INSIDE THE ISSUE:

Athletics

Palestine High School

Palestine Junior High

A.M. Story Intermediate School

Southside Elementary School

Northside Primary School

Washington Early Childhood Center

TACE

Upcoming Events

December 18, 2015 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 15

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Produced by Palestine High School Printing and Imaging Technology: • Tess Shuptrine • Malorie Sanders

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Palestine Independent School District

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Wildcat WeeklyMessage from our Superintendent: Jason Marshall

Palestine ISD students proved their artistic talent recently in a Christmas Card Contest. Students submitted their original artwork in hopes that their design would be chosen for this year’s PISD Christmas greeting card. The contest judges had a really good time looking at all of the artwork, but it sure wasn’t easy to choose only three winners with so many excellent entries from which to choose. Three were extra special and were selected for the district’s Christmas card. Story 6th grade student, Jonathan Ledesma’s “Rudolph” is featured on the front of the card. The artwork of Southside 3rd grade students, Sergi Funai and Camille Lowe is featured on the inside of the card. Thank you to every student who participated and congratulations to the winners of the Palestine ISD 2015 Christmas Card Contest!

District administrators and I enjoyed distributing retention incentive checks to Palestine ISD employees this month. I hope everyone is enjoying their incentive, and if I didn’t get to personally see each and every one of you during the retention incentive distribution, please know that I value you as an employee, and appreciate everything that you do.  Speaking for our school board members, I know they feel the

same way and hope that the extra money can be put to good use.

The district will be closed for the Christmas holidays from Monday, December 18th until students return on Tuesday, January 5th. Employees will return on Monday, January 4, 2016 to participate in staff development. The Palestine ISD Board of Trustees and I wish each of you safe and relaxing holidays, a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

“Rudolph” by Jonathan Ledesma

Story 6th Grade Student

Santa’s Sleigh” by Sergi Funai

Southside 3rd Grade Student

“Merry Christmas” by Camille Lowe

Southside 3rd Grade Student

Merry Christmas

Go Wildcats Palestine Athletics

December 10th, 11th, and 12th the Lady Cat varsity basketball team went and competed in the Edgewood tournament. The girls placed fifth in this tournament after playing Alvardo, Paris North Lamar, and Edgewood.

Alvarado-Won 55-48 Kiearra Wilson led with 20 points and Jaila Cook followed with 15 points

Paris North Lamar-Lost 40-45 Kierra Wilson led with 20 points and Jaila Cook followed with 13 points.

Edgewood-Won 47-35 Destiny Mathews led with 14 points and 14 rebounds and Kierra Wilson followed with 11 points.

As of December 12, 2015 the varsity team is now 11-5 for the season

Palestine JV Update The JV boys improved their record to 10-2 with a second place finish this week in the Palestine JV Tournament. The cats went 2-2 in the tournament with both losses coming to a good Whitehouse squad. In the first game of pool play Palestine defeated crosstown rival Westwood 57-34 with Eric Rhodes leading the scoring with 14 points. Kameron Hamilton and Keyshawn Carter added 11 and 10 respectively. In the second game of pool play the boys played a tall and talented Whitehouse team and suffered their first loss of the season 25-30. Derodderick Williams led all scorers with 13. The second day of the tournament saw the Wildcats face off with district foe Mexia. Palestine came through with a 51-49 win on Stephen Warrens’ 3 at the buzzer. Warren had 13 followed by Keyshawn Carter with 11. This set up a rematch with Whitehouse for the championship. Whitehouse used their size inside to outscore the Wildcats 34-44 in that game giving the Cats their second loss of the season. Keyshawn Carter had 9 followed by Eric Rhodes, Kameron Hamilton, and Stephen Warren all with 8. “Whitehouse is a very good 5A team. They have a couple of really good guards to go with two big boys down low. Hopefully these games will help prepare us for our goal of being district champions.” -Coach Storment. The Wildcats travel to Brownsboro on Tuesday and host Crossroads Friday night.

Varsity Boys Update The Boys Varsity Basketball team competed in The Great East Texas Shootout in Brownsboro Texas. The Wildcats finished 2-1 in tournament play and third place overall. Offensive standouts include but not limited to Devonte Mims, Makevian Calhoun, and Louis Landa-Miller. The Cats two victories were solidified by great defensive play from Cullum Parkes, Jhamonte Milton, and Israel Fatade. Palestine’s only loss came at the hands of Brownsboro, the hosting team. The Wildcats got off to a slow start and were unable to over-come early mistakes, thus, losing 50-66. However, "we are looking-forward to a rematch on Tuesday night in Brownsboro. We seem to be trending in the right direction and have lots of individuals contributing in countless ways," Coach Stoglin. “I believe we are peaking at the right time and gradually getting better and better”. Coach Johnson

Palestine landed a total of 11 players on the all-district team not including an additional 8 honorable mention local awards. Palestine’s representation on the all-district team is highlighted by both Devonte Mims and Jhamonte Milton earning 1st team all-district at their respective positions. We are proud of those awarded and we look forward to a bright future.

Palestine High School

William Stewart: Principal

Seniors and Washington Early Childhood students all enjoyed exchanging gifts, cups of coco and popcorn, and watching the Polar Express. Earlier, this month Seniors were matched with children from Washington Early Childhood Center, therefor becoming PAW PALS. This annual event at PHS is looked forward too not only from the little ones at Washington but the big kids at the high school.

Congratulations to our robotics teams as they captured the VEX Tournament championship at the Killeen NBN VEX tournament this past Saturday. We had two teams who were crowned tournament champs! We took 3 teams to this tournament and all teams performed well. The great news about this tournament was that the winners would qualify for the South Texas Regional Championships in February in League City, but the best part about winning this tournament is that, the two teams that won it all have qualified for the U.S. Open Vex Robotics Championships in Iowa next April!!!! Team 8601D and Team 8601E are nationals bound. There were over 35 teams from our great state competing in this weekends past event. Our teams have grown over the past three years and our students who are a part of our robotics competition teams always put in a lot of hours and hard work. Team 8601D team members are, Grace Butler, Coy Jenkins, and Wesley Henderson. Team 8601E team members are Nick Clewis-Jones, Giovanni Gonzalez, and David Retana. When you see them, please congratulate them. Here's a list of our PHS Robotics program accomplishments: 2013-14 SkillsUSA Texas District 5 Champions Robotics 2013-14 SkillsUSA Texas State Qualifiers Robotics 2014-15 SkillsUSA Texas District 5 Champions Robotics 2014-15 SkillsUSA Texas State Qualifiers Robotics 2014-2015 VEX Robotic North Texas Regional Qualifiers 2015 Killeen Texas Shoemaker High School Vex NBN Tournament Champions 2015-16 South Texas Vex Robotics Regional Qualifiers 2015-16 U.S. Open VEX Robotics Championships Qualifiers

Business students sharing their "proper use of a golf cart & golf cart components" knowledge with the 1st graders who just completed The FIRST TEE program at Northside.

Palestine High School

William Stewart: Principal

Freshman Transition Toy Drive Delivery

Palestine Wildcat Choir sings at Palestine Public Library Open House

Palestine High School CTE Department had a great time promoting their CTE programs at Frost Fest. Our students worked very hard spreading holiday cheer.

Palestine Junior High School

Stephen Cooksey: Principal

PJH UIL Competition - Overall, 18 students and 2 teams placed!

7th Grade: Mia Ramos - 3rd Place Art Elvin Calhoun - 2nd Place Chess Hannah Raymond - 5th Place Impromptu Speaking Kaitlyn Pierson - 6th Place Listening Isabelle Sinien - 3rd Place Mathematics Madison Thomas - 4th Place Modern Oratory Mya Crutcher - 5th Place Modern Oratory Monique Ybarra - 6th Place Modern Oratory Mason Ratliff - 2nd Place Science Jacoby Campbell - 4th Place Science 7th Grade Science Team - 2nd Place

8th Grade: Ella Ware - 6th Place Art Mahogany Clark - 2nd Place Impromptu Speaking Morgan Lasiter - 4th Place Listening Skills Bianca Mitchell - 5th Place Mathematics Jaiden Asberry - 6th Place Science Emma Bennett - 1st Place Social Studies Ricardo Benitez - 2nd Place Social Studies Lupe Vega - 3rd Place Social Studies 8th Grade Social Studies Team - 1st Place

Basketball- 7th Grade Girls Basketball Take a 2nd Place win in the Palestine Tournament this past weekend.

NJHS-The PJHS National Junior Honor society deliver toys from the PJH Toy Drive to the Pleasant Hills Children’s Home for Christmas.

Ms. Brickman’s class gets into the Christmas spirit and builds gingerbread houses.

Congratulations to the Junior High Wildcat Choir! They competed Tuesday, December 15, in the Main Event Holiday Music Festival and earned a trophy and excellent rating.

The 8th Grade UIL History/Social Studies team take home 1st Place in the UIL competition.

Palestine Junior High School

Stephen Cooksey: Principal

Door Decorating- Our students and teachers work hard at decorating their doors for Christmas.

A.M. Story Intermediate School

Jamie Clark: Principal

Happy Holidays from A.M. Story

Intermediate!

Southside Elementary School Melissa Molandes:Principal

UIL 2015 2nd Grade

Spelling: Daniel Delgado 2nd Blake Robinson 3rd Zach Sheridan 4th

TEAM……1st Place Music Memory: Duanna Wardell 5th TEAM 3rd Storytelling: Ariana Coody 3rd Keileigh Butler 5th Alexi Guitz 6th Creative Writing: Blake Robinson 5th Chess Puzzle: Aiden Camp 5th

UIL 2015 3rd Grade

Spelling: Isaac Delgado 3rd

Music Memory: Trenton Nye 2nd

Storytelling: Jennifer Oscoy 2nd Kaitlynn Kimbrough 3rd Chess Puzzle:

Adam Chamberlin 6th

Mrs. Lewis’s class is enjoying a field trip to the North Pole on the Polar Express.

UIL Story Tellers

Southside students were very successful at UIL this year! We are so proud of them!

Some Southside choir students caroled

outside of the auditorium as parents

entered to hear the Junior High choir

program.

Southside Elementary School

Melissa Molandes:Principal

A 94 year old resident at Brookdale Assisted Living Center plays Joy To the World as the Southside students sing.

Southside students helping decorate Brookdale Assisted Living Center for Christmas.

Group Picture of Brookdale residents and Southside students after they finished decorating and singing Jingle Bells.

Northside Primary School

Barbara Dutton : Principal

Northside students ride the Polar Express.

Students shop in the Northside Christmas Store.

Northside staff luncheon and ornament exchange.

Pictures with Santa.

KEY students practice for Christmas piano recital.

Washington Early Childhood Center

Shelia Bradley: Principal

Christmas at Washington Early Childhood Center

Polar Express at WECC

PALESTINE ISD TACE

Students are busy creating awesome gifts for their parents!

Chem Club experiment on what makes the best chocolate chip cookies. Students made their hypotheses and then changed one variable. Of course the taste test was delicious!

Some of the chem club members made a chemistree

and send their wishes for everyone to have a very Merry

Christmas!

Hard at work on the Christmas tree project.

Junior High

Junior High School TACE College and Career Center

PALESTINE ISD TACE

Knitting Club GED Prep Class

English Class

Our Party with Piñata Student Tech Aide

Adult Education Program (Knitting, English and GED Prep Classes)

Give Out Diplomas Ceremony

TACE Family Engagement Program Upcoming Events:

Adult Education Registration: Wednesday, January 6 and Thursday January 7, 2016 @ 5-8 pm at High School Library Media Center. We offer English and GED Prep Classes.

People interested in enrolling must attend both days to receive the orientation, fill the registration documentation and take the corresponding placement test.

Classes are free. Class space is limited For more information please contact: Mr. Tupac Alcauter at: 903-731-8000 ext. 1266 or e-mail: talcauter@palestineschools.org; or visit our website www.tacepalestine.weebly.com

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December Looking Forward

10:00 am- Soccer Game

New Years Eve

2016

Christmas Holidays

Christmas Holiday

Christmas Christmas

Eve