There's nothing like a drumline on a crisp Fall morning to get you pumped up, and that was our welcome today at Gus Garcia Middle School. The students' performance was rousing and energizing. I loved it!
Principal Helen Johnson then led us into Garcia's beautiful atrium where I was overwhelmed by the musical talents of even more students. I was serenaded by the fantastic orchestra, led by director Juan Fiestas, which played an amazing rendition of "Sahara Crossing." The choir, under the direction of Juliet Pardue, sang the school song, also composed by Ms. Pardue.
Have I mentioned that I love cheerleaders? The Garcia Dragons displayed school spirit galore.
After the terrific welcome at Garcia, we went to the classroom of Social Studies teacher Ms. Spradlin, whose students are participating in the Legacy of Giving Project. This community-wide initiative involves 7,000+ students at 35 schools, public and private, in the Central Texas area. In AISD, we have 24 schools participating — elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Legacy of Giving's goal is to empower children through philanthropy education and youth philanthropy programs to become more engaged in improving their community and world. The program is a total package, education wise. Its curricula is delivered in three ways: A visualization experience that introduces needs in the community, and the values and rewards of sharing and giving; classroom education on philanthropy that complements existing curricula; and hands-on school and community service projects for students, classes, and families.
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| Principal Johnson and Legacy of Giving Chair John C. Minter |
Ms. Spradlin's class has learned the roots of the word, philanthropy: Philos - love, and anthrophy - humankind. Care for our fellow human beings is motivating the students to plan a food drive as their service project. "How can a paper bag be a tool to fight hunger?" the children were asked as they discussed hunger issues in Austin. I'm glad the students are tackling such a pressing community issue, and I'll be checking back in later to see how the drive went.
Garcia is establishing a college-bound culture, and I enjoyed seeing that each teacher noted their alma mater(s) on their classroom door sign. Ms. Spradlin, for example, is an alum of Sam Houston State University. Principal Johnson said that teachers emphasize to the students that going to college is "more than a dream; it is an expectation." I saw a poster in the school that said, "Dragons Dream." Children should certainly have dreams, but they also must learn that dreams are achieved with hard work, and Garcia is working toward that.
Here's a snapshot of each grade at Garcia: Teacher of Promise, Ms. McKreath, today was engaged in a sixth grade math lesson on ratios.
Vision and hearing screening was taking place for seventh graders in the library this morning. I got my ears checked out. I thought my hearing loss was increasing the longer I used my cell phone, but the screeners tested me and determined that my ears are indeed okay.
And my student tour guide and eighth grader football player was proud of the football team which is in second place in the district standings. Go Dragons!
This beautiful campus on Johnny Morris Rd. was opened in 2007. It's named for Gustavo L. "Gus" Garcia, a former AISD Trustee and Board President, Austin City Council member, and Mayor. He was both AISD's first Hispanic Trustee and Austin's first elected Hispanic Mayor. His community service extends to organizations as well. Among his many positions and distinctions within the community, Mr. Garcia served as president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and as the director of the Texas Society of
CPAs. In 1984, the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce named him Businessman of the Year and in 1992 he received the LULAC Award for Political Involvement/Education.
The school has many Green features that helped it achieve 3-Star Energy Rating. Did you know that 26% of the building is constructed of recycled materials? Or that Garcia uses 27.8% less electrical energy, amounting to a yearly electrical energy cost savings of approximately $56,000? Or that water conserving plumbing fixtures, such as dual-flush toilets, reduce water use by 25% compared to a standard school, and that this is equivalent to 1,061,280 gallons of water saved per year? Impressive!
I'd have loved to stay longer because the Garcia Dragons have so much going on that I just want to learn more, but it's time to go. Thanks, Dragons!
We visited the first grade class of teacher Virginia Lewis. Four students were working together on their reading skills while five others practiced spelling on the computer. Language Arts are emphasized at Winn through "Reading Lunch" on Wednesdays and "Reading Minutes" school wide. School librarian Joann Moran told me she has just received a $6,000 grant from the Laura Bush Foundation to buy library books that encourage transitioning students to read English.
Winn's Teacher of Promise is Ms. Hopps, a bilingual third grade teacher who was working on Math with her students. The class was busy with manipulatives, making patterns of shapes and colors and practicing skip counting.
Well, after my stress test experience a few weeks ago at O. Henry Middle School and my rope jumping at Barton Hills Elementary, principals just lead me to their gyms. At Winn, I met Coach Price who, of course, had an activity for me — basketball. Ms. Duncan and I practiced chest throws. Thump! I want her on my team.
