Happy Thanksgiving!

Eagle Family,

All the best to you at this festive time of year!

I wanted to take a moment and express my gratitude to all of you for all you do to make Ellison High School a special place. We are tremendously blessed to call EHS home, and it is my sincere hope that every one of you, students and staff alike, find encouragement here to be your best and reach your highest potential.

Enjoy these three days off of school, and remember:

*Treasure these times with your loved ones.

*Eat well.

*Get some much-needed rest.

*Be safe. Make sure your family knows where you are at all times.

*Plan to make the most of the 105 class periods you have left before Christmas break. (Even fewer if you are testing the first week of December!)

Thank you for being an Ellison Eagle. You inspire me, and you confirm my faith in a bright future for our community and our nation.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Free Lunch from Mr. D!

Eagles,

Have you ever thought about whether it's better to record a moment or just experience it? This article presents that very question. I would love to get your take on this question, from the perspective of a high school student.

Also, I will pick up and bring back lunch from the local restaurant of choice for the first three students who can identify for me where the author's phrase "thousand-points-of-smartphone-light" is borrowed from. Hint:  It is borrowed from a U.S. presidential candidate, during a presidential election year.

If you know or can find the answer, send it to me in an e-mail:  david.dominguez@killeenisd.org

Live the moment!

Lifelong Learning

Eagles,

Do you ever wonder what your teachers do on those Early Out days?

Well, let me tell you:  Our goal is to use that time to become better at what we do by working together and learning from each other's successes and failures. Is there a better way to teach this concept? How do you handle it when [insert situation] happens in the classroom? These are the kinds of questions your teachers ask each other, and these conversations lead to better teaching in the classroom.

This year, we are using our Early Out days to conduct book studies in small groups with all of our teachers and campus administrators. We want our students to see us set a good example of being a lifelong learner.

Students: Ask your teachers which book study they are doing, and what they have learned from their readings and discussions.

No one ever knows it all. There is always more to learn!

Don't Call It A Comeback

Eagle Family,

Let's celebrate!

Last night, our Lady Eagle Volleyball teams (9th, JV, & Varsity) all defeated Georgetown East View, our outstanding Theater program put on a hilarious night of Improv, and our Varsity Football team defeated Bryan Rudder by a score of 33-13.

While most of our community's attention is directed at our football team, as last night's victory was a very special one, we continue to embrace our vision of Student Connectedness, and we celebrate our students' success in every area.

Last night, we tossed aside an old garment that never fit us.

The football losing streak began before most of our current students were at Ellison, it took on a life of its own long ago, it was hard to overcome, but it was never who we were.

That's why I say, "Don't call it a comeback; we've been here for years!"

Let's celebrate this special victory and all it means, but let's carry ourselves as champions who have never expected anything different.

That is who we are.

Thank you to our student-athletes and coaches who never stopped working, and thank you to Eagle fans everywhere who never stopped believing.

Go Eagles!

Own Your Learning

Eagles,

Wow! It's hard to believe we are already in the second week of school!

Thank you for making the beginning of the year such a positive experience for all of us. I hope you remember the message from our assemblies the first week of school:  You own your learning. Your time in the classroom belongs to you, and I urge you to use it to the fullest to prepare yourself for the next step in your life after high school is over.

Are you seeing the Learning Target every time you enter a classroom during the day? All seven periods? You should! If you don't, ask your teacher.

Own Your Learning!

Go Eagles,

National School Counselor Appreciation Week

Eagles,

Did you know this week (February 3-7) is National School Counselor Appreciation Week? What a great idea, right?

Let’s take this opportunity to celebrate the School Counselors who serve the Ellison student body and staff. The Eagle Family values the contributions of these great educators. The Guidance Office is the hub for so many student needs, that it’s hard to list all that our Counselors and Registrar do to serve our campus. From welcoming incoming students, to working on schedules and graduation plans, to helping teachers with student needs, to communicating with parents, to responding to crisis situations, our Counselors and Registrar go above and beyond, and perform an emotional role with grace and joy. Please join me in celebrating:

*Milton Amundson, Counselor
*Juli Fischer, Counselor
*Warren Kostencki, Counselor
*Sarah Noteboom, Counselor
*Amy Picot, Counselor
*Valerie Sather, Registrar

How 'bout some love for our Counselors, Eagles? I hope you'll take the opportunity to leave a comment here, or take to the Ellison Facebook page or Twitter to give a shout-out to our awesome EHS Guidance Team!

Go Eagles!

Eagle Family,

It's hard to believe we've arrived in the new year, and 2014 is in full swing!

I hope you have enjoyed a restful break from school, and some time with loved ones. I hope you've had an opportunity to reflect on what is most important to you, and how you can make the spring '14 semester a success.

Our mission at EHS is to launch young people into successful adult lives of learning, service, and meaningful work, and our staff is committed to making this mission a reality in your life.

What does that mean for you in 2014?

*Think Beyond High School! What is your plan for your next step after graduation? Can you describe it in detail? Do you know how to get there from here? Talk to your counselor about getting your plan out of your head and onto paper. Make sure you can tell anyone who asks what you plan to do after you graduate.

*Get Connected! Are you involved in an extracurricular activity at EHS? If not, now is the time to do so! There is something for almost any area of interest, and we are open to starting new opportunities for you if you have an idea for a new club or activity. Please visit the Student Activities Office in the cafeteria for more info!

*Attend Tutorials! Remember Wake Up Wednesday? All teachers offer a common tutorial time on Wednesday afternoon to make sure you have no trouble remembering when to attend. In addition, all teachers offer at least one other tutorial time each week, and many teachers offer much more than that. Get there. Ask questions. Push yourself. Never be satisfied with less than your best academically.

*Respect Yourself & Others! Do you know that 75% of all students at EHS have zero entries in their discipline file? Zero! If you are a part of the small group of students drawing the wrong kind of attention to yourself, now is the time to change that. Look yourself in the mirror and commit to a daily life of respect for all.

We can't wait to get this new semester started. I'm confident it can be a time of great success for you.

Let's Get It Started!