Park View Intermediate students enrolled in the Harris County Department of Education's Cooperative for After-School Enrichment program (CASE) performed onstage at the Hobby Center during the Kid's Day celebration on June 30.
  Students Noel Orozco, Mark Castro and Carlos Castro provided a capoeira performance-a Brazilian art form of mixed dance, martial arts and acrobatics-to a full crowd.
  The summer event showcased dancing, puppetry, theater, music, poetry and more from local elementary through high school students and provided opportunites for students to meet and interact with various artists. Event photo follows.

Noel Orozco, Mark Castro and Carlos Castro entertain the crowds during a capoeira performance on Kids' Day at Hobby Center.

A team of 17 Jackson students took home first place in the Pasadena ISD's "Gotta Keep Reading" program. Winners were Ruben Gonzalez, Elier Palos, Cynthia Moreno, Angelica Salas, Angel Salazar, Ana Villarreal and Alejandra Zamora.

Thompson held its annual Fun Day on Thursday (May 26) and celebrated the end of another happy and successful year. Students rotated through stations that included relay races, a gaming center, inflatables, a rock wall and a dunking booth that provided steady baths for assistant principals Dan Hoppie and Darby Hickman. (Below left) B'untranique Ervin, Amina Davis, Xavier Dotson and Cedric Horton cool off by eating snow cones. (Right) Marquinna Taylor climbs the rock wall.

Keller's music department participated in the Strawberry Festival Parade recently, teaming up with the 451st Civil Affairs Battalion of the U.S. Army. Event photos follow.

The choir, band and orchestra from Keller held a "Concert in the Park" last Friday (May 20) at Red Bluff Park. Event photos follow.

Staff and teachers at Keller squared off with the 451st Civil Affairs Battalion of the U.S. Army on Friday (May 20) in the annual game between the two sides. (Below) Participants pose for a photo.

Keller sixth-graders -- 90 in all -- took a field trip to Austin earlier this month. (Below) Students pose for a photo in front of the state capitol.

Thompson students and staff honored members of the Pasadena ISD Police Department who serve at the campus with a recent breakfast/brunch. Pictured below are officers Joe Scarafile, Keri Smith, Eric Rojas, Lonnie Smith, Marco Vela, Bill McMahan and Ricardo Ontiveros.

Six employees from the NASA Johnson Space Center volunteered their time to visit seventh-grade Texas History classes at South Houston Intermediate last week. The NASA contingent discussed the important role that Texas has played in the space program. The students were given a hands-on experience with Space Shuttle and Space Station artifacts, including a Space Shuttle tile, an astronaut's glove, a cooling suit and actual space food.

South Houston Intermediate students look over items from NASA with Johnson Space Center employees. (Back row) South Houston Intermediate history teacher Carrie Hunnicutt; NASA employees Ray Hunnicutt, Aldora Louw, Kelvin Shorts, Erin Adams, Dan Owen and Erika Guillory Lamberth; school librarian Glenda Neidecker. (Front row) Students Carlos Delgado, Diego Sanchez, Emmanuel Garciahoskin, Bradlay Lindsay, Justin Payne, Joselyn Mata and Odalys Blanco.

Milstead hosted two events recently to boost parent participation in school activities. Board Game Night gave students and their families the opportunity to play different games. The school also held a Fun Run that attracted 82 parents to the school to run with their children. (Below left) Students Angela Lopez, Meagan Ramos and Ariana Garcia participate in the Fun Run. (Right) Martin Tellez enjoys a board game with his family.

Students in the ACE program at DeZavala are wrapping up the school year by putting the finishing touches on a theme park project. (Below) Omar Cabello and Jose Zamarripa work on their theme park roller coaster.

Dona Nguyen, an eighth-grader at Thompson, has been named recipient of the 2011 Summer Math Institute Scholarship sponsored by the Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented and the Texas Academy of Mathemetics and Science at the University of North Texas. The scholarship is valued at $2,200. Nguyen (pictured at right) will attend the institute in July.

Jackson's Communities in Schools soccer teams brought two championship trophies home in the recent Spring Stars Sidekicks Tournament. Team members are pictured below with school officials.

Shaw assistant principals Kelly Cook-Costley and George Cervantes (behind the mini-grant check) savor the moment with (front) Shaw Principal Liz Ortiz; Pasadena ISD Education Foundation members Sherry Trainer and Liz Olivarez; ITZ's Karen Malone;  Education Foundation member Chris Bezdek; and (back) Josh Moreno of ABC Dental; Education Foundation member Herman Williams; ITZ's Charles Good; Dr. Iraj Jabbary of ABC Dental; and Mark Moore and Brian Cohen of ITZ.

Morris faculty members Tina Jiminez and Paul Bennett accept their check from presenters (on the left) Pasadena ISD Education Foundation member Terry Brotherton; Kenney Holick of Herff Jones; and (on the right) Deborah Desmuke of American Acryl, sponsor of the mini-grant; Phil Barker and Lisa Regan, both representing Shell Pipeline; Melissa Buell of Dell; and Kem Buice of Bordens.

Mini-grant writer Heather Wheeler (center, with check) shares the excitement with (on the left) Melillo Principal Diane Wheeler; Assistant Principal Maria Padilla; Kenney Holick of Herff Jones; Melissa Buell of Dell, the mini-grant sponsor; Deborah Desmuke of American Acryl; and (on the right) Melillo teachers Doug Reiland and Kelly Jurek; Kem Buise of Bordens; teacher Ashley Chapman; Phil Barker of Shell Pipeline; Assistant Principal Chris Bui; and Pasadena ISD Education Foundation member Terry Brotherton.

Jackson music teachers Bradley Jacob, Allen Grubbs and Anthony Cesario (behind banner) celebrate their mini-grant with (to the left) Jackson counselor Angela Waggoner; Pasadena ISD Education Foundation President Bill Barmore; and Jackson peer facilitator Suzanne Smith; and (to the right) Stephanie Lott of Direct Energy; Foundation member Patti Bodkins; Lou Ramon of Jacobs Technology and Pasadena ISD Superintendent Dr. Kirk Lewis.

The seventh-grade Academic Pentathlon team from Jackson recently finished second at the regional championships at Aldine MacArthur High School. (Below) Members of the seventh- and eighth-grade teams from Jackson: (back) Rodolfo Cantu (seventh grade) Eduardo Garcia (seventh), Jose Bobadilla (seventh), Ernesto Carbajal (eighth), Kenneth Castano (eighth), Noah Deleon (eighth), Coach Jeanie Brady; (middle) Royal Garza (seventh), Rodrigo Beltran (seventh), Sabrina Avendano (eighth), Raymond Valdez (seventh), Hector Carrillo (eighth), Jasmine Vasquez (seventh), Yesenia Ramirez (seventh), Coach Gretchen Kent; (bottom) Veronica Orona (seventh), Willie Smith (seventh), Alejandra Zamora (eighth) and Deisy Martinez (eighth).

Members of the Lomax National Elementary Honor Society completed their school-year project of making blankets for Project Linus. The students worked two to three mornings per week to make blankets out of fleece donated by parents and faculty members. A total of 22 blankets were presented to Project Linus representative Linda Henshaw from the Lomax team of "blanketeers." (Below, front) NEHS members Lisette Wong, Arely Hernandez, Dustin Kattner and Alec Talamantes; (back) Project Linus representative Linda Henshaw, Lomax Principal Norma Penny and Lomax Assistant Principal Mike VanLoenen.

  The Thompson Intermediate choirs attended the UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest at North Shore High recently and came away with several Superior Ratings. 
  The Varsity Men's Choir and the Varsity Treble Choir each received Superior Ratings in both the Concert and Sightreading portions of the competition and earned Sweepstakes trophies. 
  The Treble Choir received three Superior Ratings from each part of the contest (three in Concert and three in Sightreading). The Men's Choir received three Superior Ratings in Concert and two Superior and one Excellent Rating in Sightreading.
  "All of our students worked extremely hard and we are really proud of what they have accomplished at UIL this year," said George Martin, one of Thompson's Choir Directors.
  "This is the second year that the eighth-grade students have experienced a Sweepstakes award. We are looking forward to next year and accomplishing a three-peat."
  (Below) The Varsity Men's Choir and (bottom) the Varsity Treble Choir.

Ana Jaimes, an eighth-grader at Jackson and an avid reader, was treated to a surprise recently to help her with access to additional reading materials. Joe Coury, a representative from the Albemarle Corp., visited the school to present Jaimes with a color Nook and a gift card to Barnes & Noble. (Below) Coury makes the gift presentation to Jaimes, flanked by assistant principals Edgar Lopez and Monica Guerra.

The Bondy Chamber Orchestra performed a prelude to a recent Yo-Yo Ma and Silk Road Ensemble concert at Wortham Center. (Below) The orchestra performing at the Wortham; (bottom left) Violinist Sidney Gonzalez; (bottom right) Cellists Emily Marroquin and Taylor Livingston.

Junior Mentors from Jackson hosted an Easter Egg Hunt for students at Gardens Elementary last week. (Below) Jackson mentors and their Gardens buddies; (bottom) Junior mentors Karla Munozflores, Ashley Garcia, Jennifer Garcia, Zisly Lopez, Maleny Garza and Jaquelin Palacios.

Teachers with ecology on their minds dressed up to celebrate Earth Day. (Below) Science teachers Nora Hernandez, Jessica McCoy, Catherine Betts, Susan Wourms, Charles Jackson, Jay Sobhani and Jamika Lasker.

Mario Valenzuela, a seventh-grader at Bondy, recently won the bronze award in the Raindrops Turkish House Essay Contest. (Below) Valenzuela with Bondy teacher Amanda Ochoa.

Lomax fifth- and sixth-grade teachers recently selected students as Colt Stars. Those chosen must display Colt Spirit, self-discipline, a positive attitude, initiative, responsibility, intergrity and team work. (Below) Chosen were (front) Jese Ramirez, Alexis Marquez, Cecilia Davila, Gessille Morales, Azeneth DelaCruz and Lizandro Guzman; (back) Eric Mozqueda, Jose Arredondo, Isis Robb, Cole Johnson and Karlie Guerra.

Four Shaw sixth-graders will be honored next Sunday (May 1) as winners in the Friends of the Pasadena Library Poetry Contest. Shaw winners are Deja Martinez, ViviAnne Garcia, Luis Zepeda and Joanne Amezquita. At Sunday's awards ceremony, winning students will read their poems and each will receive a booklet of all the winning poems. The awards ceremony begins at 2 p.m.

  Thompson eighth-graders recently concluded their chemistry unit by conducting a "Foaming Elephant Toothpaste" experiment. 
  One student from each class was chosen to be the "scientist" in charge of conducting the experiment in a safe, methodical way. 
  The "Foaming Elephant Toothpaste " is a combination of 30 percent hydrogen peroxide, potassium iodide solution, dish soap and food coloring. The "scientist" uses the proper safety equipment while pouring the potassium iodide, which acts as a catalyst, into the other combined ingredients. The chemicals combine instantaneously and an exothermic reaction takes place. 
  Students were amazed to see the hot steam come out of the graduate cylinder and the foam.
  (Below) Alberto Flores and Maria Carballo in the laboratory; (bottom) Wendy Flores, Johnea Blevins, Tia Joseph and Raquel Delgadillo.

Ashley Salinas won first place in the "Why Breakfast is Important" essay contest held recently at Beverly Hills. Salinas received an iPod shuffle, Skullcandy earbuds and a $25 iTunes card. Runner-up Matt Hampton won a $25 iTunes card. Meleny Menjivar finished third and received a $15 iTunes card. (Below) Cafeteria manager Debbie Murray with Menjivar, Hampton and Salinas.

Jeanie Brady, a seventh-grade history teacher, was named Jackson's Teacher of the Year this week while Margaret Davidson, an eighth-grade math teacher, was named New Teacher of the Year. (Below left) Eighth-grade Assistant Principal Monica Guerra, Brady, Jackson Principal Paula Sword, Davidson and seventh-grade Assistant Principal Edgar Lopez. (Below right) Brady and Davidson with their award plaques.

Cody Schumann, an Airman First Class in the U.S. Air Force, visited Penny Havard's fifth-grade class at Melillo this week to share some of his experiences on his overseas assignments. (Below) Schumann points to a map showing some of the places he has been. (Bottom) Back row: Mrs. Havard, Schumann, Megan Lyons (Schumann's sister and a teacher's aide) and Rocky Boyette; (front row) Marcos Pruneda, Savannah Huizar, Sebastian Garcia, Alan Arreola, Joseph Gallien, Breanna Mendez and Andres Martinez.

Students and staff at De Zavala held a "Beat the TAKS" pep rally last week to motivate students for testing later this month. (Below left) Faculty cheerleaders Robert Grote, Nizar Haji, Tim Boatwright and Scott Pratt. (Below right) Elias Angualo, Sara Morgan and Derick Geise provide super-hero support in a "TAKS Man and Robin" skit. (Bottom) Students at the pep rally get their TAKS attitudes adjusted.

  Eighth-grader Dona Nguyen was named a finalist recently in the Dow Chemical Calendar Contest. For her achievement, Nguyen will received a cash award of at least $200. 
  Eight Thompson students entered the contest and two of those eight -- Nguyen and eighth-grader Taylor Nguyen -- made the semifinals. Their submissions were chosen from over 200 entries. 
  (Below left) Calendar contestants from Joyce Koska's seventh-grade class: Joanne Tran, Chris Waguespack, Iris Sinisterra, Mandy Cao and Michelle Tran. (Below right) Taylor Nguyen and Dona Nguyen, both students in Stephanie Albert's eighth-grade class.

  Students and staff at De Zavala helped promote literacy with "Character Day" recently. Characters from popular books were depicted by students and staff members in costumes. 
  (Below) Teachers Renee Rohlfs, Kadi Abowd and Lindsey Calkins dress up as characters from "The Cat in the Hat." (Middle left) Fifth-grader Mark Ortiz as Captain Underpants, his favorite book character. (Middle right) Fifth-grader Itza Garibay, all dressed up as Red Riding Hood. (Bottom left) Jennifer Lopez, Michael Rocha and Xavier Orozco celebrating their favorite characters. (Bottom right) Daniel Ledezma, as Charlie in the "Chocolate Factory," and Arturo Martinez as his favorite character from "Space Headz."

  Five students from Melillo placed at the recent Pasadena ISD Science Fair. Fifth-grader Jacob Young led the way with a first-place finish in Consumer Science and an additional award for Outstanding Experimental Design. 
  Sixth-graders Adam Padilla and Alex Gonzales combined to take second in Team Project. 
  Sixth-grader Robert Lazo took third place in Human Health. And sixth-grader Kevin Gartner took third in Physics and also won Best in Show. 
  (Below) Four of the five who placed: Jacob Young, Robert Lazo, Adam Padilla and Kevin Gartner.

  Queens' seventh-grade Academic Pentathlon team took second place in recent district competition. Among the seventh-graders, Carlos Campos finished second overall as an honors student and Angela Salinas placed second overall as a varsity student. 
  In eighth-grade competition Jonathan Cisneros took second overall among varsity students. 
  (Below left) Seventh-grade team members (front) Carlos Funes, Carlos Campos, Mellisa Castro, Angela Salinas, Vanessa Gomez, and Melanie DelReal; (back) Pedro Espronceda and Coach Aislinn Clinch. 
  (Below right) Eighth-grade team members (front) Jonathan Cisneros, (back) Marco Rodriguez, Dante Gonzalez, Arlen Suarez, Claudia Nava, Miranda Valdez and Coach Elexia Strickland.

The faculty and staff at Melillo put in a tremendous effort on March 25 to make sure the school's third annual Spring Luau was a success. Event photos follow.

(Left) Science peer facilitator Heather Wheeler spray paints a student's hair; (right) sixth-grade teachers Mallory Wright and Shannon Martinez sort through prizes.

(Left) Librarian Debra Yocum paints a temporary tatoo on her daughter, Thompson Intermediate student Shelby Yocum; (right) art teacher Courtney Tekell works the face-painting table.

Sixth-grade teachers Mary Carter and Barbara Poche host the Cake Walk; (right) Snow cone queens sport their aprons: sixth-grade teachers Michelle Wheeler, Sheila Hughes, Sheri Richardson and Sue Haase.

  Thompson orchestra students garnered superior ratings for both varsity and non-varsity groups last week in the Texas UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contests. 
  Students had prepared the three pieces from their concert program and sight-read exercises since January. They also participated in special clinics, chair tests, section rehearsals and a mock-contest. 
  "These students really came together as a team," Thompson orchestra director Mark Vann said. "They never stopped trying after the notes were learned; we kept refining our sound all the way up to the contest. I am extremely proud of these young musicians for their accomplishment."

Symphonic Orchestra (Varsity Orchestra): Row 1: Vinh Tran, Ben Coronado, Celina Rabe, Charish Williams, Kayla Richard, Richard Nguyen, Tin Nguyen, Roderick Spikes and Desiree Johnson; Row 2:  Taylor Nguyen, Israel Martinez, Phuong Pham, Tiffany Garcia, Michelle Hoang, Celste Briones and Abraham Valencia; Row 3: David Cruz, Giaan Nguyen, Alex Martinez, Julian Coronado, Maria Mejia, Adriana Resendez, Alex Martinez, Joseph Mercado and Cristian Ascencio; Row 4: Nancy Nguyen, Catherine Nguyen, Sophia Sarabia, Abdon Ferreira, Kevin Nguyen, Jordan Jimenez, Alan Phan and Isaiah Munoz.

  Lomax students claimed a whopping six first-place awards in the recent District Science Fair. 
  Winners were Gabby Reyes in the Environmental category, Charli Mobley in Human Health, Josh Alexander in Math, Jack Nichols in Physics and Victoria Hernandez and Madeline Reyes, who tied for first place in Life Science. 
  Hernandez also received a trophy for Best Real-World Application. 
  Sara West finished second in Life Science and won a trophy for most creative in her category. 
  Desiree Melga took second place in Human Health. 
  Below, Science Fair participants from Lomax: (front) Victoria Hernandez, Sarah West, Desiree Melgar, Jack Nicholas and Josh Alexander; (middle) Charli Mobley, Regina Loreto, Grace Tran, Madeline Reyes and Katie Gordon; (back) Principal Norman Penny and sixth-grade science teachers Cynthia Bagwill and Kim Camfield.

  Jackson's eighth-grade pentathlon team claimed the district championship last Saturday (March 26) as Ernesto Carbajal took first place in science competition and third place overall. Seventh-grader Rodolfo Cantu finished first in social studies and claimed first place overall.
  (Below) Eighth-grade team members are (top) Angel Salazar, Paul Rodriguez, Ernesto Carbajal, Jeanie Brady (coach), Gretchen Kent (coach), Hector Carrillo; (bottom) Celeste Rodriguez, Sandra Cedillo, Alejandra Zamora, Marsella Ramirez, Deisy Martinez and Sabrina Avendano. 
  (Middle panel) Seventh-grade team members are (back) Royal Garza, Jeanie Brady (coach), Yesenia Ramirez, Jasmin Vasquez, Jacob Langdon, Gretchen Kent (coach); (middle) Raymond Valdez, Willie Smith, Rodrigo Beltran, Veronica Orona, Rodolfo Cantu; (front) Jose Bobadilla and Eduardo Garcia. 
  (Bottom left) Eighth-grade trophy-winner Ernesto Carajal; (bottom right) Seventh-grade trophy-winner Rodolfo Cantu.

Hector Balderrama, a fifth-grader at Lomax, placed second in the national finals of the Dribble Dish Swish competition held at the NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles last month. Balderrama won his campus competition early in the year and then advanced by winning the Houston regional. He was flown to Los Angeles, along with his parents, for the finals. (Below) Balderrama with his Lomax coach, Andy Williams.

Fifth-graders at De Zavala were recently treated to a picnic as a reward for exemplary behavior. Event photos follow.

De Zavala fifth-graders Carmen Perez, Jocelyne Rodriguez, Kayla Rodriguez, Viviana Perez and Diana Cavazos.

De Zavala faculty and staff members gather for a picnic photo.

  Alexandra Johnson and Mikey Fuqua, both Lomax fifth-graders, read excerpts from their "Woman I Most Admire" essays on Channel 11's "Great Day Houston" with Debra Duncan on Tuesday (March 22). 
  The essays were written as part of KBR's Womens History Essay Contest. KBR representatives selected the two essays to be spotlighted on the TV show as part of the company's "Celebrating Women with KBR" segment. The essay contest pays tribute to the women who have had the greatest impact on each student's life. 
  Next week winning submissions will be chosen from each region, based on grade/age group, and published in a book, "The Woman I Most Admire: A Book of Essays from Around the Globe." 
  (Below) Johnson and Fuqua on the set of "Great Day Houston" and with show host Deborah Duncan.

Glenn Murphy, a Park View sixth-grader, earned the honor of showing his Star 5 Heifer, "Jo-Jo," at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo last week. Murphy is a junior member of the Sam Rayburn High FFA. Murphy spends much of his time at the Sam Rayburn Ag Barn, where he feeds, washes and walks Jo-Jo daily. Murphy and "Jo-Jo" will take part in the Austin Rodeo this weekend.

Thompson choir students earned 23 first division medals and five certificates at the Pasadena ISD Solo & Ensemble Contest held at Jackson Intermediate recently. Thompson's choir is under the direction of George Martin and Abby Seible. (Below) Choir students are (front) Marcela Pena, Giselle Rivas, Lauren Tran, Randall MacNeil, Kayla Posey, Alyssa Gonzalez and George Molina; (middle) Gabriele Flores, Julie Nguyen, Chelsea Tajonera, Jessie Huynh, Veronica Tzintzun, Nicole Cypert, A'yuana Bradford, Tea Ajuha Jackson and David Garcia; and (back) Krista Richard, Carlos Martinez, Jorell Campos, Caxton Petri, David Casas, Jimmy Nevarez and Kristina Enriquez.

Students and staff at Lomax observed "Read Across America Day" on Tuesday (March 8) by spotlighting one of the all-time classics, "The Wizard of Oz." (Below) Assistant Principal Jay Forrest, Counselor Cynthia Pena, Counselor Allison Briggs, Assistant Principal Mike Van Loenen and Principal Norma Penny prepare to hit the Yellow Brick Road.

De Zavala fifth-graders Stephanie Villagomez-Tamayo and Diego Mondragon finished first and second, respectively, in the statewide portion of the National Missing Children's Day Poster Contest. (Below) Mondragon and Villagomez-Tamayo with their artwork.

  The Pasadena Noon Optimist Club recently announced the winners of its annual Optimist International essay contest with Beverly Hills sweeping the field for the second year in a row. 
  Catherine Thai won the competition with Alexis Jimenez finishing second and Lorissa Saiz third. 
  This year's essay topic was "How My Education is the Key to a Successful Future." 
  (Below) Optimist Club member and Park View Intermediate Principal Rob Hasson, Catherine Thai, Alexis Jimenez, Lorissa Saiz and Liz Tolleson, secretary in the Pasadena ISD athletic office and Optimist member.

  Bondy eighth-grade history teacher Tanis McNeil was honored as the Houston Rockets' "Teacher of the Game" on Feb. 5 during the Rockets game with the Memphis Grizzlies at the Toyota Center. 
  Fifteen area teachers are being honored this season as teachers who go "above and beyond the call of duty, as well as inspire their students to succeed in life and school," according to the team's website. 
  McNeil received two two tickets to the game, on-court recognition at halftime, a T-shirt and a $100 gift certificate for classroom supplies. Event photos follow.

Jackson choir students recently competed in UIL solo competition. (Below) Eighth-grader Mario Mendoza, seventh-grader Erick Roe and eighth-grader Ivan Campos display their medals.

Several Jackson eighth-graders and their parents visited Pasadena High recently to gather information about the Early College High School program being offered next year. (Below left) Jackson eighth-grader Cynthia Moreno with her parents, Samuel and Maria Moreno; (bottom right) Jackson Assistant Principal Monica Guerra, parent Veronica Villarreal and eighth-grader Angel Salazar.

Jackson held its annual Writing Boot Camp recently to prepare students for the writing portion of the TAKS test. (Below left) Seventh-graders Guadalupe Estrada, Daniel Lopez, Maria Rodriguez and Jessica Cavazos at Boot Camp; (below right) seventh-grade teachers Patrick Daniels and Tracie Gallion join seventh-grader Kevin Quach in a game of bingo.

Thompson science teachers attended their Second Annual Science Retreat at Brazos Bend State Park on Feb. 25-27. The retreat's goal is to bond the department and achieve total relaxation before the Science TAKS test reviewing begins. While at the park, teachers hiked around the alligator lake, went biking and observed the night sky. Event photos follow. (Right photo) Front: Susie Haas, Department Chair Felicia Petit and Jennifer Guerrero. Back: LaMona Lemarr, Holly Bailey, Martha Weatherford and Carol Waters.

  The Bulldog Band received three gold, 14 silver and 56 Bronze medals at the Pasadena ISD Invitational Solo and Ensemble Contest on Saturday at South Houston Intermediate.
  The following students earned gold medals for performing Class One, 12th-grade level solos: 
  Flute: Jonathan Salazar.
  Bb Clarinet: Gillermo Cortez.
  Tuba: Eduardo Valles.
  The following students earned Silver medals for performing Class Two, 10th- and 11th-grade level solos:
  Flute: Cristina Driskill.
  Oboe:, Jacob Freeman.
  Bb Clarinet: Alberto Barrera, Jeffrey Solis and Yensenia Rodriguez.
  Alto Sax: Enrique Callado and Reginald Fonte.
  Bb Trumpet: Matthew Busby, Megan Wallace and Stephanie Llamas.
  French Horn; Josue Montemayor.
  Trombone: Moises Dejesus and Omar Perales.
  Drum; Genaro Torres.

Lomax fifth-grader Hector Balderrama was presented with a giant good-luck card signed by students and staff before departing for Los Angeles, where he is scheduled to compete in the NBA's "Dribble, Dish & Swish" national finals. Balderrama, one of 12 national finalists, will take part in activities surrounding the NBA All-Star Game. (Below) Lomax Assistant Principal Mike VanLoenen, Principal Norma Penny and Assistant Principal Jay Forrest present Hector with his good-luck card.

The Thompson Science Department is encouraging students, parents and local businesses to donate the following used or broken items as part of a recycling drive: cell phones, ink-jet cartridges, GPS devices, laser cartridges, I-Pods, video games and consoles, DVDs, digital cameras, PDAs and laptops. For further information, contact Martha Weatherford, Thompson's eighth-grade Pre-AP science teacher, at 713-740-0410.

  Thompson's seventh-grade dark boys basketball team compiled a 14-2 record this season that included the championship of the Pasadena ISD tournament. The team finished second in regular-season district play and third in the 7th San Jacinto Invitational Tournament. 
  The seventh-grade light boys team finished with a 13-3 mark. The team finished second in both the district tournament and regular-season district play. The light team took third in the San Jacinto tournament. 
  (Below left) Thompson's seventh-grade dark team: (top) Coach Glen Russell, Adrian Flores, Ty Williams, BJ Ervin, DJ Hamilton and Jesse Paredes; (middle) Oliver Fransisco, Chazz Williams, Reeno Green, Craig Willes, Miguel Lopez, AJ Owens and Jose Leal; (front) Isaiah Brooks, Darius Hypolite, Deandre Childs, Travores Gilbert, Derek Leonard and Jeremiah Franklin.
  (Below right) Thompson's seventh-grade light team: (top) Coach Glen Russell, Chandler Tisby, Kenneth Gibson, Jason Lester, Kameron Dolford and Samuel Hart; (front) Kaelon Woods, Tyson Thompson, Tyler Giron, Malik Peters and Jaylon Bolden.

  Thompson's eighth-grade boys dark basketball team compiled a 13-2 record this season and won the Paadena ISD Tournament after compiling a 9-0 mark during regular-season district play.
  The Lions' eighth-grade light team went 15-1, captures the district title with a 9-0 record and also the district tournament championship.
  Over two years, this group of Thompson players combined to win four district titles, four district tournament titles and a total of 54 games -- a school record.
  (Below left) Thompson's eighth-grade light team: (front) Cedric Horton, Anthony Cantu, John Rico, Ryan Williams, David Casas, Isaiah Hammons and Jonathan Shaw; (top) D'Andre Jackson, Jarvis Lester, Xavier Rodriquez, Geron Hall, Ty Lozano and Coach Robert Boyes.
  (Below right) The Lions' eighth-grade dark team: (front) Keyaudre Conaway, Rashaad Randall, Jacob Lara, Keion Patterson, Zach Blue, Jared Wilson, Socrates Guzman and Ashton Craven; (top) Daniel Carter, Xavier Dotson, Xavier Brown, Austin Perkins, Josh Alix, Jimmy Nevarez and Coach Robert Boyes.

Science Fair winners in the fifth and sixth grade from De Zavala have been announced. (Below left) Fifth-grade winners are (top) Mikayla Bush, Daniel Villarreal, Andrea Mireles, Dileyda Franco and Dayana Cruz; (front) Viviana Perez, Francisco Cantu and Eduardo Rodriguez. (Below right) Sixth-grade winners are Melissa Lucatero, Julia Pineda, Edson Rodriguez and Armando Escalera.

Schneider's Science Fair was held last week with over 70 projects submitted. Thirty-four of those made it to the second round to be formally judged. Of those 34, five were selected to be shown at the District Science Fair. A reception for all the participants was held after school, and the winning students were presented with certificates. Pictured below winning students Luis Alejandre, Angel Palomares, Alexis Valdez and Franky Chavez.

De Zavala Assistant Principal Cindy Owens dropped in on a sixth-grade class recent to play the role of judge in a book review contest in which students gave their critiques of a novel. (Below) Owens visits with sixth-graders (back) Hector Fuentes, Josefina Espinoza and James Pulido; (middle) Keila Carreon and Jonathon Morales; (front) Adriel Resendez, Mario Garza, Nick Bravo and Horacio Flores.

Using a movies theme, De Zavala students have redesigned the school's main bulletin board and transformed it into a major campus attraction. (Below) Bulletin board artists Ramon Serrato, Stephanie Mendoza, Michelle Moreno, Anthony Millan, Najib Baroja, Brandon Santana, Eric De La Fuente, Elias Hernandez and Julio Loera show off their "cinema" skills.

Science Fair winners at Lomax were recently announced. The students will represent Lomax at the Pasadena ISD Science Fair. Pictured below are (front) Katie Gordon, Diego Frias, Jack Nichols, Grace Tran and Victoria Hernandez; (middle) science teacher Kim Camfield, Sarah West, Charli Mobley, Madeline Reyes, Josh Alexander and Mike Van Loenen, Lomax assistant principal; (back) science teacher Cindy Bagwill, Audrey Kaiser, Desiree Melgar, Gabby Reyes and Regina Loreto.

Members of the Hearts and Hands Club at Melillo are cutting cut fleece blankets to make hats for the "Hats for Hope" campaign, a program to supply hats to people diagnosed with cancer. Students can donate new hats or new fleece blankets so hats can be made. Hat collections run through February. Hats and blankets are donated to M.D. Anderson Hospital. (Below left) Mark Mooreman and Jocylin Reyes cut blankets; (below right) Syndney Bonner and Heather Wheeler, co-sponsor of the Heats and Hands Club, measure the cloth.

Recent power outages failed to drain the energy of Thompson science students, who carried on with their inertia lab by candlelight. The lab required students to roll a marble down a ramp into a paper cup to measure the distance it travels. Students then added washers to the cup to increase its mass. If the marble rolled on the floor, students enjoyed trying to find it in the dark. (Below left) Rashaad Randall and Richard Nguyen; (below right) Yesenia Herrera, Alex Martinez and Nick Houston; (bottom) Alex Carr, Travis Huynh, Denise Saravia and Xavier Brown.

Thirty-two Lomax fifth- and six-graders participated last Saturday in the Texas Children's Hospital Fun Run, a 3K run/walk to promote lifelong fitness. Event photo follows.

  Both the Light and Dark girls seventh-grade basketball teams at Beverly Hills clinched district titles last week.
  The Light team beat Park View 29-9 behind a 12-point, seven-rebound effort from Marina Allen. Kaitlyn Cadena added 11 points and four steals.
  The Dark team wrapped up district with a 33-15 victory over Park View. Melany Menjivar led the way with eight points and five rebounds.
  The Dark team went on to win the district tournament with victories over Southmore, Queens and Bondy, the only team to beat Beverly Hills Dark during the regular season.
  (Below) The combined Beverly Hills seventh-grade teams celebrate their successful season.

Eighth-grade science students at Thompson labored in their labs last week absorbing illuminating lessons in everything from motion detection to the science of helicopters. (Immediately below and bottom right) Martha Weatherford's students delve into motion detectors and data recording devices. Students pictured are Andrea Tran and Phuong Pham (on the left) and (on the right) Carlos Martinez, Amenze Ewansiha and, to the right of Mrs. Weatherford, Michelle San Miguel. (Bottom left) Jimmy Nevarez, Nicole Banda and Rhehana Johnson, also in Mrs. Weatherford's class. (Bottom right) Testing helicopters are Carol Waters' students: Graciela Quiroz, Ricky Harris, Terrance Patterson, Orlando Ochoa, Ernest Luis Escalona, Kristin Scholwinski and Jai Jones.

Fifth- and sixth-graders who made the Honor Roll for the entire fall semester were treated to a "free dress" say recently -- meaning, they could leave the uniform code at home. Some of it, anyway. The reward is intended to motivate other students to make straight A's in the spring. (Below) Students show off their "free dress" duds.

De Zavala's D.A.R.E. program is credited with helping make the fall semester a fabulous learning experience for fifth-graders. (Below) Fifth-grader Jimmy Camacho, one of the winners of the Good Citizen Award Award presented by D.A.R.E. sponsors.

Six Thompson eighth-graders were named to the Region Choir after competing against hundreds of other area students. (Below) Region Choir members are (front) Jorell Campos, Alexis Corpus and George Molina; (back) Carlos Martinez, Caxton Petri and Jimmy Nevarez. The Thompson choir is directed by George Martin.

Eighth-grader Saraswati Saharan recently won the Jackson Spelling Bee. She is pictured below with Jackson Principal Paula Sword and teacher Sara Rendon.

Lomax is on the lookout for volunteers to serve as mentors in the school's Adopt-A-Colt Mentor Program. The vision of the program is to create a school community in which every child experiences nurturing in one-on-one relationships. Mentors work in a variety of ways on campus. Some assist students in the classrooms, while others work with students outside the classroom. Anyone wishing to volunteer as a mentor, please contact Allison Briggs at abriggs@pasadenaisd.org. (Below) John Gonzalez, who mentors at Lomax each Friday during the school year, plays chess with student David McNeil in the library before school.

  The Thompson yearbook staff has begun selling memory ads for parents who wish to express their best wishes to their children in the 2011 yearbook. Prices range from $100 for a full-page ad to $25 for a one-eighth page ad. The ad sale runs from Jan. 24 through Feb. 9, or until space sells out. For more information, contact yearbook adviser Eria Alvarez at elalvarez@pasadenaisd.org or call 713-740-0510. 
  (Below) The Thompson yearbook staff for 2010-11: (bottom) Tabinda Sayed, Gabby Barragan, Kara-Anne Snyder, Angelica Zuniga, Elaine Gilbert, Denise Saravia, Jonathan Shaw and Hieu Tran; (top)  Andrea Tran, Trang Bui, Jenny Tran, Veronica Tzintzun, Stacy Edopka, Valerie Vo, Hannah Gutierrez, Amina Davis, Jessie Huynh, Edward Velazquez, Dominique Obregon, Carlos Martinez, Racquel Delgadillo,  Jessica Jones, Valerie Mendoza, Nixon Melgar and Dre Conaway.

Contestants: Diane Phelan, principal, Keller Middle School; and Mark Buratti, coach, Keller Middle School
Song: Your Mama Can't Dance
Dance: Swing

Burrati and Phelan really get into the swing of things.

"Forget the box step. It's time for your back adjustment."

With his rejuvenation complete, the dancers bask in audience adulation.

Phelan and Buratti flash their trophy as top vote-getters. 

Contestants: Dianna Walker, principal, San Jacinto Intermedite, and Johnny Daniels, Coach, San Jacinto Intermediate
Song: Dirty Bit
Dance: Cha Cha

Walker swirls and twirled and sparkles under the dance lights.

"Tempo... tempo... tempo!"

Once more across the floor.

"If only running a school were this easy!"

With the judges watching in approval, Daniels and Walker wind up their routine.

Honored as top fundraisers, Walker and Daniels receive congratulations from Pasadena ISD Superintendent Dr. Kirk Lewis. 

Contestants: Marsha Jones, principal, Schneider Middle School, and Jamelle Settles, Assistant Principal, Schneider Middle School
Song: The Crow and the Butterfly
Dance: Viennese Waltz

"Say, is that the Blue Danube over there?"

Soaring high with "The Crow and Butterfly."

"I don't get this kind of reaction when I make the morning announcements!"

"Just give it that Friday-afternoon feeling!"

Contestants: Mike Van Loenen, assistant principal, Lomax Middle School; and Cynthia Pena, counselor, Lomax Middle School
Song: Stuck Like Glue
Dance: Salsa

Cirque du Lomax: Salsa dancers perform without wires or nets.

"Come, Ms. Pena. Let us go and counsel some sixth-graders!"

"Any more salsa, and I'm going to need some Tums."

"Was that us, or did they turn off the air conditioning?"

Contestants: Linda Garrett, assistant principal, South Houston Intermediate; and Terry Webb, math teacher, South Houston Intermediate
Song: I've Got Rhythm
Dance: Swing

Suddenly, it all adds up. The old boy can dance!

Webb leans on his boss for support when the going gets tough.

Alas, a second wind. Where does this inspiration come from?

Let us go forth to shape young hearts and minds, rhythmically, of course.

Hector Balderrama, a fifth-grader at Lomax recently won first place at regionals in the NBA's Dish, Dribble & Squish competition. His score qualified him to compete in the national finals to be held at the NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles in February. (Below) Hector shows off his trophy.

David Ho correctly spelled "rural" to capture top honors in the Beverly Hills Spelling Bee recently. Runner-up was Catherine Thai. David advances to district competition on Feb. 15 at the Administration Building. (Below) Catherine and David pose with Marsha Benjamin, their English teacher at Beverly Hills.

Students in Deanna Keefer's homeroom were treated to an ice cream sundae party last Friday (Jan. 14), their reward for donating the most items to the Sout Belt Leader Christmas Food and Toy Drive. Event photos follow.

Mrs. Keefer's winning homeroom: (front row) Leonardo Baez, Hector Arreola , Michael Adamo , Kevin Tran and Joseph Suarez; (second row) Felix Garza, Kaylee Segura, Katherine Montes, Kirsten Nguyen and Alicia Pizano; (third row) Ivan Tagle , Abasi Dominguez, Mason Douglas, Louis Perez, Joel Zavala, Aleida Gonzales, Victoria Rangel and Breanna Mendez; (top row)  Mrs. Keefer, Marissabelle Gonzales, Cynthia Moore, Dezmond Carter, Carlos Cantu and Rocky Boyette .

Melillo held its annual Spelling Bee on Thursday (Jan. 13) and fifth-grader Marvin Villatoro Jr. emerged as the winner. (Below) Villatoro (center) poses with runners-up from the sixth grade, Dylan Espinosa and Joe Huerta.

Eighth-grader Samson Tamijani won the Thompson Spelling Bee this week by successfully spelling "nostalgia." Seventh-grader Luis Correa was runner-up. The contest drew 61 fierce competitors and also a huge crowd of teachers, staff and family members to watch. A reception was held following the competition. (Below) Correa and Tamijani pose with their trophies.

Students in the Keller music and art departments, in conjunction with the campus Communities in Schools Program, spread Christmas cheer to residents of The Courtyards, an assisted-living and nursing facility in Pasadena. The choir, band and orchestra serenaded the residents with a concert in the round followed by caroling for bed-ridden residents. The Art Club designed Christmas cards, and the Communities in Schools students distributed the cards to each resident. (Below) Sixth grade choir member Jennifer Escobar visits with a resident at The Courtyards.

Miller seventh-graders Martha Maldonado, Ashley Garcia, Lupita Almaguer, Iriskarina Pascual, Destiny Rodriguez and Salma Cortez watch over the hundreds of items donated to the Bridge Over Troubled Waters organization.

Jackson held its annual Science Night last week (Jan. 6) and parents took the opportunity to team with their children in various experiments, many designed to show how various consumer products -- like ice cream -- are made. Event photos follow.

Seventh-grader Carlos Cortes and is mother, Esthela Cortes, mix up some lip gloss (left) and then whip up an ice cream treat (right).

(Left) Alfredo Dominguez and his mother, Rafaela, show off their lab-made ice cream; (Right) The Wong family takes in Science Night: seventh-grader Crystal; her dad Guillermo; her youngest brother, Julian; her mom, Jeovanna; and middle brother Christian.  

The Thompson Dance Team last month took a holiday trip to the Hobby Center to see Broadway Across America's "Burn The Floor." The Dance Team is in its second year and is under the direction of Katina Kirk. (Below) Thompson Dance Team members pose for a picture during their Hobby Center trip: (bottom) Sasha McCoy, Leandra Hernandez, Celeste Briones, Jenny Tran, Karla Martinez and Amalia Perla; (middle) Maricruz Olivares, Isamar Martinez, Kasey Foots, Chelsea Tajonera, Tiffany Garcia, Madisen Minter and Dulce Morales; (top) Cherish Cooper, Ashly Gonzalez, Anna Goodman, Mason Miller, Cameron Guy, Julian Coronado and Desiree Johnson.

Melillo students conducted a food and toy drive in conjuction with the South Belt Leader. Over 2,300 items were collected. (Below) Sorting through donations are Melillo students (front) Lindsey Cardenas, Raene Oliveira and Alyssa Chapa; (middle) Clarissa Arredondo, Katy Tamez, Maria Pedroza, Paula Torrez and Abby Armenta; and (back) Natalie Aviles, Sydney Bonner, Carsyn Lyons and Brandon Flores.

Thompson students recently participated in the school's 10th Annual Great Science Food Fight, a competition between seventh and eighth-graders to see which group could collect the most canned food items. Students were given the option of donating canned goods or money. Students collected a grand total of $777.20 (representing 1,554 cans) and 1,262 actual cans for a total of 2,816 cans that were donated to The Bridge Women's Shelter in Pasadena. The seventh-graders took first place with a total of 1,706 cans. The eighth-graders gathered 1,110 cans. The food drive is sponsored yearly by the Thompson Science Department.

  Lomax students in the Faces of Change Club, a service and leadership organization, teammed with the student body and other community groups to collect over 650 gently used coats, sweaters, and blankets for local residents in need.
  Faces of Change members worked together with the Student Council to lead the student body in a school-wide coat drive, part of a collaboration with PinnacleAIS and Boy Scout Troop 388.
  Ruby McCoy, a parent volunteer at Lomax who has worked with Faces of Change students in other leadership efforts, rallied the students to show the true meaning of the holidays by helping the less fortunate.
  Staff from PinnacleAIS, one of the school's key community collaborators, arranged a pizza party for the winning homeroom.
  On the final day, two sixth-grade homerooms, led by Mrs. Tara Crum and Mr. Wesley Jordan, were the top donors, bringing in 80 and 77 items, respectively. First Christian Church helped house and distribute all the items collected. 
  "These are the types of projects that help our students develop character and a sense of community responsibility," Lomax Principal Norma Penny said.
  "Our counselors have been broadening the scope of student and community relations with these types of activities. Our goal is to build community relationships and community service is part of that."

Lomax students had the opportunity this week to turn teachers into elves. The school conducted an "Elf Your Teacher" contest in which students dropped money into jars labled with teachers' names. The fifth-grade and sixth-grade teachers who collected the most money earned the "honor" of wearing an elf costume around campus for one hour on Friday. The lucky elves were fifth-grade social studies teacher Erika Alverson and sixth-grade ELRA teacher Fanny Torres. (Below left) Ms. Alverson (right) poses with Santa Claus (Assistant Principal Mike Van Loenen) and Lomax Principal Norma Penny; (below right) Ms. Torres with Ms. Penny.

The Keller Ranger Honor Band won first place in the Battle of the Bands competition at the recent Battle of the Heroes, a flag football game between the Pasadena Police and Fire departments at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Several of the band's clarinet players also participated in the City of Pasadena's Holiday Lighted Parade. Keller Ambassadors joined the band members atop an Army truck driven by Lt. Steven Fife from the 451st Civil Affairs Battalion of the Army Reserve. Keller was awarded the trophy for Most Unusual Entry. Event photos right and below.

Schneider recently held its first induction ceremony for the National Elementary Honor Society. "Acceptance into this organization is not an easy task, so we are proud to honor and celebrate these accomplished students,", Schneider Principal Marsha Jones said. Members of the Schneider chapter are Edna Aguirre, Katia Avalos, Nahely Cardiel, Santa Chamorro, Albert Garza, Gladys Gutierrez, Hugo Gutierrez, Deyanira Hinojosa, Jacob Jimenez, Valerie Lara, Erick Lopez, Daniela Medina, Amber Morales, Ascencion Ramirez, Ariana Rodriguez, Stefanie Rubalcava, Angel Ruiz and Janet Trujillo. Induction photo follows.

The South Houston High School Orchestra included Schneider on its recent holiday tour. The orchestra played a series of Christmas songs and ended with a medley that promptly joyous clapping and singing from Schneider students. Event photo follows.

The fifth- and sixth-grade choirs performed their annual Christmas Jubilee this week in front of an audience that included Schneider staff members and parents. The fifth-graders are under the direction of Sharnelle Jones. The sixth-graders are under the direction of Nerissa Rawls. Event photos follow.

Shaw teacher Margaret Hale landed a mini-grant of $5,000 to fund a project, "Engaging All Readers," designed to enhance students' reading skills through improved comprehension and increased awareness of the importance of reading. The mini-grant was sponsored by the Pasadena ISD Police Association.

Thompson's Mark Varian secured a mini-grant to fund a "Keys To Expression" project that will assist student performances in music and build a greater understanding of the elements of music. The $1,872 grant is sponsored by Thompson & Horton, LLP. (Below) Varian (second from right) receives congratulations from Pasadena ISD Education Foundation member Herman Williams; Monica Morgan, representing Brooks & Sparks; Maureen Singleton, representing Thompson & Horton; and Linda Lukaszewski, representing Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union.

Jesus Cortes, a fifth-grader at Keller, received a special citizenship award from the Pasadena Police for his reaction in resisting the taunts of a bully during a recent incident. He was presented with a certificate and a medal by representatives of the police department. Presentation photo follows.

  Five Queens teachers effectly sold their grant proposal to stage a dual-language production of "Aladdin." The production is designed to enhance cultural inclusion and break down language barriers. Teachers taking part in the proposal were Jessica Frinsco, Brenda Varvoutis, Ken Sink, Jill Butler and Tisha Tyler. The $5,000 grand is sponsored by Chevron-Phillips. 
  (Below) Sophia Allison (left), representative from Chevron-Phillips, surprises teachers Brenda Varvoutis, Tisha Tyler, Jessica Frinsco, Ken Sink, and Jill Butler with their grant check. (Bottom) Tyler, Sink, Varvoutis, Frinsco and Butler celebrate with their students.

Melillo teachers and administrators gathered at Las Haciendas restaurant on Dec. 2 for their annual Christmas gathering. (Below left) Technology teacher Patty Gordon and fifth-grade social studies teacher Dawn Rene Tomlinson; (below right) sixth-grade ACE teacher Mary Carter and Al Carter, Pasadena ISD communications specialist; (bottow left) Carolyn Odom, math peer facilitator, and Betty Haley, dyslexia/intervention teacher; (bottom right) Sandra Vann, attendance clerk, and Amy Ashby-Pike, SPED peer facilitator.

The De Zavala Fifth-Grade Choir, under the direction of Sheri Rodgers, performed a Christmas concert at the Administration Building last week. Event photo follows.

Cheerleaders from Queens joined the cheerleading squads from Bondy and Miller intermediate schools for the University of Houston's Eighth Annual Halftime Spirit Extravaganza. Dozens of cheer and dance teams from around Houston performed in front of a crowd of 35,000. Event photo follows.

Jackson recently held its food drive. (Below) SUCCESS students Luis Ortiz, Keyla Flores and Claudia Vela sort out the food donations.

Professional wrestler Booker T. Huffman visited Jackson this week to address the students. His appearance was made possible by Albemarle Corporation, Jackson's corporate sponsor. Huffman is a six-time world champion. (Below) Huffman chats with Jackson eighth-graders Melvin Reyes, Matthew Valadez and Edgar Rodriguez.

Fifth-grade "Colt Stars" were recently picked by their homeroom teachers. Students were selected based upon their ability to serve as role models for Colt Spirit: Self-discipline, Positive attitude, Initiative, Responsibility, Integrity and Teamwork. Colt Stars pictured below are (front) Ayanna Medrano, Rebecca Cardenas, Cassidy Henderson, Marisol Hernandez, Hannah Tran and Rigoberto Jimenez; (middle) Avery Zikogiannis, Michael Caver, Victoria Valtierra, Apryl Melendez, Litzy Estrada and Brady Chant; (top) Brian Jasso, Tyronda Davis and Calvin Manahan.

Melillo teachers took time before the Thanksgiving break to enjoy a turkey luncheon. Pictured below are (left) Debbie Becker and Sue Hasse, and (right) Leah Brutsche, Angela Badon and Joy Tuneberg.

  Thirty-nine Thompson students received early high-school credit in Spanish by making a 90 or higher on their credit-by-exam test. 
  Pictured below are 34 of the 39 students: (Front row) Maricruz Olivares, Karla Martinez, Amalia Perla, Eison Martinez, David Ortiz, Alexander Frias, Francisco Rangel, Nixon Melgar, Mayra Bustillo and Renato Valdez; (middle) Isamar Martinez, Denise Saravia, Dulce Morales, Yesenia Rodriguez, Alexis Saldivar, Nereida Balderas, Aimee Montelongo, Hilda Melgar, Jorge Delagarza, Jennifer Salamanca, Guadalupe Acosta and Veronica Tzintzun; (back) Kevin Ramirez, Brian Cruz, Jordan Melo, Gustavo Garcia, Manuel Gonzalez, Luis Garay, Carlos Martinez, Felix Torres, Sergio Delacruz, Luis Gonzalez, Maria Mejia and Sabrina Frias.

The Lomax Sixth-Grade Choir and the school's Select Girls Choir provided holiday caroling (Below) at the Administration Building on Friday, Dec. 3. Over 130 Lomax students participated. The performance was broadcast live via video streaming for the viewing enjoyment of teachers, students and administrators around the Pasadena ISD.

Thompson art teacher Stephanie Albert and her sister, Renee Roberts, teammed up to produce an underwater scene, their contribution to the Via Colori Street Painting Festival last month at Sam Houston Park. Their mural consisted of an octopus in a coral reef with a diver watching from above. The square took about six hours to complete. (Below) The sisters and their drawing.

Jeff Neal of 'Team Impact' pumps his lungs into a water bottle until it explodes, much to the amazement of Miller Intermediate eighth-graders.

  "Team Impact's" crew of muscular motivational speakers visited Miller Intermediate on Friday to speak with seventh- and eighth-graders about the dangers of drugs and the importance of ridding schools of bullies.  
  Jeff Neal, a former pro football player, and Trey Talley dazzled the students with feats of strength. Neal bent a metal bar as he held it in his teeth, while Talley snapped a wooden baseball bat over his knee.
  Neal graduated from South Houston High School in 1986 after attending Miller. He later earned small-college All-America honors at Howard Payne University.

Trey Talley snaps the wooden bat over his knee. 

Jeff Neal bends a metal bar wedged between his teeth.  

Keller students took at hard look at future educational and career opportunities recently. In mid-November, Keller sixth-graders visited the University of Houston for a Kids to College tour. On Nov. 19, the third annual Career Day was held at Keller with over 30 presenters on hand. Event photos follow.

De Zavala students were treated to a study in world-wide soil samples recently, thanks to Michele Morrison, the school's science facilitator, who arranged for a traveling exhibit featuring soils from 52 countries. The exhibit included samples from places as far away as Bahrain and Australia. Event photos follow.

Roz Denham, teacher at De Zavala, invited her students to attend Pasadena High's final football game of the season. Among the spectators was sixth-grader Eric DeLeon, pictured below with Ms. Denham, who proudly wore his older brother's Eagles letter jacket.

Areli Cardenas, De Zavala's Community in Schools counselor, accompanied a group of students to the University of Houston for "Little Cougs Day" at a recent UH football game. One of the highlights was meeting the Cougars' mascot. Event photos follow.

The SUCCESS program at Park View hosted a Thanksgiving dinner last week, attracting many parents and family members to the school in support of their children -- not to mention their appetites. Event photos follow.

De Zavala students enjoy the experience of participating in the Robotics Club, sponsored by fifth-grade science teacher Rachel Hefferman. Below: Club member Isaac Villarreal contemplates a new robotics project.

Thompson eighth-graders absorbed a vivid demonstration of changes in air pressure during a recent science experiment. Students took an aluminum can with a small amount of water in it and placed it on a hot plate. When students witnessed steam coming out of the top, they used tongs to place the hot can upside-down in an ice water bath. Because of the change in pressure, the can immediately imploded. (Below) Kasey Foots and Toni Cantu perform the experiment.

Lomax teachers put their many hidden talents on display recently to benefit a food drive for area families in need during the Thanksgiving season. Teachers danced, played instruments and hit the hardwood for second annual Carter Lomax Legends Basketball Game, featuring the  Legends basketball team in a hard-fought contest with the Pasadena Police Officers Association. The Legendettes drill team provided half-time entertainment, and the Carter Lomax Experience Pep Band played throughout the festivities.  Admission for students was two cans of food. The game raised over 3,000 cans. Event photo follows.

Park View staff and students have several activities and events plans as the holidays approach.

On Tuesday (Nov. 16) faculty and staff will honor the pig -- in a Bakin' Bacon cooking contest in the Library Reference Room. Judges will hog-tied and asked to pick the winners.

On Thursday (Nov. 18), the SUCCESS class will host its Thanksgiving lunch. SUCCESS student parents and adminitrators are invited to attend. Later that day, Math & Science Family Night will be held beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Friday (Nov. 19) is National Games Day. Students are invited to celebrate and participate in games of all kinds. Also on Friday, the school will host Fall Fun Day. Various events are planned, including a dance, basketball, volleyball, billiards, soccer, flag football, baseball, karaoke, face-painting and board games.

The Thompson Symphonic and Concert Bands competed in the Early Music Contest at the Texas Renaissance Festival on Nov. 2 in Plantersville -- and placed second and third, respectively, The Thompson bands are directed by Deborah Hirsch and by Areef Bhuya, a student teacher from the University of Houston.

Seventh-graders Alexis Espronceda and Alex Carley (left) watch for dragons; (right) Chelsea Johnson, Nicholas Jagdo, Jordan Ray, Arthur Robinson and (front) Alex Frias.

Seventh-graders Elton Nguyen and David Garcia, and eighth-graders Sebrina Frias and Catherine Neira.

Thompson observed National Gaming Day on Friday (Nov. 12) with a carnival of board games and card games filling up the school library. Students played Battleship, Sorry!, and Monopoly, and card games like Uno. Gaming allows students to practice their interpersonal skills while learning rules of the games and strategy. The celebration kicked off "Gaming Fridays," when students will have the opportunity to "get their game on" with friends before school. (Below left) Eighth-graders Alan Phan and Stephanie Dang tangle in a game of Sorry!; (right) Yenlynn Bahn and Linh Pham play cards.

Sixth-graders at De Zavala recently paid a visit to Texas Southern University, where they were able to expand their knowledge of the college experience. Part of the visit included a tour or the school's Radio/TV Department, where students took turns operating cameras and examining the studio sets. Event photos follow:

Thompson science students were given the opportunity recently to learn more about the subject of weather. A local company, "Impact Weather," donated studio time to broadcast a different lesson for four days. Topics covered were aviation weather, hurricanes, extreme weather and how to become a meteorologist. Students were able to submit questions before the programs and some of their questions were answered during the programs. The video conference was arranged by Thompson's eighth-grade Pre-AP science teacher, Martha Weatherford. (Below) Thompson students participate in the video conference.

Students staff and parents gathered for Jackson's Academic Excellence Awards night on Thursday (Nov. 11). (Below) Rajesh Kumar and his daughter Saraswati Saharan as she receives her silver pin, with Jackson counselor Latessa Hadley looking on. (Bottom left) Estella Villarreal and her daughter, Samatha Flores, enjoy refreshments after the ceremony. (Bottom right) Teacher Seth Johnson and student Adrian Green before the ceremony.

Jackson staff and students held an appreciation luncheon on Friday (Nov. 12) for the police officers who serve their campus. (Below) Officers Israel Torres, Jason Grice (holding police dog Sabo) and Abe Farciert receive thanks from Jackson Principal Paula Sword, Amber Gonzales, Angela Waggoner, Assistant Principal Edgar Lopez and Suzanne Smith.

Students at De Zavala recently organized a skating event as a school fund-raiser. Over half of the school attended. Event photos follow.

Keller hosted the U.S. Army 451st Civil Affairs Battalion on Veterans Day. Guests were treated to a concert and a luncheon. Event photos follow.

Students and faculty at Thompson let their college preferences be heard during College Week. (Below top left, and then clockwise) Julian Coronado and Cameron Guy give a shoutout for the Texas Longhorns. Choir director George Martin appears to have all kinds of favorites. Faculty members Jennifer Guerrero, John Fowler, Sherial Caswell and Todd Taylor pitched in for a pancake breakfast for Thompson staff. (Bottom) A clash of cultures: Texas A&M fans Sherial Caswell, Patrice Gilbert, Kara Anne Snyder, Toni Lopez (Thompson's principal), Kayla Posey and Zachary Blue deliver an earful to UT supporter Damien Molina.

Veterans and students rise to attention as Sam Rayburn High's JROTC color guard enters the gym during a Veterans Day observance on Wednesday.

Channel 13 Anchor, Packed Gym Greet Vets, Active-Duty Military
 

South Houston Intermediate's Pride Dancers perform during the ceremony .

Active-duty U.S. Army personnel, South Houston Intermediate dancers and cheerleaders rise for the Star Spangled Banner.

Bondy will honor our military on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, beginning at 7:45 p.m. Students and honorees will meet in the large gym to listen to a patriotic presentation by the band, choir and orchestra. All veterans are invited to attend. A light breakfast will be served in the library.

The Keller cheerleaders performed at halftime of the University of Houston football game last Friday night. Event photos follow.

"All A" honor roll students were called down to the principal's office recently. Reason? They got treated to cupcakes. (Below) Assistant Principal Cindy Owens (in the back) takes a cupcake break with her "All A" Students.

De Zavala students swept the top spots in the Veterans Day Art and Essay Contest sponsored by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. Victoria Santos won first place and Omar Almanza took second. Awards were presented aboard the Battleship Texas. (Below) Fifth-graders Geselle Perez and Dixon Meza show off their third-place certificates.

DeZavala adopted a "Hats Off To Drugs" campaign during Red Ribbon Week. (Below) Beverly Corey, math teacher, gets into the spirit of the week with sixth-graders David Garcia, Joey Wren, Hector Rosas, Adrian Gutierrez and Michael Weaver.

De Zavala students turned out in droves last Friday night to cheer on the Pasadena Eagles in their football finale against Sam Rayburn. (Below) Laura Quisenberry, De Zavala teacher, forms a cheering section with sixth-grader Ricky Rodriguez, fifth-graders Matthew Bravo and his sixth-grade brother, Nicholas Bravo.

De Zavala students observed College Week by taking a look at some real area colleges. Students and staff visited the University of Houston, Texas Southern University and Houston Community College. (Below) Sixth-grader Armando Escalera tries to get an jump on a firefighter career while visiting Houston Community College's Law Enforcement Center. (Bottom) DeZavala students show their Cougar "paw" while visiting the University of Houston.

Lomax hosted Family Math Night last week to help students and their parents learn to work together to enhance their everyday math skills. Parents rotated to four locations to learn about technology now in use in math classrooms, user-friendly math websites and board games that promote problem-solving skills. (Below) Sixth grader Lizandro Guzman and his mother, Ana Guzman, use ActivExpressions technology to answer math problems.

Thompson students have set a goal to read one million pages this school year -- and they're on track to get there with 209,103 pages read so far. (Below) Reading breaks out in the main hallway with assistant principals Darby Hickman and Dan Hoppie, Principal Toni Lopez, eighth-grader Damien Molina, seventh-grade counselor Erin Richardson and eight-grade counselor Prodencia Reyna participating.

Kelly Clarkston, a seventh-grade math teacher at Park View (and a University of Arkansas graduate), hog-ties Park View Principal Rob Hasson (a Houston Cougar) into participating in a "Hog Call" with her students.

Cowboys Give It That Old College Cry

Judging by each and every door at Park View Intermediate on Friday, it was easy to see that the Cowboys just adore college.

Park View observed the end of College Week with a door decorating contest, a wide assortment of college garb, posters, drawings -- and even an impromptu Arkansas Razorback "Hog-Call" in the hallway.

Decorating judges from the Pasadena ISD central office were greeted by a loud "Sooie!" as they approached Kelly Clarkston's seventh-grade math class while making the rounds of the school.

Clarkston graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2000. Her students spilled into the hall for a "Hog-Call" that easily picked up the vocal support of Park View Principal Rob Hasson, who briefly ignored his University of Houston roots to pitch in a slew of "Sooies."

First place in the decorating contest went to adjacent seventh-grade reading teachers Brandi Johnson, Amy Aruch and Donna Rossini, who collaborated on a Houston Cougar theme.

Second place went to Clarkston's Razorback display.

Third place went to sixth-grade art teacher Hilda Cantu's class for its University of Houston display.

Pasadena ISD judges were Linda Fletcher, the district's Executive Director of Fine Arts; Assistant Athletic Director Pam Tevis; and Athletic Department Secretary Liz Tolleson.

Here come the judges: From the right, Liz Tolleson, Athletic Department secretary; Pam Tevis, Assistant Athletic Director; and Linda Fletcher, Executive Director for Fine Arts. On the left, Park View Assistant Principal Jamie Lusk and Principal Rob Hasson.

Collaborating on a display for their alma mater, UH-Clear Lake, are the teachers of Room 33: Patricia Ramos, Jennifer Summerlin and Wendy Ham.

Part of the winning display: Seventh-grade reading teacher Brandi Johnson and contributing students Phillip Cardenas and Kallysta Harris.

Seventh-grade math teacher Kelly Clarkston and her second-place exhibit, with student contributors Sabrina Hernandez, Alejandro Lopez, Vanessa Leija and Odalis Garcia.

More than 70 students and staff members from San Jacinto collected more than 1,400 food items last Saturday in a "Halloween For Hunger" project to benefit the local Salvation Army food pantry. Led by the National Junior Honor Society, the group went door-to-door and collected all the food items in just three hours. Event photo follows.

Thompson cornerback John Rico bars the door on Beverly Hills running back David Eldridge while teammates rush in to provide assistance.

LIONS LAY DOWN LAW: NO SWEEP FOR BEARS

  Thompson's DeAndre Jackson forced a fumble on the lip of his team's goal-line Tuesday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium, enabling the Lions to hang on for a 16-8 victory over rival Beverly Hills and the championship of the Pasadena ISD's Eighth-Grade "A" Team Division.

The Thompson victory prevented the Bears from sweeping all four intermediate school divisions. Beverly Hills won the regular-season contest between the two schools, 14-6.

Beverly Hills appeared primed to tie the game with time winding down. But with 1:23 left in the game, Jackson forced a fumble at the Lions' 4 yard-line and made the recovery himself. Thompson easily ran out the clock to secure the title.

Earlier in the fourth quarter, Jackson scored the go-ahead touchdown on a
short run.

Thompson's offense devoured the entire
first quarter. On the first snap of the second quarter, wide receiver Ryan Williams caught a short pass from Ty Lozano and squirted 12 yards into the end zone for the game's first TD. A two-point extra-point by Alexis Saldivar gave the Lions an 8-0 lead.

Williams later made a leading interception to help keep the Bears at bay, but only briefly.

Beverly Hills tied the game midway through the third quarter following a Thompson fumble. The Bears used a 4-yard TD run by Carlos Gonzalez to cap a short drive and tie the game.

Thompson regained the late in the third quarter on a 12-yard TD burst by Jackson. Saldivar again added the two-point kick.

Beverly Hills used a late Lions' fumble to come storming back in the closing minutes. The Bears converted an improbable fouth-and-14 situation with 1:34 left before Jackson's recovery sealed the outcome.

DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

Eighth-Grade "A" - Thompson 16, Beverly Hills 8

Eighth-Grade "B" - Beverly Hills 16, Southmore 0

Seventh-Grade "A" - Beverly Hills 14, Thompson 0

Seventh-Grade "B" --  Beverly Hills 14, Thompson 12

Thompson's Rashaad Randall breaks into the Bears' secondary in first-quarter action.

Carlos Gonzalez helps Beverly Hills tie the game with a 4-yard TD blast in the third quarter.

Thompson's Ryan Williams spins away from a Beverly Hills defender to turn a short reception into a 12-yard TD, the game's first.

The Bears' Brandon Ryan barges through a gap in the Thompson line.

Thompson's DeAndre Jackson (36) goes airborne to score the go-ahead TD late in the third quarter.

Thompson defenders chase down a fumble near the Lions' goal-line late in the game, caused and recovered by DeAndre Jackson (background right).

Students at South Houston observed Red Ribbon Week by participating in a different activity each day of the week. The slogan for the week was "South Houston Intermediate gives drugs the boot." Faculty and students wore slippers to "slip away from drugs." Teachers participated in "Crazy Hat Day." (Below left) Student Shamore Vinson participates in a class activity. (Below right) Teachers show off their headwear on "Crazy Hat Day." (Bottom) Students Jocelyn Leyva, Fernanda Conde, Yalonda Sam, Briana Foster, Rayiona Green, Kristina Tarango, Ruby Luvan and Jazmin Gonzalez show off their slippers.

Lesson plans developed by NASA's Education Outreach Project blasted off into the classroom at Lomax recently.

The plans are geared toward the promotion of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) into everyday lessons. Using the International Space Station as the foundation, NASA engineers developed plans aligned to the National Science Standards. Teachers of Lomax taught the lessons and provided input on how to make the lessons more student friendly. Teachers and NASA engineers discussed the lessons, compared notes and worked working together to make sure the lessons were as exciting and fun as everyone had planned.

Aerospace engineers from Johnson Space Center in Houston and Pasadena ISD Superintendent Dr. Kirk Lewis were on the campus to watch the lessons.

(Below) Dr. Lewis joins in the lesson activities with Lomax students.

Seventh-grade science students constructed a life-size human -- completed with hand-constructed body parts -- as part of a recent study in anatomy. Science teacher Don Becker provided a wooden frame and the students used various building materials to add the body systems. Event photo follows.

Ambassadors from Keller attended the meeting of the Pasadena City Council this week and gave a brief address. Event photo follows.

Students and staff at Milstead are observing Red Ribbon Week by wearing funny ties and silly socks to school. On Monday, the school used the theme: "We tie Down Drogs." The theme on Tuesday: "Sock It To Drugs." Event photos follow.

Thompson yearbooks are now on sale. The cost is $40. For additional information, contact Erica Alvarez at 713-740-0510.

Fifth-graders at Melillo carved a few science lessons out of the Halloween season recently during Pumpkin Lab experiments. (Below left) Colin Averre shows how much he loves hands-on projects; (below right) Pete Barrientos and Sergio Martinez dig for the seeds of knowledge.

De Zavala students arrived in two loaded buses last Saturday (Oct. 23) to see the Houston Dynamo soccer team in action. The students achieved all three of their goals in the Dynamo's "Score at School" program and, in doing so, earned a free game ticket. To earn a ticket, a student had to complete all homework assignments, complete all classwork and earn excellent grades in conduct. (Below) De Zavala fifth-graders Jasmine Vargas, Crystal Escobar, Judith Dominguez and (front) Ashley Flores enjoy the game.

.

As part of the school's Homecoming observance, Miller celebrated "Twin Day" last week, an effort to coordinate and match attire, no matter how weird. Administrators jumped on the idea faster than a speeding bullet. (Below) Superman "twins" show their muscles: (front) Assistant Principal Jessica Swenson, Principal Kim Kelley, Peer Facilitator and Costume Designer Carol Baird; (middle) Assistant Principal Andrea Zepeda and Counselor Patty Hooks; (back) Assistant Principal Joe Rabago and Counselor Rumalda Rivera.

The Keller cheerleaders were invited to team up with the cheerleaders from Sam Rayburn High for the Texans' game against South Houston on Saturday. Event photo follows.

Beth Scroeder, Jackson's librarian, took seven students to Blue Willow Bookstore in Houston recently for a book signing featuring science fiction writer Scott Westerfeld. (Below standing) Jackson students Gaby Tovar, Ana Castillo, Ruben Gonzalez, Maria Rodriguez and Jesus Perez; (kneeling) Emily Melchor and Lyza Navarro.

De Zavala Students of the month are Destiney Alston, Mikayla Bush, Matthew Bravo and Mario Avila. The students were selected by their teachers on the basis of good citizenship and high character.

Students and staff at Jackson celebrated Spirit Week before the Wildcats' big showdown with Thompson last week.

 
(Left) Monica Guerra, eighth-grade assistant principal, with Monica Guerra, voted the most spirited eighth-grader, and Edgar Lopez, eighth-grade assistant principal, with seventh-grader Cruz; (Right) Football players Jonathan Franco, Uriel Hill and Tomas Medina.

Cheerleaders in their Spirit Shirts: (top) Jessica Castillo, Alexis Garcia, Briseyda, Castaneda, Andrea Mayorga, Cynthia
Moreno and Annette Rivera; (bottom) Evelyn Gamboa, Zulema Ojeda, Aesha Blackmon, Patty Escareno, Vianey Espinoza
and Nancy Villarreal.

 
Coach Kenneth Grubb sings "My Girl" at the Spirit Week Pep Rally.

Joel Espino, a sixth-grader at De Zavala, placed second in the Houston Fire Museum's Fire Prevention Poster Contest.

The second-place finish earned Espino (below) $200 in cash and the  honor of riding in the Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade with the fire chief on a firetruck.

His poster was in competition with over 140 others from middle schools, intermediate schools and high schools all over the  Greater Houston area.

Winners of the contest were announced last Friday, Sept. 24.

Twenty-eight Beverly Hills orchestra students were chosen to participate in the Region XIX Clinic and Concert in January at Kingwood Park High School. These students earned spots on the Region XIX Middle School Orchestra. Fourteen students were selected to perform with the Symphony Orchestra and 14 with the Philharmonic Orchestra.

(P): Selected to Philharmonic Orchestra. (S): Selected to Symphony Orchestra.

The Lomax Chapter of the National Elementary School Honor Society inducted 153 new members last week, nearly four times as many as a year ago.

During the induction ceremony, each member recited the Honor Society Pledge and received a membership certificate. The Lomax Chapter will participate in three service projects this year: a food drive for the holidays, a effort to help the PISD Police Toy Drive and the Linus Project, which involves making blankets for adults and children in the hospital.

(Below left) Dannya Hernandez receives her Honor Society certificate from Norma Penny, Lomax principal. (Below right) Sonya Roy, Mason Davis, Audrey Kaiser and Thomas Hinesley show off their certificates.

Melody Garza (below), a fifth-grader at Shaw, took third place at the recent District Punt, Pass & Kick competition.

The volleyball teams at Thompson are winding down the season. (Below) Seventh-graders Ashley Perez, Alaina Sitka and Marissa Longoria in action. (Bottom) Ashley Perez, Rebecca Nickelson, Marissa Longoria and Alaina Sitka congratulate their opponent.

The Thompson choir, under the direction of George Martin, held its first concert of the year at Dobie High School recently. (Below) Kritina Enriquez sings during the concert.

 Thirty-seven eighth-graders from Thompson ventured to Keystone Science School in Keystone, Colo., earlier this month.

 The school is a non-profit organization that tailors instruction to state standards. Students learned about standard science curriculum and also about the world around them.

 They were introduced to ideas of conservatism as it pertains to them and their surroundings. Students were encouraged to learn to respect themselves, nature and the Earth. These students were privileged to learn about science and nature as they hiked through the Colorado Rockies.

 The students were chaperoned by Holly Bailey, Sherial Caswell, Mary Curtis, Jennifer Guerrero, Susie Haas, LaMona Lemarr, David Petit and Carol Waters.

Students and staff and DeZavala participated in a "Mr. Pumpkin" raffle recently to raise money for field trips. (Below) Fifth-graders Adrian Gonzalez and Giselle Garcia show of their raffle prizes.

  In honor of National School Lunch Week, the cafeteria staff at Beverly
Hills served up prizes to students.

  The big winner was Alexis Jimenez, who claimed first place in the
essay contest. Jimenez won an IPOD shuffle,Skullcandy Ear Buds,
a pair of $10 ITUNES cards and an ice cream pass.

  A drawing was held to give away similar prizes. All students who purchased a school lunch were eligible for the drawing.

  Cafeteria workers purchased special shirts to promote good nutrition. Nutrition information, bookmarks, wrist bands, pencils and rulers were available at each register for the students to pick up as they came
through the lunch line.

(Right) Maria Noyola, cafeteria assistant manager, models the shirt commemorating National School Lunch Week.

Essay winner Alexis Jimenez (left), receives her prizes from Debra Murray, cafeteria manager, and Maria Noyola, cafeteria assistant manager; Prize-winners Alexis Jimenez, Ashley Castillo, Cristian Vega, Alexis Gamble and Zachary Amador with Debra Murray and Maria Noyola.

Keller inducted 24 students into the National Elementary School Honor Society this week. (Below, left) New inductees Yvette Molina, Juanita Montez, Nora Stillwell and Sergio Espinosa Tovias. (Below, right) Eduardo Medina lights his Honor Society candle.

Melillo student Edwin Saldivar (below) won the district title in Punt, Pass & Kick competition last weekend. Saldivar completed in the Boys 10-11 category.

De Zavala fifth- and sixth-graders recently competed in Punt, Pass & Kick competition with 10 advancing to the district round. (Below) Coach Erik Woods poses with his champions (front) Justin Silva, Maximino Rivera, Arlene Guillon and Giselle Garcia; and (top) Omar Almanza, Bryan Galindo, Billy Ahumada, Dulce Hernandez, Yeorgina Cardenas and Norelba Galvan.

Thompson Principal Toni Lopez served as the first guest reader for Campaign READ recently. She sat down with a group of eighth-grade girls and discussed the benefits of reading and college readiness. She shared an excerpt from her favorite novel, "Among the Hidden."

Emily R. Cruz, Thompson's peer facilitator, described her passion for reading and invited the students to read her favorite book, "House on Mango Street," by Sandra Cisneros.

Prudencio Reyna, Thompson counselor, finished the event with a motivational discussion about obtaining personal goals as young women.

Campaign READ participants (front) Alisa Gonzales, Jennifer Ramirez, Danielle Cisneros, Mayra Bustillo, Cybelle Cerda, Dalcia, Garcia, Sabrina Bernal and Thompson Peer Facilitator Emily Cruz; (back) Thompson Counselor Prudencio Reyna, Schawnee Galicia, Daysi Hernandez, Jaquelin Partida, Thompson Principal Toni Lopez, Alyssa Medrano, Diana Contreras, Graciela Quiroz, Yesenia Rodriguez and Issa Rojas.

Two busloads of De Zavala students ventured to the Marine Aquarium at Moody Gardens last Saturday (Oct. 16) to see the Coral Reef Project exhibit. (Below) Alejos Gonzales and Jesus Rodriguez size up some coral artifacts.

Jackson parents had two good reasons to come to school last week. School officials paired Report Card Night with Book Fair. (Below) Jackson student Anel Gonzalez browses the shelves during Book Fair.

Miller faculty and staff hosted a surprise reception on Friday for Jessica Swenson, the school's new assistant principal, at the end of her first day on the job.

Swenson comes to Miller from Dobie High School, where she served as journalism teacher and testing coordinator.

Miller Principal Kimberly Kelley presented Swenson with a goodie bag. The reception, organized by Carol Baird, the school's peer facilitator, featured cake and punch for faculty and staff.

Also on hand were Swenson's parents, both Pasadena ISD employees. Mary Carter is a teacher at Melillo Middle School. Al Carter is communications specialist for the district.

Miller Principal Kimberly Kelley (right) treats Jessica Swenson to a goodie bag during her surprise reception on Friday. 

New Miller Assistant Principal Jessica Swenson tries on her
new Falcons shirt.

Representatives of Albemarle Corporation visited Jackson recently to makd e generous donation of school supplies and shirts to students. (Below) Albemarle representatives Karen Berner and Karen Bounds, Community in Schools representative Irma Reyna, Jackson Principal Paula Sword, and Jackson Assistant Principals Monica Guerra and Edgar Lopez.

Football players, cheerleaders and dancers with the South Houston Wildcats youth program were guests of the South Houston Indians this week for a game against Park View at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The cheerleader squads, young and old, did yells side-by-side, and the Wildcats' Rhythmettes dance squad performed at halftime. The Wildcats players got to watch some big-boy football. In the game, the Indians defeated Park View 34-0. Event photos follow.

Homeroom teachers at Lomax selected their Colt All-Stars based upon SPIRIT character qualities -- self-discipline, positive attitude, initiative, responsibility, integrity and teamwork. (Below) Students named were (front) Amanda Lopas, Juana Torres, Gabriela Baides, Nathalie Olivas, Jayleen Garza and Katy Wheeler; (middle) Sonya Roy, Amy Oquin, Samantha Demers, Mason Davis, Amie DeLeon and Audrey Kaiser; and (top) Lisette Wong, Maria Rossodivita, Jese Ramirez, Ismael Salas, Maryellen Weiser and Marina Rockholt.

Hero Week at De Zavala was a huge success. Students were visited by professionals who serve the criticial needs of others in the community. (Below) Fifth-grader Karen Zuniga tries on a fire-fighting outfit with the assistance of firefighter Clemente Rivas, who contributed to the occasion by reading "Heroes For My Son" to the class. (Bottom) Pasadena police offer Bobby Keen visits with D.A.R.E. fifth-graders Pedro Jacinto, Juanita Alonzo, Katia Cavazos and Eric Tamayo.

Twenty Southmore band members earned Pasadena All-City honors last Saturday. These students will perform with the All-City Bands in a special Halloween Concert on Oct. 30 at Beverly Hills Intermediate. Leading the way for Southmore were Jonathan Salazar, named first chair best flutist; Jacob Freeman, named first chair best oboist; and Guillermo Cortez, named first chair, best B-flat clarinet.

Other All-City band members from Southmore are:

Emilie Dimmick, flute

Cristina Driskill, flute

Yesenia Rdoriguez, B-flat clarinet

Jeffrey Solis, B-flat clarinet

Reginald Fonte, alto saxophone

Nohemi Trevino, bass clarinet

Josue Chirinos, B-flat trumpet

Megan Wallace, B-flat trumpet

Stephanie Llamas, B-flat trumpet

Matthew Busby, B-flat trumpet

Hector Jauregui, B-flat trumpet

Edgar Castillo, French horn

Josue Montemayor, French horn

Omar Perales, trombone

Ebert Fabian, trombone

Eduardo Valles, tuba

Genaro Torres, percussion

Alternates:

Flor Avalos, alto saxophone

Adrian Cano, baritone saxophone

Karen Moreno, French horn

Ricardo Andrade, euphonium

Members of the 200 Club, the newest motivational program at Bondy, were treated to a catered lunch from Antonio's recently. Each member was invited to bring an adult guest. The lunch was a reward for good behavior records. (Below) 200 Club members enjoy lunch with their parents. (Bottom) Among those attending the lunch were students Mango Espinosa and Carlos Orellana with his mother.

A dedication ceremony was held at Jackson recently to receive a new flag presented to the school by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. The flag flew over the Alamo on Sept. 11. (Below) Jackson Principal Paula Sword and students Erendira Almanza and Ruben Ferrer receive the flag from Nita Wilkinson, representing the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

Jackson Intermediate served up report cards and dinner for students and their parents last week. Report Card Night is a chance for teachers and parents to get together in a casual environment and discuss students' academic progress. (Below) Eighth-grade math teacher Randy Allen confers with student Andrea Mayorga and her dad, Rudy Mayorga.

Sales hit a new record at the De Zavala Book Fair, held in conjunction with Open House on Thursday night, Oct. 7. Pictured below are sixth-graders Jaime Fernandez, Max Rivas, Brandon Gonzalez, Josue Arguello and Karina Vega.

Students and faculty at Schneider observed their annual Greek Week tradition with the focus on the culture and contributions of the Spartans. Social Studies students enjoyed a glimpse of what it was like to be a Spartan. Students voted on Greek names for their teams and decorated banners for the week's grand finale. A pep rally brought the week to a close. Activities at the rally included a baton relay, basketball toss, scooter relay and a performance by the Schneider band. The top three teams received trophies. Event photo follows.

Consultant Joshua Horton came to campus recently to meet with Schneider math teachers on the importance of incorporating visualization and verbalization techniques in the development of mathematics concepts and skills. Teachers practiced the strategies and took them back to their classrooms. Event photo follows.

Bears of the Month for September are (front) Nhi Nguyen and Cristina Lopez; (back) Victor Hinojosa, Christian Villanueva, Jasmyn Hernandez, Jorge Reyna, Sam Valdez, Jeremy Reyna and Antonio Cuellar. Also named but not pictured are Georgette Wandji, Jailene Reyes and Christina Castillo. The Bear of the Month characteristic for September was "adaptability." Students were selected based upon this characteristic.

For the fourth year in a row, Thompson topped all other Pasadena ISd schools in the sale of breast cancer awareness shirts. The school sold more than 150 of the shirts. Thompson staff members were among the thousands who participated in the Komen Race for the Cure last Saturday.

Thompson participants (front) Carol Waters, Bob Boyes, Gina Gibson, Sue Evans, Jessica
Krustchinsky, Jenny Spray, Erica Alvarez and Debbie Scheffer; (middle) VeAnn Richards,
Stacey Kennedy, Susie Haas, Yolanda Grant, Nancy O'Connell, Laura Tuttle, Amy Whalen,
Joyce Koska and Felicia Petit; (back) Sherial Caswell, Todd Taylor, George Martin, Bill Kirchman,
Assistant Principal Dan Hoppie, Holly Bailey, Martha Weatherford and Jennifer Guerrero.

Gulf Coast Educators Credit Union participants (front) Joe Cuellar, Roxy Covarrubias, Selena
Lopez, Krystal Clark, Elena Chapa, Trisha Garza, Leslie Gonzalez, Alyssa Pattison, Katy Jernigan
and Pam Ladd; (middle) Zeke Nieto, Marshall Bennett, Cheryl Mundy, Brittany Jackson, Rhonda
Kirchman and Adam Smith; (back) Keagan Hebert, Taylor Hebert, Brandon Vorse, Stephanie
Hill, Blessy Abraham, Whitney Jewell and Michael Barry.  
 

The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce presented a "Building of the Month" Beautification Award on Wednesday, Oct. 6, to San Jacinto Intermediate. Chamber representatives toured the school and were guests at a reception. Event photo follows.

De Zavala students are making the most of their Sustained Silent Reading time. Students have made a pledge to engage in 20 minutes of reading time each day. Readers below are fifth-graders Kassandra Lozano and Bryan De Leon.

ACE students at Keller gathered at the school for Solar Dog Day recently, the culminating event in the program's interdisciplinary studies program. Event photos below.

De Zavala staff gathered recently to honor the school's custodians, who were presented with cards and cupcakes. Event photo follows.

De Zavala students Diego Maldonado and Shiv Kumar (below) took first and second places, respectively, in the Pasadena Rodeo Art contest.

The Thompson band was in fine form last week at Veterans Memorial Stadium as the Thompson Eighth-Grade "A" Team cruised to a 38-6 victory over Bondy. Below, Zoe Cortez and Elizabeth Gaona play their clarinets while the band plays under the direction of conductors Ryan Mahler and Shelby Yocum.

Thompson staff members joined over 35,000 others in the Komen Race for the Cure on Saturday. Participants (below) were (front) Katina Kirk, Carol Waters and Sandy Waters (Westbrook Intermediate); and (back) Sue Evans, Laura Tuttle, Sheila Smith, Yvonne Pena, Ray Broussard, Cathy Broussard and Gina Gibson.

Some three dozen Queens students have become regulars at the school's twice-weekly meetings of the Chess Club. A total of 50 students have signed up for the club, which is sponsored by faculty member Aislinn Clinch.

The Teen Leadership Program at De Zavala considered the serious issue of school bullying this week. Students welcomed to campus Jennifer Guerra of the Bay Area Council on Drugs and Alcohol, who led the discussion.

Cynthia Wright's American History students at Beverly Hills traveled back to the days of Thomas Jefferson recently by taking a virtual tour of Colonial Williamsburg right in their classroom. Students examined the foods, habits, living conditions and pastimes of colonial Americans. Colonial toys and other items-- including marbles, nine pins, tin whistles, a fife and a practice musket -- were big hits with the students.

Amabely Reyna, American history teacher Cynthia Wright
and Joann Zavala in colonial garb.     

Joann Zavala tries on a colonial mob cap.  
 

Maurice Hightower sizes up a practice musket. 
 

A new biometrics program at De Zavala is changing the way students go about their day. The new fingerprinting program is already in use in the cafeteria, where students, such as sixth-grader Jesus Torres (below), are scanned as they go through the line.

Thompson's Seventh-Grade "B" Team rolled to a 41-7 victory over Bondy this week. The Lions' other two seventh-grade teams also won. The "A" Team beat Bondy 57-0. The "C" team beat Friendswood 7-6.

Verek Leonard, quarterback for Thompson's Seventh-Grade "B" Team, takes the snap against
Bondy.  
 

Reeno Green carries the ball for the Seventh-Grade "B" Team in the Lions' victory over Bondy.

   
Nick Alvarez tackles a Bondy ball-carrier while Raekwon Harvey (14) and Darius Hyppolite (35) rush
in for support.

Sixth-grade bilingual students at De Zavala are making a science out of science. Alonzo Garcia, Hector Rodriguez and Jose Alvarado proudly display their density tubes during a recent experiment.

More than four dozen Thompson students joined with 15 teachers in the recent "See You at the Pole" gathering held by the Christ on Campus student organization.

"See You at the Pole" is a student-initiated, student-organized and student-led national event during which students at more than 1,200 schools in four states gather around their school flag pole to pray for their friends and fellow students.

At Thompson, Christ on Campus meets every Thursday before school from 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. in the choir room. Faculty sponsors are Cliff Neel, Todd Taylor and George Martin.

Thompson students gather at the flag pole.    
 

Two Thompson students, Imelda Branch and Orlando Escamilla, were recently named local finalists for the "Do the Write Thing" Texas Challenge.

Last year Thompson writing students were asked to answer three questions about how to end violence. Then each composed an essay on the topic in which they drew from their own experiences and told how those experiences impacted their lives and the lives of their peers. Essays were submitted for competition, and Branch and Escamilla were among the finalists.

Their essays were published in a book containing all the finalists essays. The books were distributed to civil leaders.

Thompson essay finalists Imelda Branch and Orlando Escamilla.  
 

De Zavala's Technology Club encourages students to combine the wonders of technology with the joy of reading. Picture below are new members Alberto Torres and Armando Escalera.

Sixth-graders science students Kathy Rangel and Miyagui Esupinan have been selected by their teacher, Connie Henriques, as Scientist Leaders.

The Thompson Eighth-Grade "A" team took on rival Beverly Hills at Veterans Stadium this week and reveled in everything except the final score. The Bears won 14.6. Scenes from the contest follow.

Dandre Jackson uses a stiff-arm to gain extra yardage.  
 

Beverly Hills eight-grader Joe Gonzalez is helped up by
Thompson's Deandre Jackson (left) and Mason Miller.  
 

Thompson staff members cheer on the Lions. First and second row: Daliah Castillo and Carol
Waters. third row: Jenifer Hill, Brian Mason, Erica Alverez and Jennifer Guerrero. Fourth row:
Gina Gibson, Felicia Petit, Cliff Neel and George Martin. Fourth row: Stephanie Libroho, Sue
Evans, Joe Peabody and Assistant Principal Dan Hoppie.  
 

Students of the month at San Jacinto are (top) eighth-graders Dallas Batz and Lorena Perez, (bottom) seventh-graders Tiffanee Woodard and Marvin Valverde.

Two big names in the boxing world, Maurice "Termite" Watkins and Kenny Weldon, went toe-to-toe with Jackson students recently at the school's Mentor Luncheon. The Albemarle Corporation sponsored the appearance.

Watkins became a Golden Glove champion at 16, won 128 amateur bouts and went on to post a career record of 58-5-2 as a professional. A Houstonian, Watkins earned his nickname from his work in his family's pest-control business.

After retiring from boxing, he worked as a fumigator in Iraq as part of the U.S. government's efforts to rebuild the Iraqi infrastructure. That led to a much-publicized stint as boxing coach for the 2004 Iraqi Olypmic boxing team.

Weldon is recognized as one of boxing's premier trainers. Formerly Watkins' trainer, Weldon operates Texas World Class Boxing in Pasadena. He has trained three Olympians and 32 world champions.

Kenny Weldon (left) and 'Termite' Watkins (second from right) discuss boxing with Jackson students Edgar Rincon and Luis Torres.  
 

Kenny Weldon holds court with Jackson students. 

Jackson students pair up with their mentors during the group's monthly luncheon.  
 

Members of the STELLAR staff at Texas State University visited Schneider Middle School's LIFT Parent Academy on Tuesday to learn more about the success of the program and note parent feedback.

In 2009, Schneider was the recipient of the Texas English Language Learners Achieving in Science (TELLAS) Grant from the STELLAR center. The program focuses on helping bilingual and non- English speaking parents become involved in student activities. Parents themselves attend classes that support vocabulary and content knowledge.

"We learned how to help our children in ways we didn't know before," Schneider parent Jose Garza said. "This type of program creates better communication between the parents and teachers."

The program, which initially focused on learning science, is expanding, at the request of parents, to include math and reading. Meetings are held every Tuesday at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. A turnout of 50 to 70 parents per meeting is the norm.

"It's all about empowering our parents and giving them a voice, especially our non- English speaking parents, so they can be active in their children's education," TELLAS Coordinator Amy House said, "and we've had a great response from our parents."

The grant, originally given to Texas State by the Texas Education Agency, provides funding for the program. Schneider was chosen by Texas State as the pilot school for the program. As a result of the program's success, Schneider has been chosen to continue its participation in the TELLAS program.

For more information about the STELLAR center please visit http://www.stellarcenter.txstate.edu/tellas.html." 

STELLAR staff members conduct feedback interviews with Schneider Middle School students and their parents.  
 

Keller will host its third annual Faculty Follies on Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. in the school cafeteria. All current and past students and their families are invited to attend. Come and see your Keller teachers' talent - or lack thereof!

Ready, Set, Teach students from Memorial High visited Lomax Middle School recently to observe teachers and students during small-group settings. This is the third year for the Memorial Ready, Set, Teach program to collaborate with the staff and students from Lomax.

Gayle Purcell (right), peer facilitator at Lomax, escorts Memorial High students around campus.
 


 

Parents are invited to attend Hero Week at De Zavala Oct. 4-8. Local police officers and firefighters will be reading books to De Zavala students in the library.

The Reading Rapido Bilingual Learning Center has kicked off its third year at De Zavala. The center, made possible by a grant from the Pasadena ISD, increased English language skills with the help of literature CDs and partner-reading of on-line books in a laptop station.

Saul Cisneros (center), an honor roll student at De Zavala,
huddles with his new friends, Wilmer Ramirez and Jesus
Rubio, two participants in De Zavala's Reading Bilingual
Center. Cisneros volunteers three days each week at the
center to teach English vocabulary to his schoolmates.
 


 

Miller eighth-graders from the 2009-2010 school year participated in a first-aid clinic in May. Submitted photos from the event follow.

New to the Thompson faculty this year are (front row) Sarah Librojo, eighth-grade ELAR; Stacy Kennedy, seventh- and eighth-grade history; (back row) Sharon Curry, seventh-grade ELAR; Abby Seible, assistant choir director; George Martin, choir director; and Rebecca DeLaGarza, girls P.E. coach. Thompson Principal Toni Lopez (far right) welcomes the newcomers to campus.

It's not every day that Seahawks dress out in Texans gear, but that was the case last week when the Shaw Seahawks held a pair of pep rallies to root for the Houston Texans and to celebrate Back to Football Friday. The pep rallies were part of a contest sponsored by the NFL to find the school with the most Texans spirit. The winning school will receive $10,000 and a visit by a Texans player. The prize will be announced on Oct. 4. Event photos follow.

Stan Whalen checks out a book to eighth-grader Albert Flores during the Thompson Book Fair last week. Proceeds from the event to toward purchasing new books and other programs for Thompson students.

Nearly 400 parents, grandparents, relatives and students turned out for Thompson's annual open house last week and the unveiling of the Lions' newly repainted campus. Principal Toni Lopez gave a warm welcome. Teachers introduced the curriculum to parents and offered advice on re-enforcing studying skills. Parents expressed strong interest in the Book Fair, the school athletics booster club and the PTO program.

Thompson staffers Sheila Smith and Debbie Sheffer show
off the Lions' new spirit shirt during open house.  
 

Thompson teachers Carol Waters and Susie Haas peddle treats during a recent Lions football game. The Thompson Science Department is selling refreshments at home seventh - and eighth-grade football games this fall to raise funds for the Lions' Keystone Science School trip to Keystone, Colo.

Ashton Craven (12), Julian Coronado (27) and Austin Perkins (40) -- all members of Thompson's Eighth-Grade B Team -- race downfield on the weather-delayed opening kickoff of the 2010 football season. The Lions beat San Jacinto in their opener 27-6. All four Thompson teams won their openers.

Kristopher Bossier, a fifth-grader at Carter Lomax Middle School, was honored recently for winning first place in a patriotism essay writing contest. Bossier placed first in the Class I category of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 521 Essay Contest. He wrote his winning essay last year while a student at Genoa Elementary.

Essay-winner Kristopher Bossier (center) is engulfed by well-wishers,

including (from left, top) his fourth-grade teacher from Genoa Elementary,

Steven Sawyer; Troy McCarley, Pasadena ISD's Associate Superintendent

for Campus Development; and Genoa Principal Tiffany Bennett. American

Legion representatives are (below) Karren Allen, Diana King and Thelma

Harrison. Veterans Randy George and A.K. Love (above right) also took

part.

Eighth-graders at San Jacinto Intermediate will again take part in the Artist Boat Program, an in-the-classroom and on-the-water experience designed to enhance the students' appreciation of coastal habitants. An eco-art workshop will be held on campus Sept. 21-22. The workshop will feature lessons on Galveston Bay and exercises in producing water-color paintings of coastal wildlife. In October, the eighth-graders will participate in a four-hour kayak trip through waterways along Galveston Bay.