LISD Expect Excellence Newsletter

Hello Levelland Lobos!

As Audrey Hepburn so wisely stated, "Nothing is impossible, the word itself says I'm possible."

I hope all the possibilities of this week are positive and productive for you. This is such a busy time of the year for you and our students. Actions from today can make all the tomorrows better.

Have a great week and enjoy!

Becky McCutchen, Superintendent of Schools

Have a great week!

Go Lobos!

It's National Education Diagnostician Week and we want to recognize our diagnosticians from our Special Education Department! These amazing people identify and address learning and behavioral issues that affect a student's ability to learn, design and implement interventions for students and schools, counsel students and families, and monitor and evaluate student progress. We appreciate all that they do for the success of LISD students this week and every day! If you see a diagnostician in your building this week, give them a high-five! Thank you Casey Critchfield, Mandi Campbell, Jessica Vergara, Melonie Brown and Jeff Young!

DI Coordinator Alexis Gavina #expectsexcellence and shares that our Destination Imagination students had a great time at their competition on Saturday. It was a long, fun day of learning and making new friends. These Challenge Experiences in the DI program, enable studebts to develop solutions to project-based STEAM challenges. Students then present their solutions in live at tournaments in front of judges. Everyone did so well, and Levelland ISD has three teams, and one Independent Team moving forward to State in Arlington on March 29th! The "Know 1 One" Improv Team coached by Josh Ransol from LMS placed 1st in Improv and is going to State! The Capitol "Lightbulb Disasters" placed 3rd in Improv and are going to compete at State as a Bonus Team! They are coached Barbara Utley and Pam Alexander. The South "Louis Vuitton Hotdogs" competed in the Technical Challenge and placed 2nd. They are coached by Alexis Gavina and are going to state as a Bonus team! The Independent Team, the "Rocket Rockstars" made up of LMS students is also heading to State!

Other Teams that participated in Saturday's DI contest are: The "Don't Even Ask (DEA)" Improv Team from High School who placed second, and are coached by Sandy Billington. The LHS "Mass M3" competed and placed 2nd in the Scientific Challenge and are coached by Lorena Sanchez. The "Shimmy Shimmy Coco Pops" from LMS placed 2nd In Improv and are coached by Brandi Zepeda. The Capitol "Amazing Gummy Bears" competed in Improv and are coached by Barbara Utley and Pam Alexander. The "Space Lobos" from South competed in the Scientific Challenge and are coached by Andrea Curl. Our Rising Star Teams from ABC are the "Red Pandas" and the "Chicken Nuggets." They are coached by Amanda Powell, Julie Fortner, and Taylor Peck.

We are so proud of all of our students working so long and hard after school, for making themselves better students and learners, and for participating in this amazing competition!
https://files.gabbart.com/455/di25video.mp4

Friday is National Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day, and we want to celebrate our guys! Levelland ISD has the best crew that step up to the plate to help out wherever they're needed. You might find them in a hole or on the roof, but no matter what they are always making Levelland ISD a better place to be. They take care of every job given to them. No job is too small or too large. We appreciate them keeping us safe, warm, and in working order while also covering all the grounds on each campus! We think you are amazing and appreciate you! If you see one of our guys today, then give them a fist bump! https://files.gabbart.com/455/maintenanceday25.mp4

LHS students in Mr. Steven Suarez's Art class entered their art in the Visual Arts Scholastic Event at Coronado High. This Art Competition had 500 entries from the Region 17 area. Our students submitted 5 pieces this year, and 4 of the entries received a Rating 4, which is the highest rating you can receive. This rating is determined after interviewing with a judge, and is based off a rubric that includes how you answer the questions with the judge and the quality of the Artwork. Congratulations to these artists for their amazing work! LHS is thrilled to have this class allowing students to express their creativity freely! Thank you Mr. Suarez for that!

LISD Behavior Specialist Donald Friers can be seen visiting our campuses with his Therapy Dog Reese! She is the sweetest dog and you can see that she brightens everyone's day! Mr. Friers #expectsexcellence and has Reese visit students to help them (and staff) feel more connected, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve social skills. It's always a great day when she visits!

South Elementary students got wind of it being School Bus Driver Appreciation Week and they made thank you cards to their bus drivers and bus aids in Mrs. Mary Bara's Art Class. Even our kids understand the importance of bus drivers and the important role they play in helping with their education! This "thank you" goes a long way in making them feel valued because they are an important piece of our LISD puzzle!

There's a "Mad Scientist" loose at LMS, and her name is Mrs. Sanders! LMS students in Mrs. Clara Sanders' 6th Grade Science classes have completed their study of the Interior Layers of the Earth this week. The knowledge that started out simple with layering cookies (eaten as a treat later) kept growing because they were challenged to take their lesson further and present their knowledge to the class through a project. Through this study, including technology and research, students now know our planet's internal structure, laying the foundation for comprehending geological processes like plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, and landforms. Mrs. Sanders is turning these kids into geologists for sure! If quizzed, these students will know the answers because they experienced it! Thank you, Mrs. Sanders, for #expectingexcellence, pushing the boundaries, and designing innovative experiment labs that stick.
https://files.gabbart.com/459/earthlayersvideo25.mp4

Dr. Birdwell and LHS send out congratulations to Georgia McMahan and Pete Esparza for being recognized as the Lion's Club Students of the Month. Georgia and Pete were nominated by LHS teachers for their great character in and out of the classroom. We thank The Lion's Club for their continued support of our youth!

LMS Math and Reading educators #expectexcellence and joined forces last week to have an after-school event to teach parents what our students are learning. There were activities and showcases, and we know that everyone had a great time and learned something new! Thank you to everyone who came out!

• The District Bee will be on March 10th in the LMS Auditorium at 2 pm!

Email: rmccutchen@levellandisd.net
Website: www.levellandisd.net
Location: 704 11th Street, Levelland, TX
Phone: 806-894-9628
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LevellandISD/
Instagram: levellandindschooldistrict