LISD Receives $954,000 from Instructional Facilities Allotment
Submitted by Dr. Darrell Myers, Livingston ISD, September 3, 2008

Livingston ISD -  Livingston ISD will receive an estimated $954,000 in state Instructional Facilities Allotment (IFA) aid to help pay the cost of facilities and to lower the financial cost of school bond programs.

The IFA program was enacted by House Bill 1 of the 75th Legislature. The program provides assistance to school districts in making debt service payments on qualifying bonds or lease-purchase agreements. Bond or lease-purchase proceeds must be used for the construction or renovation of an instructional facility.

Great Start for Timber Creek Music Classes
Submitted by Kathy Stark, Timber Creek Elementary, September 3, 2008

Livingston – As the new school year began, the music classes at Timber Creek Elementary started on a beautiful note!  The children reviewed keeping a steady beat as they clapped and played classroom instruments.  They also danced and sang 'Hello' songs. 

The composer of the month is Handel and the composer of the year is Leroy Anderson.  The children enjoyed listening to "Bugler's Holiday" performed by the United States Marine Band!

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Secret of the Leaves: LIS Reading Renaissance Begins to Grow
Submitted by Kathy Dobbs, Livingston Intermediate, September 3, 2008

Livingston - Mrs. Dobbs is generating excitement for the LIS Reading Renaissance Program with a poem and a life-sized tree that will eventually be filled with leaves and a smile. As students meet their AR Goal, they will be given a leaf with their name on it to add to the tree. Once the tree is filled with leaves, the expression on the tree's face will transform into a smile. Mrs. Dobbs has even written a poem to set the theme for the incentive program. Stay tuned while the tree begins its transformation.

Secret of the Leaves
By Kathy Dobbs

Deep in the Kingdom of Genre stood a mighty tree
Bare of its leaves for all the world to see.
In the surrounding kingdoms, the leaves were lush and green,
Making the grandest forest eye has ever seen.

The tree longed for their secret, but feared to ask why,
And sought to find the answer from a bird in the sky.
“Kind sir, may I ask of you the secret of the leaves?”
“Do not ask me,” came the answer, “Pardon me, if you please.”

Undaunted in the quest, the tree once more looked ′round.
Surely in the ocean depths the secret could be found.
“Tell me the leaves’ secret. To know is my fondest wish.”
“Do not ask me,” came the answer, “for I am only a fish.”

With spirits somewhat dampened, the tree looked ′round once more,
Seeing only things that had been seen before.
Alas! The tree resigned to give up on the task,
For in the whole forest there seemed to be no one else to ask.

“Wait!” exclaimed the tree, “Do I hear whistling in the breeze?”
A young lad, before unseen, strolled happily through the trees
With book in hand, at last he stopped beneath the limbs so bare.
As he began to read the book, leaves popped out everywhere!

The more the lad read, the more the leaves grew
Until the mighty tree was lush and green, too.
“Aha! ′Tis the reading that makes the leaves grow!
The secret of the leaves,” said the mighty tree, “I now know.”

FFA Officers Attend Training
Submitted by Candis Carraway, Livingston ISD FFA, September 3, 2008

Winnie – The Livingston FFA Chapter Officer Team recently attended a training session to prepare themselves for their upcoming year of service.  The officers took part in numerous leadership workshops and planning sessions, as well as learned about various issues and the history of agriculture in Chambers County, yet still had time to have fun by visiting with other FFA officers and members from the East Chambers, Barbers Hill, and Anahuac FFA chapters.

“I enjoyed learning about agriculture in a different part of East Texas.  We were able to watch them harvest rice and examine all the equipment that we normally don’t see in Livingston.” commented Stephen Smith, Livingston FFA President.

Livingston FFA Sentinel, William Bond, added, “My favorite part of our officer training was when we went to the East Chambers Agriculture Department.  They took us to an agriculture museum with a lot of old equipment in it.  Then we went back to their agriculture shop where we visited with FFA members from Anahuac, Barbers Hill, and East Chambers.  We shared ideas for chapter activities and ate some great food.”

By the end of the training session, the officer team was filled with fresh and exciting ideas to begin the new school year. 

“I am glad we were able to bond as a team and plan this year’s activities.  We have a lot of exciting events planned, including a surprising Christmas Pageant.” exclaimed Macye Taylor, Livingston FFA Secretary.

The 2008-2009 Livingston FFA Officer Team consists of the following:

          President – Stephen Smith
          Vice President – Justin Pulley
          Secretary – Macye Taylor
          Treasurer – Ben Plunkett
          Reporter – Garrett McDaniel
          Sentinel – William Bond
          Student Advisor – Josh Goin
          Historian – Amy Spinks
          Sam Houston District President – Charles Moore

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Emerald Belles have Booster Club
Submitted by Jami Alexander, Livingston High School, September 3, 2008

The parents of the Emerald Belles drill team met on August 5th to form the Emerald Belles Booster Club. This club is a parent-driven organization that provides moral, financial and positive support to the LHS Emerald Belles drill team. Membership is required of all drill team parents and is also open to anyone over the age of 18 that would like to help support the Emerald Belles. The cost of membership is $5 per member per year. An executive board was elected and is as follows:

*President - Mary Ellen Riley
*Vice Pres. - Leta Pixley
*Secretary - Eva Puckett
*Treasurer - Alison Breteler
*Public Relations/Community Outreach - Beverly Colvin & Maria Ramirez

The club will meet on the first Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m. in the LHS Cafeteria (tentative location). The next meeting will be held on Sept. 8 due to the the first Monday being a school holiday. The Booster Club is currently planning fundraisers for the coming year. Be watching for more information on how you can help support the Emerald Belles. For questions regarding the Booster Club, please call Jami Alexander @ 328-2240.

"Meet the Lions" Scheduled for September 4, 2008
Submitted by Pennee Hall , Livingston ISD Athletics Department, August 27, 2008

Livingston - "Meet the Lions" - a community wide Pep Rally will be held on Thursday, September 4 after the JV football game (approximately 8 p.m.) at Lion Stadium.  All fall sports, cheerleaders, drill team, JROTC, and band members are invited to participate in this event.

LHS School Portrait Day September 4th
Submitted by Marci Dickens, LHS Journalism Department, August 27, 2008
Livingston -  Underclassmen (9th - 11th graders) will take their school portraits on Thursday, September 4th. All students will get order packets from their English teachers on Tuesday, September 2nd. All students will have their portraits made and those wishing to purchase a package must bring the order packet and payment on the 4th. For more information, email Mrs. Dickens at mdickens@livingstonisd.com and leave a number where she will call you at her earliest convenience.

How much? How many? Where is it?
Submitted by JoAn Delafosse, Pine Ridge Elementary, September 3, 2008

Livingston -  Mrs. Delafosse's awesome students went on an exploration. The students found out how many maps, globes, doors, and class pets are in the classroom...just to name a few! It wasn't as easy as it looked! In their exploration, the students also found that many things were very obvious...while even more things were hidden in plain view!

Fall Sports Schedules Now On-line!
Submitted by LISD Athletics, Daily Leo, August 28, 2008

Check out the schedules available on our new calendar system!
http://livingstonisd.intand.com/index.php?type=list&action=reports

The LIvingston ISD Calendar - September 2008

Wednesday, September 3, 2008
3:30 pm  FFA - Officer Meeting (Officers Only)- Livingston HS
4:00 pm  EB-Rehearsal - Livingston Int  

Thursday, September 4, 2008
4:00 pm LHS - Debate Team Meeting - Livingston HS
4:30 pm ATH - Junior High Volleyball - At Dayton       Away
5:00 pm ATH - Freshman Football - Bellville (Green) - Bellville
5:00 pm ATH - Freshman Football - Montgomery (White) -     Lion Stadium
5:00 pm EB-Rehearsal - Livingston HS
5:30 pm LHS Band - Evening Marching Rehearsal - Livingston HS
6:30 pm ATH - JV Football - Bellville - Lion Stadium
8:00 pm ATH - Meet The Lions Pep Rally -     Lion Stadium

Friday, September 5, 2008
All Day - LHS - "Rope The Brahmas"
4:30 pm - ATH - FRE Volleyball Vs. Crockett             Livingston HS
4:30 pm - ATH - JV Volleyball Vs. Crockett    Livingston HS
4:30 pm - ATH - Varsity Volleyball Vs. Crockett         Livingston HS
7:30 pm - ATH - V Football Vs. Bellville          Brahmas Stadium

Saturday, September 6, 2008
All Day - ATH - SFA University Cross Country Meet Away
ATH - Junior High Volleyball - Huntington Tournament             Away

Monday, September 8, 2008
4:00 pm EB-Rehearsal - Livingston Int
4:30 pm ATH - Junior High Volleyball - Keefer Crossing          Livingston JH
4:30 pm FFA - Sam Houston Officer Training -Huntsville HS
5:30 pm LHS Band - Evening Marching Rehearsal - Livingston HS