STAAR/End-Of-Course Information Sessions

Dear Parents of 9th Grade Students,

Please make plans to attend one of our information sessions about the new STAAR/End-of-Course testing system that arrives this year for students in the 9th grade. This important testing system will have a significant impact on how our students earn credit for graduation, and we want to make sure you have all the information you need to prepare your child for testing in the spring.

The information sessions are scheduled as follows:

*Monday, Nov. 14th, 6 pm, EHS Auditorium

*Thursday, Nov. 17th, 6 pm, EHS Auditorium

Please feel free to print out the full invitation, found here.

We hope to see you there!

Are You Ready for Homecoming?

Eagle Family,

Homecoming is right around the corner, and I hope you are ready to get your Eagle spirit on! Keep your eye on our web site (http://www.ellisoneagles.org/) to keep up with all the events coming up:

Monday, October 24- Marvel Monday- Help us kick off Homecoming week by letting your inner super hero shine through!  Remember that you must still be in dress code!

Tuesday, October 25- Stay Day / Twin Day- Dress like someone else and stay on campus to enjoy visiting with your fellow classmates!  We will have a DJ on campus in the commons area for your musical enjoyment along with various club booths so you can see all of the great activities EHS has to offer!  So stay on campus that day and be a part of the fun!

Wednesday, October 26- Western Wednesday- Dress up in your favorite western wear but make sure you are still in dress code!  The only exception will be that if you are dressed in your western wear, you may wear a cowboy hat.  No baseball caps or other hats will be allowed!  We will also have our Homecoming pep rally this day, so stay tuned for more information on that!

Thursday, October 27- Dress up Day- Dress up for school and wear your guarders and mums!  Seniors will take their traditional Homecoming panoramic picture outside the science wing that morning at 8:15.  Seniors who want to be in the photograph must be outside the science wing by 8:15 with IDs on to verify they are a senior.  Please do not bring book bags or large purses with you to the picture.

          Our Homecoming Football Game is Thursday night at 7 pm at Buckley Stadium.

Homecoming Ceremonies will take place during halftime around 8:00pm.  Come to  Buckley Stadium to find out who will be crowned and cheer on the varsity football team to a Homecoming victory!

Friday, October 28- Flash Back Friday- Dress like someone from the past but again, make sure you are in dress code!  Make sure you also are ready for the Homecoming Dance that evening as we finish out a great week! 

Go Eagles!

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Impact Aid

Eagles,

This week brings a very important annual task: Distribution & Collection of Impact Aid forms.

Impact Aid forms will be distributed to all students in 2nd period classes on Tuesday, Sep. 20. (CTE students will receive their forms in 5th period that day.) It is critical that all forms are returned with a parent's signature within the week!

There are a few incentives in play for students who return their forms quickly:

*Any student who returns the form, completed & w/parent signature, within 24 hours of receiving it, will receive a voucher to clear 4 Type II violations from the database, redeemable at any time this school year.

*Any 2nd period class with 100% of their forms completed & turned in by Friday, Sep 23, will receive a pizza party at a later date.

Last year, we succeeded at getting every one of our Impact Aid forms turned in. Let's get the job done again!

Thanks!

First Day of School, Aug. 22

Eagles,

Unless you're still in total denial, you're probably wondering where to go and what to do on the first day of school, Monday, August 22nd.

Here's the plan:

When you arrive on campus, report to the Big Gym to pick up a green copy of your schedule. (If you already picked up a white copy at Pre-Registration, you still need a green copy!)

Once you have your schedule, here's what you do:

9th Grade: Report to the Auditorium. Your day will begin with an
assembly, then you will be dismissed to 1st period.

Grades 10 - 12: Report to your 1st period class.

The 2011-2012 school year is going to be a great one, and I'm glad you're going to be a part of it!

Go Eagles!

Date Change on Spirit Spectacular!

Eagle Family,

Please note that this year's Spirit Spectacular is being moved back one week, from Saturday, August 20th, to Saturday, August 27th. The place and time are still the same: 8 pm at Leo Buckley Stadium.

If you're not familiar with this exciting event, Spirit Spectacular is an opportunity to see the marching bands and drill teams from all four KISD high schools perform on the field at Buckley Stadium.

Tickets are $6 (children 3 & under free), and are available at the gate, or from an EHS Band member.

Mark your calendars:

KISD Spirit Spectacular

Saturday, August 27th, 2011

8:00 pm

Leo Buckley Stadium

See you there!

Meet our New Assistant Principals!

Eagle Family,

It is with great pleasure that I announce the arrival of three new assistant principals to serve here at Ellison in the coming school year.

Please join me in welcoming:

Mrs. Rhea Bell, new Curriculum Director. Mrs. Bell has served for the last 3 years as the Curriculum Instructional Specialist here at Ellison, and previously taught Social Studies at Ellison and Killeen High, where she also served as the IB Coordinator.

Mr. Joe Gonzalez, new Assistant Principal. Mr. Gonzalez has served for the last 11 years here at Ellison in the role of Assistant Trainer, and most recently, in the role of Head Trainer.

Mr. Rico Corporal, new Assistant Principal. Mr. Corporal has served for the last 5 years as an English teacher at Live Oak Ridge Middle School, after several years of service in Communities in Schools and the US Army.

Each of these outstanding individuals brings a unique set of talents and skills that will serve the Eagle Family well.

Welcome Aboard!

Check out our new Eagle mascot costumes!

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4th of July

Eagle Family,

I want to wish you a safe and happy 4th of July today, as we celebrate the 235th anniversary of our nation's independence. Also, please join me in honoring all who serve and have defended our freedom through their service in our Armed Forces.

What are your plans to celebrate the 4th?

Graduation Practice

Class of 2011: Congratulations on your arrival at this special moment! Thank you for taking part in today's Graduation Rehearsal. I'm looking forward to seeing each of you on the stage at the Expo Center on Sunday!

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Memorial Day

Eagle Family,

One of the most rewarding things about living and working in Killeen is our proud association with Fort Hood and all the fine men and women who serve our nation with such bravery and sacrifice.

At this busy time, as we prepare to move into the last week of the school year, how fitting it is that we pause to observe Memorial Day and honor all those who have given their lives in our nation's service.

Don't let Monday's holiday be just another day for you.

Take some time to reflect upon how blessed we are to live in this free country, and how fortunate we are to have the opportunity to pursue an education to prepare ourselves for a bright future.

I hope you will follow this link and read up on the history of Memorial Day.


All the best to you,

The Moments that Make the Moment

Eagles,

The month of May is a busy one. As the school year winds down, we test, test, and test some more, and our seniors prepare to transition into their post-high-school lives.

One of the most special things about May is what I like to call "Banquet Season". With no less than 20 school events this month alone, the year-end celebrations just keep coming, and what a joy they are.

Each banquet is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of students, teachers, and coaches, and to look ahead with high hopes for continued achievement next year.

But as we celebrate, we must remember the time and toil that must be invested throughout the year in order to create our "banquet moments" of celebration.

Behind every award and round of applause are hundreds of hours of work, practice, teaching, learning, and juggling of commitments. The moment of celebration could not occur without all those seemingly random moments when students and teachers make the choice to invest just a little more effort.

Thank you, Eagle Family, for all you do, week after week throughout a long school year, to make these special moments of celebration possible.

Your dedication is inspiring to me!

A New Generation of Eagles

Eagle Family,

Today and tomorrow, May 19 & 20, are very special days for Ellison. We are all set to welcome the 8th grade students from our four feeder middle schools (Patterson, Nolan, Manor, and Liberty Hill) for an introduction to the Ellison campus.

We've all been in their shoes at some point: new to a school, new to a grade level, and wondering what to do and how to fit in.

Students and staff, in the spirit of Greater Than Yourself, let me encourage you to commit yourselves to helping our new Eagles find their way. Let's make sure this incoming 9th grade class feels at home during their visits today and tomorrow, and in their first year of high school in August.

Many Thanks,

Flashback to November:

Eagle Family,

We are getting closer and closer to the end of the 2010-2011 school year, but before we cross the finish line, I would like to jump back to November and refresh our memories of the message delivered by an honored guest and friend: Steve Farber.

Mr. Farber, author of The Radical Leap, The Radical Edge, and, most recently, Greater Than Yourself, visited the Ellison campus back in November to deliver his message of love for your work and others, and commitment to giving of yourself to help others grow. Mr. Farber encouraged all of us to find a "GTY Project".

Keep this important message in mind as summer approaches!

Challenge Day Feedback

Students, Parents & Staff:

We recently enjoyed the "Challenge Day" event at EHS, and I am now seeking feedback from anyone who participated, or who has heard from anyone who did.

Do you think Challenge Day has the potential to have a positive impact on our campus? Do you think we should bring Challenge Day back to Ellison again someday?

What are your thoughts?

Semester Exams

Eagles,

This is it! We've arrived at Finals Week, and I want to take a moment and wish you all the very best on your exams. Your teachers have worked hard to prepare you for success this week, and I look forward to seeing good results.

Be sure to remember our schedule for Finals Week is posted on the campus web site. Pay special attention to the schedule for Friday, Jan. 14th. Students' first exam that day is at 9:45 am, and students will be dismissed that day at 2:20 pm.

Students, enjoy your long weekend, as you are out of school Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 17 & 18.

The second semester (3rd Nine Weeks)begins on Wednesday, Jan. 19.

Have a great week!