http://www.springisd.org/ News from Spring Independent School District in Houston, Texas en-us kgarrison@springisd.org (Karen Garrison) plares@springisd.org (Pete Lares) http://www.springisd.org/rss/SISD-logo-rss.gif http://www.springisd.org/ 144 139 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:40:00 CDT http://www.springisd.org/default.aspx?name=feb12.calendar feb12.calendar Spring ISD students will start classes next school year on Aug. 27, 2012 and end school on May 31, 2013, according to the new 2012-13 school calendar that was approved by the Spring ISD Board of Trustees on Feb. 14. http://www.springisd.org/default.aspx?name=feb12.cteluncheon feb12.cteluncheon Over the past five years the Spring ISD Career and Technology Advisory Board has raised over $250,000 to provide student scholarships, teacher program scholarships and certification scholarships for students pursuing industry certifications. http://www.springisd.org/default.aspx?name=feb12.portal feb12.portal It will be easier for Spring ISD parents to access their child's online information since the district launched its new single-sign-on parent portal on Feb. 1. http://www.springisd.org/default.aspx?name=feb12.basketball feb12.basketball View schedules and results for boys and girls basketball playoffs for Spring ISD schools. http://www.springisd.org/default.aspx?name=feb12.outreachwalk feb12.outreachwalk Spring ISD Virtual School will be holding a Project Tomorrow Outreach Walk in the neighborhoods surrounding Spring, Dekaney and Westfield high schools Saturday, Feb. 11. The Spring High outreach walk will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Dekaney from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Westfield from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. http://www.springisd.org/default.aspx?name=feb12.virtualschool feb12.virtualschool High school dropouts who live within the Spring ISD boundaries and meet the criteria will now have the opportunity to earn a high school diploma by taking free online courses through the Spring ISD Virtual School. http://www.springisd.org/default.aspx?name=feb12.triclub feb12.triclub The 61st Annual Spring Tri-Club Show and Sale will be held March 22-24 at the Nagy Pavilion, Lemm Rd. 1. The event will feature exhibits by Spring ISD students involved in FFA and Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) at Dekaney, Spring, Westfield and Wunsche high schools, and local 4-H chapters. Exhibits will include animals, food, horticulture, arts, crafts and photography. http://www.springisd.org/default.aspx?name=feb12.marks feb12.marks Students at Dekaney High School learned about World War II history recently from a man who lived it. Al Marsk is a holocaust survivor who was held in four different camps in Europe, during World War II. He spoke to about 400 juniors and seniors who were attending from their U.S. history or government and economics classes. http://www.springisd.org/default.aspx?name=jan12.lunch jan12.lunch Major changes to the National School Lunch Program were announced by first lady Michelle Obama and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Jan. 25. The new guidelines require schools to offer more fruits, vegetables and whole grains along with lower calories, trans fat and sodium, but the changes won't be noticeable to Spring ISD students. http://www.springisd.org/default.aspx?name=jan12.leedgold jan12.leedgold Gloria Marshall Elementary School in Spring ISD has been awarded LEED® Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Gloria Marshall is the first public school in Houston to achieve LEED Gold. http://www.springisd.org/default.aspx?name=jan12.earlycollege jan12.earlycollege The Early College Academy at Southridge is now accepting applications for the 2012-13 school year. All Spring ISD students who are currently enrolled in eighth grade may apply. Space is limited to 110 students who meet eligibility criteria. Applications are due on or before March 1. http://www.springisd.org/default.aspx?name=jan12.programofstudies jan12.programofstudies Spring ISD has updated the district's 2012-13 Program of Studies and posted it online to make it easier and more convenient for middle- and high-school students and their parents to access information and plan future course selections. http://www.springisd.org/default.aspx?name=jan12.jenkinsorff jan12.jenkinsorff The Jenkins Elementary School Orff Ensemble has been invited to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association convention in February. A preconvention concert will be held as a send-off performance at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26 in the Westfield High School Performing Arts Center, 16713 Ella Blvd. Admission is free and the community is invited to come and hear this talented group of fourth and fifth graders perform their TMEA concert selections. http://www.springisd.org/default.aspx?name=jan12.bikerodeo jan12.bikerodeo The Harris County Sheriff's Department conducted a bike safety training program for kindergarten, first- and second-grade students at Heritage Elementary School in Spring ISD during the week before winter break. http://www.springisd.org/default.aspx?name=jan12.teagold jan12.teagold The Texas Education Agency (TEA) recently released the 2010-11 Gold Performance Acknowledgements, and 18 Spring ISD campuses earned one or more of the acknowledgments for high performance on indicators other than those used to determine accountability ratings.