By: Joyce Foreman, District 6 Trustee Column
The Dec. 3 Discover Dallas ISD Fair was a great opportunity for parents to engage with schools, teachers and principals to learn about all the great programs and opportunities that exist in the district and particularly within District 6.
Thank you to all the parents and families who braved the weather to take an active role in helping make an informed decision about the best-fit school and program for your student in the Dallas Independent School District. For those who were unable to attend, please be encouraged that Dallas ISD is continuing the work initiated at the Discover Dallas ISD Fair with campus open houses and information sessions.
Leslie A. Stemmons Elementary is one of the many schools featured at the recent Discover Dallas ISD fair. Stemmons offers pre-K for four-year-olds, one-way dual language for English language learners and has enrichment clubs for art, modern band and student council among others.
Stemmons, which was issued a “Met Standard” school accountability rating from the Texas Education Agency, has teachers and administrators who are committed to increasing academic achievement for all students through purposeful team planning centered on curriculum alignment and data-driven instruction. These efforts resulted in distinctions awarded for Top 25 percent in Student Progress, Top 25% in Closing the Student Achievement Gap and Top 25 percent in Postsecondary Readiness as well as English Language Arts and Science. Part of Stemmons’ formula for success has been its active approach to forging relationships with parents and community to ensure students receive the structure and support they need.
For more information about Stemmons Elementary, visit www.dallasisd.org/stemmons or call 972-794-4900 to set up an appointment to tour the campus or obtain dates and information regarding open houses and enrollment.
Be reminded that District 6 has a wide range of programs like Carter and Kimball’s Collegiate Academies, Terry and Brashear’s two-way dual language offerings or the D.A. Hulcy STEAM Academy, a Dallas ISD Transformation school. I encourage you to contact that particular school to learn more about their programs and offerings.
Please note that as you are exploring these opportunities, it is important to be aware of the upcoming deadlines and submission periods for application and enrollment to many of these programs for the 2017-2018 school year.
The application period is open now through Jan. 31 to apply to attend a Dallas ISD magnet school, transformation school, Two-Way Dual Language program or collegiate academy for the next school year.
Below are more details on each type of school and program:
Magnet school
Dallas ISD is home to some of the nation’s top magnet schools. Students applying to attend one of the district magnet schools must meet certain eligibility requirements.
Applications are available at www.dallasisd.org/page/182.
Transformation school
Public school choice programs offer specialized academic programming, similar to magnet schools. Transformation schools are one of the new school choice categories that taps into students’ individual interests, learning styles and aspirations. These schools do not have academic entry requirements – they are open enrollment for students across the district, but space is limited.
Applications are available at www.dallasisd.org/page/40326.
Two-Way Dual-Language program
The Two-Way Dual-Language program puts Spanish-speaking and English-speaking students in the same classroom, teaches them the same curriculum in both languages, and creates bilingual, bicultural and bi-literate students. Students in pre-K through first grade are eligible to enroll in the program.
Learn more at www.dallasisd.org/duallanguage.
Collegiate academies
Students who attend a collegiate academy can earn up to 60 hours of college credit or an associate degree—at no cost to them—concurrently while earning a high school diploma.
Dallas ISD launched seven new collegiate academies and a P-TECH this school year, and will launch another 10 district collegiate academies for the 2017–2018 school year.
Current eighth-graders may apply at www.dallasisd.org/page/41447.
Interested in donating items to support Dallas ISD’s Homeless Student population?
Dallas ISD is collecting holiday donations to give to the district’s homeless students and their families.
The Dallas ISD Homeless Education Department is asking for the following items to be donated:
- Uniforms tops and bottoms (all sizes)
- Undergarments (all sizes)
- Winter outerwear (all sizes)
- School supplies
- Blankets and pillows
- Hygiene items
- Non-perishable foods and canned goods
- Laundry detergent
Donation collection sites are located at the following Dallas ISD locations:
- Administration Building, 3700 Ross
- Buckner Building, 2909 Buckner
- Service Center 2, 3701 S. Lamar
- Maria Luna Food Service Facility, 1515 Al Lipscomb Way
- Maintenance Services Northeast, 10121 Hermosa
- Maintenance Services Southeast, 1602 Santa Fe
- Maintenance Services Northwest, 1500 Singleton
- Maintenance Services Southwest, 310 E Overton
For more information, contact Dallas ISD’s Volunteer and Partnership Services at (972) 925-5540 or partners@dallasisd.org. Those interested, can also visit dallasisd.org/partners.
