November 30, 2018

Several Veterans Day activities were held this month to honor the service of our military. South Belton Middle School held its annual Take a Vet to School Day, which consisted of an assembly featuring poetry, gifts to veteran staff, 
State Representative Hugh Shine and former NFL player Joe Brown as guest speakers as well as performances by the choir, band, orchestra and the BHS MCJROTC. Other events included celebrations at North Belton Middle School, a flagpole ceremony at Tarver Elementary and students at several campuses wrote letters to veterans.
 
Belton ISD Advanced Academics recognized 242 Elementary Scholars for their high achievements on STAAR or Gifted and Talented testing. Celebrating the academic success of these fifth grade students represents Belton ISD's continued commitment to advancing its top performers.

The holiday season is an especially great time for us to instill in our students a sense of empathy and compassion for others. In Belton ISD, we systematically teach core content area instruction to our students in order to individually and collectively increase academic achievement. While we know that core instruction is the "main thing" for us, we understand that the children we are developing and nurturing also need to learn critical social-emotional learning (SEL) skills in order to become healthy adults, and we are committed to providing systematic evidence-based instruction to ensure that they become great people who care about others and contribute to a safe and secure, inclusive community. We want them to be able to manage their emotions and behaviors, demonstrate responsible decision-making and love and respect others. 
 
This year we have extended our focus on social-emotional learning and developing positive school cultures. Dr. Rachelle Warren, the District's new Director of Social-Emotional Learning and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, is leading multiple initiatives in this area including convening a focus group to identify and refine our existing strategies to support our priority in this area and providing oversight of our Safe and Civil Schools and Bridges classroom management and behavioral support programs. Our goal is to implement a comprehensive program that is clearly communicated and implemented with fidelity to support the continued human development of our students. We want our program to be implemented seamlessly across the District to ensure our schools provide great cultures to support our students.
 
Community service is an area in which students can develop social-emotional learning skills. Teaching students to genuinely care and demonstrate empathy toward others will help them become generous and compassionate adults. In November, our FFA program organized and promoted the annual Food Rally hosted by Belton H-E-B to support Helping Hands Ministry of Belton. This event allows groups and individuals to sponsor a meal for a family by participating in a competitive shopping event. Eighty-six teams including student groups such as the BHS Spanish Club, NBMS Student Council, Belton FFA and dozens of community groups participated this year, providing meals for more than 90 families in the Belton community. I was proud to participate this year and witness the joy of such a community event focused on helping others. FFA is a dynamic student-led leadership development organization for students of agricultural education. The FFA changes lives and prepares students for premier leadership, personal growth and career success.
 
Another event that represents the kind of empathy and compassion we are hoping to develop is Belton New Tech High School @ Waskow's Purple Heart Servant Leadership Day . This year will be the fourth time for the school to hold this event. On December 17, students, staff, parents and soldiers from our Adopt-A-School Brigade will continue this tradition by participating in numerous service projects throughout the community. Some of these projects include making dog toys for the Bell County Animal Shelter, partnering with Kids Against Hunger to pack food for local shelters and beautifying the yard of an elderly individual's home. T he event began as a way to honor the school's namesake, Captain Henry T. Waskow, and his dedication to serving others. Not only are students continuing Captain Waskow's legacy, they are also experiencing how their kindness and goodwill can positively impact the community.
 
Other BISD groups participated in holiday service projects including Pirtle Elementary School's "Sharing is Caring" Annual Food Drive. Teachers, staff and students collected almost 2,000 total goods to share with families. Fourth graders at Chisholm Trail Elementary kicked off their food drive in partnership with Hope for the Hungry with the goal of raising $3,375 by March 2019 in order to pack 13,500 meals for children around the world.  And there are continuing efforts to help the Big Red Community including the Magic Belles and Belton High School Dance Department's December 2nd Winter Show, where admission is a canned/non-perishable food item that will be given to a local food bank.
 
This holiday season I want to express my gratitude to each of you. This community is like no other. The support, kindness and care you demonstrate toward our students, staff and schools serve as a model for others, and I can't thank you enough for your consistent and invaluable commitment. I hope your holidays are filled with joy and that you have a blessed new year.
 
Thank you for your continued support.
 
Sincerely,

Susan Kincannon, Ed.D.
Superintendent


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What a great turnout for the community pep rally! We are proud of the Tigers for making the playoffs for the fourth year in a row! Thank you to the BISD Athletics Department for organizing the event, as well as the  Belton Tiger Athletic Booster Club and  Schoepf's BBQ for  providing fireworks that lit up the stadium!

These five athletes signed to play at the collegiate level earlier this month. Congratulations to the following students: 
Brianne Dumas, tennis at Hardin Simmons; 
Major Ueckert, tennis at Schreiner University; 
Julia Garcia, golf at Dallas Baptist University; 
Harlie Wiley, soccer at Stephen F Austin; and 
Taylor Gurnett, soccer at Dallas Baptist University.
Message from the School Board President:

The Big Red Community is strengthened by its proximity to Fort Hood and the significant number of servicemen and women who call this area home.
 
Watching our students honor and celebrate those who have served in our nation's armed forces this month was inspiring. South Belton Middle School held its annual "Take a Vet to School Day," which included 200 veterans and active duty service members visiting the campus for a special breakfast, amazing student led ceremony and opportunities to speak to individual classes about their experiences.
 
Among those veterans honored at South Belton Middle School were two men who served in World War II. For students to honor these veterans, along with the many other parents, grandparents, staff members and leaders who participated in this important annual event, ensured priceless moments that matter for students and community members alike.
 
Our BHS Madrigal Choir performed at the Belton Senior Center during a meaningful tribute event, and Belton New Tech High School @ Waskow hosted "Share Your Service Day" for veterans and those currently serving to share their experiences with students during English and history classes. Tarver Elementary and others held patriotic events that opened their doors to the community in ways that connect our students and veterans.
 
For the fourth year in a row our Belton Tigers continued their football season into the playoffs. To celebrate another successful season and send-off these impressive student athletes, our Athletics Department and the Belton Tiger Athletic Booster Club provided a community wide pep rally that was literally bursting with spirit. Thank you to Schoepf's BBQ for assisting with a special firework presentation for the pep rally and to all who came out this season to cheer on the student athletes, cheerleaders, band members and other students whose talents make a Friday night at Tiger Field something special for us all.
 
We are so proud of the leadership of our students, staff and community members in creating these important moments. Each demonstrates the connection between our schools and our community!
 
In this season of giving thanks and coming together, the connections between our schools and this community continue to give us all so much to be grateful for.
 
Sincerely,

Sue M. Jordan
President, Board of Trustees
 
Thank you to the City of Temple and Oncor for planting a tree at Tarver Elementary in celebration of Arbor Day. Students gathered outside to help plant the tree at their playground and were joined by representatives from Temple and Oncor. Students read facts about trees and recited poems they wrote about their importance. Special thanks to this month's Big Red Community Partner, the Bell County Museum, who helped students at Pirtle Elementary hold a mock election. Students had the opportunity to select the next Senator from Texas; however, there was more debate and a consensus made on an important proposal, one extra hour of recess. Resounding cheers echoed in the library as the final vote was revealed with 69 for and 64 against.

Tarver Elementary students and their families enjoyed Feast Day before the Thanksgiving break, and o ur Belton FFA had an incredible turnout for its annual food rally with a  record 86 teams participating! Thank you to Belton H-E-B for allowing us to have this event each year. What a great service to our community!