MARCH 21, 2014 VOLUME 2, ISSUE 26 Palestine Independent School District

INSIDE THE ISSUE: Athletics 2 Wildcat Palestine high school 3 Weekly Palestine Junior High 4 Message from our A.M Story 5 Intermediate school Superintendent:

Southside Elementary 6 Jason Marshall School The PHS girls’ soccer team has Teachers and students have worked all Northside Primary 7 worked hard this year and their work year to prepare for STAAR testing, and School has paid off with exceptional results. the first day is quickly approaching. I The girls clinched the district would like to remind students to get Washington Early 8 championship with their win of 8-0 plenty of sleep the night before tests Childhood Center over Diboll. Astrid Sandoval led the and be sure to eat breakfast, Ladycat offense with 2 goals and 3 preferably high in protein rather than TACE 9 assists and had help with Karina carbohydrates to help them focus Trejo’s 2 goals and 2 assists. Defense longer. was anchored by goalkeeper, Amber Gonzalez and sweeper Danielle ! Harroff. This is the first time in STAAR Test Schedule Palestine ISD history for the girls’ soccer team to win the district Monday, March 31 End of Course English I championship. The girls are on a 7 ! game winning streak as they head into Tuesday, April 1 4 th & 7th Grade Writing-Day 1 the playoffs. Way to go Ladycats! The (No Fooling!) 5th & 8th Grade Math boys’ soccer team is also having a End of Course English II great season and is third in district ! th th play. Congratulations to these Wednesday, April 2 4 & 7 Grade Writing-Day 2 th th outstanding players for their 5 & 8 Grade Reading Produced by Palestine dedication, hard work, and success! ! Tuesday, April 22 3 rd, 4th, 6th, & 7th Grade High School Printing Math 8th Grade Social Studies

and Imaging Wednesday, April 23 3rd, 4th, 6th, & 7th Grade Reading 5th & 8th Grade Science Technology: ! Friday, April 25 STAAR Make-up Day •Ana Balderas ! Tuesday, May 6 End of Course Algebra I •Rozi Balderas Wednesday, May 7 End of Course Biology Thursday, May 8 End of Course US History

Go Wildcats Palestine Athletics Lance Angel: Athletic Director

Basketball Congratulations to the following young ladies on receiving the following honors for this past season.

1st Team All - District ( Kierra Wilson) 2nd Team All - District (Lacey Tillis, Marsha Warren) TABC Academic All - State (Breanna Jackson)

Track The Girls Track Team won the Dogwood Relay Track Meet. JV Boys won their Division Varsity Boys were 2nd place behind Nacogdoches.

Soccer Seven of our senior soccer players have been named Academic All-State for excellence both in the classroom and on the field. Thank you, teachers, for your role in helping these young men and women achieve this honor:

Danielle Harrof Karina Rodas Caleb Abernathy Alex Chapa Parker Hamon Wesley Ives !Sam Snyder Girls soccer are district champions for the first time in school history!!! They also accomplished this in a 4A district. This is the 6th year in a row they have made the playofs. The boys are 3rd seed in district behind Nacogdoches and Jacksonville and qualified for the playofs....6th year in a row. It was also a 4A district they played in. Boys and Girls soccer have advanced to the 4A state playofs for the 6th year in a row.

Palestine High School William Stewart: Principal

Culinary Hospitality Culinary Students, Kaya Duncan, Kayla Mitchell, Chance Noble, Breezy Lake-Wolfe, Marketing Manager for Brian Thlang participated in the Diboll High School Axed Competition on Wednesday, March 5th. The competition had a the City of Palestine visited Ms. Merryman's “mystery basket” with ingredients that the students were Hospitality classes. Mrs. Lake-Wolfe's required to use in knowledge of hotels, conventions, luxury preparing boutiques and spas is extensive and the their entry for the students learned more about the vast array judges. This of job opportunities and the importance of was the competition combining their passion with an education. the students had attended outside Palestine. It was a great learning experience as well as a lot of fun.

Powerlifting Congratulations to Lacey Tillis for placing 3rd at the High School Women’s Powerlifting Association State Championships. Lacey finished with a total of 905 lbs., a personal best.

Palestine Junior High School Larissa Loveless: Principal

Harlem All-Star Legends Earlier this week we had some former Harlem Globetrotters, The Harlem All-star Legends, come in and speak to our Junior High students. The talented men came in to motivate our kids, they told them to stay in school, they told them about all the places they can go see and how far you can go with a great education. The Harlem All-stars also tossed the ball around with them, our students really enjoyed seeing and being a part of something so wonderful. Our students were so excited to see all the cool things the Harlem All-star Legends had in store for them.

Honor Roll Party 80 of our Palestine Junior High students who are on the A and AB honor roll had an Honor Roll party on Friday, March 7th before we left for Spring Break. Our students had cake and juice, and got to mingle with their friends for a quick snack. Our students work so hard to make good grades, and they always look forward to their reward, they really enjoyed it!

A.M Story Intermediate School Amanda Jackson: Principal

Chess Club Continues to Meet Even though our UIL event occurred last semester, the Story UIL Chess Puzzle Group continues to meet every Friday after school until 5:30. Sponsored by Virgil Buell, their dedication is evident as they garnered several places at contest: fourth grade received 2nd and 4th place ribbons; fifth grade received 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons; and sixth grade received 1st and 3rd place ribbons. All three teams placed 1st in the team competitions. Parents and all students are welcome to their Friday meetings. Please join them. They will teach you to play chess.

Sweet Success! Students who demonstrated responsibility and excellent decision-making skills were treated to an Ice Cream Sundae Party last week. Students with only one tardy, no office referrals, and no zeros were eligible for this sweet treat!

Furry Friend Sophie, our therapy dog, continues to visit our campus. Our students enjoy spending time with her.

Southside Elementary School Stephen Cooksey: Principal

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

Improve Benchmark Scores Third grade students were rewarded with a trip to Reagan Park for working hard to improve benchmark test scores.

Excellent Behavior Second and Third grade students with excellent behavior for the six weeks earned extra recess and snow- cones.

Reggie “Air Man” Dixon Students enjoyed a visit from Reggie “Air Man” Dixon from the Harlem Globetrotters. Students learned some fancy basketball tricks and heard an inspirational talk reminding them they can be anything want in life if they surround themselves with positive people and put forth their best effort in all they do.

Rockets Students in enrichment groups worked to create a rocket by preparing a plan, gathering resources, and utilizing materials. Student projects were voted on by a team of staff members and students received ribbons for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.

Northside Primary School Barbara Dutton : Principal

Kindergarten Skates

Washington Early Childhood Center Rhonda Herrington: Principal

Public Schools Week

Washington ECC celebrated Texas Public Schools Week by inviting parents and grandparents to visit classrooms and participate in open house events. Moms enjoyed mufns, dads ate lots of donuts and grandparents had a hamburger lunch on Western Day. Everyone enjoyed the fun events.

Future Events March 27th – Kids Science Safari April 15th – Visit to the Anderson County Livestock April 3rd – Mom and Son Event – Monster Truck Day Show April 9th – Trip to Caldwell Zoo

PALESTINE ISD TACE

Junior High School TACE STEM Center Junior High School TACE STEM Center CTE Cosmetology-On March 6th, Culinary Arts students worked together to create fruit trays, to celebrate Texas Public Schools Week.

Woodworking enrichment activity

Story TACE STEM Center Story TACE hosted Lunch and ipads on March 18. Parents came and ate lunch with their student, then went to the library and explored the apps that are being used in the TACE program.

Southside Elementary TACE Literacy Center Students in Mrs. Frank’s TACE classes learn about the properties of ice and diferent science concepts using AIMS curriculum.

PALESTINE ISD TACE

Southside Elementary TACE Literacy Center Southside TACE students study measurement while making smoothies in their Math Munchies class with Mrs. Hazel.

Southside Elementary TACE Literacy Center

Mrs. Meza and her TACE class processing some fingerprints left by Leo the Lion. These CSI Agents are measuring up a storm in order to figure out the clues!

Upcoming Events

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. ! For more information please contact: Mr. Tupac Alcauter at: 903-731-800 ext. 1266 or e-mail: [email protected]

Center Day Parent Meeting/Workshop Hours

20 Your kids on-line (Internet safety) 6:00-8:00 pm

Palestine High School TACE College and Career Center 25 Archery Parent/Child 6:00-7:00 pm

27 YMCA Station Games. 6:00-8:00 pm Palestine Junior High School Place: YMCA Facilities TACE STEM Center

25 STAAR Parent Night 5:30-6:15 pm Southside Elementary TACE Literacy Center

Northside TACE 27 Spring fling 5:00-7:00 pm Literacy Center

MARCH Looking Forward

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Boys/Girls Soccer 5:00p District UIL 5:00p 2:00p HS One- ! @ Waco Robinson vs. Rusk Academic Meet Northside Act Play (Home) District UIL TACE Spring Southside Jedi Fling 7:00p Harlem Academic Meet 4:30p JV/V Academy Allstar Legends vs. begins 5:30p Southside Track @ at PHS Rusk (Home) TACE STAAR Fairfield 7:00p School Parent Night Board Meeting vs. Rusk ! 6:00p TACE (Home) Archery Lessons for Parents/ Students

6:30p Varsity Baseball @ Kaufman

Tennis vs. Kilgore (Away)

30 31 1 2 3 4 5 5:00p Softball 5:00p Softball Track @ vs. Mexia @ Groesbeck Mineola (Home) Varsity Baseball @ 4:30p JV/V Groesbeck Baseball vs. Mexia (Home)