by Coy Holcombe.  

Thanks to the senior class and senior sponsors for inviting Mrs. Beasley and me out for a hot dog yesterday at the senior picnic. It appeared that the seniors had quite a good time at their picnic.

I want to remind everyone that graduation starts at 10:30 tomorrow. It will be held in the E. L. Kirk Gymnasium. The Eustace Volunteer Fire Department will be out early to help park cars. Our maintenance staff has spent most of the week getting the gym ready for graduation. They have set up the stage and have put out about 600 additional chairs on the floor.

Also, we will have a holiday on Monday in observance of Memorial Day. Classes will resume Tuesday, June 1 at the regular time.

I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend!

 

by Coy Holcombe.  

I want to thank Brother Paul McKinney and the First Baptist Church of Eustace for hosting the baccalaureate service last night. There were many people in attendance at last night’s service. Stan Sowers, High School principal, gave the principal’s address and Jeff Brown, teacher/coach at EHS, gave the baccalaureate address. Those in attendance were also treated to a great musical performance by seniors Andrea Foster, Lillian Foster, Jenny McConathy, Tori Bynum, and Lynde Frazier. The group was accompanied by Harmony Allen playing the piano.

Zach Bennet opened the service with a prayer. He was followed by Hubert Lowery who read bible verses from the book of Ecclesiastes. The evening concluded with a cake and punch fellowship.

I want to thank everyone that attended last night’s service to honor the seniors.

Graduation will be held this Saturday in the E. L. Kirk Gymnasium. The ceremony will start at 10:30.

by Coy Holcombe.  

If you have a child in 4th, 5th, or 6th grade, they may have told you about a new program that the district is trying in math. It is called Reasoning Mind. It is a computer based mathematics program. We are in the process of testing it now as a possibility for our 5th and/or 6th graders next year. 

One of the strongest positives toward the program is that it individualizes lessons for students. Students work at their own pace and receive instruction based on how successful they are on the lessons. It is somewhat similar in its design and workings to the Read 180 program that we currently use in the Middle School and High School for students that are not on grade level in reading. Students not only receive instruction via computers, but also through small groups with their teacher. Teachers are also continually monitoring the students at the computers and are free to answer individual questions.

Another strong point is that if students have access to the Internet, they can work on their math lessons at anytime. As a parent of a 4th grade student, I have personally witnessed my daughter spending her Internet time working on math at home.

Of course, as with any technology based application, one area of concern is the dependence on the technology always being available for students. Internet outages will happen. Equipment will fail. As we are experimenting with the program now, we are also experimenting with the different technology configurations to make sure that the program works as well as possible. 

Over the course of the next few weeks, we will be meeting and discussing about the use of Reasoning Mind for the 10-11 school year. I would certainly welcome any comments or feedback from parents. Please feel free to email me at cholcombe@eustaceisd.net if you have comments, questions, or concerns about this program. 

Baccalaureate services will be held tonight at the First Baptist Church in Eustace. The service starts at 7:00 PM.

by Coy Holcombe.  

We were notified last week that EISD will be receiving a technology grant from the Region VII Technology Cooperative in the amount of $18,000. The grant funds must be expended on instructional technology. Four major areas in which the funds may be expended include:

1. Expansion and/or upgrade of networks, labs, classroom applications, and related telecommunications systems.

2. Integration of technology into the teaching/learning process, including staff development

3. Acquisition of Internet services

4. Implementation and/or expansion of distance learning or other innovative programs

At the May board meeting, trustees approved upgrades to the district’s network infrastructure. Some of the these expensive will now be paid for through this grant.

by Coy Holcombe.  

The sports banquet on Saturday was absolutely great! There was plenty of good food, good fellowship, and a great atmosphere to honor the student athletes of the 09-10 school year. I want to thank Shelley Compton, the booster club officers, and all the booster club members for their hard work in making the banquet so special for our students and for all their hard work throughout the 09-10 school year.

The top male and female athletes of the year were as follows:

Female – Jenny McConathy and Tori Bynum

Male – Trevan Johnson, JoJo Bradburn, and Chris Compton

This Week:

Tuesday – May 25 – Kindergarten field day; 2nd grade tours Intermediate

Wednesday – May 26 – 1st grade field day; 3rd grade field trip; Senior breakfast; Baccalaureate – 7:00 PM – First Baptist Church Eustace

Thursday – May 27 – 2nd grade field day; Early childhood graduation

Friday – May 28 – Perfect attendance/right choice – IS

Saturday – May 29 – Graduation – 10:30 AM – E. L. Kirk Gymnasium

Monday – May 31 – Memorial Day Holiday

I hope everyone has a great week!

by Coy Holcombe.  

First, I want to thank everyone for their cooperation and help yesterday with the buses. I know that it was an inconvenience to delay the buses; however, we are always going to put the safety of the students first. While there is no doubt that we could have gotten the buses loaded and away from the schools on time, the weather was just too uncertain to take a chance on buses being caught out in the storm that was approaching. Again, thanks to all the staff members, parents, and students for working with us during this situation.

Second, thanks to all the parents, friends, and other relatives that turned out for the MS and HS awards last night. A special recognition goes out to all the students that received awards. Also, thanks to all the staff members for their work in preparing for last night.

Finally, a reminder that our sports banquet will be tomorrow evening at the Cain Center in Athens. Food will be served at 5:00 PM. The program will start at 6:00 PM.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

by Coy Holcombe.  

The following EHS students received special honors for accomplishments this year:

 

BULLDOG PRIDE ELITE

NO ABSENCES, NO TARDIES, NO DISCIPLINE REFERRALS, NO ZEROS, NO FAILURES

ELLA AGOLD

CADEN ANTHONY

TAYLOR BROWN

CODY CLARK

JOHN COLLINS

JACOB FELTY

RACHEAL HALL

MALLORY KEELING

STEVEN KOLESAR

HUBERT LOWRY

HALIE NORTHCUTT

KACIE RICHARDS

RANDAL ROBERTS

ADDISON SCOTT

TAYLOR SNOW

SHELBY STEGENT

BRADY TINDEL

 

BULLDOG PRIDE SCHOLARS

NO ABSENCES, NO TARDIES, NO DISCIPLINE REFERRALS, NO ZEROS, NO FAILURES,

MADE ALL A’S ALL YEAR

AMALIE ARAMBULA

JESSE CONTRERAS

JOSHUA FELTY

LYNDE FRAZIER

JACOB MCCARTER

TREY RUSSELL

 

 

2010-11 NHS OFFICERS

SHELLEY TEMPLE–PRESIDENT

MALLORY MOBLY–VICE PRESIDENT

CADEN ANTHONY–SECRETARY

NANCY MURFF–TREASURER

 

All-District Softball Honors:

Academic All District:

 

by Coy Holcombe.  

The EISD Board of Trustees met in regular session last night. The meeting was held in the HS library. The meeting started at 7:00 PM. The items discussed and considered last night included:

• Student Recognitions – The board recognized well over 100 students from all campuses for their achievements during the spring semester.
• Thomas Frazier and Gary Walsh received the Oath of Office for newly elected board members.
• Elected Diane Russ board president, Thomas Frazier, vice president, and Sara McAtee, secretary.
• Approved the minutes of the April 20, 2010 regular board meeting.
• Approved the financial reports as presented.
• Heard general reports on: PaySchools, HCAD budget amendment, Article presented to House Ways and Means Committee on the optional homestead exemption, EISD TAKS scores compared with state, and certified nurses assistant classes to be offered during the 2010-2011 school year.
• Approved technology plan for 2010-2012 and approved upgrades for the district’s network.
• Heard a preliminary report on the 2010-2011 budget.
• Approved Oak Farms Dairy’s bid for milk products, Flowers Bakery’s bid for bread products, and Blue Bell Ice Cream’s bid for ice cream products for he 2010-2011 school year.
• Approved a request for additional summer help for the custodial and maintenance department.
• Approved Region 7 contracts for the 2010-2011 school year.
• Heard and update on attendance and enrollment.
• Accepted resignations of the following professional employees: Mandie Weber, Clint Farrell, Jenna Farrell, Stacey Conway, and Lanette Upchurch.
• Employed the the following as teachers for the 2010-2011 school year: Brent Ragland, HS art teacher & Kris Jones HS social studies and coach.
• Employed the auxiliary personnel as presented.
• Approved student transfers for the 2010-2011 school year.
• Adjourned at 10:52 PM

I want to thank all of the students, parents, other relatives, and staff members for there participation in the recognition at last night’s meeting.  

 

by Coy Holcombe.  

Last night, EHS hosted its annual Top Ten Banquet. At this banquet, the top 10 seniors are recognized for their accomplishments. The seniors, in turn, get to recognize a teacher that has made a significant impact in their lives. Below are the top 10 students for the 2009-2010 school year (in no particular order) along with the teacher they chose to recognize:

Student                                      Teacher

Congratulations to these seniors and to the educators that were recognized.

 

Tonight, the EISD Board of Trustees will hold their regular monthly meeting in the HS library. The meeting will start at 7:00 PM. Everyone is encouraged to attend the meeting. Agenda items include:

• Student Recognitions – We will be recognizing students from all grade levels tonight.
• Administer Oath of Office to Newly Elected Board Members
• Reorganize the Board Officers
• Receive and approve minutes from previous board meetings
• Financial Reports
• General Reports
  • PaySchools Report
  • HCAD Budget Amendment
  • Ways and Means Committee Article
  • EISD TAKS Scores Compared to State
  • Certified Nurses Assistant Classes for 2010-2011
• Consider Technology Plan for 2010-2012 and consider upgrades to the district network
• Preliminary report on 2010-2011 budget
• Consider bids for milk, bread, and ice cream products for 2010-2011
• Consider additional summer help.
• Consider Region 7 contracts for 2010-2011.
• Update on attendance and enrollment.
• Closed Meeting
  • Personnel and Staffing
  • Student Transfers for 2010-2011
• Action on closed session items.
• Adjourn

 

by Coy Holcombe.  

We have lots of activities throughout the district this week:

Monday – AR Pizza 5th Grade; AR Store Begins – IS; Top Ten Banquet

Tuesday – AR Play Day – PS; AR Pizza 4th Grade; School Board Meeting 7:00 PM HS Library

Wednesday – AR Field Trip – PS; AR Pizza 3rd Grade; 4th Grade Field Trip; Daytime Awards – MS

Thursday – 5th Grade Field Trip; MS and HS Awards Night

Friday – AR Dunking Booth – IS; Gold Party Pizza Party – IS; Talent Show – MS

Saturday – Athletic Banquet – Cain Center, Athens – Food Served 5:00 – Program starts 6:00 – Tickets on sale at the HS

I hope everyone has a great week!