April 16, 2018
Trustees Prepare for Continued Growth

During their monthly meeting, the Belton ISD Board of Trustees received an updated demographics report that indicates accelerated growth across all areas of the District.   In a report presented by the District's demographers, Templeton Demographics, the Board's ongoing efforts to plan and prepare for student growth was further underscored with projections of   an additional 3,300 new students enrolled by fall 2025, reaching a total enrollment of nearly 15,000 students.

Based on research provided by local developers and real estate professionals, City of Belton, City of Temple, Texas A&M Real Estate Center and the Texas Comptroller's Office, the District's high school enrollment in 2025 is projected to be 4,651 students.

The report underscores the significance of the Board's efforts to plan and prepare for construction of Charter Oak Elementary and Lake Belton High School.
Academic UIL District Championship

Belton ISD (BISD) claimed the District Championship for the 2018 Academic UIL Competition. The District UIL competition combines One Act Play, Speech and Debate events, and academic points in order to determine who is the District Champion.  Several Academic Teams placed: Accounting, Calculator, Current Issues, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies all placed first. Literary Criticism, Number Sense, and Spelling placed second.
SkillsUSA State Medalists/National Qualifiers

BISD had 48 students compete in the State SkillsUSA competition. The group won multiple team medals and ribbons for projects submitted.
  
In one of the first awards given during the conference, the Belton SkillsUSA officers were awarded the Chapter of Distinction Gold Medal in the Chapter of Excellence Program. Chapter officers Alex Alafa, Savannah Burrows, Abby Clarke, Kyla Dermody, Shayla Gomez, Olivia Gochoel and Neryelis Martinez worked since the fall on completing an extensive written application, which included a presentation to the Board of Trustees in February. As the Texas Gold Medal Chapter of Distinction, their application will now go on to be judged for one of the 24 state gold level chapters invited to Nationals.
  
Belton teams competing in the Forensic Science category claimed both the first AND second place medals at the State competition this year. The Gold Medal State Champion team members are Kaylee Luker, Neryelis Martinez and Priscilla Rafael. The second place, silver medal-winning team in the Forensic Science category includes Savannah Burrows, Kathryn Galinsky and Autumn Painter. Forensic Science does not yet have a National level competition.
  
A State Champion Gold Medal was awarded for Chapter Display to the team of Nick Garcia, Rhianna Eubanks and Grant Sieboldt. They are headed to Nationals!
  
The TeamWorks team of Bailey Eickendorf, William Glaser, Antonio Hernandez and Lyhue Penny earned Gold. This team has also gained a spot at the National competition! This is the fifth consecutive year for Belton to earn the TeamWorks State Championship.  
  
The Automotive Engine Projects and the Mill & Cabinet Projects teams brought home blue and red ribbons from their wins at State. The Automotive Engine Projects Blue Ribbon winners are Brandon Baker and Elijah Vicker. Red Ribbon teams include Cassidy Bailey and Skyler Peevey and Eyan Chaplin and Hunter Esper. Mill & Cabinet Projects team Blue Ribbon Winners are Jake Gilbert, Cody Johnson, Jesus Martinez, Grant Sieboldt and the team of Joel Hernandez, Jonathan Salinas and Austin Waldo. Red Ribbon winners are Nick Parker and Edgar Soto.
FCCLA National Qualifiers

The team of Belton High School (BHS) seniors Ashley Ficker and Dajah Gonzalez won first place and qualified for Nationals in the Texas Association of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) State Star Event Interior Design competition. This was the second year for Ashley and Dajah to advance to FCCLA State but this will be the first time for any BHS students to advance to Nationals. To compete in this event, Ashley and Dajah together created three interior design boards and an architectural floor plan based on a scenario given to them by FCCLA.  The national FCCLA Leadership Conference will be held in Atlanta, Georgia in June.
Trustees Review and Affirm District's Vision, Mission and Goals

Also during the meeting, Trustees reviewed and affirmed the District's current vision, mission and goals for the 2018-2019 school year. They will serve as the foundation for the District Improvement Plan which will be presented for review and approval this fall.
  
The Board's vision for the District is to "be a leader in preparing every student to excel in tomorrow's world," and its mission is to "provide an education that challenges all of our students to excel."
UIL  Theatrical Design State Qualifier

Belton New Tech High School @ Waskow sophomore Donatella Hoti qualified to advance to the State UIL Theatrical Design Contest. For this contest, Donatella submitted design plates and a two-page design justification essay on the double feature contest prompt - A Raisin in the Sun and Clybourne Park. Her submission was judged on four categories: set, hair & makeup, costume and marketing.
 
This is the first year Belton has entered the UIL Theatrical Design Contest. Melissa Stuhff is the BHS Theatre Director and Mel Edwards is the Technical Director.
ADTS National Dance Championship

The BHS Varsity Magic Belles can now add National Champions to their title. At the American Dance/Drill Team Nationals held at the University of North Texas, over 130 teams competed and the Magic Belles won the top spot in the Medium Team Division. In addition to being named National Champion Medium Team, the Magic Belles were recognized 4th overall in the Best of the Best National Team title and 9th overall internationally. They placed 2nd in the Academic Champion category, missing first place by just .017.
 
Additional awards received at the competition include: WOW Factor Award: Team Modern, Hip Hop Company First Place Large Ensemble (Medium Division), National Champion Team Jazz, Fourth Runner Up International Jazz, National Champion Team Kick, First Place International Kick, Second Place Team Novelty, Third Place International Novelty, National Champion Team Modern, First Place International Modern.
 
Officers were awarded National Champion Officer Jazz, Second Place Officer Modern, Third Place Officer Contemporary and Fifth Place Medium Officers. Bella Rose Mortel and Gracie Fothergill both earned a place on the All American Kick Company.
Central Texas Incredible Kids

The Central Texas Youth Coalition hosted the 19th Annual Incredible Kids Celebration on April 12 at the Bell County Expo Center. The event recognizes special children who demonstrate admirable character traits in their service to their communities. Belton ISD is honored to have two students recognized this year.
 
Kaegan Huddleston, a fifth-grade student at High Point Elementary School and, Garrett Smith, a senior at BHS, were honored.
Big Red Community Partner - Temple-Belton Board of Realtors

The word is out that this community is a great place to live, work and raise a family. The area benefits from a low unemployment rate and job growth that is outpacing both the state and the nation. It also benefits from available housing and residential home development.  
 
As a fast-growth school district, successful planning is only possible with strong partners and industry professionals, like those involved with the Temple-Belton Board of Realtors (TBBOR). Belton ISD and TBBOR members work together as our District continues to prepare for the new homes and the new students that will come with those new homes in this area. Our District remains focused on the kids and wants to ensure the school buildings are here and ready for them when they come. TBBOR supports those efforts.  For their continued partnership and support of Belton ISD, TBBOR is this month's Big Red Community Partner. 
Superintendent's Report

Groundbreaking for Lake Belton High School
Belton ISD will be "kicking up some dirt" to celebrate the groundbreaking for Lake Belton High School on Thursday, May 17, at the school site at FM 317 and FM 2483. T he new design for the Broncos logo will be unveiled at the event. 
  
Spring Update Presentations
This week the District started their annual spring update and service award presentations for  campuses and departments. Teachers with 10, 15, 20, years of experience and more are being recognized, as well as retirees. The "Every Kid A Winner" Awards will also be presented to those staff members who are nominated by their principal or department head for having gone above and beyond this year to take care of our students and schools.
  
Teachers of the Year
Each campus, along with fine arts, athletics, and CTE have selected their teacher of the year.  These teachers will now be interviewed and an Elementary Teacher and a Secondary Teacher of the Year will be selected to compete as Educational Service Center, Region 12, Teacher of the Year. These two nominees will be announced at the Teacher of the Year luncheon on May 24 at the Harris Community Center.  Congratulations to all the 2018-2019 Teachers of the Year!

  
Graduation Preview
Graduation is just a few weeks away!  On May 31, Belton New Tech High School @ Waskow will graduate at 2:00 p.m. and Belton High School will graduate at 7:00 p.m., both at the Bell County Expo.  Baccalauerate is Sunday, May 27, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, Belton. It is sponsored by the Belton Fellowship of Ministers.  Senior scholarship ceremonies are scheduled for both schools. Belton High School's ceremony will be held on May 17 at 6:00 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center and New Tech High's ceremony will be held on May 22, at 5:30 p.m. at South Belton Middle School.  Senior Walk for Belton High Schools is May 21st at 8:00 a.m. and May 30 at 7:45, beginning with breakfast, for Belton New Tech High School @ Waskow. 
More photos of students and staff members recognized at this month's board meeting can be found on Belton ISD's Google+ page.