By Dallas ISD Trustee Joyce Foreman, District 6
Three Tips to Ensure a Successful School Year for Students
Congratulations! You survived the first few weeks of school! And now that you’ve had an opportunity to knock the dust off and get back into a school routine, think about how you can set the tone for academic success this school year. Here are a few tips for making sure the school year goes well for you and your family:
- Set a routine. Practice makes perfect. Be consistent with times for bed, waking up, meals, homework, family time and entertainment.
- Allocate time & space appropriately. Rather than kick off your shoes and turn on the t.v. when you get home, establish that time for your children as a time for homework and study. Create a space in which this will take place each night, and do your part to ensure at-home assignments get done.
- Encourage and support. Be your children’s biggest academic cheerleader. Knowing that you are interested and excited about their learning becomes contagious. Your interest piques their interest. Get involved and let them know you care about their education.
A few notes for District 6 families and students:
Fall Means Football
Carter (2-0) defeated Kimball (0-2) 9-7 at Kincaide Stadium on Sept. 2 in Oak Cliff’s biggest rivalry.
Visit www.dallasisd.org/athletics for more games, scores and updates on District 6 football.
FAFSA Opens Early
The date for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid – commonly known as the FAFSA, which many schools use to determine financial aid awards – is available three months earlier this year than in past years. That means for the 2017-2018 school year, seniors and their families can start applying for financial aid as early as Oct. 1. In prior years, the form became available on Jan. 1.
For a family completing the FAFSA for the 2017-2018 school year, they’ll use the 2015 tax return. Previously – before the timeline change – a family would have submitted 2016 tax information.
Dallas ISD College Fair and HBCU Experience
Juniors and seniors will have access to a range of information about getting into and paying for college at the district’s annual College Fair planned for 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 21, 2016, at the Ellis Davis Field House located at 9191 Polk St. Representatives of more than 200 colleges, universities, career training schools and the military will have exhibits at the fair. The event will also feature The HBCU Experience with information and exhibits about the benefits of attending historically black colleges and universities.
Junior League of Dallas Announces Grants for Innovative Teaching Recipients
Since 1992, GFIT has provided approximately $1.66 million to Dallas ISD educators who have created innovative approaches to teaching children. This year, GFIT will award 54 grants totaling just over $93,000. Congratulations to these District 6 teachers selected to receive grants from Junior League of Dallas to fund innovative classroom projects:
- Shawn Davis, Daniel Webster Elementary School
- Armetha Blackmon, Martin Weiss Elementary School
- Leticia Dorsey Martin Weiss Elementary School
- Dorcas Kassebaum, Ronald McNair Elementary School
- Ramicia Paul, Ronald McNair Elementary School
- Shamika Polk, Ronald McNair Elementary School
- Bonita Reece, Umphrey Lee Elementary School
- Sweta Srivastava, Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Middle School
Holmes MS Math Teachers Wins Big
Renee Jackson, a Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Middle School math teacher, was awarded one of seven TI STEM Innovations in STEM Teaching Awards worth $10,000. In order to be nominated, teachers had to be Distinguished-eligible STEM teachers under the Teacher Excellence Initiative and be nominated by their campus principal.
