PIE

Winter 2011

NEWSLETTER

Partners In Education

Wichita Falls ISD

PIE Staff • 940.235.1009 940.720.4982 (Fax)Christi Farnsworth, PIE Coordinator cfarnsworth@wfi sd.net

PARTNERS IN EDUCATION1104 Broad StreetP.O. Box 97533Wichita FAlls, Texas 76307-7533

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDWichita Falls, TXPermit No. 170

Winter 2011 Page 1Page 4 Winter 2011

Teachers distribute T-shirts for students reaching their goal at the RHRR rally.

. . Red Hot Radical Readers Mentors Adopt-A-School News New PIE Partners

Milam student Derrick Newton poses with his mentor Kelly Gill, MSU Men’s Soccer Team.

Red Hot Radical Readers fl y high at all-district rallyLet’s celebrate! Chris Callaway and Tony Kerns, 92.9 NIN disc jockeys, kicked off the annual Red Hot Radical Readers All-District Rally with celebration music, celebration cheers and celebration words of encouragement ~ it was an evening to celebrate!

Sponsored by the Wichita Falls Kiwanis Club, Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott and 92.9 NIN, this reading incentive program is designed to recognize and reward students for their reading accomplishments. Since 1993 the Red Hot Radical Readers program focuses on students meeting their reading goals and discovering that reading can be fun! Over eighteen hundred fourth, fi fth and sixth grade students participated from the following elementary schools: Burgess, Crockett, Cunningham, Fain, Fowler, Franklin, Lamar, Milam, Scotland Park, Southern Hills and Washington/Jackson.

Why we mentorI was given the opportunity to mentor an 8th grade student at Kirby Junior High. The fi rst visit was a little awkward, since I did not know what to expect. I was able to fi nd out that my mentee enjoyed coloring and music. The mentee had a mentor last year, so she guided me along with information. The second week, I brought some coloring pages and a checker board to play. During the fi rst fi fteen minutes, we colored and played a game of checkers. She also showed me around the campus. The fi rst few weeks, I did not see any changes in the mentee student. I did not understand why this student needed a mentor. Then on the eighth week, I walked in and she seemed to be relieved that I showed up. She was having a bad day, and this is where I saw the change. We colored and she was able to vent about her day. The longer we sat there; I could tell that her day was getting better. I felt like she was relieved that she had a person to be able to talk too. The eighth week is when I realized the mentor program actually made a difference to these students. I did not have any plans in coming back the next semester until that day. I asked my mentee student if she would mind me coming back next semester. I will be going back. I only noticed that one change in my mentee student, but that one change made a difference to my mentee and me. I came to realize that I have actually enjoyed the past eight weeks and look forward to coming back next semester.

The experience that I had with my student was wonderful. I loved my student. She was not shy and really reminded me of me in junior high. I loved coming to Kirby and spending time with her. She always seems to brighten my day. I absolutely loved mentoring. MSU Student

Wichita Falls ISDWichita Falls ISDCrockett second grader Janessa Arvanis meets with her mentor, WFHS PAL Erin Pearce.

Inside this issue...

Washington/Jackson Elementary students celebrate reaching their goals at the Red Hot Radical Readers all-district rally.

Crockett second grader Anna Izaguirre meets with her mentor, WFHS PAL

Angelica Patton.-

One of the true joys of the Christmas Season is the opportunity

to say Thank You for“Keeping Children at the Center”

Christmas BlessingsChristi Farnsworth

Diana Costello and Judy Muir sort new coats for distribution to elementary students. The Coats for Kids program is sponsored by First Christian Church.

WELCOME NEW PIE PARTNERS• 4 Wheel Performance• Anchor Baptist Church• Bradshaw, Jerry• Charming Charlie• Downtown Pharmacy• Gentry Specialty Advertising• Highland Heights Baptist Church• Holiday Inn Express• IntegraCare Home Health• Kell West Family Practice Clinic• Kinder Hearts Home Health Care• Lexington Suites by Vantage• Planet Fitness• St. Marks United Methodist Church• Wal-Mart / Greenbriar

Winter 2011 Page 3Page 2 Winter 2011

ADOPT-A-SCHOOL NEWS

In August, the Project Back to School Roundup, coordinated by Cheryl Ritchie, provided 5300 WFISD students with the essential school supplies and services they needed to start the year ready to learn.

Diane Lockard, PIE Campus Coordinator, presents an adopt-a-school certifi cate to Charles Bartlett, Anchor Baptist Church.

Gary & Marcia Jones and daughter Kira (411 NRG Solar Solutions) present two ipads to Mrs. Pitts and the 4th grade at West Foundation.

Milam staff is treated to a back to school lunch by PIE partner Union Square Federal Credit Union. Pictured are Jill Patterson and Jesse Thomas.

Marla and Mike Morris (State Farm Insurance) provided dictionaries for all third grade students at Fain Elementary. State Farm Neighbear was on hand to help hand out the dictionaries.

West Foundation welcomes new PIE partners. (l to r) Karen Moisant (Kell West Family Practice), Kim Smith, Jared Baswell (Lexington Suites by Vantage) and Sarah Williams (Starbucks Coffee Company).

Diane Lockard and Joyce Shepard welcome Deric Gentry (Gentry’s Specialty Advertising), new PIE partner at Southern Hills Elementary.

Alamo - WF Kiwanis Club celebrates the Student of the Month with balloons, a certifi cate and a gift card. Thanks to the WF Kiwanis Club, each student will receive a new pair of shoes and hygiene kit On the Border provided a delicious meal for an Alamo family Wichita County Bar Association contributed fi nancially to supply each student with a book from the Scholastic Book fair

Barwise – Yogurt Journey provided a sundae party as a reward to the class bringing the most canned goods for the “Students Against Hunger” campaign. Students and teachers contributed 463 items to the area food bank Olive Garden treated members of the Barwise PTO to a delectable luncheon A Barwise family enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings delivered by On the Border

Burgess – Starbucks provided coffee for Grandparents’ Day and the teachers’ lounge and gave Christmas gift certifi cates to every teacher El Chico Mexican Restaurant, Texas Roadouse, United Supermarkets, Circle M Bakery, Gidgets Sandwich Shack and Whataburger recognize staff with delicious lunches and gift cards Wal-Mart gave gift cards for students

Cunningham – Drug Free Week was a hit with beautiful shirts from Imprints 1 Donations from Upscale Resale, Burger King, McAlister’s, Mazzio’s, Margie’s Sweet Shop, The Wildcats and The Basketcase made BINGO day a success! Mazzio’s and Texas Roadhouse make parent conference days enjoyable by feeding the staff delicious food

Fain – Mike Morris State Farm Insurance celebrates faculty birthdays by offering monthly birthday cakes. Marla & Mike Morris also provided dictionaries for all third graders Tommie & Wayne Beck generously purchase “celebration” prizes for students and as a special treat for the staff, they purchased a large Keurig brewer for the teachers’ lounge A BIG thank you to First Christian Church for sponsoring PowerPaks and delivering Thanksgiving food baskets

Fowler – Students had great fun decorating pumpkins supplied by American National Bank. The pumpkins were displayed at the bank and enjoyed by all. American National Bank presented student awards at the school assembly Artie Woods and McGruff presented drug awareness programs during Drug Free Week Lone Star RV provides school supplies for students

Franklin –Dr. and Mrs. Charles Thueson purchase library books each month Staff members were treated to a barbeque lunch during parent conference days by Tomahawk Caterers, Mica and Tommy Smyth Nor-Tex Materials purchased each teacher a school shirt Dr. Devek Frech provides teacher incentives and the AR Store to reward reading for all grade levels Fain Presbyterian Church provides PowerPaks and composition journals for students School supplies and backpacks are given to students in need by First Presbyterian Church

Head Start – Christmas is fi lled with special gifts and parties thanks to many PIE Partners and Friends ~ Cantu Services, Colonial Church, Johnny Carino’s, The Learning Center, Rolling Meadows and University United Methodist Church Hirschi Realtors hosted a Christmas trip to the mall where students were fi tted with new shoes and visited Santa Claus Rolling Meadows -- The Gables, River Oaks and Colonial Church provided Fall parties and goodie bags Johnny Carino’s provides monthly staff appreciation lunches

Hirschi – Welcome new PIE partner! IntegraCare Home Health assists CNA students with fees for the State Board

Houston – Christmas is an exciting time thanks to University Kiwanis Club who generously gives a new pair of shoes, a book and treats to each student at the annual Christmas party Houston Elementary students are stepping out in style thanks to Bonnie Davis, Village Bowl, Breegles, Tangles Salon, Dr. and Mrs. Jim Mitchell and many Friends of PIE who are giving a new hoodie for every student The Junior League of Wichita Falls packs PowerPaks to send home each week New PIE partner Highland Heights Baptist Church has provided clothes and food to families in need and donated school supplies and materials to students and staff

Jefferson – The annual Parent Involvement Counts Night was a big success thanks to Olive Garden, Dr. Ray Hyde, Ferguson Enterprises and Sam’s Club

Kirby – Meal coupons were donated by Texas Roadhouse for the Accelerated Reader program Taco Casa bucks were given by Taco Casa to award Top Dawg recipients Teachers are shown appreciation with gift certifi cates from Spa Bella and lunches cooked by Jerry Bradshaw B & C Printing printed fl yers and tickets for the school’s Holiday for Hospice Benefi t

Lamar – First National Bank provides birthday cake for teachers and Grace Care Center provides monthly birthday cupcakes for students C & I Electronics and First National Bank fi nancially contribute for student and teacher supplies First National Bank donated books to the school library

Milam – Wal-Mart, Maggie Moos, Academy Sports, Cinemark and Freeman, Sheppard and Story have given gift cards, treats and donations for the “Roar with P.R.I.D.E.” positive behavior initiative Union Square Federal Credit Union provided brunch and Wichita Falls Teachers Federal Credit Union provided lunch for staff members at the beginning of the school year The Gill family provided MSU soccer shirts to each student who had a MSU Men’s soccer player for a mentor Teachers are treated with gift packages and certifi cates from Bath and Body Works and Spa Bella Fidelity Bank, Leadership Enterprises and United Supermarkets contribute fi nancially for student activities Basketballs were given to students by Jerry’s Scoreboard for the MSU Men’s basketball “Slam Dunk” contest Little Caesars Pizza donated pizzas for the sixth grade student fundraiser Stripes and On the Border provided coupons for students and staff

Sheppard – Sheppard AFB is the perfect partner! Generous volunteers from Sheppard AFB are ready to serve. Field trips, presenters, mentors and goodie bags for Red Ribbon Week are just a few examples of the base meeting the needs of the students

Southern Hills – Like a good neighbor, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital is there , , , by providing monthly luncheons, Thanksgiving baskets, treats for AR awards and special activities Corlett Probst & Boyd continues to fi nancially meet the needs of our students Welcome new PIE Partners ~ Gentry’s Specialty Advertising and Anchor Baptist Church Boley-Featherston Insurance, First National Bank of Byers, Falls Chapel UMF, First United Methodist Church Guarantee Title and Tenth and Broad Church of Christ provide mentors, help families in need and provide incentives for students with perfect attendance Altman Legal Group sponsored a student Christmas card contest and presented gift cards to the winners University UMC diligently works each week to ensure students have food to take home by packing PowerPaks Staff members are treated to a delicious lunch by Gilmore’s Collision Center

Washington/Jackson – Davenport’s Grocery honors students with monthly birthday gifts Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel gave treats to all students while Times Record News hosted kindergarten and fi rst graders for Halloween Texas Roadhouse supplies free meals as student incentives Teachers enjoy delicious lunches provided by Texas Roadhouse and MT’s BBQ

West – 411 NRG Solar Solutions and Catfi sh Grill purchased IPADS TNT Signs & Graphics designed banners for new PIE Partners to display in the cafeteria Staff members are treated to delicious lunches and coffee by Starbucks, El Diablo Burrito, Johnny Carino’s and Texas Roadhouse Sonic on Kell sponsored a drawing contest with winners receiving gift cards

Zundy – Members of Kappa Delta Chi, Omega Delta Phi and WFHS PALS mentor students weekly Texoma Community Credit Union sponsored a Reality Fair for seventh graders, teaching students the importance of budgeting and life skills Staff members as well as students appreciate quarterly incentives and donations from Days Inn & Suites, Dr. Sandra Vergara, Texoma Community Credit Union, 4 Wheel Performance, Holiday Inn Express, Downtown Pharmacy, Comfort Inn Suites and Bahama Bucks

Dr. and Mrs. Charles Thueson purchase books for the library at Franklin each month grandaughters Olivia and Abigale Tromens show some of the books purchased.

Barwise students enjoyed sundaes at Yogurt Journey compliments of Partners In Education, Tammy and Brent Spray.

Celebrating Twenty-three Years of “Keeping Children at the Center” Franklin teachers show off their new school

shirts purchased by Walter Riddle (Nor-Tex Materials).

PIE Campus Coordinators enjoy a delicious lunch at the Coordinators information meeting. Larry Menefee welcomes Jerry Bradshaw (EMS

Compliance), new PIE partner at Kirby Junior High.