Tag Archives: EPISD

The El Paso Independent School District today announced the appointment of principals for the schools impacted by the ‘Rightsizing for the Future’ decisions to close three campuses and consolidate a fourth earlier than anticipated.

“We believe it is critical to make these changes now so that the overseeing principal can begin building a team connection between the two impacted campuses,” said Superintendent Juan Cabrera. “In the long run, this will offer more stability to students, the staff and the entire communities that are involved with our rightsizing efforts.”

The EPISD Board of Trustees in January voted to close Alta Vista Elementary and consolidate its student body with Coldwell Elementary;close Beall Elementary and consolidate its students into Douglass Elementary; close Burleson Elementary and consolidate its students into Zavala Elementary; and proceed with the already-approved consolidation of Schuster Elementary with Dowell Elementary.

The closures will happen at the end of the current academic year.

In an effort to facilitate the transition of students and employees into their campuses, the District made the announcement of new principals for the impacted schools. The assignments, which are effective immediately, are as follow:

• Zavala Principal Alma Brockhoff is now the principal of Zavala and Burleson. Former Burleson Principal Jesus Medina is the new principal at Moye Elementary School, which had an interim principal.
• Coldwell Principal Jose Gijon is now the principal of Coldwell and Alta Vista. Former Alta Vista Interim Principal Millie Williams will remain at Alta Vista through the end of the school year to oversee the operational aspects of the school closure.
• Beall Principal Maria Guerra is now the principal of Beall and Douglass. Former Douglass Principal Alonzo Barraza is now the principal of Crosby Elementary, which had an interim principal.
• Dowell Principal Yeni Ontiveros is now the principal of Dowell and Schuster. Former Schuster Principal Sharon Aziz is now an administrator in the Elementary Schools Division at Central Office.

Scientists, artists, athletes and other historical figures were all featured in Powell’s Living Wax Museum, giving visitors a chance to learn more about the impact these famous Americans had on our society.

Students researched and gathered information on their preferred historical figure and then used what they learned to portray that person … down to the clothes they wore and the style of their hair.

Visitors pushed a make-believe button, and, on cue, the student proceeded to give a brief biography of the historical figure they represented.

Students in younger grades created puppets to represent their preferred historical figure and then read short bios to visitors.

Some of the historical figures included founding father Alexander Hamilton, talk show host Oprah Winfrey, singer Tina Turner, boxer Muhammad Ali and – of course – the school’s namesake, former four-star Army Gen. Colin Powell.

The living wax museum was ‘open’ last week.

Sometimes, a small act of kindness or even a word of encouragement can make a world of difference.

That’s the message that the students at Kohlberg Elementary and other schools in the El Paso Independent School District are learning this week during the Great Kindness Challenge.

The challenge is a proactive and positive bullying prevention initiative that improves school climate and increases student engagement by organizing ways for students to perform as many acts of kindness as possible on campus during a week-long period.

Kohlberg kicked off their week-long celebrations by having guests come out and form a human tunnel through which every student walked.  After that parade, the students lined up in the shape of a heart to signal their commitment to kindness.

The Great Kindness Challenge is presented by Kids for Peace, a global 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Kids for Peace was co-founded in 2006 by Danielle Gram, a high school honors student and Jill McManigal, a mother and former elementary school teacher. What started organically as a neighborhood group of kids wanting to make the world a better place, has grown into an interconnected network of young peace-builders worldwide.

In 2011, the elementary school that Jill’s children attended asked Kids for Peace to help create a more positive, unified and respectful school environment.

As a result, The Great Kindness Challenge was designed and piloted with three Carlsbad, California schools. According to their website, “Because of our innovative approach and wildly successful results, word spread, and a kindness movement was born.”

Officials add “At the heart of The Great Kindness Challenge is the simple belief that kindness is strength. We also believe that as an action is repeated, a habit is formed. With the Great Kindness Challenge checklist in hand, students have the opportunity to repeat kind act after kind act. As kindness becomes a habit, peace becomes possible.”

The week-long celebrations included dress up days and other events aimed at promoting positive learning behavior and overall kindness among students and adults.

Three EPISD high schools will get a boost in their athletic facilities thanks to their participation in a video contest by Powerade.

Franklin and Austin high schools each won regional grand prizes in the “Power Your School” contest from Powerade, earning them $10,000 toward improvements to the athletic equipment at their campuses.

Additionally, Bowie High School earned $2,000 for their participation.  A total of $100,000 were awarded throughout the region.

“We wanted to show some the need for new weight room equipment and we also wanted to the wide range of diversity in our school and how so many athletes use the weight room,” Franklin’s student activities manager Angel Santa Cruz said. “We also wanted to be creative with our transitions, making sure we included every type of sport.”

Three students worked collaboratively with Santa Cruz, teacher Jose Bueno and football coach Frank Martinez to create the concept for the video, direct it, film it and edit the final product.

Senior Georgett Hernandez spent her time behind the video camera documenting footage of each sport captured in the video.

“It’s so cool to take part of something that will benefit the school for years to come,” she said.

Not all heroes wear capes. Some of them wear red velvet suits and black patent-leather boots and belts.

“Our children were so thrilled to meet Santa and to welcome our community partners,” said Principal Adriana Ruiz.

“This is proof positive that we have amazing organizations who help us bring joy and education to the children of our community.”

All 300 students at Hawkins Elementary School on Tuesday received a gift and a hug from jolly Santa Claus thanks to a partnership between good ol’ Santa and several community-minded civic and professional organizations from throughout El Paso.

Joining Santa in helping to provide gifts to the students at Hawkins were the El Paso Women’s Lions Club, the American Legion Post 36 and the U.S. Marines 19 Rifle Unit.

Dozens of pre-schoolers gathered at Coronado High School to receive a gift from a friendly character riding on a sleigh. No, it wasn’t jolly Santa Claus on top of that motorized magical vehicle.

Thanks to the hard work of Coronado robotics students, the fully-operational sleigh featured a cute penguin instead of the red-clad gift-giver.

The robot sleigh was a hit among the pre-schoolers, who are part of Coronado’s CDL program.

The students sang “Jingle Bells” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” before the same high-school students who helped build the robot sleigh delivered presents to each good boy and girl in attendance.

Teacher Andy Mendoza said his robotics students build the sleigh as part of their hands-on studies on science, technology, engineering and math.

Teachers, faculty and some very special community members gathered this week to play Santa Claus for nearly 200 Irvin Rockets.

For the second year in a row, the school organized its Irvin’s Angels event in which members of the faculty — with the help of partners in education from Fort Bliss, the Texas Department of Transportation and other entities vested in wellbeing of the school — came together to donate gifts to students right as they’re getting ready to head on out for the holiday break.

Students were served snacks and other goodies in a festive environment before being surprised by a visit from the real Santa, who brought with him sacks full of gifts.

“This is an opportunity for us to brighten the day of our students, some of whom may not get a gift this holiday season,” said Principal MaryAna Giba.

“This is just a small way in which we can tell our students that our faculty and staff, as well as our military and TxDOT partners, care about them and care about their future.”

This is the second year Irvin organizes this event, and already the number of gifts handed out has more than doubled.

Organizers say they expect even more students to benefit in upcoming years.

Smooth jazz sounds flow from Connor Wilson’s bass trombone effortlessly like a pro with more than just two years experience under his belt.

The humble musician took first chair bass trombone at the Texas Music Educators Association’s All-State competition this fall – earning a top spot on the state’s Jazz Ensemble 1 and making him the top student bass trombonist in Texas.

“I’m really proud of myself,” he said, his bass trombone comfortably at his side. “I got fourth chair last year and I was on the second ensemble, so I think it was really cool to get in the top ensemble this year.”

Coronado band director Mark Saenz calls Wilson’s accomplishment “a big deal.”

“It shows a lot of discipline to try to get those eight tubes to the level that they need to be and a lot of creativity,” Saenz said. “He had to create an improvised solo for this particularly audition process. It shows the skills that he’s developed and his talent.”

The junior credits his Coronado band peers for pushing him to practice and hone his craft.

“Being around all these other players that are so talented has made me a better player,” Wilson said. “I think had I not gone here, I wouldn’t be in a position that I am today.”

Wilson’s talent and accomplishments also inspire his band mates.

“When you have a student like Connor with the right mix of talent and attitude, it really impacts the other students around here,” Saenz said. “They hear how well he’s playing and it makes them better and inspires them to practice and make themselves work on improving their skills.”

Wilson began his band career in sixth grade playing the tuba, then moved on to trombone in seventh grade. He turned to bass trombone as a Coronado freshman – further developing and fueling his passion for jazz.

“I like the way that you can kind of just make your own melodies off of a melody that someone else created 30 years earlier,” he said. “I just think it’s really cool.”

Wilson also enjoys the mood-lifting effect playing the trombone gives him.

“It’s a real stress reliever,” he said. “If I’m sad or something, I’ll play my trombone and feel better. I really enjoy just making music – especially when it sounds really good. It’s a kind of a sense of accomplishment.”

His passion and love for brass instruments might be directly related to his genes. His parents, Steve and Elisa Wilson, are both UTEP fine arts professors. Dad Steve is an accomplished trombonist, while mom Elisa is a professor of choral music and voice.

“Connor has a particular strong family music background,” Saenz said. “They’re supported him from day one. They’ve given him the room to grow and have supported him in whatever direction that it takes him.”

His pure talent, dedication and a little DNA give the trombonist the elements necessary for success at the state level and among his peers.

“Connor is just such a great player as far as the jazz element is concerned. But on top of that, he’s also a wonderful classical tubist,” Saenz said. “He’s just a wonderful student and an inspiration for the kids around here.”