Crossing the Finish Line - Challenger December Graduation
Submitted by Gregg Faith, LISD Public Information Officer
      

The Livingston ISD Challenger Academy held their graduation ceremony on December 20, 2007 at the Livingston High School Auditorium. The program which is designed to help non-traditional students meet the requirements necessary for their high school diploma is finishing its eleventh semester in existence with amazing success. 

The Challenger Academy is designed to lower drop-out rates and provide students often lost by the current classroom system. “The primary purpose of the Challenger Academy is to address the needs of those students that seemed to be heading toward the path of leaving school with no options for finishing their education,” said Judson Pritchard, Director of Community Services and Challenge Academy Administrator. “The Challenger Academy gives students a chance to cross the finish line with a diploma in their hand or be guided towards obtaining their GED.” 

The academy, which is currently housed in the LISD Building on Milam Street, is designed to hold a maximum of twenty-four seniors and is running at full capacity with a ten person waiting list.  Teachers, Sandra Overhoff and Theta Zellars use the NovaNet online curriculum to guide students in a self-paced environment toward completing the graduation requirements. Students also receive tutoring and counseling from guidance counselor who has been with the program from the beginning.  Since the academy’s induction in the Fall semester of 2001, Livingston ISD has seen its dropout rates lowered considerably and have graduated students from the program every semester. 

“When students are given a system that works best for their needs,” says Liddle, “they are going to find a way to be successful.  Students don’t drop out because they don’t want to finish.  We are offering them an opportunity to change their school outcome and many of them take advantage of that deal.”

Besides helping the students to finish the requirements necessary for their diploma, the program works with graduating seniors to develop a plan past high school.  Aware that a good paying job now requires at least two years of post high school education, Academy staff members work with students to get started on a work path. 
“These kids want to get their diploma and get a strong paying job. We want to give them the foundations toward that goal,” says Pritchard.

The project, which was created by the LISD’s board of trustees, continues to thrive and grow.   The current full roster,  and growing list of Challenger Academy alumni is a testament to the need for alternative education choices for many of today’s students.  The school district will hold another graduation in the Spring and is hoping that with a growing list of participants, more students will cross the finish line of getting a high school diploma.

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Creating Pathways to Careers
Submitted by Gregg Faith, LISD Public Information Officer
      

Livingston ISD - On Wednesday, January 9, 2008 Livingston ISD administrators, counselors, principals, Career Technology Education teachers, and instructional specialists held an important meeting to revolutionize the opportunities available for local high school students. Using the Achieve model provided by the state, local educators are working to align our curriculum and class choices to help guide students toward their career pathway.

"The concept behind the decisions that we are making now," says Diana Kelm, Assistant Superintendent of Special Programs, "is to help create a course selection and guide that will allow a student to take the right classes for their career interests. If a student wants to follow a career path when they graduate, we want to make sure that they took the right courses while in High School to help them determine if this is the true career they wish to pursue."

"The result of aligning our course selections with the state career clusters and pathways is that we will have more course offerings and more efficient course offerings," says Janan Moore, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, "Students and their parents will have an easier time knowing what the student needs to take to graduate in a good place to start their career goal."

Expect to see positive changes and results when the new course guide is released this Spring for the 2008-2009 school year.

Senior Cap and Gown Retakes
Submitted by Marci Dickens, Livingston High School
Senior cap & gown and retakes on casuals and formal portraits will be taken on Tuesday, January 15th in the auditorium. All seniors and graduating juniors need to come by the journalism room, S-102, to schedule a time by Friday, January 11th. The cap & gown and formal portraits will be used in the yearbook and the Enterprise graduation edition in May.

Those who did not have their portraits made in the summer or do not have them made on the 15th will not appear in the 2008 yearbook. Call 328-2267 or email Mrs. Dickens at mdickens@livingstonisd.com for more information.

Little Belles Dance Clinic
Submitted by Jami Alexander, Livingston High School
Date: Saturday Feb. 2, 2008
Livingston Intermediate School Gym
Grades K-5

Time: Registration will be from 8:30 to 9:00
Clinic from 9:00 to 11:30
Peformance for parents/guests at 11:45

Cost: $40 per participant. This includes a t-shirt, drinks & snacks, picture with Belles and dance music CD.

Participants from this clinic will have the chance to perform the dance they learned with the Belles at the Lion's Varsity basketball game on Tuesday Feb. 5.

Registration packets will be sent home through the schools. For more information contact Jami Alexander at the high school 328-2240.

Registration forms may be brought/mailed to the school prior to the clinic or participants can register that morning.

FAFSA Assistance Meeting - Jan. 22, 2008
Submitted by Sandy Gilbert, Livingston High School
If you have a child who will be attending college or a vocational school after graduation and you have need of financial aid, it is important that you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you would like help completing your FAFSA, I have arranged for a financial aid advisor, Rebecca Daughtry, from Angelina College to be at Livingston High School on January 22, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the high school library.

She will take appointments every 15 minutes during this time, (except from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.) to give individual assistance to parents and/or students in completing their FAFSA. To schedule an appointment, contact Sandra Gilbert, LHS senior counselor, at 936-328-2250 and I will schedule a time for you to meet individually with Ms. Daughtry.

Please bring any of the following documents that apply to your situation:
*2007 tax information
*W-2 Form
*Social Security Statement
*State/Federal Benefits Statement
*Parent Social Security Number
*E-mail address

Ms. Daughtry is prepared to assist parents who need a Spanish-speaking interpreter if needed. Please let me know if you need this service when you call to schedule your appointment. Your child does not have to be planning to attend Angelina College for you to take advantage of her assistance.

Local Teacher Speaks at Fine Arts Conference
Submitted by Livingston Intermediate School

Livingston ISD - Lucy Thompson, Livingston Intermediate’s Music teacher, will be presenting “Handbells, A Hands-On Approach to Music” at the Fine Arts Conference in Huntsville at Region VI. The conference covers Dance, Music, Art, and Theater where teachers from this region come to share and learn new ideas from each other. Congratulations! We are looking forward to having her represent our district.

Hamburger/
cheeseburger
on bun
Burger salad or
Beef stew w/crackers
French fries
Fresh fruit
Milk

Power Lifting - 2008 Season
Girls Soccer - 2007 Season
Boys Soccer - 2007 Season
Junior High Basketball - 2007 Season
Boys Basketball Schedule 2007 Season
Girls JH Basketball Schedule 2007 Season
Girls Basketball Schedule 2007 Season
Tennis Schedule -2007 Season

Livingston Junior High Lady Lion Basketball
Thursday, January 10th, 2008
Submitted by Lauren Edmunds, LISD Athletics

8th Grade
Green Team: 25-37
Leading scorer was D’Andrea Youngblood with 8 points and 11 rebounds.  Jacquelyn King had 5 points.  Tori Lyons helped out with 4.  Kaylee Hendrix and Jessica Walding added 2 points each.  Cara Leslie, Chelsea Timmons and Kylie Howard all added one freethrow.

White Team:  30-13
They added another district win to their record while on the road.  Kelly McLendon led the team with 8 points and 4 rebounds.  Keanna Robinson and Destiny Campos helped out with 6 points.  Tatyana Yufereva had 4 points.  Ambar Tamayo, Skyler Rue, and Ieshia Bookman all added a basket each.

7th Grade
Green Team: 17-28
Last night the Lady Lions came out strong against the Waller bulldogs.  We pulled ahead early, then stayed neck and neck into the 4th quarter.  Our top scorer of the night was Mckenzie Criddle and Emily Moore was the top hustler.  In the end of the Lady Lions fell behind but showed more heart and worked more as a team than they have all year. 

White Team: 10-20
Top scorer was Annjalica Lewis
Top Hustler was Hailey Evans

Hailey Evans, Kristy Autrand, Alila Flores and Amie Martin contributed baskets as well.

*Don’t forget to come out and support our 7th and 8th grade teams tonight and tomorrow in our tournament.

Soccer Schedule Changes
Submitted by Deanna Hess, LISD Athletics Dept.

Boys Soccer:
Feb. 8 -  at home  vs., Diboll add JV game at 4:00 pm.  
Mar 11 - l at Diboll -  add JV game at 4 pm.

Girls Soccer:
Jan 15 – at Humble Varsity only at 6:00 pm
Humble does not have a JV girls team.

Lady Lions Basketball Time Changes
Submitted by Pennee Hall, LISD Athletics
On Friday, January 11, 2008, the Lady Lions basketball teams will be playing Waller in Livingston.  Please note the game times below.

9th         6:00                  HS Aux Gym
JV        4:30                  HS Main Gym
V          6:00                  HS Main Gym

Soccer Tournaments - Time and Dates
Submitted by Coach Webb, LISD Athletics

Girls Soccer at New Caney Tournament
   Friday Jan 11, 10:00 am - New Caney
   Friday Jan 11, 1:50 am - CE King
   Friday Jan 11, 5:20 pm - Galena Park
   Saturday Jan 12, 11:10 am - Waller
   Saturday Jan 12, TBA - TBA

Boys Soccer at Corsicana Tournament
   Thursday Jan 10, 6:00 pm - Lubbock
   Friday Jan 11, 6:00 pm - Corsicana
   Saturday Jan 12, 11:00 am - EP Bowie
   Satruday Jan 12, TBA - TBA

"You Can Handle Them All"
Handling Specific Behaviors from www.disciplinehelp.com

The Blurter

Behavior: Specific attitudes and actions of this child at home and/or at school.

• Speaks out automatically-without permission; acts compulsively. Behavior appears over-anxious.
  
  
• Answers when others are called upon. Interrupts when others are talking.
  
  
• Speaks out before teacher finishes speaking.
  
  
• Makes comments during conversation which are irrelevant to the topic at hand.
  
  
• Seeks attention.
  
  
• Oblivious to the needs of others.
  
  
• Seems to lack a sense of fair play.
  
  
• Often slow to complete tasks. However, is quick to promise and seems to have good intentions. Regardless, a lack of follow-through is common.
  
  
• Different from the talker; while the talker talks all the time, this student simply blurts out his/her thoughts spontaneously for the world to hear

Learn more about The Blurter »

Blueberry Pancakes Cooking with the LISD family! - January 11, 2008 Click Here to print this recipe...and cook it for your co-workers, family, or Communications Office!

Ingredients

Nutrition Information:
1 Serving: Calories 200 (Calories from Fat 55 ); Total Fat 6 g (Saturated Fat 1 g); Cholesterol 30 mg; Sodium 200 mg; Total Carbohydrate 35 g (Dietary Fiber 1 g); Protein 2 g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 0%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 18 %; Iron 4 % Exchanges: 1 Starch; 1 Fruit; 1 Fat  *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.