Voice of Community-Minded People since 1976 May 20, 2010 E-mail: [email protected] www.southbeltleader.com Vol. 35, No. 16 Graduation issue planned The Leader’s high school special edition will be published June 3. It will feature gradu- 2010 rankings of local schools released ating class information for Dobie, Clear Brook and South Houston high schools, plus Lutheran The Houston-based nonprofi t Children at who met the course requirements for the state’s students who qualify for free- or reduced-price Pasadena High School was the lowest-per- South Academy. To honor a candidate with a Risk recently released its 2010 rankings of local recommended diploma program; the percentage lunch and are economically disadvantaged. forming school in the district at 125th – down personalized ad, call the Leader at 281-481- schools. of students who completed and received credit The data used were obtained from the Texas two spots from last year’s 123rd position. 5656 or e-mail [email protected]. The organization ranked 1,018 public high for at least one advanced course, including Ad- Education Agency. Overall, the Clear Creek Independent School Ad space must be reserved by 3 p.m. on Fri- schools in Texas to see who was doing the best at vanced Placement, International Baccalaureate Leading the pack for the Pasadena Indepen- District fared better in the rankings. day, May 28. educating students and preparing them for post- and dual enrollment; the percentage of students dent School District was Pasadena Memorial, Scoring tops for CCISD was Clear Lake at secondary education. in grades 11 and 12 taking at least one AP or IB which scored 61st on the Greater-Houston list – 21st – down six spots from last year’s 15th posi- Heavy trash scheduled A total 14 variables were examined by the exam; the percentage of students who passed at down three spots from last year’s 58th position. tion. least one AP or IB exam; overall student atten- Dobie was the next highest PISD high school Clear Brook followed at 36th – a one-spot Tree waste will be picked up Thursday, group to determine how successful each high dance rate for the school year; graduation rate; on the list at 85th – down 11 spots from last jump from last year’s 37th. May 20, for city of Houston residents living school was. Among these were the percentage the percentage of graduates who took the ACT year’s 74th position. Clear Creek High School trailed at 45th – north of Beltway 8. Residents south of the of 11th-graders scoring at the “commended” or SAT college admissions exams; average score Sam Rayburn jumped from 116th to 103rd. down fi ve spots from last year’s 40th ranking. beltway are scheduled for Thursday, May 27. level on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge for students taking the ACT; average score for South Houston High School advanced one Children at Risk also ranked 1,720 public mid- For more information, call 3-1-1. and Skills in English/language arts, math, social studies and science; the percentage of graduates students taking the SAT; and the percentage of spot from 118th to 117th. Continued on Page 4A Kindergarten preregisters Stuchbery Elementary will host a kinder- garten preregistration on Tuesday, May 25, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Students must turn 5 years old by Sept. 1, 2010, in order to register. PISD honors Moore teachers Neubauer, Laredo Requirements for registration include birth certificate, Social Security card, shot record The staff at Moore Elementary excelled this academic year with teachers being (immunizations must be current) and two named both the Pasadena Independent School District’s Elementary Teacher of proofs of residence. Proof of residence must the Year and First-Year Teacher of the Year. include deed, mortgage payment, payment Elizabeth Neubauer, the school’s special education SUCCESS teacher, took book or lease, and a current utility bill. home the honor of Elementary Teacher of the Year, while Leah Laredo, a fourth- This day is for preregistration only. Meet grade teacher at the school, was awarded the First Year Teacher of the Year prize. the teacher and classroom visits will be held in Neubauer was a second-grade teacher at Moore for 15 years before volunteer- August. For more information, call the school ing to become the school’s SUCCESS teacher three years ago. Neubauer has a at 713-740-0752. special needs child of her own and understands how to work with students in the SUCCESS program. Dobie presents Pop Show “Mrs. Neubauer also knows that all of her students can learn and pushes them The J. Frank Dobie Chorale Department to reach their full potential,” said Moore principal Jill Lacamu. “Even though it will present the 2010 Pop Show Thursday, may take her students longer to learn something or they need a lot of repetition through Saturday, May 20-22, at 7 p.m. in the before mastering a skill, she never gives up on them.” Dobie auditorium. Tickets are $10 each and Lacamu said it is important for the students in the SUCCESS class to be in- are available from any choir member. Dobie cluded in the everyday activities at the school, and Neubauer makes sure this students with a valid student I.D. can purchase happens. All of her students have school jobs, from picking up the recycling to advance tickets at $5 each. For information, helping sweep the fl oors, and they are included in all school programs and pep call the choir department at 713-740-0370. rallies. If there are special dress days like Go Western Day or Book Character Day, Neubauer brings each one of her students an outfi t to wear. Thompson sells dance tickets She also feels it is important for her students to be seen in the community and that they learn important life skills. She has built a partnership with the local H-E- Thompson Eighth-Grade Dance tickets will B and McDonalds and takes her students on community-based instruction trips so be sold through Friday, May 21, before school they can have real world experiences. PISD Superintendent Kirk Lewis is shown in the cafeteria. The dance is Saturday, May Neubauer has overcome some of her own challenges over the years and is a to the left with Moore SUCCESS teacher 29, from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Hobby Hilton. The two-time cancer survivor. Her battles with breast cancer and melanoma made her Liz Neubauer (center) and principal Jill cost for students is $35 and includes a dinner realize it was important for her to make sure her son will be taken care of in the Lacamu. PISD Associate Superintendent buffet, dessert, an open soda bar and an future. She shares her story with her students’ parents and helps them get in touch DeeAnn Powell is shown above with Moore eighth-grade dance T-shirt. Continued on Page 4A fourth-grade teacher Leah Laredo. Enrichment program set Beverly Hills Community Center is now registering for the summer enrichment pro- gram for ages 6-13 years. The program will State officials shut down home-operated day care center run one week sessions from June 1 to Aug. 6, shut down. However, Carter said the DFPS will civic association for operating a business out of Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. A day care center operating out of two sepa- other in the 10700 block, had recently drawn the rate residences on Sageberry has been, at least ire of multiple residents in the Kirkwood South work with Lil Rascals to bring it up to specs. a residence. The violation, however, is still open Registration for one week is $30. Activities Carter would not speak to the specifi cs of the and has not been resolved. include arts and crafts, games, entertainment, temporarily, shut down as of Monday, May 17, subdivision, who said more than 20 children a state offi cials said. day were being cared for at the local homes. case, as it is part of an ongoing investigation, but While the state does allow conforming day special events, sports and water fun. For more said one of the center’s operators had applied to care businesses to operate out of residences, the information, call 713-948-9065. The Lil Rascals Day Care, located at one resi- Neighbors also complained the centers were dence in the 10600 block of Sageberry and an- causing traffi c congestion on the area street. the state for a license, but a second person had neighborhood’s deed restrictions do prohibit any Dobie 10-year reunion set While offi cials from the Texas Department of not. offensive trade that causes an annoyance or nui- Vacation photos sought Family and Protective Services (DFPS) would “They should become regulated or they sance to neighbors. The J. Frank Dobie Class of 2000 will hold not confi rm the number of children being cared shouldn’t care for children,” Cater said. At press time Wednesday, neighbors said chil- its 10-year reunion on Saturday, July 24, at the The Leader is seeking readers’ vacation pho- for at the center, they did acknowledge that its Prior to the state’s involvement, the center dren were no longer being dropped off at the Hilton Garden Inn Pearland, 12101 Shadow tos for possible publication. A fi rst- and second- operators had not gone through the proper proce- had already been cited once by the subdivision’s residences. Creek Parkway, from 7 to 11:30 p.m. Tickets prize will be awarded each month during June, dures to run such a facility.