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YOUR
SCH
Volume VI, No. 3
LS
Inside the Galena Park Independent School District
Inside this issue
of Your Schools
Spring 2004
Governor Perry and Education Commissioner Neeley promote
educational excellence in Galena Park ISD
Governor Rick Perry and Education Commissioner Shirley Neeley held a roundtable discussion and press conference at Galena Park High School to promote a series of initiatives that will
reward schools that demonstrate high student achievement and student progress and promote cost
effectiveness.
“I believe it is time to usher in a new era of educational excellence that is not based on meeting minimum standards, but instead focuses on maximum achievement,” Perry said. “This proposal
will raise the bar of excellence in Texas schools and help to fundamentally shift the focus of our
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schools from minimum expectations to maximum performance.”
• Around the District
Perry’s plan includes $500 million for performance based initiatives and financial accountability measures that focus on providing financial rewards to a student’s campus based on their performance.
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“When we tie education dollars to results, we will get more results for our education dollars,”
• Newsstand
Perry said.
For example, the Distinguished Achievement Incentive would reward Texas high schools with
as least $1,000 for each graduate who successfully completes the most academically challenging course of study. The school reward would
jump to $2,000 for each at-risk student who graduates under this plan.
Additional options under Perry’s plan provide incentives for students who master Algebra, for those in the Limited English Proficiency
program who pass TAKS, and for teachers who achieve excellence in the classroom.
Perry also lauded the accomplishments of Galena Park ISD. “It is an honor to return to this school district and see that the students, teachers,
administrators and community members truly love Dr. Shirley Neeley.”
After nearly 30 years in Galena Park ISD, Neeley was appointed as the Education Commissioner for Texas.
“It is leaders like Dr. Neeley who show all of the schools in Texas that yes, we can,” Perry added. “No we can’t is unacceptable under the
Perry/Neeley era.”
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• Around the District
• A message from
Dr. Michael Say
PRESS CONFERENCE. Surrounded by Galena Park High School
students, Governor Rick Perry addressed his proposals for education.
DYNAMIC DUO VISITS GPHS. Governor Rick Perry and Education Commissioner Shirley Neeley at Galena Park High School.
Making Headlines
TOP SCHOLAR. Galena Park High
School senior Todd Ward was
selected as a National Merit
Commended Scholar. Ward maintains
a rigorous schedule and is enrolled in
AP classes. His devotion to his
academics paid off when Ward scored
a 1420 on his SAT. Ward plans to
pursue a degree in civil engineering.
YOUNGEST
SUPER BOWL
REPORTER.
Fred Baxter, New
England Patriots
football player, was
interviewed by
Samantha Hill, fifth
grade student at
C i m a r r o n
E l e m e n t a r y.
Sponsored by the Weekly Reader, the top newsmagazine for kids, Hill joined
over 3,000 journalists for media day where she interviewed players and
gave students across the country a kid’s eye view of the Super Bowl. Hill’s
articles appeared in the Weekly Reader and on the magazine’s web site.
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Spring 2004
Your Schools
Around the District
A Message from Dr. Michael Say,
GPISD interim superintendent
Wow! Aren’t these pages impressive? Great
things are happening throughout Galena Park ISD.
Even before I came to GPISD as the interim superintendent I had great respect for the accomplishments of this district. My role during my
time here is to ensure the high standards and practices already in place continue until a permanent
superintendent is hired. I am grateful for the
warm welcome and support I have received from so many of you.
As I am sure you are aware great challenges and changes face
public education in Texas. School finance and testing top the list.
While it can be easy to become distracted by the politics of it all
we must remain focused on student achievement. No matter what
the final outcome may be from the legislature, at the end of the
day we will still be responsible for educating all children to the
best of our ability. Community members can sometimes feel disconnected from schools, especially those who no longer have
school-age children. But everyone has a vital role in the success
of our students and I encourage you to find your place in making
the education offered in GPISD the best it can possibly be.
BRING ON THE
SUNSHINE. KPRCTV Day Break
Weather Anchor Wes
Hohenstein presented a
Channel 2 Sunshine
award to Nanci
Moorhaj at Purple
Sage Elementary. Jamie
Helburg, physical
education teacher,
nominated Moorhaj for
this award. Moorhaj teaches dyslexia students in grades one through five. She
grew up in Galena Park ISD and has worked at Purple Sage Elementary School
for 13 years. From left, Helburg, Hohenstein and Moorhaj.
BEING GOOD PAYS OFF. Janeth Duenez, fifth grade student at Tice
Elementary, won a mountain bike for good behavior. The entire student body at
Tice took part in the blue ticket program, which is an incentive program that
promotes good deeds and positive behavior. If a student is seen completing a
good deed or behaving well, he/she receives a blue ticket. After a few months,
one ticket is selected and the student with the matching ticket wins the bike. The
bike was purchased through proceeds from on campus pickle sales.
DILIGENT DEPUTY. Pct. 3 Education Division Deputy Kameron Mulkey
was verifying a student address within GPISD when he realized the house where
he was at was full of smoke. Deputy Mulkey noticed an individual sleeping
inside. He quickly entered the house, woke the resident and extinguished a small
fire in the kitchen.
BASKETBALL
FUN.
Students at Jacinto City
Elementary were awarded for
18 weeks of good behavior
with a basketball party. Board
member Cruz R. Hinojosa, Jr.
got in on the fun and shot
baskets and gave a few
basketball pointers.
Great things are
happening in GPISD!
MUSTANGS SIGNING DAY. Twelve North Shore Mustang football players and one trainer accepted scholarships from colleges and universities nationwide. First row from left, Justin McNeese, University of Texas at El Paso;
Stephen James, Oklahoma State University; Chester Herbert, Sam Houston
State University; Terald Clark, Blinn Junior College; Chris Bocard, Stephen F.
Austin State University; Bug Aymond, Stephen F. Austin State University. Second row, Ken Wallace, principal, North Shore Senior High; David Aymond,
head coach; Trey Kraemer, principal, North Shore High; Tyrell Williams, Stephen
F. Austin State University; Bobby Reid, Oklahoma State University; Shane
Richburg, Air Force Academy; Charles Robinson, Stephen F. Austin State University; Norman Mingo, Kilgore Junior College; Courtney Lane, Tyler Junior
College; and Regina Martinez, Northwest Mississippi Junior College. Martinez
committed to Northwest Mississippi Junior College as a football trainer.
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Spring 2004
Your Schools
Around the District
BOARD APPRECIATION.
Staff Sergeant Ronald Burke
and Cadet 2LT Daniel Perez,
North Shore Middle School,
presented Jeff Miller, board
president, with a certificate of
appreciation for the school
board’s dedication to Galena
Park ISD.
YELLOW JACKETS SIGNING DAY. Two top-notch Galena Park High
School football players committed to playing college football. Johnny Sampy
signed with Minnesota University and Tremaine Johnson committed to playing
for Louisiana State University. From left, Sampy, Mike Coker, head football
coach, and Johnson.
PTA PARTY. From left, Cloverleaf Elementary party goers Ofelia Garza,
principal; Lee Brown, assistant principal; Claudia Macias, assistant principal;
and Aurora Freire, bilingual title teacher; attended Galena Park ISD’s Area Council
PTA 50s style banquet. The Area Council PTA distributed numerous awards
and celebrated 50 years of service to schoolchildren in Galena Park ISD.
ASPIRING CHEFS. From left, Sheffield Career Center students Laura Angel, junior; Angela Sanchez, junior; and Miriam Escamilla, senior; served lunch
to GPISD administrators. Students in the food production and catering program
get hands-on experience preparing and serving meals.
SUN SHINES OVER TICE.
Elisa Segura, counselor, Tice, received the KPRC-TV Sunshine
Award from Wes Hohenstein, Day
Break weather anchor. Jackie
Armstrong, school nurse, Tice,
nominated Segura for the award.
Hohenstein presents the Sunshine
Award to those who are dedicated
and committed to educating schoolchildren.
SOUPA BOWL. First row from left, fifth grade MacArthur Elementary students
WARM WELCOME. Dr. Michael Say, interim superintendent, met Karen Taylor Thierry, Hugo Medellin, and Dalia Chapa helped (second row) Pct. 2
Javellana, assistant superintendent for curriculum design and alignment, as he Constable Gary Freeman, Sgt. Gina Flores, Reserve Deputy Don Nichols, Deputy
began his first day on the job at Galena Park ISD.
Charlie Lofland, and Fran Keal, principal, load up non-perishable items for local
food pantries.
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Spring 2004
Your Schools
Newsstand
GPISD Geography Bee Winners
Board of Trustees election
scheduled for Saturday, May 15
Award winning
Spanish language newsletter
The election for Board of Trustees, positions three
and four, will be held Saturday, May 15 from 7 a.m.7 p.m. Early voting will be April 28-May 11 at the
GPISD Administration Building and Galena Park
Middle School from 8 a.m-4 p.m. The following are
election day polling locations:
The Texas School Public Relations Association
(TSPRA) presented Galena Park ISD the best of
category star award for its Spanish language
newsletter, Sus Escuelas, among districts larger than
10,000 or more. The award was announced during
the organization’s annual awards banquet.
Each year TSPRA, with more than 500 members,
recognizes school communications for outstanding
work in both print and electronic media. Almost 700
entries were received this year. Galena Park received
a total of 11 gold star and nine silver star awards.
Elementary & Middle School Competition
3rd Grade – Pedro Mares, Cimarron Elementary
4th Grade – Geronimo Solis, Havard Elementary
5th Grade – Olicia Ray, Green Valley Elementary
6th Grade – Cynthia Alejandre, Cobb 6th Grade
Campus
th
7 Grade – Brian Holtkamp, North Shore Middle
8th Grade – Gabriel Barcia, North Shore Middle
High School Competition
1st Place – James Richardson, NSHS
2nd Place – Kenneth Wadsworth, NSSH
3rd Place – Juan Rodriguez, GPHS
3rd Place – Norman Giles, NSHS
Achieving Academic Excellence
Galena Park Middle School
Precincts 208, 81, 860, 862
Galena Manor Community Building
Precincts 164, 208, 857
R E A D E R
ROUNDUP. In
celebration of Dr.
Seuss’
100 th
birthday, Karen
Javellana, assistant
superintendent for
curriculum design
and alignment, read a
Dr. Seuss story to
students at Woodland
Acres Elementary.
The birthday bash was part of the Read Across
America program, which encourages kids to become
life long readers.
Jacinto City Elementary
Precinct 163
Cloverleaf Elementary
Precincts 375, 827, 880
Congratulations to three Galena Park ISD schools
for receiving awards for academic excellence from
the National Center for Educational Accountability.
Schools receiving this award have demonstrated high
levels of student achievement over three years when
compared with other schools that have equally or
more disadvantaged student populations. The
following schools were recognized:
Cimarron Elementary
Precincts 266, 827
Havard Elementary
Elementary Writing
North Shore Elementary
Precincts 368, 413, 460, 725
Jacinto City Elementary
Elementary Writing
Green Valley Elementary
Precincts 354, 824
Cunningham Middle School
Middle School Reading
Middle School Math
Middle School Social Studies
For more information about the election or questions regarding voting, contact the GPISD Tax Assessor and Collector at 832-386-1290.
Volume VI, No. 3 Spring 2004
Your Schools is published periodically by the Galena Park Independent School District under the
direction of the superintendent for the purpose of
informing the citizens about district events, programs
and accomplishments.
GPISD Board of Trustees
Jeff Miller, President
Jerry Toliver, Vice President
Dawn Thompson-Fisher, Secretary
William Bill Cobbs, Member
Wayne Oquin, Member
C.C. “Buddy” Wilson, Member
Cruz R. Hinojosa, Jr., Member
Dr. Michael Say
Interim Superintendent
Dr. Angi Williams
Assistant Superintendent
School/Community Relations
Staci Stanfield
Director of Communications
Kelly Rainey
Graphic design/layout
Pyburn Elementary
Precincts 162, 81
Tice Elementary
Precincts 353, 376
GPISD
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YOUR
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Galena Park Independent School District
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