Texas VASE (Visual Arts Scholastic Event) celebrated its 30th Anniversary this year. In the inaugural year, the contest was held in Houston with a total of 200 entries. The event is now held in San Marcos with over 33,000 entries at the Regional Level, with 2,300 works advancing to State! The pinnacle of artistic success is the Gold Seal Recognition. Birdville ISD had five students recognized for 2024.
Please click on the student names to see these remarkable works:
Another of our students, Ida Wepngong, advanced to state and was awarded the Dr. Jim Henderson Memorial Scholarship for $500. Dr. Henderson was the founding father of this competition and it is a great honor that Ida’s artwork was chosen for this scholarship. We are proud of our talented artists in Birdville ISD!
Birdville ISD recently announced an exciting partnership with Varsity Tutors for Schools to provide all district students with access to the Varsity Tutors for Schools platform at no cost to the district, students or families. The partnership extends from now until Sept. 30, 2030, ensuring students, educators and parents have a rich set of powerful resources for school years to come.
The comprehensive platform integrates interactive study tools, collaborative workspaces, and dynamic learning resources, including:
“Access to the Varsity Tutors for Schools platform can be an invaluable resource in those moments when students need assistance, but cannot get one-on-one time with their teacher,” said Jennifer Miller, Director of Intervention Services at Birdville ISD. “We encourage students to take advantage of access to live human tutors, as well as a wide library of live and on-demand classes to support the subjects they are studying or the passions they are pursuing.”
Over 500 school districts across the country utilize the Varsity Tutors for Schools platform to supplement classroom learning and to effectively close learning gaps. When students need help with homework or are struggling to solve a problem, they can immediately chat with a tutor, 24/7, to get the help they need. Students can take practice tests and follow personal lesson plans for guided self-study. They can also sign up for expert-led live classes, and learn subjects like Geometry, Middle School Math, Elementary School Reading and more, alongside their peers.
“Varsity Tutors for Schools delivers a rich set of learning options to deploy for all students,” said Anthony Salcito, Chief Institutional Officer at Varsity Tutors for Schools. “Our comprehensive platform access is now available to all K-12 schools at no cost, allowing them to budget for targeted intervention with best-in-class high-dosage tutoring options, including flexible implementation models that can put administrative staff, teachers, or parents at the center of the high-dosage tutoring relationship, depending on the needs of the district.” Birdville ISD students can access the Varsity Tutors for School platform by visiting their school portal at https://launchpad.classlink.com/bisdtx.
Haltom High School has been selected as a National Demonstration School by AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), a nonprofit organization that provides educators with proven, real-world strategies to accelerate the performance of underrepresented students so that these students and all students across the entire campus succeed in college, careers, and life.
The school joins approximately 200 other AVID National Demonstration Schools and was selected through an application process, screening, and review, which included a site visit. AVID is implemented in more than 8,000 schools in 49 states across the U.S., plus schools in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), Canada, and Australia, impacting more than 2 million students in grades PreK–12 and postsecondary institutions.
AVID Chief Executive Officer Thuan Nguyen notes the significance of attaining Demonstration Site recognition. “Schools recognized as National Demonstration Sites have proven their ability to successfully implement the AVID Elective course and take the strategies schoolwide to impact all students,” says Nguyen. “Haltom Highwas selected as an AVID National Demonstration School because it has implemented the AVID system throughout the school and can serve as a model for new AVID sites.”
The recognition of being an AVID National Demonstration School was established in 1993 with a $250,000 award from the Charles A. Dana Foundation of New York. As part of the AVID Demonstration Sites network, sites are expected to develop a model program with schoolwide participation. With AVID’s proven methodologies used throughout subject-area classes, performance levels improve for all students, but especially for those students who are the least likely to attend four-year colleges. Schools from around the world that are preparing to implement the AVID system will visit Demonstration Schools, such as this one, to observe a highly evolved AVID system.
Dr. Kristi Strickland, Haltom High’s principal, is pleased that the school was chosen as an AVID National Demonstration School, noting the impact of the program on staff and students. “It is a tremendous honor to be selected as a National Demo Site, and we are proud of our AVID program and our school as a whole,” said Strickland. “The use of AVID strategies schoolwide has positively impacted students and staff, and we continue to see a more engaged and college-ready student body.”
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ABOUT AVID
AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a nonprofit, proven college-readiness system that closes the opportunity gap. Today, more than 8,000 schools in more than 1,300 districts rely on AVID in 49 states across the U.S., plus schools in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), Canada, and Australia. AVID impacts more than 2 million students in grades PreK–12 and those attending two- or four-year colleges and universities. The AVID College and Career Readiness System transforms a school’s academic culture by increasing the number of students who enroll in postsecondary experiences leading to a college degree and/or successful transition into the workforce. For more information, please visit www.AVID.org and hear what our educators and students have to say.
As we prepare for the total eclipse on Monday, April 8, Birdville ISD wants to remind parents of the anticipated increase in visitors to the metroplex to witness this event.
As a result, we expect heavier than usual traffic in and around the District. Please plan accordingly and allow extra time for travel to and from school to ensure the safe drop-off and pick-up of your children.
For students who ride the bus, we appreciate your patience as our bus drivers navigate potential delays due to increased traffic. On Monday afternoon, campus staff will provide students the opportunity to use restroom facilities before boarding the bus, prioritizing their safety and comfort during the ride home.
