ESSENTIAL EIGHT
In November, students learned about the Essential Eight characteristic of gratitude. Defined as “being thankful and appreciative,” students learned the importance of thanking one another.
*Please note, the video will likely be blocked at your work computer because of its social media classification.
Opportunity for Next Month
If you’re a teacher and you’re excited about one of your upcoming Philanthropy lessons, please submit the following information to YOUR CAMPUS PRINCIPAL by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, for a chance to appear on a Dec. 13 KBTX Brazos Valley This Morning Philanthropy interview with one of your students. (The lesson must be conducted BEFORE Dec. 13 to be eligible).
- Your name and the name of one of their photo-safe students who you would like to appear on KBTX with you.
- A 1-3 sentence description your upcoming Philanthropy lesson.
Thanks for in advance for your participation and good luck!
KUDOS
State Award
On Nov. 7, our own Juana Garcia, migrant manager/recruiter, earned the 2018 Association for Migrant Educators of Texas State Service Award! Great job Juana. Thanks for the dedication you give to our migrant students every day.
A Star is Born
The legendary Lester Banks, Bryan High campus monitor, will be featured in the winter issue of Brazos 360, The Eagle’s magazine! Make sure to pick up a copy when it hits the shelves Dec. 16.
All That ‘Alligator Jazz’
Samuel Pitman II, Davila Middle School in Bryan ISD English/Language Arts teacher, recently wrote his first book, “Alligator Jazz.” It is currently sold at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Know a Bryan ISD employee who deserves recognition in the Kudos section? Please submit the name of the person and the reason they deserve recognition to info@bryanisd.org with “KUDOS” in the subject line.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Social Media Spotlight
Rayburn Intermediate Principal Justin Smith’s story captured the hearts and minds of our Facebook community. Since his video was posted on Nov. 13, it reached 24,998 people, earned 11,570 video views and achieved 1,613 reactions comments and shares like the feedback shown below.
In the News Highlight
Thanks to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Brazos Valley & Cognizant for helping to shape the lives of our students & for preparing them for higher education & careers through mentoring. Learn more in this great KBTX story.
SCHOOL CALENDAR VOTE
Remember, you have until Sunday to vote for your favorite 2019-2020 School Calendar. Click here to vote for Option A or Option B.
RIBBON CUTTINGS
The Texas A&M Reading Clinic at Fannin Elementary
Less than a month after the first Texas A&M Reading Clinic was opened at Jones Elementary, the ribbon was cut on Fannin Elementary on Nov. 6! Special thanks to the Texas A&M College of Education & Human Development, Read by 3rd and the B/CS Chamber of Commerce for being a part of the event & The Stella Hotel for providing the food.
Project Hope’s Hope’s Locker
Bryan ISD’s homeless services program Project Hope introduced Hope’s Locker to the public on Nov. 8! Thanks to the hard work of the Bryan-College Station Association of Realtors, the free store provides expanded clothing options to Bryan ISD families in need. It is open Tuesdays from 4:15 p.m. to 6 p.m. & by appointment in the back of Bryan Collegiate High School (1901 East Villa Maria Road). Project Hope will continue to collect clothing, shoes, school supplies & non-perishable food items Bryan students and their families. For more information about the closet or to donate items, contact Amy DuBose at 979-846-3751 or email ae@bcsrealtor.com. For more information about Project Hope, contact Tara Dupper at tara.dupper@bryanisd.org
AND THE WINNERS ARE…
Bryan ISD Prize
Congrats to Ciara Oatman, Davila life skills teacher, who was randomly selected as the winner of a Bryan ISD umbrella after correctly answering the InRoll Plus chat now feature question in last month’s newsletter!
Photo Contest
Susan Barnes, music therapist, is the winner of the October Inside Bryan ISD Photo Contest that asked for a photo of an employee doing something interesting outside of work. She recently worked on the crew of a 35.5 ft. Catalina sailboat with her husband Matt as it sailed from New Orleans to Panama City! The boat continued to the Bahamas, but Susan and her husband disembarked in Florida. What an adventure!
RECIPE CONTEST
Bryan ISD employees are invited to submit ALL of the following: 1. Their favorite recipe; 2. A photo of themselves holding or next to the food made with the recipe & 3. A close-up photo of the food item to info@bryanisd.org by 12 p.m. Dec. 10 with “RECIPE CONTEST” in the subject line of the email. The winner will be announced in the next edition of Inside Bryan ISD and will receive a special prize. One entry per person. The photos must be safe for work. If you’re using a camera phone to take the photos, please send them using a high-quality setting.
ENJOY YOUR MEAL!
PHOTOBOOTH SPECIAL REQUEST
The communications department could use your help in gathering props that will be used for the Inside Bryan ISD Photobooth. If you have gently used funny hats, scarfs, boas or other interesting accessories, please consider donating them to communications in the Bryan ISD Administration Building or allow the department to borrow them for the rest of the school year. For questions, email info@bryanisd.org or call 979-209-1020.
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
Bryan/College Station is a vibrant place to live, learn and play. We live in a community with numerous opportunities to experience culture, music and exciting events. The upcoming events below are just a few of the many ways you can plug into our community.
- Dec. 3 & 4: Christmas Concert – The Celtic Women are coming to town! Their two-night performance of “The Best of Christmas” will take place 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 and 4. Click here for ticket information.
- Dec. 7: First Friday – For those of you new to Bryan, the first Friday night of every month is a time of excitement around Downtown Bryan. The stores open late, and street performers and vendors liven up an already lively downtown. Click here for more information.
- Dec. 9: BCS Marathon – Cheer on our Bryan-College Station runners! If you hadn’t started training yet, it’s probably too late start (please don’t), but you can still support the runners by holding up signs and giving them words of encouragement. The half and full races start promptly at 7 a.m. Dec. 9 at Wolf Pen Creek Park and continue through various Bryan and College Station neighborhoods, parks and streets before ending at Wolf Pen Creek Park. Click here to view the half and full marathon course maps.
- Dec. 14: Lighted Christmas Parade – Come to Downtown Bryan at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 14 for the only lighted Christmas parade in Bryan-College Station. Click here for more information.
- Dec. 14: Classic Movie – In November, “You’ve Got Mail” played at the Queen Theatre. In December, you can see the movie it was based on. View the Christmas classic “Shop Around The Corner” 8 p.m. Dec. 14. Visit tickets.queenbryantx.com/tickets to purchase tickets online.
- Weekly Yoga – Every Saturday at 8 a.m., a free community outdoor yoga class for all ages and skill groups takes place at the Lake Walk Pavilion in Bryan. Visit lakewalktx.com/yoga for more information.
- Nov. 30-Dec. 17: Bryan ISD Fine Arts Holiday Performances – Celebrate the season with Rudder and Bryan High’s talented Fine Arts students! Check the flyers below for date, time and performance information. Call 979-209-1118 for additional details.
BRYAN ISD
Children First. Always.
I just would like to say Thank you for picking the star of BISD Mr. Lester Banks who is the hardest working young man in BISD He is always going the extra mile out of his way to put others first. This young man has touch the life of so many people that you want be able to count. for. I am one of those people that he has impact my life, because if it wasn’t for him you never gave up on me i would not be where i am today.
This man means the world to a lot of people because of his loving heart. Lester is a father to a lot of us who really don’t have a real father in life. He is always going out of his way to help us students to be succesful in life. I praise God for this man and all for what he do for this community and our Bryan schools. My prayer is now i hope one day we can name a school after him for all the lives he has touch here in our Bryan schools. He is truly a man of God. You can always call on Lester Banks for any thing and he will always be the first one there no matter what it is. For the little money he makes working at 4 jobs this man go out of his way for people and a lot of people don’t know that. I want say my name but he has help me and my family out a lot. We was very poor and my mother was out in the streets doing drugs and my daddy was in jail. we had no clothes or food to eat for a hold month but guess who came through for us, Lester Ben Banks Jr. He took us to the mall brought us clothes, and shoes to wear and he even put food on our table. This man has done a lot for our family and now i am so thankful that somebody sees the hard work this young man does and now it has paid off. All because a man that has a loving, caring heart for the people of the world. I know people don’t pay Mr. Banks enough for all he does for our schools in Bryan and College Station ISD. But our Mighty God see everything and one day he is going to Bless him big time. I am still a little shame to say my name right now but i want you to know that this is a true story and i than God that you people are honoring a true hero here in BISD for all the hard work he does for our schools here in BISD. I truly have to say this but Bryan High will never be the same with out this hard working young man and I thank God for all he does.
Lester Banks is one of the best employees BISD has. He pays for kids clothes and shoes, hands out a number of scholarships. He also provides treats and helps out with our moderately impaired students and has a good relationship with some of our behavior problem students. He has assisted me in getting business take care of concerning buses and other issues noone else will assist with. Lester is a great help and I am glad to have him.Shining example.
Oh Mr. Banks! A true star is born! I have known Mr. Banks since my boys (ages 37 and 34) were playing flag football with the Boys Club! I have now worked at Bryan High for 8 years with Lester. He truly cares about these kids and would give any one of them the shirt off his back. It’s truly a pleasure working with him and watching him interact with the kiddos. 🙂