y 2013. For the first time in. Edgewood ISD history, one of its high schools will
compete at the State level ..... Elizabeth Reyes; and (right photo) Jasmine. Garcia
...
Vol. I, No. 7
Memorial One-Act Play advances to State for first time in history For the first time in Edgewood ISD history, one of its high schools will compete at the State level of the University Interscholastic League One-Act Play.
“It is an honor to represent Memorial and the Edgewood community at such a high level,” said Amanda Pyle, Theatre Arts Director at Memorial. “We are thrilled to blaze a new path.” Memorial’s show is called, “Over the River and Through the Woods,” by Joe DiPietro. It is produced with special arrangement from Dramatists Play Service. The show features two sets of doting grandparents and their grandson, Nick, getting together every Sunday for dinner – for food and advice. Nick has to announce that after 29 years of Sunday dinners, he has received a promotion and is moving across the country. Hilarity ensues when his loving grandparents devise a plan to keep him from moving. Memorial
has
competed
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May 2013
Memorial HS is the only 4A school in San Antonio that advanced to State. Memorial will compete Tuesday, May 21, at the Bass Concert Hall on the University of Texas at Austin campus.
The Memorial HS One-Act Play, under the direction of Amanda Pyle, will compete at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The show is called ‘Over the River and Through the Woods.’ four levels – Zone, District, Area, and Regionals – before reaching State. At each level, only two schools advance to the next round. Cast and crew members are Melanie Delgado, Esther Burton, Audie Flores, Jesus Sanchez, Michael Ynostrosa, Sophia Gutierrez, Jason Palacios, Anastacia Casarez, Ernest Cortez, Robert Moreno, Krystela Corona, and Marc Castañeda.
Auditions were held in January and students have rehearsed ever since. The group will hold a community
performance at 6 p.m. Friday, May 10, at the Edgewood Theatre. “The students have worked so hard to put on a hilarious, emotional, and engaging show,” Pyle said. “Being chosen to represent San Antonio at the 4A State meet is validation for our program and the high-quality theater we produce.
“We are eagerly anticipating our performance at State and we ask, in the true tradition of the theater, that you do not ‘wish us luck,’ but tell us to ‘break a leg!’”
Words from the Superintendent The Edgewood Word
By Dr. José A. Cervantes Greetings! This is an exciting time to be part of Edgewood ISD.
2 May 2013
I join Team Edgewood in congratulating the Memorial HS One-Act Play for advancing to the State competition in Austin. The One-Act team, under the leadership of Theatre Arts Director Amanda Pyle, will compete May 21. This is the first time in Edgewood ISD history that a One-Act Play group will compete at State. These students are incredible. Their performance will make you laugh and cry, and help you appreciate their message about family. Speaking of family, I was happy to see so many former Edgewood ISD baseball players at the Edgewood Baseball Field re-dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony. We had players from the last 60 years in attendance. These players and the audience were here to witness that bigger and better things are happening in our school district. You may have seen a Request for Qualifications for DesignBuild Services for Central Administration Building on the EISD web site. We are looking to combine all administrative services and personnel at one location. As you know, currently the administrative personnel are located in separate facilities.
Based on preliminary considerations, the proposed building would be a multistory facility with approximately 80,000 square feet. The District is considering several locations. Initial design concerns to be included are parking, a wellness facility, food service, Police room, Board Room, kitchen, records room, office space for Curriculum staff, and offices for Executive staff. We will keep you posted as we move forward on this proposal. We may be near the end of the school year and looking forward to summer, but our construction crews will be extremely busy when students and campus personnel are off. Among the projects we will address this summer are the parking lots - student drop-off and pick-up - at Gardendale, LBJ and Winston elementary schools; renovation of Emma Frey; moving the Curriculum & Instruction Department into Emma Frey; using the Hoelscher Service Center to be part of Brentwood MS; and renovation of Guerra ES for some PreK. We will also take care of the field house at Frank Mata Memorial Stadium. Many great things are happening in our school district. Thank you for being part of Team Edgewood!
Brentwood MS teacher Heather Ramirez holds the KENS 5 / SACU Golden Apple ExCEL Award. She is joined by Superintendent Dr. José A. Cervantes; Paige Ramsey-Palmer, SACU; Beverly Lejeski, Interim Principal; Deborah Knapp, KENS 5; and Velma Peña, EISD Board Trustee.
KENS, SACU present award to Brentwood teacher Edgewood ISD’s Teacher of the Year also received the KENS 5 / San Antonio Credit Union Golden Apple ExCEL Award. KENS and SACU visited Brentwood MS to present the award and a cash prize to Heather Ramirez. She joined Edgewood ISD and Brentwood in August 2008. Ramirez teaches 6th and 7th grade social studies, and also taught 6th grade science. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Memorial Band featured
The Memorial HS Minutemen Band was one of three “Feature Bands” at this year’s Battle of Flowers Band Festival. Memorial, under the direction of Melba Alejos and Gloria Gonzalez, performed its award-winning 2012-2013 UIL show. More than 30 high school bands from San Antonio and surrounding areas, including Kennedy HS, participated in the parade of bands.
Cosmetology facility, Baseball Field have ribbon-cutting ceremonies
The Edgewood Word
The public came out to see and hear some of the renovations in Edgewood ISD. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the District’s new cosmetology facility was held April 12 on the Edgewood Fine Arts Academy campus.
3 May 2013
Edgewood ISD’s Physical Plant Services did the electrical, plumbing and carpentry improvements on the approximately 2,200-square-foot facility, which previously was office space. The facility includes a classroom, lab, dispensary, office, restrooms, and client stations in the lab. The cosmetology program has 60 students. The program will expand to 75 students in grades 10 to 12 next year.
The 2013-2014 school year will offer two classes in Intro to Cosmetology, one class in Cosmetology I, and one class in Cosmetology II. This year, only Intro to Cosmetology and Cosmetology I were offered.
Students must “clock”
Physical Plant Services employees take a break in the new salon chairs at the Cosmetology facility. They worked hard to get the building ready for occupancy.
1,000 hours in the lab with the cosmetology curriculum. They receive 500 hours for passing their core classes for the total of 1,500, which allows them to sit for their state license. The curriculum consists of hair techniques (cutting, coloring and styling), nails, and esthetics (facials and waxing). Haircuts and manicures by students will be available to the public in the near future.
Cosmetology students cut a ribbon to their new facility. Joining them are Superintendent Dr. José A. Cervantes; School Board President Joseph Guerra; Board Vice President Tina Morales; Board Members Sonia Elizondo and Velma Peña; Anne LacknerMesser, Director of Career & Technical Education and Business Partnerships; and Cosmetology teacher Patricia Alejandro.
On April 25, dozens of former Edgewood ISD baseball players and their families attended the re-dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the renovated Edgewood Baseball Field.
extensive renovation and improvements:
The baseball field, at the corner of Lance and 36th streets, has undergone
The facility also will have a concession stand, restrooms, public
Baseball players from the last 60 years who played at Edgewood, Kennedy, and Memorial high schools joined current players, District Administration, and community members at the ceremony.
New fencing, new windscreens, new bleachers, new dugouts, new press box, new covered batting tunnels, new lights, new bases, new bleacher awning, infield redone, pitcher’s mound redone, new scoreboard, new flag poles, new foul poles, parking area redone, new parking area lights.
Former Edgewood ISD baseball players do the honors in cutting a ribbon at home plate in the Edgewood Baseball Field. They are joined by Superintendent Dr. José A. Cervantes, School Board members, and District staff.
address playing fencing, system,
system, a redone surface, perimeter bullpen, irrigation and ticket booth.
Edgewood ISD created a commemorative medallion and baseball cap for the event, which were given to former baseball players who submitted a player profile form available on the District’s web site.
The re-dedication ceremony was followed by the season-ending baseball game between Kennedy and Memorial high schools.
Kennedy HS Baseball Coach Erick Montes and Memorial HS Baseball Coach Carlos Vasquez wait to make remarks at the Edgewood Baseball Field ceremony.
Wrenn teacher selected San Antonio area’s bilingual educator of the year A third-year teacher at Wrenn MS is the bilingual teacher of the year.
The Edgewood Word
Marysol Luna, who teaches dual language 7th- and 8thgrade science, will receive the honor from the San Antonio Area Association for Bilingual Education. Luna, whose three years of experience is all at Wrenn, did her student teaching at Las Palmas ES. “I didn’t even know I was nominated,” said Luna, who
grew up in the Rio Grande Valley. “I was very surprised.” She has a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
“This recognition of Ms. Luna exemplifies the positive direction this campus is headed in and represents the growth the dual language program has taken in its three years at Wrenn,” Principal Michael Rodriguez said.
Marysol Luna and her friend are all smiles after she was named bilingual teacher of the year.
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Illustration by Gus Garcia student selected as official artwork for Cinco de Mayo event May 2013
Edgewood ISD congratulates Gus Garcia MS student Hannah Leija, whose illustration (shown on the left) was selected as the official artwork for the District’s Cinco de Mayo event. Hannah’s art teacher is Elizabeth Reyes. The artwork will be printed on posters and T-shirts.
The art contest was judged by individuals not associated with the District. All artwork will be displayed at the Edgewood Academy Fine Arts Gallery during the Cinco de Mayo event Saturday, May 4. The event includes a 4K run/
Head Start track meet
More than 100 4- and 5-year-old students in Edgewood ISD’s Head Start program put their young motor skills to the test in a track meet. The first-ever Edgewood ISD Head Start Track Meet was held April 25 at Frank Mata Memorial Stadium.
Students from Burleson ECC, Jose Cardenas ECC, and Stafford ECC competed in running events – 4x25 meter relay, 40-meter sprint, 30-meter hurdles (6-inch hurdles), and shoe relay – and in field events – softball throw, broad jump, and tug-of-war.
walk coordinated by Gus Garcia MS. The run/walk starts at 8 a.m. from the EISD Central Office parking lot. It will proceed south on 34th Street to the Edgewood Academy, and return to the finish line at the Central Office. The parade begins at 10 a.m. at the Central Office and will go south on 34th Street to the Edgewood Academy. Food and game booths open at 11 a.m. on the Academy campus.
Student performances and announcements begin at 12 p.m. Announcements include presenting the winners of the Biggest Loser contest.
District signs contract with alert notification system
The Edgewood Word
Edgewood ISD has signed on with SchoolMessenger, a company that provides notification services for parent outreach, emergency broadcasts, and student attendance communications for students in grades K-12.
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“The District will launch a new service that will enhance communication,” said Sally Andruzzi, Director of Student Information Systems. “The system will allow parents to receive
Student art seen around town
phone calls, text alerts, and e-mail about a range of important issues affecting student’s safety and academic performance.” Edgewood ISD will continue to offer school communications to parents through the District’s website, publications, paper-based, and direct contact via phone, e-mail, or campus visit to any school. The District is set to initiate the SchoolMessenger system in the coming months.
May 2013
‘Read to Succeed’ success in EISD
The artwork of five Edgewood Fine Arts Academy students was displayed on all VIA buses during the month of April. This program celebrates National Poetry Month. These students illustrated poems that were created by other students around San Antonio. The top photo shows Destiny Palma, Timothy Soto and Marissa Suarez holding their illustrations. Other students who participated were Amy Morales and Cesar Uribe. The bottom photo shows the inside of a VIA bus with the artwork. Anabel Toribio is the Visual Art Teacher at the Fine Arts Academy.
Edgewood ISD campus libraries partnering with Six Flags Fiesta Texas assisted almost 2,000 students in grades K-6 in qualifying for free admission tickets to the theme park as part of the Read to Succeed Literacy promotion. Read to Succeed is an exciting program that encourages students to read for fun. Individual students who read for six hours and turned in a log by the end of April earned a free admission ticket regardless of the number of classmates who participated.
Tickets will arrive in May and certificates will be available through each participating campus library.
Youth Art Month
Winners of the Youth Art Month 2013 contest were (left photo) Danny Laque, Kennedy HS; (middle photo) Mikala Gil, Gus Garcia MS, with art teacher Elizabeth Reyes; and (right photo) Jasmine Garcia, Roosevelt ES, with art teacher Miriam Martinez. The Board of Trustees
approved a proclamation designating March 2013 as ‘Art Shapes the World!’ National Youth Art Month. The annual observance emphasizes the value of art education for all children and encourages support for quality school art programs.
Elementar y campuses have Science Vocabular y Hat Parades
The Edgewood Word 6 May 2013
The elementary schools held a Science Vocabulary Hats Parade to creatively teach 5th grade science vocabulary. The premise of the program was tailored from a science activity created by Dr. Julie Jackson, a professor at Texas State University, in which students dressed up as a science word. Edgewood ISD purchased top hats for the 5th grade students and their science teachers assigned each student a science word. The students researched their science vocabulary word, resulting in a definition and picture. The students decorated their hats based on their research and picture they created. Students had a parade around their school to show off their hats. The campuses also hosted a Science Camp for 5th grade students, 10 days before the STAAR science exam. Students are grouped into teams and take part in activities based around the science knowledge and skills that may be on the exam. The teachers planned their Science Camp based on data from benchmarks and unit exams for their campuses. The hands-on activities got the students up and moving with science. The fun activity was focused on a science concept.
‘Dance Therapy’ holding competitions in Edgewood ISD schools An organization that provides introductory dance lessons to the “young at heart” and dance therapy in Edgewood ISD will hold a series of competitions for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade students performing to Merengue and Tejano. “Dance Therapy” Dance Your Depression Away Inc. is a non-profit
corporation whose introductory dance lessons are designed with therapeutic effects for relieving stress, building confidence and self-esteem, teaching healthy choices in life, and strengthening spirituality and healing. The competition schedule, each from 8 to 9:30 a.m., is May 3 – Perales ES; May 6 – Roosevelt ES; May 7 –
New Police vehicles
Police Officer Elizabeth Hajek and Sgt. Jose Gonzalez stand next to two of the new Edgewood ISD Police Department vehicles. Last November, the Board of Trustees approved the purchase of three 2013 Ford Taurus Police Interceptors.
Cisneros ES; May 9 – Loma Park ES; May 10 – Gardendale ES. Winston ES had its dance competition April 30.
The District competition is scheduled May 18 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Neighborhood Place, 3014 Rivas St. For details, call Jorge Alonso Perez, Founder/CEO of “Dance Therapy”, at 473-3130.
Rey Feo visits Stafford
Rey Feo Larry Benson Sr. interacts with student royalty at Stafford ES during his visit April 18. Benson and his entourage talked to students about the importance of education during a schoolwide assembly.
Calendar of Events May 2013 The Edgewood Word
1st to 4th - Celebrando Cinco de Mayo in Edgewood ISD 4th - Cinco de Mayo ‘13 (4K Run/ Walk at 8 a.m.; Parade at 10 a.m.; Festival starts at 11 a.m.; student performances start at 12 p.m.), Central Office parking lot / 34th Street / Fine Arts Academy campus
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4th - Special Olympics Texas Spring Games; opening ceremonies at 8 a.m.; competition begins at 9 a.m.; Frank Mata Memorial Stadium
May 2013
6th - Excellence in Edgewood for elementary schools, 6 p.m., Edgewood Theatre
7th - Excellence in Edgewood for elementary schools, 6 p.m., Edgewood Theatre
21st - Memorial HS One-Act Play competes at State, 7:30 p.m., Bass Concert Hall (UT-Austin campus)
8th - National School Nurse Day
23rd - Superintendent’s Scholars Banquet, 6:30 p.m., St. Luke’s Hall
9th - Special Board of Trustees meeting, 6 p.m., Fine Arts Academy Recital Hall
27th - Memorial Day holiday
12th - Happy Mother’s Day!
27th - Memorial Day ceremony, 9 a.m., Frank Mata Memorial Stadium
13th - Excellence in Edgewood for middle schools, 6 p.m., Edgewood Theatre
28th - Regular Board of Trustees meeting, 6:30 p.m., Fine Arts Academy Recital Hall
14th - Excellence in Edgewood for high schools, 6 p.m., Edgewood Theatre
31st - Edgewood ISD Night of Stars, 6 p.m., Norris Conference Center
Visitors from Germany BOARD OF TRUSTEES Joseph M. Guerra, President Tina Morales, Vice President Johnny R. Perez, Secretary Sonia Elizondo, Trustee Mary Lou Mendoza, Trustee Velma Peña, Trustee SUPERINTENDENT Dr. José A. Cervantes The Toltech T-STEM Academy of Memorial HS was visited by teachers and administrators from Germany as part of an educational learning experience through Trinity University and the United States’ Fulbright Teacher/Administrator Exchange Program. Sixteen German teachers/administrators visited the Academy as part of their 10-day visit to San Antonio. As an ex-Fulbright participant in 2008, to Mexico City, Dr. Eddie Rodriguez, Toltech T-STEM Academy Director, was asked to provide an opportunity for the visitors to come and learn about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in Edgewood ISD.
The Edgewood Word is produced by the Office of Communications & Public Relations: Rolando E. Martinez, Public Relations Officer Yvonne M. Peña, Writer Jason Gatell, District Webmaster Marivel Andino, Secretary 5358 W. Commerce St. / San Antonio, Texas 78237 Phone: 210-444-7955 / Fax: 210-444-7962 www.eisd.net
