Extra Credit

Teams suit up in the fight against breast cancer

Stands will be a sea of pink at tonight's volleyball matchups hosted by Carroll's Lady Dragons against Marcus High's Lady Marauders. Spectators who wear pink get in free at a Pink Out event benefiting Dallas-based breast cancer organization Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Junior varsity gametime is 6 p.m. followed by a varsity match, both at Carroll Senior High School, 1501 W. Southlake Blvd., Southlake. Ninth grade A and B teams play at 6 p.m. at Carroll High School, 800 White Chapel Blvd., Southlake.

Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for students. Spectators can make donations and additional pink items will be on sale. Other Pink Out games hosted by Lady Dragons sports teams are planned this school year, officials said.

Jessamy Brown

Northwest high students investigated in mother's slaying

Breaking news today from Roanoke and the Northwest school district. Read Deanna Boyd's story here about the mother who was found dead Sunday.

Here is the most recent news release from the school district:

"Northwest ISD officials learned today of a serious and tragic incident that occurred in one of our communities this weekend. Earlier this morning, the Roanoke Police Department informed the school district that two students have been apprehended as suspects in a suspicious death. Due to laws protecting privacy rights, and to preserve the integrity of the investigation, the school district cannot disclose the identities of the minor students. A 2008 Northwest High School graduate also was apprehended.

Our thoughts are with the families involved, and we know that school personnel will continue to focus on the education and well being of our students. Should any child or staff member need to talk about the situation, school counselors are available. 

As more information about the situation unfolds, parents are encouraged to help their children understand at a level they determine their child can handle. School officials will continue to concentrate on maintaining a safe and productive learning environment for our children."

- Kristin Sullivan

Still hard to keep superintendents in 'toughest job in America'

Arlington and Mansfield trustees might want to read this Associated Press story on how hard it is to hang on to superintendents in large urban districts. Okay, so maybe Arlington already knows this. But as the two districts decide how they will fill their top posts, the AP reports districts are needing to spend more big bucks and offer incentives to attract quality talent who may end up staying just a short time. Unfortunately, Arlington has had recent experience on this front. Its most recent superintendent, Hector Montenegro, abruptly resigned after less than six months on the job when questions arose about some of his business dealings with non-profits. Mansfield is looking to replace longtime superintendent Vernon Newsom, who has been at his post since 1996.

-Eva-Marie Ayala

$40K for a college admissions consultant?

Would you pay through the nose to ensure that your child gained admission to the Ivy Leagues? Would you hire a consultant to help craft your child's college admissions essay? See this NPR story. Unbelievable.

- Kristin Sullivan

Arlington woman named Texas State U. System regent

Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Donna Williams of Arlington to the Texas State University System Board of Regents for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2011. The board governs the Texas State University System.

Williams is vice president and program manager of Parsons Infrastructure and Technology and serves on the Dallas African American Museum board. Williams received a bachelor’s degree from Prairie View A&M University. She replaces Don Flores of El Paso.

She is married to Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams.

- Gene Trainor

FW teacher describes experiences with sister city in Japan

Susan Bruster is the academic coordinator at William James Middle School. She sent us a guest blog about her and her students' experiences in Japan.

This past June, I had the wonderful opportunity to take a group of middle and high school students to Nagaoka, Japan. This opportunity came about because of Sister Cities International here in Fort Worth. Through Sister Cities, hundreds of students have had the chance to travel to many different parts of the world. 

When we arrived at Narita Airport outside of Tokyo after a 12-hour flight, we then faced a two-hour train trip to Nagaoka. As our train pulled into the station, we saw American flags waving as students ran alongside the train. As we got off the train, signs of greeting with our names printed on them waved before us. What a gracious welcome, and that was only the beginning!

After hosting the Nagaoka students at William James Middle School for the past two years, I was so excited to see Nagaoka. I had no idea how beautiful this city was. Lush green mountains, beautiful gardens, and a soft breeze greeted us on the morning after our late arrival the night before. 

Our students wanted to try every food, custom, and event that was offered to them. One day, we were taken to Aguratte, an agricultural center. There we were taught how to make Udon, which is a dish of traditional Japanese noodles. The students kneaded the dough, cut it into strips and then boiled them.  We then sat down to eat the lunch we made. 

The students also had the opportunity to visit a nursery school. These little children were so excited to see the American teenagers. We played musical games, decorated fans and ate a snack with the children.

One of the most memorable events was the small earthquake that we experienced the second day we were in Nagaoka. It was a four on the Richter Scale, so it was a little more than a tremor. When I talked to a student a few minutes later, I asked him what he thought of the earthquake. He responded with, “I thought it was so cool!”

I was fascinated with the interaction between the American students and their host Japanese brothers and sisters. Shyness was not an issue! A lot of communication effectively took place through gestures, facial expressions and translators.

Now, here we are once again, hosting a group of Nagaoka students this week at William James and at Daggett Montessori School. This time, after my visit to Nagaoka, I see their visit from a whole different point of view. I know how it feels to go into a country and stay with a family where very little English, if any, is spoken. You learn that communication is more than verbal and that we are the same and yet different in so many ways. Through Sister Cities International, many students have had the opportunity to discover this, and many more will get to do so in the future.

(Above Star-Telegram photo taken Thursday at William James of Shiomi Numaya, one of 17 students from Nagaoka visiting Fort Worth.)

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Hurricane Ike delays dropout count deadline

Texas schools have yet another extension on counting dropouts, but this time it's to because of Ike. Officials did have until this Friday to get students who have failed to show up for school back in class or those students would be considered dropouts. That is significant because this year schools' accountability ratings will be adversely affected if they have too many.

But because Hurricane Ike has impacted so many -- including families displaced because of lost homes, districts forced to close for weeks because of power loss and property damage and other districts searching for new students who may not know where to enroll-- the state has extended the deadline to Oct. 24.

Schools were to have their completion rates count against ratings in 2007-08 school year but that was delayed one year. Those high schools with completion rates lower than 75 percent (meaning more than a quarter of students did not graduate in four years or continue in school) will be considered academically unacceptable by the state. The 2009 ratings are expected to be released next summer.

-Eva-Marie Ayala

Spanish lessons at a distance

   ALEDO_ Elementary students in Aledo have an opportunity to learn conversational Spanish after school without leaving their campuses, thanks to a new distance-learning program that allows a single teacher to conduct class at four campuses.

   Aledo High School's Spanish teacher Mindy Rose teaches lessons from the Distance Learning Center. Four elementary schools have up to 25 students each in classes that are monitored by an adult paraprofessional and two advanced-language high school students.

   Classes run four days a week and are open to second- through fifth-graders.

--Shirley Jinkins 

Arlington schools to help hurricane damaged district

The Arlington school district is organizing to help the Pasadena ISD, which will reopen Monday after being battered by Hurricane Ike.

"Pasadena ISD is putting together a needs list for us right now and once they put together that list, we’re going to be calling on the community to assist us in getting any supplies we can offer the school district," Arlington spokeswoman Veronica Sopher said.

Arlington officials are also hoping to enlist other North Texas to help districts along the coast. They've set up a site here where districts can either register their needs or volunteer to help.

- Traci Shurley

Are school boards smarter than fifth graders?

Boy, let's hope so. A spin on the popular game show will quiz school trustees and superintendents on operating procedures and help with team building at the annual Texas Association of School Boards convention in Dallas. The event starts Friday and will cover everything from going green (how to build eco-friendly and pest-resistant schools) to immigration raids and their impact on schools to college preparedness to tips on saving dollars. Now those sessions are where many area districts strapped for cash may want to send their officials. One session for small schools will talk about how to cut utility costs by up to 30 percent. Texas Railroad Commission chairman Michael Williams will talk about incentives offered to get districts to use propane-powered buses, which he says lowers emissions and drastically cuts fuel costs.

Also, some of our local officials are up for prestigious awards this weekend. Birdville supe Stephen Waddell is one of five finalist for Texas superintendent of the year. (Waddell came flying through the air for convocation on wires. FLYING THROUGH THE AIR, man. Here's the video of that.) That honor will be announced Sunday morning. Meanwhile, the Grapevine-Colleyville board is one of five finalist up for the 2008 outstanding school board. That will be announced Saturday morning.

Mmm. I wonder if the "Pay for Performance: the Dallas ISD Experience" panel session is still on with all that's going on there (as in teacher layoffs).

-Eva-Marie Ayala