Loading

Inside FWISD January 19, 2023

In this edition:

FWISD Board to Consider 2023-2024 School Calendars Tuesday | FWISD Named the Jumpstart Read for the Record School District of the Year | Paschal HS Puts on a Pep Rally to Honor State Champion Cheerleaders: Squad will be presented with their UIL medals | MLK’s Inspiring Connection to Former FWISD Educator | FWISD to Host Virtual Information Sessions for International Teachers | FWISD In the News | Photos of the Week | Videos of the Week

FWISD Board to Consider 2023-2024 School Calendars Tuesday

The District’s 2023-2024 Traditional, Intersessional, and Early College High School (ECHS) Calendars are among multiple action items being considered by the Fort Worth ISD Board of Education, Tuesday, Jan. 24.

The calendars propose that the 2023-24 academic year begin Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. It also proposes that the traditional and ECHS calendars conclude for students Thursday, May 23, 2024, followed by a Teacher Prep Day on Friday, May 24, 2024. The intersession calendars propose the year ends for students Friday, June 7, 2024, followed by a Teacher Prep Day on Monday, June 10.

See the proposed calendars and the complete Board agenda here.

Also Tuesday, UIL State Cross Country medalists, the United Way Centennial Anniversary, and Board Appreciation Month will be recognized.

The Board meeting will convene at 5:30 p.m. at the FWISD Teaching and Learning Center, 1050 Bridgewood Drive.

Members of the public may make a public comment in person. Those desiring to make a public comment may sign up by calling 817-814-1920 or at the meeting until 5:20 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24.

Individuals desiring to make a comment by written statement, please email amanda.coleman@fwisd.org by noon Tuesday, Jan. 24. Those who need a sign language interpreter, please email amanda.coleman@fwisd.org by noon Monday, Jan. 23.

The meeting will be televised by EdTV, the District’s TV station, on the Fort Worth ISD’s Live YouTube channel, on Spectrum/Charter Cable Channel 192, AT&T U-Verse 99, and available the following day on the District website’s Video on Demand.

The Board of Education appreciates the public’s compliance with the guidelines that serve to effectively conduct District business.

FWISD Named the Jumpstart Read for the Record School District of the Year

The results are in, and Fort Worth ISD is the Jumpstart Read for the Record School District of the Year.

Last October, FWISD participated in the Jumpstart Read for the Record program, the world’s largest shared reading experience celebrating early childhood literacy and social-emotional development. On Oct. 27, millions of adults and children read the same book, “Nigel and the Moon,” on the same day. More than 500 FWISD administrators, staff, and adults read the book aloud to approximately 4,000 students at every District elementary school, accumulating the most read aloud events of any participating Jumpstart Read for the Record school district.

The award comes with a plaque and a special virtual read aloud of “Nigel and the Moon” with author Antwan Eady. Students at FWISD’s Westcreek Elementary School, which accumulated the highest number of reading minutes among FWISD schools, will represent the District at a private virtual read aloud with Mr. Eady on Wednesday, Feb. 15. Students will have an opportunity to ask Mr. Eady a couple of questions after the reading.

Dr. Marcey Sorensen, FWISD Chief Academic Officer, said the District is honored by the recognition.

"We are so excited about this award because we know how important reading out loud is to our youngest learners. Reading aloud improves their vocabulary, their understanding of the story, and allows them to interact with the characters through their imagination as they are hearing the story,” she said. “Most of all, we value the recognition by JumpStart to all of our hard working and dedicated educators for what they do with our littlest learners each and every day. We are doing great things in Early Learning in Fort Worth ISD."

Fort Worth ISD has participated in the Jumpstart Read for the Record program in previous years. However, this was the largest participation effort and the first time the program has recognized FWISD as District of the Year.

A special thank you to Heather Hennesey, Director of Early Learning, who helped facilitate the program along with The Early Learning Instructional Coaches and Victor Chapa who worked with teachers last fall to make the Jumpstart Read for the Record program a success.

Paschal HS Puts on a Pep Rally to Honor State Champion Cheerleaders

Squad will be presented with their UIL medals

In a bit of a role reversal, Paschal High School cheerleaders will be the ones receiving the cheers Friday morning, Jan. 20. They are being honored with a pep rally on their campus after winning the 2023 UIL State Spirit Championship last weekend in Fort Worth. The cheer team is the first squad from a FWISD school to win a State Spirit Championship.

Students, teachers and alumni will fill the stands at the Gus Bates Center at Paschal to see the cheerleaders perform one of their winning routines from the competition. Fort Worth ISD Executive Director of Athletics Todd Vesely will praise the squad’s determination and hard work. Then, each of the more than 30 cheerleaders will be presented with their championship medal.

The event is closed to the general public. However, we will be sure to share photos in our next Inside FWISD issue!

MLK’s Inspiring Connection to Former FWISD Educator

This week the Fort Worth ISD joined the nation in commemorating the life and legacy of civil rights trailblazer Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But did you know that Dr. King’s only visit to Fort Worth is because of a Fort Worth legend, former FWISD educator, and alumna?

On Dr. King’s visit to Fort Worth in 1959, he stayed in an upstairs room at the home of the late Dr. Vada Phillips Felder. Ms. Felder opened her home to Dr. King after news of his visit to Fort Worth drew threats, and he was not welcome to stay in area hotels. The house still stands in the 1300 block of Stewart St. in Fort Worth.

Ms. Felder, who worked for Fort Worth ISD and was a 1928 I.M. Terrell High School graduate, met Dr. King and his wife at a Baptist convention in Nashville, Tennessee, and invited him to Fort Worth to give a lecture, according to Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Texas Christian University reports. Dr. King spoke before an audience of 400 at Fort Worth’s Majestic Theater, which no longer exists.

From left is a portrait of Vada Phillips Felder, her home which still stands on Stewart Street and the "A Great Time To Be Alive" historical marker located at General Worth Square in downtown Fort Worth.

A historical marker titled “A Great Time To Be Alive,” commemorating Dr. King’s visit to Fort Worth and Ms. Felder’s legacy, was unveiled in 2019. The marker, named after Dr. King’s 1959 sermon in Fort Worth, is at General Worth Square at the intersection of West Ninth and Main streets downtown.

Inscribed on the historical marker is a quote from Ms. Felder about Dr. King’s visit in which she said it gave Fort Worthians “courage.”

“He taught us that we could stand up and do what was right – and do it in peace,” the marker states.

Click here to read more.

FWISD to Host Virtual Information Sessions for International Teachers

FWISD Staff,

Do you know any international educators who would be a perfect fit for Fort Worth ISD?

Spread the news. This District is hosting virtual information sessions for international teachers Feb. 8, March 9 and April 12-13.

For additional details, including salary and sign-on incentives information, visit www.fwisd.org/FWISDInternational or email TeachFortWorth@fwisd.org.

bit.ly/FWISD-H1B

FWISD in the News

Multiple O.D. Wyatt High School basketball student-athletes are nominees for the 2023 McDonald’s All American Games, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. The final rosters will be revealed Jan. 24.

The Paschal High School Cheer team, our UIL 6A D2 Spirit State Competiton Champion, appeared in Fort Worth Magazine.

A Fort Worth Report story looks at how the Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Middle School is using successful methods to address discipline issues.

Fort Worth ISD is a recipient of TASA/TASB’s 2022-23 Claudill Award, the highest honor in the Exhibit of School Architecture competition. The District will be recognized at the 2023 TASA Midwinter Conference, Jan. 29-Feb. 1 in Austin.

Multiple FWISD student organizations participated in the All-Western Stock Show Parade and were mentioned in the Fort Worth Report.

Fort Worth ISD marching bands, JCC and JROTC cadets participated in the 38th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Parade and Rally Monday downtown and appeared on the WFAA midday broadcast and in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

A Fort Worth Star-Telegram article looks at whether area school districts are prepared in the event of a ransomware attack.

A Fort Worth Star-Telegram story and opinion piece focus on whether city leaders should play a greater role in improving Fort Worth-area schools.

Photos of the Week

Dallas Mavericks Forward Dorian Finney-Smith Visits FWISD's Metro Opportunity Center at Handley

In honor of Mentorship Month, the Dallas Mavericks partnered with the Fort Worth ISD and Big Thought, a local nonprofit focused on alternative education, to host a mentoring event with Mavericks player Dorian Finney-Smith at The Metro Opportunity Center at Handley, Tuesday Jan. 17.

FWISD Students Participate in 38th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Parade and Rally

Multiple FWISD students marched and performed in the 38th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Parade and Rally Monday, Jan. 16 in downtown Fort Worth. 

MLK Neighborhood Committee hosted its fifth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and March

The marching band from Dunbar High School and FWISD JCC and JROTC cadets participated in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and March, Saturday, Jan. 14 in the Stop Six community. 

2023 Fort Worth Stock Show “All Western” Parade

Benbrook High School's marching band was among the FWISD performers that participated in the Fort Worth Stock Show "All Western" Parade, Saturday, Jan. 14 in downtown Fort Worth. Other bands representing FWISD in the parade were Western Hills, Paschal, South Hills and Diamond Hill-Jarvis.

Videos of the Week

Share your story ideas, successes, calendar items, photos, questions and feedback with us at Inside@FWISD.org. Content submissions are due no later than 10 a.m. Fridays for the next edition.