Blogging from China - Day 2.

Day Two from China:

As I sit here at the end of the day eating my Pop Tart (my eating for the day will be covered in a later paragraph), I have to say it was an eventful day for our group. We began the day attending a celebration at The Office of Chinese Language Council International. Their mission is to promote the Chinese language and culture throughout the world. We were able to tour their building and browse through their language materials that they provide to schools. If you would like to learn more about the efforts of the Chinese educators, you can go to www.hanban.org .


The afternoon was our official greeting from officials of the Chinese Government. Dr. Zhou Ji, Minister of Education of China, was the keynote speaker. Our meeting was in the Great Hall. The great hall is adjacent to Tiananmen Square. We will be touring Tiananmen Square tomorrow. American students studying for the summer in China performed for our group. We left there and attended a dinner and cultural celebration from Chinese high school students. The Chinese culture is very rich in its history and ceremonies. The student’s performance was the highlight of the day.

Everyone is feeling the effects of the 13-hour time difference today. The jet lag has caught up with all of us.

The day starts off with a western breakfast. For me that is the best part of the day. By now the entire group is well aware of my eating habits. They are all taking bets on whether I will lose more than 10 pounds this week. Even though I do not like Chinese food, those in the group continue to go on about how good the food has been. Today’s menu choice that I just could not eat included sautéed honey bean and yellow fungus and celery. Those at my table said it was delicious. I will just have to take their word on that. I have sent a few pictures of the food.


In one picture you will see what I thought and was told by the group as a Chinese cheese stick. Come to find out it was fried sweet corn. As I took a bite the entire table got a big laugh that they had tricked me into taking a bite. The other picture is a fish with it eyes clearly focused on whoever was brave enough to eat the fish. The hand in the picture that is just about to dive right in is Mr. Newsom.

Our Chinese hosts have been very gracious. I am looking forward to tomorrow’s adventures.

Hungry in China…..

Bob

(See more of Bob's photos here.)

Day 1 - Blogging from China

The following is the first in a series of blogs posted by Dr.Bob Morrison, Mansfield ISD Deputy Superintendent, from his current educational tour of China.


Day One from China:

Mr. Newsom and I arrived in Beijing at 4:00 am on Tuesday morning. There are over 400 educators from all over the United States going through this week’s activity. Since we are coming from both coasts and arriving at various times throughout the day, the first day’s activities are sight seeing and trying to get you adjusted to the 13 hour difference in our time.

I think on the first days post it would be appropriate to let everyone know who is sponsoring educators from around the United States to China. The Chinese Bridge for American Schools is our host group. The College Board, who is the organization promoting college readiness courses in MISD and throughout the United States, is in partnership with our week's activities. There will be times of cultural experiences throughout the week, as well as several visits to local schools. This is especially exciting for all the educators in the group. I am interested in how other countries reach out to their students and make academics a priority to students.

For those who know me and my eating habits, I feel a blog describing my experiences with the local food would be entertaining. Let me back up for those that don’t know me that well. I am one of those people who could eat pizza (Mama’s), burgers (The General Store in Rendon), and fried chicken from just about anywhere on any day and be completely content. So it matters not what country I am visiting, finding something that I will naturally want to eat would be difficult. My mother always told me that I would grow out of it. I will be turning 45 this year and she is still waiting. Additionally, I don’t like my food to touch or remotely being mixed together. I joke with those who know me and tolerate my eating habits, that my stomach is divided into compartments so it never touches even after I eat it. So everyday, I will attempt to tell you of a dish that I tried, as well as those that there was no way I would give it a try.

I am looking forward to sharing my as well as our group’s adventures and observations. The Chinese people have been wonderful and are outstanding hosts. I believe this will not only be a tremendous learning experience, but will provide opportunities to understand how education is impacting the global world.

Dr. Bob Morrison

Photo of Tiananmen Square courtesy of Shizhao.

Blogging from China

One of the most common assignments in the first week back to school is to write an essay titled "What I did with my Summer Vacation." Mansfield ISD Superintendent Vernon Newsom and Deputy Superintendent Bob Morrison will have a great answer to that question this fall.

Newsom and Morrison are currently traveling to China on an educational trip. While there, they will visit Chinese schools, meet with Chinese school officials, and other activities. They will be touring as guests of Hanban (Office of Chinese Language Council International) to learn about Chinese culture and language. Their trip comes on the heels of the Mansfield ISD's announcement of a Mandarin Chinese program for 2008-09.

Dr. Morrison will be blogging about their daily travels in China. Stay tuned here for those updates. Here are a few fun facts until we hear from Dr. Morrison...

What is the date and time in Beijing, China?


Population of China: 1.4 billion
U.S. Population: 304 million

Read more about China here.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user: user:snowyowls/gallery.

2008 High School Graduations

This is a great time of year for MISD. We've just completed another academic year and we have the pleasure of sending students out into the world. Some will go on to higher education or trade schools. Some will serve our country in the military. Others will enter the workforce. Whatever there paths, it is our hope that the lessons they've learned throughout their careers in the Mansfield ISD have had a positive impact.

The smiles on the faces of the graduates says so much about why teachers and administrators work in education. We congratulate our graduates and wish them all well in their future.

Graduation Schedule
(Note: Photo Galleries will be available later this week)

Thursday, June 5, 2008

• Alternative Education Center (AEC) - 7:00 PM
  Willie Pigg Audtorium - Photo Gallery
  

Monday, June 9th, 2008

• Mansfield Timberview High School - 2:00 PM
  The Potter's House - Photo Gallery
  
• Mansfield High School - 7:00 PM
  The Potter's House - Photo Gallery
  

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

• Mansfield Legacy High School - 2:00 PM
  The Potter's House - Photo Gallery
  
• Mansfield Summit High School - 7:00 PM
  The Potter's House - Photo Gallery
  

Thank you MISD employees

On Monday, May 19, 2008 the Mansfield ISD family of employees gathered to celebrate the district's annual Employee Reception. The event was hosted by Fort Worth's Four Day Weekend Improv Troupe who presented the lighter side of school district life.

The reception was held in Mansfield Summit High School. The district honored 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years of service recipients as well as the 2008 retirees. Also presented were the Shining Star and Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year. (Photo gallery)

Please join the administration and school board in thanking the employees for the dedicated service to the students and community of the Mansfield Independent School District.

MISD Shining Star Awards

(Updated Monday, May 12, 2008 - The nominations are now closed for the 2008 Shining Star Award.)

Did you ever wish you had a good way to thank the bus driver that has meant so much to your child? How about a principal or administrator that went above and beyond to help you?

Now is your chance. Mansfield ISD is currently taking nominations for the 2008 Shining Stars Award. The deadline to nominate someone is May 9. Teachers are the only group not eligible for this award, as they are recognized via the MISD Teacher of the Year program.

Official wording on the award is below. Six winners will be selected, and awarded at the district's employee reception held May 19.

"The Mansfield ISD Shining Star Award honors any individual non-teaching staff(secretaries, aides, bus drivers, custodians, maintenance, directors, principals, etc.) for exceptional efforts in being "a shining star" in their contributions and service to the students and staff of the MISD."

Party 101: Consequences

The Mansfield ISD high school PTSA groups will host an event to help address the problem of teen alcohol and drug abuse. Party 101: Consequences will be shown at the newly refurbished Willie Pigg Auditorium on Thursday, April 10 at 7:00 PM. The Mansfield ISD community is not immune to this serious health and safety concern.

Unfortunately teen alcohol and drug abuse is problem that we face. This is a community problem and MISD will continue to do what it can to inform students and parents of the consequences of making unhealthy (and illegal) choices. The district can't do it alone, parents and the greater community need to have ownership of this problem as well and look for continuous ways to combat it.