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

DIS Teacher Liz Herron (left) and student Jacqueline Hall (right)

Writing isn’t always fun for sixth graders but when one Carroll ISD student put pencil to paper, the words just came naturally.

When Durham Intermediate student Jacqueline Hall learned about the “My Favorite Teacher” essay contest hosted by local bookstore Barnes & Noble, she started making a list of all her teachers she’d write about.

“I started thinking how everyone wishes and looks for that once in a lifetime teacher, ” Hall said. “And I started listing reasons why she’s been so amazing.”

For Hall, that teacher is Liz Herron. Herron is the sixth grade Humanities ELA (English Language Arts) teacher at DIS.

“She’s such a great teacher. She knows what it’s like to be a sixth grader in Language Arts.” Hall wrote about Herron; and her entry was chosen as the winning essay.

“As teachers we have a very finite time with these guys and the world that they’re going in to, its so different than when I became an adult years ago,” Herron said.  “I want to make sure that I give them the ability to think, to be creative, and to believe in themselves and to problem solve and be able to face whatever challenges they’re going to have.”

Herron and Hall have a strong teacher-student bond that is evident when you meet them. Their friendship has lasted the past two school years, since Herron taught Hall in fifth grade last year.

“I was just so touched and so humbled by her words and it honestly inspired me to be better.” Herron said she read the winning essay and was overwhelmed by Hall’s words, ”I thought oh my gosh, she’s expecting great things from me I’ve got to be better!”

The community will have an opportunity to listen to the winning essay. Hall will read her words during a reception for Herron at Barnes and Noble in Southlake Town Square at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 18.  Herron and Hall will both receive special awards during the event.  Click here for additional details about the reception.

Practice will start Monday, April 22 and participants will meet every Monday and Wednesday at Durham Intermediate School until May 15. Through interactive drills and exercises, boys and girls will learn the fundamentals of soccer including kicking, dribbling, passing and shooting. Teamwork, sportsmanship and overall FUN will be emphasized over direct competition. Parents, be sure to join us for the last day of the season as players will get the chance to show off their new skills in the “Big Game.”

Here is what one parent had to say about Southlake Parks and Recreation Mini-Sports programs, “Wonderful program! My son learned so much and had fun! Staff was so friendly and great with the kids. Thank you for a great program!”
The fee is $45.00 which includes a jersey, trophy and a prize. You can register online or at the Community Services office located at 1400 Main St, Suite 210. For more information please contact (817) 748-8019.

SPORTS
Dragon Football Skills Camp: June
Dragon Tennis Camp: June
Lady Dragon Volleyball Camp: June
Premier Passing Academy
Dragon Middle School Swim Camp: April-May
Dragon 7-on-7 Summer League: March-May
Dragon Wrestling Camp: June, July
Lady Dragon Basketball Camp: June, July
Dragon Golf Camp: June, July
Defensive Skills Camp: June
Lady Dragon Softball Camp: June
Dragon Boys Basketball Camp: June
Performance Course: Youth Program
Performance Course: Boys Grades 6-8, Girls Grades 6-12
Performance Course: Boys Grades 9-12
Dragon Baseball: June
Dragon Baseball (Advanced Skills): July
Dragon Football Camp: August
Premier Dragon Soccer Camps: July, August

NON-SPORTS
Camp Safari: June, July
Creative Kids: July
Dragon Science Camp: June, July
Summer Cheer Clinic: August
Summer Spelling & Reading Camp: June 
Adventures & Discoveries Camp: June
SAGT Camp Invention: June
Emerald Belles Youth Camp: June
Art Camp: July
Writing Boot Camp: June/July (incoming 9th graders)
Writing Workshop: June/July (incoming 10-11th graders)
MathCounts Summer Math Program: July, August
Math Facts: July, August
Mangham Math: July, August
Dragon Forensic Camp: Aug. 13-15 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. @ CSHS; Free (RSVP: linda.forbes@southlakecarroll.edu)

Carroll ISD Summer School Information-Schedule

Durham students enjoyed Cornish’s captivating storytelling style and the 6th graders were looking forward to his return after hearing him last year at the school.

“All of our students at DIS learn something new when Decee Cornish shares his stories,” DIS Librarian Suzie Green said. “He makes history come alive and leaves our students asking for just one more story. We look forward to his visit every year.”     

After writing more than a dozen books for adults, Green began a series of best-selling novels for kids. The books are set in the world of sports and are based on Green’s experiences as an athlete and a coach.

Eubanks and Durham intermediate school students embraced Green’s message about the value of teamwork and treating your teammates like they are special. Green also encouraged students to be kind, tolerant, generous and forgiving. He used his own child as an example. Green told a story about his son, Troy, reaching out to his classmate who would sit alone at lunch every day.

He also spoke about reading and how reading takes you to special places. Green told his audiences it’s important to read for at least 20 minutes a day to help improve performance in all subject areas.

Green read to the students from his new book, Unstoppable.  His book delivers an extremely powerful message of courage and survival to the reader. Approximately 130 students won their own autographed copy of Unstoppable. On both campuses, librarians asked students to read one of Green’s books and share a paragraph about what they enjoyed about the book.

Green’s message made a tremendous impact on Carroll’s fifth and sixth graders.  Many of the students said his books are “awesome!”

Green hopes his message gets students to rethink their life priorities because of his talk. He enjoys getting the opportunity to travel around the country and talk to students about his books.

CMS students earned 102 First Division medals, and 4 Second Division ratings in the solo category.  CMS students also earned 51 First Division medals, and 8 Second Division medals in the ensemble category.  DIS Students earned 97 First Division medals, and 5 Second Division ratings in the solo category.

The outstanding soloist awards at CMS were earned by Andrew Butemeyer, Conner Hutyra, Samuel Ma, Harry Purdum, Ryan Schwartz, Kate Snow, Paul Venesky, and Nina Williams.

Students from DIS also earned outstanding soloist awards. They are: Corinne Petersen, Brendan James, Vanessa Ortiz, Samir Mohsin, Katana Rader, Aubrey Parr, Shivali Rao , Maxine Dougherty, Julia Sheedy, Garrett Valentine, and Jack Whitaker.

The CMS/DIS band directors are Michael Oglesby, Sara Scott, and Nathan Brazell. Keep up with both bands on their website, find out concert information and performance times throughout the year.

Aggarwal’s next event is the Regional Spelling Bee scheduled for Wednesday, March 20 at TCU.

Carroll Middle School has scheduled a sixth grade parent meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting at CMS will discuss the process for registration, daily schedule, teaming concept, immunization requirements for incoming seventh graders, required and elective courses as well as requirements and options for athletics. Campus administrators, the school nurse and Carroll ISD Math/ Science Curriculum Coordinator Dr. Rene Moses will be at the meeting.

Parents with additional questions will have an opportunity to meet with CMS counselors again on campus, Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 9 a.m. Students will receive their registration folder/ card between Feb. 20-22. These cards should be turned in to the student’s social studies teacher by Thursday, Feb. 28.

The CMS Counselors maintain a blog with additional information. Click here to be redirected.

A series of registration information meetings are also planned at Dawson Middle School. Click here to view a complete listing. Counselors at the campus are offering parents the opportunity to attend two Q & A sessions to review information related to registration. The meetings are scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 12 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. Both meetings will be held in the DMS Library. Current sixth graders must turn in their registration forms to their homeroom teacher by Friday, March 1. Current seventh grade students need to have their completed forms turned in to their science teacher by Tuesday, Feb. 26.

The annual nationwide Shoes for Orphan Souls shoe drive started last month, and since that time DIS students collected  319 pairs of shoes, 1,1138 pairs of socks and over 200 pairs of laces. The donations were made during the three week community service project that ended Tuesday, Dec. 18.

“We have seen the smiles that a new pair of shoes brings to children in the orphanages we visit, and we want to extend that same joy to others like them” said Heather Weathers, Manager of Acquisitions and Shoes for Orphan Souls.  “Because of Durham Intermediate’s commitment to this program, we can continue to increase the number of kids who will benefit.”

Weathers emphasized no donation is too small. “Most of the donations to the shoe drive have come from families giving one or two pairs of shoes.  Every one pair of shoes makes a big difference to the child who receives them.” Donations from Durham will be combined with others from around the country.  Organizers hope to collect more than 250,000 pairs of new shoes and socks, through the nationwide campaign. Since 1999, Buckner has sent more than 2.3 million pairs of new shoes to vulnerable children in 74 countries around the globe, including the United States.