Still Beaming from 2012-13Graduations? You’re Not Alone

If witnessing five high school graduations and looking forward to another one next week isn’t invigorating for me, nothing can be. It is so fulfilling to address these proud new graduates, hand out diplomas and hear the applause from their proud relatives and supporters. Also, seeing the joy from their teachers, principals and others on their campus support teams is contagious.

After Mesquite Academy’s upcoming ceremony, our district will graduate about 2,700 students in total this school year. Congratulations again to all new graduates. I also commend their parents; teachers and principals from kindergarten through senior year; and all others who helped influence this great achievement.

For those of you who had to miss a graduation or just want to watch one again, all Mesquite ISD graduation ceremonies are posted on YouTube. Graduation photos are also available on the district’s Facebook page.

I hope this academic milestone propels each student to future success and community service.

Give a Memorial Day Saluteto Honor Our Fallen Americans

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have given their lives in our nation’s wars. Since 1868, this holiday reminds us to honor those who paid the ultimate cost in defense of our country.

On Monday at 3 p.m., please join in the National Moment of Remembrance. Established by Congress in 2000, this resolution asks for all Americans to “voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to ‘Taps.’” The moment is an act of national unity in which all Americans, alone or with family and friends, honor our fallen veterans.

As we attend graduation festivities, spend time with our families or just relax this Memorial Day weekend, please take time to salute these special men and women. Pay tribute to those who make our freedoms possible.

“Our Best for West” Aid fromOne Texas District to Another

Today marks one month since the town of West suffered an explosion that destroyed much of the community—including three of its four school buildings. As part of our district’s KARES initiative, we would like to show our kindness, empathy and service to the West community—particularly the students and school employees, through an MISD fundraising effort to benefit West ISD.

Next week, May 20-24, all MISD schools will be collecting donations of cash or checks to benefit West ISD.  Sources tell us that the greatest need is for funds rather than supplies.

Interested in giving to this worthy cause? School secretaries on all Mesquite ISD campuses will be collecting cash and change. If you want to write a check, please make it payable to MISD with Our Best to West on the memo line. At the fundraising campaign’s end, the grand total of funds collected will be delivered to West ISD.

Agnew Middle School Chosen for Programthrough New George W. Bush Institute

Agnew Middle School  is one of eight middle schools chosen by The George W. Bush Institute to participate in the Middle School Matters Institute. The institute, designed to improve school outcomes in the middle grades (grades 6-8), leverages the best available research and practices to support student improvement.

Some of the program features include:

·      Targeted support through the first Middle School Matters Institute Summer Conference in Austin. Agnew’s leadership will attend development sessions with researchers and practitioners.

·      Help in developing an implementation plan tailored to Agnew’s strengths and areas of growth.

·      Continued support efforts with researchers throughout the year.

We are proud Agnew was one of the lucky eight chosen from 44 applicant schools of varying sizes from across the country. We look forward to great things to come from this consortium of great minds and best practices.

Is Mesquite ISD’s KEOM-88.5 FMthe Best Radio Station in Dallas?

KEOM (88.5 FM) attracts many listeners outside the Mesquite ISD community, even though it is owned and operated by our district. So many fans in fact that the D Magazine editors chose our station as a finalist in D’s Readers’ Choice Poll. KEOM-FM is competing against eight other popular stations in the “Best Radio Station” category.

We know how the station gives wonderful learning opportunities to our high school students interested in pursuing communications-related fields. We know KEOM is the best source to learn about weather-related school closures and to hear broadcasts of our sporting events. But it’s nice to be reminded that KEOM benefits the Dallas Metroplex and beyond, too. Not only do listeners enjoy its nice mix of music, but also Texas news, community interviews and much more.

Please vote for KEOM-FM in D Magazine’s Best of Big D: Readers’ Choice Poll. You can vote once a day, every day through Sunday, May 12.