This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week is senior Amaya Allen from McKinney Boyd High School.
Watch video here: https://youtu.be/Wt5k2w6TRtM
Amaya is a 3-year Elite Team Member of the varsity Bailadoras Dance & Drill Team, and she is 1st Lieutenant.
She is a member of the 2023 National Grand Champion Team and the “Best of the Best” Dance Team at the American Dance Competition in 2023 & 2024.
Amaya is a Division 1 Rating Soloist, and she has received Bailadora awards for Most Motivating, Highest Merits and Honor Medal.
Amaya currently has a 4.235 GPA, and she has taken 7 AP Courses.
She participates in the Interdisciplinary Study and Mentorship program, and she has served on the Superintendent’s Advisory Council for the past two years.
Amaya is a member of the PALS mentorship program, as well as the Principal’s “Students Voice” meetings for the past 4 years.
Amaya is active with Hope Students at Hope Fellowship Church and with Believers International Ministries, and she volunteers within the South Oak Cliff community.
After graduation, Amaya hopes to attend LSU to study Architectural Design and Interior Design.
That’s Amaya Allen, this week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week.
Amy Dankel, McKinney ISD Board of Trustees Vice President, brings you this month's School Board Summary. Watch video here: https://youtu.be/v3H08115kvY?si=tl1CXC3clSGJN1sa
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week is Maggie Celeste from McKinney Boyd High School.
https://youtu.be/WuQbQBmARM4
Maggie is a Senior on the Lady Broncos Tennis team.
She has been on Varsity for 2 years and was the MVP for Junior Varsity Tennis.
Maggie has taken 6 AP courses, 1 dual credit class, and qualified for National Hispanic Recognition and National Merit Award for PSAT.
She has received Academic Excellence for 4 years and she is ranked 25th in the class of 2025 with a 4.63 GPA.
Maggie is a member of the STEM club, National Honor Society, and is an AP Scholar with Honor.
She volunteers at church camp during the Summer, works at Pluckers, and practices the piano. Next year, Maggie plans to attend college to study Mechanical Engineering.
That’s Maggie Celeste from McKinney Boyd High School, our Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Athlete of the Week.
Congratulations to McKinney North High School Band! Tonight they placed 3rd in Area and are advancing to the State UIL Marching Contest!
Understanding Your Child's PSAT Scores: A Virtual Information Meeting for MISD Families!
Mark Your Calendar!
Join us for a virtual information meeting to learn all about your child's PSAT score results. This session is designed specifically for parents and guardians of select 9th graders and all 10th and 11th graders who recently took the PSAT/NMSQT assessment administered at all MISD high schools on October 9.
PSAT Virtual Information Meeting
Date: Tuesday, November 7, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual via TEAMS. (The link will be shared with MISD families prior to the event.)
What you'll learn:
—How to read and interpret your child's PSAT results
—Strategies to support your child at home based on their scores
—How the PSAT benefits your child's future college and career planning
Don't miss this valuable opportunity! This is a valuable opportunity to gain insights into your child's PSAT performance and support their academic journey.
Mark Your Calendar!
Join us for a virtual information meeting to learn all about your child's PSAT score results. This session is designed specifically for parents and guardians of select 9th graders and all 10th and 11th graders who recently took the PSAT/NMSQT assessment administered at all MISD high schools on October 9.
PSAT Virtual Information Meeting
Date: Tuesday, November 7, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual via TEAMS. (The link will be shared with MISD families prior to the event.)
What you'll learn:
—How to read and interpret your child's PSAT results
—Strategies to support your child at home based on their scores
—How the PSAT benefits your child's future college and career planning
Don't miss this valuable opportunity! This is a valuable opportunity to gain insights into your child's PSAT performance and support their academic journey.
Did you know? McKinney ISD oversees and maintains 4,512,380 square feet of facilities across the district!
The seasonal activity and competition known as "punkin chunkin" is a great exercise in the physics of projectile motion, so McKinney North science teacher Allison Jester brought it down to a more manageable classroom scale as her students built popsicle catapults to hurtle candy pumpkins across the room. The launch results ranged from the tiny pumpkins flipping backward to soaring across 21 meters! Either way, it was an engaging, fun application of physics!
This week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week is Bryer Oldham.
Click below to see Bryer's video:
https://youtu.be/iVr5T7KLRCQ?si=4Qo2rV3OsoBk5vaN
Bryer is a senior at McKinney North High School where she is a member of the Northstars Dance & Drill Team.
Throughout her time with the Northstars, she has earned the Most Improved award, the Northstar of the Week award and the Spirit Star of the Week award.
Bryer currently has a 3.7 GPA, and she is a member of the McKinney North Dive Team.
Bryer placed 2nd at Regionals and 13th at State two years in a row, and she is a record holder for McKinney North diving.
In her free time, Bryer competes with the Dallas Metroplex Diving club.
After graduation, Bryer plans to attend either the University of Arkansas or the University of North Texas to study Advertising and Marketing.
That’s Bryer Oldham, this week’s Dennis Baker State Farm Scholar Artist of the Week.
The 4th annual Fall Community Resource Night was held at the McKinney ISD Community Event Center on Thursday, October17th.
The purpose of this event is to connect community resources with families in need in order to help improve and sustain the quality of life for the students and families of McKinney ISD.
Video: https://youtu.be/7Qw9sY79pmY?si=BAY-VL6WJwmINIFm
Help MISD support Toys for Tots!
MISD Toys for Tots Student Ambassador Brandon Terry is calling McKinney North, MHS and McKinney Boyd fans to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the North game on Thursday, Oct. 24 or to the Crosstown Showdown game between MHS and Boyd on Friday, Oct. 25! Toys for Tots donation boxes will be placed outside MISD Stadium during both games, and our goal is to fill them to overflowing. Your donation of a toy can make the holiday a joyful time for children in need across North Texas!
MISD Toys for Tots Student Ambassador Brandon Terry is calling McKinney North, MHS and McKinney Boyd fans to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the North game on Thursday, Oct. 24 or to the Crosstown Showdown game between MHS and Boyd on Friday, Oct. 25! Toys for Tots donation boxes will be placed outside MISD Stadium during both games, and our goal is to fill them to overflowing. Your donation of a toy can make the holiday a joyful time for children in need across North Texas!
McKinney Mayor George Fuller and his wife Maylee were invited to Minshew Elementary this morning to talk with Minshew's 3rd graders about local government and civic service. Fuller spoke about his responsibilities as mayor and answered questions from the students. Thank you, Mayor Fuller, for taking time for our MISD students!
MISD kicked off the 2024-2025 McKinney Community Action Network (CAN) series with a great turnout of more than 30 participants at Finch Elementary on Thursday, October 17!
After a welcome from Principal Erika Echegaray, Superintendent Shawn Pratt led the group through an overview of the program and then introduced presentations from Safety & Security Director Rusty May, Director of Athletics Jennifer Frazier and Director of Fine Arts Dr. Jared Critchfield.
Afterward, Echegaray and her team led the group on a tour of the school as the guests donned headsets that Finch uses to provide translation during events and parent meetings. They also provide a great communication tool while moving quietly around a school campus!
McKinney CAN meets four times a year at different schools to provide participants with in-depth knowledge about the vision, goals, and operations of McKinney ISD. The program aims to ‘pull the curtain back’ on public education and McKinney ISD and to show our stakeholders how each department works to support campuses and our students.
Thanks to Principal Erika Echegaray and the staff and students of Finch Elementary for their hospitality!
After a welcome from Principal Erika Echegaray, Superintendent Shawn Pratt led the group through an overview of the program and then introduced presentations from Safety & Security Director Rusty May, Director of Athletics Jennifer Frazier and Director of Fine Arts Dr. Jared Critchfield.
Afterward, Echegaray and her team led the group on a tour of the school as the guests donned headsets that Finch uses to provide translation during events and parent meetings. They also provide a great communication tool while moving quietly around a school campus!
McKinney CAN meets four times a year at different schools to provide participants with in-depth knowledge about the vision, goals, and operations of McKinney ISD. The program aims to ‘pull the curtain back’ on public education and McKinney ISD and to show our stakeholders how each department works to support campuses and our students.
Thanks to Principal Erika Echegaray and the staff and students of Finch Elementary for their hospitality!
Mckinney ISD is excited to offer Personal Financial Literacy at all grade levels.
McKinney ISD will offer quarterly one-hour Personal Financial Literacy Workshops for both students and parents. These workshops will cover essential money management topics such as budgeting, saving, credit, and smart spending habits. Join us to learn valuable financial skills that will benefit the entire family and set students up for lifelong financial success.
The second event is coming soon: October 29, 6-7 PM, at the McKinney ISD Community Event Center. This event will cover college planning and career readiness. Register to attend by using the QR code on the flyer.
The McKinney Boyd Jazz Ensemble 1 & Ensemble 2 have been hard at work this semester exploring different styles of jazz, including many sub genres of Latin Jazz. In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Ensemble 1 proudly presents this performance of Mofongo De Mama by Michael Mossman, and Ensemble 2 performs La Negra Tiene Tumbao by Celia Cruz and arranged by Victor Lopez.
Click here to watch the Boyd Jazz Ensemble 1 performance of Mofongo De Mama by Michael Mossman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v21VqtQamAI
And, click here to see the Boyd Jazz Ensemble 2 performance of La Negra Tiene Tumbao by Celia Cruz and arranged by Victor Lopez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Msdl1GhGHxo
Click here to watch the Boyd Jazz Ensemble 1 performance of Mofongo De Mama by Michael Mossman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v21VqtQamAI
And, click here to see the Boyd Jazz Ensemble 2 performance of La Negra Tiene Tumbao by Celia Cruz and arranged by Victor Lopez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Msdl1GhGHxo
Cockrill Partners Art students are creating piñatas in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month!
Cockrill Middle School's Partners Art class provides an opportunity for students with special needs to experience the benefits and creativity of art with peer-assistance from general education students. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, they have been designing and creating their own piñatas.
It's Cockrill's third year to offer Partners Art, and for teacher Lorren Nixon, the class is always one of the highlights of the day. "It's one of the best programs that I've been a part of just because the partners students learn so much beyond the TEKS. They're learning to help others."
Eighth grader Emerson Thacker is in her second year of serving as a partner in art class. "I love it. We get to really know the kids and get to help them, and that's my favorite part. I just didn't really know about special needs, but this class gives you a different perspective."
Once they've finished their piñatas, the students will take part in the tradition of breaking them open. Maybe..."I may have to buy a couple of piñatas," laughs Nixon. "They've worked so hard on them, I don't know if we'll have the heart to break them open!"
Cockrill Middle School's Partners Art class provides an opportunity for students with special needs to experience the benefits and creativity of art with peer-assistance from general education students. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, they have been designing and creating their own piñatas.
It's Cockrill's third year to offer Partners Art, and for teacher Lorren Nixon, the class is always one of the highlights of the day. "It's one of the best programs that I've been a part of just because the partners students learn so much beyond the TEKS. They're learning to help others."
Eighth grader Emerson Thacker is in her second year of serving as a partner in art class. "I love it. We get to really know the kids and get to help them, and that's my favorite part. I just didn't really know about special needs, but this class gives you a different perspective."
Once they've finished their piñatas, the students will take part in the tradition of breaking them open. Maybe..."I may have to buy a couple of piñatas," laughs Nixon. "They've worked so hard on them, I don't know if we'll have the heart to break them open!"
La Raspa and El Chocolate - National Hispanic Heritage Month
Click here to view the video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yze0B4TJ6Fg
Get ready to stir the chocolate and clap your hands as 1st and 2nd graders from Frazier Elementary and Webb Elementary perform a traditional children's rhyme and dance "La Raspa". Both activities originated from Hispanic origins and provided the young learners with cultural history and musical fun!
October 2024
Click here to view the video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yze0B4TJ6Fg
Get ready to stir the chocolate and clap your hands as 1st and 2nd graders from Frazier Elementary and Webb Elementary perform a traditional children's rhyme and dance "La Raspa". Both activities originated from Hispanic origins and provided the young learners with cultural history and musical fun!
October 2024
McKinney ISD Fall Community Resource Night
Thursday, October 17, 2024
6:00-8:00PM
McKinney ISD Stadium and Community Event Center
4201 S. Hardin Blvd
McKinney, Tx 75070
Latin American Drumming at Frazier Elementary - National Hispanic Heritage Month
Click here to view the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6LEg_hV26s
“This is a fun piece because it introduces them to the Latin feel with the clave rhythm.” Music teacher Holly Bianchetta likes to challenge her 5th graders at Frazier Elementary during National Hispanic Heritage Month with a 4-beat Latin American rhythm. The complicated beats and patterns require lots of listening and concentration from the students. Here’s one of her classes in the beginning stages of this musical creation. They will be adding instruments as they progress, and Mrs. Bianchetta is confident in their skills.
“It’s really cool to see how quickly kids can absorb something and make it their own.”
October 2024
Click here to view the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6LEg_hV26s
“This is a fun piece because it introduces them to the Latin feel with the clave rhythm.” Music teacher Holly Bianchetta likes to challenge her 5th graders at Frazier Elementary during National Hispanic Heritage Month with a 4-beat Latin American rhythm. The complicated beats and patterns require lots of listening and concentration from the students. Here’s one of her classes in the beginning stages of this musical creation. They will be adding instruments as they progress, and Mrs. Bianchetta is confident in their skills.
“It’s really cool to see how quickly kids can absorb something and make it their own.”
October 2024
Lessons in Hispanic Heritage Month from Valley Creek Elementary
“I think it’s important because our students need to see themselves represented in what we are teaching.”
Click here to view the video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWIwDUS3OXI
Valley Creek music teacher Kara Nelson dives into National Hispanic Heritage Month with her students by teaching them about the many traditions, including her favorite—the music. Watch how she and her classes prepare for Valley Creek’s Multicultural Fair on October 24 at 6 p.m.
October 2024
“I think it’s important because our students need to see themselves represented in what we are teaching.”
Click here to view the video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWIwDUS3OXI
Valley Creek music teacher Kara Nelson dives into National Hispanic Heritage Month with her students by teaching them about the many traditions, including her favorite—the music. Watch how she and her classes prepare for Valley Creek’s Multicultural Fair on October 24 at 6 p.m.
October 2024
MISD district and campus instructional leaders gathered at the CEC on Wednesday, Oct. 9, for the MISD Learning and Leading workshop, a daylong professional development event focused on classroom instruction and supporting specific campus objectives. "Campuses have reported to us the focus areas and goals that they want to work on based on their campus data and district data," said MISD Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning Dr. Amber Epperson. General sessions and breakouts addressed topics specific to those campus goals. The Learning and Leading workshop is one more way that MISD continues to push instruction and learning forward for our students.
