Category: Howe News Bulletin

 

Keep Howe Beautiful now has an additional recycle bin to help with the popular recycling program.  The gates to the recycle bins are open during normal working hours of the City of Howe.

NOTICE OF GENERAL ELECTION (AVISO DE ELECCION GENERAL)

To the registered voters of Howe, Texas:

(A los votantes registrados del Howe, Texas:)

Notice is hereby given that the polling places listed below will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., on May 9, 2015, for voting in a general election, to elect three (3) trustees for Howe ISD. (Notifiquese, por las presente, que las casillas electorales sitados abajo se abrirán desde las 7:00 a.m. hasta las 7:00 p.m. el 9 de Mayo de 2015 para votar en la Elección General para elegir tres (3) trustees for Howe ISD.)

LOCATIONS OF POLLING PLACES (DIRECCIONES DE LAS CASILLAS ELECTORALES) Howe: Howe ISD Administration Building, 105 W. Tutt St.,  Howe, TX 75459

Dorchester: Dorchester Town Hall  373 Main St., Dorchester, TX 75459

Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted each weekday at: (La votación adelantada en persona se llevará a cabo de lunes a viernes en:)

Howe ISD Administration Office, 105 W. Tutt St., Howe, TX 75459 Between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. beginning on April 27, 2015 and ending on May 5, 2015 (Entre las 8:00 de la mañana y las 4:00 de la tarde empezando el Abril 27 de 2014 y terminando el Mayo 5 de 2014.)

Applications for ballot by mail shall be mailed to: (Las solicitudes para boletas que se votarán en ausencia por correo deberán enviarse a:)

Felicia Salmon Early Voting Clerk 105 W Tutt St. Howe, TX 75459

Applications for ballots by mail must be received no later than the close of business on April 30, 2015. (Las solicitudes para boletas que se votarán adelantada por correo deberán recibirse para el fin de las horas de negocio el Abril 30 de 2015.

 

AUSTIN – Commissioner of Education Michael Williams announced today that results of 2015 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) in mathematics for grades 3–8 will be excluded from the 2015 state accountability system.

Commissioner Williams reached his decision following numerous discussions with math teachers, parents and superintendents across the state regarding new curriculum standards in mathematics for grades K–8. New rigorous math standards were adopted by the State Board of Education in April 2012 with implementation now taking place this current school year.

“The teachers I have spoken with have confidence that Texas students will, in time, adjust to the more rigorous math standards, but for accountability purposes asked for a transition year,” said Commissioner Williams. “Based on what I hear from those working in the classroom, I agree and will not count grades 3–8 math assessment results in 2015 accountability ratings for schools, charters and districts.”

Although the grades 3–8 math assessment results will not be part of the 2015 state accountability system, campus-level results will still be reported to school districts and charters. The results, based on actual student performance standards, will be provided to school districts, charters and parents in early September.

Last year, Commissioner Williams announced that the Student Success Initiative (SSI) requirement that students in grades 5 and 8 must pass the STAAR mathematics assessment in order to move on to the next grade level would be suspended for this school year. Suspension of the 5th and 8th grade mathematics requirement applies only for the 2014–2015 school year. State law requiring students in grades 5 and 8 to pass the STAAR reading exam in order to proceed to the next grade level is still in effect. The STAAR mathematics assessments in grades 5 and 8 will only be administered one time this school year.

Along with the grades 3–8 math assessments, results from STAAR Accommodated (STAAR A) and STAAR Alternate 2 (a redesign of the original STAAR Alternate) will also be excluded from the 2015 state accountability system. The U.S. Department of Education no longer allows Texas to use modified assessments (such as the STAAR Modified), which had been used for students receiving special education services that met certain participation criteria. Those students were administered the STAAR Accommodated this year. In addition, House Bill 5, passed by the Texas Legislature in 2013, required the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to redevelop the STAAR Alternative (STAAR Alt) test which is designed for the state’s most cognitively disabled students. That test was administered for the first time this school year. While results from the STAAR Accommodated and STAAR Alternate 2 will be excluded from the state accountability system, results will be reported to school districts, charters and parents.

In 2013 and 2014, districts and charters had to meet all four indexes to receive a Met Standard or Met Alternative Standard rating. The four indexes are Student Achievement (Index 1), Student Progress (Index 2), Closing Performance Gaps (Index 3), and Postsecondary Readiness (Index 4).  For 2015 accountability, due to the changes in the state assessment program this school year, a campus or district must meet the target on either Index 1 or Index 2 plus meet the target on Index 3 and Index 4. School administrators should note that for 2015, the performance standard in Index 1 is increased from 55 percent to 60 percent.

An overview of the substantial differences in state accountability between 2014 and 2015 is available on the TEA website at http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/2015/materials.html.

The 2015 state accountability system will be fully explained in the 2015 Accountability Manual, which is scheduled for release in May. TEA will release 2015 state accountability ratings for districts, charters and campuses in August.

Submitted by Laynie Williams

25 years ago, the Howe High School freshman class lost a friend. Chris Gray was funny and kind; he never let his health problems steal his smile. He is loved and missed by so many. Chris’s current marker is no longer legible; time has taken its toll. As his friends and community, let us join together and give Chris a headstone that will last many lifetimes. Any funds raised in excess of the cost of Chris’s headstone will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House in his name, as they were very helpful to Chris’s family. –

So far, his friends have raised $416.  Those that wish to contribute can go to http://www.youcaring.com/memorial-fundraiser/chris-gray-headstone/328790

 

 

WINTERSET, Iowa–Over the past 30 years more than one million visitors have journeyed to historic Madison County to tour the modest four-room home where motion picture icon John Wayne was born on May 26, 1907.  Guests have included President Ronald Reagan, movie legend Maureen O’Hara, Wayne’s widow and all of his children and fans from 50 states and 40 foreign countries.  And, as testament to the star’s enduring popularity, they keep on coming.

To provide a more meaningful visitor experience, the Birthplace organization has announced the May 23rd Grand Opening of the John Wayne Birthplace Museum, a brand-new 6,100 square ft. facility which will offer an astounding collection of memorabilia from the film legend’s life and motion picture career.  The only museum in the world dedicated to John Wayne, it will feature the largest diversified exhibit of John Wayne artifacts in existence, including movie posters, film wardrobe, scripts, letters, artwork and sculpture, one of his customized automobiles and, of course, a movie theater.

A birthday celebration of this magnitude requires considerable flourish and the weekend of May 22-24 will not disappoint.  Providing patriotic fanfare will be the 100-member Iowa Military Veterans Band along with rodeo and rodeo queens, reduced price admission to the new museum, free John Wayne movies, food and merchandise vendors, cowboy mounted shooters and much more.

Among the guests of honor will be Christopher Mitchum who has acted in some 60 films and starred alongside John Wayne in Big Jake, Chisum and Rio Lobo.  (Mitchum is also the son of actor Robert Mitchum who starred with Wayne in El Dorado.)

A highlight for many will be the Museum Benefit Dinner ($150 per person) headlined by country music great and RFD-TV star Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives.  Also featured will be an auction of unique and one-of-a-kind John Wayne collectibles including artwork and film wardrobe.

 

Howe Girl Scouts spent Tuesday afternoon picking up trash around the high school and library.

SHERMAN, TEXAS—Rais Bhuiyan, president and founder of the nonprofit organization World without Hate, will speak on the importance of forgiveness in the face of hatred at Austin College Thursday, April 9, at 11 a.m. in Hoxie Thompson Auditorium of Sherman Hall. A survivor of a hate crime, Bhuiyan has actively promoted peace and forgiveness since the attack.

Bhuiyan’s story is filled with themes of metamorphosis—how dark human acts can lead to positive change. “Bhuiyan’s experience challenges all of us to imagine what it would mean to be a nation that truly values a diversity of religions,” said Dr. Jeremy Posadas, Austin College assistant professor of religion studies. “One hopes for a day when such transformation can happen without the horrific violence he and others suffered.”

 

Bhuiyan is a peace activist and an IT professional. After graduating from Sylhet Cadet College, a military School in Bangladesh, he joined the Bangladesh Air Force and was commissioned as a pilot officer following two and a half years of vigorous training. He received a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics from the National University in Dhaka and completed numerous information technology courses in New York and Dallas where he continued his education, taking courses in computer system engineering, programming, and database administration. In 2001, he was shot in the face by Mark Stroman, an avowed white supremacist seeking vengeance for the 9/11 tragedy. Bhuiyan’s response was to forgive.

 

He currently works in information technology with Sabre Holdings, a global technology company in Southlake, Texas. His time is divided between managing a team of system engineers and data centers in Europe and touring the globe giving talks about the regenerative power of forgiveness.

 

World Without Hate has a mission to cultivate restorative forgiveness, radical empathy, and nonviolent compassionate action through education, community outreach, and advocacy.

 

Many Austin College student leaders have worked together to bring this event to campus. Muhammad Ismail, Austin College student and president of the Muslim Students Association, is one of those leaders. “Mr. Bhuiyan has been an inspiration for many people,” Ismail said. “His character alone has been the fuel for change in this country. The world needs more leaders like Mr. Bhuiyan,” Other organizations involved include InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Amnesty International, Campus Activities Board, the Religious Studies Department, and the Religious Life Office.

 

For more information, please contact Posadas at jposadas@austincollege.edu.

Howe High School’s One Act Play advanced as one of three plays from the district. They will perform at bi-district Thursday at 1 pm in Argyle. The play is “These Shining Lives.”

Connor Copeland & Madeline Ansley were awarded All-Star Cast honors in district.

Submitted by Mary Jane Farmer

It’s time once again for the Po Boys Picnic, the event that, twice yearly, brings family fun to Texoma while raising funds for a deserving family or individual who needs some help with medical expenses.

Saturday, April 11, Po Boys Picnic VIII will kick off at the newly-remodeled RWR Arena, (formerly the Texas Quarter Horse Arena) at 2218 Knight Road, Denison. That’s off Texoma Parkway. Gates will open at 11 a.m.

All proceeds from this eighth Po Boys Picnic will go to help 7-year-old Bentley Seymour of Durant, who was born with short-bowel syndrome and who has spent much of his young life recovering from seven major surgeries and receiving more than 80 blood transfusions. His mother, Michelle Roberson that Bentley tries to live as normal a life as he can with his brother, Nicholas. To also help, the Texoma Regional Blood Center will have its bloodmobile at the Po Boys Picnic for blood donations.

This Picnic will again feature the popular and challenging Little Britches Rodeo, which will start about 12:30 p.m., and again, for the adults, a horseshoe tournament, which will start around 2 p.m.; and live music will be provided during the horseshoe tournament by Tommy & The Dee Wops and by Russ Lowry.

There will be bounce houses, a dunking booth, and numerous games for children of all ages, including dummy roping, a pig scramble,  mutton busting, a flag race, a boot scramble, and even stick-horse races. Prizes and/or trophies for all events.

Also, to help with fundraising, there will be a multi-item silent auction table, and a live auction during the afternoon, which includes an acoustic guitar donated and signed by Red Dirt music legend Stoney LaRue. There will be a new rifle raffled off.

There is an entry fee to the event, and minimal fees for some of the competitions.  All proceeds go to the cause.

Family fun, the kind that has survived through generations, banded together to raise funds for a deserving family.

For more information, go onto the Po Boys Picnic Facebook page or Websitewww.poboyspicnic.com.