SAN B

ENITO

CISD

Staff

Upd

ate

October • November 2013

The award-winning San Benito CISD Parental Involvement Program strives to promote the active involvement of parents in their children’s lives and education. Parent Educators (shown in no particular order) include Rosemary Delgado, Francis Garcia, Isela Mendoza, Adriana Guerra, Nellie Chirinos, Imelda Niño, and Ben Gomez.

Parental Involvement Programwelcomes parentsto campus parent centers

The award-winning San Benito CISD Parental Involvement Program have opened its parent centers for the new school year, promoting the active involvement of parents and families in their children’s lives and education.

The program’s goals include: supporting the district’s goal to increase student academic performance to an exemplary level; helping parents become partners in the education of their children; and providing parents with a literacy and instructional program for parent education enhancement. Parents are also provided with information on parenting skills, life and work skills, literacy programs, and community outreach services from area government and non-profit agencies.

“Parents and families are encouraged to be partners with our schools by creating educational opportunities that will prepare our students for the 21st century workforce. Our department’s commitment is to recruit, engage, and inform our parents and families through our parent centers and districtwide activities, explains Luis Gonzales, Jr., Parental Involvement/Attendance Director.

“Our parent program’s long standing motto has always been ‘Where students come first, and parents are partners in education,’” Gonzales added.

All local parents, families, and volunteers are invited to visit and participate in activities at the campus centers.

Open between 8:30 and 11:30 AM, the campus Parent

“Parent Centers,” continued on page 4

Early Release{ Students Only }

October 4November 15

Columbus DayHoliday *

October 14• NO CLASSES •

Staff Inservice

November 25 & 26• NO CLASSES •

ThanksgivingHoliday *

November 27-28• NO CLASSES •

* San Benito CISD Administration Offices will be CLOSED

2013-2014BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Yliana GonzálezPresident

Julian HuertaVice-President

June AguileraSecretary

Anna CruzFatima HuertaHector G. Leal

Oscar Medrano

ADMINISTRATION

Alfonso ObregónInterim Superintendent of Schools

Celeste SánchezAssistant Superintendent

for Curriculum & Instruction

Emma McCallBusiness Manager

SAN BENITO CISDSTAFF UPDATE

“San Benito CISD Staff Update” is an online publication for SBCISD employees. News items for this publication may be submitted to the Community Relations Office/ KSBG TV 17, located at 2115 N. Williams Road. You may also call (956) 276-6030 or fax your information to 361-6124. Informational items may also be submitted via electronic mail to clongoria@sbcisd.net or icgonzalez@sbcisd.net.

EditorCelia Longoria

ReportersIsabel C. González

Celia Longoria

PhotographersIsabel C. González

Celia Longoria

Layout DesignIsabel C. González

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Albert Ortiz

Jorge Mascorro

“Guitar instructors,” continued on page 4

Accomplished musicians serve as guitar instructors

Two accomplished professional musicians, Albert Ortiz and Jorge Mascorro, serve as guitar instructors at the middle school and high school level.

Albert Ortiz

Ortiz has traveled to places such as Japan Korea, China, Philippines, Colombia and Brazil. He has extensive experience working in Mexico as a lead singer and first harmony member of The Three Aces Trio and has worked with international stars, including Luis Miguel and Guadalupe Piñeda.

Working with The Dandy’s Trio, Ortiz had the opportunity to perform with Vicente Fernandez. He has also performed with Estudiantina “La Salle,” and Trova Del Colegio Tepeyac and as a soloist with Coro De La Basílica De Guadalupe.

Ortiz has been performing at various Valley places, including Cimarron Golf Club and Embassy Suites, performing with international singer Rafael Basurto.

Ortiz began working with the district in 2009 as a classical/popular and jazz guitar instructor and director for the school’s Grupo Estudiantina,

with the group receiving top local and state honors at University Interscholastic League (UIL) competitions throughout the years.

Ortiz has attended the Jimmy Bruno Guitar Institute master’s classes in jazz guitar, Guitar 2000 online school, where he took

advance flamenco and classical guitar, Gypsy Jazz Guitar by Paul Mehling and Guitar Made Simple by Christ Standring.

In 2009, he earned a jazz guitar master certificate from Berklee College of Music. In 2006, he attended Instituto Maurer and received a Professional Certificate

in Modern Guitar. In 1994, he studied marketing at

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San Benito CISD mourning loss oflongtime NJROTC instructor

San Benito CISD is mourning the loss of longtime Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) instructor Chief Petty Officer Richard Williams, United States Navy, Retired. Williams passed away on Thursday, September 26, 2013, at Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville after a lengthy illness.

Despite his health issues during the past 10 months, Williams was committed to his duties and continued working in the district, where he had been employed since 2004.

Williams served as a prominent and visible figure, where he and NJROTC cadets proudly took part in many school district and community events.

“Chief Williams did so much not only for the school district, but for our community. He was the type of individual that commanded respect,” said an emotional Lt. Rolando Gonzalez, who worked closely with Williams for several years.

Williams made a profound impact in the district and community, Gonzalez explained.

“He touched so many lives. He knew so many people. The kids learned from him. The kids were his family,” Gonzalez said. “He lived for them and he wanted for them (kids) to have a better life. He served as a father figure to many of these students.”

Counseling services are being provided to students and staff members that are having adifficult time coping with his death.

Interim Superintendent of Schools Alfonso Obregón encourages the entire San Benito CISD family and community to keep Williams’ family in their thoughts and prayers.

“Our school district students, staff and our community will remember how Chief Williams had a positive impact on the lives of so many people,” Obregón said. “He will not only be remembered for what he did in our school district, but also for what he did to help enrich the lives of many people in our community.”

In Loving Memory

Chief Petty Officer Richard WilliamsUnited States Navy, Retired

June 7, 1953 - September 26, 2013

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Center schedule is as follows:

Monday

Fred Booth ElementaryFrank Roberts ElementaryLandrum ElementarySullivan Elementary

Tuesday

Dr. C.M. Cash ElementaryDr. Raul Garza, Jr. ElementaryEd Downs ElementaryJudge Oscar De La Fuente ElementarySan Benito Veterans Memorial Academy

Wednesday

Angela G. Leal ElementaryLa Encantada ElementaryLa Paloma ElementaryRangerville ElementarySan Benito High School

Thursday

Berta Cabaza Middle SchoolMiller Jordan Middle SchoolSan Benito Riverside Middle SchoolJoe Callandret Positive Redirection CenterGateway to Graduation Academy

On Friday, the program sponsors district-wide parent seminars at SBCISD ParentCenter, located at 355 East Stenger Street in San Benito.

For additional information on this and other initiatives of the local Parental Involvement Program, please call (956) 361-6310. Information is also available on the program’s website, http://parental.sbcisd.net/.

“Parent Centers,” continued from page 1

the Universidad Tecnológica de Mexico. In 1992, he attended Escuela Libre de Música de México Harmony and Jazz Guitar. In 1989-1991, he attended the Instituto Nacional de las Bellas Artes, where he studied jazz and guitar.

Jorge Mascorro

Mascorro is a native of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon Mexico, where he studied classical guitar performance in the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes under teachers of internationally acclaimed stars, such as Spaniard Angel Romero and the Cuban Leo Brouwer, among others.

Mascorro began working as a guitar instructor for the district in 2010. Mascorro has helped classical guitar students and members of the Flamenco Quartet win top awards at UIL local and state competitions.

In December 2011, he was instrumental in creating the first quartet at San Benito High School. The group was widely accepted by students and general public. The “second generation” quartet released their first CD containing 10 songs in January 2013.

The classical guitar classes have been growing every year, with middle school students now receiving instruction from both accomplished musicians.

To learn more about the guitar programs, please call the Band Department at (956) 361-6460.

Our mission is to producegraduates who arelifelong learners!

“Guitar instructors,” continued from page 2

Do you haveSan Benito CISD

staff news to share?

Submit staff-related news items and/or photosfor this online publication to the

Community Relations Office.

(956) 276-6030 • 361-6124 - fax • clongoria@sbcisd.net

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Landrum Elementary winsstate award

Landrum Elementary’s Afterschool Program’s Rock Band 13 earned the “Most Innovative Activity” award at the Afterschool Centers on Education (ACE) state conference. The program provides science enrichment activities through the use of music and musical instruments.

The innovative program helps students learn science components as they receive instruction on how to play musical instruments, such as keyboard, electric guitar, electric bass guitar and five-piece drum set and is framed around Texas Ace Critical Success Factor dealing with school involvement.

The (ACE) program is one of the largest statewide afterschool programs in the country, serving over 180,000 students at nearly

1,000 sites. The ACE program is administered by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and is funded through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative of the U.S. Department of Education.

“Students learn about science as they become knowledgeable about the amplifiers and watts of the different instruments,” Afterschool Program site coordinator Albert Sanchez said. “There is a science to setting up the equipment and having the best sound from each instrument. This helps students learn about instrument’s electrical currents, including amperage and wattage.”

Students have to connect the instrument to the amplifier and then from the amplifier to the soundboard, where different effects and equalizers are used to produce the clearest and loudest sound possible, Sanchez explained. “They also learn about how sound travels through sound waves and the use of our sound equipment,” he added.

Using a detailed lesson plan and integrating the use of technology, the school has offered the science enrichment activity for the past three years, allowing third through fifth grade students an opportunity to learn an average of six-to-eight songs per year. The program not only teaches students music, it also helps them learn about the importance of teamwork builds their self-esteem.

“Self-esteem also plays a role in the campus needs assessment because the students learn to believe in themselves and in theirability and the confidence to perform in front of people,” Sanchez said. “They begin to learn how to set goals and overcome obstacles to reach those goals.”

Estrella Serna, a fifth grader, has developed a greater sense of self-esteem and self-confidence. She’s thrilled that she learned how to play the bass guitar last year.

“I didn’t know that actually I could do it,” she said. “I never pictured myself with a bass and now, I can, and that’s great!” Serna, a longtime Afterschool Program participant, wants to learn how to play more instruments with this year’s Rock Band 14.

Another program participant, fifth grader Karen Sanchez, expressed excitement about her involvement in the program. “I get to play in a rock band because music is my life,” she said.

To learn more about this innovating award-winning program, please call (956) 361-6800.

CONGRATS . . . YOU ROCK!!!

Landrum Elementary’s Afterschool Program earned Most Innovative Activity first runner-up honors at state. Shown with Afterschool Program site coordinator Albert Sanchez, left, and instructor Adrian De Los Santos, right, are Landrum Elementary Rock Band 14 members, from left, Estrella Serna, Karen Sanchez, Angela Rodriguez, Cecilia Hernandez and Nicholas Castillo.

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Homecoming Parade & Lighting of “SB” Pep Rally

slated for October 24

The San Benito High School Student Council is sponsoring

the annual Homecoming Parade, which will begin at 5:30 p.m. downtown San Benito on Thursday, October 24.

The parade will travel northbound on Sam Houston Boulevard, beginning at the intersection of South Sam Houston Boulevard and Brooks Street and ending at the intersection of North Sam Houston Boulevard and Adele Street.

Sponsored by the Senior Class of 2014, the “Lighting of the SB” pep rally will take place at Greyhound Stadium, located at 600 N. Austin Street, immediately following the parade.

The parade is open to walking or marching groups and floats. All entries must be affiliated with San Benito CISD (there will be no exceptions to this rule). Drivers must have a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance.

The parade entry fee is $10 for walking or marching groups, $10 for cars, trucks or other vehicle (not pulling a trailer) and $20 for floats, including trucks with trailers. Checks should be made payable to: SBHS Student Council. Entry forms must be returned no later than Friday, October 11.

For more information, please contact Student Council Sponsor William Brown at wbrown@sbcisd.net or sbstuco@gmail.com or Dolores De La Fuente at DDeLaFuente@sbcisd.net or by calling (956) 361-6500.

GT Program currently seekingKindergarten student nominations

The school district’s Gifted and Talented (GT) Program is currently accepting nominations of Kindergarten stu-dents.

Kindergarten student nomination forms may be picked up from the child’s teacher or counselor. Though anyone may nominate a child for testing, the nominee’s parent or guardian must sign the nomination form. Completed forms must be submitted to the child’s school counselor no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 25, 2013.

The nominations of students in Grades 1st through 12th will be accepted Monday, December 2, 2013, through Friday, January 17, 2014.

The following characteristics of a gifted and talented child may help you determine if the nomination of a particular child is appropriate:

• Problem Solving Ability – Quick to see solutions and possibilities;

• Curiosity – Exhibits unusual and sustained interest in the unknown or unfamiliar;

• Sensitivity – Feels deeply for others, often sensitive to criticism;

• Originality – Thinks of unique and outstanding ways to express ideas;

• Persistence – Shows strong determination, will, and stubbornness;

• Energy – Works or plays in areas of interest for long periods without tiring; and

• Enthusiasm – Enjoys a challenge and thrives on com-plexity.

For additional information, please contact the child’s school counselor or Theresa Servellon, Director of the GT Program, at (956) 361-6130.

Pictured above are GT students during the 2013 Robotics Camp summer event.

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The San Benito Consolidated Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its employment practices in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. • Es norma del Distrito Escolar de San Benito no discriminar por motivos de raza, religión, color, origen nacional, sexo, impedimento o edad, en sus procedimientos de empleo, tal como lo requieren el Titulo VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964, según enmienda; el Titulo IX de las Enmiendas en la Educación de 1972; la Ley de Discriminación por Edad de 1975, según enmienda; y la Sección 504 de la Ley de Rehabilitación de 1973, según enmienda.

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DAY DATE OPPONENT SITE TIMEFriday October 4 * PSJA North Away 7:30 PMFriday October 11 * Weslaco East (Band Parents’ Night) Home 7:30 PMFriday October 18 * McAllen High Away 7:30 PMFriday October 25 * PSJA High (Homecoming) Home 7:30 PMFriday November 1 OPENFriday November 8 * Weslaco Away 7:30 PM* Denotes 31-5A District Games

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2013 SAN BENITO GREYHOUNDVARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

“Larger than life” at Bobby Morrow Stadium!

The school district’s cable access channel, KSBG TV 17, is providing the community with an opportunity to purchase scoreboard messages to be shown “larger than life” on the stadium’s Philips video screen during the upcoming football season’s home games.

Scoreboard messages that include a photo and/or a short text message (a sample rendition is shown above) may be purchased from KSBG TV 17 for $10. For additional information, call KSBG TV at (956) 276-6030.

October 6-12 Fire Prevention Week

October 12 Pre-Pigskin Event Bobby Morrow Stadium

October 14-18 National School Lunch Week

October 19 Pigskin Jubilee Bobby Morrow Stadium

October 21-25 National School Bus Safety Week

October 30 Elementary Math Olympics

November 3 Daylight Savings Time Ends

November 25 Campus-Based Inservice ( Exchange Day )

November 26 Districtwide Inservice ( Exchange Day )

District Special Events

Daylight Savings Time ends at 2:00 AMon Sunday, November 3 ... don’t forgetto set your clocks back one hour!