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Career tech students pique the curiosity of younger peers

May 9, 2013, 2:34 pm
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Elementary students from Martha Reid Elementary, Glenn Harmon Elementary, Tarver-Rendon Elementary, Thelma Jones Elementary, and Annette Perry Elementary fast-forward their educational careers by 10 years when they get a glimpse of what Mansfield ISD’s career tech campus has to offer high school students in the district.

Frontier High School seniors will be sharing the experience at Ben Barber Career Tech Academy with almost 500 elementary students during the month of May. The focus of the tours range from a GT enrichment program called “Food Fuels the Mind” to career exploration and discovery program for entire grade levels. The reputation of this experience available within our district travels fast. It all started with Glenn Harmon Elementary 3rd and 4th grade and the Tarver-Rendon GT program.

"We loved the opportunity to tour the fabulous Ben Barber Career Tech Academy, " wrote Shaye Atwood, Gifted and Talented Specialist at Tarver-Rendon Elementary about the tour. "The opportunity was only open to a handful of schools. We were very privileged to be a part of such a unique learning experience. Our students took away an understanding of many concepts and opened their eyes to a variety of different career fields."

The Ben Barber Career Tech Academy campus also provides tours for intermediate and middle school campuses. Recent visitors at this level include James Coble and Worley Middle School. Due to the overwhelming positive response we will be designing a tour program available to all campuses based on availability. For more information contact Melanie Stillings at melaniestillings[at]misdmail.org.
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Battle of the Books District Champion Teams

May 28, 2013, 1:31 pm
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Congratulations to the Mansfield ISD Battle of the Books Champion Teams representing middle, intermediate, and elementary schools. Battle of the Books is a school-wide competition where teams vie for the title of Best Readers on their campus held each Spring. Each team reads 10 pre-selected books and answers questions in a Whiz Quiz style round; the team with the most correct answers at the end of the round wins. The winners of first round battle on until only one team is standing. The final team competes against the best readers at their grade level in Mansfield ISD. The competition is intense, and preparation takes months.

This year’s teams have made an incredible effort, reading and practicing under the watchful eyes of their coaches. Congratulations to this year’s winning teams:

Middle School: TA Howard Middle School


Congratulations to the Howard Middle School Battle of the Books District Champion Team members Nathan Haslam, Allan Njomo, Brandon Martin, Jake Stacks, Jared Jeffries, and Lilly Ray

Intermediate School: Donna Shepard Intermediate School


The Donna Shepard Intermediate School’s Battle of the Books team pictured above: (From left to right) Priscilla Brothers, Noah Liukonen, Carter Ho (team captain), Nicholas Winston, Khalid Ahmed, and Leah Nguyen. Each student was required to try out for each school’s team. The students were expected to read and become experts on books from the selected list of ten titles. The detailed questions were asked of all 6 teams at the district battle. The team representing Donna Shepard Intermediate earned the most points, thus winning the district trophy. Each of these Shepard students received a gold medal for his/her hard work.

Elementary School: Roberta Tipps Elementary

MISD held the elementary level district competition for Battle of the Books on Friday, May 3rd. The purpose is simply to encourage students to read good books and have fun while competing with peers. A typical "Battle" is a full day tournament in which students' teams earn points by answering questions about the books on the book list. They play two rounds and at the end of the morning, points are totaled and teams with the top three scores are awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd place medals. In addition the 1st place team wins the district trophy for their school. This year, Tipps Elementary won 1st place. Team members are pictured above (L-R) Ella Scoresby, Ainsley Jones, Julia Lederman, Brenna Franklin, and Sarah des Bordes with Teachers (L-R) Tina Owens and Heather Hughes. After three tie-breaker rounds to determine 2nd and 3rd place winners, Spencer and Daulton Elementary schools tied for 2nd place. Ponder Elementary made it to the tie-breaker round and came in 4th. Congratulations to all the participating teams.
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Senior Citizens Take a Closer Look at Mansfield ISD Schools

May 29, 2013, 10:12 am
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Remember the excitement that surrounded “show-and-tell” days in elementary school? It was a chance to take the stage and share something really cool with your classmates. In a way, the MISD Senior Tour is like a mega show-and-tell session for Mansfield ISD. It is an opportunity to give senior citizens from our community a closer look at some of the awesome things taking place in our schools.

Thirty-five senior citizens joined the second annual Senior Tour on Wednesday, May 22. The event covered a full school day, with scheduled visits to Ben Barber Career Tech Academy, Mansfield High School, Mary Orr Intermediate and Erma Nash Elementary.

Each stop on the tour featured an action-packed program, organized by MISD staff and students. The campuses rolled out the red carpet (literally) for the guests, and greeted them VIP-style with orchestras, cheerleaders, drum lines and lots of fanfare.

Throughout the day, the seniors had the opportunity to check out dozens of academic and extracurricular programs, including band and choir performances, science labs, math pentathlon games, tech apps, and even a Whiz Quiz “Challenge of the Decades” against the campus champs at Mary Orr.

On behalf of the Mansfield ISD Administration, thank you those who attended and helped coordinate this wonderful district event. The third annual Senior Tour will take place in 2014, featuring visits to several other district campuses. Stay tuned for details next spring!


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Author and former NFL star Tim Green visits Mansfield ISD

May 31, 2013, 12:12 pm
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Tim Green visited four MISD schools this past week, sharing an inspiring message of hard work and the importance of education and reading. Students at TA Howard Middle, James Coble Middle, Danny Jones Middle, and Donna Shepard Intermediate participated in the author visit organized by MISD Librarians.

A little background on the multi-talented Mr. Green: After studying writing at Syracuse University where he was an All American football player, Tim was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons where he was a top defensive player for eight years.

While Tim played in the NFL, he also studied law and began his writing career. By the time he retired from football in 1994, Tim had already published his first book and became a lawyer. In addition to those two jobs, he began working as a television broadcaster for FOX NFL Sunday and other shows, including Battlebots, Good Morning America, Court TV, A Current Affair, and most recently, Find My Family.

After writing more than a dozen books for adults, Tim Green began writing a series of novels for young readers set in a world of sports taken from his own experiences as an athlete and a coach. In the meantime, Tim has visited over 600 schools and spoken to more than 300,000 students across the United States about the importance of education and character, in addition to the joys and benefits of reading.

In addition to his visit, Mr. Green donated hundreds of copies of his newest young adult novel, Force Out, to MISD Title I schools. His generosity and commitment to Mansfield ISD’s young people are greatly appreciated by teachers and students alike.

Tim Green’s Mansfield ISD visit certainly starts the summer right; with a good book!
Tim Green with TA Howard Middle School students

Tim Green with Librarians (L-R) Suzonne Evans (Shepard), Lorrie Wallace (Jones),
Amy Toombs (Howard), Karen Swanson (Wester), and Amy Herford (Coble)

Tim Green signing books at TA Howard Middle School

Tim Green and TA Howard student Allan Njomo

Guest post by Amy Toombs, MLIS, Library Information Technology Educator at T.A. Howard Middle School
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4th Grader Wins @methodistmans Surgical Robot Naming Contest

June 6, 2013, 9:56 am
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A Mansfield ISD 4th grader gave the winning name for a surgical robot. “Ross” the robot has officially joined Methodist Mansfield Medical Center’s minimally invasive robotic surgery team.  R.O.S.S. stands for "Robotically Operated Surgical Specialist" and was named by Alice Ponder Elementary 4th grader, Emily Holland.

This ended up being a fun campaign and we hope it inspired the imaginations of the elementary students that submitted the entries. Over 1,000 name entries were submitted.
For providing the winning name, Emily and a few friends and family members took at tour of Methodist Mansfield including time using the surgical robot.

 

The ad below also appeared in the Mansfield News-Mirror on Wednesday, June 5, 2013:

Related Links:
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2nd Grader Throws First Pitch at Rangers Game

June 12, 2013, 1:05 pm
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Walker Shaw, 2nd grader at Nancy Neal Elementary, received the opportunity to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Texas Rangers game on Tuesday, June 11, 2013. The Mansfield ISD Education Foundation held a fundraising auction recently to win the first pitch opportunity. Even though the Rangers ended up losing the game against the Indians, Shaw was all smiles after this winning pitch to start his summer. Way to go, Walker!
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Superintendent Update - June 2013

June 17, 2013, 2:02 pm
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Dr. Jim Vaszauskas shares the latest on The Big Move involving three elementary campuses that will start school in new locations next year, last week's summer curriculum conference, a legislative update, the recent high school graduations in the MISD Center for the Performing Arts in this month's Superintendent Update video:


More information on The Big Move: A 2011 bond election was called and approved to completely rebuild the following schools to provide equity across the district.
  • Tarver-Rendon Elementary
  • J.L. Boren Elementary
  • Alice Ponder Elementary
  • Glenn Harmon Elementary
  • Charlotte Anderson Elementary
Summer 2013
  • Tarver-Rendon Elementary students and staff will move into their new building located at 6065 Retta Mansfield Road, Burleson, TX 76028.
  • Alice Ponder Elementary students and staff will move into the old Tarver-Rendon building while their new facility is being demolished and rebuilt.
  • J.L. Boren Elementary students and staff will move into Judy K. Miller Elementary (403 N. Holland Road, Mansfield, TX 76063) while their new facility is being demolished and rebuilt.
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Summer Science Camp Draws 300

June 20, 2013, 9:12 am
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What do you get when you mix dirt, water, and plastic animal figurines?

For the students attending MISD Science Camp, the answer is a lesson in water conservation in a simulated ecosystem!

The second annual MISD Science Camp is being held at Mary Jo Sheppard this week. Enrollment tripled in size from last year, reaching a total of 300 students, ranging from kindergarten to 4th grade. 

The camp is taught by a group of 30 Gifted/Talented Specialists from across the district, who worked together to create engaging and hands-on curriculum.

The focus of this year’s camp is the importance of water conservation and the concept of “going blue.” Over the course of the week, students complete 10 activities, including:
  • Properties of Water (Surface Tension)
  • Make Your Own Cloud and Rain
  • Watch the Clouds Grow - Cloud Investigator
  • Make a Rain Stick
  • Build a Dam
  • Hydroelectric Energy - Water Wheel
  • Model Rivers/Lakes - Build a Watershed (See how pollution spreads)
  • Water on a String
  • Product Design (Create and test water-based products)
  • Create a Conservation of Water Presentation

We asked some students to tell us something they learned at camp:

"It's really important to save water. Every living thing needs it." - Mia, 3rd Grade

"I've learned the different uses for a dam. At first, I thought it was for blocking water, but now I know it can be used for energy and electricity." - Aydan, 3rd Grade

"My favorite thing at science camp is painting because you get to make the paint! We made purple, orange, yellow, green, blue, and dark pink." - Elyssa, Kindergarten

The camp concludes Friday, June 21 at 2:00 p.m. with a spectacular student showcase in the cafeteria at Sheppard Elementary. Parents and friends are welcome!
Thank you to the 2013 MISD Science Camp Staff: Lacye Redmond (Camp Administrator), April Morrison (Camp Secretary), Angela England, Brooke Bryan, Sara Mata, Melanie Jefferis, Diane Nelson, Karen Mullins, Jennifer Burke, Terri Burris, Shari Bingham, Bianca Gholston, Joelene Prust, Lauren Longoria, Kate Walker, Athena Johnson, Carol McKenna, Natalie Toomey, Amy Krueger, Dwayne Wyatt, Amanda Ekeland, Chelsea Polasek, Kassi Mehler, Joanna Baylis, Kathy Neal, Rob Austin, Beth Hughes, Afua Konadu, Kristen Johnson, Stefanie Slack, Amanda Wells, Michelle Gery.

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Students Explore Career Tech Courses at Discovery Camp

July 2, 2013, 9:54 am
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Students study footprints in CSI Class
When you think about summer camp, you might imagine hiking, canoeing, and a campfire sing-along to “Kumbaya,” but for those who have experienced Rising Stars Discovery camp, the mental picture includes crime scene investigation, a culinary competition, video game design, and much more.

The unique program is designed to give incoming 6th – 8th graders a closer look at some of the courses offered at Ben Barber Career Tech Academy. Over 130 students from across the district attended the camp, which took place June 17 – 27.

The available classes for this year were: Crime Scene Investigation, Culinary Arts, Greek Mythology, Health Sciences, Engineering, and Video Game Design (offerings tend to vary each year, depending on the availability of instructors).

Camp Director, E.B. Holschuh, says the camp aims to expand the minds of students as well as their parents.

“This program plants a seed in their minds and shows them the possibilities beyond traditional high school curriculum,” said Holschuh. “We’ve got an amazing facility here, and we are doing some really cool things.”

On the final day of camp, students were excited to show their parents what they learned at “show off” day. We even heard some students making plans for the 2014 camp.

“In video game design class we learned how to write code, make game characters, and a ton of other fun stuff!” said Wilson Trimble, a soon-to-be 7th grader at T.A. Howard Middle School. “It was a great experience and I hope to get to do it again next year.”

Hats off to Mr. Holschuh and the dedicated staff at BBCTA, on another successful year. Great job!

To learn more about Shining Stars Discovery Camp or Ben Barber Career Tech Academy, please contact the campus at 817.299.1900 or bbsummercamp@misdmail.org.

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Grads Make Radio Gold and Take National Title

July 2, 2013, 10:50 am
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Sammy Gonzalez, Ryan Tuomey (Media Tech Teacher at BBCTA), and Gabriel Kunda show off championship medals
Congratulations to Sammy Gonzalez and Gabriel Kunda for winning gold in the Audio/Radio category at the 2013 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. The conference was held June 24-28 in Kansas City, MO. The 49th annual SkillsUSA NLSC is a showcase of career and technical education students.

Representing Ben Barber Career Tech Academy's media tech program, Sammy and Gabriel competed and won gold in the Audio/Radio. Listen to their winning entry. Kunda and Gonzalez are both recent Summit High School graduates.

"I couldn't be more proud of my guys," said Ryan Tuomey, media tech teacher at Ben Barber. "I didn't think I would get emotional, but seeing their face and how happy they were when their name was called, reinforced why I became a teacher. They have worked so hard, stayed focused, and their dedication is what brought them success. I took a line from Friday Night Lights, 'Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose' and that became our motto throughout the competition. These are two great young men and I am honored to be their mentor. They will go on to do great things one day."

Gabriel Kunda will attend Dallas Baptist University and plans to major in music and minor in communications. Sammy Gonzalez plans to attend the MediaTech Institute in Dallas for a year, and then on to Full Sail University in Florida.

Check out the video, produced by Ryan Tuomey, documenting the SkillsUSA trip and gold medal win:  
Skills USA 2013 National Championship from 2me Productions on Vimeo.
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Ben Barber's @TheShineRunners on cross-country #SolarCar Race

July 22, 2013, 8:22 am
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The Shine Runners are on the road on their cross-country solar car race.

You can follow the solar car team from Ben Barber Career Tech Academy on Twitter (@TheShineRunners) and Facebook as they embark on the eight day, 884 mile race from Texas to L.A. for the 20th Annual Solar Car Challenge.

The Shine Runners are among the 14 teams competing in the 2013 Solar Car Challenge.

Track the Shine Runners Solar Car during the race.

Check out the CBS Ch 11 coverage from Texas Motor Speedway as the solar car team prepares for the race - Mansfield Teens Set For Solar Car Race
The Solar Car Challenge was established in 1993 to help motivate students in science and engineering, and to increase alternative energy awareness. The Challenge teaches high school students around the world how to build roadworthy solar cars.

Media coverage from the road:

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Superintendent Update - August 2013

August 7, 2013, 6:58 am
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New Mansfield ISD Superintendent, Dr. Jim Vaszauskas, discusses the latest on district preparations to welcome returning students, new school construction, the new semester exam pilot program at Lake Ridge High School and an update on the budget.

Watch the August Superintendent Update:

Photo Galleries:

As a reminder, the new Judy K. Miller Elementary is the temporary staging campus for J.L. Boren Elementary starting in the 2013-14 school year. Read more: bit.ly/MISDBigMove
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Staff kicked the year off with Convocation

August 23, 2013, 11:56 am
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On Wednesday, August 21, the entire Mansfield ISD staff gathered for the annual Convocation event to kick off the school year. Convocation is our pre-back-to-school event when we get a chance to bring all the employees together in what we hope is a fun, festive and motivating experience. This year, we tried something a little different and asked one of our assistant principals, Josh Roberts, to be our host. (In addition to serving as a veteran educator, Josh is also no stranger to the stage as one of the members of Four Day Weekend improv comedy troupe in Ft. Worth.)

Our keynote speaker was Mr. Flip Flippen from The Flippen Group and he gave an inspirational message of encouragement and support through stories. Flip is Chairman of the Flippen Group, a respected leadership development and talent assessment company and the largest educator training company in North America. (Mr. Flippen also laid the groundwork for the Teen Leadership teacher certification program and classes that are offered at all MISD high schools.)

Check out the photo gallery from the 2013 Convocation:
 
A special thank you to the cadets from Legacy High School Junior ROTC for the presentation of colors and to our MISD staff singers who performed the National Anthem:
  • Adam Zrust, Legacy, Director of Choirs
  • Keli Ferrier, Summit, Director of Choirs
  • Reginal Wright, Mansfield, Director of Choirs
  • Jane Andrews, Mansfield, Associate Director of Choirs
  • Josi Alexander, Timberview, Director of Choirs
  • Philip Glenn, Lake Ridge, Director of Choirs 
On top of the fun atmosphere, funny host, and motivational speaker, staff heard from the new Superintendent, Dr. Jim Vaszauskas, School Board President, Mrs. Beth Light, as well as Education Foundation Board President, Mr. Mike Leasor.

The following videos were also shown during the event:

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Teachers take school beautification needs into their own hands

August 29, 2013, 2:10 pm
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Three teachers at the Alternative Education Center took it upon themselves to spruce up an area of their campus to provide a more appealing and inviting area. Science teachers Mr. Shannon Helm and Mrs. Sally McClure along vocational electives and economics teacher, Duston Moore thought a spot in the foyer was in need of some beautification. So they literally took matters into their own hands. They bought mulch and plants and then spent a few hours planting and trimming in the area to make sure it was ready for school. The result is a more appealing section of the school.

"They did this on their own time and with their personal money," said Raymond Cook, social studies department head. "As you can see, it is a great improvement and we were ready to greet our students with pride."

Before



 After


Thanks and kudos to these teachers for going above and beyond their duties for students.
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A Message from Dr. Vaszauskas

August 30, 2013, 11:55 am
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The following was shared with MISD staff on Friday, August 30, 2013.

Dear Colleagues,

On August 12, I had a surgical procedure to remove a mass located under my ribs. We were fortunate to have caught this growth in its early stages, and my wonderful surgeon was able to remove everything but microscopic traces of the growth.

The mass, called a thymoma, is very rare. Thymomas are very slow growing, tend not to spread and respond very well to treatment, so the long-term prognosis is very good. If you are curious, you can learn more about thymomas at this link.

To give myself the best chance of never having to deal with this again, I am choosing to undergo a six-week course of radiation treatment that should begin sometime during the week of September 10. I may need to miss some work during this time.

We have a wonderful leadership team in MISD, and they have done an exemplary job running the district while I have been out for surgery. Business will continue as usual. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to work with our outstanding Board of Trustees in service to this district. They have been very supportive during this time and have full confidence in our leadership team.

If you have a problem, a concern, or need assistance, follow our normal procedures. When I am out of the district, Karen Wentworth, Associate Superintendent of Human Resources, will serve as the acting superintendent.

Thank you for what you do for the students of Mansfield ISD.

Dr. Jim Vaszauskas
Superintendent, Mansfield ISD
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Australian Principal of the Year Tours Mansfield High School

September 24, 2013, 11:32 am
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Mansfield High School hosted the 2012 Australian Secondary Principal of the Year, Mrs. Shayne Player, on Wednesday, September 18. Mrs. Player is the Principal of the Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College, Tumbi Umbi Campus. While the school name may sound confusing, in Australia, the schools are called colleges. Mrs. Player’s campus is similar in student level to our middle schools.

As a prize for being named the Australian Secondary Principal of the Year, Mrs. Player was granted time for a trip around the world for a Professional Learning Sabbatical to visit schools in order to study common principles in high-performing schools. By the time she completes her trip, she will have visited schools in Finland, New York, Dallas, Los Angeles and many more.

She is particularly interested in seeing AVID schools that integrate technology. (Her campus is an AVID school, and they are exploring computers on a 1:1 basis with their students similar to our iPad program for high schools.) Since she was interested in seeing a school integrate technology with AVID, she toured a few Mansfield High School classes to see instructional integration of the iPads and learn of some of the experiences we have gained in implementing new technology.

While she was at our campus, she observed classes and spoke very highly of the kinds of things offered to our students. Before she left the school, she shared some thoughts on her visit to the campus and what she's learned on her trip to this and other countries.Watch her interview on YouTube:


 

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October Parent-Teacher Conferences

September 26, 2013, 9:05 am
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In early October, Mansfield ISD parents will once again have an opportunity to meet with their student's teachers during the district wide conference times. Campuses have set aside time to invite parents to the school to discuss how things are going this year in the classroom. Please check with your school(s) for specific conference schedule times.
  • Thursday, October 10 - Evening conference times available after regular school day.
  • Friday, October 11 - Student Holiday & Parent/Teacher Conference opportunity times in the morning. (Teachers are off in the afternoon.) 
  • Visit the MISD Calendars page for these and other important dates.
  • Download a printable 2013-14 Calendar (PDF).
The Why Behind The What
This marks the third year in a row we've offered dates at all schools for Parent/Teacher Conferences. It's our hope that parents will carve out time from what we know are busy schedules to meet with teachers. We believe that parent involvement is an important component in our mission to ensure educational and personal success by fostering a community built on mutual support and excellence.
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Timberview seniors selected for 2014 Army All-American Bowl

September 27, 2013, 12:37 pm
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Congratulations to seniors Ed Paris and Brandon Simmons, Timberview High School varsity football defensive backs, for being selected for the 2014 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. This prestigious bowl game takes place at the San Antonio Alamodome on January 4 and will be televised on NBC. Only 90 players from across the U.S. are selected each year.

On Thursday, September 26, Paris and Simmons received their jerseys during a special afternoon ceremony at the campus.

(Read related article in the Mansfield News-Mirror.)
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Mansfield golfer heads to Pebble Beach Tourney

September 27, 2013, 1:35 pm
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Nicholas Narcisse, a junior at Mansfield High School, is among four local teens to compete in the 2013 Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, an official Champions Tour event September 27-29, and televised internationally on Golf Channel. The teens are being sent by First Tee of Fort Worth.

Each participant will be teamed a Champions Tour player and an amateur on Pebble Beach Golf Links and Del Monte Golf Course on Friday and Saturday. The final round will be played on Pebble Beach on Sunday, where the Champions Tour winner will be crowned and the top 23 pro-junior teams will compete for their own championship. Narcisse was also selected to participate in the Coca Cola Champions Challenge on Thursday, September 26 where he was be paired with a Champions Tour Pro and competed for a chance at a $40,000 purse for The First Tee of Fort Worth.

Narcisse got his first tournament win in 2012 at the Pro Duffers Charity Golf Tournament but has four second place finishes and one third place finish. Narcisse currently plays with a 0.8 handicap as he works on continually improving his game. Narcisse is a member of the Junior Advisory Board and has attended The First Tee National Life Skills and Leadership Academy, and the National Advanced Academy. Narcisse is an active volunteer in his church and also had the privilege of playing in a foursome with golf great Lee Trevino a couple of years ago.

About The First Tee of Fort Worth
The First Tee of Fort Worth is the Fort Worth chapter of The First Tee program and is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Our mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.
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Superintendent Update - October 2013

September 30, 2013, 11:42 am
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