Special Features Plannedfor District’s 33rd Elementary

The design for the district’s 33rd elementary school will be unveiled at tonight’s Board of Trustees’ meeting. WRA Architects will present the schematic design for the school to be built south of Interstate 20 at the intersection of Lawson and Lasater roads.

It’s an impressive plan, designed first and foremost to support the instructional practices. The proposal calls for the campus to offer an abundance of natural light, and research shows this promotes learning. In addition, the octagon-shaped Library is completely accessible to classrooms, making it easy for classes to visit for research projects.

Features unique to our district elementary schools include a learning courtyard between two classroom wings with benches and ground-level covering for students to sit on during outdoor instruction. The walking trail that will compliment the school’s outdoor playground is also like none other.

This new campus will be built in a highly populated area of Mesquite ISD. It will relieve crowding at Mackey and Gray elementaries.

With board approval, the project will go out for bids this February, and construction will begin in March 2014. The school will open in August of 2015.

It’s Not Too Late to Take Advantageof Community Ed’s Summer Programs

Fun and learning run hand in hand at various summer camps offered by Mesquite ISD’s Community Ed Program. And the good news is that it’s not too late to register for these creative, four-day camps held at elementary campuses in our district.

New offerings this year include Robot Mania and Rock Star Camp. At robot camp, students will actually build a robot to take home as they explore how technology will continue to affect our future. Rock star students will be exposed to improvisation, theatre games and more. They will even perform for their family and friends at camp’s end.

And one example of a camp that’s back by popular demand is Adventures in Art. Students create two new works of art each day, so campers can even retake the class without redundancy.

Besides these classes for aspiring artists, mathematicians, singers and scientists, Community Ed still has spaces for its popular dance and cheer and self-defense courses.

For more information, visit Community Ed’s website or call 972-882-CLASS (972-882-5277).

Hope you hurry and sign up!

July 4 Always a Good Timefor a History Refresher

Using fireworks to help celebrate Fourth of July, or Independence Day, actually started on the original holiday in 1776. And many of us, as American citizens, still use fanfare like this to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain.

As we gear up for the holiday and amidst our barbecues and fun, you may consider it a good time to give our children an American history lesson. And if you’re like me and like to reread about this special anniversary for our great country, you may uncover some interesting facts you didn’t know before or had forgotten.

As an example, I just discovered a remarkable coincidence. Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as United States presidents, died on the same day: July 4, 1826. Just five years later, James Monroe died on July 4, 1831, becoming the third president to die on this federal holiday.

Most importantly, let’s reflect on and share with our children the overall importance of this day in history as well as our appreciation for freedom. Independence Day signifies the first time a nation was formed on ideas rather than by ethnicity or race.

We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls.  ~Robert J. McCracken

Hope you have a wonderful holiday.