Teachers of the Year Get Recognized by the Texas Rangers

Sam Rayburn Independent School District

The Rebel Review –School News

Dear Sam Rayburn ISD Community,

This school year is off to a great start! A special thanks to all the students,

staff, and parents who made the first month of the 2015-2016 school year a

successful one.

We had a great turnout at our annual Meet the Teacher Night. It was very encouraging

to see all the smiling faces of students who were ready to return to school.

We have added many new faces to the SRISD teaching staff this year. We are

committed to providing the best staff possible while also maintaining a low teacher-to-

pupil ratio.

Plans for the first phase of construction are being finalized which include an elementary

classroom addition, a renovated cafeteria, and a new high school vocational building.

Construction is set to begin around the first of the year.

We continue to update our school website at www.srisd.org. We look forward to

providing the Sam Rayburn ISD community with an easy method for obtaining important

school information. Please check out the newly posted pictures of our recent

Grandparent’s Day.

Finally, SRISD is committed to providing the very best education possible to our

students. Please join us on this journey to make SRISD the very best it can be!

Jeff Irvin, Superintendent

Sam Rayburn ISD

Our teachers of the year, Mrs. Stacy Baugh and Mr. Kevin Foreman,

were recognized on the field at the Texas Rangers game on Friday,

August 28, 2015. They were able to shake hands with Derrick Holland.

The Rangers Organization also blessed them with a monetary gift and

free tickets to stay and enjoy the game. The Texas Rangers

understand the importance of education, which is why they are so

eager to support and pay tribute to our local teachers for the hard

work and dedication they put in for Texas students. Mrs. Baugh and

Mr. Foreman were able to see the Rangers take the victory!

August-September

2015

The Sam Rayburn Varsity Cheerleaders attended cheer camp at

the Hilton in Rockwall, Texas. The NCA Cheerleaders taught

several cheer teams across Texas cheers, sidelines, dances, and

many helpful skills. The Sam Rayburn Varsity Cheerleaders

practiced and perfected the materials learned. On Performance

Day they cheered their hearts out! The cheerleaders obtained

numerous awards. They won the spirit stick each day of camp, the

Herkie Award, which earned the team a plaque and a Gatorade

Cooler, a bid which will allow the team to

compete in a national competition this

upcoming year, the Safest Stunt Group, and

an Excellent Ribbon for their performance.

Emily Love, Hadleigh Keeton, and

Jaci Fulton were nominated for All American

Cheerleader.

Results from the Red River Valley

Back to School Classic

August 28th

Jed Maroney –Market Hogs – 2nd and 6th

Timmy Brewer –7th place with his goat

Morgan Hagerty –6th place with his goat

Malkolm Hagerty –3rd place with his goat

Alexis Burkard –Grand Champion Shorthorn Heifer and Reserve

Champion Exotic Breed Champion (630)

Colton Burkard –Grand Champion Maine Anjou Heifer

Luke Cundy –3rd place Brangus Heifer

Curtis Bell –6th place with his lamb

Cassi Burkhammer also went to the Denton Livestock Show on August

22nd. She won Grand Champion Red Brangus Heifer.

Let’s Hear it for Varsity Cheer

Page 2 Sam Rayburn The High School

FFA students attended

the State FFA

Convention in

Corpus Christi,

Texas this past sum-

mer. Taylor Nichols

received her Lone Star

Degree on Wednes-

day, July 15th. Those

attending were

Luke Titsworth,

Jed Maroney,

Garrett Grintz,

Casey Payne,

McKenzie Hilliard,

and Taylor Nichols.

Above: Varsity/JV

Cross Country runners

compete at the

North Hopkins meet

Mrs. Wilburn’s 8th grade science class has been studying atoms. As a project assignment, each student built an atom using given materials. It proved to be quite interesting and tempting, since students used the Nerds candy to represent their atom’s protons, neutrons, and electrons. The atom projects are currently displayed outside Mrs. Wilburn’s classroom. Pictured left are Sam Grintz and Jose Higuera with their projects.

I did not begin college until my younger son entered Kindergarten at

Sam Rayburn. At that time, I had taken a leave of absence from my

previous job – just so I could stay home, help my husband with our

farming operation and be with my two sons. Once they were both in

school, I became very involved with all of the volunteer work our school

had to offer. I had always desired to teach, but I had not pursued it until

that point. I also told myself that I would not teach where my children were enrolled

because I did not want them to “have to take their mother to school with them every

day.” To make a long story short: once I had earned the required credentials to teach,

Mr. Arthur, the principal, continued to call me about an open position here at

Sam Rayburn. I repeatedly declined because I wanted my children to gain

independence at school; this was their territory. However, I finally agreed to discuss this

option with them. You know what? They were okay with me being here if I agreed to

stay out of sight. This is my home; this is where I want to be, and I have been with our

school district for the past 20 years.

Teacher Spotlight:

August– September 2015 Page 3

Debbie Riemer , Junior High Language Arts

The Eighth Graders get “Nerdy” in Science Class

Sam Rayburn hosted their annual FFA Kick-Off Night on Thursday, September 17

th at 6:00

P.M. Around 40 FFA and Jr. FFA members attended. They began the night with deliciously grilled hamburgers and ended with a fun game of slip-n-slide kickball.

Everyone had a great time! Mr. Minnick and Mrs. Grose are looking forward to an excellent FFA year with some AWESOME members!

FFA Kick-Off Party

Above: Junior High

at the North Hopkins

Cross Country meet

Page 4 Sam Rayburn Grand Parent’s

Day

On Friday,

September 11th,

The Elementary

students invited

their

grandparents to

enjoy lunch with

them. Many

students were

lucky enough to

have two sets of

grandparents eat

with them!

Below are a few

pictures of

students with

their special

guests.

Several students in grades 4 - 6 have been participating in running competitions with the junior high and high school Cross Country Teams. Runners have competed at North Hopkins and Silo with notable performances by Beau Bromley -1st, Logan Sanderson -4

th, and Colton Burkard -3

rd in the boys

division; Kaylah Wallace -4th, Addyson Nichols -5th, and Addison Johnson -7th in the girls division.

The next and final fun run for the 4th-6th grade runners will be on October 7th at Ponder ISD.

Running For Fun

Breaking Ground

Interactive Technology

New interactive projectors and devices have been

placed in at least 12 different classrooms

throughout the district. These interactive devices

turn any whiteboard into a “smartboard”, which

allows students and teachers to use a special pen

to drag, drop, click, write, highlight, etc. The goal

of the interactivity is to promote student

engagement while utilizing 21st century

technology skills. (Pictured top left: a Boxlight

interactive projector. Pictured bottom left: a 4th

grade student works a math problem with an

interactive pen).

If you read our summer newsletter,

you know the Elementary

Principal, Jim Shaw, wrote and

received a grant from Lowe’s to

build a playground for our

youngest students. The area has been marked off and five loads of

dirt have been bought in and leveled. Construction will begin within

the next two weeks.

New Additions to the Teaching Staff

Library Update

Our district knows that technology is an important part of today’s educational process. In addition to the interactive devices placed throughout the district, the Technology Director and HS Principal, Mrs. Keeton, purchased new network switches, wiring, and wireless access points, which were installed over the summer break. These improvements have upgraded our network capabilities by providing improved

connection and speed when using the Internet throughout the district. The new system also allows Mrs. Keeton to pinpoint network issues much easier.

Other technology purchases include new speakers, brighter and clearer projectors, a new set of computers for the High School Business Lab (pictured left), and a computer/iPad for new teachers.

August– September 2015 Page 5

There have been 308 new items added to the library since school started. Many of the new books were specific teacher requests: kindergarten-theme, beginning science and nature basics, the moon, seeds, seasons, physical science, and Curious George.

A quick way to browse the newest additions is to go to this site: http://www.shelfari.com/o1514562310. There, you will see a virtual bookshelf with book covers of items in our library which have been added since 2009.

All students at Sam Rayburn ISD have the ability to take reading quizzes in the Accelerated Reading System from 7:45 - 3:25, Monday through Friday. Students can also check their reading percentage and points received from quizzes taken from the beginning of the year. The Accelerated Reader site is: https://hosted194.renlearn.com/742704/default.aspx.

Elementary Junior High/High School

Technology Upgrades

Cassidi

Stroud

2nd

Grade

Shannon

Minnick

Special

Education

Jodi Amlin

5th/6th

Writing

William

Hurst

Physics and

Chemistry

Ashley

Grose

Ag/FFA

Clint

Minnick

AG/FFA

Kristi

Baker

1st

Grade

Spring Sports

in Motion Snap Shots From the First Weeks of School

You can access information from the Counselor, Ms. Cline, by going to www.srisd.org; click on “Parents” at the top, and then “Counselor’s Corner” at mid-right. There you can find contact information, links, and other resources you might need by using the menu at the left. Here are some important dates that students should be aware of:

*ASVAB Test– September 30th at 8:30- Juniors & Seniors

*PSAT Test - October 14th- Sophomores & Juniors

*Texoma Area-Wide College Fair at SOSU- October 22

nd- Seniors

*Red Ribbon Week - October 26th-30

th - All Students

*Veteran’s Day Program- November 11th— time TBA

From the Counselor

The Annual Fall Festival is scheduled for Friday, October 30th. The Fall Festival is a fun

evening for the family, and a great way to help the PTO raise funds. A Chili

dinner will begin at 5:00. Other activities, such as games, raffles, Bingo, the

Book Fair, and auctions will run from 6:00 - 8:00. We hope you will attend!

Fall Festival Coming Soon!

For upcoming events and information, find us on Facebook: Sam Rayburn ISD