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LISD is Enhanced Through Community Service Organizations
Jan 30 2012 - 02:20:00 pm
Week of: January 30, 2012
As indicated by our Graduate Profile, Leander ISD students are expected to be able to demonstrate aptitude in academics; strong communication skills; effective, productive and life-long learning skills; and personal growth and expression; as well as important civic-related qualities, such as character development, social awareness, contribution and stewardship. Our efforts to support these character traits are greatly enhanced by service-centered organizations in the LISD community. Their presence in both our community and schools is a true bright spot.
On Wednesday, January 25, I had the esteemed pleasure of attending the Kiwanis Club of Cedar Park’s installation of the 2012 Sophomores-of-the-Year. In the company of Kiwanis Club members, the LISD high school principals, family members, faculty advisors and others, Madeline Todd from Cedar Park High School; Baylor Nix from Leander High School; Caitlin Burgess from Rouse High School; Jacob Schmidt from Vandegrift High School; and Maddison Hoskins from Vista Ridge High School were honored for their numerous acts of service throughout the community. As winners, they are distinguished from among their peers as students who are dedicated to making the world a better place. On behalf of LISD, we are very proud of these students, of what they’ve accomplished and of the example they’ve set for others.
In addition to the Sophomore-of- the-Year program, the Kiwanis Club of Cedar Park works closely with the Key Clubs at our high schools, offering members guidance and support so that they develop into competent, capable and caring leaders. Under the guidance of the Kiwanis Club, students involved in Key Club have opportunities to develop initiative and leadership skills, experience cooperation and serve their schools and community.
Similarly, the Cedar Park Rotary Club, a service-based community organization, also does much to support student achievement. Their most recent partnership with LISD will directly benefit students of our district. The Cedar Park Rotary Club is hosting its first Talent Show for LISD students on Friday, March 2, at the Don Tew Performing Arts Center in Leander.
The junior division is for students in kindergarten through 6th-grades, while the senior division is for students from 7th through 12th-grades. Applications are due no later than February 17 at 5 p.m., so students interested in participating should read the guidelines and submit their applications soon by visiting www.leanderisd.org and selecting the Community Fliers link from the QuickLinks menu. This event will be a great opportunity for our community to shine the spotlight on our terrific students, so if you know a student who might be interested in taking to the stage, encourage them to sign up. Generous prizes will be awarded to the top winners in each division.
LISD also partners with our local Lions Club, who has for many years the provided free eye exams and glasses to students who are in need. Our school nurses identify students who need assistance and refer the students’ families to our Lions Club. Balcones Eye Care, Cedar Park Eye Care, Lakeline Vision, Master Eye Associates, Maxim Eyes Vision, Northwest Hills Eye Care and Signature Eye Care generously partner with the Lions Club to provide free eye exams, and LensCrafters donates time and materials to provide the glasses. This program has been a true bright spot and has touched countless children in LISD, while impressing upon generations of students the value of giving back to the community.
For all of these reasons, and the many other ways LISD benefits from service-based organizations, we sincerely say thank you. I cannot say enough about how enriching it is for LISD to have such strong partnerships with organizations like the Kiwanis Club of Cedar Park, the Cedar Park Rotary Club and the Lions Club. There is no doubt that our students’ education goes much deeper because of these groups’ positive example and tireless work.
When we come together to instill a deep passion for community service in our students, we are giving them the skills to live lives marked by purposeful service, to remove barriers for themselves and to be bright spots for others.
Have a great day!
As indicated by our Graduate Profile, Leander ISD students are expected to be able to demonstrate aptitude in academics; strong communication skills; effective, productive and life-long learning skills; and personal growth and expression; as well as important civic-related qualities, such as character development, social awareness, contribution and stewardship. Our efforts to support these character traits are greatly enhanced by service-centered organizations in the LISD community. Their presence in both our community and schools is a true bright spot.
On Wednesday, January 25, I had the esteemed pleasure of attending the Kiwanis Club of Cedar Park’s installation of the 2012 Sophomores-of-the-Year. In the company of Kiwanis Club members, the LISD high school principals, family members, faculty advisors and others, Madeline Todd from Cedar Park High School; Baylor Nix from Leander High School; Caitlin Burgess from Rouse High School; Jacob Schmidt from Vandegrift High School; and Maddison Hoskins from Vista Ridge High School were honored for their numerous acts of service throughout the community. As winners, they are distinguished from among their peers as students who are dedicated to making the world a better place. On behalf of LISD, we are very proud of these students, of what they’ve accomplished and of the example they’ve set for others.
In addition to the Sophomore-of- the-Year program, the Kiwanis Club of Cedar Park works closely with the Key Clubs at our high schools, offering members guidance and support so that they develop into competent, capable and caring leaders. Under the guidance of the Kiwanis Club, students involved in Key Club have opportunities to develop initiative and leadership skills, experience cooperation and serve their schools and community.
Similarly, the Cedar Park Rotary Club, a service-based community organization, also does much to support student achievement. Their most recent partnership with LISD will directly benefit students of our district. The Cedar Park Rotary Club is hosting its first Talent Show for LISD students on Friday, March 2, at the Don Tew Performing Arts Center in Leander.
The junior division is for students in kindergarten through 6th-grades, while the senior division is for students from 7th through 12th-grades. Applications are due no later than February 17 at 5 p.m., so students interested in participating should read the guidelines and submit their applications soon by visiting www.leanderisd.org and selecting the Community Fliers link from the QuickLinks menu. This event will be a great opportunity for our community to shine the spotlight on our terrific students, so if you know a student who might be interested in taking to the stage, encourage them to sign up. Generous prizes will be awarded to the top winners in each division.
LISD also partners with our local Lions Club, who has for many years the provided free eye exams and glasses to students who are in need. Our school nurses identify students who need assistance and refer the students’ families to our Lions Club. Balcones Eye Care, Cedar Park Eye Care, Lakeline Vision, Master Eye Associates, Maxim Eyes Vision, Northwest Hills Eye Care and Signature Eye Care generously partner with the Lions Club to provide free eye exams, and LensCrafters donates time and materials to provide the glasses. This program has been a true bright spot and has touched countless children in LISD, while impressing upon generations of students the value of giving back to the community.
For all of these reasons, and the many other ways LISD benefits from service-based organizations, we sincerely say thank you. I cannot say enough about how enriching it is for LISD to have such strong partnerships with organizations like the Kiwanis Club of Cedar Park, the Cedar Park Rotary Club and the Lions Club. There is no doubt that our students’ education goes much deeper because of these groups’ positive example and tireless work.
When we come together to instill a deep passion for community service in our students, we are giving them the skills to live lives marked by purposeful service, to remove barriers for themselves and to be bright spots for others.
Have a great day!
LISD is Enhanced Through Community Service Organizations
Jan 30 2012 - 02:20:00 pm
Week of: January 30, 2012
As indicated by our Graduate Profile, Leander ISD students are expected to be able to demonstrate aptitude in academics; strong communication skills; effective, productive and life-long learning skills; and personal growth and expression; as well as important civic-related qualities, such as character development, social awareness, contribution and stewardship. Our efforts to support these character traits are greatly enhanced by service-centered organizations in the LISD community. Their presence in both our community and schools is a true bright spot.
On Wednesday, January 25, I had the esteemed pleasure of attending the Kiwanis Club of Cedar Park’s installation of the 2012 Sophomores-of-the-Year. In the company of Kiwanis Club members, the LISD high school principals, family members, faculty advisors and others, Madeline Todd from Cedar Park High School; Baylor Nix from Leander High School; Caitlin Burgess from Rouse High School; Jacob Schmidt from Vandegrift High School; and Maddison Hoskins from Vista Ridge High School were honored for their numerous acts of service throughout the community. As winners, they are distinguished from among their peers as students who are dedicated to making the world a better place. On behalf of LISD, we are very proud of these students, of what they’ve accomplished and of the example they’ve set for others.
In addition to the Sophomore-of- the-Year program, the Kiwanis Club of Cedar Park works closely with the Key Clubs at our high schools, offering members guidance and support so that they develop into competent, capable and caring leaders. Under the guidance of the Kiwanis Club, students involved in Key Club have opportunities to develop initiative and leadership skills, experience cooperation and serve their schools and community.
Similarly, the Cedar Park Rotary Club, a service-based community organization, also does much to support student achievement. Their most recent partnership with LISD will directly benefit students of our district. The Cedar Park Rotary Club is hosting its first Talent Show for LISD students on Friday, March 2, at the Don Tew Performing Arts Center in Leander.
The junior division is for students in kindergarten through 6th-grades, while the senior division is for students from 7th through 12th-grades. Applications are due no later than February 17 at 5 p.m., so students interested in participating should read the guidelines and submit their applications soon by visiting www.leanderisd.org and selecting the Community Fliers link from the QuickLinks menu. This event will be a great opportunity for our community to shine the spotlight on our terrific students, so if you know a student who might be interested in taking to the stage, encourage them to sign up. Generous prizes will be awarded to the top winners in each division.
LISD also partners with our local Lions Club, who has for many years the provided free eye exams and glasses to students who are in need. Our school nurses identify students who need assistance and refer the students’ families to our Lions Club. Balcones Eye Care, Cedar Park Eye Care, Lakeline Vision, Master Eye Associates, Maxim Eyes Vision, Northwest Hills Eye Care and Signature Eye Care generously partner with the Lions Club to provide free eye exams, and LensCrafters donates time and materials to provide the glasses. This program has been a true bright spot and has touched countless children in LISD, while impressing upon generations of students the value of giving back to the community.
For all of these reasons, and the many other ways LISD benefits from service-based organizations, we sincerely say thank you. I cannot say enough about how enriching it is for LISD to have such strong partnerships with organizations like the Kiwanis Club of Cedar Park, the Cedar Park Rotary Club and the Lions Club. There is no doubt that our students’ education goes much deeper because of these groups’ positive example and tireless work.
When we come together to instill a deep passion for community service in our students, we are giving them the skills to live lives marked by purposeful service, to remove barriers for themselves and to be bright spots for others.
Have a great day!
As indicated by our Graduate Profile, Leander ISD students are expected to be able to demonstrate aptitude in academics; strong communication skills; effective, productive and life-long learning skills; and personal growth and expression; as well as important civic-related qualities, such as character development, social awareness, contribution and stewardship. Our efforts to support these character traits are greatly enhanced by service-centered organizations in the LISD community. Their presence in both our community and schools is a true bright spot.
On Wednesday, January 25, I had the esteemed pleasure of attending the Kiwanis Club of Cedar Park’s installation of the 2012 Sophomores-of-the-Year. In the company of Kiwanis Club members, the LISD high school principals, family members, faculty advisors and others, Madeline Todd from Cedar Park High School; Baylor Nix from Leander High School; Caitlin Burgess from Rouse High School; Jacob Schmidt from Vandegrift High School; and Maddison Hoskins from Vista Ridge High School were honored for their numerous acts of service throughout the community. As winners, they are distinguished from among their peers as students who are dedicated to making the world a better place. On behalf of LISD, we are very proud of these students, of what they’ve accomplished and of the example they’ve set for others.
In addition to the Sophomore-of- the-Year program, the Kiwanis Club of Cedar Park works closely with the Key Clubs at our high schools, offering members guidance and support so that they develop into competent, capable and caring leaders. Under the guidance of the Kiwanis Club, students involved in Key Club have opportunities to develop initiative and leadership skills, experience cooperation and serve their schools and community.
Similarly, the Cedar Park Rotary Club, a service-based community organization, also does much to support student achievement. Their most recent partnership with LISD will directly benefit students of our district. The Cedar Park Rotary Club is hosting its first Talent Show for LISD students on Friday, March 2, at the Don Tew Performing Arts Center in Leander.
The junior division is for students in kindergarten through 6th-grades, while the senior division is for students from 7th through 12th-grades. Applications are due no later than February 17 at 5 p.m., so students interested in participating should read the guidelines and submit their applications soon by visiting www.leanderisd.org and selecting the Community Fliers link from the QuickLinks menu. This event will be a great opportunity for our community to shine the spotlight on our terrific students, so if you know a student who might be interested in taking to the stage, encourage them to sign up. Generous prizes will be awarded to the top winners in each division.
LISD also partners with our local Lions Club, who has for many years the provided free eye exams and glasses to students who are in need. Our school nurses identify students who need assistance and refer the students’ families to our Lions Club. Balcones Eye Care, Cedar Park Eye Care, Lakeline Vision, Master Eye Associates, Maxim Eyes Vision, Northwest Hills Eye Care and Signature Eye Care generously partner with the Lions Club to provide free eye exams, and LensCrafters donates time and materials to provide the glasses. This program has been a true bright spot and has touched countless children in LISD, while impressing upon generations of students the value of giving back to the community.
For all of these reasons, and the many other ways LISD benefits from service-based organizations, we sincerely say thank you. I cannot say enough about how enriching it is for LISD to have such strong partnerships with organizations like the Kiwanis Club of Cedar Park, the Cedar Park Rotary Club and the Lions Club. There is no doubt that our students’ education goes much deeper because of these groups’ positive example and tireless work.
When we come together to instill a deep passion for community service in our students, we are giving them the skills to live lives marked by purposeful service, to remove barriers for themselves and to be bright spots for others.
Have a great day!
Celebrating Leander Middle School as a School to Watch
Jan 23 2012 - 04:22:00 pm
Week of: January 23, 2012
It’s hard to believe that we are midway through the 2011-2012 school year. This week I’d like to highlight how Leander Middle School is successfully aligning its efforts with the district’s goals to close the achievement gap, implement the Seven Student Learning Behaviors, increase access to college- and career-readiness programs and attend to the physical, social and emotional well-being of our students.
One of the most honorable recognitions LISD has received came from the Texas Middle School Association last week when it was announced that LMS was named as a 2012 Texas Schools to Watch (STW) campus as part of a program developed by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. LMS was one of only six schools in Texas, and only 100 in the nation, selected to receive the award this year.
Being named as a STW is truly an honor because it draws statewide attention to one school that has worked very hard to do what’s best for all students. Specifically, LMS was commended for recognizing the importance of ensuring that each and every student has access to a rigorous and high-quality education. The school has excellent processes for enrichment and intervention strategies, which ensure that students have access to the resources they need to be successful. In fact, since 2007, LMS has consistently been rated Exemplary or Recognized by the Texas Education Agency. There is no doubt that LMS is making strides in closing the achievement gap, and the state has taken notice.
As a STW campus, LMS was recognized for its standard of academic excellence, responsiveness to the needs and interests of young adolescents and commitment to helping all students achieve at high levels. Using best practices and proven techniques, many of which are included in LISD’s Seven Student Learning Behaviors, students at LMS are making significant gains in achievement. Data folders help ensure that every student at LMS is able to articulate what they know, what they don’t know and what they need to do to learn what they don’t know. And we know that this is effective: During the STW selection process, representatives visited LMS and interviewed students about the one thing they would change to make their campus better. Their answer was for more time to learn. What an impressive response from middle-schoolers!
LMS is also working to increase students’ access to college- and career-readiness opportunities. LMS Principal Sandy Trujillo wants her students to not be afraid to take risks, a trait she believes is crucial to college- and career-readiness. One way LMS helps improve student confidence is by taking each grade level through some sort of team-building activity at the beginning of the year, believing that the more comfortable students are with their peers, the more likely they are to participate in class. But knowing that self-confidence must come from within, teachers and staff at LMS are helping students believe in themselves and in their own goals. With every interaction, teachers and staff at LMS are relating with students, especially those who might be falling through the cracks, and encouraging them to believe that college is in their future.
And finally, let us not forget that LISD is striving to provide a safe and secure learning environment for all students. LMS has taken a stand to ensure that the school is not a threatening place for students by establishing clear guidelines and consistent expectations for how students are to behave. Every six weeks, a team of teachers and staff review discipline referrals and decide if the school’s safety processes need to be adjusted. The district is also proud to note that LMS has been a named a “No Place for Hate” campus by the Anti-Defamation League for many years. The school has worked hard to achieve this title, and in doing so, students have led several campus-wide activities to work to eliminate prejudice and bullying.
On behalf of LISD, we are all extremely proud of LMS’ dedicated teachers and staff, hardworking students and supportive parents, and especially Sandy Trujillo, LMS principal, for her steadfast passion for education. These achievements are a direct result of the school’s strong leadership, teachers who work together to improve curriculum and instruction, and commitment to assessment and accountability to bring about continuous improvement.
LISD is a school system dedicated to ensuring that all students succeed, and LMS, like so many campuses in the district, is striving to move the district one step closer to that goal. Leander ISD is proud to have Leander Middle School honored as a School to Watch.
It’s hard to believe that we are midway through the 2011-2012 school year. This week I’d like to highlight how Leander Middle School is successfully aligning its efforts with the district’s goals to close the achievement gap, implement the Seven Student Learning Behaviors, increase access to college- and career-readiness programs and attend to the physical, social and emotional well-being of our students.
One of the most honorable recognitions LISD has received came from the Texas Middle School Association last week when it was announced that LMS was named as a 2012 Texas Schools to Watch (STW) campus as part of a program developed by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. LMS was one of only six schools in Texas, and only 100 in the nation, selected to receive the award this year.
Being named as a STW is truly an honor because it draws statewide attention to one school that has worked very hard to do what’s best for all students. Specifically, LMS was commended for recognizing the importance of ensuring that each and every student has access to a rigorous and high-quality education. The school has excellent processes for enrichment and intervention strategies, which ensure that students have access to the resources they need to be successful. In fact, since 2007, LMS has consistently been rated Exemplary or Recognized by the Texas Education Agency. There is no doubt that LMS is making strides in closing the achievement gap, and the state has taken notice.
As a STW campus, LMS was recognized for its standard of academic excellence, responsiveness to the needs and interests of young adolescents and commitment to helping all students achieve at high levels. Using best practices and proven techniques, many of which are included in LISD’s Seven Student Learning Behaviors, students at LMS are making significant gains in achievement. Data folders help ensure that every student at LMS is able to articulate what they know, what they don’t know and what they need to do to learn what they don’t know. And we know that this is effective: During the STW selection process, representatives visited LMS and interviewed students about the one thing they would change to make their campus better. Their answer was for more time to learn. What an impressive response from middle-schoolers!
LMS is also working to increase students’ access to college- and career-readiness opportunities. LMS Principal Sandy Trujillo wants her students to not be afraid to take risks, a trait she believes is crucial to college- and career-readiness. One way LMS helps improve student confidence is by taking each grade level through some sort of team-building activity at the beginning of the year, believing that the more comfortable students are with their peers, the more likely they are to participate in class. But knowing that self-confidence must come from within, teachers and staff at LMS are helping students believe in themselves and in their own goals. With every interaction, teachers and staff at LMS are relating with students, especially those who might be falling through the cracks, and encouraging them to believe that college is in their future.
And finally, let us not forget that LISD is striving to provide a safe and secure learning environment for all students. LMS has taken a stand to ensure that the school is not a threatening place for students by establishing clear guidelines and consistent expectations for how students are to behave. Every six weeks, a team of teachers and staff review discipline referrals and decide if the school’s safety processes need to be adjusted. The district is also proud to note that LMS has been a named a “No Place for Hate” campus by the Anti-Defamation League for many years. The school has worked hard to achieve this title, and in doing so, students have led several campus-wide activities to work to eliminate prejudice and bullying.
On behalf of LISD, we are all extremely proud of LMS’ dedicated teachers and staff, hardworking students and supportive parents, and especially Sandy Trujillo, LMS principal, for her steadfast passion for education. These achievements are a direct result of the school’s strong leadership, teachers who work together to improve curriculum and instruction, and commitment to assessment and accountability to bring about continuous improvement.
LISD is a school system dedicated to ensuring that all students succeed, and LMS, like so many campuses in the district, is striving to move the district one step closer to that goal. Leander ISD is proud to have Leander Middle School honored as a School to Watch.
LISD Offers Learning Opportunities for Parents
Jan 16 2012 - 04:19:00 pm
-by: Bret Champion
Week of: January 16, 2012
In Leander ISD, we believe in the power of life-long learning and encourage our students to never end their quest for knowledge. In fact, our commitment to providing learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom allows us to bring parents into the learning process to model life-long learning for their children, while empowering them to become “teachers” too.
One upcoming activity designed to engage adults in learning experiences is the LISD Life Science Institute, a series of classes created specifically for teachers, parents and community members that focuses on current issues and local resources related to life science. The first seminar of the Life Science Institute is set for Thursday, February 2 at 4 p.m. at the LEO Center in room 112. Guest speakers are Pamela R. Owen, Ph.D., who will discuss the impact wildfires have on local wildlife, and Christopher Murray, who will address how citizens can experience nature in preserves located in the Austin area. The event is free, but those interested in attending are asked to reserve a seat by calling 570-0289. Additional Life Science Institute seminars are planned for February and March.
Through the Life Science Institute, LISD will broaden parents’ knowledge of the natural world and science-related resources right in our own backyard. More importantly, we believe we will bridge the learning experiences that students have in our classrooms to conversations parents can have around the dinner table.
Another program that equips parents with the skills to be teachers at home is appropriately called Parents as Teachers. Instructors with the Parents as Teachers program work with parents and their children, from birth to age four, to nurture school readiness. While kindergarten may seem in the far distant future to parents of such young children, Parents as Teachers instructors reinforce the notion that it’s never too early to start preparing for school. The program provides numerous resources, including individualized child development information, age-appropriate learning experiences and group socialization opportunities to empower parents with the ability to support learning at home. (LISD’s Parents as Teachers program currently serves families zoned to attend Bagdad, Faubion, Giddens, Knowles, Mason, Plain, Pleasant Hill, Whitestone and Winkley elementary schools. If you are zoned for one of these schools and are interested in learning more about Parents as Teachers, please call 570-0320.)
No matter what their age, we know that the home is where our children learn the most important lessons. Yet some parents struggle with talking to their children about tough subjects, such as sexual health, peer-pressure and personal boundaries. While LISD maintains that sexuality education begins at home with parents as the primary educators, the district strives to provide parents with fact-based information to help them feel confident in addressing this important subject. One way the district does this is by periodically hosting informational workshops through Austin Life Guard, an abstinence-based curriculum provider that covers topics found in the LISD Health Matrix and in the state standards, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. These workshops give parents helpful tips for communicating with their children, allow them to review the curriculum, explore statistics from health officials and ask questions of Austin Life Guard and LISD staff. The next workshop is scheduled for April 18 at Leander Middle School, beginning at 7 p.m. For more information about these parenting workshops, or if you have questions about Austin Life Guard, please contact LISD Assistant Director of Athletics, Health and Wellness, Ray Langlois at 570-0168.
These programs are just a few of the ways LISD is providing parents with the resources and knowledge to deepen their children’s education. I invite you to visit www.leanderisd.org to get more information or to find other parent learning opportunities such as Eighth-Grade Parent Nights and Financial Aid Saturdays. Know that your involvement plays an important part in sustaining our culture of life-long learning because the most influential teachers our students will ever have are parents just like you.
Have a great week!
Week of: January 16, 2012
In Leander ISD, we believe in the power of life-long learning and encourage our students to never end their quest for knowledge. In fact, our commitment to providing learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom allows us to bring parents into the learning process to model life-long learning for their children, while empowering them to become “teachers” too.
One upcoming activity designed to engage adults in learning experiences is the LISD Life Science Institute, a series of classes created specifically for teachers, parents and community members that focuses on current issues and local resources related to life science. The first seminar of the Life Science Institute is set for Thursday, February 2 at 4 p.m. at the LEO Center in room 112. Guest speakers are Pamela R. Owen, Ph.D., who will discuss the impact wildfires have on local wildlife, and Christopher Murray, who will address how citizens can experience nature in preserves located in the Austin area. The event is free, but those interested in attending are asked to reserve a seat by calling 570-0289. Additional Life Science Institute seminars are planned for February and March.
Through the Life Science Institute, LISD will broaden parents’ knowledge of the natural world and science-related resources right in our own backyard. More importantly, we believe we will bridge the learning experiences that students have in our classrooms to conversations parents can have around the dinner table.
Another program that equips parents with the skills to be teachers at home is appropriately called Parents as Teachers. Instructors with the Parents as Teachers program work with parents and their children, from birth to age four, to nurture school readiness. While kindergarten may seem in the far distant future to parents of such young children, Parents as Teachers instructors reinforce the notion that it’s never too early to start preparing for school. The program provides numerous resources, including individualized child development information, age-appropriate learning experiences and group socialization opportunities to empower parents with the ability to support learning at home. (LISD’s Parents as Teachers program currently serves families zoned to attend Bagdad, Faubion, Giddens, Knowles, Mason, Plain, Pleasant Hill, Whitestone and Winkley elementary schools. If you are zoned for one of these schools and are interested in learning more about Parents as Teachers, please call 570-0320.)
No matter what their age, we know that the home is where our children learn the most important lessons. Yet some parents struggle with talking to their children about tough subjects, such as sexual health, peer-pressure and personal boundaries. While LISD maintains that sexuality education begins at home with parents as the primary educators, the district strives to provide parents with fact-based information to help them feel confident in addressing this important subject. One way the district does this is by periodically hosting informational workshops through Austin Life Guard, an abstinence-based curriculum provider that covers topics found in the LISD Health Matrix and in the state standards, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. These workshops give parents helpful tips for communicating with their children, allow them to review the curriculum, explore statistics from health officials and ask questions of Austin Life Guard and LISD staff. The next workshop is scheduled for April 18 at Leander Middle School, beginning at 7 p.m. For more information about these parenting workshops, or if you have questions about Austin Life Guard, please contact LISD Assistant Director of Athletics, Health and Wellness, Ray Langlois at 570-0168.
These programs are just a few of the ways LISD is providing parents with the resources and knowledge to deepen their children’s education. I invite you to visit www.leanderisd.org to get more information or to find other parent learning opportunities such as Eighth-Grade Parent Nights and Financial Aid Saturdays. Know that your involvement plays an important part in sustaining our culture of life-long learning because the most influential teachers our students will ever have are parents just like you.
Have a great week!
Every Day Matters
Jan 10 2012 - 11:47:00 am
-by: Bret Champion
Week of: January 9, 2012
The fact is simple, straight forward and alarming: every 26 seconds, a student in the U.S. drops of out school.
Knowing this, Leander ISD has aggressively used a variety of strategies to keep our students in school. And the results have proven effective. During recent years, LISD has steadily increased our completion rates by reducing the number of students who drop out of high school before graduation. But, recognizing that one dropout is one too many, we know we must continue to improve.
One way we can help our students graduate is by simply encouraging them to come to school. Research has shown that school attendance is the top factor in determining the likelihood a student will graduate. It’s that important.
Just last week in my column, I mentioned that students who miss 10 or more unexcused days are 15.5 times more likely to drop out of high school before graduation. Added to that concern is the fact that if a student misses too many days, he or she may have to repeat a grade, and students who are held back are six times more likely to drop out. Absenteeism is a slippery slope that can potentially derail a student’s future.
We believe that our students should wake up each morning motivated to come to school because they know it is important. And so to support our efforts to keep students on course for graduation, LISD is revving up our efforts with a simple message that every day matters.
Students have a lot to lose when they miss school because there is a strong link between attendance and student achievement. School attendance boosts student success, improves the quality of students’ educational experience and is an important component for college- and career-readiness. It allows students to maximize instructional time, a key factor to student learning, and helps students feel connected to their classmates, teachers and other school personnel.
When students miss school without a valid reason, they probably don’t appreciate how their choices impact others. They may not realize that absenteeism impacts not only the absent student, but also their teachers, classmates and the district. Consider that when a student misses school, he or she must work twice as hard to get caught up because for every day of school missed, it takes at least two days for a student to catch up, according to the Department of Education. Every time a student is absent, in addition to the student having to make up work and catch up on learning, the teacher must also provide the previous day’s lesson while concurrently continuing the educational process for students who weren’t absent.
As if these reasons weren’t enough, in these budget-conscious times, we must consider that student attendance also impacts the school district’s budget. LISD loses approximately $38 a day for every student who is absent. Multiply this by hundreds of students every day, and it could mean the difference between hiring staff, buying new equipment or funding a new program. A mere one percent increase in attendance could result in an additional $1.95 million in revenue this year.
If you’re a parent, you might be wondering what you can do to help your student have regular and punctual attendance. I offer you three rules-of-thumb. First, if your child is ill, he or she should stay home to get well. Coming to school sick is not the answer and potentially puts other students and staff at risk of getting ill as well. That being said, except in the case of illness, many school absences can be avoided with a little more awareness. Parents should make every attempt to schedule all appointments, even doctor and dentist visits, before or after school hours and only take vacations and trips during school holidays. Second, to ensure that students feel ready for school, parents should also see that their children get plenty of sleep. In some cases, aim for a stress-free morning by packing lunches and picking out clothes the night before to reduce tardiness. And third, consider that attendance is something every parent should be conscious of, whether your student is in elementary, middle or high school. Studies have proven that there is a clear correlation between dropout rates and poor attendance, even among students as young as kindergarten.
Remember – every day matters! I encourage the LISD community to join us and help students be accountable by reminding them how important it is that they come to school. We are committed to every child having a passion for learning, and we foster that passion every day.
Week of: January 9, 2012
The fact is simple, straight forward and alarming: every 26 seconds, a student in the U.S. drops of out school.
Knowing this, Leander ISD has aggressively used a variety of strategies to keep our students in school. And the results have proven effective. During recent years, LISD has steadily increased our completion rates by reducing the number of students who drop out of high school before graduation. But, recognizing that one dropout is one too many, we know we must continue to improve.
One way we can help our students graduate is by simply encouraging them to come to school. Research has shown that school attendance is the top factor in determining the likelihood a student will graduate. It’s that important.
Just last week in my column, I mentioned that students who miss 10 or more unexcused days are 15.5 times more likely to drop out of high school before graduation. Added to that concern is the fact that if a student misses too many days, he or she may have to repeat a grade, and students who are held back are six times more likely to drop out. Absenteeism is a slippery slope that can potentially derail a student’s future.
We believe that our students should wake up each morning motivated to come to school because they know it is important. And so to support our efforts to keep students on course for graduation, LISD is revving up our efforts with a simple message that every day matters.
Students have a lot to lose when they miss school because there is a strong link between attendance and student achievement. School attendance boosts student success, improves the quality of students’ educational experience and is an important component for college- and career-readiness. It allows students to maximize instructional time, a key factor to student learning, and helps students feel connected to their classmates, teachers and other school personnel.
When students miss school without a valid reason, they probably don’t appreciate how their choices impact others. They may not realize that absenteeism impacts not only the absent student, but also their teachers, classmates and the district. Consider that when a student misses school, he or she must work twice as hard to get caught up because for every day of school missed, it takes at least two days for a student to catch up, according to the Department of Education. Every time a student is absent, in addition to the student having to make up work and catch up on learning, the teacher must also provide the previous day’s lesson while concurrently continuing the educational process for students who weren’t absent.
As if these reasons weren’t enough, in these budget-conscious times, we must consider that student attendance also impacts the school district’s budget. LISD loses approximately $38 a day for every student who is absent. Multiply this by hundreds of students every day, and it could mean the difference between hiring staff, buying new equipment or funding a new program. A mere one percent increase in attendance could result in an additional $1.95 million in revenue this year.
If you’re a parent, you might be wondering what you can do to help your student have regular and punctual attendance. I offer you three rules-of-thumb. First, if your child is ill, he or she should stay home to get well. Coming to school sick is not the answer and potentially puts other students and staff at risk of getting ill as well. That being said, except in the case of illness, many school absences can be avoided with a little more awareness. Parents should make every attempt to schedule all appointments, even doctor and dentist visits, before or after school hours and only take vacations and trips during school holidays. Second, to ensure that students feel ready for school, parents should also see that their children get plenty of sleep. In some cases, aim for a stress-free morning by packing lunches and picking out clothes the night before to reduce tardiness. And third, consider that attendance is something every parent should be conscious of, whether your student is in elementary, middle or high school. Studies have proven that there is a clear correlation between dropout rates and poor attendance, even among students as young as kindergarten.
Remember – every day matters! I encourage the LISD community to join us and help students be accountable by reminding them how important it is that they come to school. We are committed to every child having a passion for learning, and we foster that passion every day.
Foundations for Successful Students
Jan 03 2012 - 10:40:00 am
-by: Bret Champion
Week of: January 2, 2012
To ensure that we are educating the whole child, each month Leander ISD focuses on four of the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets, positive experiences and qualities that help students thrive and make positive choices. The developmental assets fall under eight broader categories that include support, empowerment, boundaries and expectations, constructive use of time, commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies and positive identity. Research has shown that the more assets a student has, the more likely it is that he or she will grow into a healthy, caring and responsible adult.
In our district, we provide learning environments where children are encouraged to be successful academically, physically, socially and emotionally. As such, the 40 Developmental Assets dovetail with the characteristics identified in the district’s 10 Ethical Principles, and together, serve as beneficial building blocks for life. Because they tie into many other qualities we value in LISD, throughout the year, classrooms focus on how these assets can help students stay on pathways to success.
As it happens, numerous opportunities for students to apply the developmental assets to the district’s college- and career-readiness initiatives are on the horizon. For example, in just a few weeks, high school students will have the opportunity to express achievement motivation and register for Advanced Placement Exams. Students are encouraged to take exams for each AP class they are taking this school year. Scoring well on AP exams can earn students college credit. Exam registration will begin January 30. Similarly, if secondary students have not yet taken, or wish to retake, the SAT or the ACT, they may register for upcoming testing days available during the spring semester.
Scholarship opportunities encourage several developmental assets, including school engagement. Among them, the Leander Council of PTAs and Texas PTA recently announced that they are offering scholarships for high school seniors. Students may demonstrate the asset of commitment to learning and submit their application for these scholarships prior to their deadlines. LISD seniors interested in applying for scholarships should fill out the applications available in the high school’s counseling office. LISD will again offer its after-school enrichment programs for elementary-age students this semester. These fun and innovative learning experiences allow students to be involved in numerous developmental assets, including creative activities, youth programs and interpersonal competence. For a complete list of the after-school enrichment classes offered this spring, please go to the LISD website and select after-school enrichment from the QuickLinks.
Other invaluable developmental assets are support at home and positive family communication. LISD periodically offers parenting classes for parents interested in learning new strategies. One such class is the very popular Parenting with Love and Logic, a seven-week course offered by Mary Ann Kluga, LISD chemical abuse prevention coordinator. This course is designed to help parents nurture responsible children by letting empathy and consequences do the teaching. The winter Parenting with Love and Logic session begins on January 12. Space fills up fast, so if you are interested in learning more, go to the LISD website, select the Parents/Students tab and click on the Love and Logic Class link.
Perhaps most importantly, this month LISD is reminding students of the importance of regular and punctual attendance, in line with the developmental asset of bonding to school. Student attendance is the top factor in determining the likelihood that a student will graduate. In fact, the LISD Dropout Prevention Task Force found that students who miss 10 or more unexcused days are 15.5 times more likely to drop out of high school before graduation. For every day of school missed, it takes at least two days for a student to catch up. Parents can help by scheduling appointments before or after school hours. (Of course, it’s important to remember that if a student is sick, he or she should stay home. This helps them get well and keeps staff members and other students from getting sick.) Parents are also strongly encouraged to take vacations and family trips only during school holidays.
These are just a few of the ways LISD students can explore the 40 Developmental Assets in 2012. Learn more about the 40 Developmental Assets by visiting the Search Institute website at www.search-institute.org. I encourage you to discover how you can join LISD and support these assets at home by going to www.leanderisd.org, selecting the Parent/Students tab and clicking on the Drug-Free Schools/Students link.
Have a great week!
Week of: January 2, 2012
To ensure that we are educating the whole child, each month Leander ISD focuses on four of the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets, positive experiences and qualities that help students thrive and make positive choices. The developmental assets fall under eight broader categories that include support, empowerment, boundaries and expectations, constructive use of time, commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies and positive identity. Research has shown that the more assets a student has, the more likely it is that he or she will grow into a healthy, caring and responsible adult.
In our district, we provide learning environments where children are encouraged to be successful academically, physically, socially and emotionally. As such, the 40 Developmental Assets dovetail with the characteristics identified in the district’s 10 Ethical Principles, and together, serve as beneficial building blocks for life. Because they tie into many other qualities we value in LISD, throughout the year, classrooms focus on how these assets can help students stay on pathways to success.
As it happens, numerous opportunities for students to apply the developmental assets to the district’s college- and career-readiness initiatives are on the horizon. For example, in just a few weeks, high school students will have the opportunity to express achievement motivation and register for Advanced Placement Exams. Students are encouraged to take exams for each AP class they are taking this school year. Scoring well on AP exams can earn students college credit. Exam registration will begin January 30. Similarly, if secondary students have not yet taken, or wish to retake, the SAT or the ACT, they may register for upcoming testing days available during the spring semester.
Scholarship opportunities encourage several developmental assets, including school engagement. Among them, the Leander Council of PTAs and Texas PTA recently announced that they are offering scholarships for high school seniors. Students may demonstrate the asset of commitment to learning and submit their application for these scholarships prior to their deadlines. LISD seniors interested in applying for scholarships should fill out the applications available in the high school’s counseling office. LISD will again offer its after-school enrichment programs for elementary-age students this semester. These fun and innovative learning experiences allow students to be involved in numerous developmental assets, including creative activities, youth programs and interpersonal competence. For a complete list of the after-school enrichment classes offered this spring, please go to the LISD website and select after-school enrichment from the QuickLinks.
Other invaluable developmental assets are support at home and positive family communication. LISD periodically offers parenting classes for parents interested in learning new strategies. One such class is the very popular Parenting with Love and Logic, a seven-week course offered by Mary Ann Kluga, LISD chemical abuse prevention coordinator. This course is designed to help parents nurture responsible children by letting empathy and consequences do the teaching. The winter Parenting with Love and Logic session begins on January 12. Space fills up fast, so if you are interested in learning more, go to the LISD website, select the Parents/Students tab and click on the Love and Logic Class link.
Perhaps most importantly, this month LISD is reminding students of the importance of regular and punctual attendance, in line with the developmental asset of bonding to school. Student attendance is the top factor in determining the likelihood that a student will graduate. In fact, the LISD Dropout Prevention Task Force found that students who miss 10 or more unexcused days are 15.5 times more likely to drop out of high school before graduation. For every day of school missed, it takes at least two days for a student to catch up. Parents can help by scheduling appointments before or after school hours. (Of course, it’s important to remember that if a student is sick, he or she should stay home. This helps them get well and keeps staff members and other students from getting sick.) Parents are also strongly encouraged to take vacations and family trips only during school holidays.
These are just a few of the ways LISD students can explore the 40 Developmental Assets in 2012. Learn more about the 40 Developmental Assets by visiting the Search Institute website at www.search-institute.org. I encourage you to discover how you can join LISD and support these assets at home by going to www.leanderisd.org, selecting the Parent/Students tab and clicking on the Drug-Free Schools/Students link.
Have a great week!
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