In an age where sports, outside activities and video games seem to win the day, students at Walnut Grove Elementary School are taking an active interest in reading. Throughout the school year, Carroll ISD faculty and students have embraced the district’s “Once Upon a Dragon” theme focusing on literacy and a life long love of learning.

Just before winter break, Donna Clarrissimeaux organized a book club for her fourth grade students.

“This is a great opportunity for students to experience new kinds of genres and discuss their thoughts with their fellow peers,” Clarrissimeaux said.

Each Thursday, students get together with their respective group to talk about what they’ve read. The ‘Question King’ or ‘Queen’ asks questions to begin the discussion. The students read approximately 50 pages per week. They also are required to journal during the week. The entries should discuss their thoughts about the book, but they are also encouraged to ask questions, study the characters, and predict what’s going to happen in the book.

“Journaling has helped me understand what’s going on in the book,” Kiera DiCesare said. “It makes me think more about what’s taking place with the characters.”

While the critical thinking is a bonus, for many of the students, the club is simply about their love of reading and having fun.

“I’m a big fan of reading, it’s one of my favorite things to do,” Regi Capati said. “I like studying the characters and figuring them out.”

Capati said he also enjoys discussing the books because he gets to find out about why the other students liked or didn’t like the book.

Imaad Virani and Emma Schoof said they also like the back and forth discussions, but have their own favorite parts of the club.

“I like trying to figure out what certain passages mean and if I could put more deep thought into it,” Schoof said.

“I really like the questions,” Virani said. “I like to make up my questions first and then I wait until I get with the group to discuss them.”

The students may not all infer the same ideas from what they’ve read, but one thing the students all agree on is that Mrs. Clarrissimeaux makes reading exciting.

 “Mrs. Clarrissimeaux makes reading so much fun” Matthew Murday said. “She even did a headstand one day to get us thinking!”

For more stories about CISD’s “Once Upon a Dragon” theme, visit the Library Services webpage onwww.SouthlakeCarroll.edu, or click here.

Starting Thursday, May 23 artwork will be on display inside the Art Center during school hours through Wednesday, May 29 The Carroll Senior High Art Center is located on campus at 1501 W. Southlake Boulevard. Visitors must check in at the front office.

CSHS students in digital interactive media classes, under the direction of instructor, Sharolyn Overby, and librarian, Sarah Chase, recently produced posters as part of the Dragons Read program. The posters were created to encourage reading and to continue to highlight the role of books in our technological society.

The posters captured both student and adult role models reading their favorite books. The class utilized digital photography and editing to design the posters. Initially, the posters were hung in the classroom, but will be exhibited throughout the school next fall.

For more stories about CISD’s “Once Upon a Dragon” theme, visit the Library Services webpage on www.SouthlakeCarroll.edu, or click here.

Below is a photo slideshow of the posters and the students who made them.

Four teams competed for this year’s championship in the 13th annual event that challenges reading comprehension skills. The teams included: Radioactive Readers, Texas Readers, Ghostly Banana Readers and Neon Nouns. In the end, the Texas Readers were victorious. The team was led by captain, Bailey Meyer. Fellow team members were: Madeline Oberle, Peter Adams, Sahaj Singh, Max Hirshman and Ryan Seltzer. This was a record-breaking year for EIS as sixth graders read more than 1,146 books in preparation for the battle.

The Battle of the Books is coordinated by EIS librarian Lucy Drenka.

This year’s campus volunteers are: Stephanie Arkes, Carroll Senior High School; Marilyn McNamara, Carroll High School; Jennifer Winter, Dawson Middle School; Jenn Welday, Carroll Middle School;  Melissa Schembri, Eubanks Intermediate School; Angela Kwentus, Durham Intermediate School; Kathy Carrabine, Johnson Elementary School; Terry Halloran, Carroll Elementary School; Patricia Bonaparte, Walnut Grove Elementary School; Hilary Hale, Rockenbaugh Elementary School and Jill Webb, Old Union Elementary School.

Pictured (L-R): Superintendent Dr. David Faltys, Matthew Friske, Hope Miller, Mimi Tran & Gina Peddy

Carroll Advanced Placement Boosters is proud to announce the winners to 2013 College Scholarship to three students. Students received their scholarships during a special presentation at the Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees on Monday, May 6, 2013.

Representing the AP Boosters, Mimi Tran addressed trustees and presented students with their scholarships. Hope Miller, Matthew Friske and Tanner Brennan each received $1,000 to their choice of university. All three students will graduate from Carroll Senior High School on June 7. Also participating in the scholarship presentation were CISD Superintendent Dr. David Faltys and Advanced Academics/ Gifted & Talented Coordinator Gina Peddy.

Hope will attend Texas A & M University majoring in Accounting/Business Honors, Matthew will be attending Southern Methodist University majoring Electrical Engineering. Tanner Brennan will be attending the University of Texas of Austin majoring in Business.

Click here to learn more about the Carroll AP Boosters.

Every year, each of Carroll ISD’s eleven schools selects one teacher who best represents the district’s mission vision and values throughout the school year. Teachers were chosen by their co-workers. Pictured right are this year’s Campus Teachers of the Year. Front row, from left to right: Laurie Shorter, Johnson Elementary School; Sheryl Sides, Dawson Middle School; Kathy Sparks, Eubanks Intermediate School and Yuhsin Lee, Carroll High School. Second row, from left to right: Aaron Heil, Carroll Senior High School; Mary Grice, Old Union Elementary School; Fran Loewen, Durham Intermediate School; Patty Willingham, Carroll Elementary School; Mary Pat Martin, Walnut Grove Elementary School; Cori Williams, Rockenbaugh Elementary School and Chad McCoy, Carroll Middle School.

This year’s K-6 Teacher of the Year and Secondary Teacher of the Year will be announced at the End of Year Awards Celebration. To compete for this recognition, each of the Campus Teachers of the Year must complete a comprehensive award application. An awards committee, made up of district employees, parents and School Board Trustees will select the top two individuals to represent the district in the Region XI Teacher of the Year contest.

The End of Year Celebration will be emceed by Superintendent Dr. David Faltys and will include CISD Administration and members of the Board of Trustees. The event is made possible by businesses and individuals that contribute Carroll ISD’s We Care program and district sponsors Central Market Southlake and Park Place Motors.

Kormann and Archer both earned 60 percent of ballots cast in the May 11 election, defeating their opponents Sam Torolopoulos and James M. Palazzo, respectively.

Carroll ISD has 19,859 registered voters. With 2,599 ballots cast, it represents a turnout of about 13%. Archer led the voting with 1,506 total votes; his opponent had 1,016 votes. Kormann received 1,498 votes to his opponent’s 980.

The election totals will be canvassed by the CISD School Board on May 20, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Newly elected Trustees will be sworn in shortly thereafter. CISD will host a reception for the new Trustees and their families immediately after the swearing in ceremony May 20.

Unofficial Tarrant County Results with 5 of 5 precincts reporting are as follows:

Place 6 Results:

Sam Torolopoulos

Early Voting – 686 (40%)

Election Day Voting – 294 (38%)

TOTAL – 980 Votes (40%)

>Matt Kormann (Winner)

Early Voting – 1,011 (60%)

Election Day Voting – 487 (62%)

TOTAL – 1,498 Votes (60%)

Place 7 Results

James M. Palazzo

Early Voting – 697 (40%)

Election Day Voting – 319 (40%)

TOTAL – 1,016 Votes (40%)

>Chris Archer (Winner)

Early Voting – 1,031 (60%)

Election Day Voting – 475 (60%)

TOTAL – 1,506 Votes (60%)

Below is a photo slideshow of some of this week’s events.

Matthew Friske who will be attending SMU received a scholarship from Frank Bliss of Coopers and Stebbins. Jennifer Hall who will be attending University of Texas in Austin received her scholarship from Dr. David Hunter. Mimi Tran represented Frost Bank in presenting a scholarship to Aaron Ireland who is headed to Washington University. On behalf of Tommy Pennington Realty, Christina McCombs presented a scholarship to Julie Kresky who will be attending University of Southern California (UCLA). Kaci Lambeth who is headed to Trinity University received her scholarship from Dr. Shadid Shafi. Vighnesh Nair who is headed to the University of Texas in Austin received her scholarship from Dr. Ron Groves. Nathan Taylor of Farmers Insurance presented a scholarship to Sarah Philip who is headed to University of Dallas. Brittany Wang, who will be attending Harvard, received her scholarship from Dr. Mark Mason. Kristin La received an appreciation internship from Mrs. Sarah Mason and Dr. Mark Mason.

Carroll Medical Academy would like to thank the businesses that sponsor the CMA Senior Scholarship: Frank Bliss of Copper and Stebbins, Mimi Tran with Frost Bank, Dr. Sandra Armstrong and Dr. Amy Watts with Giggles and Grins, PLLC, Dr. Trung Tran with Clinical Pediatric Associates, Dr. David Hunter with NTFOS, Dr. Ron Groves with Groves Orthodontics, Dr. Mark Greenberg with All-Star Orthopedics, Nathan Taylor of Farmers, Dr. Shadid Shafi with Surgical Group of North Texas, Christina McCombs with Tommy Pennington Realtor and Dr. Mark Mason, MD with Southlake Plastic Surgery.

The Carroll Medical Academy is also proudly supported by Children’s Medical Center for the 2012-2013 school year.