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A Texas Education Agency "Recognized" School
In true Beaver fashion, Ms. Stark, a fourth grade teacher has decided to start a Beaver newspaper. Hot off the presses, the first edition can be found on our Activities page. Check it out along with an introduction from Ms. Stark.
Saturday School Stars
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| The Saturday School program at Beaver MST is FINALLY finished for this year. We've had students from third through fifth grade working hard on SATURDAYS preparing for TAKS. Through some hands on learning and technology integration, these teachers and students have gone above and beyond! We focus on small groups and individualized learning in these intense morning sessions, but still have a good time. | One of the perks to Saturday School, (other than the learning, obviously!) is easily the prizes. Students earn "Saturday School Bucks". These bucks all go into a bucket and we draw TWO super stars names to win TWO brand new bicycles. That motivation has students answering questions left and right with a smile. Congrats and wheelies to our new winners from this year, Fatima Edris and Milton Enuh. |
La LA la...
Five of our students have been accepted into the prestigious 2008 TCDA Elementary Honor Choir. Give a musical shout-out to 4th graders A'rora Dixon and Jonmichael Garcia, and to 5th graders Sean Duckworth, Taylor Nash, and Faiza Saleh.
The Texas Choral Directors Association (TCDA) sponsors a state-wide elementary chorus in San Antonio every two years. Students in grades 4-6 are eligible to audition. From the 4856 elementary schools in Texas, the choir accepts 160 singers. Our five will sing under the direction of the nationally acclaimed Anne Tomlinson of the Los Angeles Children's Choir.
Art Showcase
Mrs. Elliot, our PTA, and the arts showcase committee had another outstanding program for us, the annual Art's Showcase. There were singers, dancers, origami, a baton twirler, and even karate moves. As always our students made us proud to be Beaver Stars! Click on the activities link to see pictures!
Science Stars at Home
5th graders have an exciting chance to show off their scientific skills with the Science TAKS approaching soon. In the mean time here are some GREAT science links to practice at home. For more great links, click on the library tab for additional sites! These science links are for ALL grades, third through fifth.
Food Webs
A page with interactive activities about food webs.
Virtual Aquarium
Try to create a good environment for three different fish.
Animal Adaptations
Great way to practice identifying what need is being met by an adaptation.
Food Web Creation
Challenging Food Web Creation activity. Scroll down a little to find the food web game, and click on start. Click on help to see the directions.
Life Cycles
The student is able to practice identifying the steps in the life cycles of a variety of organisms.
Tree Cross Section
This is a great interactive quiz/report on a cross-section of a tree. Students click on the pencil to find the answer.
Tree Life Cycles
This site has excellent background information and colorful labeled diagrams for the kids to visualize what happens with the various cycles.
Plants!
Interactive Activities on Plants...Highly Visual!
Salad Building
Build a salad-by choosing the correct parts of a plant
Critter Classification
In this game students match one animal with another animal of the same classification (ie: match a dog with a cat because both are mammals). Then students answer a question about what animals of that classification have in common. This is a simple game, but still a great way to quickly review basic animal classification.
Habitats and Food Webs
Follow directions at the top of the screen.
Food Web Games
A page with games, that explains the different types of food webs.
Grow up!
Click the buttons to help plants grow.
Where do I live?
Drag animals to their correct habitat.
Story Practice
An online story about animals, their roles in their environments, and their interactions.
Life Cycles
3 Highly Visual--Interactive Activities
"The Life Cycle of Flowering Plants"
"Flower Anatomy"
"Seed Dispersal"
The Great Plant Escape
Really fun for learning about plants, their parts and the function of each part.
Beaver Teachers are STARS too!
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Our candidate for REGULAR EDUCATION TEACHER OF THE YEAR is Tina Garrett. Tina was chosen by our Special Education staff for “putting much time and effort into preparing a lot of modifications and accommodations for the student to be successful in the classroom…supports the transition of bilingual SPED students…makes students feel truly engaged and builds their self-esteem and confidence….one of her students stated that his favorite thing about Mrs. Garrett is that ‘she listens to me’”. As a new teacher to Beaver, this says a lot about how Tina has contributed to making a difference for kids who really need her. Great job, Mrs. Garrett!! |
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Our representative for TEACHER OF THE YEAR has been described as “an awesome teacher who loves children…and is always finding new ways to make learning fun…she inspires us all to do more!”, and “she embodies Beaver Technology…. is an innovative and creative teacher…she has integrity and wants the best for and from her children and co-workers. She IS Beaver Tech!”, and “ this is my first year at Beaver, and she has gone out of her way to make me feel welcome and help me…”, and “she supports teachers and staff,…promotes team spirit…is such a team player that she never seeks glory for herself…she loves teaching…” It is with great pride we congratulate Shauna Pierce for being selected by staff as our Teacher of the Year!!! Her contributions to staff development, technology, curriculum, our magnet program, the green team, and really so much more than I can list here, make Mrs. Pierce a SUPER STAR. She will be recognized for this accomplishment at the Ballpark in Arlington Ranger vs. the Angels game on Monday, April 14th. Mrs. Pierce—You rock! |
Read Across America
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To celebrate Read Across America and the birthday of Dr. Seuss, guests will be visiting Beaver on Friday to read a Dr. Seuss book or another favorite to the classes. Guests will share with the students about how reading is important to their success. We had friends, family, and important district guests that came out to read to our students. One highlight in particular, Mr. Hysaw from Technology, not only spoke in rhyme, but even dressed the part. Thank you to all of our guests who brightened our day! We also owe Mrs. Sloan a high five for organizing such a treat for our students! |
Garland ISD School Choice window for students in K-4 begins February 28th. All forms are due March 28th. Parents, please be sure to enter three choices for your child and to sign the form. If you have any questions about the school choice process, please be sure to contact us at 972-494-8301. If you're contemplating a magnet school for your child, watch this! Elementary MST Video
This thing called TAKS...
On Wednesday we take our first round of TAKS tests. Our 3rd, 4th and 5th graders will be testing. Our counselor, Mrs. Charbonneau, sent home a letter last week with great information and tips. Click here to read!
Newest Member of the Beaver Family
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Beaver MST is fortunate to have a special "student" through a guide dog program. Mrs. Murray, our PE teacher, has raised guide dogs for many years. It's natural for our students to be a part of this experience as well. The newest addition to our line of guide dogs is Garrett!
This past weekend Mrs. Murray went on her annual trip to Southeastern Guide Dog School in Palmetto, Florida. This year she picked up a 10 week old black lab puppy named Garrett. Garrett will be the fifth guide dog we have had a part in "raising".
Southeastern Guide Dog School does truly amazing work. After puppies are born to one of Southeastern’s Breeder dogs, they go to volunteer Puppy Raiser families (like us). They stay with the Puppy Raisers for 12 months learning house manners, basic obedience and become socialized to restaurants, grocery stores, offices, schools, sporting events…anywhere a blind person may go. After their time with the Puppy Raisers, the dogs go back to Southeastern’s campus in Palmetto, Florida for “Canine College” where they learn over 40 commands to guide a blind person. After training for 6-8 months, the dogs are matched with a sight impaired person, free of charge, and then train even more with that person on campus for a month. The Puppy Raiser family is invited to see the dog they raised “graduate” and meet the blind person they are matched with. The blind person leaves Southeastern with a newfound sense of pride and confidence and the ability to travel safely and independently with their guide dog at their side. Southeastern changes the lives of 110 people a year through the generosity of donors. The school receives no federal or state government funding. All funding is done through private donations. |
2008-2009 Kindergarten Enrollment
Kindergarten Enrollment for next school year has begun. You may call 972-494-8255, Student Services and School Choices, for more information. Flyer's are also being sent home this week.
Enie, Menie, Minie, Me, guess who placed in the Spelling Bee?
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Each year our fifth graders compete in a campus Spelling Bee. This year's winner, Crystal Johnson has been practicing and practicing, utilizing her recess time and support from her classmates to prepare. She and the alternate Eyad Alrabbat represented Beaver Technology Center in the district bee on Wednesday. This bee included both elementary and middle school students. Crystal placed 5th, as the 4th alternate meaning she will advance to the COUNTY spelling bee. Out of the 7 students representing Garland ISD, only 3 are elementary students! "I'm so proud of Crystal, she took a lot of her time to prepare herself for this challenge. She's earned this chance to represent both our school and our district.", said Mrs. Staley, Crystal's ELA teacher. Crystal and Eyad were treated to a pizza lunch with Dr. Milligan and Mrs. Staley. (That's like a double prize!) Another noteworthy mention, the student who placed as the first alternate for the district, Tony Cleveland, is a former Beaver student! |
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| Ten Garland ISD elementary teachers won some “green” for their green education efforts. What can they do with an extra $500? The possibilities are endless, thanks to their award-winning student writers.Stormwater Management invited first through fifth grade students in the Garland Independent School District to participate in the second annual “Be Stormwater Smart” Essay Contest during the months of October and November 2007. | Winners receive $500 each and runners-up receive $300 each. Teachers of winning students also receive $500 and or $300 for runners-up to purchase classroom supplies.We had a special presentation to earn more about how to be "storm water safe" and then each 4th and 5th grade student submitted an essay. Beaver was proud to learn that we had TWO winners this year. Hats off to our Stormwater Smart winning writers and their inspiring teachers! |
In December, our Honor Choir was invited to perform for General Dynamics' annual holiday luncheon. The choir performed at the Atrium in downtown Garland, and was well received by an audience of approximately 450. After the performance, General Dynamics announced that they had a $10 Target gift card for each student. They also presented Mrs. Elliott with a check of $500. Thank you, General Dynamics!
Congratulations Science Fair Winners!
Another Award for Beaver Tech!
Reflection Winners
Congratulations Beaver Stars!
Recycling Contest Update
TEA Gold Performance Acknowledgments
Way to go Beaver Stars! Beaver Tech has received five Gold Performance Acknowledgments from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in reading, writing, math, science and Comparable Improvement in reading! For each of these subject areas, we had 25% or more of our students who were commended on the TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) test. For comparable improvement in reading, we were in the top quartile of scores when compared with other state elemenatry campuses that are similar to us. Even as the test has gotten more difficult, our teachers have met the challenges and made sure that our kids do more than just pass the test.
We are a "Just for the Kids" Texas Business and Education Coalition Honor Roll School!
We have been awarded the TBEC (Texas Business and Education Coalition) Just for the Kids Honor Roll again this year. Six GISD elementary schools received this honor:
Beaver, Walnut Glen, Hillside, Kimberlin, Davis, and Roach. The TBEC award recognizes the state's best performing public elementary and secondary schools. As part of the TBEC award criteria, schools who qualify for the award must be rated exemplary or recognized by the Texas Education Agency, have consistent improvement over the past three years in reading and math, and have shown steady or improved overall performance over the past three years.
Portrait of a Graduate Parents and guardians may access their student's grades using GISD's
Principal: Dr. Mida Milligan
Motto: A Galaxy of Possibilities Goal: To maximize student achievement in a caring environment using the tools of technology and collaborative learning groups.
Beaver students always go above and beyond on their science fair projects and this year was NO different! Our scientists submitted some incredible projects! It was tough for the judges to choose the winners, but here they are!
Texas Monthly, in cooperation with the National Center for Educational Accountability, has included Beaver Technology Center on this year's list of Best Public Schools. You can read more about this on the NCEA website. Austin Academy, Brandenburg Middle School, Caldwell Elementary, Vial Elementary, and Hillside, Kimberlin, and Walnut Glen academies were also selected.
Texas Monthly Link
Terias Hawkins, second grade was recognized for his participation and Matthew Alderete, 4th Grade, won first place and is advancing in the Reflection's contest. Way to go! Also, special thanks to Sheila LaTorres and her role in our Art Program!
High five to our Green Team and their fearless leaders: Mr. Adams, Mrs. Pierce and Ms. Stark! Beaver MST came in FIRST PLACE in the DISTRICT for the recycling can contest. We're proud of everyones hard work, :)
Congratulations to the grade level winners and the overall campus winner in this years' recycling contest. Beaver students brought in a whopping total of 1, 149 kilos this year! (that's 2533 lbs of cans!) This SHATTERS our total from last year! GREAT JOB BEAVER STARS!!!
The individual grade level classes that won a popcorn party are: in kindergarten, Mrs. Ferrell's class, first grade winner was Ms. Praga's class, second grade winner was Mrs. Pierce's class, third grade was Mr. Whitcombe's class, fourth grade was Mrs. Teamann's class, and in fifth grade, Mrs. Garrett's class took the prize. The overall school winner with a record setting total of cans was MRS. TEAMANN'S class!! They brought in 131 kilos of cans (that's 288 lbs)! Enjoy that pizza party, you earned it!
Parents and students: Be sure to check out the new “Portrait of a Graduate” web page that is now on the Garland ISD website. Portrait of a Graduate is a tool for locating information regarding a variety of subjects such as graduation requirements, high school and middle school course guides, TAKS results, academic programs, scholarships, extra-curricular activities, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs, school organizations, career paths, and many more areas of interest to students who want to start planning for a successful future now.
Portrait of a Graduate 
Assistant Principal: Mr. Jason Adams
3232 March Lane
Garland, TX
972-494-8301
Learning by Collaboration …Teaching by Caring
Please contact webmaster for comments and suggestions about the website:
Amber Teamann
©Copyright 2006 - Garland Independent School District - All rights reserved.
