STAAR Testing week of April 1

Students across the state in grades 4-10 will be taking the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) the week of April 1. This week of testing includes English End of Course Exams for 9th and 10th graders. Please make sure your student is fully rested and comes to school prepared for testing. Students will be expected to have a sack lunch on testing days. No outside food deliveries will be allowed. Students may purchase a sack lunch from the cafeteria. Please also note our state testing/cell phone guidelines [PDF] and the security oath signed by high school students.

Schedule of Testing:  Week of April 1

Monday, April 1	English I Writing
Tuesday, April 2	Grade 4 Writing Day 1
	Grade 7 Writing Day 1
	Grade 5 Math
	Grade 8 Math
	English I Reading
Wednesday, April 3	Grade 4 Writing Day 2
	Grade 7 Writing Day 2
	Grade 5 Reading
	Grade 8 Reading
	English II Writing
Thursday, April 4	English II Reading

Campus Closed During Testing Week

STAAR assessment days are upon us! The first round of tests will be given April 1-5 and the second round on April 22-26. Because of required testing security, please note our school will be closed to all visitors, observers, volunteers, and guests throughout each week.

Important: No lunch or deliveries of any kind will be allowed for any grade level during these closed campus days (including birthday treats; please make other arrangements with your child’s teacher for a day after testing week). Please provide a lunch from home each day or plan to have your child purchase a prepared lunch from the café at the assigned time (for those who are testing, an additional letter was sent home last week with instructions for ordering test lunches with your homeroom teacher).

We appreciate everyone’s assistance and cooperation as we work in the best interest of all learners, their classroom leaders, and those involved in the testing process to maintain a safe, productive, non-interrupted, secure, campus testing environment.

Sign up now for MISD Citizens Academy 2013

Learn more about your school district by participating in the 2nd annual Midlothian ISD Citizens Academy. You will have an opportunity to take part in an interactive learning experience on April 16 and May 14 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Participants will go behind the scenes and meet district staff, see the day-to-day operations and learn how MISD creates a climate of success in both academics and extra-curricular activities. Space is limited. Click here to sign-up today.

Community Awareness Meeting

Midlothian ISD will host a drug awareness meeting for the community on Thursday, February 28, from 6:30-8:30p at the L.A. Mills Administration Building (100 Walter Stephenson Road). What you need to know about current drug trends that threaten today’s youth, presented by Carlos Cruz, Law Enforcement Officer. Sponsored by MISD Safe Schools & Healthy Students and the REACH Council Prevention Services.

All Nine Schools Receive $500 ExxonMobil Grant

Walid Alameddine presenting a $500 check to campus principals from the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance. Pictured from left to right: Karena Blackwell, Courtney Carpenter, Kyle Chambers, Karen Childers, Al Hemmle, Brian Blackwell, Dee Arterburn, (front row) Jean Embry and Beth Van Amburgh.

Thanks to the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance program and Victron Energy, Inc., a total of $4,500 was awarded to Midlothian ISD. Walid Alameddine, Victron vice-president, worked with Midlothian school officials to secure nine $500 grants for each school to help support and enhance learning opportunities for students in the math and science subject areas.

“I’m honored to help out during a time when budgets for our schools do not always provide for some of the most critical needs,” said Alameddine.

J.R. Irvin Elementary Competing in Student Video Contest

J.R. Irvin Elementary, known as the “Little School With The Big Heart”, is competing in the “Texas Public Schools Rock!” student video contest sponsored by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). Carissa, a 4th grader, along with 100 Texas students submitted their videos on the TASB website to illustrate the value of Texas’ public education and emphasize the many positive things happening in our local schools. Watch Carissa’s video: http://vimeo.com/59064160

The contest was open to all Texas elementary and secondary public school students, and winners will be selected in three categories: elementary school, middle/junior high school, and high school. First prize of $5,000 and a second prize of $2,500 in each category will be awarded in March for use in the students’ classroom or campus.

In addition, a Class Favorite in each of the three categories will be voted on March 4-8. The winners will be selected based on the videos most viewed by visitors to TASB’s website during that week. Viewers must watch the entire video to completion to cast their votes. These winners will receive no monetary prize but may be included among the videos displayed statewide at various TASB events. Community members are encouraged to view all of the video entries (http://tasb.org/services/communications/student_video/entries) and share their favorites with their neighbors and friends.

The Naming of High School #2 Update

The naming of facilities is a matter of great importance in Midlothian ISD. At a meeting on January 8, the High School #2 Naming Committee came to a consensus to not recommend personal names. With careful consideration and respect to the names submitted, the committee followed its initial decision to not place personal names on its final list.

As result of the February 26 meeting, the following five names are on the final list. In alphabetical order, they are Midlothian Eastridge High School, Midlothian Heritage High School, Midlothian Highlands High School, Midlothian Memorial High School and Midlothian Northview High School.

Regarding the final decision, Board Policy CW (LOCAL) [PDF] states, “The responsibility for the final decision in naming facilities shall rest with the Board. At a regularly scheduled meeting, the Board shall officially select a name from the list of recommendations submitted by the committee for each campus or facility to be named, or the Board shall select a proposal from the RFP procedure.”

MISD 101 for Realtors and Builders

Midlothian ISD will provide an educational course for realtors and builders to get the facts about MISD to share with new parents moving into the community. Please join us on March 26 from 1-2pm at the L.A. Mills Administration Building (100 Walter Stephenson Road) to receive handouts and updates on MISD academics, attendance zones, calendars, campus & staff directory, district achievements, enrollment, maps and more. A MISD bus tour will immediately follow the presentation. We are proud to have you serve as a real estate representative in Midlothian, TX. For more information, contact Jana Hathorne, MISD public relations coordinator, at (972) 775-8296, extension 1037 or email info@midlothian-isd.net.

New 2013-14 School Calendar Approved

The 2013-14 school year calendar was approved by the school board on Monday’s Feb. 18 meeting. (Download PDF: misd.sc/ZhFR74)

2013 A.C.E. Summer Camp Begin Signups!

A.C.E. (Academic Camp for Elementary) is open to MISD students currently in grades 3-5 and will be held at LaRue Miller Elementary from 8:30-11:30am, June 17-20.

Registration will be open for 2 weeks from February 18 to noon on March 4. Class sizes are limited and will be filled on a first-come basis. Enrollment will be closed once the allotted number of students per class has been reached. If the requested classes do not have enough participants and therefore are not offered or if the classes requested are full, refunds will be given. Turn registration form (including emergency form) and payment into your child’s teacher or campus office. Your ACE Registration Form will not be accepted until all information requested is complete and camp fee paid. All classes are $50 and must be paid in full at the time of registration (please make checks payable to Midlothian ISD). You will receive confirmation as to which class your child has been enrolled.

Please direct ACE questions to the Assistant Principal at the elementary campus your child attends or email La-shea Slaydon.

Procession Route for Navy SEAL Chris Kyle

PRESS RELEASE: Date: February 9th, 2013
Midlothian Police Department

(View Press Release on MPD’s website)

On the morning of Tuesday February 12, 2013 the procession for Navy SEAL Chris Kyle will depart from Midlothian, Texas, and take him to his final resting place at Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas. The vehicles will stage at the Midlothian Independent School District Multi-Purpose Stadium at 1800 South 14th Street and begin the escort at about 8:00 a.m. Tuesday. The procession will be accompanied by and limited to military personnel, first responders and the Patriot Guard Riders. The Texas Department of Public Safety has the lead role in the escort of the procession along the 200-mile route. The route from Midlothian to Austin is as follows:

The procession will depart the Midlothian ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium and travel South 14th Street to U.S. HWY 287 Service Road eastbound, the area immediately around this area will be secured for law enforcement, media and family only.

The procession will then enter U.S. HWY 287 eastbound until it exits U.S. HWY 287 to Interstate 35E (I-35E) southbound to Austin arriving at the Texas State Cemetery, 909 Navasota Street, Austin

Morning commuters should anticipate early delays on U.S. HWY 287 between U.S. HWY 67 and I-35E. At this time we estimate the procession will travel at a speed of around 50 M.P.H. to 55 M.P.H. Motorists traveling on the Interstate will be allowed to pass the procession, but we ask in reverence for the family and safety to all users of the interstate that motorists pass at a speed slightly greater than the procession. As a form of tribute and respect for Chris Kyle and his family, local fire departments and law enforcement agencies are expected to safely gather at overpasses and along the escort route. The procession will require four to five hours to travel from Midlothian to Austin, Texas.

UPDATE: From 6:30 a.m.-10 a.m. 14th Street between the softball fields and HWY 287 will be closed to non-processional traffic. Only military personnel, first responders and the Patriot Guard Riders will be allowed in the designated stadium area.