INSIDE THE ISSUE:

Athletics

Palestine High School

A.M. Story Intermediate School

Southside Elementary School

Northside Primary School

Washington Early Childhood Center

TACE

Looking Forward

February 6,2015 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 21

Each year, the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) hosts the Midwinter Conference in Austin, Texas at the end of January. Several PISD administrators and I attended the conference last week where we enjoyed the opportunity to come together with school districts across Texas to discuss issues facing education today. Some of the nation’s best educational leaders presented sessions on school finance, legislation that affects public schools, and innovative academic topics. The sessions challenged us to think in new ways to ensure that students’ have access to the resources and tools they will need to be successful in college and in their future careers. As educators, we must continue our own education if we want to ensure the best education for students.

Anderson County public school districts began working together several years ago in an effort to bring about legislative changes that would benefit all students in Texas. While improvements were achieved during the last legislative session, we must continue working for improvement for Texas schools. With the 84th Texas Legislative Session coming up this spring; Palestine ISD, Cayuga ISD, Elkhart ISD, Slocum ISD, Frankston ISD, Neches ISD, and Westwood ISD are working together again to develop a joint legislative platform that will be shared with our elected officials. The greatest areas of concern for Anderson County Public Schools include:

1. Improvements in state funding formulas for public schools ensuring equitable funding for all students in Texas

2. The need for additional money that would allow an increase in pay for teachers and increased benefits for the Texas Teacher Retirement System (TRS)

3. Ensuring that no public school funds should be used to pay for education vouchers or private school education

4. Further reducing the number of STAAR tests given to students (especially younger students)

5. Working to prevent the national Common Core Curricula being adopted by the State of Texas.

We are working hard to bring about equity and excellence to guarantee that each child is equipped for success, and we will continue working to provide a World-Class education for each and every child.

Have a great weekend!

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Produced by Palestine High School Printing and Imaging Technology: •Ana Balderas •Rozi Balderas

Wildcat WeeklyMessage from our Superintendent: Jason Marshall

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Palestine Independent School District

Friday, February 13th Staff & Student Holiday Monday, February 16th

Student Holiday/ Staff Development

Betty Germany of Citizens

National Bank presents Mr.

Marshall with $1,000 to

benefit the Wildcat Golf

Course

Thank you Citizens National Bank!

GO WILDCATS

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Go Wildcats Palestine Athletics

Jay Brown: Athletic Director

PowerliftingThe Palestine Power Lifting Team placed 3rd at Malakof this weekend. Individual stats were as follows:

Pat Cross- 1st place in SHW class with a combined 1570lbs.

Josh Tillis- 1st place in the 275 class with a combined 1380lbs.

Osvaldo Palacias- 2nd place in the 114 class with a combined 565lbs.

Ty Swindle- 2nd place in the 242 class with a combined 1230lbs.

Robert Thompson- 5th place in the 132 class with a combined 715lbs.

Coaches were extremely proud of the way the boys performed and the way ALL lifters have improved over the season.

The next meet will be here in Palestine on February 7thin the High School Gym. We invite all students and faculty to come out support the Power Lifting team and show your support.

Tennis

The Palestine tennis team has a successful start to the spring season at the Hallsville Varsity Tournament Friday. Lucas Sheeley and Annalise Meyers took second place in the mixed doubles division. They won three matches to reach the finals of the bracket and came home with silver medals. Stevie Ybarra won two matches to reach the semifinals in the girls singles bracket and Ben Shiller won one match to reach the quarterfinals in boys singles. It was the first varsity tournament for most of the players and the freshmen mixed doubles team of Serena Coker and Issac Fulgham won their first varsity match. We will be traveling to Jacksonville Friday and then a few of the players are going to go to SFA on Saturday to get a chance to watch college tennis along with participating in the Hudson tournament.

Palestine High School

William Stewart: Principal

Congratulations to several high school members of the Palestine Wildcat Choir

who participated in the UIL Solo and Ensemble competition at Whitehouse High

School this past Saturday. Seniors Haley Cook and Jordan Hobbs and Sophomore

Jessica Valencia each received the highest rating of Superior on a Class 1

solo and will advance to State competition in May while Freshman Chloe Boyce was awarded a Superior rating on a Class 2 solo. Dylan McElhaney and Hannah Seal each received an Excellent rating for a solo performance, while an ensemble consisting of Brittany Barriera, Haley Cook, Jordan Hobbs, Jacob Houck,

Geneva Spreen, and Jessica Valencia also earned an Excellent rating. Jacob Houck and Brieanna Huey also received a Good rating for their solo performances. All

students performed a memorized solo or ensemble for a judge who then critiqued

their performance and awarded them these ratings. Palestine High School was

well represented.

AP Chemistry students at the Beezley exhibit. Palestine Wildcat Choir

David Yeakey

UIL academic invitational winners UIL academic invitational winners

David Yeakey demonstrates the invisible pores in a

balloon by putting a needle through it.

A.M. Story Intermediate School

Amanda Jackson: Principal

We Love Our Counselors

Story Students LOVED participating in the Black History Program

Leslie Ramirez, (Sojourner Truth, former slave and noted speaker for abolition and women’s rights)

 Jose Rodriguez (W.C. Handy, American blues composer and musician, “Father of the Blues”)

Colt Eikner    (Satchel Paige, greatest pitcher in history began career Negro Leagues, inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971)

Maria Lopez (Condoleeza Rice, first African American to be appointed Secretary of State)

Abednego Capron   (Alonzo Marion Story, beloved educator that A.M. Story Intermediate is named in honor of)

Nicholas Renteria Thurgood Marshall (first African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court)    

Black History Show

Linda Luce and Kristi Evans are our two counselors! They make this a fun caring place to learn.

(Alonzo Marion Story, beloved educator that A.M. Story

Thurgood Marshall (first African American to serve on the

(Alonzo Marion Story, beloved educator that A.M. Story

Thurgood Marshall (first African American to serve on the

Southside Elementary SchoolMelissa Molandes:Principal

Lots of “Out of this World” learning going on at Southside this week!

Students in Ms. Hutchison’s class were looking for

creative ways to measure

perimeter and area.

Mrs. Everhart has Jump Rope for Heart started!  Lots of fun staying healthy!

John Bell in Mrs. Anderson’s class had the most creative 100th day t-shirt. “I mustache you to count to 100”.

Celebrating 100 days of learning at Southside Elementary this week!

Jump Rope for Heart Measuring Perimeter and Area

Northside Primary School

Barbara Dutton : Principal

Writing activity - Knee to knee: What will you look like and be doing when you are 100 years old?

100 Years Old

Activities are in the balloon. Pop!!! List 100 reasons why we love our counselor, Mrs. Caveness.

First Northside Reading

Warriors to complete the

Five Bob Books Kits.

Five Bob Books Kits

100 DAYS ACTIVITIES

100 reasons

Mrs. Sepulveda at Board Appreciation Meeting.

Perfect Attendance 100 Days.

Washington Early Childhood Center

Rhonda Herrington: Principal

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Early Childhood CenterRhonda Herrington: Principal

Early Childhood CenterRhonda Herrington: Principal

Early Childhood CenterType to enter textType to enter text

PALESTINE ISD TACE

Southside Elementary TACE Literacy Center:

A. M. Story TACE STEM Center:

Southside students are really giving our brains a workout with problem solving and number lines.

Problem solving with Straws and Connectors!

Number lines and graphs!

Young students view “Master Chef Junior”

on their iPads and some aspire to be

future contestants!

Mrs. Cooksey shows students in her Yearbook TACE class how

to design a page.

Student shows off Story TACE Cooking Class design on his

iPad.

Mr. Lamb gives a little help to one of the TACE robotics teams.

PALESTINE ISD TACE

Palestine ISD TACE Parent Program invites all community members to participate in knitting classes. Classes are held on Wednesdays, from January 29th to May 14th, 2015 from 6 to 7:30 pm in High School Room 222.

PARENT ACTIVITY CALENDAR—FEBRUARY 2015 Upcoming Events

Mrs. Jordan’s knitting class is doing a great job! Showing some of their projects. Great environment exists in the classes!

Adult Knitting Class

Palestine High School TACE College and Career Center

17 Family Fitness 6:00-7:00 pm

21 College Day 6:00-7:00 pm

TBD Math/Science Family Night 6:00-8:00 pm

Palestine Junior High School STEM Center

12Tutorial Information/ Reading Strategies

5:30-6:30 pm19

A. M. Story TACE STEM Center

9 Basic Financial Literacy 5:30-6:30 pm

24 How to Write an Effective Resume 5:30-6:30 pm

Southside Elementary TACE Literacy Center

10 Family Craft Night for Valentine’s Day 5:00-5:45 pm

17 Palestine Public Library 4:00-4:45 pm

Northside TACE Literacy Center

10 Planning with Ads, Meals and Coupons 5:00 pm

24 Five Love Languages of Children 5:00 pm

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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FEBRUARY Looking Forward

SS - 3rd-Grade Math CBA

ST - 4th-Grade Hoops for Heart

5:30p HS - Dual Credit Parent Meeting

SS - 3rd-Grade Reading CBA

ST - 5th-Grade Hoops for Heart

5:30p HS - Dual Credit Parent Meeting

ST - 6th-Grade Hoops for Heart

SS - Jump Rope for Heart ends

1:30p SS - Valentine Parties

5:30p HS - Showcase - AUX Gym

HS - College Crash Course for Juniors and Parents

Valentine’s Day

Bad Weather Day - Holiday for staff and students

Registration deadline for MAR 14 SAT

SS - Spring Pictures

SS - Reading CBA

SS - 2nd-Grade Math CBA

Holiday for Students - Staff Development