A Monthly Newsletter produced by Sands CISD

HOOFBEATS

FEBRUARY 2007

From the Editor

SET THE PACE

I was having a discussion with a friend of mine the other day and we were talking about his employees. He is currently a local farmer and told me that one of the first bits of advice his father told him when he decided to start farming on his own was to get to work early and “set the pace.” He said that if you set an example for your employees, showing them how steadily you want them to work, you will be much more productive than if you simply tell what to do and leave them to get the job done without you. It may take more effort on your part to get your hands dirty and show them what is to be expected. But the job will get done…get done right…and get done quicker.

One does not have to be a farmer or a business owner to have the responsibility to “set the pace”. Everyone from age 1 to 101, male and female has responsibilities. Some people have more responsibilities than others, but we all have them. I thought about my own experiences in life and realized that as a parent I have a responsibility to my two boys to “sett the pace” for them. And yes at times it will mean that your comfort will be gone and your hands will get dirty. I got to thinking about what I need to do to help them be successful in life and have a healthy future in the world. I would like to share my thoughts with parents and future parents, while stressing that this dialogue will probably be more of a message to me than any other reader.

As parents we are to “set the pace” in all things pertaining to life and life after death. Raising children ranges from the simplest of tasks, such as a kind touch, to the dauntingly complex, such as character formation. We are to be examples to our children on issues of health, finances, religion, morals, and education, as well as a whole host of other issues that will affect their lives. None of us as parents will ever be perfect, but each one of us has the ability to learn from our mistakes and as parents try to warn our children, so they will not make the same ones.

Parents need to put parenting first. This is difficult to do in a world with so many competing demands. Our children should not have to compete for our attention. Plan daily, how you can weave your children into your social life and knit yourself into their lives. If you find that this is not possible. Then it is time for you as a parent to do some self- evaluation and determine what is important to you.

Human beings learn primarily through modeling. Be a good example for your children. Develop an ear and an eye for what your children are absorbing. Children are like sponges. Much of what they take in has to do with moral values and character. Books, songs, TV, the Internet, and films are continually delivering messages—moral and immoral—to our children. As parents we must control the flow of ideas and images that are influencing our children. If we are “setting the pace” for our children, they will be not see us watching inappropriate things on TV or the Internet. They will see that we are making good choices on what type of music we listen to and what books we choose to read.

Children cannot develop a moral compass unless people around them use the clear, sharp language of right and wrong. When our children do wrong we must punish with a loving heart. Children need limits. They will ignore these limits on occasion. However, reasonable punishment is one of the ways human beings have always learned. Children must understand what punishment is for and know that its source is parental love.

Learn to listen to your children, and they will listen to you. They will also learn be good listeners to your grandchildren someday, because of your example today. One way to listen to your children is to get deeply involved in your child’s school life. School is the main event in the lives of our children. Their experience there is a mixed bag of triumphs and disappointments. How they deal with them will influence the course of their lives. Listen and determine what is important in your child’s eyes…and support it if it is morally right.

Helping our children become good students is another name for helping them acquire strong character. As parents, if we are “setting the pace” we will not reduce character education to words alone. As human beings we gain virtue through practice. Parents should help children by promoting moral actions through self-discipline, good work habits, being kind and by showing considerate behavior to others. The bottom line in character development is behavior--their behavior. As parents, we want our children to be the architects of their own character crafting. We must however, accept the responsibility to be architects of their environment—physical and moral. As the architect we need to create an environment in which our children can develop habits of honesty, generosity, and a sense of justice.

For most of us, the greatest opportunity we personally have to contribute to the world we live in is by raising good offspring who will contribute to the world in a positive way. The only way this will happen is if we “set the pace” by being a good thoughtful parent.

Scott

From the Superintendent

The Sands School Board has had several recent discussions about building a new gymnasium and auditorium. Through these discussions it has been determined that the project would cost approximately 2.7 to 2.8 million dollars to complete. The district also needs to replace the flooring in the school and to do some asbestos removal. The February Board meeting will have an action item to call for a bond election. The Board has determined that it will take approximately 3 million to complete all of these projects.

The district for the first time in several years is a Chapter 41 district. This means that the Texas Education Agency has determined that Sands is a wealthy school and must pay recapture. The state funding formulas have also changed and this too has had an effect on the district. Our current tax rate is $1.37 per $100 dollar evaluation. If the board calls for an election and the bond was to pass the new tax rate would be approximately 9-10 cents lower next year than it is this year.

The Auditorium is about 90 years old, the stage is not in size compliance with UIL standards and it would greatly benefit the students to have two gyms. By instituting these improvements and additions to the campus, it would allow the district to meet state directives in curriculum without adding staff. It would also allow teams to practice after school and get home earlier. Additionally, it would also allow our elementary basketball teams and MIT participants to have a gym to practice in. A new auditorium would allow our One Act Play participants to be in compliance with UIL rules, thus allowing our students to practice for competition on a regulation stage.

This could be a very exciting time for our district and would benefit our students greatly. The School Board is very conscious of your tax dollars as well as the needs of the district. If you have any questions about the proposed election or comments please call me or come by office and talk to me. The board would appreciate any discussion you would like to have on these matters, so feel free to talk to any of them.

Thanks,

Wayne Blount

From the Principal

January is already behind us and February, with its many activities, is here. Foremost in importance among these activities is our TAKS testing for this month. On February 20th, TAKS writing exams will be administered to grades 4 and 7 and TAKS reading exams will be given to our 3^rd, 5^th, and 9^th graders. Grades 10 and 11 TAKS ELA tests will also be given on the 20th as well as SDAA for 4^th, 7^th and 10^th. Make plans now to see that your child will be receiving adequate rest leading up to this important date.
Congratulations to all students showing animals. Showing takes time and adds stress to your academics. Good luck in the remaining stock show this year.
Our second semester is off to a smooth start. Thank you to all who help to make that happen!

My door is always open,

Zelda Bilbo

From the Counselor
Please view the Counselors page located at: http://sands.esc17.net/Counselor/counselor.htm
for important Internet links and other useful information concerning the school, testing, financial added etc.

There have been new additions to the website.

In the News

Play, don't blame schools for obesity

I ate the same food served in cafeterias my g
Mallory Pazdersky

FFA

On Saturday, January 6^th was the Sands Local Show held at Ackerly, Texas. Jackie McDonald judged the show. Jackie is the vocational agriculture teacher at Seminole, Texas. He is also a 1978 graduate of Sands C.I.S.D. There were 17 livestock exhibitors present. Larry Marshall, Knott Church of Christ Preacher, announced the show. The results are as follows:

Grand Champion Ag. Mech. Project – Ethan Zant Reserve Grand Ag. Mech. Project – Reuben McMorris
Grand Champion Jr. Horse Show – Reagan Hamlin
Res. Grand Jr. Horse Show – Bryce Hamlin
Grand Champion Steer – Landon Parker
Reserve Grand Steer – Landon Parker
Steer Showmanship – Landon Parker
Grand Champion Rabbit – Logan Gaskins
Reserve Grand Rabbit – Sloan Robinson
Rabbit Showmanship – Logan Gaskins

Class 1 Rabbits: Class 2 Rabbits:

1^st – Sloan Robinson 1^st – Logan Gaskins
2^nd – Logan Gaskins 2^nd – Sloan Robinson
3^rd – Callie McMorris 3^rd – Will McMorris
4^th – Will McMorris 4^th – Tyler Ware
5^th – Tyler Ware 5^th – Callie McMorris

Grand Champion Lamb – Braeson Ramey
Reserve Grand Lamb – Sloan Robinson
Lamb Showmanship – Kaemen Watkins

Medium Wool Lambs: Southdown Lambs:

1^st – Kaemen Watkins 1^st – Sloan Robinson
2^nd – Sloan Robinson 2^nd – Sloan Robinson
3^rd – Seth Fry

Finewool Cross Lambs:

1^st- Braeson Ramey
2^nd Sloan Robinson
4^th – Seth Fry

Grand Champion Goat – Garrett Nichols
Reserve Grand Goat – Sloan Robinson
Goat Showmanship – Garrett Nichols

Class 1 Goats: Class 2 Goats:

1^st – Sloan Robinson 1^st – Garrett Nichols
2^nd – Reuben McMorris 2^nd – Sloan Robinson
3^rd – Austin Nichols 3^rd – Kyler Nichols
4^th – Reuben McMorris 4^th – Jerad Staggs

Class 3 Goats: 5^th – Austin Nichols

1^st – Garrett Nichols
2^nd – Jarad Staggs
3^rd – Garrett Nichols
4^th – Austin Nichols

Grand Champion Pig – Logan Gaskins
Reserve Grand Pig – Logan Gaskins
Swine Showmanship – Preston Zant

Duroc Class: Black OPB’s:

1^st – Landon Parker 1^st – Preston Zant

Hamp Class: Cross Class:

2^nd – Austin Nichols ^t – Logan Gaskins
1^st – Logan Gaskins 2^nd – Zane Parker
2^nd – Zane Parker 3^rd – Logan Gaskins
3^rd – Landon Parker
4^h – Austin Nichols
5^th – Oscar Martinez

FYI


High School One Act Play and Academic UIL are in the process of preparing for their contest. Please make note of the following dates:

Zone One Act Play - March 22 @ Grady

District One Act Play - March 27 @ Dawson

District UIL - March 29 @ Wellman-Union

Regional OAP & UIL - April 13 & 14 in Levelland

Elementary and Junior High students will be competing at the Zone UIL contest December 6^th & 7^th at Klondike. They have all worked very hard to prepare for this contest and we wish them the best of luck. Parents are welcome to come to Klondike to watch their students compete, but please remember, no still cameras or video cameras are allowed in contest rooms.

Zone UIL results will be available in the next Hoofbeats.

CLUB NEWS

.Booster Club Meeting Feb. 8^th 6:00 p.m.


The Annual Best and Most List 

MOST BEAUTIFUL Tamara

MOST HANDSOME Garrett

BEST ALL AROUND Garrett & Brittni 

MOST ATHLETIC_Garrett & Brittni

MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED Erik & Carol

CUTEST COUPLE Albert & Crystal

BIGGEST GOSSIP _Jerry & Samantha 

BIGGEST FLIRT_Jerry & Ashli

BEST DRESSED Eusebio & Valinda

MOST SCHOOL SPIRITED Logan & Kimberly

WORST DRIVER Mason & Mary

MOST COMICAL Robert & Brittni

BEST SMILE Chewy & Tamara

PRETTIEST EYES Seth & Tamara

CLASS FAVORITES
12^th - Robert & Carol
11^{th -} Eloy & Crystal
10^th -Chewy & Valinda
9^th -Johnny & Kimberly
8^th - Caleb & Meagan
7^th - Michael & Kassandra
6^th - Preston & Alex

Mr. & Miss SHS Garrett & Dannon
Mr. & Miss SJH Landon & Jami

Valentine pictures will be taken by the Annual Staff Feb. 14th

Sands CISD

P.O. Box 218

Ackerly, TX 79713

(432) 353 –4888

http://sands.esc17.net

http://sands.esc17.net/Hoofbeats/hoofbeats.htm
Your comments are appreciated and can be sent to:

sragle@esc17.net