HEBSBA Awards Certificates to Jefferson Bank Investor Challenge Participants
The University of the Incarnate Word H-E-B School of Business and Administration and Jefferson Bank have teamed up for a second year to offer the Jefferson Bank Challenge. Thirteen high school students enrolled in this free course, thanks to the generosity of Jefferson State Bank. Sudents participating in the challenge received their certificates of completion June 17. John LaField, executive vice president – lending at Jefferson Bank, and Dr. Jeannie Scott, associate dean of HEBSBA, presented the students with their certificates.
Under the instruction of finance professors Dr. Tim Griesdorn and Dr. Jose Moreno, the students learned about financial literacy and planning and grew their understanding of the stock market. With the instruction portion of the challenge behind them, the students will now be given a simulated portfolio mirroring the U.S. stock market with $250,000 in virtual dollars. They will research companies and buy and sell stocks in a competition to see who can increase the starting portfolio the most.
The challenge lasts approximately 20 weeks, offering students the experience of the natural ups and downs associated with the stock market. After this period, the winner will receive $500 and have their name engraved on a plaque displayed in UIW’s Financial Resource Center.
IWHS Welcomes New Vice Principal of Academics
Incarnate Word High School is proud to welcome alumna Kaye (Grant) Robinson, Class of 1994, as its new vice principal of academics. After graduating from IWHS, Robinson attended Tulane University in New Orleans as a recipient of the distinguished Deans’ Honors Scholarship. She graduated in 1998, earning a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, and later worked in Jacksonville, Fla., and the Bronx, N.Y.
In 2007, Robinson followed her heart and pursued her original intentions to become an educator, beginning as a math and robotics teacher in San Antonio ISD. Except for two school years as a teacher in the STEM magnet program at Lee High School in North East ISD, Robinson worked at Sam Houston High School on the city’s East Side. In 2010, after earning a Master of Arts in instructional technology, she became the campus instructional coach for the high school, supporting teachers of a variety of academic disciplines. Recently, Robinson obtained her principal certification and is currently working on her doctorate in organizational leadership at the University of the Incarnate Word.
UIW Announces Expansion of Daytime Classes for School of Extended Studies
The University of the Incarnate Word School of Extended Studies announces the expansion of the daytime blended learning program to its Northeast campus at 6909 N. Loop 1604 East, Suite 1009. This change is for its nontraditional students attending the Adult Degree Completion Program (ADCaP).
Beginning with the first eight-week fall term, ADCaP will offer five blended courses on Tuesday mornings at the Northwest Center at 9729 Datapoint Drive. Both undergraduate and graduate business administration degrees will be available at this location. At the Northeast Center, inside Rolling Oaks Mall, four undergraduate classes will be held on Thursday mornings. Students will meet in class with their professor one day a week. Additional assignments and discussions will be completed online. This format will cut the classroom time in half, while increasing the student/professor interaction through the online tools.
The blended education model that ADCaP incorporates into its degree programs is designed to meet the growing demand from working professionals who prefer not to miss out on the traditional face-to-face classroom experience, but require the flexibility inherent with working irregular hours or shifts.
“We offer classes in the daytime to meet the needs of students who cannot attend our evening classes,” said Vincent Porter, dean of the School of Extended Studies. “We chose a blended format to accommodate an adult student’s busy schedule. Blended formats give students a flexible delivery model that combines the traditional face-to-face classroom setting with the convenience of online learning tools.”
To learn more about the ADCaP Fall daytime classes or other programs, contact the EAP admission office at 210-757-0202. Learn more at adcap.uiw.edu/day-classes.
UIW Announces Sibling Tuition Discount Program
The University of the Incarnate Word has announced a new tuition discount program to support families that have multiple dependent children from the same household at UIW.
Eligible families will receive a $5,000 discount for their second student enrolled at UIW and a $10,000 discount for a third or more sibling. In the case of twins or triplets, eligible amounts will be divided evenly. To be eligible for the program, all siblings must be enrolled as full-time undergraduate main campus students and must reside in the same household. Although the discounts are not need-based, students must be verified as dependents on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application each year.
“We recognize the challenges that families with multiple students have in affording the high level of education we provide,” said UIW President Dr. Lou Agnese. “Our hope with this new program is to bridge the gap in making a UIW education attainable for those who would otherwise go elsewhere due to the high costs associated with having multiple children in college at the same time.”
Funds will be applied to tuition only. Students that receive other UIW scholarships, UIW grants or UIW discounts may combine the awards as long as the total does not exceed their full-time tuition. Students with UIW athletic scholarships or UIW dependent waivers do not qualify.
Siblings must apply to receive the discount and must submit a new application annually. The discount is only for the Fall and Spring semesters.
For more information, visit www.uiw.edu/finaid.
SAINT MARY’S HALL SPEECH AND DEBATE EARNS TOP HONORS AT NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
Saint Mary’s Hall was recently named a School of Outstanding Distinction at the 2016 National Speech & Debate Tournament, climaxing an extraordinary speech and debate season. The award honors the top 10 speech and debate teams in the nation for their overall performance at the competition. This is the first year that Saint Mary’s Hall has received this honor.
Adding to the excitement, Marshall Webb (Form 12) was recognized as the William Woods Tate, Jr. National Student of the Year and was national runner-up in domestic extemporaneous speaking.
The National Speech and Debate Association is the largest interscholastic speech and debate organization serving middle school, high school and collegiate students in the United States. Approximately 3,300 students nationwide qualify to compete at the National Speech & Debate Tournament. Saint Mary’s Hall was represented by 12 Upper School students and 12 Middle School students at the competition in Salt Lake City.
St. Luke’s Teacher Awarded President’s Volunteer Service Award
St. Luke’s Episcopal School teacher Karen Erfurth has been awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award for her outstanding volunteer service. The veteran educator, who has taught St. Luke’s pre-kindergarten students for over 30 years, can also be found volunteering at Morgan’s Wonderland when she is not teaching. Erfurth has devoted more than 1,000 hours of service to the adults and children at Morgan’s Wonderland.
In recognition of her exceptional service, Erfurth was recently awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award. She received a certificate, a gold pin and a signed letter from President Obama. She says, “I am honored to be awarded this Point of Light acknowledgement. As Morgan’s Wonderland founder Gordon Hartman said, ‘Together, we are making a difference.’” St. Luke’s congratulates Ms. Erfurth and thanks her for her generous contribution to the San Antonio community.
Erfurth’s work with the organization has been life-changing. She began volunteering when the park opened in 2010. “This experience has enriched my life with countless blessings,” she says. “Seeing the smiles on the people’s faces when they are engaged and the gratitude families express for this special place is priceless. Inclusion and acceptance of everyone is the organization’s main goal.”
St. Luke’s School Embraces Maker Movement with New iLab and inkLab
St Luke’s Episcopal School has embraced the “maker movement” with their brand-new iLab makerspace and inkLab communications studio. The school’s iLab opened during the fall of 2015, and the inkLab is set to open this fall.
St. Luke’s iLab is a DIY space where students gather to create, invent and learn. The former science lab was rehabbed and expanded to include stations for woodwork, metalwork, garment construction, robotics, computer programming and 3D printing. The school recently purchased three XYZ da Vinci 3D printers that will debut once students arrive back on campus. The ‘i’ of iLab stands for the many things students can do in this space, with the first and foremost being to ideate.
“This will be a place where ideas are formulated, ideas that will change the way a child experiences the world around him and may even change the world,” says St. Luke’s STEM department chair Suzanne Parker. “From the imaginations of children’s minds to the collaboration and creation of physical and digital artifacts, the iLab will serve to provide real world applications of science, technology, engineering and math through project-based learning.”
St. Luke’s is excited to also launch inkLab, a lab for project-based learning and real world application of communication skills. inkLab is an incubator for ideas and inquiry, channeling communication to the school and wider community. Storytelling, blogging, broadcasting and podcasting are examples of how the inkLab will provide students the opportunity to exchange ideas with diverse audiences and develop their personal communication style. “We feel it is imperative for students to develop their voices in an evolving and globalized world through the use of language arts and social studies skills, digital media and technology,” say St. Luke’s faculty members Anne Burnson and Jessica Koontz. For more information about St. Luke’s Episcopal School, visit www.sles-sa.org.
St. David’s Episcopal Church and School Announce Important Dates
August marks the start of an exciting new school year at St. David’s Episcopal Church and School, Terrell Hills.
Aug. 8, 6 p.m.
Family movie night and cookout featuring
“Inside Out” at St. David’s Church
Aug. 17, 5 p.m.
Parents’ night
Aug. 19
Meet the teacher
Aug. 21, 10:30 a.m.
Blessing of the backpacks at St. David’s Church
Aug. 23
First day of school
Sept. 14
New school families event
Sept. 18, 10:30 a.m.
Episcopal school
Sept. 26-30
Nursery rhyme week
For more information visit www.saintdavidschool.net (school) and www.saintdavids.net (church).
AHISD Welcomes New Cambridge Principal, Jana Needham
After an extensive interview process that included many talented candidates, AHISD is excited to announce Jana Needham as principal of Cambridge Elementary.
Jana is an experienced principal who comes to AHISD from Cypress Fairbanks ISD, where she served her community as teacher, instructional specialist, assistant principal and principal over the course of 19 years. Prior to that time, she served as an elementary teacher in Navasota and Humble ISD. She is known in Cypress Fairbanks ISD as a visionary instructional leader and a creative and compassionate relationship builder with her staff, students and families. She has served 24 years in public education.
Jana attended Texas A&M University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree, and Stephen F. Austin University, where she attained her master’s in education.
Jana looks forward to getting to know the Cambridge community. She joined the district and began her duties July 18.
“I am certain that all of us will benefit from Jana’s many talents,” says Supt. Kevin Brown. “Her outstanding experience as a leader in Cypress Fairbanks ISD will be such an asset to maintaining the tradition of excellence at Cambridge Elementary School.
Mules Add Gold to Their Dress Blues
The Alamo Heights JROTC Battalion has been designated as an “Honor Unit with Distinction” for maintaining exceptionally high standards of training and discipline. This year all cadets will wear a gold star on their uniforms between their nameplate and the Alamo Heights crest, identifying them as an “Honor Unit with Distinction.” This designation also grants our JROTC instructors the authority to nominate outstanding cadets to any of the three Department of Defense Academies (Army, Navy and Air Force) during the next school year.
Cadet Command’s 5th Brigade, headquartered at Fort Sam Houston, is responsible for over 550 Army JROTC programs in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. Of these, only 185 programs earned the Honor with Distinction designation.
New Start and End Times for AHISD Schools
All five AHISD campuses will have new start and end times for the 2016-2017 school year because of a law passed by the 84th Texas Legislature. This new law amends the Texas Education Code that used to require 180 days of instruction and now requires a minimum of 75,600 minutes of instruction/ year. (The district is also required by state law to be in school for a minimum of 7 hours of instruction a day.)
Input from the community and staff members was taken into consideration prior to making decisions that impacted all campuses. AHISD administration worked to make decisions around start and end times that support the needs of learners through various developmental stages. In order for the district to be in compliance with this state mandate and to best meet the needs of learners, start and end times at each campus will be altered as follows:
Howard Early Childhood Center: 7:50 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Cambridge and Woodridge Elementary: 8:20 a.m.– 3:30 p.m.
Alamo Heights Junior School: 8:45 a.m. — 4 p.m.
Alamo Heights High School: 8:45 a.m.– 4 p.m.
The later start times at the junior school and high school support the large body of research that adolescents need more time for sleep. Research also indicates that younger children perform better earlier in the day. The most significant change will be an increase in minutes at Howard Early Childhood Center. A leadership team at Howard is planning for the schedule to include time for a new “specials” rotation time to include a music and movement class. This specials rotation will continue to include physical education and recess each day.
Although the district was not looking to make these changes to the Howard schedule, they will allow kindergarten students more time for engaging experiences and enrichment and for better aligning their school start and stop times with the other elementary campuses. Parents will learn more about the updated Howard schedule as the school year begins.
Aug. 1
ONLINE MULE MARKETS OPEN:
Purchase school supplies, planners, parking permits, class fees and more, during the annual Mule Markets sponsored by the campus PTO/PTSO’s. Connect via your campus PTO/PTSO website by visiting www.ahisd.net and clicking on the Organizations link under Shortcuts.
Aug. 8 – 12
NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION:
First day of the academic year for all employees new to the district, who will receive a week of staff development and training to prepare for the year at AHISD.
Aug. 15
CONVOCATION:
AHHS Auditorium, 8-10:30 a.m. First day of the
new academic year for all AHISD staff.
Aug. 18
AHISD BOARD MEETING:
AHISD Board Room, 7101 Broadway, 7 p.m.
Aug. 22
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL:
Happy new school year!
The district will begin implementing
new start times for each campus.
Aug. 24
AHHS ATHLETIC KICKOFF:
Harry B. Orem Stadium, 5-7 p.m.
Aug. 31
AHJS ATHLETIC KICKOFF:
AHJS football fields,
courtyard and cafeteria, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Sept. 5
LABOR DAY HOLIDAY:
Schools and offices closed.
Sept. 15
AHISD BOARD MEETING:
AHISD Board Room, 7101 Broadway, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18
STUDENT SHOWCASE COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE:
AHHS Auditorium, 6900 Broadway, 2 p.m. AHISD students will be featured performers at the Texas Association of School Administrators and Texas Association of School Boards state conference in September. The community is invited to see the show locally before the premiere in Houston.
