Friday, March 5, 2010
Buenas tardes LISD,
Ironically, I had this strange day yesterday, Thursday, March 4th. The school day began with a meeting with our district's legal counsel and Board President to review several district items. The day also involved an instructional planning meeting with some of our consultants on campus walkthroughs, TAKS, and the other instructional initiatives we currently have in place (click here for summary). The warm sunny day also included two very intense parent conferences, and a 5:15 exercise session with my personal trainer. To make a long story short, I was moved to emotion at the end of this day by the term “march forth” that was the message in my daily devotional book I use for meditation each day. To know our lives as career educators, we know that March officially begins the last quarter of our instructional calendar. I have seen with my own two eyes that our campuses are very busy with the daily education of our students. We still have many challenges in our school district and on some occasions we are distracted by situations that cause our marching to educational excellence to appear disconnected. We can seek and achieve higher levels of performance and service to our students. We can do better and must reach the highest performance standards for our students and for ourselves.
It is absolutely critical that we all “march forth” each day as an army of educators that are seeking victory for our kids. Just as our dedicated men and women in the military so valiantly protect our country’s status in the world, we (as a school community) also must be brave and courageous as we focus on providing college ready graduates in LISD. Our schools zones are not as dangerous as those who serve in the armed forces, however, we must also protect the future of our country by providing educated citizens who contribute and perpetuate our civil right of receiving a quality education. I firmly believe that LISD employees “march forth” each day. Because of you, we protect the environment of students so they can focus on learning. We must “march forth” together as we continue this very important work in Laredo, Texas.
This last weekend my calendar was filled with playoff basketball games all over South Texas and the various Border Olympics tournaments in baseball, softball, and golf. I enjoyed these different activities and my favorite game was a softball showdown that featured our Cigarroa Lady Toros and the Nixon Lady Mustangs. The crowd was packed and the atmosphere was definitely exciting. The Lady Mustangs ended up winning the pitching duel 4-2 and I am sure these ladies will have many tough games during the district schedule. I would like to congratulate Head Coach Lee Ellen Colin and Assistant Coaches Hugo Garcia, Oscar Gutierrez and Abraham Lopez for winning third place in the Silver Division of the Border Olympics Tournament. Both CHS and MHS should be proud of the way our students competed in these tournaments. Our coaches all throughout the district should also be recognized for their participation and leadership in the upcoming Border Olympic Track Meet this weekend.
Also, our Nixon Men’s basketball team was crowned Area Champs for District 31-4A. They ended up losing the Regional qualifier contest against Harlandale but still should be applauded for going the furthest of all teams this year in the state playoffs. NHS’s Andy Fernandez was named district Co-Most Valuable Player along with Robert Zepeda from Cigarroa. Also, Anthony Alba was named Defensive Player of the Year for 31-4A. Congratulations to NHS Principal Mrs. Lupita Cortez, Head Coach Pete Solis Jr., and Assistant Coaches Jesus Reynaga, Matias Ydrogo, and Pedro Solis, Sr., for a fantastic season. Basketball in LISD is one of our strongest athletic programs and training for next year will be tough in all of our secondary schools as we protect our reputation in basketball for all three high schools.
On Saturday, I also enjoyed a piano recital that featured our district piano expert, Dr. Mary Grace Galvan-Carroll. The recital actually showcased several students from the Laredo area on this special nine-foot concert grand piano. I am very grateful to the TAMIU College of Arts and Sciences for collaborating with local pianists in our high schools and LCC to promote classical piano development and appreciation in our city. I especially enjoyed the pieces played by Dr. Carroll and her students in the recital. The TAMIU Steinway series has enriched our city by bringing world renowned pianists to Laredo and particularly for showcasing the local talent which is led by our very own VMT Magnet Director of Piano Studies, Dr. Carroll.
I also attended The Laredo Masonic Lodge #547 Lamar Medal and Community Builder Awards on Saturday. The Mirabeau B. Lamar Award is named after the second president of the Republic of Texas. During his administration, he convinced the legislature to set aside large plots of land for each county to specifically use to develop schools. Two of these plots would go on to become Texas A&M University and the University of Texas. The local “freemasons,” as they refer to themselves, awarded three of our LISD seniors with this coveted annual award. The honored is bestowed upon selected graduating seniors for dedication to the Laredo community, academic achievement, and their documentable desire to further their education at a college or university. Congratulations to Leticia Vallejo from CHS, Alberto Torres, Jr., from Martin High School and the Treviño Magnet School, and Armando Rodriguez from Nixon High School. I thoroughly enjoyed having dinner with the families and staff involved with this scholarship program. I was also glad to see Mr. Oscar Perez from MHS there to recognize his student. The dinner also recognized Mr. Odilon “Odie” Arambula from the Laredo Morning Times with the prestigious Community Builder Award. This award recognizes outstanding non-Masons who have distinguished themselves through their service to the Laredo community. I thoroughly enjoyed the event and it is always a pleasure to get to see and visit with my fellow Kiwanian, Odie. He is truly deserving of the award and I appreciate Mr. Elias Mendiola, Mr. Drew Claes, and all the members of the local Masonic Lodge for this recognition dinner.
The last day of February ended with our district hosting the Regional Advisory Council of Region One Superintendent’s Meeting over at La Posada Hotel. This two-day meeting included Region I Superintendents from along the Rio Grande Valley and our district was honored to serve as host. The Mariachi group from Martin High School played and sang for the Superintendents and it was fabulous. I appreciate MHS Mariachi Sponsor Rafael Alarcon and his assistant Ruben Guadian for organizing a great show for the meeting and for all the outstanding staff in my office that help facilitate the monthly meeting.
On Sunday evening, I attended the 2010 LCC Culturas Concert “Musica y Danza Nuestra Herencia” featuring the VMT Flamenco and Folklorico under the direction of Ms. Alicia V. McKinnis. The musical also showcased the VMT Philharmonic Orchestra which is such a fantastic group of students. My favorite performance was a solo dance by the NHS drum major, Mario Alberto Flores. All the students did a great job. The orchestra is led by Melissa S. Hinojosa and Robert Lopez and I was blown away by the quality of these performances as well. The students danced their hearts out and I appreciate LCC and VMT for putting together such an extraordinary event.
Lastly, if your schedule is open, please be sure and join us this Sunday, March 7, at our 2nd Annual Fernando A. Salinas Teens in the Driver Seat 5K Run at the historic St. Peter’s Plaza. I believe the gun goes off at 8:30 a.m., tempranito en la manana. Otherwise, have a great weekend.
March forth,
Dr. A. Marcus Nelson
"Talk is cheap. It is the way we organize and use our lives that tells what we believe in."
–Cesar Chavez
"Las palabras salen sobrando. En la manera en que organizamos y usamos nuestras vidas es lo que demuestra en lo que creemos."
–Cesar Chavez |
