Gilmer ISD News Ggilmer Independent School District Newsletter Newsletter Fspring 2018, 3Rd Edition

Gilmer ISD News GGilmer Independent School District Newsletter Newsletter FSpring 2018, 3rd edition

Gilmer ISD Earns State’s Highest Fiscal Accountability Rating

Gilmer Independent School District officials announced that the district received a rating of “A” for “Superior Achievement” under Texas’ School FIRST financial accountability rating system. The “Superior Achievement” rating is the state’s highest, demonstrating the quality of Gilmer ISD’s financial management and reporting system.

This is the 15th year of School FIRST (Financial Accountability Rating System of Texas), a financial accountability system for Texas school districts developed by the Texas Education Agency in response to Sen- ate Bill 875 of the 76th Texas Legislature in 1999 and amendments under House Bill 5, 83rd Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2013. The primary goal of School FIRST is to achieve quality performance in the management of school districts’ financial resources, a goal made more significant due to the complexity of accounting associated with Texas’ school finance system.

The Texas Education Agency assigned one of four financial accountability ratings to Texas school districts, with the highest being “A” for “Superior Achievement,” followed by “B” for “Above-Standard Achievement,” “C” for “Standard Achievement” and “F” for Substand- Board members Diedra Camp and Todd Tefteller present Director of ard Achievement.” Gilmer ISD has achieved the highest rating for all Finance and Business Beverly Bobo with GISD’s Superior Achievement 15 years that the School FIRST Rating has been enacted. Award. GISD Transportation Department Receives Simulation Training

Being a member of a learning community, continuing education is always an emphasis for teachers, administrators, instructional aides, cafeteria and custo- dial staff members. Bus drivers are no exception to this rule. Recently all GISD Transportation Bus Drivers received Bus Driver Simulation training as a part of their continuing education. Bus drivers were able to attend simulation training that tested their skills, knowledge of transportation laws and regulations, as well as their reaction to different situations and scenarios. According to GISD Transportation Director, Greg Hanlin, “This training will help us gauge our drivers to assess their strengths and find areas to improve to better assist them in being better and safer drivers.” This training was provided in conjunction with Region 6 Education Service Center located in Hunstville, Texas, and the Texas Department of Transportation. Region 6 ESC trainer Larry Thornton says, “I am very pleased with the staff and the organization here in Gilmer.” GISD had a 100% passing rate on all transportation drivers who participated in the simulation training. GISD News Helping Your Child Through the Mid-Year Slump This article is found in the Parent Engagement Newsletter from Re- and get reorganized for the next semester. New materials, gion 16. For more articles and information to assist in family and new organizational strategies or a new way of looking at parental engagement, see the GISD website and review the Parent something are always good to spark renewed energy and Resource information page and click on the Family Engagement motivation. Newsletters.

• Third, avoid over scheduling your student, but encourage If Wednesday is hump day, then February is hump month. The some co-curricular activity. Many students actually per- holidays have passed and you're midway through the year and form better when they are involved in an activity of inter- school is decidedly not fun anymore for both kids and parents. est apart from their required school course work. By con- Students and educators can also go through a “slump” during tinuing to maintain family routines and by allowing your the first part of the second semester. Similar to the pre-holiday student to participate in an activity of enjoyment, many euphoria is the post-holiday letdown. The stage is set for a slump. Your child may respond to these third quarter adjust- ments in less than positive ways. If a student’s academic grades decline or there is greater incidence of conduct issues, the student may be experiencing the third quarter slump. Often during the third quarter, the content within the curriculum has reached a point where most information is new to the student and, therefore, the level of difficulty has increased. This may cause student frustration and discouragement that may lead to a number of unsatisfactory student behaviors ranging from apathy to acting out. So, how can a parent help his/her student avoid the third quarter slump?

The following proactive measures are good any time of the year and will help you and your student develop effective student habits:

• First of all, establish family routines including time for stud- ying, recreation, family meals and sleep. Children in partic- ular thrive on consistency and definitive boundaries. Chil- dren find comfort in knowing the expectations and rou- students actually improve their time management skills. tines of the family. By placing importance on doing certain These activities can be a stress reducer and help to elimi- things at a certain time, parents are teaching time manage- nate seasonal blues experienced by some students. ment skills and helping the student to discern the things that are the most important. Make sure your student is • Fourth, keep the lines of communication open between getting enough sleep. The winter can cause all of us to you and your student’s teacher. If you discover your stu- want to sleep more, but children really need the additional dent’s grades are sliding, conferences with the teacher can sleep for healthy growth. help you learn what you can do to help the situation. Edu- cators can provide helpful suggestions and incredible in- • Second, the new year is a good time to replenish school sight into the observed behaviors of your student. If a stu- supplies and refocus on organizational routines, strategies dent is struggling with new material, the parent and teacher can work together to develop a supportive intervention plan.

Finally, celebrate the learning successes. Students often just need to know that we, as parents, recognize their effort and achievements. Helping your student stay motivated, reinforcing organizational practices, and maintaining open dialogue will help your student avoid a slump during the third quarter or any and practices. Perhaps, you and your student can do a mid- other time. Be encouraged…it’s just a short while longer to year binder check or notebook clean-up. This helps the keep moving forward and onto the promise of a relaxing, well- student realize accomplishments from the first semester earned summer. GISD News GISD Board of Trustees calls for Bond Proposal

During a special school board meeting held on Monday, February 5, at the GISD School Administration Building, the Gilmer ISD Board of Trustees called for a bond proposal totaling $35,250,000 to be presented to the taxpayers of GISD. This proposal comes after a recommendation from the Gilmer ISD Facilities Needs Assessment Committee. This committee, which was comprised largely of community members, business representatives, and parents met several times each month beginning in October 2017. After many months of thought, consideration, seeking community input, and deliberation, the facility needs committee presented to the school board a proposal to build a new high school for the students of Gilmer. Throughout the planning process community members were able to voice their opinions on both sides of the bond proposal during multiple meetings held by the facility needs committee.

The bond proposal calls for the construction, acquisition, and equipment of a new high school, including a career and technology education building and the demolition of the existing high school to provide high school parking facilities. According to state regulations in building new school facilities using public funds, bonds are typically sold on an as-needed basis to help pay the current cost of the construction. This proposal would call for approximately a 24.4 cent increase on our current rate of $1.22. This would mean about $242.00 per year for a home valued at $100,000 without a Homestead Exemption.

Early voting on the proposal will be conducted at the school administration building located at 500 South Trinity Street, beginning on Monday, April 23, and concluding on Tuesday, May 1. Voting will be Monday through Friday during regular business hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 23—April 29. On April 30 and May 1st, voting will be held from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Regular voting will be held on Saturday, May 5, at Gilmer High School 7:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m. UIL Announces New District Re-Alignments

The Texas University of Interscholastic League released the new district re-alignments for UIL athletic sports. Every two years UIL will re-align districts to help promote sportsmanship in Texas high school athletics. For the next two years, Gilmer High School Football will find itself in District 6-AAAA, Region 2 along with Spring Hill, Pittsburg, Liberty-Eylau, and Pleasant Grove. Meanwhile, Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, and Baseball teams will be battling against Bullard, Tyler Cumberland Academy, Henderson, Kilgore, Spring Hill, and Tyler Chapel Hill. GO BUCKEYES!!! GISD SHAC Says: “Lets Get Physical!”

The Gilmer Student Health Advisory Council invites you to participate in a community wide effort to get outside and get active by walking, jogging, bicycling, or any other activity that gets you physically moving. April is Million Mile Month where school districts, businesses, and communities across the United States are encouraged to work together to reach a goal of a million miles. Willing participants are encouraged to visit millionmilemonth.org and register on the Gilmer ISD and Community board. Participants are then able to record their individual or company totals and keep watch on who is leading the community. Individuals can register, as well as local businesses and civic organizations. In addition, the Student Health Advisory Council will be hosting its 8th Annual SHAC 5k Run/Walk to help participants reach the million mile marker. The 5K will be hosted at GHS on Saturday, April 14. Some- thing new in this year’s 5K will be a bicycling route. Registration for the 5K can be found at each campus office or on the GISD website. GISD News Elementary Students Excel at UIL Competition Gilmer Elementary hosted the Area UIL Academic Competition on Sat- urday, February 3. GISD students did an amazing job representing Gilmer in academic areas such as Maps, Graphs, and Charts, Mathe- matics, Art, Music Memory, Number Sense, Storytelling, Spelling, and Ready Writing. Congratulations to the following Gilmer Elementary students for their accomplishments: 1st place Individual: 4th grade Art: McKinley Dunlap, 3rd grade Spelling: Estes Guinn, 3rd grade, Ready Writing: Hailee Green; 2nd place Individual: 4th grade Number Sense: Brooke Collie; 2nd place Team: 4th grade Art: Emily Blackwood, McKin- ley Dunlap, Josie Jordan, Valeria Macias, 4th grade Number Sense: Brook Collie, Brenden Johnson, Carlos Sanchez; 3rd place Team: 4th grade Music Memory: Eden Thompson, Kinley Kennedy, Alivia Brown, Kennedy Cook; 4th place Individual: 4th grade Number Sense: Brenden Johnson, 3rd grade Storytelling: Lia Espinoza; 5th place Individual: 3rd grade Spelling: Brook Collie; 6th place Individual: 3rd grade Ready Writing: Jane Hale, 2nd grade Music Memory: McKynsi Slider GHS Choir Students Advance to State Competition

Congratulations to Gilmer High School Choir students who participated in Regional UIL Solo and En- semble Choir contest on Saturday, February 10 . With an outstanding performance and earning 1st division, these students qualified for the State UIL Solo and Ensemble contest which will be held later in the Spring Semester. Students pictured above from left to right are: Molly Sullivan, Heather Carter, Victoria Urquidez, Matthew Faggione, and Jayden Owens. Not pictured was freshman Laney Pritchett. Representing Gilmer High School will be Sullivan, Carter, Urquidez, and Faggione. Congrat- ulations to these students, their parents, and to Mrs. McMullen and Mr. Marshall for their hard work and dedication.

GISD Physical Education Students Tackle the FitnessGram

Gilmer students in grades 3through 12 that are currently enrolled in a P.E course or P.E. equivalent course will undergo the Physi- cal FitnessGram during the spring semester. Texas requires students in these grades to perform the Physical FitnessGram each year that measure a students aerobic endurance, muscle strength and endurance, flexibility, and stretches. These results are tab- ulated and sent to Austin for review. Students are measured against other students their age according to national standards. Student results are not used for grading purposes and does not affect a students grade in the course. GISD News

GHS Fishing Team Vying for a Spot at Regionals

What was once a popular pastime is now becoming a popular sport in many Texas high schools and universities. Gilmer High School is in its second year of sponsoring a high school fishing team and is finding itself with a lot of success. This year, Gilmer High School student Hunter Davidson is currently ranked 6th in the North East Division of the Texas High School Bass Association.

This association governs and schedules fishing tournaments for all six divisions over the state. Students participating on their schools’ fishing teams will fish in organized tournaments all over their re- Lady Buckeye Basketball Team Com- gion. petes at Regionals Fourth Year in a Row Students in the North East Division will fish in Tournaments on Lake Bob Sandlin, For the fourth year in a row, the Lady Buckeye Basketball Lake of the Pines, Lake Tyler, and Lake team qualified to play in the UIL Regional Tournament that Fork. was held on the campus of Texas A&M—Commerce. The Lady Buckeyes traveled to the regional tournament Friday, After fishing three tournaments in the February 23 after advancing through the first three rounds Fall, Hunter currently ranks among the of playoffs by defeating the Carthage Lady Bulldogs in the top high school anglers in his division. He first round, the Liberty Eyelau Lady Leopards in the second will fish in at least two more tournaments before qualifying for round, and the Henderson Lady Lions in the third round. Regionals, which will be held on April 21 on Lake Palestine and the Congratulations Coach Mandi Simpson, Coach Lynzi Ed- State Tournament, which will be held on Lake Sam Rayburn on wards, Coach Brittney Jacobs, and the Lady Buckeye Team! May 19-20. These high school anglers win cash prizes which are often set aside for college tuition. They are also given the oppor- tunity to fish on a university team. Stephen F. Austin State Univer- sity and Lamar University Fishing Teams have both been in the national spotlight recently as nationally ranked teams.

Gilmer FFA Poultry Team Places 2nd and Celebrates National FFA Week

With more than 90 teams and 300 students competing in the San Antonio Livestock Show, Gilmer FFA Poultry team placed 2nd. Members of the FFA Poultry team, pictured left, are Madison Vestal, Kaitlyn Castro, Logan Parrish, Mckenzie Castro, and Jaici Pilcher, not pictured. Individu- al honors went to Madison Vestal who placed 5th overall, Kaitlyn Castro 9th, and Jaici Pilcher who placed 10th.

While celebrating National FFA week on February 12 through 16th, FFA students served others in cleaning pro- jects around campus, made Valentine’s Day Cards, and cooked and served beef stew.

GISD News Gilmer FFA Horticulture to Host Annual Plant Sale on March 31 Each year Gilmer High School FFA Horticulture classes host a plant and vegetable sale where community members can pur- chase plants and vegetables for their yards and gardens. This year’s sale will be held at Gilmer High School Career and Tech- nology building on Saturday, March 31, 9:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m. Plants to be sold include flowering plants such as Vinca, Zinna, Petunia, and Marigolds, which will be sold in a variety of colors. The sale will also feature hanging plants and potted plants such as Wandering Jew, Sweet Potato Vine, Ice Plant, Swedish Ivy, Easy Wave Petunia, Coleus, and Aloe Vera. Vegetables that will be on sale will include Sweet Banana Peppers, Bell Pepper, Jala- peno Pepper, Beef Steak Tomatoes, Roma Tomatoes, Straight Neck Squash, and Zucchini Squash. In addition, Gilmer FFA will also be selling Texas Porch Ferns. These ferns are more acclimated to the climate and weather in Texas. Ferns can be purchased from any FFA Career Develop- ment Team member for $20.00. Fern orders are due by March 31 and will be available in April. Pictured left and right are Gilmer High school students working in preparation for the upcoming plant sale along with pictures of some of the plants and vegetables to be sold to the public.

Gilmer Intermediate Students Compete in UIL Academic Contests

Fifth and Sixth grade students at Gilmer Intermediate recently participated in UIL Academic contests held at Gilmer Elemen- tary on February 3, at Kilgore Middle School on Friday, February 9, and at Gladewater Middle School on Saturday, February 10. Students were able to participate in various events from Spelling, Science, Math, and various speaking events such as Modern Oratory, Story Telling, and Prose and Poetry. Students who participated are pictured above.