A JOINT PRODUCT OF THE SEGUIN ISD AND THE SEGUIN MATADOR GAZETTE PRIDE

A JOINT PRODUCT OF THE SEGUIN ISD AND THE SEGUIN GAZETTE • MAY 2016 • VOL 4: ISSUE 7 2 - May 2016 · MATADOR PRIDE Super Words Since our last issue of the Matador the Masons and all of the family mem- points in Math. Pride community newsletter, our bers who were in attendance. We great- I would like to thank our teachers, schools, students and staff have expe- ly appreciate the Masons at Guadalupe campus administrators, our families, rience several highlights that I would Masonic Lodge for their hospitality and our students and our school board for like to share with our Seguin ISD com- generosity at this annual event. coming together to create this wave of munity. In March our students and teachers success at our schools. Our teachers Seguin ISD is began the first round of spring semester have done a tremendous job in teaching the proud recipient STAAR Testing. As you may recall dur- and motivating our students, helping of a GVEC Power ing our last board meeting, I said that them realize that they can succeed and Up Grant for $6,120 I am confident that our teachers have achieve at the same level or better than that will provide gone above and beyond to prepare our districts in the greater Dremel Idea Builder students for these exams and as a result area. 3D printers for all our students will do a great job on this A couple of days before we shared seven elementary round of testing. On Thursday, we were our scores with the community, I read campuses. The dis- the first district in the area to publicly the following on Facebook and in the trict will contribute training to campus release our results which showed that newspaper: “Seguin ISD is failing to ON THE COVER: technologists, librarians, and other staff, Seguin ISD has reversed the student educate large numbers of children, and Fifth grade reading students at Jefferson Elementary showcased plus printer supplies and necessary soft- performance trajectory from negative is not preparing our young people to their literary knowledge and skills at the annual Academic Night. ware or iPad apps. I would like to thank to positive. We received many positive achieve their potential.” Jefferson families representing all grade levels walked the hallways our Technology Department for sub- comments from the community for I took this statement as an insult to for skills demonstrations as the fifth graders became the educators, mitting the paperwork for the grant as our success. everyone I just mentioned who has col- well as GVEC for their generosity. This Here is some of the good news: laborated to make a positive impact on explaining and guiding others through various learning activities. is an example of local business stepping • Looking at fifth and eighth grade the academic success of our students. forward and positively supporting our Reading and Math scores, academic Statements like these serve to further schools. improvement is evident in 18 of 22 cast a shadow over the image of our The State Destination Imagination areas districtwide. community’s schools. Statements like tournament was held near ear- • All eighth grade reading scores are these keep businesses and development KEEP UP WITH GRADES lier this month. We had six DI teams above 70 percent. from choosing Seguin. Statements like from Seguin ISD compete and I am • Seventy more students passed the these make it difficult for realtors to sell Parents and guardians can monitor their proud to report that two of these teams fifth and eighth grade Reading and homes in Seguin. have advanced to Global competi- Math STAAR compared to last year Statements like these need to be a student’s progress through a click of a mouse by tion in Knoxville, Tennessee on May despite an increase in rigor on the exam. thing of the past. using the Parent Self Serve Portal at 25-28. Congratulations to our teams • Reading scores increased in our We have taken the first step toward from Briesemeister Middle School and African American cohort, from 54 per- increasing academic performance in http://buff.ly/1EZi9l4. Seguin High School for earning a spot cent after the second test administra- Seguin ISD. to compete at the highest level. I would tion in 2015 to 71 percent after the first However, in order for us to achieve also like to thank the parents, sponsors test administration last month. our full potential, I invite everyone to To sign up, watch this MATTECHTV tutorial and community for supporting these • Based upon San Antonio area dis- join us in supporting our students and students. Please check out the photos of tricts, Seguin ISD’s fifth grade students schools. Our students deserve our sup- (http://buff.ly/1EVHOLy) that will guide you our DI teams on the back page. out-performed their peers in 9 of 16 port. step by step through the registration process. Last week I had the pleasure to districts that were published in the attend the annual Teacher of the Year Express-News. Go Mats! dinner and award ceremony hosted by • McQueeney increased 21 percent- the Guadalupe Masonic Lodge. I can age points in Reading and 22 percent- Questions about using Parent Self Serve Portal report that the pork chops were excel- age points in Math. may be directed to the SISD Technology lent and it was great to see our 13 cam- • Jefferson increased 17 percentage Stetson Roane pus Teachers of the Year recognized by points in Reading and 18 percentage Superintendent of Schools Department at (830) 401-8642.

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family camping trip at garner state park More than 80 campers from 20 Seguin ISD families took part in a free camping opportunity at Garner Family program through the Parks & Wildlife Department. Seguin ISD’s Pete Silvius, coordinator of State Park on April 8-10. The outing was made possible thanks to a grant from the Texas Outdoor P.E. and outdoor education, facilitated the camping workshop that included many first-time campers.

WOMENS TREBLE CHOIR EXCELS AT UIL The Seguin High School varsity Womens Treble Choir were rated 1-1-1 (Superior) in Concert and 1-2-2 (Excellent) in Sight Reading at the UIL Concert and Sight Reading contest on April 15. The young ladies are under the direction of Director Leonardo Garcia.

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Maya Clark Stephen Garza Callen Wessels STATE SCIENCE FAIR WINNERS Seguin High School students Maya Clark, Stephen Garza and Callen Wessels earned honorable project was in the zoology division, while Stephen’s was in earth and environmental sciences and mention for their projects in the Texas State Science Fair in San Antonio on April 2. “Our students did Callen’s project was in behavioral and social sciences. I am so proud of their accomplishments,” said a wonderful job in the Science Fair competition where they represented Seguin High School. Maya’s Vicki Rosenwald, Seguin High School science teacher and science fair coordinator.

uil success Several Seguin High School and MBLC students recently competed in the 27-5A UIL Academic Spring District meet with five advancing to Regional competition. Students who placed in the event included (back, l-r) Israel Valdez, second place in Computer Science and Regional qualifier, Ronnie Clark, fifth place in Ready Writing, Quintin Poyner, sixth place in Social Studies and Jacob Rheil, fourth place in Computer Science and Regional qualifier. Front (l-r) Ruben Hernandez, fourth place, Headline Writing and Regional alternate, Brooke Sjoberg, first place in Feature Writing and Regional qualifier, Samara Hernandez, second place in Poetry Interpretation and Regional qualifier and Maritza Villegas, sixth place in Prose Interpretation. MATADOR PRIDE · May 2016 - 5

MIDDLE SCHOOL MARIACHI TRAVELS TO FESTIVAL On April 16, Seguin ISD’s Middle School Mariachi program participated in the El Cotton Picker Mariachi Festival in Robstown. The All District musicians received a Division 2 score and second place in the Composite group category. Five students performed as soloists, with (l-r) Sirena Vela of Barnes Middle School taking second place in the Middle School division. Gabriella Beltran, Briesemeister Middle School, placed third in the Middle School division. Rodriguez Elementary student Camila Beltran finished second in the Elementary division. All three competitors earned Division 1 ratings for their performances. The community is invited to see these students perform at Rodriguez Elementary on May 25.

Service • Sales • Installation 303-8624 510 N. Austin • Seguin www.TriCountyAC.com TACLA010612C 6 - May 2016 · MaTaDOR PRIDE Star Students are selected by their teachers for their character, dedication and willingness to go above and beyond expectations in Seguin ISD schools.

patlan elementary school

jefferson elementary school Syriah Perez Tyrone Ussery Analynda Leal Kindergarten First Grade Second Grade

Ball early childhood Colin Garcia Aaliyah Herrera Arianna Molina Melanny Ruiz Xavier Garcia Jared Guerra center Kindergarten First Grade Second Grade Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth Grade Madison Soto Anahi Saucedo Julian Arce koennecke elementary school Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth Grade rodriguez elementary school

Jeanett Martinez

Murilo Dias Lilly Reese Montgomery Blevins Gideon Luna Dustin Henze Estella Galvan Kindergarten First Grade Second Grade Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth Grade Jesus Moreno Rianna Rodriguez Alma Selmani mcQueeney elementary school Kindergarten First Grade Second Grade

La’ Mauryon Johnson

Harlyi Leslie Michael Martin Aubrey Garcia Jacob Casso Chloe Salinas Christina Schumann Zariah Saldivar Omar Rico Dane Jacobus Kindergarten First Grade Second Grade Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth Grade Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth Grade

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Connor Rohde Kirra Schultz Courtlynn Ward Samira Perez Ty Stevens Maria Garcia Sophie Anderson Ryan Rodriguez Kindergarten First Grade Second Grade Sixth Grade Sixth Grade Seventh Grade Ninth Grade Ninth Grade mercer-Blumberg learning center

Adriana Reyes Abigayle Zurovec Erik Segura Jordan Ramirez Norma Chapa Dylan Gonzales Presley Carter Garrett Luensmann Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth Grade Seventh Grade Eighth Grade Eighth Grade Tenth Grade Tenth Grade

Heaven Herrera Weinert elementary school Briesemeister middle school

Magali Leija Omar Rendon Eleventh Grade Eleventh Grade Peter Neria Ava Martinez Daven Garza Ella Kennington Ashley Sanchez A.J. Yeomans Peyton Silvius Kindergarten First Grade Second Grade Sixth Grade Sixth Grade Seventh Grade

Jessica Valeriano Ricardo Guevara Twelfth Grade Twelfth Grade

Bang Hua Pan D Shyon Harris Madisyn Moreno Devin Ortiz Lindsee Miller Jeffrey Orozco Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth Grade Seventh Grade Eighth Grade Eighth Grade

Why is the NIE program so important? The Newspapers in Education (NIE) program provides teachers with access to newspapers during the school year, and, in turn, these teachers share the newspaper with students, exposing them to what is happening in Seguin, in Texas, in the and around the world. Studies have shown that students in schools with NIE programs score 10 percent higher on standardized tests. Furthermore, today’s students who read the Gazette are tomorrow’s literate, informed and productive citizens. They are more likely to vote, be civically engaged as adults and be better-educated consumers. To nd out how you can participate in the NIE program, please call Brenda at the Seguin Gazette at 379-5402 ext. 215. 8 - May 2016 · MATADOR PRIDE

boys all-district soccer Boys varsity soccer players from Seguin High School recently received All-District honors. From left to right, Rosendo Chacon, Erik Lopez Montes and Eduardo Reyes earned Honorable Mention. Hugo Ortiz is Second Team All-District, while Silvino Alvarez was named First Team All-District.

girls all-district soccer All-District honors went to several Seguin High School varsity girls soccer players, including (l-r) Katharine Stephens, Honorable Mention, Kaylie Koenen, Defensive Player of the Year, Codi Funderburg, Honorable Mention, Ashley Burnett, Second Team All-District and Alexandrea Seaton, First Team All-District. Not pictured is Tiffany Donhauser, Honorable Mention.

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coach larry coker visits mats Coach Larry Coker won an NCAA football national championship with the Hurricanes in 2001 and most recently served as UTSA’s first head football coach. On March 30, Coach Coker was in the Seguin HIgh School weight room upon invitation from Seguin ISD AD/Head Football Coach Travis Bush to serve as guest speaker during practice. Coach Coker stayed for the entire athletic period and provided words of encouragement to the Matador football team. Special thanks to Ishmael Flores, school board president, Craig Thomas, school board member and Stetson Roane, superintendent, for taking time out of their day to welcome Coach Coker to Seguin.

State top 10 performance Seguin High School sophomore Brandon Palomares competed in the Boys State Powerlifting meet on April 2. He finished in the state’s Top 10 in the 148 pound weight class.

next time you’re stressed: Say “NO” STEP BACK. TAKE A DEEP BREATH. LAUGH Remember who you are. To DRUGS Be STRONG, Be FLEXIBLE, love OTHERS, and LOVE YOURSELF. It’s YOUR DECISION

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mblc students visit lbj national park Mercer Blumberg Learning Center students recently participated in the LBJ National Park’s annual thoughts from former National Park Service Director Robert Stanton on his experiences as an African Reflection of the 1960s. The program included a reenactment of the sit-ins at the Woolworth lunch American during the Civil Rights Movement. “This has become an annual field trip for my students counter, a tour of the Texas White House, dance moves to 60s music with Mr. Clifton Fifer, and and they all love it,” said Selma Kovars, MBLC Social Studies teacher. MaTaDOR PRIDE · May 2016 - 11

masOnic lODge fantastic teetH prOgram Mike McCleary of Guadalupe Masonic Lodge 109 and school nurse Dora Perez hand out dental kits to first graders at Jefferson Elementary School. Masons distribute the packets as part of the Fantastic Teeth program annually to four Seguin ISD elementary campuses. In addition to Jefferson, this spring first grade students at Weinert, Rodriguez and Patlan elementaries will receive the kits along with a special presentation on dental care.

tHeatre at Uil area Three Seguin High School thespians brought home honors at UIL area competition. From left, Monique Jordan was awarded all Star Crew, anthony Zavala earned all Star Cast and amber Mawande-Spytek received Honorable Mention. 12 - May 2016 · MATADOR PRIDE Two Seguin ISD Destination Imagination teams advance to Globals

After a fifth place finish in Destination Imagination state competition, the Two Seguin ISD Tovar of Seguin High Seguin High School Seguin Treasure team is headed to Global competition in Knoxville, Tenn. Destination ImagiNation School also advanced to (DI) teams have compete against teams advanced to Global from around the world competition following in Knoxville. The team their performance at tied for the second State competition on highest score in Central April 2 near Dallas. Challenge and received This marks the eleventh third highest score in year in a row that Seguin Team Choice. is represented at Globals, DI is an educational to be held May 25-28 in program where student Knoxville, Tenn. teams solve open- Advancing to Globals is ended challenges and the Weinert Elementary present their solutions School team of Brylynn at tournaments. In Baker, Christian Brooks, working to solve the Carter Dunn, Shelby Just, challenges, teams learn Ellie Kallus, Madison important life skills Kirchner (Koennecke like time management, Elementary student) and collaboration, conflict Ava Sauceda. The team resolution and creative also earned the highest and critical thinking. score in the Central More than 125,000 Challenge and Team students compete in DI Choice. each year. Leah Bohnenberger, Serenity DeLeon, Jonah Reilly and Jaden

Weinert Elementary’s Destination Imagination team, Serious 7, will be making the trip to Global competition in Knoxville, Tenn. after a fifth place finish in the State tournament.