FOTPS Newsletter - Friends of Texas Public Schools

Great things are happening in Texas Public Schools -- Friends of Texas Public Schools

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Northside ISD in San Antonio

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD near Dallas

Waxahachie ISD near Dallas

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March 2006

Join in the celebration of Texas Public Schools!

Since 1954 school districts and communities across Texas have celebrated the success of public education during Texas Public Schools Week (TPSW).

The entire month of March has become a time to celebrate the wonderful opportunities public schools afford all students in the state of Texas.

So, we're featuring some Texas schools who are doing great things for students across the state. If you know of any school in your area who has really gone above and beyond, let us know!

A special thanks goes to the Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA), a nonprofit professional organization of school public relations professionals and others who support Texas public schools, that creates a media kit every year so that both small and large districts can use a professionally created logo and collateral material to create a buzz about their district and public education.

Northside ISD in San Antonio

See the first wireless high school in Bexar County

Imagine a school with no large, heavy textbooks to carry around.

Imagine a school where students can work on a computer while eating lunch outside under the trees.

Imagine a school where students are given their own wireless laptops to use during class and at home.

Imagine a school where the students will learn the latest in e-commerce and best business practices.

Imagine no more because for Business Careers High School, this becomes a reality next school year.
Wireless one-to-one computing initiatives that provide laptop computers and Internet access to students and teachers for use at school and home are expanding rapidly across the United States. This initiative is the first of its kind in Bexar County.

Starting next school year, students attending BCHS will not only receive their own wireless laptops, but BCHS will implement a new curriculum initiative. Students will choose from among three business strands tailor-made to their business interests: The Academy of Finance, The Business Management Academy, and the Cyber Academy.

The laptop initiative will offer all students and teachers continuous access to a wide range of software, electronic documents, the Internet and other digital resources for teaching and learning. Wireless communication will give students the opportunity to connect and collaborate on a variety of locations on campus.

“The students are so excited about the changes coming to our school,” says Geri Berger, new principal at Business Careers High School. “This program will help increase students’ economic competitiveness, enhance students’ motivation in learning and prepare students for the central role technology will play in their lives after graduation,” Berger continued.

“This new initiative brings cutting edge technology into the classroom,” says Sophomore Joaquin Mills. “We’re going to have a whole new classroom environment.”

“We’re going to be better prepared to do business in the future when we get there,” Mills continued. “We’ll be a step ahead of all the others.”