Your Mansfield ISD

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When a Mansfield ISD counselor noticed that some students at her campus were not getting involved in the available extra-curricular activities, she decided to create one that helped build structure and self-confidence into children’s lives.

Catherine Wimbrey recalled how Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) programs helped teenagers when she was growing up in California.

So, she picked up the phone and called the JROTC instructor at Mansfield High School to see if he could help bring a similar program to Rogene Worley Middle School.

“I was excited that she contacted us,” said Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Kinnel. “I was willing and able to help young students because if you reach the youth, you reach the world.”

Groups are divided into males and females for detailed instruction.

The award-winning high school cadets go to the middle school every Tuesday after school to lead the Junior Cadet Corp club. It’s a structure Kinnel said is a mutual benefit.

“We feed the kids what they need, and then they lead it,” Kinnel continued. “Kids want you to be out their way. They want to show you what they can do.”

The middle schoolers learn different techniques in color guard, marching and armed drills. Wimbrey said she has seen a positive change in the students already.

“There’s a drop in discipline issues, and students are more organized and motivated,” she said.

Because of the club’s success, a similar club was recently started at Brooks Wester Middle School. Wimbrey said she hopes it continues to make an impact in the youth.

“I’m invested into it because I love our students. There are so many of them that I believe that if they had the leadership, if they had the discipline, if they had the family, so many of them would go further in life. Overall lives are being changed by this program.”

Approximately 20 middle school students participate in Worley Middle School’s Junior Cadet Corp. Most of the students said they will join a JROTC program when they get to high school.

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It was a familiar feeling for 13-year-old Kailey Choi to be on stage holding the district spelling bee plaque.

The eighth-grader from T.A. Howard Middle School made her debut at the Mansfield ISD District Spelling Bee when she was in third grade and became MISD’s youngest champion.

In the following years, Choi qualified for the competition but fell short of the first place title. That is, until this year’s contest, which is the last year she will be able to participate in the event.

“It’s like a legacy,” she said. “I won first, and I won last.”

Choi competed with campus winners from MISD’s elementary, intermediate and middle schools to earn the district title. She won in the ninth round with the word “infrastructure.”

Choi's father and principal came to support her.

“When I heard the word, I freaked out; but then I calmed myself down and said it letter by letter,” Choi explained.

Organizers of the Feb. 9 event, sponsored by the Mansfield Sunshine Rotary Club, said they have been preparing for it since September. It takes work to coordinate each campus bee and the district competition, but they said the end result is satisfying.

“My favorite part of the spelling bee is seeing those kids on stage with their eager faces and all of their study skills and habits coming into fruition,” said Kristi Gonzales, MISD coordinator of elementary language arts.

Gonzales added that spelling bees help students with communication skills and self-confidence.

Choi will be going off to high school next year and will not be eligible to compete, but she gave her advice for those wanting to earn the next district title.

“What you have to do is strive for it, study and be calm.”

The spelling bee champ will now prepare for the Scripps Regional Spelling Bee on March 1 at Texas Christian University. When she appeared at the event five years ago, she lasted 14 rounds.

MISD Spelling Bee Campus Winners

School	Student
Alice Ponder Elementary	Dinh Luong
Anna May Daulton Elementary	Prince Olowookere
Annette Perry Elementary	Riley Myrow
Asa Low Intermediate	Samantha Malone
Brooks Wester Middle School	Emmanuel Allison
Carol Holt Elementary	Emily Trinh
Charlotte Anderson Elementary	Daniel Ogiozee
Cora Spencer Elementary	Kaleb Giggins
Cross Timbers Intermediate	Tiffany Lam (district runner-up)
D. P. Morris Elementary	Amina Allen
Danny Jones Middle School	Zoe Leddy
Della Icenhower Intermediate	Ayush Shah
Donna Shepard Intermediate	Jaxson Latimer
Elizabeth Smith Elementary	Caden Overby
Erma Nash Elementary	Joseph Oehlke
Glenn Harmon Elementary	Omar Akkad
Imogene Gideon Elementary	Adebola Adeshola
J. L. Boren Elementary	Mariam Dohadwala
James Coble Middle School	Yvaine Penaranda
Janet Brockett Elementary	Marli Field
Judy Miller Elementary	Zain Durrani
Kenneth Davis Elementary	Josiah Smith
Linda Jobe Middle School	Ruth Oyerokun
Louise Cabaniss Elementary	Lucy Duku
Martha Reid Elementary	Angel Brefro
Mary Jo Sheppard Elementary	Marcus Jones
Mary Lillard Intermediate	Collin Overby
Mary Orr Intermediate	Noah Gakuba
Nancy Neal Elementary	Kamryn Ross
Roberta Tipps Elementary	Ryu Cheng
Rogene Worley Middle School	Tojumi Olayiwole
T. A. Howard Middle School	Kailey Choi (district winner)
Tarver-Rendon Elementary	Joshua Oyerokun
Thelma Jones Elementary	Hailey Alajandre
Willie Brown Elementary	Tej Marimuthu

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For younger students who want to play an organized sport, an outside league used to be their only option.

Now, more Mansfield ISD elementary and intermediate schools are starting their own competitive leagues to increase student involvement.

“The district guiding statement is every student will participate in an extracurricular or co-curricular activity,” said Tamara Liddell, principal of Janet Brockett Elementary School. “We, along with several other Mansfield ISD schools, wanted to take that vision to another level.”

Brockett Elementary teamed up with seven MISD elementary schools to create a basketball league for third- and fourth-grade boys. Games are played in front of a packed house on Monday nights, and practices are held throughout the week.

Cheerleading clubs have also been created at schools to
cheer the boys on.

Coach Ron Middleton said it teaches the kids to be successful student-athletes. He said the kids learn discipline and character. In addition, every one of his students gives a grade report to their other teachers to make sure academics remains the focus.

“These kids are students first and athletes second,” explained the Brockett Elementary P.E. teacher. “You have to make sure you’re on top of your game—not only on the court but in the classroom as well.”

The idea is catching on at the intermediate level as well. Although Donna Shepard Intermediate School does not play against other schools, the intramural program introduced this year still receives large participation.

“They get to stay here after school and be with their friends in a safe environment and still be active,” said P.E. teacher Lesley Burke. “It just enhances those competitive skills and helps them to be a good winner and a good sport.”

Shepard Intermediate’s intramural program offers dodgeball, basketball, volleyball and soccer. The fifth- and sixth-graders will also have a chance to compete in video gaming later this school year.

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In his senior year at Mansfield High School, Lenzy Pipkins decided to quit basketball and start playing football—a move that would help define the rest of his life.

The football coach laughed at him, but allowed the 12th-grader to prove himself.

“I was like, ‘I can ball. Just trust me. Give me a chance. Give me a chance,” Pipkins recalled.

He was a natural at football. He got noticed for his talents and received an invitation to the Nike Combine. There, he ran a 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds.

Arizona State University offered the athlete a football scholarship. After his first season at the school, his scholarship was taken away.

Pipkins said he hopes his story can inspire anyone who wants to quit.

“The current staff got fired, so the new staff ended up taking my scholarship away,” he said. “They didn’t think I was ready.”

Pipkins later went to the University of Louisiana Monroe to continue playing football. He graduated and played another year at Oklahoma State University.

He was set on becoming a professional football player and declared for the NFL draft. The cornerback didn’t get drafted, but 10 teams invited him afterward to come to try outs. He signed with the Green Bay Packers.

The 24-year-old told his story of resiliency to the students at The Phoenix Academy on Friday. He advised the high schoolers to follow their passion no matter what naysayers may think.

Principal Regenia Crane said Pipkin’s message fell in line with the district’s Vision 2020 strategic plan.

“Resiliency is one of our values, and he is a great example of what happens when you don’t give up,” said Crane. “That’s something our students always need to hear.”

It is reported that less than 2 percent of college athletes reach the NFL, making Pipkins story even more remarkable as a walk-on. He starts his second year in the professional league in September.

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There will be a battle over state lines in the upcoming track and football seasons. Five high schools from Texas and five high schools from Oklahoma will be competing with each other to see which teams are the best.

It was an idea that formed after a brainstorming session between Athletics Director Philip O’Neal and Superintendent Dr. Jim Vaszauskas.

“I wanted to find a new way to bring attention to our student-athletes,” O’Neal said. “After tossing some concepts around, Dr. V said that we should try to contact schools in Oklahoma to play against.”

The athletics director put in a few calls and knew he had made the right connection when the voice on the other line was just as excited as he was.

Steve Dunlap, assistant athletics director for Union Public Schools, accepted the challenge for the Sooner state. He is enthusiastic about this new relationship and friendly rivalry.

The competitors met each other for the first time on Feb. 27.

“I have no doubt it’s going to be a great event,” said Dunlap. “We start March 10 with the track meet, so I’m excited about that.”

The Border Brawl track meet will feature athletes from all of the Mansfield ISD high schools, along with Oklahoma high school athletes from Union, Jenks, Broken Arrow, Bixby and Sand Springs. It will take place at MISD’s Legacy High School.

The same schools will then compete throughout the 2018-19 school year in football and track.

Each region has a tradition of excellence; and although O’Neal said he looks forward to the intense competition, his favorite part of the Border Brawl is the experiences it will give students.

“I think it’s important for us to create experiences for them,” he continued. “The connections and lessons they learn from going beyond their region will help them in college and in life.”

The announcement of the inaugural Border Brawl was officially made Feb. 27 in Tulsa. Coaches and student-athletes from all participating schools attended the press conference.

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At an age when some people have graduated college and started their first “real world” job, Melanie Lewis was still searching for her purpose.

The Lake Ridge High School associate principal spent most of her 20s in Germany as a military wife. She then began working as an elementary school custodian, which sparked her passion for kids.

“Getting to know them—I was like, ‘Well, I really like this,” she said with a smile.

Lewis returned to the United States and enrolled into The University of South Alabama at the age of 28. However, she still did not know exactly what career path to choose.

She started volunteering as a Sunday school teacher, and an impromptu conversation with one of the children became her epiphany.

“He said, ‘I wish I had a teacher like you,’” Lewis recalled. “And I said, ‘Why? You like the way I teach?’ And he said, ‘No, it’s that you just care about us.’”

Lewis graduated college with a double major in Spanish and English and earned a master’s degree in secondary Spanish. She became a teacher and thought she had reached her goal.

Lewis has always taught at the high school level.

Since she always volunteered to head committees and be a club sponsor, her principal at the time saw leadership skills within her and asked whether she would consider being an administrator.

“I was like, ‘No! I love my kids.’ And he said, ‘Right now, you’re only affecting 170 children who are assigned to your class. Imagine having 800 kids,’ which were how many kids we had in the school,” Lewis explained.

Lewis agreed with the idea of making a larger impact. She went back to school to earn a master’s in educational leadership and an education specialist degree (Ed.S).

She has held positions as a Title I facilitator, athletic coordinator, freshman academy dean, night school principal and assistant principal.

The educator moved to Texas in 2015 and is in her first year as a Mansfield ISD employee. She hopes that her story will give students and parents the courage to keep chasing their dreams when life gets tough.

“It doesn’t matter how late that you catch on. It took me a while. I mean I was a college student, and I was a mom,” she said. “Everything has just worked out. And I’m still as passionate now about education, about what I do, as the first day when I got here.”

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Mansfield ISD students with special needs have a way to participate in year-round sports.

With the help of staff members and volunteers, Mansfield ISD All-Stars provides children in the special education program sports training and athletic competitions.

The students can choose from aquatics, basketball, bocce, bowling, cycling, tennis and track and field.

“This allows our students to do an extracurricular activity too,” said Rebecca Poggensee, an MISD adaptive P.E. teacher. “Having this type of program allows our students to interact with other students throughout the district who are similar to them.”

The students and volunteers have fun socializing between practice runs.

MISD parent Deborah Weete said she appreciates having an organized activity where peers and adults can work together to help students reach their full potential.

“[Ava’s] involved with a group of people who love and support her no matter what her abilities are,” Weete said about her daughter. "That's what I love about it."

Coaches said the excitement on the children’s faces as they push themselves to meet personal goals is the highlight of being a part of the Mansfield ISD All-Stars.

“The experience that you get to see on their faces is like they have won the most important thing in their life,” Poggensee explained. “Just to see them beaming with pride is amazing.”

The athletes and coaches are currently in the track and field season. The team will participate at the Special Olympics Texas in Arlington on May 24-27, featuring nearly 3,000 athletes from all around the state of Texas.

View more information about Mansfield ISD All-Stars here.

It’s hard to imagine that Christy Heath didn’t even know what stepping was five years ago. The dance form, which uses the body to produce rhythmic sounds through footsteps and handclaps, was a new concept to her.

Heath was introduced to it when she was asked to help with the administrative side of a step team at her previous school district.

“I had no clue what stepping even was, but I was in marching band, so I knew about form, timing and precision,” she explained.

The following year, the math teacher became the main coach for the group, leading her team to back-to-back national titles. She came to Mansfield ISD in 2015 and revitalized the step team at Mary Lillard Intermediate School.

“I simply asked them if they wanted to compete or not, and they were all gung-ho about competing,” she said. “So I signed them up to compete, and that year they did go to nationals.”

The girls practice after school at Lillard Intermediate
during competition season.

The Powerhouse Steppers, which also includes students from Danny Jones Middle School, didn’t win the national title, but they kept pushing themselves to learn harder routines and compete with the best step teams in the area.

As a result, the group was named 2018 league champions of the Texas Dance and Step Association.

The steppers said that performing is fun, but they also value the relationships they develop with team members.

“We’re like a family,” said Camryn Morgan, seventh-grader at Danny Jones Middle School. “We help each other, we motivate each other and we just have each other’s backs.”

The group started working together with neighboring Lake Ridge High School to get the younger team familiar with their future teammates and coaches.

“When we’re at competition, they’re supporting us, we’re supporting them, and it’s just ‘Bring it home to Mansfield. Bring it home to Mansfield’ every time,” said Heath.

The Powerhouse Steppers earned five trophies for the 2017-18 school year, placing in nearly every compeition. Their season will resume in August.

Fine Arts students across Mansfield ISD are helping hospital patients recover by simply doing what they love.

A new music therapy program named Recovery Notes allows the young musicians to perform for patients at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center.

“The original intent was that these patients needed to have a reason to kind of get up and out of their beds,” said Dr. Chuck Roe, assistant fine arts director. “But even for patients who are confined to the bed, they get a little enjoyment than just watching the T.V.”

Medical center officials said music can be a good resource to manage pain and anxiety, ultimately playing a significant part in a patient’s recovery.

The students are assigned to the cardiac telemetry floor.

Students in musical theatre, choir and band participate in Recovery Notes on Monday evenings. The program is in its infancy, but it has already proven to be a benefit.

“The patients really love it and so do the students,” said Brittany Ross, a fine arts teacher at MISD. “We’ve even gotten some really great reactions from the nurses. It really does bring this feeling of joy throughout the entire hallway.”

Dr. Roe said the students start out not knowing what to expect; but after they perform, he said they are excited to sign up for another session.

“I’d like to believe that maybe their days got better because of this, and I would love to do anything that I can to make their days better,” said senior Jisella Ayala from Legacy High School.

Students who participate in Recovery Notes have an opportunity to win a $500 scholarship to the college of their choice. Dr. Roe said the program will continue in the summer months.

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When it comes to stocks, bonds and market trends, some elementary school students at Tarver Rendon Elementary School are already ahead of the game.

The fourth-graders are competing in an online stock market game as part of their social studies curriculum. They were given a $100,000 fictional account in which they are able to buy and sell mutual funds, stocks and bonds.

Out of more than 300 schools nationwide, a Tarver Rendon Elementary team has been leading the pack. What’s even more impressive is that a majority of the people they are competing against are in high school.

White teaches the students how to interpret the stock charts.

“Mrs. Thomas’ class has the team that is actually second right now. They were first yesterday and second today,” said Brian White, a social studies teacher. “I was hoping to have five teams in the top 100. I think we’re sitting on ten right now.”

Gatlin Gerhard, the captain of the leading team, said his winning strategy is to buy what he knows.

“I just got my favorite big companies and invested in them,” the 10-year-old explained. “I have Netflix. Shopify is one of them. Apple’s doing really good.”

The student said he has learned a lot so far and plans to explore Wall Street even more when he’s an adult.

White added that the activity has been a fun way to incorporate real-world money management skills into the classroom.

“They’re about 8 percent over the S&P 500 growth already, and we still have five weeks to go. They’re doing very well.”

More information about The Stock Market Game is available here.

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They may be standing on the sidelines during game time, but they are the stars of the show when it comes to the health of Mansfield ISD’s student-athletes.

The MISD Student Athletic Trainer Program consists of high school students who help take care of student-athletes.

Students in the program treat injuries, keep athletes hydrated and serve as the eyes and ears on the field or court.

“All a fan sees or a parent sees when they come to a game is a student trainer holding a water bottle and a towel and standing there. That’s kind of our down time,” said district trainer Andy Starnes. “All of our action happens before the game and during the week during practice.”

Strength tapes a wrist before football practice begins.

There are approximately 30 student athletic trainers across MISD.

Starnes said having the trainers is essential to the district’s athletics program because they provide extra help to the thousands of students who participate in sports.

“Without those guys, we couldn’t do what we do. There’s no way,” he added. “We have almost 900 athletes here at Mansfield High School, and each of the campuses have a number of athletes.”

A day as a student athletic trainer can be time consuming. They tape injuries, lug coolers, fill water tanks and restock medical kits, just to name a few.

Despite the work, the students said their job is very rewarding.

“I like to help others, and that’s what I want to do as a living, so this is a way for me to be able to do that,” said Bailey Strength, a junior at Mansfield High.

“My favorite part is being able to spend time with the other trainers,” said sophomore Brianna Devito. “We’re like a family.”

Many of the student athletic trainers have gone on to pursue careers in sports medicine. Those interested in the MISD Student Athletic Trainer Program can contact one of the campus athletic trainers.

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At the age of 28, Tracy Johnson received a call that changed the way she views life.

The doctor called her at the school in which she taught to tell her that she had colon cancer. Her principal at the time was Donna Shepard, a Mansfield ISD school namesake who was also battling cancer.

“She grabbed me and hugged me and said, ‘I am here. I will be with you. You’re strong. You will be fine,’” recalled Johnson, who is now principal of J.L. Boren Elementary School. “To this day, that has meant so much to me.”

Johnson said that since she has been principal of Boren Elementary, a few of her staff members have been diagnosed with cancer. She said she feels it is her calling to rally behind them and encourage them along the way.

“I think there was a great plan for me to be here, and I’m able to share my experience to help others,” she continued.

Carney received gifts from her music students
after news of her diagnosis.

Recently, the school’s music teacher, Katie Carney, was diagnosed with breast cancer. The principal said it has been amazing to see how the staff members and community have come together to support her.

Being able to show an outpouring of love to those battling cancer is one of the reasons why Mansfield ISD’s Colors for Caring initiative is near and dear to Johnson's heart. The initiative encourages the community to wear cancer awareness colors on the first Monday of each school month.

“People always want to be helpful in a way, and they don’t know how,” Johnson said. “This is one easy way we can stand for others and be strong. It’s nice to know that we’re all a community working together to stand for each other.”

The Colors for Caring initiative began in 2015 after Superintendent Dr. Jim Vaszauskas was diagnosed with thymoma cancer. He was grateful for the support he received and wanted to continue to spread the love to others.

The last Colors for Caring Day of the 2017-18 school year is on May 7. Johnson said her campus will be wearing a shirt with a pink cancer ribbon made of music notes for Carney.

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When Melody Delatorre was a sophomore, she had a mission: to graduate with an associate degree while still in high school.

The Mansfield High School student visited her counselor to discuss her plans and became laser-focused to earn at least 60 college credits before graduation.

“She could take up to three dual credit courses per semester, so we just mapped out what three she was going to take in her junior year and what three she was going to take in her senior year, “ said Mansfield High School counselor Monica Dabney.

To put her education on a faster track, Delatorre also took courses at Tarrant County College (TCC) on her own after school. She took no breaks and continued taking courses in the summer and winter.

Delatorre met with her counselor to map out her graduation plan.

The senior graduated with her associate degree from TCC on May 12. She will walk across the stage to get her high school diploma on May 25.

“It was really cool knowing I was getting my associate degree before my high school diploma,” said Delatorre. “It took a lot of work and sacrifice. I didn’t always have time to be with my friends, but I’m glad I did it. I feel accomplished and proud.”

“I cannot even describe how proud I am of her,” Dabney added. “She is such a driven student and highly independent, so I was just elated to hear that she had competed her associate’s degree.”

The 17-year-old said she will take summer classes at the University of Texas at Arlington.

She said she won’t take any breaks and hopes to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in biology in May 2019. Her goal is to become a doctor.

“I want to become a doctor because I like helping people, and I like being able to make a difference in people’s lives,” Delatorre explained.

For those wanting to follow in her educational path, the senior’s advice is simple. She said, “just go.”

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When you want to learn about technology, sometimes you have to go to the ones who never knew life without it.

Fifth- and sixth-graders from Asa Low Intermediate School were the instructors for an interactive class at the Mansfield ISD Vision 2020 Summer Conference.

The students taught educators how different technological games and gadgets can be incorporated into the curriculum.

“It’s what we call a technology playground,” said Lynn Gustafson, MISD educational technology trainer. “We invited students who have used these devices and tools in their classroom setting.”

Gustafson said a similar student-taught class was offered at an educational technology conference earlier in the year. It received such rave reviews that the team decided to bring it back for the summer.

Mitchell maneuvers Sphero through an obstacle course.

DaMont Mitchell, an incoming seventh-grader, led a session about using robotics to enhance various lesson plans. The participants learned how to steer a spherical robot name Sphero.

“It’s also waterproof, so you can use it under water for exploration lessons,” Mitchell explained. “And it has a programming feature so that students can learn how to code the robot to move in a certain direction.”

At first, some of the instructors were surprised to see students leading the lesson, but they were impressed by the children’s intelligence.

“It was pretty cool that they are the ones that are knowledgeable and showing us how to do it,” said Lynette Paulino, teacher at J.L. Boren Elementary School. “It’s pretty cool that our future generations are teaching the teachers.”

The class organizers said the teachers were very responsive and appreciative for the students. The student instructors said that it was rewarding to give back.

“It feels good to be teaching the teachers because it feels like I’m the bigger person because teachers teach me, so I get to teach them,” said Mitchell.

The teachers now have the opportunity to write a grant to the MISD Education Foundation in hopes of getting the different devices that were demonstrated to them.

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Hundreds of Mansfield ISD students spent part of their summer experiencing that science can be fun and interactive.

MISD’s Science Camp allowed kids entering grades 1 through 5 to engage in hands-on labs and experiments while studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

“The children get an opportunity to really enjoy school in the summer with science,” said camp administrator Daniel Beauford. “It’s very much a camp feel.”

One of the most popular activities was a lockbox escape room, in which students solved puzzles and received clues to unlock boxes and get a prize.

Students also tinkered with circuits, played with robots, launched catapults and built putt-putt golf courses with recycled materials.

Students enjoyed solving puzzles to open the lockboxes.

“In mini golf, I learned engineering,” said Genesis Hunter, an incoming fourth-grader at Willie E. Brown Elementary School. “It was fun, and we got to build things.”

This year, the district extended the science camp to two one-week sessions to accommodate more students. A total of nearly 600 students attended the camp.

Beauford said although the projects are fun, his goal is to teach students how each activity links back to STEM topics.

“Some of the time, they don’t even know what they just did, and then when you explain the science behind it, they’re like, ‘That’s what that was?’ So that’s pretty awesome,” Beauford continued.

The first camp session ran from June 4 to June 8. The second session began on June 11 and will wrap up on June 15.

On the last day of each session, the students show their parents everything they learned that week.

Organizers said they’re excited to see so many kids being passionate about science. They expect camp attendance to continue to grow.

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There’s an inventor in all of us. That’s what students entering fifth grade learned this week in Mansfield ISD’s inaugural Maker University.

The university featured five different colleges: film, robotics, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering and graphic design. Participants chose two of those colleges to focus on for the week.

“We wanted our campers to make things and create things using some of the tools that are unique to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM),” said Jeremy Beckwith, the camp administrator.

Students in the robotics college built robots and drone remotes.

Students created commercials, programmed remotes for drones, constructed gliders, made slime and printed on 3-D printers, to name a few.

Although there was much to learn, Beckwith said fun is the primary objective of the camp.

“We want the kids to have a good time while they’re here,” Beckwith continued. “We wanted them to let their imaginations run wild in whatever choice they have. And that’s the other big thing. We gave them choice.”

Katelyn Castro, an incoming fifth-grader at Della Icenhower Intermediate School, said the camp stretched her mind and provided her with new ways to solve problems.

“It gives you more challenges,” she said. “And it’s very entertaining, compared to just sitting down at a desk and working on papers, because you’re actually in the action.”

Maker University was held at the Jerry Knight STEM Academy from June 18 through June 22. The camp capacity was 100 students.

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There’s always something going on at the Mansfield ISD Natatorium. If swimming and diving competitions aren’t in session, children are usually using the facility to learn more about water safety.

“We offer swim lessons to the community from ages 4 to 14,” said Blake Kahla, MISD coach and swim school coordinator. “Our mission is to teach kids how to swim, so they can be safe in an aquatic environment.”

Summer classes last for two weeks, ranging from a novice level 1 to an expert level 8. The goal is for participants to move up one level by the end of each session.

According to Kahla, 95 percent of the instructors are MISD high school students.

Each high school student is assigned two to four children.

He said it’s beneficial for all involved because the younger children can see what an advanced swimmer looks like while the older students can learn how to interact with beginners and their parents.

“I just like seeing them happy, and they enjoy coming here and swimming with me,” said Jacqueline Green, an incoming senior at Lake Ridge High School. “My goal is to teach them something new. They might not understand the skill, but at least be confident enough in themselves to actually learn.”

During the school year, all MISD third-graders go to the natatorium to learn about water safety.

The coach said the district offers year-round classes to build confidence and teach lifelong lessons in water safety so that children learn to be comfortable in both small and large bodies of water.

For more information about natatorium classes, visit the facility website.

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The use of drones—also known as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)—is on the rise, and Mansfield ISD is starting a new class to help students prepare for the booming industry.

Edu-Drone will be offered in January 2019 with a focus on obtaining skills to become a commercial drone pilot for a variety of career pathways.

“It’s just such an exciting adventure for us,” said Christie Alfred, executive director of curriculum and instruction. “It allows students from all different interest areas to come in…and it’s potentially a huge opportunity for employment for them as they graduate high school.”

The classes will take place at Ben Barber Innovation Academy (BBIA) for MISD high school juniors and seniors.

Drones are also incorporated into the curriculum
at the Jerry Knight STEM Academy.

After successfully completing the course, students will be able to take the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 exam to become a certified drone pilot.

“We have drone clubs at some elementary schools. Also, at our STEM Academy, they’re very involved in the drone program and will soon have competitions. Those types of activities promote the pipeline for students to engage in the Edu-Drone class in the future,” Alfred continued.

Beverly Ver Steeg will be the instructor for Edu-Drone. She currently teaches engineering and aerospace classes at BBIA and is excited to expand the aviation offerings at the school.

“I actually fly drones at home and kind of play with them. It’s a hobby,” said Ver Steeg. “When we knew we were getting a class, I was like, ‘Yeah!’ and sort of pushed to teach the course.”

The 11th- and 12th-graders in Edu-Drone must have passed Algebra I, be at least 16 years old and hold a valid driver’s license.

There is still space in the class. Interested students can visit their counselor for more information on how to get enrolled.

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College fight songs traveled through the air while tailgate foods and activities aligned the campus grounds.

But there was no college game scheduled for the day. In fact, no college students were even in sight.

All of the day's excitement came from fifth- and sixth-graders at Asa E. Low, Jr. Intermediate School in celebration of National College Colors Day.

National College Colors Day is acknowledged on the Friday before Labor Day across the country. On that day, students, family, fans and alumni display their team spirit by wearing their college or university colors and apparel.

Parents were invited to wear college gear with their children.

"Awareness begins now,” said sixth-grade counselor Brandi Bates, who helped coordinate the event at Low Intermediate. “Our parents need to be aware of what the district offers, and we don’t want them to wait until it’s too late.”

Throughout the week, students learned about different college-related topics, such as best study habits, admissions and fields of study.

Organizers say the big picnic event on Thursday was to help celebrate the lessons learned in a fun way while inviting parents to take part in the educational experience.

“I think it’s a good way to sort of introduce them to the concept of college at an early age so that it doesn’t seem so big. It kind of brings it down, I think, to a more casual level,” said parent Kirsten Woodard.

One of the popular components of the National College Colors Day Picnic was a drawing to play football with Principal Jason Short. Students earned “caught being good” tickets throughout the week, which entered them into the raffle to play.

“I like today because we get to wear our college shirts, we eat outside, we get to play games… it’s really fun,” said fifth-grader Caleb Randle.

This is the second year Low Intermediate has held its schoolwide picnic. Staff members said they are happy to plant the seed about higher education to the students and start those important conversations.

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A battle over state lines kicked off the Mansfield ISD 2018-19 high school football season.

MISD football teams, bands, cheerleaders, drill teams and fans made the trip up north to celebrate the inaugural Border Brawl football competition on Aug. 31, in which five MISD teams faced five Oklahoma teams.

“This is something special for our school district and for our kids to experience,” said Legacy High School head coach Chris Melson. “It’s not just the football team. You got the bands, drill teams, cheerleaders, supporting staff… everybody gets to experience it.”

Border Brawl was brought to life by MISD Athletics Director Philip O’Neal and Superintendent Dr. Jim Vaszauskas.

Legacy High rush onto the field against Jenks.

The idea was to provide students with new opportunities while engaging in friendly competition.

“I think it’s important for us to create experiences for them,” said O’Neal. “The connections and lessons they learn from going beyond their region will help them in college and in life.”

“Our kids have never gotten to do something like this,” said Daniel Maberry, head coach at Mansfield High School. “You get to see games on T.V. all the time where teams sometimes travel to Florida or Nevada to play some of the private schools, but these are two quality programs coming together to experience something they never have before.”

The Oklahoma competition included teams from Union, Jenks, Broken Arrow, Bixby and Sand Springs.

Even though the games took place hours away, there was no shortage of MISD fans. Hundreds of people filled the stands to show their support.

“To be here at the Border Brawl is just showing that Texas and Oklahoma can come together and make something like this possible,” said Brandon Jones, junior at Summit High School.

O’Neal said that apart from the competition, Mansfield ISD being able to come together as a unit was priceless.

“This is an opportunity for Mansfield ISD to be unified in their effort to come to Oklahoma and compete against the Tulsa-area schools as one,” he said. “The benefits of that go way beyond the sports field.”

The same schools will face each other again in the Border Brawl track meet, which will take place at the start of the 2019 track season.

New Club Instills Discipline and Leadership in Middle Schoolers

MISD’s Youngest District Spelling Bee Champ Reclaims Title

Schools Introduce Competitive Play for Younger Students

Walk-On NFL Player Returns to Give Message of Resiliency

Inaugural Texas/Oklahoma Border Brawl Creates New Competition

High School Administrator Proves It’s Never Too Late to Start a Career

Students with Special Needs Growing Through Sports

MISD Teacher Leads Junior Step Team to Success

Students Provide Comfort to Patients Through Music

Fourth-Graders Beat Out High Schoolers Nationwide in Stock Market Game

MISD Student Trainers Help from the Sidelines

Cancer Survivor Rallies Behind Diagnosed Staff Member

Senior on Track to Get Bachelor’s Degree at 18

Students Teach Teachers in Summer Course

Students Explore STEM Topics at Summer Camp

Students Challenged to Make and Create in New Summer Camp

Swim Lessons Offered Year-Round at Natatorium

New MISD Drone Class Begins Spring 2019

College Spirit Sweeps Through MISD Intermediate School

MISD Community Heads North to Support Border Brawl Football Games