By: Dallas ISD Trustee Joyce Foreman
The last bell for 2018-2019 school year will soon ring. Many students will rush out the door, while some will linger to say “good bye” to close friends and teachers. But before everyone switches into summer mode, I’d like to thank our teachers for their hard work this school year which is evident by the many accomplishments that we see daily in the students. I would also like to thank our administrators, parents for another successful year! THANK YOU for your hard work and dedication. Your efforts make District 6 the shining gem of southwest Dallas.
District 6 Takes To The Stage
At the beginning of this school year, the ATT Performing Arts Center received a grant from Disney to bring the Disney Musicals in Schools programs to schools in the Dallas area. Ronald E. McNair Elementary is one of the five Dallas ISD schools selected to participate in the program. The student performers lit up the stage at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in a showcase performance featuring a musical number from their production of Disney’s The Lion King Kids. The performance group also wowed local audiences with the full shows at their campus. I’m especially excited that this program marks the beginning of a theater program for McNair. And I look forward to many show-stopping performances in the future.
A Little Extra Goes A Long Way
After a district-wide focus on boosting student participation in extracurricular activities, I’m elated to report that the district is well on track to meet its 2018–2019 goal of having 76 percent of students involved in at least one extracurricular activity. Dallas ISD offers more than 200 extracurricular and after-school programs for students in pre-K through grade 12 at no cost. The activities are designed to meet the specific needs and interests of students and provide them with an opportunity of experiencing activities they might not have access to otherwise. District 6 schools, in particular, offer a variety of extracurricular activities to include, but not limited to, athletics, visual and performing arts, robotics, debate, UIL academic competitive teams and more. I encourage parents to take advantage of the summer break to help their students explore interests that they may further pursue through extracurricular offerings during the upcoming school year.
Summer Tips
Dallas ISD offers summer programs and enrichment opportunities in partnership with several community organizations. The district offers more than 100 options with emphasis in the arts, science, technology and other areas that will help prevent summer loss by reinforcing what students learned during the year in fun and interactive sessions. To learn about the summer program opportunities around Dallas ISD, click here. Enrollment dates vary per program and campus.
Also, remember to check community service organizations such as the Girls and Boys Clubs, the YMCA and YWCA and Girls, Inc. Talk to the churches in the community, as well as the local businesses that may sponsor camps. Lastly, keep an eye out for camp offerings from area sports organizations.
The key is to keep your children mentally and physically engaged, not just entertained all summer. Help them avoid the dreaded “summer learning loss” by identifying ways to expand their minds and move their bodies in the home, in the community, in a class or at a summer camp.
I wish everyone a safe and exciting summer vacation. And we look forward to seeing you at one of our schools on August 19 to begin a new and exciting school year!
