Mission, Texas Brain

Friday, June 30, 2006

Quick Reminder

Hi folks,

Just a quick reminder that tomorrow (Thursday 29th) will be our last
day in the office before our vacations start. After tomorrow, Central
Office will be pretty much shut down for two full weeks. We will
return to the office on Monday, July 17.

Craig Verley
Director of Public Relations and Marketing
Mission CISD
1201 Bryce Drive
Mission, TX 78572
cverley@mcisd.org
www.mcisd.net
956-323-5530

New curriculum coming this next school year

Mission CISD (Consolidated Independent School District) will begin to
phase in a new curriculum for almost every grade level this fall.
Students may not notice a difference, but administrators say teachers
should see an improvement in the manner in which they plan for and
deliver instruction.
The curriculum is being purchased from the Region One Education
Service Center and is for grades K-12. The curriculum is actually a
collaborative effort involving several regional service centers from
around the state and numerous experts in the field of curriculum
development.
"This is the first time we have found a truly comprehensive curriculum
for K-12 in the four core content areas that is so well aligned with
everything the state expects at each of the grade levels," said Oscar
Rodriguez, superintendent. "They were able to tap into a level of
expertise that we would never be able to afford on our own."
In the past, curriculum development was done piece by piece, using
district staff members during the summer. Administrators say the
complexities involved in aligning all the aspects involved in
curriculum writing had become more than staff members could accomplish
during the summer months.
"All the needed curriculum documents are aligned not only from grade
to grade, but also within the four content areas of Language Arts,
Math, Science and Social Studies," Rodriguez explained. "Assessments
will be better aligned with what is being taught during the school
year and many materials will be available to teachers online. One of
the things I also like about this is it does a better job of defining
what to teach, while still giving our teachers the creativity to
decide how to they want to teach the material."
Training on the new materials will begin this August and district
officials hope to have enough of the training completed for full
implementation of the curriculum by January.
A Spanish curriculum and additional subjects are currently being
developed and can be added by the district once they are complete.

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Architects selected for $57 million bond issue projects

Only a month after voters in Mission CISD (Consolidated Independent School District) overwhelmingly approved a $57 million bond issue, the Board of Trustees took a major step toward beginning construction. During their meeting Monday, June 12, board members selected architects for the major projects.

"The Board of Trustees has made this a priority," said Oscar Rodriguez, Jr., superintendent. "They have committed themselves to moving the bond issue projects along as quickly and efficiently as possible in order to meet the needs of our students while making sure the district is spending taxpayer money as wisely as possible."

The firms MB-ARC, Inc. and EGV Architects, Inc. were approved for additions and renovations to Cantu Elementary, Leal Elementary, Mims Elementary and O’Grady Elementary. Mata Villarreal Garcia Design Group, LLP was approved for additions and renovations to Mission High School. Gomez Mendenz Saenz, Inc. was selected for the new middle school. ERO International, LLP was chosen to design a new elementary school and the new fine arts facilities for Mission High School and Veterans Memorial High School. The engineering firm of ACR Engineering, Inc. was selected for HVAC renovations planned for Waitz Elementary and K. White Jr. High. The selection of the firms was handled in separate motions made by board member J.D. Villarreal.

"We hope to have contracts negotiated with each of these firms as quickly as possible," said Rodriguez. "Once that is done, the next big steps will be to sell the bonds and get the projects designs done and approved. We really need to get the two new schools built as quickly as possible so we can provide room for the student growth we are expecting."

The district plans to sell the bonds in mid-August. Proceeds would then likely be available to the district in September.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Now is the time to think about back to school immunizations

For many students and parents, it may seem like school just let out. But it is not too early to make sure your child’s immunizations are up to date. Waiting until registration day or just before registration can result in longer lines at immunizations clinics, and doctor’s offices.

All children must have all the necessary protection against the following diseases before the child can attend school: diphtheria, polio, measles, rubella, mumps, Hib, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, and varicella. All are required before entering pre-k, with returning students needing to complete any immunizations that are due or pending are before registration. Please contact your family physician/clinic to make sure immunizations are up to date.

Texas Education Code requires each student to be fully immunized against disease as required by the Texas Board of Health. According to the education code, a student who is not fully immunized and has not begun the required immunizations may not attend school. A student may also be provisionally admitted if the student has proof that he/she has begun the required immunizations and continues to receive the necessary immunizations as rapidly as medically feasible.

Mission CISD strongly urges all parents to make sure immunizations are up to date prior to registration. The student’s immunizations records must be available at the time of registration to avoid any delays in admitting their children.

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Change made to 2006-2007 school calendar

A small change has been made in the Mission CISD school calendar for
the 2006-2007 school year. An inservice day that had been scheduled
for February, 19, 2007 has been moved to February 26, 2007. The moving
of the inservice day was required due to last minute changes made in
state testing dates by the Texas Education Agency.

Anyone who received a copy of the 2006-2007 Mission CISD calendar
prior to June 12 likely has the incorrect calendar. The revised
calendar is available on the Mission CISDWebsite, www.mcisd.net. Once
there click on "district news." A link to the calendar is available
there.

Saturday, June 03, 2006

We got pulled over by border patrol north of san manuel because they saw our luggage in plastic bags. Relieved it was not a ticket