This calendar option was preferred by 66 percent of voters who completed the district’s calendar survey which was available at www.lisd.net Nov.18-Dec. 9, 2011. For more information on how this calendar option was selected, click here.

Briarhill varsity treble choir.

The Briarhill Middle School varsity treble choir, comprised of 35 select seventh- and eighth-grade girls, was selected to perform at the Cambiata Institute/American Choral Directors Association national conference in Dallas on Feb. 29.  Only three middle school girls’ choirs were selected to perform and director Donna McGinnis said, “We are honored to represent LISD at this nationally publicized event.”

The choir will also perform a pre-conference concert on Friday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. with Texas Women’s University Concert Choir (also performing at the ACDA conference).  This special concert will be on the TWU Denton campus in Margo Jones Performance Hall.

Kindergartners at FME making snow.

The weather has not changed enough to make it snow so Mrs. Corbitt’s kindergarten class at Flower Mound Elementary (FME) decided to read, investigate, and make snow.

They read “The Story of Snow” by Mark Cassino during their science class. They were studying changes in our world that can be observed and events in nature that have a repeating pattern or cycle.

After reading the book, the students investigated the myriad of crystal shapes in snowflakes, talked about the speck that becomes the center of a snowflake and learned about the water vapor cycle to a snowflake.

The lesson took a turn when an illustration of artificial snow was shown. The students asked questions about artificial snow. So, instead of just looking at the picture, Mrs. Corbitt’s students created artificial snow.  The children were able to watch the change, feel the cold, and observe the shape of their snowflakes. Hopefully this activity inspires students to think more scientifically the next time it snows!

Ms. Parisi’s seventh-grade science class is doing a virtual knee surgery on the SMART board.

Imagine being a knee surgery patient and your surgeon is in the seventh-grade. While that would be terrifying in reality, students at Lamar Middle School in Theresa Parisi’s science class used technology to perform a virtual knee surgery.

The students utilized technology through the website www.edheads.org, a site that has scientific and critical thinking activities. They were directed to begin the surgical procedures with sterilization, drew where the incision would be made, and cut the leg open with a scalpel. Students then went through the process of replacing the knee and making sure that it aligned properly. Finally, the knee was closed as the students chose the method of closure (staples or sutures).

Parisi enjoys the lesson that students can learn through these out-of-the-box activities. “I use this inquiry activity to help the students explore the skeletal and muscular systems. During this semester we will also use edheads.org to do surgery on an aortic aneuryrsm and will perform deep brain stimulation surgery.”

The Downing Middle School book club.

Dr. Seuss once said, “The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” While students at Downing Middle Schoolaren’t going anywhere, they certainly are reading more, thanks to the Downing Book Club (DBC.) Co-advisors June Jacko and Gail Stewart select a book and meet with a small group of students on the first Wednesday every month from 8-8:35 a.m.

According to Jacko, “The purpose of the DBC is to introduce, explore, and discuss high-quality young adult literature in a casual setting.” This setting provides students a safe, nurturing and inclusive learning environment which is one of the district’s goals.

Some of the books the DBC has read include “Stuck on Earth” by David Klass, “Variant” by Robison Wells, “Inside Out & Back Again” by Thanhha Lai, “Dead End in Norvelt” by Jack Gantos, and “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins. The DBC has also examined poetry and audiobooks.

Downing Principal Lisa Lingren is thrilled so many students participate in the book club. “I think it’s so important that we encourage our students to read, and not just what is required of them for school,” Lingren said. “The Downing book club is an opportunity for students to be exposed to and discuss books that are interesting and fun to read!”

Varsity soccer players from Marcus High School come over once a week to read and interact with students at McAuliffe Elementary.

Their photos adorn the walls. They are greeted like superstars when they set foot on McAuliffe Elementary’s campus. They are asked for autographs on a regular basis. No, it’s not anyone you would see on the cover of “People” magazine; it is a group of student athletes from Marcus High School participating in the Ambassador Program.

“McAuliffe Elementary has tremendous Marauder pride,” said Principal Jennifer Mattingly. “It is a huge deal for our students when the athletes come over from Marcus.”

Marauder athletes work with individual students or small groups.

Not only do the student athletes come over, they are actively involved on campus. Each athlete is assigned to a class at McAuliffe and they come visit their class every week. They participate in class, lead discussions, work with individual kids or small groups, read to students, and play games.

Most student athletes come throughout the season, but several will come for the entire year. Football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, baseball, and the Marquettes all participate in the McAuliffe Ambassador Program.

So the next time you’re at McAuliffe Elementary, don’t be surprised if you ask a student who his or her favorite athlete is, and they respond with a Marauder.

VAL Gallery is located in the Lewisville West Shopping Center on the west side of Interstate 35E between Main Street and Fox Avenue.  Gallery hours are 2 – 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Opening night will be held the evening of February 10 from 7-9 p.m.

The Visual Arts League is one of six local groups receiving funding from the Greater Lewisville Arts Alliance through a City of Lewisville grant program designed to foster cultural and fine arts in the community. For more information, call 972.420.9393 or visit their website.