Nine Campuses Receive Honor from Texas PTA

When it comes to promoting the success of students, the MISD faculty and staff are known to take a front row seat in the cheering section. Every now and then, we are presented with an opportunity to shift our perspective and tip our hats to those behind-the-scenes supporters.

The Texas PTA reserves a special honor for PTA councils that have recruited 100% of their campus faculty, The Golden Apple Award.

The Golden Apple Award represents unity and teamwork between parents, community members and faculty.

We are pleased to announce the nine MISD campuses that have received this award so far in the 2010 – 2011 school year:

Alice Ponder Elementary
Anna May Daulton Elementary
Charlotte Anderson Elementary
Della Icenhower Intermediate
Janet Brockett Elementary
Linda Jobe Middle
Mansfield Legacy High
Martha Reid Elementary
Roberta Tipps Elementary

We are so proud of these campuses for demonstrating such steadfast support for the MISD through their commitment to the PTA.

“The Charlotte Anderson Elementary faculty and staff have received the Golden Apple Award six years in a row,” said Principal, Dr. Miller Beaird. “We believe strongly in the benefits of a strong relationship between teachers and parents. One of the main reasons CAE continues to be an excellent campus is the teamwork and collaboration between the faculty and our wonderful PTA.”

The PTA strives to engage families and communities to advocate for all children, and this list of award recipients is proof that the MISD faculty, staff and parents are working diligently to make that mutual vision a reality.

It’s not too late to submit a Golden Apple Award application for your campus PTA! This award is presented year-round to PTAs meeting the requirements.

Mansfield Wrestling event benefits Education Foundation

The temperatures may be dropping but the heat is being turned up for a pro wrestling event in Mansfield ISD.

“Big Time Pro Wrestling” is coming to Mansfield. Mark your calendars for the Mansfield ISD Smackdown on January 29, 2011 benefiting the Education Foundation.

The back story...

A war of words started back before the winter break when the wrestlers from the North American Wrestling Allegiance (N.A.W.A.) called out the MISD staff wrestlers...

And then things heated up when the MISD coaches responded...

Watch more of these videos.

Here are the details..

Date: Saturday, January 29, 2011
Place: Mansfield High School Gym
Time: 7:00 pm

Ticket Prices Presale:
Ringside - $20
Floor - $15
Lower Bowl - $12
General Admission - $8
Kids 12 and under - $6
Note: $2 will be added to the ticket prices at the door 

Tickets are on sale at all MISD high school and middle school campuses or at these locations: MISD Education Foundation Office, 1016 Magnolia #200, Mansfield, TX 76063 and Texas Trust Credit Union, 1900 Country Club Drive, Mansfield, TX 76063.

Get the poster PDF (10.33 Mb)

There will be four bouts preceding the main event and a Main Event will feature a four man tag team of MISD Staff members vs. N.A.W.A. wrestlers.

Representing MISD are the following:
Jason (Lil Peezy) Pounds – T.A. Howard Middle School
Mark (The Terminator) Walker – Timberview High School
Chris (Buck Wild) Melson – Legacy High School
Andrew (The Marshmallow) Marsh – Danny Jones Middle School 

Managers:
Jeff Hulme – Mansfield High School
Jason Mutterer – Summit High School
Justin Dearing – Ben Barber/Frontier
Dave Hodgson – Wester Middle School
Brandon Johnson – Jobe Middle School 

Commissioner: Byron McCollum – Coble Middle School
Ring Valet: Bethany Smith – Worley Middle School
Celebrity Referee for Main Event and Announcer: John Rhadigan, Sports anchor from FSN

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The Mansfield ISD Education Foundation:

• Is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit tax-exempt philanthropic organization of citizens; 
• Shares a vision of enhancing education in the Mansfield ISD;
• Works to increase private support for educational activities in the Mansfield ISD;
• Benefits Mansfield ISD students and teachers by supporting activities not funded by tax dollar;
• Fosters creative approaches to education through private grants and involvement; and
• Awards Foundation funds through a volunteer Board of Directors made up of business, community and education leaders.

‘Bikes for Angels’ Program a Record-Breaking Success

The annual ‘Bikes for Angels’ program came to a close this week and the results were fantastic. After about six weeks of fundraising, $26,400 was used to purchase bikes for needy children in the metroplex.

The Auto-Tech students at Ben Barber Career Tech Academy worked diligently to build 603 bikes, which were delivered to thirty-five MISD campuses and fifteen additional organizations this week.

Not only was this year’s donation exceed the previous record by almost $5,000, it was enough to allow the program to fulfill each application received.

The students and staff involved have put a great deal of time and energy forth to make the 2010 ‘Bikes for Angels’ project such a huge success.

“We are so proud of these kids,” said Rick Curlee, Auto-Tech teacher from Ben Barber. “They have worked so hard to get this done and to help provide a better Christmas for hundreds of needy children.”

Reid 4th grade fills assisted living center with holiday joy

On the sunny morning of December 10, the fourth grade students and teachers from Martha Reid Elementary cheerfully dashed down Country Club Drive to the Walnut Creek Assisted Living Center nearby. The half-mile power walk was only just the beginning of what proved to be a spirited new holiday program.

Students entered Walnut Creek to a warm greeting from an audience of smiling residents, gathered around a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. Music teacher Bridgett Wigley took a seat at the piano and began playing holiday favorites as students sang for the residents.

“We really enjoyed the Martha Reid students singing carols and spreading cheer,” said Lisa Collins, Life Enrichment Director at Walnut Creek. “They enriched our residents’ lives in such a special way!”

In the true spirit of giving, students presented a generous donation of goodies (items ranging from decks of cards to scented hand lotion) for the residents to share. Special hand-made holiday cards were also given.

Updated December 17 for added MISD Short Cuts video:

The new program was warmly received by the staff and residents of Walnut Creek, and the students enjoyed fresh air, exercise and true holiday spirit!

Check out the online gallery:

Mansfield ISD among top-rated districts in new FAST report

Earlier this week the Texas Comptroller's Office released the Financial Allocation Study for Texas (FAST) report. The report grades districts on how well they spend money compared to student performance.

"The 2009 Legislature required the comptroller’s office to develop a way to determine how well districts were spending money compared to how well their students performed.

"Each campus and district were rated based on how well students performed on math and reading tests from year to year, whether it was a 'very low' to 'very high' spending district and compared to peer districts of similar size and student makeup." [SOURCE: Extra Credit]

The Mansfield ISD was among the top-rated districts, with 4.5 stars and a "very low" (which is good) spending index according to the report.

When asked by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram how MISD has such a good balance between spending and academic success, Dr. Jim Vaszauskas, Associate Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Accountabilitysay said it was because of two things:

"First, we give our principals a great deal of latitude on how they spend their professional development campus funds, and they do a very good job of spending those monies on trainings that focus on instructional improvement.

"Second, we try to closely align our professional development with our district curriculum. Some of the best and least expensive professional development we have is simply giving our teachers time to talk with each other and time to collaboratively produce quality lessons for our students. It’s a really exciting time to be a part of Mansfield ISD."

Since the study is still so new, we will need more time to closely analyze it. However, we are encouraged by seeing these types of results.

Read more about the Financial Allocation Study for Texas (FAST) report or read the study.

Ben Barber's 'Bikes for Angels' campaign featured on local news station

The annual Bikes for Angels campaign at Ben Barber Career Tech Academy was featured earlier today during a segment entitled 'Our Neighbors' on WFAA News 8.

The 2010 goal is to purchase 600 bikes to give away to needy children who would otherwise not get bikes for Christmas.

This is just one of the many holiday charity drives in the District. We are working on putting a list together and posting it to the District website of as many as we can share in the next few days.

Our Neighbor: [Ben] Barber Career Tech Academy

If you have any questions about this campaign or would like to support, contact Mr. Rick Curlee at Ben Barber Career Tech Academy via e-mail RickCurlee [at] misdmail.org or by phone at 817-299-1939. If you help the campaign via a check, please make it out to: MISD Auto Tech and put "Bikes for Angels" in the memo of the check. All monies raised during this campaign go to bicycles.

Related: 2009 Bikes for Angels campaign

Basketball teams tip off for Kay Yow Cancer Fund

The Mansfield ISD high school basketball programs are raising money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund on Tuesday, November 30 and Tuesday, December 7.

The Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund™ is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against women's cancers through raising money for scientific research, assisting the underserved and unifying people for a common cause.

"The late Kay Yow, the Fund's namesake and former North Carolina State University head women's basketball coach, was a past president and founding member of the WBCA, and a galvanizing voice for the Association.Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987, and passed away on January 24, 2009, after facing her third bout with the disease."
[Women's Basketball Coaches Association] 

"In her 38 years as a head coach at the college-level, Yow is one of only six Division I head women's basketball mentors to achieve 700 career victories. Yow was also the head coach of the 1988 US Olympic Team that won the gold medal in Seoul."
[The V Foundation]

Local Connection
This year the Texas Girls’ Coaches Association has chosen the Kay Yow Cancer Fund as their charity of choice. The girls’ basketball coaches in Mansfield ISD, all members of TGCA, decided it would be a great cause to bring awareness to as well as raise money.

According to Tammy Lusinger, Summit High School Athletic Coordinator and Girls' Basketball Head Coach, the MISD basketball teams will have pink t-shirts for sale for $5.00. They will also pass around buckets for fans to donate. All proceeds will go to the cancer fund.

Details:
Tuesday, November 30 – Mansfield girls play Arlington at Mansfield High School, Timberview girls play Crowley at Timberview High School, Summit boys and girls play Legacy boys and girls at Summit High School.

Tuesday, December 7 – Mansfield girls play North Crowley at Mansfield High School and Timberview boys and girls play Summit at Timberview High School.

Related information: Kay Yow biography