Recognizing Alumni.... david crowder

David Crowder graduated from Pleasant Grove High School in 1990 then went on to attend Baylor University. While attending college, David stepped into the music industry when he realized that many students were not going to church. He began to actively recruit students for worship services and started writing songs to draw more young people in. He eventually started releasing the songs, leading to his debut album, 2002’s Update Can You Hear Us? The album was released under the name The David Crowder Band, as A publication of Pleasant Grove Independent School District Crowder was joined by guitarists Jack Parker and Jason Solley, drummer Jeremy Bush, Volume 29, No. 5 January 2007 bassist Mike Dodson, and electric violinist Mike Hogan. Their band has released several more award winning albums. The David Crowder Band has won several Dove Awards and most recently won GMA awards for Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year and O. JUSTIN OTOR WINS pleasant grove Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year. The Dove Award is Christian and gospel “The mission of Pleasant GEOGRAPHIC BEE music’s highest honor. Moves One Step Closer to $25,000 College Scholarship The David Crowder Band is coming home to perform at the Hot Hearts Youth Conference, Grove Independent School on February 2 and 3rd, at First Baptist Church, Texarkana. David is married to Toni, also O. Justin Otor, son of Uche S. Uchendu, M.D. a Pleasant Grove graduate, and is the son of Dan and Marion Crowder. District, in partnership and a 6th grade student at Pleasant Grove Middle Send your Alumni information to [email protected]. with the community, is to School won the school-level competition of the educate and prepare each National Geographic Bee on January 5, 2007 and a chance at $25,000 college scholarship. Along AEP Grant Recipients student with an excellent with O. Justin, the following students also placed Congratulations! foundation upon which to in the Geographic Bee: 2nd Place- Alex Seames, At least two teachers were granted the AEP SWEPCO Teacher Vision Grant 8th grade, 3rd Place – Tanner Elliott, 7th grade, sponsored by Southwestern Electric Power Company. build a future.” 4th Place- Rachel Weems, 6th grade, 5th Place- Patricia Beth wrote a grant for the math department titled “Graphing Gurus”. It O. Justin Otor, Alex Seames, Tanner Elliott, Travell Harris, 8th grade. The school-level Bee, was approved, and we were awarded $500.00. This money will be used toward Rachel Weems, and Travell Harris purchasing class sets of T173 calculators for all four grade levels on the Pleasant at which students answered oral questions on geography, was the first round in the 19th annual National Geographic Bee. The Grove Middle School Campus. Claire Manley and Patricia Beth Claire Manley wrote a grant titled “Teaching Mathematics with Technology”. It was Bee is sponsored by the National Geographic Society. approved, and we were awarded $500.00. This will be used toward improving The kickoff for this year’s Bee was the week of November 13, with thousands of technology in the classroom. These projects will be successful in helping students learn and schools around the United States and in the five U.S. territories participating. The grow in their understanding of different concepts. school winners, including O. Justin Otor, will now take a written test and up to 100 of the top scorers in each state will be eligible to compete in their state Bee March KINDERGARTEN ADVENTURE • February 22 • 2:00 p.m. 30, 2007. O. Justin has placed 11th at the state Bee for the previous two years and is hopeful to qualify for the National Bee in March. Pre registration underway for 3, 4, and 5 year olds at the elementary school. Students who will be 3 or 4 by The National Geographic Society will provide an all-expenses-paid trip to September 1, 2007 and who are either economically disadvantaged, unable to speak the English language, or Washington, D. C., for state champions and teacher-escorts to participate in the are military dependents may enroll for pre National Geographic Bee national championship on May 22 and 23, 2007. The kindergarten. Students who will be 5 years of age by September 1, 2007 may enroll Report card Distribution first-place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship and a lifetime for kindergarten. Dates for Spring 2007 membership in the Society. Students enrolling will need to furnish Citizens of the Month proof of residency, updated shot record, February 21, 2007 4th Six Weeks social security card, and birth certificate. JANUARY April 12, 2007 5th Six Weeks These students were recognized at the January If you have any questions you may contact May 31, 2007 6th Six Weeks 11th board meeting for being the citizen of the the elementary office at 903.838.0528. month on their campus.

Ryan Pickelman, Kindergarten Pleasant Grove Independent School District NON-PROFIT ORG. BOARD OF TRUSTEES U.S. POSTAGE Luke McGuire, 7th Grade Ron Morrow, school board member, 8500 North Kings Highway Leigh Davidson President Texarkana, Texas 75503 PAID Marissa Harding, 12th Grade presents citizen awards. PERMIT No. 217 Robert Sheppard Vice-President Texarkana, TX 75503 Sharon Tyler Secretary In order to become Citizen of the Month, a student must be nominated by a Billy DeLoach teacher. All students nominated must have no less than an “A” in conduct, possess good leadership qualities, display a cooperative attitude, and show courtesy to Postal Customer Lisa Ledwell teachers as well as fellow students. The nominee must also represent the district Ron Morrow in a positive way to the community. Lucy Sarrett Dyslexia Program meeting the needs of Students through new Technology Pleasant Grove Independent School District The Pleasant Grove School Board recently approved two new computer 2007—2008 School Calendar labs for the dyslexic students at Pleasant Grove Elementary and Middle school. The new computers and programs they will use in the labs Six Week Grade Periods will help prepare dyslexic students in the use of assistive technology to July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 help maximize their performance in the classroom and into their work Ist Six Weeks S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S and personal lives. Students who have laptops will be able through the August 27—October 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 1 program to transfer work from their laptops to their teacher’s computer Total (29 days) 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2 ʌ 4 5 6 7 8 and the teacher can print at their discretion. The students will be able 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 to use textbooks on CD, therefore helping them to expedite their reading 2nd Six Weeks 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 and gain the knowledge needed to be successful. October 9—November 20 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 19 ɻ ɻ ɻ ɻ ɻ 25 Pictured left to right Rene King, Ed Schoen, and Roxanne Schoen received their Dyslexia Therapist Certification Total (31 days) 29 30 31 26 [27 28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 from Scottish Rite Hospital. Betsy Rice is currently attending Scottish Rite Hospital in the Dyslexia Therapist program. These teachers have been the instrumental part of planning and developing the dyslexia program for 3rd Six Weeks October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 Pleasant Grove Schools. November 26—January 17 S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S St. Jude’s math-a-thon Total (29 days) 1 2 3 4 5] 6 1 2 3 1 7 ʌ [9 10 11 12 13 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 In October the Pleasant Grove Middle School participated in a Math-A-Thon that raised First Semester 14 15 X X X X 20 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 $1667.30 for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. The money will be used to help Total (89 days) 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 18 19 20] ʌ ʌ ʌ 24 16 17 18 ʌ ʌ ʌ 22 children who are fighting cancer and other catastrophic diseases. A special thanks goes 25 [26 27 28 29 30 23 ʌ ʌ ʌ ʌ ʌ 29 to Erika Rodrigues, a fifth grade student, who raised $250.00 and was the school’s top 28 29 30 31 4th Six Weeks 30 ʌ contributor. The Middle School will participate in the St. Jude’s Math- A- Thon again January 22—February 28 next year with hopes of raising over $4000.00 for the hospital. Erika Rodrigues Total (28 days) January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 Meredith Mann Crowned Miss PGHS 2007 5th Six Weeks S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S March 3—April 18 ʌ 2 3 4 5 1 2 1 On Saturday, February 14 the Miss PGHS Pagent was held at the Pleasant Grove Performing Total (30 days) 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 2 [3 4 5 6 7 8 Arts Center. The contestants were Meredith Mann, Carly Harris, Kara Primm, Michelle 13 14 15 16 17] ɻ 19 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 McWhorter, Marissa Harding, Morgan Loftin, Elizabeth Bledsoe, Kelsey Durham, Cynthia Rie, and Lakyn Cigainero. 6th Six Weeks 20 ʌ [22 23 24 25 26 17 18 X X X X 23 16 ʌ ʌ ʌ ʌ ʌ 22 April 21—June 6 27 28 29 30 31 24 25 26 27 28] ʆ 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Total (33 days) 30 31 First Runner Up - Marissa Harding *June 2—6 Second Runner Up - Michelle McWhorter Accelerated Instruction pending approval by TEA April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 Third Runner Up - Kara Primm S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6] ɻ Meredith Mann Second Semester Talent Award - Meredith Mann 6 X X 9 10 11 12 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 MISS PGHS Contestants Miss PGHS 2007 Total (91 days) 13 14 15 16 17 18] 19 11 12 X 14 15 16 17 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 New Booster Club Formed to Support TOTAL (180 Days) 20 [X X X X X 26 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Journalism Classes CALENDAR DAYS 27 ʆ 29 30 25 ʌ 27 28 29 30 31 29 30 POPS (Parents of Publication Students) is a new booster club for parents of students in the high school journalism classes. The purpose is to work for the betterment of all journalism classes (PGTV, yearbook, newspaper). They will be raising money to update equipment for needed repairs as well CALENDAR DAYS CALENDAR SYMBOLS as to continue to put out quality yearbooks, newspapers and PGTV programs. They are very proud August 20-24 Teacher Preparation Days of the outstanding students in these classes and the state and national awards they continue to September 3 Student/Staff Holiday ɺ Teacher Preparation Day win. Last year’s yearbook just won another Crown award. October 8 Student/Staff Holiday November 21-23 Student/Staff Holidays ɿ Staff Work Day Dec. 19—Jan. 1 Student /Staff Christmas Holidays ʋ Holiday POPS sponsors dress sale ʅ Bad Weather Day January 18 Teacher Preparation Day First Annual Formal Dress Consignment Sale will be held February 17th at PGHS from 9am- [ ] Grading Period 4pm. It’s a cash only sale. Anyone can come shop or if someone has a formal or cocktail dress January 21 Student/Staff Holiday X Testing Dates they want to put in the sale, we are taking those on Friday, Feb. 16th at the high school February 29 Bad Weather Day March 17-21 Student/Staff Holidays 12pm-7pm. Bring the dress, pay $10 to put it on sale; you set the price for your dress. If April 28 Bad Weather Day the dress sells the seller receives that money. The club just keeps the $10 for running May 26 Student/Staff Holiday the sale, advertising, etc. If the dress does not sell, they can pick the dress back up at June 2-6 Accelerated Instruction Program 4:30pm on Sat. Feb. 17th. If a person cannot get their dress to us on the 16th they June 7 Teacher Preparation Day may call Sharon Ward at 903-832-3799 or email Terri Parsons at [email protected]. The funds go to support the Journalism Booster Club POPS (Parents of Publication Students)