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