Like the beginning of a new school year, the spring semester in Birdville ISD is filled with exciting opportunities for our students. Battle of the Books, spelling bees, Celebrating Texas Public Schools week, fine arts performances, students competing in academic and skills competitions, and the list goes on. Since the school year began, students have been working hard for their respective competitions.

As I write this, teams from all 21 elementary campuses are finalizing their preparations for BISD’s 2014 Battle of the Books competition on January 30 at the Thomas Coliseum. The purpose of the Battle of the Books is to:

• Promote recreational reading,
• Expose students to a variety of literature,
• Enhance reading comprehension and retention,
• Foster academic competition, and
• Develop the ability to work as a team.

At the conclusion of the 2013-14 school year, elementary students have been reading books from primary to intermediate levels to compete for the coveted Battle of the Books trophy and title. More than 300 students will represent their respective campuses in answering, from memory, specific questions from a list of 25 books. Next month, I will share with you a picture of the winning team.

Also during this time of year, high school students across the region, state and nation begin competing in high-level academic and skills competitions. In these contests, BISD students have the opportunity to showcase their knowledge and skills. Included in these competitions are music students who spent months preparing for multiple auditions for the prestigious honor of being in the 2014 All-State Band or Choir. Thousands of hopeful students statewide began this difficult journey in October, but only a handful of the very best from across the state ever earn the right to be called an All-State Band or Choir member.

At the conclusion of the final round of auditions in January, BISD had 21 musicians achieve the highest individual award a high school music student can attain in Texas by being selected for a Texas All-State Band or Choir. These elite students will travel to San Antonio in February to represent BISD as they perform in the All-State Band or Choir at the Texas Music Educators Association convention.

BISD’s 2014 All-State Band members are:

Haltom High
Audrey Calcote, French horn
Moises Correa, clarinet
Skyler Hill, clarinet
Jessica Lilley, E-flat clarinet
Shane Traylor, trumpet
Jerry Turner, jazz trombone

Richland High
Drake Amador, baritone saxophone
Megan Barnhart, flute
Patrick Byars, jazz trumpet
Daniel Christiansen, trumpet
Jonathan Duer, tenor trombone
Haley Hoffman, English horn
Cody Reynolds, bassoon
Taylor Wyatt, French horn

BISD’s 2014 All-State Choir members are:

Haltom High
Richie Del Christo, tenor 1

Richland High
Matt Garner, tenor 2
Sean Kelly, bass 1
Eunique Thomas-Belmonte, alto 2

Birdville High
Grace Hughes, soprano 1
Hannah Malkey, alto 1
Ashley Rose, soprano 2

I am proud of these students for their accomplishments, and I can promise you, they represent just the tip of the iceberg of the gifted students all across BISD.

Dr. Darrell G. Brown
Birdville ISD Superintendent of Schools