BISD Succeeds at Region Jazz Auditions  

http://blog.birdvilleschools.net/district/wordpress/?p=3910  (SEPT2016)

Birdville ISD Receives Recognition for Transparency Efforts from Texas Comptroller

http://blog.birdvilleschools.net/district/wordpress/?p=3904  (SEPT2016)

Congratulations to Watauga Middle School Social Studies Teacher #BISDShines

http://blog.birdvilleschools.net/district/wordpress/?p=3838  (Aug2016)

Birdville ISD Earns Highest Rating Under New State Accountability Standards  

http://blog.birdvilleschools.net/district/wordpress/?p=3796  

Duke University Talent Identification Program (TIP): Seventh-Grade Talent Search

Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving academically gifted and talented students. Duke TIP works with students, their families, and educators to identify, recognize, challenge, engage, and help students reach their highest potential. Now in its 36th year, the seventh-grade talent search identifies bright seventh-graders based on standardized test scores achieved while attending elementary or middle school. Candidates are invited to take the ACT or the SAT college entrance exams as seventh-graders, which allows them greater insight into their academic abilities. In addition, they gain valuable benefits and have access to unique resources for gifted students.

The following Birdville ISD students qualified for state recognition by scoring at or above the national average of recent high school graduates on at least one part of the ACT or the SAT.

• Luis Gonzalez, Haltom Middle School
• Joshua Grantham, North Richland Middle School
• Erin Powell, North Richland Middle School
• Mercedes Wacks, North Richland Middle School
• Trayson Sosa, North Oaks Middle School
• Fiona Burleson, Smithfield Middle School
• Ethan Harrah, Smithfield Middle School
• Kyle Nimon, Smithfield Middle School
• William Thorne, Smithfield Middle School
• Trinity Vaughn, Smithfield Middle School
• Alexander Anderson, North Ridge Middle School
• Jackson Keefe, North Ridge Middle School
• Solyn Tidwell, North Ridge Middle School
• Meredith Turner, North Ridge Middle School

The following Birdville ISD students scored high enough to qualify for grand recognition. Students who qualify at the grand level scored approximately at or better than 90 percent of recent high school graduates on at least one part of the ACT or the SAT. These students are invited to a special recognition ceremony at Duke University. Only about three percent of all the participants in the talent search qualify for grand recognition. This is quite an achievement!

• Eva Kuderer, Smithfield Middle School
• Kyle Settelmaier, Smithfield Middle School  (MAY2016)

High School Artists Receive State Honors

Congratulations to the 40 high school artists from BISD that traveled to San Antonio to compete in this year's State VASE competition. These students’ 49 artworks advanced from the regional event with most receiving the highest rating possible from state adjudicators. Of the approximately 25,000 students that compete in the VASE competition each year, less than one percent receive the ultimate distinction of a Gold Seal Award for their artwork. BISD is proud to give special recognition to these high school artists who received a 2016 Gold Seal Award:

• Macey Brown (BHS 11th grade)
• Kathleen Haklar (RHS 9th grade)
• Helen Le (RHS 11th grade)
• Lasamy Sarawichitr (HHS 10th grade)
• Meagan Watkins (BHS 10th grade)

Birdville ISD Among Winners of $5 Million Raise Your Hand Texas Blended Learning Grant Initiative

http://blog.birdvilleschools.net/district/wordpress/?p=3388  (APR2016)

Stage West Theatre Announces Neighborhood Play Contest Winners

Congratulations to several BISD aspiring middle school and high school playwrights who were recently announced as winners of the Stage West Theatre's Neighborhood Play Contest. These students’ plays will be professionally produced and directed by Stage West during Festival of the Kid 2016. To see the complete list of winners as well as information on Festival of the Kid performance dates and times, go to http://www.stagewest.org/festival-kid.

Contest Winners

• "The First Encounter” by Isabella Suazo, Watauga Middle School 
• “Angela” by Shannon McGahey, Richland High School
• “Should I?” by Brittany Mock, Watauga Middle School
• “The Fourth Wall” by Josh Leeming and Jaden Cox, Watauga Middle School
• “Originality is a Lie” by Nathan Young, Haltom High School
• “Chains” by Kadin Thomas, Haltom High School 

Finalists/Honorable Mentions

• “The Destruction of Annie” by Caty Suazo, Haltom High School
• “The Most Beautiful Smile in Kansas City” by AnnaLisa Perricone, Haltom High School

2016 BISD Texas All State Musicians Announced

Congratulations to the 16 BISD high school band and choir members who were selected as Texas All State musicians after completing their final audition in Midland–Odessa.  After successfully navigating through multiple auditions spanning several months, these band and choir members have achieved the highest honor an individual high school musician can attain in Texas. These students will travel to San Antonio in February to participate in clinics and concerts during the Texas Music Educators Association annual convention.

Special Thanks to RHS Art Students and Mr. Nguyen

North Ridge Elementary would like to recognize and thank Richland High School art teacher Thai Nguyen and the RHS art students who volunteered their time and talents painting two murals at North Ridge Elementary during the holiday break. Thank you, Mr. Nguyen, for this wonderful gift!

View Pictures - https://goo.gl/photos/zYRQjKvXkMaBxLBR9  (Jan 2016)

BISD Singers Succeed at Regional Level

Congratulations to BISD high school choir members who recently participated in region choir auditions and were selected as members of one of the three elite region choirs.  These students will perform on Nov. 21 at the Mansfield ISD Performing Arts Center.  Members of the All-Region Choir will be preparing for their third level of auditions to become members of the 2016 Texas All-State Choir.

All-Region Choir 2015

Birdville HS:  Faith Adams, Emory Arnold, Sean Cazier, Hannah Detrick, Dennis Gartman, Jr., Shali Hartman, Halie Moore, Zane Motlagh, Logan Perrin, Jared Burleson (Alternate) and Jordan Joe (Alternate)

Haltom HS:  Haley Clark, Marion DeGuzman, Abigail Del Cristo, Thomas Jones, Marcus Medina, Alejandro Narvaez, Marissa Suazo, Cody Vital, Katlyn White and Tristan Langrehr (Alternate)

Richland HS: Carlie Hagar, Sarah Jones, Braden Kelley, Moriah Khalil, Josh Legge, Destiny Pope, Alivia Atkinson (Alternate), Kayla Jefferies (Alternate) and Ruth Kingsbury (Alternate)

All-District Choir 2015

Birdville HS:  Xavier Baker, Jeremiah Brand, Audrey Ham, Trey Harmening and Macy Hartman

Haltom HS: Jesus Castillo, Lisi Greenlee, Amara Holcombe, Kennan Lukacs, Zachariah Medina and Shelby Siefkas

Richland HS:  Ashley Dickerson, Caleb Dollarhide, Christopher Farrell, Hina Hussain, Tolisi Kioa and Caleb Pitts

 9^TH–10^TH Grade Region Choir

Birdville HS:  John Blamey, Harrison Caltagirone, Darius Easter, Kaleigh Farnan, Seth Goff, Hannah Green, Amelia Little, Lonnie McCloud, Miguel Mendez, Maygan Paul, Keegan Poole, Nick Rothe, Jenna Ruhlman, Breanna West, Lauren Wheeler and Isabella Ybarra

Haltom HS:  Mireya Campos, Aaron Chavarria, Cristian Desantiago, Cassandra Dominguez, Cassandra Flowers, Sarah Lawson, Gabrielle Mallou, Michelle Martinez, Melanie Martinez, Mary Nelson, Catherine Suazo and Juan Vazquez

Richland HS:  Bryce Beeson, Cade Braswell, Trinadie Durham-Bazan, Hailey Frith, Maysen Garner, Alyssa Goeringer, Beyonce Green, Dominique Groover, Haley Hanson, Caitlin Hoffman, Rachel Kelly, McKynzi Miller, Emily Patrick, Levi Richey, Jessika Rodriguez, Chandler Smith and Valeria Solis (November2015)

Birdville ISD receives highest rating for finances

The Texas Education Agency announced Friday, Oct. 12 that Birdville ISD received a rating of “Pass” under Texas’ school financial accountability rating system, known as the School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST). This rating is the state’s highest, demonstrating the quality of BISD’s financial management and reporting system.

Created by the 77^th Texas Legislature in 2001, FIRST is designed to encourage public schools to better manage their financial resources in order to provide the maximum allocation possible for direct instructional purposes.

The 2014–15 ratings are based on annual financial reports provided to TEA by districts and charters from the 2014 fiscal year. The financial accountability system requires TEA to review the audited financial reports from all districts and charters.

 Birdville ISD will hold a public hearing on the FIRST rating at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 at the BISD Administration Building. (November2015)

Birdville ISD students earn national honors

BISD is proud to announce it has three National Merit Semifinalists and 13 National Merit Commended Scholars and one National Hispanic Scholar for the 2015-16 school year.

Nearly 1.5 million juniors in 22,000 high schools across the country entered the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program last year by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Less than one percent of the nation’s high school seniors received the prestigious designation of becoming a semifinalist this year.

To become a finalist, a semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the high school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

BISD’s 2015-16 National Merit Semifinalists are:

Birdville High School
Jacob Brown
Elizabeth (Libby) Feray

Richland High School
Anna Polk

National Merit Commended Scholars are:

Birdville High School
Taylor Campbell
David Durden
Brandon Holmes
Jessica Peterson
Matthew Reddy
Preston Seebock

Haltom High School
Sebastian Cox
Richland High School
Chris Dobbins
Hina Hussain
Sarah Jones
Ruth Kingsbury
Brad Pipes
Dylan White

National Hispanic Scholars are:

Richland High School
Jose Garcia

The National Merit Scholarship Program will announce additional program honorees later this school year. (October 2015)

BISD exceeds state in all areas of SAT

SAT scores for 2015 were released Sept. 30, and BISD’s composite score of 1453 for critical reading, mathematics and writing is higher than the state average of 1410. Average scores on the individual portions of the tests were:

• Critical Reading – BISD scored 485 as compared to the state average at 470;

• Mathematics – BISD scored 500 as compared to the state average at 486; and

• Writing – BISD scored 468 as compared to the state average at 454.

A total of 705 BISD seniors took the SAT at some point in high school.

“I am proud of our seniors for scoring above the state average in 2015,” said Superintendent Dr. Darrell G. Brown. “The District is committed to continuous improvement and the advancement of our students. To improve the college readiness of our students, BISD will continue to implement strategies to improve curriculum in our pre-advanced placement, advanced placement and core classes.” (October 2015)