventud deDenton, ellos estaban tan con-tentos. Me sorprendió verlos cele-brar juntos y en unión - ellossupieron cuando gritar.”Alumnos de las primarias,Borman, Houston, Nelson, PecanCreek, Rivera y Ryan estuvieronjuntos aclamando al equipo de losMean Green sobre su contrincanteHenderson State.
El apoyo extra se necesitó cercadel final del partido – aunque lamayoría de los alumnos estabantodos en sus asientos – cuando elequipo de casa le ganó aHenderson State por un mar-cador de 92-66.Para apoyar a su equipo, los alum-nos hicieron varias cosas: losalumnos de Borman se pintaronsus caras, los de Pecan Creekasistieron al partido con camisetasdel Mean Green y pompones y losalumnos de Sam Houston llevaroncarteles. Las diferente anima-ciones se celebraron con gritoscuando miembros del equipollenaron la canasta; Scrappy, lamascota, recibió muchas pal-madas al aire y las porritas fir-maron muchos autógrafos. Con la asociación entre la universi-dad y el programa del distritoAdopt-A-School, Partners in
Moviendo garrasy con su carasenfocándose en eljuego, los alum-nos de la PrimariaBorman (deizquierda aderecha)Matthew, Keyes,Christian Spears yZak Archer disfru-tan del juego elos Águilas deUNT y su contrin-cante los Reddiesde HendersonState. Los Águilasganaron el juego92-66.
Photo courtesy of the
Denton school district
Education, un programa de apoyoestudiantil, el partido de aperturasigue creciendo.
El programa de adopción deplanteles educativos permite quedueños de negocios y de miembrosde la comunidad ayuden a losalumnos del Denton ISD de variasmaneras. La organización deAtletismo de la universidad utilizóesta ocasión para exponer a losalumnos a su sistema de educacióndurante el evento festivo. A laadministración y a los maestros le
gusto la idea porque los alumnospudieron ver que el ir a la universi-dad puede ser una meta decualquier alumno.
“Al salir de la clase y visitar uncampus universitario por algunashoras los ayuda a ver lo que puedenhacer en la vida. Cualquier personapuede hablar sobre la universidad,pero hasta que uno no lo ve en per-sona o experimente una parte deello como hoy, es donde entonces laimagen puede permanece real-mente en uno,” dijo Matt Cline,
maestro ciencia de 5° grado de laPrimaria Nelson.
Cline dijo que sus alumnos estu-vieron anticipando el evento toda lasemana, el cual los ayudó a enfo-carse en la clase.
Los alumnos también hicieronpreguntas sobre carreras y la uni-versidad y Cline dijo que planifi-caría usar el juego de baloncesto enfuturas pláticas. Es la prioridad de cualquier edu-cador dejar que sus alumnos sediviertan y al mismo tiempo se
entusiasmen sobre cualquier tema.Considerando el número de maes-tros y administradores quehablaron sobre su experienciadespués del programa, “Mi Día enUNT,” el juego de baloncesto fue ungran logro.
“Fue un experiencia estupenda!”afirmo Patty Jensen, asistentedirectora de la Primaria Rivera, aldirigir a sus alumnos al busdespués del juego. “Los niños noparan de hablar de esto. Ya estánlistos para hacerlo otra vez”.
ESTUDIANTE ESTRELLAJAMES DAKOTA OXENDINE
NNoommbbrree:: James Dakota OxendineSSoobbrreennoommbbrree//AAppooddoo:: Dakota AAccttiivviiddaaddeess ddee eessccuueellaa yy ddee llaa ccoommuunniiddaadd:: Me
gusta jugar con mis amigos y andar en motoci-cletas.
PPllaanntteell yy ggrraaddoo:: Primaria Cross Oaks; 5°grado
FFeecchhaa yy lluuggaarr ddee nnaacciimmiieennttoo:: 7 de septiembre;Arab, AL.
MMii ffaammiilliiaa iinncclluuyyee:: mamá, Sabrina; papá,James y hermana, Casey.
PPaassaattiieemmppooss:: el fútbol americano y motostodo terreno.
MMii aassiiggnnaattuurraa oo mmaatteerriiaa ffaavvoorriittaa eess:: lamatemática.
DDooss ppeerrssoonnaass qquuee mmee eennccaannttaarrííaa ccoonnoocceerr ssoonn::Travis Pastrana y Mark Ingram.
LLaa mmúússiiccaa qquuee ttooccaa mmii rreepprroodduuccttoorr eess::Nickelback.
CCuuaannddoo tteerrmmiinnee llaa eessccuueellaa ddeesseeoo iirr:: a las Islas
Caimán.EEll mmeejjoorr lliibbrroo qquuee hhee lleeííddoo ssee llllaammaa:: El último
olímpico de Rick Riordan.LLaa úúllttiimmaa ppeellííccuullaa qquuee vvii:: Despreciable Yo.LLaa mmeejjoorr ppeellííccuullaa qquuee hhee vviissttoo eess::
Despreciable Yo.QQuuiissiieerraa ssaabbeerr ccóómmoo:: hacer una voltereta
hacia atrás en el suelo.EEssttooyy ttaann ccaannssaaddoo ddee:: despertarme tempra-
no. MMii ppeeoorr hháábbiittoo eess:: morderme las uñas.MMii rreessttaauurraannttee ffaavvoorriittoo eess:: Grande de casa de
campo.MMii ccoommiiddaa ffaavvoorriittaa eess:: Villa Grande.MMiiss hhéérrooeess ssoonn:: mis padres.MMii mmeettaa ppaarraa eessttee aaññoo eess:: pasar el quinto
grado.
December2010
December 2010
Kid Clubhouse
Artistic Endeavors
3 4
6
2
7 8 9 10 115
1
13 14 15 16 17 1812
20 21 22 23 24 2519
27 28 29 30 3126
Vicente Fox inaugurat-ed at president ofMexico (2000)
Napoleon crownedemperor of France(1804)
Anna Freud, a founderof child psychoanaly-sis born (1895)
Gerald R. Ford swornin as vice president ofthe U.S. after Spiro T.Agnew’s resignation(1973)
Delaware becomesfirst state to ratify theU.S. Constitution(1787)
The UN GeneralAssembly declaresanti-Semitism a formof racism (1998)
Actor/director/writerKenneth Branaghborn (1960)
Mars Pathfinder islaunched (1996)
Writer NaguibMahfouz born (1911)
Four-Power Pactsigned (1921)
Janet RosenbergJagan becomes firstelected female presi-dent in South Africa(1997)
Kenya becomes arepublic (1964)
WWiinntteerr BBrreeaakk WWiinntteerr BBrreeaakk
First modern cross-word puzzle published(1913)
WWiinntteerr BBrreeaakk
Brandenburg Gate inBerlin reopens (1989)
WWiinntteerr BBrreeaakk WWiinntteerr BBrreeaakk CChhrriissttmmaass DDaayy
WWiinntteerr BBrreeaakk WWiinntteerr BBrreeaakk WWiinntteerr BBrreeaakk
President AndrewJohnson born (1808)
WWiinntteerr BBrreeaakk
Treaty of Surji-Arjungaon signed(1803)
WWiinntteerr BBrreeaakk
Birth flower: Paperwhite narcissus
Visit www.dentonisd.org for more information on Denton Independent School District events and holidays.
Moon phases taken from www.sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/phase/phase2001cst.html.
Learn more about the historical events and information on this calendar by visiting the Encyclopedia Britannica at www.bri-
tannica.com.
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday SaturdaySunday
Clockwise from top left:PPrroovviiddeennccee:: Abbey Motsinger,kindergarten GGiinnnniinnggss:: Kayla Willford, 4thgradePPrroovviiddeennccee:: Kalynn Washburn,kindergarten GGiinnnniinnggss:: Grayson Lovette, 4thgradeThe Providence students did thepaintings after studying thework of Japanese artist JoanMiro and tried to model herwork. TThhee aarrtt tteeaacchheerr aattPPrroovviiddeennccee EElleemmeennttaarryy iiss EErriiccaaLLeeaassee..The Ginnings students did thesedrawings as part of a segmentusing art to imitate science. TThheeaarrtt tteeaacchheerr aatt GGiinnnniinnggssEElleemmeennttaarryy iiss KKaayy AAddaammssoonn..
It’s Christmas, David! by David Shannon, 201032 pages, ages 3-7Christmas has arrived with so many rules to follow that David fears his mistakes will cause Santa to pass him by.
What’s Coming For Christmas by Kate Banks, 2009Unpaged, ages 3-7While a farm family bustles about, preparing for the arrival of Christmas, they do not notice the great anticipation spreadingamong the animals, who know that something very special is on its way.
Eight Wild Nights by Brian Cleary, 2006Unpaged, ages 5-8A large family celebrates Hanukkah by cleaning the house, entertaining guests, and preparing delicious food.
The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood, 2010267 pages, ages 8-12Fifteen-year-old Miss Penelope Lumley, a recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, is hired as gov-erness to three young children who have been raised by wolves and must teach them to behave in a civilized manner quickly, inpreparation for a Christmas ball.
Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, 2010260 pages, ages 12 and upTold in the alternating voices of Dash and Lily, two sixteen-year-olds carry on a wintry scavenger hunt at Christmas-time in NewYork, neither knowing quite what—or who—they will find.
8
Reviews
TOPOF THE LIST
{BOOKS}
{MOVIES}
Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas (1977)Emmet and Ma Otter enter a talent contest with the hopes of winning the cash prize just in time for Christmas, and learn thatfamily, not money, is the greatest Christmas gift of all.Not rated
Max and Ruby: Everybunny Loves Winter (2010)Join Max & Ruby this winter as they play and have a fun in the snow, make gingerbread houses, and even play duck duck goose!Not rated
Santa Buddies (2009)When Puppy Paws, the fun-loving son of Santa Paws, gets tired of the North Pole, he finds Budderball on Santa’s naughty list andfigures he’s just the dog to show him how to be an ordinary pup. But when the magical Christmas Icicle starts to melt and theworld begins to forget the true meaning of the season, it’s up to Puppy Paws and his newfound Buddies to save Christmas.Rated G
It’s a Very Merry Christmas Muppet Movie (2002)Evil banker Rachel Bitterman forecloses on the Muppets’ famous variety theater. But Bitterman’s machinations take a back seatwhen apprentice guardian angel Daniel shows Kermit what conditions would have been had Kermit never existed.Rated PG
A Christmas Carol (2009)Ebenezer Scrooge begins the Christmas holiday with his usual miserly contempt, barking at his faithful clerk and his cheerynephew. But when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come take him on an eye-opening journey revealing truthsOld Scrooge is reluctant to face, he must open his heart to undo years of ill will before it’s too late.Rated PG
- Youth Services Staff of the Denton Public Library.
December2010
9
940-484-4900www.achieversgymnastics.com
An important part ofwhat we do is teachingproper technique andform...
The BEST part of whatwe do is teaching a childthe power that lieswithin.
Teaching Kids toAchieve
K4
Givethe Gift ofFUN thisChristmas!
Now offering Discovery Classes
for ages 4 months to 3 years!
Gift certificates availablefor gymnastics and cheerclasses, leotards, cheer andgymnastics gifts!
Risk Free Trial Classwith this ad, and receive a
20% discounton your first full session!
(new members only)
Current Members: 20% off additional classor sibling sign-up!
LunchboxBITES
Easy Potatoes Au GratinMakes 8 ServingsPrep Time: 20 minCook Time: 60 minIInnggrreeddiieennttss1 2 pound package of frozen southern-style
hash brown potatoes, thawed 1 cup chopped onion 1 10-ounce can cream of chicken soup (can
also use cream of mushroom) 1 cup fat free or light sour cream 1-1/2 cups shredded reduced fat sharp
Cheddar Cheese 2 ounces reduced fat or “lite” potato chips,
crushed 24 broccoli spears Pepper to taste Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly coat a
13x9” baking dish with canola cooking spray.Combine potatoes, onion, soup, sour cream,
cheese, and pepper in a bowl; mix well.Spoon mixture into prepared baking dish,sprinkle with potato chips and bake uncov-ered for 45 minutes. Arrange the broccolispears around the edge of the baking dishand bake another 15 minutes or until gratinis nice and bubbly and broccoli is just tender.
NNuuttrriittiioonnaall FFaaccttssCalories: 290Total Fat: 10 g Saturated Fat: 5 gCholesterol: 25 mg
Sodium: 550 mg Calcium: 25% Daily Value Protein: 12 gCarbohydrates: 39 g
Dietary Fiber: 6 g- Favorite recipe of Stephanie Bruno,
Mother of 2 from Stephenson, MI
December2010
10
214 - 957 - 6281
88 Keys to FunBeginning Piano Lessons
K4
Sign up TODAY!
Offering
lessons in
studio or at
your home!
www.kodizene.com
www.greenspacearts.com
Classes for all ages & skill levels!
Call for tuition and rental rates!
529 Malone Denton 940-595-9219
K4
Green Space ArtsCollective
• Dance Studio
• Rehearsal SpaceSt
ate
Scho
olRd
May
hill
Rd
Teas
ley
Ln
288
35
K4
Do you DATCU?
Clockwise around the table:
Becky Sylvera, Dean Barnes,
Jon Madsen, Glen McKenzie,
Dale Kimble
Call toll-free 866-387-8585
or go to www.DATCU.org.
DATCU is the local credit union
that beats banks for great rates,
low fees and friendly service.
YOU CAN JOIN!
K4
1/2 Price Burgers Every Tuesday5pm to close
K4
Krum • Pilot Point • Denton (W. University)
XX
K4
Breakfast, hot lunch, morning and afternoon snack
Ages 2 to 5 PRE-K
“We Learn, Abeka & Math Their Way Curriculums”
ALL CLASSES HAVE SPANISH, BELLS & VOICE
A COMPUTER LAB FOR PRE-K
AND AFTER SCHOOLERS
AFTER SCHOOL PICK UP AT LOCAL SCHOOLS $50 A WEEK
Snack and supervised study and play
PICK UP FOR DISD EARLY DISMISSAL.
DROP IN FOR SCHOOL HOLIDAYS $20.00
SUMMER PROGRAM NOW ENROLLINGWeb Site splcdenton.org Call 387-6651
K4
St. Paul Christian Learning CenterServing the community for 30+ years
703 N. Elm
6:30 AM To 6:00 PM
Teacher-Child Ratio: 10-1, 2’s 5:1
K4
Is Your Child Having Difficulty in School?Now Enrolling
Private Education InstructionHomeschool Environment • Small Class
Curriculum geared for children with Dyslexia & mild learning disabilities
Certified, experienced TeacherFor information Call 940-390-6391
Libraryevents
SSaannttaa SSttoorryyTTiimmeeHo, ho, ho! Come to the
library for stories, songs, & pup-pets with Santa! Bring your cam-era to take pictures with Santa atthe end of the program. Best forages 1 to 5.
South Branch LibraryDecember 9 at 10:00 & 11:00
am Emily Fowler Central LibraryDecember 15 at 11:00 amNorth Branch Library December 17 at 11:00 am
SSnnoowwyy SSttoorryyTTiimmeeCome in from the cold and join
us for stories, songs, and puppetscelebrating winter. For ages 1 to 5.
North Branch LibraryDecember 10 at 11:00 am
CChhrriissttmmaass OOrrnnaammeennttss The Garden Culture Club will
help us make special gourdChristmas ornaments to brightenthe holiday. For ages 5 & up.
Emily Fowler Central LibraryDecember 10 at 4:00 pm
CChhrriissttmmaass CCrraaffttssMake your own Christmas card
& a special keepsake ornament forthe tree! Best for ages 5 & up.
South Branch LibraryDecember 16 at 3:30 pm
Recycle this magazine
{WHAT’S GOING ON AT THE DENTON PUBLIC LIBRARY THIS MONTH}
December2010
11
My new favorite book is Calvin Coconut Trouble Magnet. This book,written by Graham Salisbury and illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers, is abouta boy named Calvin and his two friends.
Calvin is a big trouble maker. And there is Maya, who is sweet and polite.Last, but not least, there is Julio. He is usually on Calvin’s team as a “trou-ble maker”, until TITO COMES!
Tito is the school bully. He is in sixth grade and Calvin and the gang areonly in fourth. Calvin, Maya and Julio live in Hawaii.
I like this book because it is funny in a lot of different ways! This is a newTexas bluebonnet book so I think you should go to your library and checkit out.
- Kendyl KohnfelderPecan Creek Elementary, fourth grade
Courtney Morgan is 2010 Rivera Teacher of the Year
Gayla Bridges is 2010 Evers Park Teacher of the Year
Courtney Morgan has workedas a teacher for four years - allwithin the Denton IndependentSchool District at RiveraElementary.
Ms. Morgan was hired as afifth-grade teacher at the school in2006 and has been working withfifth-graders at Rivera ever since.She is grateful to veteran teacherswho helped “mold” her into theteacher she is today and is repay-ing the favor by serving as a men-tor to student teachers from UNT
and TWU. Ms. Morgan is currently direct-
ing a class that trains teachers inthe Language Arts and SocialStudies Opportunities program. Aformer standout high school andcollege athlete, she is a graduate ofthe University of North Texas witha Bachelor of Science inEducation.
Her teaching philosophy:“Teachers today are more thanjust instructors for students, theyare guides that lead studentsdown the right path by using edu-cation.”
Head of the Class
Head of the Class
Gayla Bridges has been in edu-cation for 15 years - all withDenton ISD and enjoying everyone of those 15 at Evers ParkElementary.
Mrs. Bridges began her careeras a special education paraprofes-sional in 1994 and moved into thethird-grade classroom in 1996,where she still resides today. She isa member of the Evers Park cam-pus leadership team, has been apart of the campus Relay For Lifecampaign for six years and serves
as a mentor teacher to various col-lege students.
Mrs. Bridges is a graduate ofTexas Woman’s University whereshe received her Bachelor ofScience in InterdisciplinaryStudies and Early ChildhoodEducation.
Her teaching philosophy:“Having patience, especially whendealing with students from vari-ous backgrounds, is the greatestasset a teacher can have in theclassroom.”
PrincipalProfile
Meet McNair principal FlynnNNaammee:: Sean Michael Flynn
Nickname: Flash (I was muchyounger when this name started)
MMyy SScchhooooll:: McNairElementary.
MMyy SScchhooooll’’ss mmaassccoott::Commanders.
WWhheerree yyoouu wweerree bboorrnn:: Kailua,Hawaii (Oahu)
MMyy ffaavvoorriittee ffoooodd iiss:: seafood.MMyy ffaavvoorriittee ccoolloorr iiss:: navy blue.MMyy ffaavvoorriittee ssuubbjjeecctt iinn sscchhooooll
wwaass:: physical education.MMyy ffaavvoorriittee tteeaacchheerr wwaass:: Mrs.
Izu. MMyy mmoosstt mmeemmoorraabbllee mmoommeenntt
aass aa cchhiilldd wwaass:: I’ll always remem-ber the friendships I had and stillhave from the high school crosscountry team.
DDoo yyoouu hhaavvee aannyy ppeettss?? two dogs(Kanani – golden retriever andKona – lab retriever)
MMyy hhoobbbbiieess aarree:: running, base-ball, coaching, and hanging outwith my three children.
TThhee bbeesstt mmoovviiee II’’vvee eevveerr sseeeenn iiss::I really like the Bourne series. (TheBourne Identity, The BourneSupremacy, The BourneUltimatum)
Newton Rayzor ElementarySchool Principal Carlos Ramirezwas one a few hundred principalsfrom across admitted into theannual Harvard Leadership pro-gram in Cambridge, Mass. this pastsummer.
Mr. Ramirez joined CrownoverMiddle School Principal GwenPerkins as the only DentonIndependent School Districtadministrators to take part in theacclaimed program.
Mr. Ramirez joined other princi-pals in participating in one of fiveweek-long summer institutes host-ed by the Harvard Graduate Schoolof Education.
The Newton Rayzor principalattended a week-long workshop onurban education and he learnedabout the struggles many studentsand schools are facing across thenation.
“It was very interesting, but a lotof the things they covered with uswe are already addressing in ourdistrict,” Mr. Ramirez said.
A graduate of the University ofCalifornia-Davis, Mr. Ramirezearned his master’s degree fromChapman University in Californiaand is currently working on his doc-torate at the University of NorthTexas
“It was cool taking classes taughtby Harvard professors on theHarvard campus, but man was it a
lot of work,” Ramirez said. “Wewere in class from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30p.m. during the day and then hadtwo to three hours worth of readingfor class the next day. By that thirdday I was really tired!”
Mr. Ramirez hopes to one daybecome superintendant of a schooldistrict, which is one of the reasonshe decided to attend the program.Yet after talking to other principalsabout their struggles and seeing theamount of work he had to put induring his week-long stay atHarvard, he came away with a valu-able lesson.
“We always tell our children toaim high, but high expectations arenot enough. I learned that you haveto have a plan – and it better be agood one – to reach those expecta-tions, which is an experience I canshare with my students,” he said.
Newton Rayzor principal learns new lessons
Book Review: Calvin Coconut Trouble Magnet
Recycle thismagazine
December2010
12
K4
Health
Are you too tired to do yourhomework? Do you wish you did-n’t have practice this week? Isfalling asleep tough when lay inbed at night?
If you can answer yes to any oneof these questions, then you maybe under attack by the over-sched-uling-under-rest monster!
This monster can affect yourhealth, friendships and social life.It can also affect your family life,especially when everyone is run-ning around in a different direc-tion at the same time.Adults and kids can suffer fromover-scheduling – and that’s whenthis monster attacks. The key toavoiding the monster is to get
plenty of rest and choose activitiesthat fit your age and abilities.
Here are some simple guide-lines that might help.
Plan to play one sport per sea-son or do one weekly activity dur-ing the school year. Trying to dotoo much and keep up with schoolis a recipe for disaster.
Stay organized. Keep a calendarwith your activities and planahead to make sure you get plentyof rest.
Set priorities. Decide what isimportant and stick with it.
Always remember that a chanceto relax or just do nothing is justas important as doing an activity.
Have an established nighttime
routine and bedtime. This makesit easier on your body to adjust toyour schedule.
Allowing your mind and bodyplenty of time to relax and get restis also important. Reading a bookor listening to soft music can putyour mind at ease and even helpyou fall asleep.
Following these guidelines andplanning ahead with your familyto get rest can help the over-sched-uling monster stay away. Whileactivities are important for manyreasons, a growing mind and bodyneed plenty of sleep and rest tostay healthy.
- Jonita Widmer, director ofhealth services for Denton ISD
Students should avoid over-scheduling Evers Park has new outdoor learning center
The new outdoor learning cen-ter at Evers Park Elementary is agrowing addition to the schoolcampus. Known as BETSE (BetterEducation Through SharedExploration), the outdoor learningcenter is providing a hands-onapproach to science and ecology forstudents.
BETSE consists of 20 raised dirtbeds, which will be used by allEvers students and staff membersto plant vegetables such as collardgreens, lima beans, peas, pumpkinsand many species of wildflowers.
In addition to flower beds, a but-terfly garden designed by DonKenney from Painted FarmsNursery also accompanies the out-door center. The butterfly gardenhouses a variety of plants ideal for
facilitating butterfly growth, suchas Mexican bush, lantanas, black-foot daisies, flame acantis andmore.
Many of the plants were donatedby Dorothy Thetford on behalf ofthe Native Plant Society of Texasand represent plant-life indigenousto the area.
The outdoor learning centerbegan when the PTA paid for afence to section the garden. Fromthere, the garden grew into a com-munity project, receiving aid fromTitan Fence, Calloway’s, Bart’sBarn, staff members and parents.
While BETSE involves much ofthe community, it is much morethan just a community garden.
- By Ben Price, Denton ISDCommunications Intern
www.dentonrc.com www.dentonrc.com
December2010
