INSIDE THE ISSUE:

Athletics

Palestine high school

Palestine Junior High

A.M Story Intermediate school

Southside Elementary School

Northside Primary School

Washington Early Childhood Center

TACE

APRIL 11, 2014 VOLUME 2, ISSUE 29

I was fortunate to participate in a conference last week with a small group of superintendents from across the country.  It is always interesting getting together with people from other states, and when you add students/parents/schools to the discussion, things get very interesting.  While each city/state has their own individual successes and difficulties, schools really do share many of the same issues.  Being able to collaborate with people from other areas and see how they are battling their challenges helps all of us to grow.   !During the conference, we discussed many topics including:  changing student demographics, public perceptions of schools, instructional technology, and student needs.  We spent the better part of an entire day discussing the importance of reading and writing for students.  A nationally-renowned speaker from Harvard supported the reading argument by stating that schools “should do nothing else with kids until they learn to read, write, and speak correctly”.  Without these skills, it is almost impossible to succeed in life.  We are by-no-means perfect in our reading program at PISD, but I am very proud that we have made the commitment that we have made.  I can truthfully say that our elementary campuses take the “at all costs” approach to reading.  Kudos to everyone!

Secondly, PISD is at the forefront of public school education with our instructional technology program.  After listening to what other schools are doing, I am very proud of our progress.  We still have a long way to go, but we are providing outstanding tools that assist students with learning and enrich their own personal lives.   Next, I would like to brag on the quality and quantity of professional development that we are providing our staff members.  In comparison, we are way ahead of the curve.  One thing I would like for all staff to consider, however, is how we can get our professional development opportunities to be more consistent throughout the year.  I know we are looking at incorporating several ½ days into the school year next year for that purpose, but I believe we need to make better use of our technology by bringing it into our professional learning communities.   Finally, one of the biggest topics of the conference was that of “Getting the Word Out”.  We do many wonderful things in our district each and every day, and we need to continue to tell our story to our community and to our elected officials in Austin.      Great job to all of our athletic and extracurricular activities over the past few weeks.  Many more exciting things to come…Mr. Marshall.

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Produced by Palestine High School Printing and Imaging Technology: •Ana Balderas •Rozi Balderas

Wildcat WeeklyMessage from our Superintendent: Jason Marshall

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Palestine Independent School District

Go Wildcats Palestine Athletics

Lance Angel: Athletic Director

SPORTSMONDAY, APRIL 7TH

District Golf @ Jacksonville-

Round 1

TUESDAY, APRIL 8TH

District Golf @ Fairfield – Round 2

Baseball @ Fairfield

Softball @ Fairfield

WED., APRIL 9TH

District Track @ Palestine – Field Events begin at 10:00 AM

THURSDAY, APRIL 10TH

District Track @ Palestine – Running Finals 5:30 PM

FRIDAY, APRIL 11TH

Softball Here vs New Summerfield

!Congratulations to all of our athletes that competed in track this year.  Congratulations to the Boys on their 4th District Title in a Row.

!The tennis team has been playing well ---Abby Olguin was able to place third in girls' singles for the JV after playing a total of 4 matches. Macy Stone and Travis Bennett were able to come away with a third place medal in mixed doubles after also playing four matches.  !We have two students make it to Regionals in Bryan on April 14th and 15th representing not only Palestine but also the district as no. 1 girls’ single player (Stevie Ybraa - a freshman)  and no. 2 boys’ single player(Ben Shiller - a sophmore).

Palestine High School

William Stewart: Principal

CosmetologyWe will be having our 2014 Spring Showcase on Thursday, April 24th during all lunches and after school during report card pickup.   All of our Cosmetology students will have projects on display.  Stop by during lunch and vote for your favorites by scanning a QR Code. We will be open on Saturday, May 10th from 9am until 3pm for Prom Appointments!  Save some money on a fabulous look for your special night.  Guys Haircuts - $5 Party Hairstyle - $15 Makeup Application including artificial lashes - $15 Party Hairstyle & Makeup - $25 Artificial Nails including free nail art $15 Prom Pedicure - $8 www.phscatsmeow.com You don’t have to be attending prom to enjoy these great specials!  Please call or email for an appointment. rsonger@palestineschools.org (903) 731-8005 ext. 2013 Or just stop by The Cat’s Meow – The Salon @ PHS

Several FFA students competed at the Region 8 Area CDE contest (career development event) this past Wednesday at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX. These students spent many hours practicing after school preparing for both this Area contest and several other Invitational Contests this spring. We were able to take 3 different judging teams: Livestock, Poultry, and Horse. These teams competed against 44 schools covering 15 counties. Brittany Collins took 19th place out of 239 contestants for Livestock Judging! That’s within the top 10% in Area! !

FFA

Poultry Kacee Newman (12th) Makyla Thrower (10th) John Andress (10th) Kaitlyn Slindee (10th)

Horse: Charles Henderson (9th) Kathryne Shook (9th) Quintan Eirkner (9th)

Thursday, May 15, at 6:00 p.m. in the PHS auditorium. Do you have a special talent you’d like to share? Auditions for the Choir’s annual “Wildcats Have Talent” Show will be held by appointment before or after school with Mrs. Dantin in the high school choir room the week of April 28 through May 2. The show is open to junior high and high school students, staff, and faculty with separate categories for each group. To arrange an audition appointment see Mrs. Dantin before or after school, during 4th period, email her (cdantin@palestineschools.org), or leave a message at 903-731-8005, ext. 2159. A registration fee of $3 for individuals and $4 for groups is due at the time of audition.

There will be a new class starting Monday, April 14 called Coffee Talk Hour.

It will be held in The Wildcat Café Monday through Thursday from 7:00am to 7:45am. !

We will provide you with a small snack, coffee, hot chocolate, or juice. All for FREE!! !

Come and join us in Wildcat Café to see what all the talk is about.

Coffee Talk Hour Wildcats Have Talent

Livestock: Andrea Andress (11th) Austin Hansel (11th) Brittany Collins (11th) Chris Hall (9th)

Palestine High School A.V. Production teams up with A.M. Story Intermediate to make STARR Motivational Video.

STARR Motivational

Please join me in congratulating Ben Lara and Reyna Morales as recipients of medals for Exemplary artworks from State VASE. Many hours were spent laboring over new techniques and they have grown artistically as a result. Jessica Ibarra also attended the event for the second year in a row which is an accomplishment in and of itself. If you see these students around campus, give them ‘high-fives’ for their achievements!

STATE VASE

Palestine Junior High School

Larissa Loveless: Principal

The PJHS TACE Program is working on some pretty neat projects. This week Mr. Sloan’s TACE wood-shop groups are building Puddle Duck Boats and test the aspect of their building project with a fun competition.

PJHS TACE

13 of our 8th grade girls were chosen by their peers to represent the class of 2018. These girls had the opportunity to choose their escorts to the coronation on April 12, where the 8th Grade Queen will be announced. This week our 8th Grade Sweet Hearts and their escorts learned to waltz for the 2014 coronation ceremony.

Waltz

A.M Story Intermediate School

Amanda Jackson: Principal

Mrs. Quarles science students prepare for the upcoming Math STAAR test by participating in a friendly competition of Math March Madness. The winner received a commemorative Final Four basketball.

Mad about Math

Members of the PHS Soccer Team came by Story to have lunch with our MVPs for the six weeks.

The Story Plant Investigation Class completed their experiment on plants and how they drink water.  Studying the stem that the water travels up and placing them in colored water, they are watching the color changes in the flowers. 

Congratulations to the Lady Wildcat Soccer Team

Science investigations

Southside Elementary SchoolStephen Cooksey: Principal

Students are “Diving into Learning” here at Southside Elementary!

Students were rewarded for I-Station growth with a popsicle treat.

We had a several days of “Teacher Treats” to inspire our teachers as they prepare for STAAR with the Jedi Academy.

2nd grade enjoyed a fruits and vegetables presentation from Holly Black with the county extension agency to help with their school garden.

Teacher Treats

Popsicle Treat

School Garden

Lots going on at Southside!

Northside Primary School

Barbara Dutton : Principal

Northside First Grade attended the Annual Spring Rotary Safety Town at The Palestine Mall this week. We learned everything from transportation safety to 911 safety on the cell phone. It was so much fun and we really appreciate Hugh Summers and the entire Safety Town Team.

Annual Spring Rotary Safety Town

NORTHSIDE students begin building and painting water bottle bugs for THE BUGS LIFE ART SHOW ON MAY 15.

The Bugs Life Art Show

Washington Early Childhood Center

Rhonda Herrington: Principal

We may not have gone to the Motor Speedway, but thanks to Rashad Mims and the Precinct 2 Road Crew we had our very own Monster Truck Bash at Washington Early Childhood Center.  The Precinct trucks arrived bright and early Thursday morning with horns blowing.  Students climbed into, on, and over each truck and blew every horn that was available to blow.  Mothers then arrived later that morning for our Mom and Son Event. The sons took their moms outside to tell them everything they knew about each truck and then came inside for a hot dog lunch. We then tested our moms’ construction skills. Hammers in hand, each mom and son put together a Build to Grow wood project donated by Lowe’s.  Hammering continued for a couple of hours with Bird houses, ice cream trucks, airplanes, tow trucks being constructed. Everyone had a great time.!!Thank you again to Lowes, Rashad Mims and the Precinct 2 Road Crew: Daniel Russell, Leroy Green, Trinidad Muniz-Morales, Russell Crist, Sr., Ruben Munoz, James Young, and Lemmie Williams. We are glad we helped out with your upper body exercises lifting 200 students in and out of each truck.

MONSTER TRUCKS & BIRD HOUSES

PALESTINE ISD TACE

parent activity called “Spring Fling” on Tuesday, March 27th

Northside TACE Literacy Center

The students created a bird sanctuary area in the front of the school. They spent time measuring and recording the amount of food being put in the feeders. They made observations of birds and the amount of food they ate and recorded this information. One student drew a picture of the bird and its nest up in the brick. We also had students plant caladium bulbs that will later be transferred to the butterfly garden. The students will study the cycle of the butterfly and observe the different cycles.

Southside Elementary TACE Literacy CenterNorthside TACE Literacy Center

Decorating egg cookies with Mrs. Anderson in her Dogfish Decorating

TACE class

Students involved in after school

program

Story TACE STEM CenterWorkshop called “TACE Open House and Showcase” on Tuesday, April 1st

PALESTINE ISD TACE

Northside TACE Literacy Center invites you to “Keeping your child going academically during the summer months” on Thursday, April 10th at 8:00 am.

Northside TACE Literacy Center invites you to “Easter Eggs Hunts” on Thursday, April 17th at 9:00 am.

Southside Elementary TACE Literacy Center invites you to “Family BINGO Night” on Thursday, April 10th at 5:30 pm.

Palestine Junior High School TACE STEM Center invites you to “Summer Reading: Overdrive” on Tuesday, April 15th at 6:00 pm.

Palestine High School TACE Program invites all Palestine ISD parents to register for GED classes. Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 pm, in High School Room 205.

Palestine High School TACE Program invites all Palestine ISD parents to register for Zumba classes. Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5-6 pm; in High School.

Palestine High School TACE Program invites all Palestine ISD parents to register for Knitting classes. Classes will be held on Wednesdays at 6 pm, in High School Room 222.

Upcoming Events

Center Day Parent Meeting/Workshop Hours

Palestine High School TACE College and Career Center

24 Report Card Pick up 5:30-7:00 pm

Palestine Junior High School TACE STEM Center

15 Summer Reading: Overdrive 6:00-7:00 pm

29 YMCA Team building Activity 5:30-6:30 pm

Story TACE STEM Center

22 Soccer Tournament 5:30-8:00 pm

Southside Elementary TACE Literacy Center

10 Family BINGO Night 5:30-6:15 pm

24 Palestine Library 5:30-6:15 pm

Northside TACE

Literacy Center

10 Keeping your child going academically during the summer months

8:00-9:00 am

17 Easter Egg Hunts 9:00 am-12:00 pm

25 Family Kite Derby Day 1:30-2:30 pm

For more information please contact: Mr. Tupac Alcauter at: 903-731-800 ext. 1266 or e-mail: talcauter@palestineschools.org

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APRIL Looking Forward

! Regional Tennis @ Bryan

Regional Golf @ Huntsville

Regional Tennis @ Bryan

!Regional Golf @ Huntsville

!Baseball and Softball @ Rusk

Washington Visit the Livestock Show

Jr. High TACE Summer Reading Overdrive

Area Teach Meet @ Carthage

2:00 Story STARR Pep Rally

Baseball vs. Groesbeck (Home) !Story Class Group Pictures !Northside Greenbriar Easter Egg Hunt !Washington Easter Egg Hunts

Southside 2nd Grade Field Trip – Athens

1:30p Northside Kite Day

4:30p Baseball vs. Fairfield (Home) Senior Night

Regional Track Meet in Humble

Regional Track Meet in Humble

!GOOD FRIDAY HOLIDAY Late Registration Deadline for May 3rd SAT

5:30p HS TACE Report Card Pickup

5:30p Southside TACE Palestine Public Library

Story 4th & 6th Reading, 5th Science

Southside STAAR Testing (3rd Grade Campus Closed)

Story 4th Grade STAAR & 6th Grade Math

Southside STAAR Testing (3rd Grade Campus Closed)

Southside 2nd Grade Field Trip to Corsicana or Athens

5:30p Story TACE Soccer Tournament

Baseball @ Mexia

SS STAAR Pep Rally

April 21 – 7:00 pm Regular Board Meeting