Houses for Haiti

Ms. Adrienne Speer’s 6th Grade art class showed their character and found a unique way to support Haitian relief efforts with their service learning project: “Houses for Haiti”.  The goal of their project was to make house shaped pins and magnets to raise money for the homeless in Haiti.

Mrs. Speer’s class will be selling the houses during the month of February and proceeds from the sale of the houses will go to the Red Cross’s Haiti fund.  According to Ms. Speer, “my students have really taken this cause to heart and have already raised almost $300.00!”  Thank you Ms. Speer and 6th graders for helping us build a community of character in Floresville that reaches across the globe!  To learn more about this project or to buy a house, contact Ms. Speer at aspeer@fisd.us

New State Assessment Replaces TAKS in 2011

The Texas Education Agency has officially announced the replacement for the TAKS test called the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness or STAAR. STAAR will replace the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, or TAKS, which has been in place since 2003.The STAAR will be used to meet mandates passed in the 2009 legislative session. The new tests will be used beginning in the 2011-12 school year. Students currently in seventh grade will be the first students who must meet the STAAR end-of-course testing requirements, as well as pass their classes, in order to earn a diploma.

The STAAR test is one of many tests that have been used to evaluate student performance in Texas.  The first test was called the TABS test and was introduced in 1979.  Students didn’t have to pass the TABS to graduate but every test thereafter included a “diploma denial” component. 

1980-85	1986-90	1990-2002	2003-2010	2011-12
TABS Texas Assessment of Basic Skills	TEAMS Texas Assessment of Minimum Skills	TAAS Texas Assessment of Academic Skills	TAKS Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills	STAAR State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness

 According to most reports the STAAR will be more difficult than the TAKS test.  Click here for the official announcement from TEA. 

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=7874

The great news is that FISD has been preparing for this!  The development of a guaranteed and viable curriculum and instructional strategies such as the Dana Center professional teaching model and Guided Reading are increasing our student’s likelihood of success.  Granted that we still need to close those gaps with special education and economically disadvantaged students but we have a plan that is working as evidenced by our recent TAKS scores.  I feel very blessed to have such great teachers and administrators working so hard to make a difference in the academic success of our students!  Thanks for your hard work.  Bring on the STAAR test!

Floresville Enters New UIL District

Floresville High School leaves UIL District 29AAAA to enter District 30AAAA resulting in a completely different slate of teams we will play next year.  Here is our new district for the next two years:

• Beeville
• Floresville
• Gregory-Portland
• Victoria East
• Victoria West
• Port Lavaca Calhoun

This district realignment will result in more travel for our kiddos and the chance to play two completely new high schools with the addition of Victoria East and West. 

Pleasanton moved down a classification and the previously 29AAAA looks much different than the previous two years.  Click on the link below to preview each of the new matchups resulting from this realignment. 

http://www.uil.utexas.edu/

Go Tigers and Jags!

Proposed Boundary Lines Announced

The teachers have been placed, bus routes redrawn,  and the North Elementary campus will be complete in April.  Next, the FISD Board of Trustees will consider proposed boundary lines.  The map above provides detailed information regarding the proposed boundary lines drawn for Elementary North and South  K-5 campuses.  The documents below contain information concerning bell schedules, a printable map, and a form to submit questions and/or comments about the proposed boundaries.  We welcome your input as we enter into this new era of continued growth.

Boundary Information Packet

FISD North and South Parent Boundary Map

Jags Soccer Takes First Place!

History was made on Saturday as the Girls Varsity Soccer team captured first place at the Southside invitational soccer tournament. This is the first trophy for the four year old program. Three shutouts were posted on the way as they defeated Lanier 5-0, Jefferson 1-0, and Southside 1-0. The championship game went to a shootout with Floresville tallying the final goal in sudden death.  Congrats Coach Martinez and Jags!

Library Shows Character

 

The Floresville Elementary and Primary Schools held a Holiday Book Fair the week of December 7th.  Throughout the week students and parents purchased books…many as holiday gifts to help support their school libraries.  Two Family Nights were held during the week, where books could also be purchased and donated to the Wilson County Sheriff’s Santa.  In addition to the individual donations, the schools, through the success of the book fair, donated a variety of books to the Wilson County Sheriff’s Santa.  Donating to Sheriff’s Santa was one way our schools gave back to the community while emphasizing the values of Character Education.  Thank you Allison Shoemaker and the many volunteers it took to make this a wonderful success!

NEW FHS OPENS FOR STUDENTS 1/04/10

FHS Parent Drop off Map

Phase I of the high school is now complete.  This means that FHS will discontinue the use of portables and completely move into the new high school and early college.  Phase II construction is well underway and we should be able to enjoy a new band hall and PE practice gyms very soon. 

Phase III will begin next semester and this includes renovating Tiger Lane, demolishing most parts of the old high school and replacing the buildings with parking.  Yes, we will keep most trees. 

For this reason, FHS will not use the front entrance of the building during the spring semester as the road will be under construction.  Students and faculty will enter through the rear of the building. Mrs. Galinzoga has provided a map to provide directional information for students, parents, faculty, and visitors.  Signage will be posted throughout the area to direct everyone into the building.  A temporary building has been placed in the rear of the building to provide customer service to visitors and provide security to our building. 

Please let Mrs. Galinzoga at the high school know if you should have any questions.

Thanks for your patience!

Thank You Richardson Brothers!

I would like to thank Richardson Bros., Inc. Chevrolet/Polaris for a genrous donation to our social services program directed by Ben Reed. The donation was part of the November food drive to help the families of Floresville ISD during the holiday season.  Richardson Bros., Inc. donated fifty dollars for every new or used car, truck, suv or van sold during the month of November.  Also, they were a drop off location for all donated non-perishable foods during November and have extended the food drive through the month of December.  Floresville ISD would like to thank Steve Richardson and Bob Price for their donations during this time of year.

The picture is me accepting a $1150.00 check with Ben Reed from Sales Manager Brandon Harris and Richardson Bros., Inc. CEO Steve Richardson.

FISD Students Participate in Global Entrepreneur Initiative

The Floresville Independent School District middle and high school campuses have been chosen by Rackspace Hosting to participate in a leadership program to develop student’s leadership and strengths in preparation for the demands of the 21^st Century.  You might recognize Rackspace as the San Antonio based company that is the world’s leader in technology hosting. www.rackspace.com

Floresville students and teachers will be provided a “strengths assessment” from the Gallup Organization to identify their best qualities to bring to the world of work and life.  They are also taking part in cutting edge leadership training opportunities.  One such event was held on November 19^th as students from Floresville High School participated in the Entrepreneur’s Organization EO24 Global training event.

EO24 is part of global initiative to expand entrepreneurship across the world. Our Lady of the Lake University, the University of the Incarnate Word, St. Mary’s University, Trinity University, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Floresville ISD participated in an all-day conference on entrepreneurship. Students participated in round table mentoring session, an entrepreneur panel discussion with regional entrepreneurs.  The Entrepreneurs’ Organization of San Antonio is the local chapter of this global organization.

Students thought it was an absolutely wonderful event.  Check out some of the comments from students who attended:

“It felt so amazing just being in the same place as all of those successful people and sharing ideas and stories with them.”

“The biggest piece of advice that they all stressed is that if you can dream it, you can do it.”

“I learned to never give up on things you are passionate about.”

Many thanks to Graham Weston CEO of Rackspace and John Kirk, director of their foundation for making this a possibility for our students! This is simply one of many ways that Rackspace will be helping to prepare our students for a prosperous life.

Grand Champion!

Adam Hussey recieved the Grand Prize for his poster in a contest designed launch the Wilson County Crime Stoppers Hotline.  Adam is the proud owner of $200. Congratulations Adam!