FEBRUARY 20, 2012

Dear Team, Below are the current rankings of where each of our homerooms stand as of February 15th in our "I love to be in school attendance challenge".  Our attendance has been suffering in the past couple of weeks which is why the Ops Team has decided to add a Part 2 to our current challenge.  Please open the powerpoint attachment to read more into our "I Love to be in school 2.0".   Dear Team, Below are the current rankings of where each of our homerooms stand as of February 15th in our "I love to be in school attendance challenge".  Our attendance has been suffering in the past couple of weeks which is why the Ops Team has decided to add a Part 2 to our current challenge.  Please open the powerpoint attachment to read more into our "I Love to be in school 2.0".       Week of 2/3/12-2/15/12 Teacher Grade Percentage Cabral 9 100.0% Esquivel 10 99.4% Hinojosa 9 98.8% Manzano 12 98.83% Sanchez 12 98.69% CONGRATULATIONS!  The College Counseling Team informed us that 100% of our current seniors have already been admitted to a college or university this year!  Keep up the good work, Seniors!

MASTERMINDS:  Our Academic Decathlon students participated in a local television competition called MasterMinds last week.  We are proud to announce that IDEA Donna students WON the competition against another local high school.  If you'd like to watch the first episode, it's going to be aired this Sunday, 2/26 at 11am.  You can also watch it online, but only after it airs.  Here's the link:  http://www.krgv.com/masterminds Congratulations, Academic Decathlon students!

CROSS COUNTRY:  The Cross Country team participated in the district meet on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at IDEA San Juan.  The Titan and Lady Titan Cross Country teams both got first place!!!  Congratulations for winning the district meet!!!

NO FRIDAY ASSEMBLY DUE TO EARLY RELEASE ON FRIDAY.  STUDENTS WILL BE RELEASED AT NOON ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24.

ACT TESTING:  This Friday, February 24, grades 8-11 will be participating in ACT testing.  It is extremely important that you do not miss school on that day.  Please take this test seriously!  Improving your ACT scores should be one of your top priorities--a top ACT score will allow you to get into many more colleges and universities!

AFTER SCHOOL DETENTION/WEST WING:  If you have West Wing OR Detention, please make sure that you serve it this week and turn in your work to your teacher.  YOUR TEACHER will be removing the West Wings when they receive the work.  If your name is still on the list by Friday morning, you will have to serve West Wing/Detention on Saturday from 8 am - 11 am. in the cafeteria.  You will have to arrange transportation.

IB LEARNER PROFILE:  The IB Learner of the Week your teachers will be choosing will be “INQUIRER”.  They develop their natural curiosity. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research and show independence in learning. They actively enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives.  Make sure to focus on being an “Inquirer” to be chosen as one of this week’s IB Learners of the Week!

FIELD LESSON FUNDRAISING/PAYMENT:  FIELD LESSONS ARE FAST APPROACHING--MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE MAKING REGULAR PAYMENTS!  Field Lessons will be from May 21-25.  Pick up “Sponsor a Titan” letters from Mrs. Mendez, 373-7035.  Field Lesson costs are $300 for the in-state trip and $800 for the out of state trip. All students should have commitment letters in to Mrs. Mendez by now and have paid for at least half of their trip.

FEB 13-17, ANNOUNCEMENTS

CONGRATULATIONS!  The College Counseling Team informed us that 100% of our current seniors have already been admitted to a college or university this year!  Keep up the good work, Seniors!

MASTERMINDS:  Our Academic Decathlon students participated in a local television competition called MasterMinds last week.  We are proud to announce that IDEA Donna students WON the competition against another local high school.  Our students will be competing again on MasterMinds vs. MedTech on February 20th.  If you'd like to watch the first episode, it's going to be Sunday, 2/26 at 11am.  You can also watch it online, but only after it airs.  Here's the link:  http://www.krgv.com/masterminds Congratulations, Academic Decathlon students!

BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS:  Congratulations to our Varsity Titans Basketball Teams for competing in the Texas Charter School League State Championships.  Our Lady Titans brought home 2nd place in the tourney and our Titans brought home 4th place honors, also.  Way to go, Titan Basketball players!

CROSS COUNTRY:  The district Cross Country meet will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at IDEA San Juan at 4:15 p.m.  Head out to support the Cross Country team!!!

Q2 PERFECT ATTENDANCE PARTIES:  If you had perfect attendance in Quarter 2, you are eligible to attend a perfect attendance party hosted by your teachers this Friday during Intervention time!  This will be held within the next two weeks.  Perfect attendance means no tardies or leaving school early for appointments.  Make sure you are here every minute of every school day for perfect attendance honors!  Promoting our “I love to be in school” Attendance Challenge.  The homeroom with the best attendance during Feb. 2nd – March 3rd wins a movie and pizza day.  Attendance Rankings will be posted on Feb. 15th.   Tactics to improve your attendance: 1.     Take homeroom attendance early 2.     Have students in your homeroom text or call absent students 3.     Call the student and encourage them to come in 4.     Notify Erica Paige or Rolando Salas via email the reason why student is out and we might be able to assist in bringing them in.

NO FRIDAY ASSEMBLY THIS WEEK DUE TO Q2 PERFECT ATTENDANCE PARTIES.

AFTER SCHOOL DETENTION/WEST WING:  If you have West Wing OR Detention, please make sure that you serve it this week and turn in your work to your teacher.  YOUR TEACHER will be removing the West Wings when they receive the work.  If your name is still on the list by Friday morning, you will have to serve West Wing/Detention on Saturday from 8 am - 11 am. in the cafeteria.  You will have to arrange transportation.

IB LEARNER PROFILE:  The IB Learner of the Week your teachers will be choosing will be “Reflective”. They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. They are able to assess and understand their strengths and limitations in order to support their learning and personal development.  Make sure to focus on being “Reflective” to be chosen as one of this week’s IB Learners of the Week!

IB TEACHER OF THE WEEK:  Jennifer Corroy is chosen as this week’s IB teacher of the week.  Ms. Corroy was chosen as an excellent representative of the “Balanced” profile.  Ms. Corroy is making a positive impact on the lives of our IDEA Donna students.  Great job in modeling how to be a “Balanced” to our students, Ms. Corroy!

FIELD LESSON FUNDRAISING/PAYMENT:  Field Lessons will be from May 21-25.  Pick up “Sponsor a Titan” letters from Mrs. Mendez, 373-7035.  Field Lesson costs are $300 for the in-state trip and $800 for the out of state trip. All students should have commitment letters in to Mrs. Mendez by now and have paid for at least half of their trip.  Continue to make payments towards the field lesson!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Must be emailed to Ms. Lopez & Mr. Nguyen by 8 a.m. every Wednesday for the following week.