Aug. 31– Senior High Schools (11 & 12)
Sept. 1– Early Childhood Schools (PreK)
Sept. 8 – High Schools (9 & 10)
Sept. 10 – Middle Schools (6, 7 & 8)

*Elementary schools (k-5) will host open houses through Sept. 14. Contact your child's school for open house dates.

Did you read in the Dallas Morning News that Texas students' SAT math scores improved by one point, BUT Texas students' scores in reading and writing went down? Plus, take a look at the statistics and you will see that Texas students' average SAT combined score is more than forty points lower than the US average!

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The Plano Independent School District (Plano ISD) Education Foundation will complete funding this year for more than $280,000 in district-approved initiatives to improve student performance in secondary mathematics education.This money will fund the four-year, incremental transition of Algebra 1 instruction from the ninth grade of high school to the eighth grade of middle school.

Plano ISD is the only school district in Texas known to move Algebra 1 instruction down one grade level for all students through an incremental, four-year systemic change effort, ensuring greater student understanding of pre-algebra and Algebra 1 concepts, while laying the groundwork for ongoing student success. This is a replicable state and national model of instructional excellence.

Again, Plano ISD is on the cutting edge of education! Congratulations!

Plano ISD must position itself on the leading edge of education, "and we must never, ever rest on our laurels," Dr. Otto told employees. "We must maintain non-negotiable goals for student achievement and effective instruction.

Quoting statistics from Jim Collins' book about high reliability organizations, Dr. Otto emphasized keys to succeed, including adopting a system wide approach to instruction, investing in professional development; and nurturing strong instructional leadership.

by Eileen Bailey | Monday, August 17, 2009

Taking notes is an important part of learning, but often, students don't know how to take good notes. Some of the reasons notes are such an important part of learning are:

* Taking notes helps you to listen. When you are actively writing down information, you will listen closely to what is being said.
* Notes provide you with information to help you study. It is often easier to remember information you have written, rather than just hearing the information.
* Notes provide you with important points covered during lessons.

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It's no small task to switch from slacker summer schedules to the rigors of early wake-ups, after-school activities, and — sorry, kids — homework. The transition is hard for parents, too, but as I walked my daughter's schedule for 9th grade in a huge high school, she patted me on the back and said, "Don't stress,Mom. It's okay, I will do fine." Studies have shown that students moving into high school rely heavily on friends and are, at least at first, caught off guard by the academic workload (Letrello, T., 2002; Mizelle, N, 2000; Akos, P., 2004). This applies to students with learning problems as well as those without. Studies also reveal that students who feel they are a part of the school community are more motivated and show higher academic achievement (Isakson & Jarvis, 1999). As the new school year begins, I am hopeful that my daughter will have her friends from her confirmation class together with her involvement with swimming to help make her transition smooth from middle school to high school.