A Monthly Newsletter produced by Sands CISD
HOOFBEATS
SEPTEMBER 2007
From the Editor
Emerging
From Your Shell
There are very few people from the southern United States who
have not experienced the noisy buzz of the cicadas or
found the empty shell of this insect hanging from a tree
trunk.
This summer my family and I had the opportunity to spend a few days camping. My son Aaron located a cicada shell that still had the cicada in it. Apparently the ants from a nearby ant colony had also located the cicada and had slowly chipped away at its unprotected exterior. My family and I were a little saddened at the plight of the cicada. We felt sorrow for the suffering that the cicada had probably endured. We never once thought about the joy the ants probably had for the nourishment they had found.
While sitting around the campfire, I started thinking about the cicada and wondered if it was like a butterfly that spends much of its life as a caterpillar before going through a metamorphosis in the cocoon. I looked up the information on the Internet when I got home and this is what I found.
After mating, the female cicada cuts slits into the bark of a twig, and into these she deposits her eggs. When the eggs hatch, the newborn nymphs drop to the ground, where they burrow. The insects spend most of the time that they are underground as nymphs at depths ranging from about 1 ft up to about 8˝ ft. The nymphs feed on root juice and have strong front legs for digging.
In the final nymphal instar, they construct an exit tunnel to the surface and emerge. They then moult or shed their skins on a nearby plant for the last time and finally emerge as adults. The abandoned skins remain, still clinging to the bark of trees.
To the cicada an empty shell represents a new beginning, growth or maturity and freedom from restrictions of the past.
Everyone at Sands is beginning a new year, the students, teachers and administrative staff. As students, what this school year offers you depends greatly on how you apply yourself to your studies, your attitude towards work and the rules that are associated with being in an educational institution. You are the one who controls the greatest determining factor in how much you learn, how much you mature and how well you endure the restrictions of school, your attitude.
Like the cicada the ants too can overcome you. Try not to get burdened down with things that keep you from emerging from your shell. Your time at school is brief, compared to the rest of your life. The cicada nymph must endure the struggles of tunneling through the dirt and emerging from its shell, which sometimes results in death, instead of success.
All of the staff at Sands, including me, hopes that you have
great success in life. We encourage you
to manage your extra curricular time and activities, such that you never
neglect your studies. Make the most out
what life is offering you, right now.
You will never find life easier than it presently is. All you have to do is continue to grow,
mature and learn and then when the time is right, emerge form the protective
shell, known as Sands CISD that has protected you, while you evolved into the
person you were meant to be. Think on
this – Dead sticks, don’t enjoy spring leaves.
Scott Ragle
From the Superintendent
This school year has started great thus far. If you have visited the school lately, then
you probably noticed that the interior of the school has new flooring, which
gives a clean, fresh look to the halls that once again are busy with
students.
The constructions crews underestimated the time that it would take to complete the flooring project, which prohibited our maintenance staff from doing their normal summer duties, without working into the early morning hours prior to the opening day of school. This delay also kept our teachers from being able to get into their room to prepare for this school year as early as they would have liked. I would like to personally thank all of our staff for their patience with us in this time of transition. We have a great staff and I appreciate them.
Our district rating was Recognized, again this year. While there are many schools in the state that would be ecstatic with this rating, our administration and staff sees recognized as mediocre and strive to once again have an Exemplorary school district. We were very close once again this year, and all of the staff on campus has expectations of achieving that rating this year. It will definitely take a lot of hard work and perseverance form both the students and the teachers, but I know that we are capable of making it.
Recently, the voters of our district approved a bond for construction of a new gymnasium and Auditorium. Construction of the new multipurpose facility should begin in November or December. This addition to our campus and the new flooring definitely has made for an exciting and busy time on our campus. Football has already begun and Cross Country, Greenhand and Booster Club activities have been scheduled to start soon. I would like to wish everyone involved in all of these activities, especially the students, Good Luck during this new school year.
If you have questions, please call or come by my office.
Thanks,
Wayne Blount
From the Principal
.
Welcome to the 2007-2008 school year. I am very excited about the new school year and the challenges it provides. Parents, I encourage you to take an active role in your child’s education. If you’ve never taken a very active role in your child’s education, you may wonder if you’re too late. You’re not. It’s never too late! When schools work together with families to support learning, children tend to succeed not just in school, but also throughout life. Teamwork is the most significant thing we can do to ensure success and make it happen.
School attendance is another significant factor in learning. For teachers to help students to be successful, attendance is the key. Please help us reach that goal by keeping your child in school. Thanks for all your help.
As always, my door is 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
Governor
Perry Ceremonially Signs School Physical Fitness Bill
Governor Rick
Perry ceremonially signed Senate Bill 530 Thursday, implementing new
middle school physical activity requirements and requiring physical fitness evaluations
for public school students. Perry was joined by legislators, local
education leaders, teachers, parents and students at Forest Vista Elementary
School in Flower Mound.
"Unhealthy habits at a young age can lead to diabetes, and over time, to heart disease, strokes and even cancer," Gov. Perry said. "Combined with the healthy guidelines that the Texas Department of Agriculture has implemented in the school lunch program, this legislation will help make children healthier today for a healthier Texas tomorrow."
Senate Bill 530 requires annual physical fitness evaluations of all students in 3rd through 12th grade beginning this school year. Results of the evaluation will be reported to and analyzed by the Texas Education Agency and will help inform parents of their child's physical fitness, which will help guide them toward a healthier lifestyle.
This legislation will also increase the requirement of middle school students' participation in physical education (PE) from two semesters to four semesters beginning in the 2008-2009 school year. Middle schools students may also fulfill the PE requirement through local sports league participation authorized by the Texas Education Agency.
Senate Bill 530 became effective June 15, 2007.
FYI
2007 HOMECOMING
Monday Red, White & Blue Mustangs are
American through and
through!
Tuesday Pajama Day Put them to
sleep!
Wednesday Flip Flop Day
Flip ‘em out!
Thursday Historical Character Mustangs
are making History!
Friday Hat/Shirt signing day Hats off to
the Mustangs!
Tuesday at 7:00p.m. the community is invited for
a community Pep-Rally
2nd Annual Spaghetti Supper
Sept. 21st
5-7p.m. Come and Go
Before Sands take on Loop
Homecoming Night
Sands Cafeteria
$6.00 Adult
$4.00 6 & Under
Includes Spaghetti,
Garlic Bread, Dessert and Drink
For Tickets Contact a
member of the Drama Club
Or call the school at
353-4888
·
Brown and
White Day every Friday
·
Spirit
Ribbons on sell every Friday $1.00
CLUB
NEWS
Meet the Mustangs
- Hamburger Supper
September 6th @ 6:00 p.m.
Booster Club
Meeting immediately following.
Johnny Peugh Memorial Turkey Shoot
*sponsored by the class of
2009
Saturday September 15th
@ Monk Palmer Range – Snyder, TX
Sign Up Begins – 9:30 a.m.
Noon Meal Available
$8.00 per plate
Brisket, sausage, beans, potato salad,
dessert & drink
Concessions also available!
Separate
4H age shoot
FMI: Van Gaskins
432-517-0169
432-353-4598
Sands CISD
P.O. Box 218
Ackerly, TX 79713
(432) 353 –4888
http://sands.esc17.net/Hoofbeats/hoofbeats.htm
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