The Graduate Ready eNews keeps parents, students, and community leaders informed about AISD's High School Redesign. The eNews highlights campus efforts to improve student performance and asks for your input and ideas every month. We want to hear from you! Send your comments to officeofredesign@austinisd.org
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The Pride is Back! Eastside Memorial Community Celebrates
Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting
On October 13, 2009, Superintendent Dr.
Meria Carstarphen, AISD Board Trustee Sam Guzman, and State Senator Kirk Watson joined over 250 parents, community leaders,
elected officials, national education partners and 900 students to celebrate "The Pride is Back!" at Eastside Memorial High Schools at the Johnston Campus and to cut the ribbon for the formal opening of Green Tech and Global Tech. Green Tech and Global Tech opened in August 2009 as part of the New Tech Network of innovative schools and joined International High School as the third school on the campus.
"These two new schools are not education as usual," observed Senator Kirk Watson in his keynote address at the event. "They offer students the chance to learn
in new ways that will prepare them to be our next generation of leaders, ready
to tackle the 21st century with the knowledge and skills they need
to succeed."
The event opened with remarks from students Darriyan Kent, Maricarmen Quiroz, Shufi Bhuiyan, and Yessica Acuna. Principals from Global Tech, Green Tech, and International high schools stood united as Eastside Memorial Panthers. Attendees at the grand opening celebration included members of the AISD Board of Trustees; Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell; State Representatives Eddie Rodriguez and Mark Strama; Monica Martinez, President of the New Tech Network, Shari Albright from the International Studies Schools Network-Asia Society; ACC Board Members Jeffrey Richard and Raul Alvarez and leaders from Austin Community College and the University of Texas.
 "This entire community came together to create a unified new vision. You stood firm and stood together, and
you demanded an education for your children that was not the status quo."
-State Senator
Kirk Watson
"Today is a special day. It
is one that I dreamed about. Today
we cut the ribbon to dedicate our two new schools, and recognize all three of
the schools that are on the campus of Eastside Memorial."
-Sam Guzman
AISD Board Trustee, District 2 "I really like what you're doing
here at Eastside Memorial
-you're Green, you're Global,
you're International,
you're all one campus.
It's innovative, it's the 21st century!"
-AISD Superintendent
Dr. Meria Carstarphen |
A New Model of Learning at Eastside Memorial: 21st
Century Schools
Eastside Memorial is a unique campus for AISD. Not only does it have 3 independent schools on one campus, it is also a center for innovation and new instructional
practice. Instead of lectures and worksheets, students at Eastside
Memorial Global Tech and Green Tech learn through a "project based" approach in which they apply
academics to solve real-world problems using 21st century skills in
the classroom. Students work in teams, develop communication skills, and use
technology everyday in class. Every student has a laptop to give them 24/7
access to classroom material, assignments and research. In addition, a Partner Coordinator has been hired
to connect business and community partners with classroom learning and to develop internships for juniors and seniors.
Examples of current projects
include: students in Chemistry conducting soil tests to discover which soil combinations work
best with the Central Texas climate and students in "Engineering Principles" are using math and engineering design skills by working with Clark Wilson, CEO of Green Builders, to design the official Eastside
Memorial Green Tech building sign using recyclable and recycled materials.
- Global Tech is an international studies school that
intertwines global issues into all subject areas to create globally competent students. It is the only school in the world that was formed through a partnership with the Asia Society and the New Tech Network.
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Green Tech is a Texas STEM (science, technology, engineering
and mathematics) school that focuses on environmental studies, "green"
technologies, and "green" design.
- At International High School, where 17 different languages are spoken and students from over 22 countries are in attendance, students' language is viewed as a strength. Students at International work in an environment that prepares them to transition to a rigorous high school. The entire campus including the principal has embraced the QTEL program for teaching students at International.
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Dr. Uri Treisman
Speaks at Bowie Academic Youth Development
Kick-Off Event
 Dr. Uri Triesman joined Bowie math teachers, Algebra I students, and parents for the launch of Academic youth Development (AYD) and the upcoming academic year.
Students and parents who participated in last summer's inaugural program
provided testimonials on how the program has boosted their math achievement scores.
"AYD helped me meet new friends, not feel nervous on the
1st day of school and showed me how to help my friends with their
homework", said Ariel Johnson when asked about her experiences in the
summer AYD program.
Dr. Uri Treisman is the Executive Director of the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas and is one of the most influential education
thinkers in the United States, serving on numerous national boards and commissions.
Dr. Treisman has received many honors, but most interesting is the
MacArthur Fellow he received in 1992 for ground-breaking
research of the factors that support high achievement among minority students
in mathematics.
Dr. Treisman spoke directly to students at the kick-off
event, stressing the motto of AYD, "you've got to work harder to get smarter!"
Treisman compared the study of mathematics to that of
gymnastics where much practice is required for success. "If math isn't challenging to you, then you're not working on hard enough problems," Treisman told students.
Click Here to view a short video from the event.
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 - Lanier and International High Schools will host the Demonstration Campus Open House for the Quality Teaching for English Learners (QTEL), Thursday, November 19th, from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. Principals, curriculum specialists, and district leadership are invited to attend. The day will include opening and closing presentations and visits to demonstration classrooms in the four content areas at both campuses. For more information, or to register, please contact Melissa Hutchins via email at melissa.hutchins@austinisd.org
- Beginning in November, Eastside Memorial Green Tech is rolling out a "Brown Bag Speaker Series." Students will meet weekly with "Green Collar" professionals to help them connect classroom college and career options.
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Stories in upcoming issues of Graduate Ready eNews:
- Robotics Explosion in Austin ISD
- Innovative Learning at Akins HS
- First High School Class at Ann Richards School
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AISD
and the Office Redesign thank the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,
the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, and the Texas High School
Project for their continued support of High School Redesign.
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