Anahuac Independent School District The Slate January 2015
Impaired Driving Awareness In Posters Anahuac High School’s Government Today and Tomorrow class sponsored a poster contest at concerning impaired driving. Sophomore Juan Sustaita won the first place ribbon; second place went to senior Taylor Dunigan, and third place to junior Cameron Lieck. Each month, the GTaT organization highlights different areas of awareness. For this month, Art students, under the guidance of Mrs. Lee, created posters depicting the consequences of driving impaired. “Thanks to all for your participation,” said GTaT teacher Vicki Vardell. Pictured at right are Cameron Lieck, Juan Sustaita and Taylor Dunigan.
PRO-active Meetings Invite Participation Panthers Reaching Out! By Superintendent James Hopper The Panthers of Anahuac ISD are reaching out to each community to gain feedback regarding the school in the next round of community meetings. This time, we will ask you to rate various programs in our school. Students will be afforded the same opportunity this spring. This community and student engagement is very valuable to helping us serve you in providing the best education we possibly can for your children. The areas we will discuss are: Community and Parent Involvement; Fine Arts; Wellness and Physical Education; 21st Century Workforce Skills; Second Language Acquisition; Digital Learning Environment; Dropout Prevention Strategies; Gifted and Talented Program; and District and Campus Compliance. There will be other ways to provide this feedback later, but this is the most direct, and affords parents the opportunity to ask questions in real time. In each meeting, we will present current school happenings, such as curriculum, programs, finance, security, etc. and have a time for inter-
action with attendees, followed by an informal visiting time afterwards. The meetings should be fairly brief and very informative. Following are the date, time and location of the PRO-active community meeting nearest you: Monday, Feb. 2 — Smith Point Community Building 6 – 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16 — Anahuac Middle School Cafeteria 6 – 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23 — Oak Island Community Building 6 – 7 p.m. Monday, March 2 — Double Bayou Community Building 6 – 7 p.m. Monday, March 23 — Wallisville Community Building 6 – 7 p.m. Monday, March 30 — Hankamer Community Building 6 – 7 p.m.
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Board Members Recognized With Gifts, Performances The Anahuac ISD Board of Trustees was recognized by students during the January 13 board meeting. The entire Anahuac Elementary School first grade class took the stage in the Auditorium to perform two spirited songs that showed their appreciation of the board. Anahuac Middle School 6th and 7th grade Gifted & Talented students presented each board member with a paper bag replica displaying various interests of the board member. AMS National Junior Honor Society members presented a giant Iphone - “NJHS APP-reciates our School Board.” The icons on the phone represented interests of the board members. Anahuac High School students gave each board member a Panther head plaque designed and made by various AHS departments. Each board member also received a boutonniere created by the AHS Floral Design class. The board members were also treated to a gourmet meal that evening prepared by members of the AHS Culinary Arts class.
Board members Lane Bertrand, Dr. John Redman, Ken McGraw, Calvin Hill, Kate Hampton, Cris Stephenson and Chris Jircik show off the “little people” made by Tammy King’s AMS Gifted & Talented class and exhibiting traits of the board member. The entire first grade class entertained the board and others with their songs “For You” and “Thank You.” More board pictures on Page 3.
In other business, the board approved the 2015-2016 school calendar. Superintendent James Hopper said the calendar is very similar to the current school calendar. School begins on August 24 next fall and the 2016 school year ends June 3. In other matters, the board approved overnight trips for various student groups to events that include Chambers County Day, baseball tournament, and visit to a college for Culinary Arts instruction. Also approved was the Order of Election for the May 9 election. Terms are up for board members Cris Stephenson, Chris Jircik and Calvin Hill. The board approved a resolution supporting full-day Prekindergarten classes. Supt. Hopper explained that currently, the state funds only half-day programs. The resolution will be presented to the Texas legislature during its session. The board also unanimously approved the renewal of Supt. Hopper’s contract.
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Competition Held at East Chambers
AMS Students Place in UIL Events 7th Grade Impromptu Tracy Ly – 3rd Jessey Staner – 6th 8th Grade Impromptu Dylan Jircik – 2nd Music Memory Raul Morua – 5th Team 3rd place Jaterran Williams Kaden King Sebastian Contreras Jason Dearman Raul Morua Matthew Chavez 6th Grade Listening Jessenia Cabrera – 6th 7th Grade Listening Hailey Sharp – 3rd Jessey Staner 5th th
7th Grade Dictionary Brian Vargas – 5th Anna Chavez – 6th 8th Grade Dictionary Kyle Lake – 1st Kristen Cao – 2nd 6th Grade Art Smart Sandra Hernandez – 1st place 7th Grade Number Sense Tracy Ly - 1st Jack Hampton – 6th 8th Grade Number Sense Anthony Ramirez – 5th Kyle Lake – 6th 6th Grade Oral Reading Reagan Richard – 1st Dadrian Whittington 2nd 7th Grade Oral Reading Cecilia Palacios - 3rd Tracy Ly – 1st Karissa Jircik – 5th th
6th Grade Maps, Graphs, & Charts Brady Bertrand – 3rd Carson Shaw – 5th 7th Grade Maps, Graphs, & Charts Jack Hampton – 6th 8th Grade Maps, Graphs, & Charts Kodi Abshier – 4th 6th Grade Math Farris Tilton 7th Grade Math Tracy Ly – 1st Jack Hampton – 2nd Reagan Artis – 5th 8th Grade Math Cole Edwards – 2nd 6th Grade Ready Writing Reagan Richard – 1st 7th Grade Ready Writing Kim Innerarity – 6th
8 Grade Listening Keely Salyers – 1st Kailey Tilton – 3rd
8 Grade Oral Reading Kassidy Tilton – 2nd Kate Hankamer – 5th
6th Grade Calculator Chase Herrington – 5th
6th Grade Spelling Reagan Richard – 6th
8th Grade Calculator Samantha Lopez – 1st
7th Grade Spelling Sydney Bertrand – 6th
7th Grade Modern Oratory Cecelia Delacruz – 4th Emily Muniz – 5th Madison Sherman 6th
6th Grade Dictionary Conner Garcia – 5th
8th Grade Spelling Kate Hankamer – 6th
8th Grade Modern Oratory William Huffsmith
AHS Principal Eric Humphrey and board member Kate Hampton with her Panther head plaque. AMS National Junior Honor Society members describe the “Iphone” they made for the board members.
8th Grade Ready Writing Aaliah Castillo – 6th
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Library Jeopardy at AMS Sixth graders learned about the AMS Library recently while having fun with Library Jeopardy. The competitive Smartboard activity taught general library skills, such as book genres and the Dewey Decimal system, as well as campus library policy, with all participants receiving a special bookmark.
Cut-outs Sold for Fundraiser
Shown above, left to right, are Dilan Pescador, Cesar Echeverria, Brecken Wilpitz, Darion Williams, Carter Sherman, Palin Ton in front of the cut-outs.
The students and staff at Anahuac Elementary put every effort into their annual October Breast Cancer Awareness fund raiser Don’t Mess With Texas! Students and staff could purchase a cut-out of the State of Texas for a quarter and the cut-outs were then posted on the display wall in the AES Cafeteria. This year, 1,332 were quarters donated, raising $333 for this worthy cause. The money raised will go directly to Bayside Hospital to aid any Chambers County man or woman who needs financial assistance for their mammogram. Another special addition to the fund raiser this year was the amazing art work of Keith Neumann. He created the large posters of the State of Texas emblems and symbols posted in the cafeteria as the backdrop for the over 1,300 Texas cutouts. Keith drew and painted the State Bird, the Mockingbird and the State Flower, the Bluebonnet. He also painted a Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit as well as the State of Texas’ humble critter, the Armadillo!
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AHS Students Serve at Houston Food Bank Members of the Anahuac High School GTaT (Government Today and Tomorrow) and Teens in the Drivers Seat organizations volunteered a couple of hours of their time to help those in need. The students went to the Houston Food Bank on December 10 and assisted other volunteers in packing food in bags for the Backpack Buddy program in which AISD participates. These backpacks are given to children in need so they will have food for the weekends. “This is a great experience for the students, not only do they spend their time helping a great cause, but they also learn much about people in need, and why it is important to volunteer and give,” said sponsor Vicki Vardell. “We loaded twenty pallets, each containing 110 bags of food that would feed a AHS student family of four for the weekend. Great job, Jessica Edmonds AHS.” helps pack
canned goods at Houston Food Bank.
Teens in the Driver Seat: students show off their certificate of service at HFB: Shown in front are Eduardo Alvarado, Victoria Wedin, Ximena Valencia, Maricela Hernandez and Alexis Chavez. In the second row are Zsanee Russell, Travis Watson, Geraldine Brown, Carlos Chavez and Maria Magana. In the back are Caleb Edmonds, Joyclyne Landry, Shawanna Bradley, Mikhaelis Moore, Jessica Edmonds.
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AHS Graduate Visits Culinary Arts Students Froylan Grande graduated from AHS last year and is attending Auguste’ Escoffier Culinary school in Austin to become a certified Chef. Froylan recently came back to AHS and visited with the culinary students of Geraldine Brown and gave the students a demonstration of Italian pasta making. While visiting with the students, he shared his experiences of being in a culinary learning lab on a daily basis. Beginning his program of study in early July, Froylan has about six weeks and 300 hours of internship to complete before he goes to the next stage of becoming a chef. “Froylan was a dedicated student while in high school and his dedication has paid off,” said Mrs. Brown. He told the students that a lot of the information covered in high school culinary class was very beneficial to him in his classes and he encouraged them to pay attention and be creative.
Local Pantry Benefits from Food Drive
Standing Strong to End Hunger AMS NJHS students unload the boxes of food before showing off some of the fruits of their Food Drive efforts.
Anahuac Middle School students recently held a canned food drive. “Congrats, AMS together, we made “every can count,” said Kaila Thomas, National Junior Honor Society member Sixth,7th and 8th grade students collected 614 cans. NJHS members delivered the canned goods to the smiling faces of the workers and volunteers at the Food Pantry in Anahuac on December 19. “The Caring Center Food Pantry is always pleased to receive the food from AMS each year and it is always needed,” said Food Pantry Manager Mark Wilkins. “Way to go, AMS,” said NJHS member Kassidy Tilton. “It’s good to know that all of the students could get together and raise that many cans for our canned food drive.”
The Slate
Students Inducted Into Newly-formed Honor Society
The Anahuac Chapter of the National Elementary Honor Society celebrated its first membership Induction Ceremony December 17 at the Anahuac Middle School Auditorium. Principal Mitzi Higginbotham, Advisor Mary Coward, and Faculty Council members Machele Lincoln, Alma Moore and Peggy Hill welcomed 41 new members during the inaugural event. Honored Guest Speaker was AISD Superintendent James Hopper.
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Nominations Sought for GT Program GIFTED AND TALENTED NOMINATIONS Nominations will be accepted through January 30 for participation in Anahuac ISD’s Challenge Gifted and Talented Program for grades one through eleven. Parents and citizens who want to nominate a child should contact the
Fifth Grade In the front row, left to right, are Kyler McKenzie, Jarelis Hernandez and Haley Alfred. Second row: Layne Chance, Diego Mares, Hannah-Cate Edwards, Grace Sharp, Angela Rodriguez and Jared Walker Bess. Top row: Christian Sanchez, Hannah Kelley, Diana Miranda, Phoebe Hampton, Erin Willcox, Ryleigh Richard and Halley Moor.
campus counselor for more information.
NOMINACIONES PARA DOTADOS Y TALENTOSOS Nominaciones seran aceptadas hasta el 30 de enero para participar en el Programa de Dotados y Talentosos en el Distrito Escolar de Anahuac, para los grados de primero
Fourth Grade In the front row, left to right, are Mattie Bess, Cole Majors, Jamie Granger, Rylee Hatfield, Ernesto Gonzalez and Austin Stevens. Second row: Alissa Lino, Becca DeHoyos, Jathan Sherman, Kye Till, Maggie Stephenson, Hadlee Richard, Kelly Galindo Morales, Jake Turner and Grace Jeanes. Top row: Jake Previte, Meredith Ashley, Holden Smith, Richard Tu, Landon Corbitt, Cameron Edmonds, Bryson Campbell, Rey Campa, Viktorya Muniz and Heather Delacruz.
a once. Padres de familia y ciudadanos que quieran nominar a un niño(a) deben contactar a la consejera de la escuela para mas informacion.
The Slate Anahuac ISD Administration Office 804 Mikhael Ricks Drive Anahuac High School 201 S. Kansas Street Anahuac Middle School 706 Mikhael Ricks Drive Anahuac Elementary 905 Ross Sterling District Phone: 409-267-3600
AMS Students Brighten Holidays at Headstart by NJHS members Kaila Thomas & Kassidy Tilton Anahuac Middle School National Junior Honor Society members went to MET Headstart on December 18 and helped make reindeer food for the very excited kids waiting for Christmas! As an extra surprise, the NJHS students also left behind a reindeer ornament given to each of the children before they were released later that day. The NJHS members really do enjoy going to see the kids and are glad that they got to make a fun, holiday themed gift with some of their new found friends.
Anahuac ISD does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sex, or disability in providing education services, activities, and programs, including vocational programs, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
Above, NJHS students create reindeer food “magic” for the little ones. At left are all of the students — the creators and the recipients of holiday magic.
The following district staff members have been designated to coordinate compliance with these legal requirements: · Title IX Coordinator, for concerns regarding discrimination on the basis of sex: James Hopper 409-267-2001. · Section 504 Coordinator, for concerns regarding discrimination on the basis of disability: Cindy Bertrand 409-2672017.
The Slate Is published by Anahuac Independent School District P. O. Box 369 Anahuac, Tx. 77514 Superintendent James Hopper Board of Trustees Calvin Hill …………...…. President Ken McGraw ………..…. Vice President Kate Hampton …………. Secretary Chris Jircik Lane Bertrand
Cris Stephenson
Academic Challenge Competitors Place Academic Virtual Challenge #3 is now in the books. Many members of the Anahuac High School Academic team participated in the 3rd Virtual Challenge. Over 4,000 students in the State of Texas participated in a variety of academic events. Anahuac had approximately 35 students competing in several different events. Students are ranked by their results in several areas – overall – this would include all students competing in an event regardless of school classification, students are ranked within their school classification, and also ranked within their grade level. This allows the students and the coach an opportunity to see how well they are doing in an event. Junior Carlos Chavez shows much promise
in Current Events, finishing in 12th place overall, 3rd in 3A, and 4th in 11th grade. Carlos also finished in 12th place for 3A Social Studies. “Job well done Carlos, keep up the hard work,” said Coach Vicki Vardell. Junior Jacob Jackson also competed well in 3A Number Sense finishing in 14th place. “Congratulations to all the participants and coaches as we continue to learn about the Virtual Challenge,” said Vardell. “It is a team effort that is proving to be very successful in not only results, but opportunities for the students to practice their events in a formal way.” The teams will travel to Hamshire-Fannett January 10 for the first Academic Competition of the season.
Dr. John Redman
Important AISD Dates To Remember: January 16: Teacher in-service — student holiday. January 18: MLK birthday — no school. January 22: Report cards. January 26: Senate 5 meeting for parents of middle school students 5:30-6:30, Auditorium. February 2: PRO-Active Community Meeting 6 – 7 p.m.
Smith Point Community Building. February 16: Teacher in-service — student holiday. February 16: PRO-Active Community Meeting 6 – 7 p.m. Anahuac Middle School cafeteria. February 23: PRO-Active Community Meeting 6 – 7 p.m. Oak Island Community Building.
