District in Pictures

It was an early morning for Wichita Falls High School students and staff as they celebrated their final Berkeley Breakfast. Floats sponsored by various student organizations lined Berkeley Street this morning before before making their way down Taft Blvd. They ended the parade on the front lawn of Wichita Falls High School. The Berkeley Breakfast is a long-standing Wichita Falls High School tradition. The Coyotes will be celebrating homecoming tonight as they take on Burkburnett at 8 pm for their final regular season home game. Good luck, Coyotes!

On Friday morning, Sheppard Elementary 3rd grade teacher Dakota Davis was surprised with the annual Dorothy Huffman Award. The Dorothy Huffman Award was established by Dr. Louie Huffman in memory of his wife. Mrs. Huffman was a teacher in the Wichita Falls ISD from 1952-1990. She began teaching at Crockett Elementary and taught at several other elementary schools in the district throughout her career. She loved teaching third grade children. She always thought that the third grade was such a crucial time to prepare children for the transition to fourth grade.

Along with the honor, Mrs. Davis received $1,000 to use in her classroom as she desires. Congratulations, Mrs. Davis!

This Tuesday was a special day at Cunningham Elementary as they hosted the Special Olympics Young Athletes Day! Over 120 students with diverse abilities participated in various athletic activities and got to showcase their impressive skills. Thank you to City Hope Church for generously providing lunch for all the students. Also, several volunteers from Region 9, MSU Athletics, and the Rider drum line came together to kick off the parade and make it a truly special event.

On Wednesday morning, twenty-two community and business leaders took part in the district's bi-annual Principal for a Day event through the WFISD Partners In Education program. Guests had the opportunity to shadow campus principals across the district, gaining valuable insights into the leadership and management of schools. After the shadowing, everyone came together for lunch and a feedback session at the Career Education Center. Participants were able to hear from both Superintendent Dr. Lee and Board of Trustees President Katherine McGregor, who shared their thoughts on the importance of strong school leadership. A special shoutout to Texas Roadhouse for generously donating lunch for the event!

This week, Southern Hills 4th grade bilingual students concluded Unit 2 of their new Amplify curriculum. Students had the opportunity to create their own invention and use the skills/strategies that other inventors from the past (i.e., Thomas Edison, Jacques Cousteau, and Hedy Lamarr) have used (collaboration, documentation and pitching ideas). They had the opportunity to collaborate at home with their families for their invention and then presented them to the class. They also displayed them at Southern Hills Literacy Night. "We are very proud of their hard work and grateful for our families who helped complete this project with them," said Southern Hills teacher, Maria Carrillo.

This week's Staff Spotlight shines on Jessica Evans, LEAP Para at Cunningham Elementary.

If you are a non-teaching staff member in WFISD, we want to feature you! Click here to complete the information form.

LEAP students at Barwise Middle School recently participated in a science experiment using candy corn pumpkins. The students documented what liquids they used, made a hypothesis, used a timer to calculate how long it took for the object to dissolve, and described the differences they observed. After the experiment, students discussed their predictions and observations, as well as different mixtures or liquids, and other variables they would use if we did this experiment again. Working in a small group allowed the students to work on social skills as well.

On Wednesday morning, seniors in the EDU2 class at the Career Education Center visited the WFISD administration building for an exciting day of learning. Students concluded their lessons on the influence of federal, state, and local governments on education by touring the Ed Center and holding a Q&A session with superintendent Dr. Lee and school board member Susan Grisel. Students had the privilege of speaking with various WFISD staff members and learning about their different roles in WFISD and how each department supports teachers and students.

Fowler Elementary School's Student Council is currently gathering bags of candy for the Wichita Falls Children's Home. The Student Council is accepting donations until October 30. After the collection period, Mrs. Amy Case and Mrs. Barbara Beals, the Student Council sponsors, will deliver all donated bags of candy to the Children's Home. The candy will be distributed to children on Halloween night as part of their trick-or-treating activities.

Hirschi High School is thrilled to announce an expansion of last year's partnership with Serenity House Impact-Wichita Falls, a non-profit organization that has been offering substance abuse support in the local community since 1984. The partnership has been successful in providing direct counseling and treatment opportunities to individuals in need of substance abuse support, with Hirschi Huskies receiving direct instruction on substance abuse prevention.

Last year, Mr. Norman presented to seniors in their US Government and Economics classes, and this year, he has expanded his presentation to include Coach Billings' Sociology and Psychology classes, as well as World Geography sections. This year, Hirschi also welcomed Michelle Jones of Serenity to the campus. On Thursday, Ms. Jones presented a game show format to ensure that students were actively listening and participating. She had a student panel set up with scripts, and she introduced each "guest" with their fictitious bios on their experience with substance abuse.

"We extend our sincere gratitude to both of them for their contributions towards the safety of our kids and community," said Hirschi assistant principal, Wendy Moulds.

On Friday, October 13th, the WFHS Lady Coyote volleyball team displayed their sportsmanship by serving their community. Instead of just focusing on their game, they recognized that helping others is a great way to start off a day full of competition. The team, accompanied by their beloved mascot Clarence the Coyote, visited the students at Zundy Elementary and welcomed them to school. The players were enthusiastic and encouraging, making the young students feel appreciated and excited to learn. This act of kindness is a testament to the Lady Coyotes' commitment to excellence both on and off the court, and serves as a reminder of the importance of giving back to the community.

Brett Batchelor, 5th grade science and social studies teacher at Jefferson Elementary, often incorporates music into his lessons. When 5th grader, Jayden Vardell asked his teacher about a possible musical collaboration during their 9 weeks party, Mr. Batchelor was all in. The kids always get so fired up seeing Mr. Batchelor walk in carrying his guitar case. Jayden played an array of Super Mario Brothers theme songs on his Pan flute for his teachers and peers. But, he appeared most proud playing alongside Mr. Batchelor as the encores rang out from his classmates during their classic rock session!

This week's Teacher Tuesday is on Jennifer Fix, math teacher at Burgess Elementary.

If you're a teacher, click here to share your information so we can feature you!

On Friday, some lucky Burgess Elementary students received a special treat from WFISD Director of Special Education, Alefia Paris-Toulon. Mrs. Paris-Toulon ate lunch with the students as part of an incentive she started called Lunch Brunch. The students were so excited to be eating lunch with Mrs. Paris-Toulon.

On Wednesday, two students were accompanied by Laura Provence and Rhianna Ramirez, WFISD teachers for the Visually Impaired, to attend the White Cane Walk at Beacon Lighthouse for the Blind. The event is celebrated globally to raise awareness for the Blind and Visually Impaired. During the event, the students had the opportunity to hone their cane skills, and indulge in delicious food while socializing with others.

You can take the principal out of the classroom but you can't take the classroom out of the principal! This morning, Burgess principal Tristan Browne went back to his roots and stepped into a third grade classroom to teach a math lesson. The students loved seeing their principal teaching class!

The Husky Hutch, a PBIS store for students at Hirschi High School, has recently opened its doors. The store is open every Friday during lunchtime, and students can cash in their earned Husky Coins for various rewards such as snacks, pencils, and stuffed animals. The store was created by Hirschi counselor Kenda Finn, and nearly 90 Husky Coins were redeemed during the grand opening last Friday. One student, known as Money, was a top customer of the day and even encouraged other students to visit the store. Hirschi assistant principal, Wendy Moulds, expressed her gratitude towards Ms. Finn for creating this opportunity for students to earn and redeem rewards for good behavior in the hallways and classrooms. This store serves as a great incentive for students to maintain positive behavior and encourages a positive school culture.

Fire Station 6 visited Fowler Elementary this week to educate students on fire safety. Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st grade students had the opportunity to meet Sparky the Fire Rescue Dog and learn effective safety tips for handling fires. 2nd and 3rd graders enjoyed an interactive session where they had the chance to explore a fire engine and participate in a smoke house. The smoke house experience taught them how to safely exit a burning building. Overall, it was a fun and informative morning for all the students involved!

During a home visit with a family new to Texas, Ben Franklin counselor Gladys Pando noticed that the family didn't have any furniture and offered to help. After hearing about the need, Franklin dyslexia teacher, Tracy Little, stepped up and graciously donated furniture for the family. However, they faced a challenge in delivering it. Mrs. Little suggested enlisting the help of the WFHS PALS. After speaking with WFHS PALS teacher, Debbie Pepper, three young gentlemen stepped forward to lend their assistance. These kind-hearted boys loaded and unloaded the furniture from a storage unit to the family's home. Check out the photo from left to right: WFHS students Noe Castro, Jay Fernandez, and DeAngelo Arriaga.

This week, the traditional “Amo Leer” story time began with the book La Viejecita que no le tenia miedo a nada, The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything. The book was read to the assisting families and everybody was surprised with the ending of the book. During the reading of the book, questions were asked about elements of the story. Students shared a great time with their families and at the end, a snack and book were provided to all the children. We would like to thank The Zavala organization for their support in making this event a success every year. https://www.zavalawf.com/about

Family engagement meetings were held this week for prekindergarten (PK) students and their families at the campuses served by the WFISD Early Childhood Language Facilitation Program. The campuses included Southern Hills, Scotland Park, Haynes Head Start, Booker T. Washington, and Burgess. The meetings gave families the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities with their PK child across all 10 domains of the Texas PK Curriculum Guidelines. "Families were able to get a sense of what a day in the life of their PK child looks like," said Amy Countiss, WFISD Early Childhood Language Facilitator. In addition, Jane Ann Bruner, WFISD Early Learning Curriculum Specialist, gave a presentation to families regarding the importance of school readiness and play at each campus. A great time was had by all in attendance!

On October 18, both staff and students at Franklin Elementary wore orange to show their support for Unity Day – an anti-bullying initiative that aims to foster acceptance, kindness, and inclusion. In addition to showing solidarity through their attire, many classes held in-depth discussions on ways to demonstrate kindness and the importance of including others.

On Wednesday, 1st and 2nd grade Milam GT students were on the STEAM Machine bus. They made their own stained glass using Quivervision. They colored inside a frame and then the app would bring their creation to life. They also used merge cubes that have an area where you can see in components that make up the eye in 3D and also the components that make up the inside of the ear. It was like holding a human eye and ear in their hands. This was an extension after reading the first couple of chapters from the book, The Tale of Despereaux.

This week's Fine Art's Feature is on Chris Mayfield, art teacher at Wichita Falls High School.

Come join the WFHS Big Red Band at their final annual Spook-Ghetti dinner in the WFHS cafeteria from 6-8pm on Tuesday, October 24th. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 5-12. Please see a band member or contact the directors for tickets. Tickets may also be purchased at www.wfhsbigred.com The band will be performing some Halloween music to get you in the "spirit" around 6:30pm as well as wearing their costumes. This painting (pictured) of the Big Red Band was created by WFHS art teacher Chris Mayfield and will be part of a silent auction at the event. Come out and join the fun!

Southern Hills had a wonderful turnout at their fall family literacy night this week. Jennifer Ferguson, counselor, coordinated the entire event while teachers hosted literacy stations. "We are thankful and excited about our continued partnership with our parent community," said Southern Hills principal, Amanda Garcia.

On Monday evening, the Barwise and WFHS choirs had the privilege of performing together in the WFHS auditorium. The combined choir showcased songs from popular movies and did a wonderful job. Thank you to WFHS choir director, Sarah Cook, and Barwise choir director, Sharri Torrence, for all of their hard work!

This week in Mr. Turner's science class at Fowler Elementary, fifth graders had the chance to create their own circuits using wires, batteries, and lightbulbs. By doing so, the students were able to reinforce and enhance their knowledge of how circuits function and how electricity flows. It was truly illuminating to see the students' faces light up with excitement!

Franklin teachers support their students inside and outside of the classroom! Last weekend, these Franklin Elementary teachers and support staff braved the wind to watch some of their students in action on the soccer field. "They came out to the freezing cold soccer fields and stayed to cheer on all their kids who were playing on four different fields," said WFHS counselor and soccer mom, Sarah Lucas. "It was so sweet to see them there cheering the kids on and chatting with the parents!"

What a wonderful morning at Hirschi! On Thursday morning, the faculty and staff at Hirschi were greeted with friendly smiles and a delicious breakfast provided by City Hope Church. The volunteers and Pastor Ben Murray deserve our heartfelt thanks for their generosity, both this year and last year. "We are grateful to start our day with such a tasty meal and appreciate the thoughtfulness of their congregation," said Hirschi assistant principal, Wendy Moulds.

This week, 5th grade students in Mrs. Renae Dickens' class at Burgess Elementary were learning all about Newton's Law of Motion through experiments. They had the opportunity to test out their experiments and observe the results outdoors. "Ms. Dickens always makes science fun for her students," said Burgess instructional coach, Lacey Davis.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. On October 20, faculty, staff and students observed “Pink Out Day” to remember those lost and honor those battling breast cancer. "Many thanks to Ms. Perez and her cheerleaders for helping organize this day," said Hirschi assistant principal, Wendy Moulds.

Come one, come all, to the Rider Lady Raiders Halloween Hoops community event on October 31 in the Rider gym. There will be plenty of activities for kids, as well as a plethora of candy for trick-or-treaters to enjoy while the scrimmages take place. Old High, Hirschi, Vernon, and Throckmorton will be joining Rider for the games, so you won't want to miss out. Parents and family members of players are encouraged to dress up in their favorite costumes for some extra fun!

WFISD invited students and staff to participate in a Rangers vs. Astros Texas Showdown Spirit Day on Wednesday. The two Texas baseball teams are battling it out in the American League Championship Series. The winner of the best-of-7 series will represent Texas in the 2023 World Series.

Fain Elementary staff members were in for a treat on Wednesday morning with a breakfast pop-up event sponsored by American National Bank. The staff was served breakfast pizza from Market Street, as well as warm scones and coffee from Chartwells. This was the perfect way to start their day off on the right foot!

District in Pictures is a weekly publication developed by the WFISD Community Relations department. If you have events, recognitions or classroom activities taking place on your campus that you would like us to feature, please let us know by completing the form at the following link: www.wfisd.net/dip. We would love to include you in our weekly district news.