Chamber Holiday Party

Moody Mansion and Museum hosted a holiday party for members of the Galveston Chamber of Commerce.  During the event, the Chamber collected donations for the Galveston Independent School District Kids Closet.  The closet provides school uniforms to identified needy students.  Members donated $1,680 to purchase uniforms. Pictured, from left, are GISD Public Information Officer Christine Hopkins, Chamber Education Vice Chair Theresa Elliott, Chairman Elect Betty Massey and Mary Moody Northen Endowment Executive

Director Betty Massey, Chairman of the Board Jerry Mohn, and Galveston Chamber of Commerce President Gina Spagnola.  The Galveston Chamber of Commerce has committed to clothe 300 students during the 2005-2006 school year as part of its Operation Education program.  

Galveston Hotel & Lodging Donation

The Galveston Hotel and Lodging Association recently gave $850 to the Galveston Independent School District Kids Closet.  The closet provides school uniforms to identified needy students.  Pictured, from left, are Chamber Education Vice Chair Theresa Elliott, GISD Public Information Officer Christine Hopkins, Galveston Hotel and Lodging Association Treasurer Steve Wisner and Galveston Chamber of Commerce President Gina Spagnola.  The Galveston Chamber of Commerce has committed to clothe 300 students during

the 2005-2006 school year as part of its Operation Education program.  

GISD Receives Computer Donation 
for Katrina Students

Central Middle School students who transferred in to the school following Hurricane Katrina try out new computers donated by the New York Exchange Mercantile. 

  GALVESTON ISD CAMPUSES RECEIVE 50 COMPUTERS FOR USE BY KATRINA SURVIVORS

New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) recently donated 50 computers valued at $66,640 to serve the nearly 300 Hurricane Katrina evacuees enrolled in the district. Because of the large number of students coming to the district in September - more than 600 in all - GISD took part in a special 

"Hurricane Help" web site and has received thousands in free supplies for students.

These computers were distributed to Ball High School, Central Middle School, and L.A. Morgan, Oppe, Parker, Rosenberg and San Jacinto Elementary Schools - the schools with the largest number of Katrina students enrolled.

Each elementary school received six Dell computers and flat screen monitors, Ball High School received twelve and Central Middle School received eight.

Central installed six of these computers in a social studies/science computer lab and two computers in their Access Math classroom. With these additional computers in the lab, the teacher has one computer for every student in the class and the two in the Access Math classroom brings the total number to ten.

"Using the computers for social studies is a fun way to learn," said Carlise Tucker, a Central Middle School eighth-grader originally from Kenner, Louisiana. "It gets me involved in the process because I have to read to find the answer."

Seventh-grader Megan Sandeifer who comes to Galveston from Plaquimes Parish, Louisiana is one of the Katrina students benefiting from the new computers in the Access Math classroom. The Access Math class offers a smaller class size and more individualized attention by the teacher for struggling students.

"It helps me understand it (fractions) because it makes me smarter," says Sandeifer.

Following the influx of students relocating to Galveston due to Hurricane Katrina, the district has received food, clothing, uniforms, school supplies and other supplies to help victims of Hurricane Katrina and Rita. The gift of 50 new personal computers from the NYMEX, however, is the largest single donation GISD has received to date.

BALL HIGH SCHOOL RECEIVES GRANTS FROM 
TRI-STAR FUELS AND EXXONMOBIL EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Aslam Kapadia, President of Tri-Star Fuels Distributing Company presents Ball High School Associate Principal Dyann Polzin with a $1,000 check from Tri-Star Fuels Distributing Company and the ExxonMobil Education Foundation to support the school's educational projects relating to reading, math and student award programs.

Ball High School has received a $1,000 grant from Tri-Star Fuels Distributing Company and the ExxonMobil Education 

Foundation to support the school’s educational projects relating to reading, math and student award programs.

Aslam Kapadia, President of Tri-Star Fuels Distributing Company, and a long-time resident of Galveston presented the awards and emphasized the importance of education to those in attendance. “Ball High works hard to make learning interesting and fun,” said Kapadia.  “As an Exxon retailer, I am proud to help young people of the Galveston Community.”

The ExxonMobil Educational Alliance program is designed to provide Exxon and Mobil retailers with an opportunity to invest in the future of their communities through educational grants to neighborhood schools.  ExxonMobil believes that, as member of the community, local retailers are best qualified to work with local educators to help identify schools and programs most in need of support.

Ball High Assistant Principal SERVES 
as Speaker for Conference

Saralyn Richard, Ball High School Assistant Principal, served as one of six content coaches for the Maryland Citigroup Schools That Work Institute, held December 9-10, 2005, in Annapolis, MD.  Citigroup sponsors this series of conferences, designed to provide statewide staff development on standards-based learning and small learningcommunities.  Richard conducted a six-hour workshop on designing small learning communities and managing “That Devil, the Schedule.” 

Richard drew from her experiences with small learning communities at Thornton Township High School District 205, where she was an Asst. Principal and Principal for twelve years, and from her work with High Schools That Work and GMS Partners as a school improvement consultant.  Richard is a BOI and a Ball High graduate. 

Thirty seven Ball High School Students Earn 
Designation of AP Scholar by the College Board

  Thirty seven Ball High School students earned the designation of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Programâ (AP®) Exams.  Eleven Ball High students were named AP Scholars with Distinction by earning an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams including Jessica Antonelli, Gan Cao, James Dearman, Daniel Dueri, Erika Labuzan, William Lopez, Andrey Petrov, Savannah Pickthall, Bo Qui, Craig Thomas, and Teddy Truong.  Seven students earned the AP Scholar with Honor Award by scoring an average of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.  These students include Robert Brasier, Molly Murphy, Ralph Paone, Christy Roberts, Xiaoke Song, John Wheeler, and Andrea Zwischenberger.  Nineteen students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams, with grades of 3 or higher.  These students include Lisa Boyars, Lindsey Brown, Maria Davydova, Kelley Delesandri, Allison Glenney, Maria Gomez, Ariel Gonzales, Anna Green, Susan Hankins, Takashi Makino, Joshua McMahon, Sourav Mohan, Syed Nayeem, Zachary Newman, Kyle OBoyle, Elizabeth Schaaf, Evan Segal, Megan Xue, and Alexandra Zein-Eldin.

Students earning a three or higher on their AP Exams are eligible to receive $100 through the district’s Advanced Placement Strategies (APS) program.  Funds for this program are raised by the GISD Educational Foundation.   

Weis Middle School

Weis Middle School was one of 500 schools in the United States selected to receive the We the People "Freedom" Bookshelf.  As part of its We the People initiative, the National Endowment of Humanities collaborates with the American Library Association (ALA) to present the We the People Bookshelf, a program that encourages young people to read classic books and explore themes in American history, culture, and ideas.  

Librarian Susan Fishman applied to participate in the program and received a

confirmation letter from Bruce Cole, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and a certificate recognizing Weis Middle School ’s participation in the We the People "Freedom" Bookshelf project.   

Pictured are Weis Middle School librarian Susan Fishman and Principal Manuel Garza with the We the People bookshelf and materials.

Ball High Announces Commended Scholars

Ball High School Principal Diana Reaume announced that eight students have been named Commended Students in the 2006 National Merit Scholarship Program.  

A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) was presented by the principal to these scholastically talented students.  

Pictured, from left, are Del Sara Zendeh, John Boysen, Frank Dimarco, Reaume, Neil Woodson, Megan Xue, Elizabeth Schaaf and Savannah Pickthall.  Not pictured is Benjamin Chauvette.

Jafar Layegh a member of the Ball High School senior class has been recognized by the College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Program, as announced by Principal Diana Reaume.  

The National Hispanic Recognition Program, established in 1983, is a College Board program that provides national recognition of the exceptional academic achievements of Hispanic high school seniors and identifies them for postsecondary institutions.  

Layegh (left) is pictured with Reaume.

Ball High Students Named 
National Merit Semifinalists

The names of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 51^st annual National Merit Scholarship Program were announced by officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).  

Three Ball High School students were named Semifinalists by NMSC.  

Pictured from left, are Xiaoke Song, Ball High School Principal Diana Reaume and Alexandra Zein-Eldin.  Not Pictured is Robert Brasier.

Ball High School student Robert Brasier was one of three students that were named Semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.  

Xiaoke Song and Alexandra Zein-Eldin were also named Seminfinalists. 

Sandpiper Republican 
Women Donate Dictionaries

The Sandpiper Republican Women of Galveston recently donated dictionaries to every third-grader in the Galveston Independent School District .  For the past four years, the organization has provided a free dictionary to every third-grader in Galveston .  

This year, they donated fourteen cases of books to more than 675 children.  

Pictured, from left, are Second Vice-President Phyllis Hildenbrand, GISD 

Superintendent Lynn Hale and President Brenda Gutierrez. 

Rosenberg Students Participate 
in Home Depot Kids Workshop

Rosenberg Elementary School students in Jessica Swenson’s pre-kindergarten class recently participated in Home Depot’s Kids Workshop Program.  

Students are pictured with their personalized wooden fire engines.  

Pictured, from left, with the students are Rosenberg Principal Billie Rinaldi, parent-volunteer Amanda Murphy, teacher Jessica Swenson, parent-volunteer Kenneth Grant (kneeling), Home Depot staff member

Laurie Frohne (seated in back), Home Depot staff member Sabrina Hanson (kneeling far right) and teacher’s aide Indira Surendran (standing far right).  

Ball High School Students Attend 
Women on the Move Luncheon

Ball High School students in the Texas Executive Women’s Career Women of the Future program recently attended the 2005 Women on the Move Luncheon in Houston .  

Pictured, from left are, Career Women of the Future mentor Katie Winslade, Brittney Orlando, Amber Simmons, Zulyamir Garrido, Terreshia LaDay, mentor Beth Williams and Courtney Barrios.  

Members of TEW meet monthly with 

students to discuss career options.  For more information about becoming a mentor, contact Margo Snider at (409) 938-1671. 

San Jacinto Elementary

San Jacinto Elementary School received an Honorable Mention for Contributions by an Elementary School by the Galveston Independent School District for its effort to help survivors of Hurricane Katrina for the American Red Cross local relief effort in a district-wide campaign. 

San Jacinto raised $954.27.  GISD students and staff raised a total of $10,238.49 for the American Red Cross local relief effort.  

GISD Superintendent Lnyn Hale presented a

certificate to Principal Ella Lewis during a recent School Board meeting.  

Central Middle School

Central Middle School received an Honorable Mention for Contributions by a Secondary School by the Galveston Independent School District for its effort to help survivors of Hurricane Katrina for the American Red Cross local relief effort in a district-wide campaign.  

Central raised $1,683.62.  GISD students and staff raised a total of $10,238.49 for the American Red Cross local relief effort.  

GISD Superintendent Lynn Hale presented a

certificate to Principal Connie Hebert and students during a recent School Board meeting.  

Rosenberg Elementary 

Rosenberg Elementary School was recently awarded the Galveston Independent School District ’s Spirit of Giving trophy for collecting the most the donations to help survivors of Hurricane Katrina for the American Red Cross local relief effort in a district-wide campaign. 

Rosenberg raised $1,701.90.  GISD students and staff raised a total of $10,238.49 for the American Red Cross local relief effort.  

GISD Superintendent Lynn Hale presented the trophy to Principal Billie Rinaldi and students during a recent School Board meeting.

GISD Staff Recognized

In response to efforts made during Hurricane Rita, Galveston Independent School District Superintendent Lynn Hale and School Board President Mike Hughes recognized the staff that assisted during the evacuation and in the Alamo School refuge with certificates and a pass to Dickens on the Strand courtesy of the Galveston Historical Foundation.  

Staff who drove school buses to assist in the evacuation included the following: 

Carlos Alcazar, Clay Bonin, Brandie Bowers, Dorothy Cade, Zack Callis, Robert Dunn, Charles Etheredge, Dolly Flisowski, Russell Griggs, Audrey Henry, Robert Hollins, Patsy Johnson, Manuel Kastis, Patricia Kieselhorst, Patty Kirtley, Rickey Lacey, Ernest Lemons Jr., Georgia Maples, Pamela Matthews, Howard Miller, Julie Molis, Jimmie Morris, Tammy Ochoa, Pamela Pickett, Charles Ross, Otha Ross, Flora Santos, Ellen Skidmore, Cheryl Smith, Dave Tisdale, Eddie Williams, Tyrone Windfield, and Ralph Williams.  Several staff members worked the refuge housed at Alamo Elementary School including David Biggs, Tony Monuz, Clifton Smith and Tony Walker and GISD Police Officers Dwight Gaines and Gene Wilganowski provided security.  

Pictured is GISD transportation staff, including Transportation Director Don Roy, and GISD Police, including GISD Police Chief Mark Smith.

Weis Student Council Officers give a 
donation to the Galveston Food Bank

Weis Student Council Officers give a donation to the Galveston Food Bank, Gleanings from the Harvest, to help purchase beans, rice, and other necessities on behalf of the Weis Student Council. 

Pictured are: Mr. Bouldin – Asst Principal, Alanna Kelley – Vice President, Allison Bohn – 7^th grade Secretary, Stormy Overly – 7^th grade Vice-President, and Mr. Garvin O’Neal, GFTH Board of Directors Chairman.

Scott Recognized by 
Big Brothers Big Sisters

Scott Elementary School was awarded a trophy by Gulf Coast Big Brothers Big Sisters for raising the most funds for the Bowl for Kids Sake program.  

Pictured, from left, are Assistant Director Cindy Schulz, Executive Director Mitzi Levy, Scott Elementary School Principal Felica Garrett and Counselor Nefertari Munday.  

Big Brothers Big Sisters offers a school-based mentoring program in five

Galveston Independent School District elementary schools.  For information, call 763-4638. 

JD Hopkins 
Family Donation

Gregorio Hopkins of J. D. Hopkins Family Limited Partnership donated $1,000 to the Galveston Independent School District for the students of Alamo Banks.  

Pictured, from left, are Director of Special Services Mary Patrick and Hopkins.

The Junior League of Galveston County provided school supplies to every San Jacinto Elementary School student as part of its Stuff the Bus program.  

Pictured with students, from left, are (back row) Erin Piazza, Jennifer Dominquez, Doryn Glenn, San Jacinto Principal Ella Lewis, GISD Assistant Superintendent for Administration Lynne Cleveland and Andrea Madison and (center) are Michelle Byrd and Stuff the Bus Chairperson Lori Hoskins. 

Noon Optimist 
Donation

The Galveston Noon Optimist recently donated funds to the Galveston Independent School District Kids Closet for needy children.  

Pictured, from left, are GISD Assistant Superintendent for Administration Lynne Cleveland and Noon Optimist representative Carol Hodges. 

Westminster Presbyterian Church recently donated school supplies to the Galveston Independent School District as part of its annual drive.  

Pictured, from left, are GISD Public Information Officer Christine Hopkins and Westminster representative Carol Hodges.

Chrysanna Circle of Moody 
Methodist Donation

The Chrysanna Circle of Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church recently donated school supplies as part of their annual drive to the Galveston Independent School District .  

Pictured, from left, are GISD Superintendent Lynn Hale and Chrysanna Circle representative Suzanne Tichelaar.

Harmony Masonic Lodge 
No. 6 Donation

Harmony Masonic Lodge No. 6 recently donated funds to assist Katrina survivors enrolling in the Galveston Independent School District .  

Pictured, from left, are GISD Superintendent Lynn Hale, Trustee John W. Ford, Master of the Lodge Alfonso Leal, Past Master Gary Scales, Senior Warden Jay Howell and Secretary Frank Williams.

Ball High School cheerleaders are hosting a drive on Wednesday, September 25, 2005 to collect personal care items for Hurricane Katrina evacuees now in Galveston .  The drive will be held at the front of Ball High School from 7 to 8 a.m. and from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on that day.  

Specifically, evacuees need shampoo and conditioner, soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, lotion, rubbing alcohol,

peroxide, bandaids and other personal hygiene items.  

The cheerleaders are also collecting disposable diapers, and they are hoping to fill at least 50 pails of personal care items during the drive.  

Senior cheerleaders shown here are: seated, left to right, Caitlyn Mytelka, co-captain; Lauren Schattel, captain, holding the pail of personal care items; and Lindsey Cornwell, co-captain; and standing, left to right, Ally Longoria, Stephanie Scofelia, Herbie Smith, Hailey Polzin and Destanie Bankston.  Candace Murphy is not shown.   

Donors who are not able to attend the actual drive may bring their contributions to the GISD Administration Building at 3904 Avenue T.  

UTMB Pediatrics 
Donation

The Department of Pediatrics of the University of Texas Medical Branch donated backpacks filled with school supplies for Katrina survivor elementary students enrolling in the Galveston Independent School District .  

Pictured, from left, are Peggy Bartram, GISD Superintendent Lynn Hale and Paula Cowan. 

GISD Educational 
Foundation

Outgoing board members for the GISD Educational Foundation were recently recognized for their 3 years of service to the board. 

Pictured left to right are: Olivia Meyer, Barbara Crews and Mary Cook Putnam. 

Not pictured are: Betty Massey and Bill Seitz.

GISD Educational 
Foundation

The Galveston Morning Kiwanis Club donated $1000 to the GISD Educational Foundation for their Grants To Teachers Program. 

Pictured left to right are: Gilbert Zamora, Galveston Morning Kiwanis Club and Julie Schmid, Executive Director for the GISD Educational Foundation

“Let’s Give Back to Music”

Pictured from left, Marty Baker and Stewart Pagan.

Ball High School student Stewart Pagan is currently in pursuit of a becoming an Eagle Scout. As part of his project, Pagan is holding a new or used musical instrument drive benefiting Galveston Independent School District middle school students. 

“Let’s Give Back to Music” is set for Wednesday, August 10 in the GISD

Administration Building , 3904 Ave T, from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Instruments or cash donations may be dropped off at the GISD Administration Building . 

For more information, please call Stewart Pagan at (409) 740-2145. Marty and Jean Baker were the first to make a cash donation for this project. 

First graduate of Ball High 
summer recovery program

Ball High School student Reginald Sanders is the first graduate for the GISD high school 2005 credit recovery summer program. 

Sanders plans to attend college in Florida and eventually start his own record label.

Kenneth Ferrell visits 
Lynn Hale

2004 Accelerated Instruction Model (AIM) graduate Kenneth Ferrell recently visited with GISD Superintendent Lynn Hale and AIM staff while on leave from Iraq . 

Ferrell is currently serving in the U.S. Army.

Alpha Delta Kappa recently awarded a teaching scholarship to Ball High School senior Katie Pistone.  This annual scholarship is given to a senior student entering college to major in education.  

Pictured, from left, are Joanne Valencia, president of Alpha Delta Kappa, scholarship recipient Katie Pistone, Gloria Schlemmer and Katie’s mother Theresa Pistone.

Alpha Delta Kappa recently donated the proceeds of its annual garage sale to the GISD Good Start Program.  

Pictured, from left, are Joanne Valencia, president of Alpha Delta Kappa, Dana Miller, academic coordinator for GISD Good Start, and Kandy Arena, Alpha Delta Kappa treasurer.

Rosenberg Elementary School pre-kindergartners work in class as Sheridan Lorenz visits with students.  George Mitchell has committed $100,000 to expand the Galveston Independent School District’s Good Start Program for three-year-olds. 

GALVESTON, TX-George Mitchell has committed $100,000 to expand the Galveston Independent School District ’s Good Start Program for three-year-olds.  

This donation provides two additional pre-kindergarten classes for three-year-olds for the 2005-2006 school year.  The district currently has two classes at Rosenberg Elementary School and one bilingual class at Alamo Elementary School. 

During the May 11 registration day for the program, 122 parents/guardians participated vying for one of 54 spots in the program.  Mitchell’s donation will provide funding for two additional classes of 18 students.  Each class includes a highly qualified teacher with the assistance of an instructional aide.

This district is hoping to find a match to Mitchell’s donation to make the program available for all three-year-olds who participated in registration.  Priority will be given to low-income and non-English speaking students.  During the year, the district’s three-year-olds learn their colors, shapes, letters, body parts and numbers to 20.  Teachers utilize age appropriate technology in their pre-k three classrooms such as little finger keyboards.  Teachers also cover health and safety, science, and social development as well as work on gross motor skills and fine motor skills.

“Our family has always recognized the importance of an education and the opportunities a better education offers,” said Sheridan Mitchell Lorenz.  “There is no better time than in the early years—to give a jump start to the educational process and allow the children to realize that learning is fun and school is a happy, nurturing place.” 

Lorenz commented that studies show that Pre-K education is an important factor in keeping kids educationally and socially focused and more resistant to high risk, anti-social behaviors. 

“Our family is committed to making this happen and, of course, we want to start where we can be most effective, so we are starting at age 3,” Lorenz said.

Other underwriters of this program include The Carmage and Martha Ann Walls Foundation, The Rockwell Fund and recently the Permanent Endowment Fund of Moody Methodist Church has committed to sustain a class.

“Mr. Mitchell’s generosity and commitment to education is exhilarating,” said GISD Superintendent Lynn Hale.  “Providing an early start for these children will be so beneficial to their future educational career.”
 

 
Joseph Richardson represented Alamo