Cougar Pride Daily
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Turn-of-the-Century Shopping at Lakeview
Long before the days of shopping websites like Amazon and Ebay, the latest trend was catalog shopping.
In a recent class at Lakeview Middle School (LVMS), Angela Shideler’s seventh-grade students dug into a Sears Roebuck catalog and learned about the turn-of-the-century economy.
In the early 1900′s, much of Texas’ economy was still agriculturally-based, so Shideler focused the lesson on examining what products were popular and how much items cost, since many families had much less money to spend than today.
“It also helped students understand the economy and how advertising and marketing works,” Shideler said. ”Times were hard and people would use the catalog to dream of all the things they would like to have. This would give them the motivation to save money to be able to buy it.”
The lesson is very applicable today, as well.
“This is a real life lesson that students can use today. Ordering online is similar to the catalog ordering of the past. The students learn a little about the economy, the value of money, and how inflation has risen,” Shideler said.
Owen Proud of “Bobcat Pawns”
Owen Elementary fifth-graders play chess during lunch.
“If we need to fit in a chess club over a ham sandwich, then we’ll do it.”
Owen Elementary teacher Brittney Hansen explained the creative scheduling of the newly-formed chess club, the Bobcat Pawns.
“Right now, the club is comprised of fifth-graders, so we meet during lunch because many students walk their younger brothers and sisters home after school.”
Since the club just formed in January, students work to master the fundamentals of the game, but Hansen has big goals for her students.
“We’re working on thinking long-term, three moves ahead, and developing their critical thinking skills,” Hansen said.
When asked what they thought of it, students had a variety of answers.
“I like the way Mrs. Hansen teaches it because I understand it.” Katie Ayala, fifth-grader, said.
Several dozen students gather to play chess weekly at Owen.
“I like it because it’s a thinking game and you have to concentrate, it’s a calm game,” Nuberia Barthell added.
Though the club isn’t even two months old, 35 students have joined. That’s well over a third of the 85 students in the grade.
“We had all sorts of clubs on campus, and many of them focused on sports. This is the first one of its kind here, and you can see by how many kids are here, they have really responded to it,” Hansen said.
This initiative aligns with LISD’s core belief that critical thinking skills are necessary for future challenges students will face.
Until the end of the year, only fifth-graders will participate. When the 2012-2013 school year starts, the club may shift to before or after school to accommodate students in other grades.
DJCC Health Science Hosts Blood Drive
Roll up your sleeves for the blood drive at Dale Jackson Career Center (DJCC). The Spring 2012 blood drive is Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. in four mobile coaches in the rear of the building between auto collision and the back parking lot.
Carter Blood Care is facilitating the drive. They provide more than 350,000 units of life-saving blood each year. Donating blood can benefit up to four people and any surplus units go to the troops.
Here are the blood donor guidelines:
*You must be 17 or older.
*You must have a photo ID with your birthdate on it.
*If you are 17, you must have a permission slip signed by your parents.
*You should weigh at least 110 pounds.
*You can donate if you have a new body piercing or tattoo and it was done in a Texas state licensed facility. If not, you are deferred for one year.
*You have not donated blood within the last eight weeks.
You will receive a free t-shirt for participating.
Lakeview Students Collect Books for Hospital Library
LVMS students pose with books they collected.
Students at Lakeview Middle School (LVMS) are collecting new and gently used books for the Children’s Medical Center Resource Library in Dallas, various shelters, and LVMS teachers’ class libraries.
Librarian Brandi Grant is spearheading the project with the LVMS Book Club members. They have two goals for the project; one, that students understand the value of community service and two, that they understand how healing literature can be. Students who donated books got to wear a hat Friday.
“Giving back and creating ties to the community helps students to grow into adults who are giving and community oriented,” Grant said.
The drive runs from Feb. 6 to Feb. 28.
The Colony High School Prepares for Competition in new District
With the University Interscholastic League (UIL) biennial realignment changes on Feb. 2, The Colony High School moves from district 4-4A to district -4A. Instead of competing with Denton, Denton Ryan, Lake Dallas, Little Elm, Wichita Falls, and Wichita Falls Rider, they will now compete in a division with Frisco Liberty, Frisco High, Frisco Heritage, Prosper, Wakeland, Frisco Centennial and Little Elm. TCHS Athletic Director Rudy Rangel noticed a major change in the alignment.
“Obviously, the travel is better for our students and coaches. We will not travel more than 10 miles to a game next year,” Coach Rangel said. “Overall, we are excited about our new district. We get to renew old rivals in the Frisco district and got to keep Little Elm who has turned out to be a huge rival. Competition will be at an all-time high, but our athletes are excited and ready!”
Here is the tentative schedule for TCHS.
|
Sept 28 |
Frisco Liberty |
FISD Memorial Stadium |
Friday – 7:00pm |
|
Oct 5 |
Frisco High |
Tommy Briggs Stadium |
Friday – 7:00pm |
|
Oct 12 |
Frisco Heritage |
FISD Memorial Stadium |
Friday – 7:00pm |
|
Oct 19 |
Prosper |
Tommy Briggs Stadium |
Friday – 7:00pm |
|
Oct 25 |
Wakeland |
FISD Memorial Stadium |
Thursday – 7:00pm |
|
Nov 2 |
Frisco Centennial |
FISD Memorial Stadium |
7:00pm |
|
Nov 9 |
Little Elm |
Tommy Briggs Stadium |
7:00pm |
Griffin Girls are Proud to “Sweat Pink”
Walk the halls at Griffin Middle School (GMS) and you’ll probably see a lot more pink than you’re used to, though you may have to look a little to find it.
For the last few weeks, student athletes have sported pink shoelaces, thanks to the Sweat Pink movement. A company called Fit Approach started “Sweat Pink”. They offered GMS coach Alexi Bassinger 150 free pink shoelaces for her student athletes. They serve as a reminder, especially for girls, to embrace a healthy, active lifestyle.
Coach Bassinger introduced the new look to her athletes – both girls and boys!
“As coaches, we do our best to constantly stress the importance of fitness and healthy eating habits,” Coach Bassinger said. “During workouts, we try to remind the girls that we are not out to “torture” them with tough training, but we are fostering mental and physical toughness to prepare them for a lifetime of healthy habits. They can often do more than they think they can do. It’s our job to push them to see their potential and to appreciate their bodies for all they can do.”
Not only did the laces unify the basketball teams (every girl wore their laces for the last half of the basketball season), but Bassinger’s hope is that the laces spark conversation throughout the school. When people ask why they wear the laces, the girls are encouraged to talk about the movement and what a healthy lifestyle means to them.
TCHS Culinary Competition Requires “Nerves of Steel”
TCHS students hard at work at the ProStart competition.
Students from The Colony High School (TCHS) recently competed in the ProStart culinary competition in Arlington.
ProStart is a nationwide two-year program that prepares students to work successfully in the restaurant industry.
TCHS competed against students from 21 teams from all over north Texas. The top three teams will go to state in March. State winners will go to the national competition.
Students are judged on everything from food storage, sanitation, personal appearance, menu planning, knife skills, food presentation, food taste, food cost, and several other skills.
“It is an all day activity that requires knowledge, skill and nerves of steel. The highlight is the team producing two plates of each menu item in one hour,” culinary teacher Teri Booth said. “What makes it even more challenging is students are only allowed to use two butane burners.”
This competition is a collaboration between the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association and the Texas Restaurant Association.
Peters Colony Elementary Wins $2,000 from Educational Products, Inc.
The Parent Teacher Association at Peters Colony Elementary School (PCES) won $2,000 from Educational Products, Inc.
PCES was entered into a drawing because they turned in their intent to order school supplies for next year early.
A representative from EPI came to the PCES faculty meeting Wednesday to present the award.
“We are very grateful to have won this money. It will be a tremendous resource as we consistently work to help our students achieve great things,” Principal Toni Hall said.
Hall, library paraprofessional Bethany Ouellette, and the representative from EPI are pictured from left to right.
LISD Requests Your Input on Facilities
As part of a district-wide facilities assessment, the Lewisville Independent School District (LISD) is seeking community input about its campuses, administrative buildings and other facilities.
