Holiday Blessings...

Regardless of your beliefs, as we move into the holiday season it is nice to reflect back on our year to date both professionally and personally.

Our students have spent the year learning academically and performing good deeds for others. They have learned about Rachel's Challenge and FISH! principles. They have written cards to our troops, collected sundries for families in need, presented the Southlake Fire and Police with snacks and treats, and honored our veteran's at a wonderful ceremony. All under the direction of a caring group of teachers. I am proud of our teachers and our students.

I am also very proud of Katie Terry. The Terry Thanksgiving was in San Antonio, Texas as we celebrated the graduation of Katie from Air Force Training Camp. As many of you know, she broke her ankle the third week of training and has been at Lackland AFB for seven months. After much prayer and perseverance, Katie graduated and is now at the Presidio of Monterey in language school. She is learning Arabic and is excited about the future.

Karen and I are thankful for great friends, parents, and students. We are especially grateful for our own kids Katie, Reed and Laura, and our faith.

Eubanks Named TBEC Honor Roll School

I was proud to take five teachers to San Antonio, Texas to represent Eubanks Intermediate at the 2009 Texas Business and Education Coalition Honor Roll Recognition Celebration. This is our fourth year in a row to receive TBEC Honor Roll recognition. Only 254 schools in Texas received notice this year (206 elementaries, 35 middle schools, and 13 high schools)! That's out of 8,317 schools in Texas. Wow! Thanks to our students, our parents, and our faculty and staff.

Pictured are teachers Janay Hunt, Lizzie Amick, Becca Calvert, Lindsey Thomisee, and Megan Von Dreau.

Celebrations at Eubanks...

We have reason to celebrate here at Eubanks Intermediate thanks to our students, parents, and teachers. Check out the photos of our students presenting thanks to the Southlake Police and Fire Departments on Maggie Lee Day. Pictured is Mrs. Hunt's class with our first responders checking out a fire truck and ambulance.
Also posted are several shots of our students and staff participating in the RES/EIS Walk for Diabetes at Rockenbaugh Elementary. Thank you to all of our learning community who came to raise money to fight diabetes!
Finally, congratulations to Julie McMurrey, Vicki Harvey, Jennifer Blazek, and Denise McCrummen for garnering grants from the Carroll Education Foundation. I'll include details in my next posting.
For now, thanks for helping make our school a great place to learn and work!

Maggie Lee Day

Wow! What an inspirational day we had on Maggie Lee Day as students throughout our school did something kind for others. Some acted as a group as Mrs. Hunt's class gave treats to Southlake Police Officers and Firefighters. Others acted on their own as they gave small gifts or notes to others. I was flattered and cheered when I received a few thank you notes from students and even a couple of cookies.

Give your student a pat on the back as they are working on making our school a better place to learn.

Congratulations on the completion of the first six weeks of the 2009-2010 school year! It is amazing how fast the school term seems to fly.

Our students have just completed their "Way to Go" cards as they have been working to earn a chance to attend kickball games. This is a completion of our first six weeks of FISH! and Rachel's Challenge. Ask your student about the principles of FISH and Rachel's Challenge. Unfortunately, the weather has caused us to reschedule the games for next week. The date will be determined.

The next couple of weeks will be exciting for our students as the homecoming game is Friday, October 9 and the Pink Out game is Friday, October 16. Our students love these community activities. Please note that the stadium is not a good place to 'drop off' your student.

Thanks to our Eubanks PTO as they work to support our students. I appreciate their unselfish efforts on our behalf. Be sure and join as it is never too late to become a member of your PTO.

Thank you for your attendance at the Eubanks Curriculum Night last Thursday. I appreciate your attention to the educational program at our school and for your support of your student. The teachers have been very complimentary of your willingness to help them and your student. Working together will make this a great year for your child.

We are currently writing a grant for an outdoor classroom for Eubanks. We are looking for folks who have expertise in, or contacts for, a large concrete slab, obtaining pave stones, constructing steel awning, or obtaining xeriscape plants. This is a large project that will take some talent to complete. If you can help or give us leads, please call me at 817-949-5200.

Thanks for the opportunity to serve your student.

News of the day...

Thank you for attending our curriculum night on Thursday! We appreciate your support of students and teachers.

Students will be bringing home information regarding clubs and organizations. Please help them as they choose what activity in which they will participate. Our students have a tendency to overload themselves by signing up for too many activities.

Ask your student about Rachel's Challenge and FISH!

Eubanks is honored...

It is time to celebrate the work of our faculty, students, and learning community. For the fourth consecutive year, Eubanks Intermediate has been named a Texas Education and Business Coalition (TBEC) Honor Roll School. In fact, of the intermediate schools and/or sixth grade schools on the list, our school has the second-highest composite score in the state! What a great testament to the students, faculty, parents...in fact, the entire Eubanks learning community. A contingent of teachers will attend the awards ceremony in November to laud our students and staff.

Last year, we were honored as a Just for the Kids Higher Performing School in Texas based on our performance in Mathematics and Reading. We were selected based on analyses conducted by the National Center for Educational Achievement.

Kudos to our feeder schools for sending well-prepared students to Eubanks. Please thank the principals and staff at Rockenbaugh, Old Union, and Carroll for their work with our students.

Thank you for your continued assistance in making our school a great place to learn.

Great First Day of School

Wow! We have a great group of students. I am very impressed with our students and how they helped us start our school year off in a wonderful manner.

Thanks for helping us out as you drop off your student before school and pick up him or her in the afternoon. Please do not park in the drive-through lanes. Please do not park next to the curb if you need to enter the building before or after school. If you have an appointment before or after school, please park in the lot. We especially need you to avoid the rear of the building as the bus drop off/pick up lanes do not need cars mixed with the bus traffic. We all need to work together for the safety of our students.

As to another safety issue, when you visit the school, please enter the front door and report to the office and sign in. Please do not try to enter from any other door. Again, the safety of our students takes a team effort.

Students should look forward to the opening of clubs and organizations in the next few weeks.

Thanks for allowing us the privilege of working with you and your student.

Enjoy your kids!

When you hear folks say, "Enjoy your kids. They will be gone in the blink of an eye." believe them. My own children are aged 26, 23, and 20. All will be out of the house this year as my youngest will be at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. That means my oldest, Katie, is in Air Force Training in San Antonio, my son, Reed, is a senior at Texas State, and Laura is a sophomore at Texas State. It truly seems like yesterday that Karen and my days were full of homework, "friend drama", hockey practice, band concerts, and the busy-ness of life. Take a moment everyday to savor the precious moments with your kids as you help prepare them for leaving your nest.

I will miss my first "Meet the Teacher" day as Karen and I will be taking my daughter off to school on Friday. I apologize for my absence.

I look forward to working with you and your student(s) this year!

Dragons Get Real! Live. Learn. Lead.

Greetings and welcome to a new school year! I am anxious to begin the school year with our returning students and families, those who will be joining us from Carroll, Old Union, and Rockenbaugh, as well as those who are coming from outside the district.

This year, the district has as its theme: Dragons Get Real! Live. Learn. Lead. What a great way to begin the year! Our students are leaders in community service, they live healthy lifestyles, and everyday is a chance to learn here at Eubanks. Being a School of FISH! and active in Rachel's Challenge, the district's theme for the year fits very well into the vision our learning community has for our school.

Look for our many clubs and organizations in which students can become involved. We have opportunities for kids from Student Council to Ambassadors to Running Club to Robotics. The faculty and staff want our students to learn at their highest potential while having fun.

I look forward to working with all of the families here at Eubanks! Check back for regular postings to the Principal's Blog.