March 2011 - Dripping Springs ISD

Inside DSISD
DRIPPING SPRINGS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
March 2011
Attendance Zone Discussions Continue
During the next month, the Dripping
Springs Independent School District will be
gathering input on options for adjusting
elementary attendance zones, due to the
growing imbalance of enrollments. Of the
three elementary campuses – Dripping Springs
Elementary, Rooster Springs Elementary and
Walnut Springs Elementary – Rooster Springs
(located in the Belterra subdivision) is nearing
capacity and has the fastest growth rate.
At its meeting Feb. 17, the Board of Trustees identified three options for further consideration. Maps of these options are available on
the DSISD website, as is additional background
information. Look under “About DSISD” on the
main page, then click on “Attendance Zones.”
Plan 1 is a model based on a north-south
division between Dripping Springs Elementary and Walnut Springs Elementary, with
Highpointe and Sunset Canyon South moving
to WSES. Plan 2 is the same as the current
boundary map, with the exception of Highpointe residents attending Dripping Springs
Elementary. Plan 3 is the same as Plan 2, with
the additional move of Sunset Canyon South to
Walnut Springs Elementary.
Board members shared some of the factors they used in considering options: finding a
solution that will last three to five years so that
mutliple adjustments do not have to be made,
affecting as few students as possible, and maintaining reasonable durations for bus routes.
Two Community Forums will be held to
share information and gather input from the
community. The first forum is scheduled for
Thursday, March 3, in the Board Room at the
Central Administration Building (510 W. Mercer
St.). The second will be held on Tuesday, March
8, in the Rooster Springs Elementary School
Cafeteria. Both start at 6:30 p.m.
In addition, comments on the options
may be submitted to the following e-mail account: [email protected].
These will be shared with the administration
and the Board.
Trustees have set a goal of deciding what
action should be taken at their March 24 meeting.
COMMUNITY FORUMS ON ATTENDANCE ZONES
Thursday, March 3, 2011, 6:30 p.m., Board Room, DSISD Central Administration
Tuesday, March 8, 2011, 6:30 p.m., Cafeteria, Rooster Springs Elementary
Landform Lesson at DSE
Dripping Springs Elementary secondgrade classes learned about landforms,
then created models of different types
(islands, peninsulas, mountains, etc.) with
salt dough. At left, Eliza Jarrett from Mrs.
Flunker’s class starts off by placing a “land
mass” in the “ocean.” Several parent volunteers assisted students with the project.
Inside this issue
Superintendent’s Message
2
Board Briefs
2
Robotics Demonstration
2
Author Visits
3
Kinder/Pre-K Registration
3
KDRP Class of the Week
3
Swimmers Earn Bronze
4
Where Are They Now?
4
RSE Food Drive
4
Tiger Band at Capitol
4
Campus Happenings
5
Stability Balls in Classroom
6
Community Ed Camp
6
Fifth-Grade Transition
7
Regional Science Festival
7
Teacher Spotlight
8
Destination ImagiNation
8
Important Dates
March 1-4
TAKS Testing
March 3
Community Forum on Attendance
Zones, Board Room, Central
Administration, 6:30 p.m.
March 8
Community Forum on Attendance
Zones, Cafeteria, Rooster Springs
Elementary, 6:30 p.m.
March 11
9-Week Grade Reports
March 14-18
Spring Break
March 24
Board of Trustees Meeting
5:00 p.m. (workshop) and 7:00
p.m. (regular session), Board
Room, Central Administration
Board Briefs
The February Board of Trustees
monthly meeting and workshop were held
Feb. 17, 2011.
A discussion was held regarding
steps that need to be taken to prepare for
the May 2011 election. A contract with
Hays County and a resolution for a joint
election with the City of Dripping Springs
were introduced and later approved. A
School Board election is scheduled for
May 14, 2011, and the deadline for candidates to file is March 14, 2011.
Finance Committee Chair John Adams and Facility Committee Chair Caroline Pekarek provided updates on recent
meetings.
The Finance Committee reviewed
one of the district’s co-op purchase agreements, the state property value report
from the Comptroller’s Office and the
budget calendar. The Facility Committee discussed a
proposal for fiber routing on Ranch Road
12, reviewed traffic improvement options for Walnut Springs Elementary, and
reviewed an energy management report.
Committee members toured construction projects at Dripping Springs High
School that are nearing completion. They
analyzed maps of potential elementary attendance zone boundaries and suggested
three options for the Board to review.
Assistant Superintendent for
Business Operations Dwane Shropshire
reviewed information contained in the
budget book – including historical data on
property values – and shared information
on various state funding scenarios.
At the beginning of the evening
session, members of the Dripping Springs
High School Robotics team demonstrated
award-winning projects and counselors
were recognized for National School
Counseling Week.
Demographer Steve Stewart presented maps for consideration of changes
to elementary boundaries, which the
Board narrowed to three options for
further discussion. Community forums are
scheduled for March 3 and March 8.
Assistant Superintendent for
Curriculum and Instruction Greg Jung
introduced next year’s course guides for
middle and high school, as well as the
list for dual-credit courses. Curriculum
Coordinator Mary Ellen Fernandez gave an
update on curriculum development and
Message from the Superintendent
Dr. Mard Herrick
As Spring Break approaches, we
hope our students and staff enjoy one
last rest before hitting the homestretch
of the school year.
March marks the time that we
celebrate Texas Public Schools Week.
This year’s theme is “Education: It’s
Bigger Here.” Please take a moment to
thank the teachers and staff members
who devote their professional lives to
providing an exceptional educational
experience for the students in their
care. At Dripping Springs ISD, I believe
we accomplish this goal as well as or
better than anywhere in the state.
Most elementary parents are
aware that the district has been looking
at our elementary enrollment situation
to see how we can better align our student populations with available space
at our three campuses. At the Feb. 17
Board meeting, trustees identified three
options to be considered in our discussions on attendance zones. These options are posted on the DSISD website.
Two community forums are scheduled
to share information and hear input
lesson planning, and also shared information about how legislation from the last
session and the district’s strategic plan
have impacted the way assessments are
done. A demonstration was given on the
Eduphoria system used by teachers.
Athletic Director Howard Ballard
summarized the athletic program review.
Seven major goals, as well as supporting
strategies, were shared. Superintendent Mard Herrick announced that a mailbox has been set up
for email comments regarding attendance
zones ([email protected].
net). He also shared a legislative update
following a recent meeting with State
Representative Jason Isaac. Dr. Herrick
gave an update on district enrollment,
which is now 4,503.
The next meeting of the Board of
Trustees will be Thursday, March 25, with
the workshop session at 5:00 p.m. and the
evening session starting around 7:00 p.m.
regarding these options: March 3 and
March 8 (details on Page 1).
We are closely watching developments in the state legislative session
regarding public school funding. While
we know that it will be important to
scrutinize expenses carefully, our district
traditionally has been very conservative
in its fiscal planning and we will continue
to be so. At this time we do not anticipate any substantial cuts in programs,
but will keep you informed if the outlook
should change significantly.
I’d like to share a reminder that the
make-up day for the Feb. 4 school cancellation will be Thursday, June 2, 2011.
This change causes the last day of school
to move back one day. We are fortunate
that it does not interfere with graduation
or any other planned activities.
Best wishes for a successful spring,
Mard A. Herrick, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Ryan Banks demonstrates his toilet
paper dispenser at the February Board
meeting, while Robotics team member
T.J. Kendzora helps. The invention placed
second in Region 13 at the TCEA (Texas
Computer Education Agency) Area Competition and qualified for the state level.
PAGE
2
Students Enjoy Author Visits
Calling Little Tigers!
Kinder/Pre-K
Registration
Shot Clinic Open to
All DSISD Students
Author Carmen Agra-Deedy entertained students at Dripping Springs Elementary
and Walnut Springs Elementary by sharing her experiences and explaining how
she creates stories. Above, she signs a book for DSE third-grader Allie Haberman.
KDRP Radio to Honor Classes
Classes from all five
campuses in Dripping Springs
ISD will be recognized by local radio station KDRP (103.1
FM) in the “Tiger Class of the
Week” program.
Each week, KDRP honors
a DSISD classroom that has
engaged in an innovative
learning activity or has made
a difference in the community
– on the radio and on KDRP’s
website. A KDRP representative visits the classroom to
present a certificate, record
students saying the Pledge of
Allegiance, and ask the teacher
and students about their lesStudents in Ms. Stoll’s class read stories they wrote
sons and activities.
for KDRP General Manager Ryan Schuh.
Mrs. Lisa Stoll’s fourthgrade classroom at Dripping
Springs Elementary was the first to be rec- tunity to share some of the classroom
ognized as the Feb. 21-25 Tiger Classroom accomplishments in an interview. Two
students also read stories they had just
of the Week. The students have engaged
completed, which were aired on the radio
in many exciting learning activities this
and on the KDRP website.
year, such as building a class and individu
Mrs. Tami Ballard’s second-grade
al terrariums, as well as a class aquarium.
class at Rooster Springs Elementary was
As a service project, Ms. Stoll’s class plans
the Tiger Class of the Week for Feb.
to refurbish the school’s greenhouse
28-March 4 and Mrs. Carla Bailey’s Lanso it can be used by all students. KDRP
guage Arts ACE classes at Walnut Springs
General Manager Ryan Schuh visited the
will be honored the first week in March.
classroom and Ms. Stoll had the oppor-
Help spread the word to your
friends and neighbors! Annual registration
for kindergarten and Pre-K will be held
Tuesday and Wednesday, March 29-30.
Kindergarten students must be 5 years old
by Sept. 1, 2011 and Pre-K students must
be 4 years old by Sept. 1, 2011.
All parents must bring: proof of
residency (electric bill and copy of lease/
warranty deed/property tax bill with
homestead exemption indicated), child’s
birth certificate and immunization record,
child’s Social Security card and parent’s
photo ID.
DSISD’s Pre-K program serves students who qualify under the criteria listed
below or as part of a tuition-based Pre-K
that is filled on a first-come, first-served
basis. To qualify for free pre-K students
must meet one of the following:
• Economically Disadvantaged (qualified for national free/reduced lunch
program)
• Child is evaluated as having limited
skills to speak or understand the
English language
• Child’s parent is in active military or
injured military
• Child is homeless, has been a ward of
the state, or has been in foster care.
Parents should bring proof of income (for all working members of household) and the child (for language testing)
if enrolling under the above-mentioned
criteria.
Rates have not yet been determined
for the tuition-based Pre-K program.
Registration will be held in the
Board Room at the DSISD Central Administration Building (510 W. Mercer St.) from
8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. on both March 29 and
30.
The Hays County Health Department will provide an immunization
clinic from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Wednesday,
March 30, during registration. The cost is
$10 per child, no matter how many vaccinations are received. If a child is covered
by Medicaid or CHIPS, the ID card should
be presented. This clinic is open to all
DSISD students who need immunizations.
Parents should bring the child’s vaccination record.
PAGE
3
Swimmers Capture Three Medals at State
Dripping Springs High School swimmers earned bronze medals by placing
third in three events in Class 4A at the
2011 Swimming and Diving State Meet.
The meet was held at the University of
Texas Lee and Joe Jamail Swim Center.
Timothy Wylie captured third in
both the 100-Yard Backstroke and the
100-Yard Freestyle. His time of 50.42
in the Backstroke event was less than a
second off the winning time of 49.60 by
Reid Elliott of Lake Travis High School. He
was even closer in the Freestyle, recording
a mark of 45.85; Wakeland High School’s
Devin Compan won in 45.45.
Jessica Shepard was the only Dripping Springs High School female swimmer
to qualify for the state championship
meet, and she captured third place in the
100-Yard Backstroke. The event was won
by Smithson Valley’s Anna Mayfield in
55.63. Shepard also placed fifth in the 200
Individual Medley with a time of 2:09.78.
Also competing for the Tigers were
Jeremiah Bartlett, Aiden Fumagalli and
Ben Shepard, who swam with Wylie in the
Medley Relay. The group finished sixth in
1:38.77 in the event, which was won by
Kingwood Park H.S. (1:34.88). Fumagalli
and Shepherd also competed in the 100
Breaststroke, where they placed sixth
(59.75) and seventh (59.83), respectively.
DSHS placed ninth in the boys’ team
standings with 83 points and 25th in the
girls’ results with 30 points. Team champions were Kingwood Park High School
(boys) and Frisco High School (girls).
The Texas Swimming Interscholastic Coaches Association (TSICA) recently
announced all-state honors. All DSHS
swimmers who qualified for the state
meet – Jessica and Ben Shepard, Wylie,
Bartlett, and Fumagalli – earned first-team
recognition, while Ellen McCarthy, Morgan
Riggins, Kaitlyn Thewes and Blake West
received honorable mention.
Rooster Springs Students Hold Food Drive
Rooster Springs students unload and weigh food
they collected for Helping Hands Pantry.
In early February, students at
Rooster Springs Elementary collected food
for the Helping Hands Food Pantry in Dripping Springs.
Led by the EarlyAct First Knight Service Club, the food drive collected more
than 830 pounds of canned goods and
other non-perishable supplies. The students, along with RSE Counselor Melissa
Fleming and Don Gavlick from the Dripping Springs Rotary Club took a field trip
to the pantry where they unloaded and
Where Are
They Now?
Marian Brock, a 2001 graduate
of Dripping Springs High School,
is the lead actress in the short
film “God of Love” that won an
Academy Award in the Short
Film (Live Action) category.
Tiger Band
to be Honored
at Capitol
The Dripping Springs High School
Tiger Band will be honored at the State
Capitol on Tuesday, March 22, when a
proclamation is read by State Representative Jason Isaac in the House Gallery at
11:00 a.m.
Following the proclamation, the
band will give a concert in the Capitol
Rotunda, beginning at noon.
The Tiger Band, led by Director
Keith Lancaster and Assistant Directors
Derek Woods, Jason Littleton, Jay Larsen
and Brian Levels, is the reigning 4A State
Champion Marching Band, and placed
fourth in the most recent 4A State Honor
Band competition (a concert competition). In its 2010 marching season the
band continued its tradition of excellence,
besting all other 4A bands and all but two
5A bands it faced through four major contests. The Tiger Band currently is working
on music for the 2011 State Honor Band
competition. The band has 158 members,
including winds, percussion and Color
Guard.
helped weigh the food, and learned about
how the pantry operates. They hoped to
help replenish the pantry’s supply following the busy holiday months.
The EarlyAct First Knight Service
Club is comprised of fourth- and fifthgraders who are nominated by their
teachers to participate. The club, which
meets monthly with Mr. Gavlick and
school sponsor Mrs. Fleming, creates and
completes service projects. Student participation in service projects is viewed as
the natural outcome of character development. Involvement teaches students the
ideals of Rotary, what “service above self”
is, why, how, and when to act in order to
make a positive difference in their world.
PAGE
4
Campus Happenings
Dripping Springs High School:
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Zak James, who won Dripping Springs High School’s Poetry Out Loud competition last fall, placed among the top five in the
state’s Poetry Out Loud event, competing against 11 other performers from around the state. The event took place at UT’s
Ransom Center and was hosted by the Director of the Texas Commission of the Arts along with the President of the Poetry
Foundation.
The National Honor Society will be hosting its spring blood drive on Wednesday, March 23, in the DSHS B-Gym. Any student
that is 17 years old is eligible to donate blood. Sign-ups will begin in late February, in the cafeteria, during both lunch periods
and in junior and senior English classes. Faculty, staff and community members are also encouraged to donate the gift of life.
For more information contact the NHS sponsor, Alissa Nevin at [email protected].
DSHS One-Act-Play Performances will be held on March 25 and March 26, starting at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium.
“Picnic,” by William Inge, was first produced in 1953. Set in a small Kansas town on the day of the annual Labor Day picnic,
the play shows the effect an alluring stranger’s arrival has on the lives of the town’s inhabitants.
The Hi-Steppers recently competed at South Padre, where the team and officers won “Super Sweepstakes” and captured the
Gussie Nell Davis Award, which means they received all Division I ratings and scores above 90 from all judges on all six dances.
Judges Awards (scores of 93 or better from all judges) were received for Officer Lyrical and Modern, Team Lyrical and Modern,
and Team Best Overall Choreography. Officers earned second runner-up Best In Class in the Medium School category.
In their final competition of the season the Hi-Steppers competed at the HTE Dance Austin Area Championships in Leander.
The officers and the team received Sweepstakes ratings, meaning they earned top ratings from all three judges on all three
dances. The officers also were champions in two categories – Modern and Novelty – and placed second in Lyrical. The team
won the Military and Lyrical categories, placed second in Modern, and received the Judges Awards for Outstanding Choreography.
The DSHS Winterguard has had three local Texas Color Guard Circuit competitions so far this season in the Scholastic Open
Class, which is a class higher than DSHS has ever competed in. The DSHS Winterguard has been awarded a second place and
two first-place trophies. The Scholastic Open Class is judged using criteria that expects higher level skills from the performers
and the choreographers consistently throughout the performance.
Dripping Springs Middle School:
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On March 4 seventh-graders will hear from guest speaker Karen Land, who is a columnist, writer, oral historian, public speaker
and Iditarod dog musher.
Students will compete in the UIL Academic Competition on March 26, from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Lake Travis Middle School.
Fifth-grade students will visit campus on March 24 from 9:15 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. as they begin preparations to transition to
middle school.
Several middle school dancers were honored as the program’s “Most Improved” in various genres, teacher LaChelle Dougherty announced. In Ballet, Ciana Vander Molen, Madison Kemper, Elizabeth Kuykendall, Charlotte Storrs and Emma Riggins
were honored. In Jazz, Monica Mire, Natalie Schmidt, Andja Bjeletich, Trinity Adams and Kersty Findlay were recognized. In
Modern, it was Anai Moreno, Marissa Medina, James Reid, Holly Koch and Marilyn Quevedo. In Tap, Most Improved dancers
in Tap were Leigh Anne Crowell, Mariah Chappell, Taylor Thorp, Alexis Smith and Bailey Blankenship, and in Hip-hop were
Samantha Sanders, Haley Sikes, Alicia Rodriguez and Kailee Stack.
Dripping Springs Elementary:
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Spring Picture Day is scheduled for March 23.
The Dripping Springs Elementary PTA is selling spirit items, including sparkly Tiger T-shirts and more. Order forms are available in the PTA newsletter.
Rooster Springs Elementary:
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A Book Fair will be held from March 7-11. Following the student preview on March 7, it will run from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
daily and from 8:00 a.m.-noon on the final day, March 11. In addition, parents and students can stop by during Open House
on March 10 from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. During that time each buyer’s name will be entered in a drawing for a $10 gift certificate to spend on books. Volunteers are needed to staff the fair; those interested can email [email protected] or sign
up on-line at www.signupschedule.com/rsebookfair.
New and gently used books of all kinds will be collected March 1-31 and distributed to local charities, nursing homes and
hospitals.
Walnut Springs Elementary:
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Principal/PTA Coffees are planned for Friday, March 11, and Friday, March 24, both starting at 8:00 a.m. in Room 300.
March 31 will be a big evening at the WSES campus as an open house is scheduled from 5:30-6:15 p.m., followed by “Walnut Palooza,” which is an evening filled with food, fun and contests including the famous “Cow Patty Bingo.”
PAGE
5
DSES Classroom Has a Ball Every Day
Dripping Springs Elementary third-grade teacher
Hollie Collins has seen a lot
of students searching for an
outlet for extra energy over
the years. Face it. Sitting still
and paying attention all day
is tough for anyone. That
simple fact led Mrs. Collins
to put together a proposal
for a grant that would provide her students with a
natural way to exert their
energy while still learning
and thinking.
Mrs. Collins’ class is
piloting a novel approach to
blending fitness and learning. All or most of the school
day, students sit on “stability
balls,” a product designed
by a former teacher named Lisa Witt, who
formed the company WittFitt. The balls
are based on the principle that memory
and movement come from the same
part of the brain; they are supposed to
strengthen the body core, improve attention and stimulate learning. Mrs. Collins
thinks they work.
“It’s amazing to see the difference in
them in five months ... especially in terms
of movement around the classroom,” she
said. “It’s makes you wonder what they
were doing to release that energy before.”
Before the students could switch
over to the balls, they had to learn about
proper use and complete a pre-test; they
will do a post-test at the year’s end. Mrs.
Collins shared information with parents
and made sure she had their support.
Students were given the option of keeping their traditional chairs if they were
uncomfortable with the balls. While a few
were wary at the beginning – and some
started out using the balls only for part of
the day – they are used 90 percent of the
time now.
Kyler Meyers was one of the original
hold-outs. “I changed my mind because it
looked like more fun than just sitting,” he
said. “I tried it, then went longer, now I’m
totally used to it.”
Students have realized there are
multiple benefits from sitting on the
stability balls. The class participates in
stretching exercises and has created some
Texas Public Schools Week: March 21-25
fun educational chants they
say when bouncing, which
helps stimulate their memory. This is a strategy that they
use before taking a test to
relieve anxiety and prepare
students.
“When you bounce
and you’re learning, it helps
you remember what you’re
learning,” said Charlotte. Her
classmate Riley added that
“When you bounce it helps
you sit up straighter.”
Mrs. Collins received
the grant for the purchase of
the stability balls and other
materials from the Dripping
Springs Educational Foundation. The original proposal
requested funding for seven
classrooms. Hers is serving as a pilot and,
if deemed successful, there may be more
bouncing in the future at Dripping Springs
Elementary.
“Sometimes small changes make
the biggest impact,” shared Mrs. Collins.
“Looking at how the students bounce on
the balls proves to me that it is a manageable outlet for energy release in the regular classroom. The balls improve posture
by strengthening the core and they allow
for free movement all day which helps
with childhood obesity. If they can move,
stimulate their memories and in turn improve their attention, who wouldn’t want
to try it? It has been a wonderful adjustment to my classroom environment.”
Community Ed Offers
Spring Break Camp
Looking for something to do with
your elementary-age child over Spring
Break? DSISD Community Education offers a Spring Break Camp that includes a
full week of activities both indoors and
outside. Kids will enjoy arts and crafts,
movies and play time. Cost of the camp is
$160 plus $10 for supplies, and the registration deadline is March 8, 2011.
Community Ed also will be releasing
information on summer camps soon.
For more information, check out
the Dripping Springs ISD website at www.
dsisd.txed.net or call Community Ed at
(512) 858-3021.
PAGE
6
Transition Activities Planned for Fifth-Graders
PARENTS’ NIGHT: Parents of current fifth
graders will have an information session
at the Middle School on March 22 from
6:00-7:30 p.m. More information will be
sent home soon with students regarding
the parent night and deadlines and other
activities. The sixth grade counselor is
Kelly Coffey. The link for Dripping Springs
Middle School is www.dsisd.txed.net/
dsms.
STUDENT TOUR: Fifth-grade students will
take a tour of the middle school and learn
about electives, expectations, and course
sheets on March 24. Students will travel
by bus after special areas and return to
the elementary school in time for lunch.
Fact or Fiction
Addresses Rumors
Fact or Fiction is published
periodically to address rumors
that parents and community
members have heard. Fact or
Fiction shares background
information, explanation and
verification as to whether or
not the item is true. The most
recent issue was posted in early
February and can be viewed on
the DSISD website; look at the
link on the left-side column.
Rumors can be submitted
to: [email protected].
net. Those submitting items
are asked to refrain from use of
individual student or employee
names, or other personal references.
DS
MS
COURSE SHEETS AND PLANNERS: Course
sheets will be due on March 31. Every
student needs to return a course sheet,
even if it is possible that the child will
not attend DSMS. If a student definitely
will not be attending DSMS next year, the
course sheet form should be returned
with a note attached indicating the intent
to move. Money for the required planner
is also due for each child on that date. If
there is uncertainty whether the student
will be attending DSMS next year, parents
should still send money for the planner and it will be refunded if the family
moves.
Students Successful at Science Fair
Dripping Springs ISD was well-represented at the 2011 Austin Energy Regional
Science Festival in late February.
At the secondary level, Zach Reid
was a major award winner as he captured
the BAE Systems Sensor Integration Award
for the Junior Division, theBroadcom Masters SSP Award and the Superintendent’s
Award. Zach’s project, “Step to Renewable Energy with Electromagnetism,” also
captured first place in the Electrical and
Mechanical Engineering Division. He now
will advance to the ExxonMobil Texas
State Science and Engineering Fair.
The other Dripping Springs secondary student who was listed among the top
place-finishers was freshman Piper Reid,
whose project “High Resolution Spectroscopy for Astronomical Measurements”
placed fourth in Physics and Astronomy.
Students from all three Dripping
Springs ISD elementary schools were
successful at the festival. Twenty-one
student projects took top honors in their
respective categories, 17 earned secondplace accolades, and seven placed third.
The first-place winners were: Alexis
Haydt (RSE), Holt Holcomb (RSE), Ryan Gahagan (RSE), Johnny Hoyle (RSE), Zachary
Wise (RSE), Dallas Hudson (RSE), Mia Haraguchi (WSE), Zachary Jones (WSE), Avani
Shepherd (WSE), Mark Tressler (WSE),
Frank Unger (WSE), Henry Windsor (WSE),
Emery Dunn (WE), Connor Mogen (WSE),
John Babiak (DSE), Aidan Kappler (DSE),
Ben Marsan (DSE), Reid Lohman (DSE),
two team projects from Ms. McManus’
class (RSE) and one team project from Ms.
Jamail’s class (WSE).
DSISD students whose projects
advanced to the regional science festival
qualified based on results of the elementary GT science fair, as well as the middle
school and high school science fairs.
Student meetings for the secondary fairs
begin early in the school year (September
2011).
Sixth-grader Zach Reid
won a Blue Ribbon,
the Superintendent’s
Award, the BAE Systems Sensor Integration Award and the
Broadcom Masters
SSP Award. His project
has qualified for the
ExxonMobil Texas State
Science and Engineering
Fair.
Rooster Springs fifth grader Henry Windsor received a Blue Ribbon for his project
“Wind Power” at the Austin Energy
Regional Science Festival.
PAGE
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Tiger Teacher Spotlight
Larin Hinson
DSMS, Theatre Arts
Larin Hinson is in her
fourth year in DSISD,
but her 22nd year
teaching. She also has
taught Language Arts
and GT classes. Other
districts where she has
worked include Del
Valle ISD and Houston
ISD. Ms. Hinson moved
frequently while growing up, living in
Texas, Ohio, Alabama, California and
even Paraguay. Her degree in the
Humanities was from the University of
Houston, Clear Lake City.
Ms. Hinson and her husband of
29 years, Gerry Anderson, have three
sons: Brendon, Nicholas and Jory. Her
favorite things about her job are movement, the freedon to create, watching
ideas take life, laughing, and human
interaction. She believes the biggest
challenge is the time commitment,
which she says can be daunting. Ms.
Hinson also values the friendships she
has established here.
Ms. Hinson’s hobbies include
gardening, hiking, walking and eating.
In fact, she claims that she can talk to
plants and make then grow! Her favorite vacation spot is her cabin in the
Manistee Forest in Michigan.
Lisa O’Banan
DSES, Second Grade
Now in her seventh
year in Dripping Springs,
Lisa O’Banan has taught
second, third and fourth
grades here. Previously
she spent nine years at
Williams
Elementary
School in Austin ISD,
teaching both first and
second grades.
A native of the Austin area, she
graduated from Texas State University
in 1993. Mrs. O’Banan has two children:
Amanda (13) and Cameron (8), whom
she considers her greatest accomplishments. She and her husband Roy will
celebrate their 20th anniversary this
June.
The best thing about her job, she
says, is working with children and listening to them interact with each other to
problem solve in different situations. “I
learn so much from them!” said Mrs.
O’Banan.
The best place she has ever visited
is Disney World with her husband and
children (which, she says, is truly magical!). If Mrs. O’Banan could see any musical performer in concert, she would
love to be able to go back in time and
see Elvis Presley in his early years.
DSHS Destination ImagiNation Team Places First
Dripping Springs High School was
represented by one team at the Destination ImagiNation Regional Tournament
Feb. 26 that featured 250 teams of K-12
students from across the greater Austin
area. The DSHS team was one of only a
handful to attempt to compete in two
events, capturing a first -place finish in
both. Team members are Jacob Artz, Luke
Brown, Ryan Hooker, Robert Lehr, Josh
Page, Bryce Timm and Paden Williams.
SAVE THE DATE
Dedication Ceremony
Dripping Springs High School
April 11, 2011
4:30-6:00 p.m.-Tours
6:00 p.m.-Program
The first event was a structural
challenge that required the team to
design and build a structure made only of
aluminum foil, wood and glue, which was
tested during a presentation. The 11.6gram structure held 295 pounds; combined with props, costumes and presentation, the team secured first place. DSHS
also was awarded a DaVinci Award for creativity in recognition of an original song
with music and lyrics that was presented
in their performance.
The second event the team entered
is called Texas eXtreme Creativity, which
required that the team bring 25 pounds of
any materials to use in developing a solution to an unseen challenge.
This is the fourth consecutive year
that the DSHS Destination ImagiNation
team has advanced to the State Finals.
For team member Bryce Timm, it will be
his ninth straight state competition! The
Texas Destination ImagiNation Tournament will be in Lubbock, Texas, on April 2,
2011.
Craig Swannack
DSHS, Science Teacher
Buda native Craig
Swannack is in his first
year teaching Physics at
Dripping Springs High
School. Last year he
taught at Smithson Valley High School.
A graduate of Texas
A&M University, Mr.
Swannack’s favorite memory of college
was going to Aggie games. Mr. Swannack and his wife Shawntel have two
children: 4-year-old Garret and 2-yearold Emilia.
He loves teaching, and seeing the
effect on students’ faces. He says being
around high school students helps keep
him young. In fact, Mr. Swannack considers his biggest accomplishment having the guts to quit a “high-level” job in
order to pursue his dream of teaching.
If he wasn’t teaching, he would have
liked to be a professional fisherman. The
best place he has ever visited is St. Lucia
and if he could see any musical performer in concert it would be George Strait.
The last good book he read was “The
Miracle of St. Anthony.” Mr. Swannack
has very exciting plans for Spring Break
as he will be working on the baseboards
in his house!
Inside DSISD is the Dripping Springs
Independent School District newsletter for parents, friends and the
entire Dripping Springs community.
Those wishing to submit photos or
story suggestions, please contact
District Information Officer Dale
Whitaker (dale.whitaker@dsisd.
txed.net).
DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD
Board of Trustees:
Tim Kurpiewski, president
Caroline Pekarek, vice pres.
John Adams, secretary
Alan Atwood
Liz Ing
Shelly Reeves
Barbara Stroud
Superintendent:
Mard A. Herrick, Ph.D.
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