Extra Credit

Fort Worth's Trimble Tech, USPS honor Emancipation Proclamation for Black History Month

Writing and mailing letters may be a bit of a foreign concept to the text and tweet generation. But teenagers at Fort Worth’s Trimble Technical High School learned all about stamps at a Black History Month presentation last week.

Students hosted Beverly Baugh, U.S. Postal Service district manager, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that slaves in Confederate states were free.

Last month, the Postal Service issued a stamp honoring the 1863 proclamation, the first of three marking milestones in the fight for civil rights. A stamp of Rosa Parks, a Montgomery, Ala., woman who launched a bus boycott in 1955 after refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger, was issued Feb. 4.

Students are being encouraged to write letters to improve their skills and express themselves, said Kyev Tatum, who helped establish the campus’s Brilliant Bulldog Center, which provides tutoring.

“We partnered up with the post office to encourage students to talk about it and write letters and get stamps as a keepsake,” he said. “And you don’t just get on a stamp because you did something. You have to have made a tremendous difference.”

Glenn O. Lewis, chairman of the Texas Southern University board, spoke about the “legacy of excellence” at historically black colleges and universities.

Jessamy Brown

Fort Worth seniors can write their way to new wheels in annual Frank Kent Honda contest

A Fort Worth school district senior will have the chance to use their ability to turn a phrase into the turn of the wheel of a new car.

In the second annual Words for Wheels essay contest, students are writing up to 1,000 words on this topic: "In the future, how do you plan on using technology to promote and help your community?" The pieces will be judged on originality, clarity of message and presentation, according to a news release from Frank Kent Honda.

Starting this week, students will get a chance to check out the model as it makes stops at various Fort Worth high schools.

The contest is a partnership between Frank Kent Honda, Fort Worth schools and the City of Fort Worth. Graduating seniors have the chance to win a 2013 Honda Civic LX coupe or sedan - and they can pick the color. The EECU will cover the cost of tax, title and license fees on the vehicle.

The deadline is March 17. The winner will be presented with the car at the Fort Worth-based dealership on April 29. The contest was created by Frank Kent Honda co-owners Will Churchill and Corrie Watson, graduates of Arlington Heights High School.

Jessamy Brown

Prep, practice for high school STAAR at Fort Worth schools' first Spring Break School

Forget that spring break trip to the beach. Why not stay here and polish skills in reading, writing and biology?

The Fort Worth school district is launching its first-ever Spring Break School, offering high school students the chance to spend four days preparing and practicing for the End-Of-Course exams required for graduation.

Sign up for the free program started today and runs through Thursday, Feb. 21. The classes are March 11 through 14 and students can sign up for 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. or both

Classes will be offered in algebra 1, biology, English 1 reading, English 1 writing and world geography.Transportation and meals included.

Jessamy Brown

New building eyed for Fort Worth ISDs Young Women's Leadership Academy

The girls at the Young Women's Leadership Academy may be moving to new digs on Eighth Street in Fort Worth.

The Fort Worth school board in January agreed to purchase the Tarrant County Education Center building at 401 E. 8th St.

On Tuesday, trustees are to consider using $5.8 million from funds left over from the Capital Improvement Program to pay for renovations to the building.

The deal still must still be considered by the Tarrant County Commissioner's Court, which is expected to take up the matter at a meeting scheduled for Feb. 26, a school district spokeswoman said. If both parties approve, officials hope to be done with renovations and ready to move into the new building in time for the fall 2013 semester.

The academy has outgrown its current space, Fort Worth schools spokesman Clint Bond said.

The school opened in August 2010 in a converted building on West Magnolia Avenue that served as the school district's adult education center. Officials are adding one grade per year. This year, there are students in grades seven through 10.

Jessamy Brown

 

 

Ninth grade passing rates on STAAR tests rise after second attempt

UPDATE:

Ninth graders who failed the STAAR end-of-course standardized tests in their initial go around did better during retakes, the Texas Education Agency announced.

Here's a link to an Associated Press report.

An excerpt: "Students who retook those tests as 10th-graders this year saw their scores in all subject areas improve dramatically, according to Education Commissioner Michael Williams.

The English I writing passing rate jumped from 54.4 percent last spring to 72.6 percent after retesting. English I reading jumped from 67.7 percent to 81.2 percent; world geography climbed to 84.8 percent from 79.7 percent; and 91 percent of students passed biology exams, up from 86.4 percent."

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/01/29/4584930/twice-is-a-charm-ninth-graders.html#storylink=cpy

And here's Tuesday's news release from the Texas Education Agency.

ORIGINAL POST:

The majority of Texas students who took the state’s new standardized exams last year passed it, results show.

Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams released results Tuesday from elementary and middle schoolers who took the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) tests in spring 2012.

In a news release, Williams said the passing rates for most of the tests were 70 percent or higher. Third and fourth graders posted passing rates of 68 percent on the math test.

And eighth graders posted a 59 percent passing rate on the social studies test. Education officials attributed that to new curriculum content and use of more primary sources in test questions. Eighth graders posted the highest passing percentage on the tests, with 80 percent passing the reading exam.

The new tests are designed to be harder than the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) exam. That program is being phased out. (r: 9th grader works in STAAR end of course remedial class in June 2012. ST/Ron Jenkins)

Students took STAAR tests in the same subjects that were tested on the TAKS. For grades 3 through 8, students must take tests in math and reading. Students are also tested in writing at grades 4 and 7, science at grades 5 and 8, and social studies at grade 8.

“I recognize there has been a lot of anxiety surrounding STAAR tests, but I believe these are encouraging passing rates for the first year of a new more rigorous test,” Williams said in a statement. “Clearly, we still have work to do, but I remain optimistic that passing rates will rise this spring in the second administration of the STAAR, just as they have traditionally done in the second year of a new testing program.”

Several greater Tarrant County school districts, including Fort Worth, Mansfield, Arlington and Grapevine-Colleyville, did not release scores for their students on Tuesday. Some officials said administrators want to share the scores with school trustees before releasing the data.

Fort Worth schools officials received the last of their scores from the state on Saturday, said Clint Bond, a spokesman.

“They haven’t been reviewed or analyzed. We just got some of them. The superintendent hasn’t seen them and the board hasn’t seen them,” Bond said.

This year, exam results will be used to create accountability performance ratings for school districts and campuses. No ratings were issued in 2012 as the state made the transition to the new test.

High school students must get a passing average on 15 end-of-course STAAR tests to graduate. There are three exams each in math, science, social studies, reading and writing. This year, ninth and 10th graders took the tests. Other students continue to take the TAKS. Williams has suspended a requirement that the scores count as 15 percent of the course grade.

Jessamy Brown

Keller, Arlington, N. Crowley school activity sponsors win UIL excellence award

Three area folks who sponsor school music, sports and academic activities are among 16 Texans honored with the UILs Sponsor Excellence Award.

The award recognizes "outstanding sponsors who enable students to develop and refine their extracurricular talents to the highest degree possible within the educational system," according to an announcement on Thursday from the University Interscholastic League in Austin.

Winners get a trophy and $1,000.

2012 UIL Sponsor Excellence Award winners from greater Tarrant County and the write ups about them from UIL's Leaguer publication.

Leigh Ann McClure, Keller Central High School
"For the past 30 years, Leigh Ann McClure has been involved in UIL Solo Ensemble Contest and sight-reading contest. Over the past six years, McClure has lead eight Keller Central High students to a Texas State Solo-Ensemble “Outstanding Performers” rating."

Kay Owens, Arlington Martin High School
"Arlington Martin High School’s music department has reached success in many areas because of Kay Owens’ dedication as a UIL Music sponsor. Owens has been a concert & sight-reading contest and solo-ensemble festival sponsor for 20 years. Each year she directs seven choirs in UIL participation."

Tommy Brakel, North Crowley High School
"Tommy Brakel has served as a boys basketball coach for 19 years and an athletic coordinator for 12 years. Brakel coached North Crowley to a boys basketball state championship in 2008 and he has coached 54 student-athletes who went on to participate in collegiate athletics."

Jessamy Brown

 

Schools can still sign up to take tours of Stock Show in coming weeks

There are still spaces available for student groups from area schools to take tours at the Fort Worth Stock and Rodeo.

On Wednesday, about 800 students -- all Fort Worth school district second graders -- took tours of the Stock Show, led by teens in high school FFA chapters. The two-hour tours included sights in the barns, a demonstration in the milking parlor, a magic show and visit to the petting zoo. (r: FFA member Lacie DeRojas, of Dawson High School, leads a tour for kids from Dolores Huerta Elementary in Fort Worth).

Classes that want to go through the tours during the second and third week of the Stock Show can call the office at 817-877-2410 to sign up. School buses park free and admission to tour groups is also free, said David Kercheval, who organizes the tours.

Jessamy Brown

Fort Worth police, schools team to launch clothes closet for homeless teens

Fort Worth police and the Fort Worth school district are launching a clothing closet to provide free clothes to homeless teens.

Officials are working to open the program, to be based in a large room and attached closet at Arlington Heights High School, next month. The teens will get vouchers and be able to choose clothes and accessories, said Fort Worth police officer Julie Cox, liaison to the homeless and elderly populations.

Cox said that 1,182 homeless students have been identified by Fort Worth ISD.

The items will be displayed in a retail-style store, where the teens will "shop" for goods, including clothes, toiletries, book bags and purses.

"Once the design is complete we will be able to reach out to the community for donations of the supplies that our homeless and at-risk youth desperately need.

"After meeting with Principal (Jason S.) Oliver, it was decided to allow the Arlington Heights students to name the room. We wanted the students to have a sense of “ownership” of the project and encourage their input and participation. It is our hope that they will learn that no matter what the situation or how small the contribution, they too can make a difference," Cox said.

Officials are seeking donations of items, including used jeans and clothes for junior and senior high teens. Socks and underwear should be new. Officials are also seeking donations of material to display and store the items, such as modular shelving, racks and large baskets with wheels, Cox said.

The drop off site will be on East Lancaster Avenue in Fort Worth, but that will be by appointment. Contact Cox at 817-851-2520 or by email at julie.cox@fortworthtexas.gov.

Jessamy Brown

 

 

 

 

Herald trumpet carriers to march with Poly High School band in Fort Worth Stock Show parade

UPDATE: The Pride of Poly marching band will be the third band in the Stock Show parade on Saturday, officials said.

Band director Michael Cruz is going to continue the tradition of having girls only as herald trumpet carriers, said Judy Simpson, a former drum major. (r: herald trumpet carriers march north on Houston Street on Jan. 19. Courtesy J. Simpson)

Some more facts are coming in about the trumpets: Poly alumni have donated $1,650 to cover the whole cost to restore six trumpets. The handmade instruments were originally purchased in 1957 for $150 each, paid for by parents and businesses that were part of the Marching 100 booster club.

Plans are to start a donation campaign to create new banners for the trumpets. The original banners, which had tassels that hung from the bottom, read "Marching 100." A pattern has been created to have replica banners made, which will read "Pride of Poly."

Bands from these high schools are also marching in the parade.

• Paschal High School
• Eastern Hills High School
• South Hills High School
• Dunbar High School
• Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School
• Trimble Tech High School

Original Post:

Polytechnic High School alumni are planning to watch the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo All Western Parade on Saturday and will be treated to a special sight. 

Herald trumpets from Poly's famed Marching 100 band will be carried as the band makes its way along the route in downtown Fort Worth. (R: trumpet found in Oct./ST: Max Faulkner)

Six of the original eight trumpets, which had been lost for decades, were found days before Poly High School's centennial reunion event in October. The trumpets are being restored using donations from Poly alumni, and two or three of them will be carried in the parade. Plans are to create banners for the trumpets in the future, according to Judy Simpson, a former drum major who graduated in 1959.

Poly alumni plan to gather at 10:30 a.m. at the southwest corner of Fifth and Commerce streets to show their support for the Pride of Poly marching band. The parade begins at 11 a.m. (Below: 1958 photo)

Jessamy Brown

 

 

 

Fort Worth schools will show video on big screen at Armed Forces Bowl at TCU

Fort Worth schools is planning a big presence at Saturday's Armed Forces Bowl.

The school district will show a video touting its Gold Seal Programs of Choice on the big screen during the football game at TCU's Amon Carter Stadium.

The Rice University owls will take on the Air Force falcons at 10:45 a.m. Saturday in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.

Also at the event, students in the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) will present the colors at a Friday luncheon.

On Saturday, students will hand out Fort Worth schools materials at a display and distribute game programs. Drill teams from Eastern Hills High School and from J.P. Elder Middle School will perform on the field just before the teams enter.

Students in the Fort Worth schools Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps and Junior Cadet Corps (JCC) will wear uniforms and sit in special seating in the stadium stands.

Fort Worth schools superintendent Walter Dansby said in a news release: "We are part of the fabric of our greater community and it is important to use major events like this to tell our story."

Jessamy Brown