Feb. 14, 2007

PTA Founder's Day to celebrate successes and history

The GCISD Council of PTAs Founder’s Day, focusing on history, accomplishments and recognition, will be held on Feb. 15, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Colleyville Community Center. The event is an annual event that includes recognition of students, staff, businesses and PTA volunteers, as well as a look back at the many years of work by the Council and local PTA units.

"It is a time to tell the story of local, state and national PTA work," said Nancy Reid, GCISD Council of PTAs president. "It is an opportunity for the GCISD Council of PTAs to recognize those in our district whose efforts make a positive difference in the lives of our students."

During the silent auction, themed gift baskets from each of the GCISD local unit PTAs will be available for purchase with proceeds funding various Council programs, including scholarships for graduating seniors.

Several awards will be presented at Founder’s Day:

• Friend of Children – Created to honor individuals for their outstanding efforts on behalf of children.
• Texas PTA Life Achievement – Since 1909, the Texas PTA has made this award available as one of the highest honors presented to individuals for outstanding service to children and youth.
• Dr. Jim Thompson Exemplary Achievement in Education Award
  The award honors an educator who has served GCISD students for a minimum of five years and who demonstrates support of all the purposes of PTA in their service to students.

Special performances this year will spotlight some of the talented students throughout the district:

• Dove Elementary School Dynamic Drummers
  The “Dynamic Drummers” has become one of GCISD's most prestigious and child-centered programs. It has received state-wide (and soon to be nation-wide) recognition for its integration of music and physical education, and has grown in popularity every year of its existence. It is a program that tests children’s percussion abilities, rhythm, steady tempo and rudimentary drumming as well as coordination, athleticism, teamwork and motor skills.
• Jumpin’ Jammers
  The Jumpin’ Jammers have been an established competition and demonstration team since 1989. Jumpers currently come from seven GCISD campuses. The Jumpin’ Jammers compete at the United States Jump Rope Regional and National Tournaments, the Amateur Athletic Union Regional and National Tournaments and at the World Trials and World Championships (every other year for the World’s competitions). The team is also a demonstration team for the American Heart Association Jump Rope for Heart Program. Jumpers have had the opportunity to participate in demonstrations at schools in the Dallas and Fort Worth metropolitan area.
• Colleyville Heritage High School Debate Team
  CHHS began a tradition of national prominence ten years ago and have continued that through the years as the team won awards at a number of major tournaments including Greenhill Classic, St Mark’s School of Texas, Valley High School in Iowa, the Glenbrooks in Chicago, Isidore Newman in New Orleans, Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, and the University of Berkeley in California. They have had numerous students receive University of Kentucky Tournament of Champion bids in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, as well as Cross-Examination Debate. They have placed both 3rd and 10th at the NFL National Tournament. They have traveled all over the country and have debated on such prestigious campuses as Harvard, Emory, Stanford, Berkeley, Northwestern, University of Texas and the University of Kentucky. So far this year, the team has won 115 individual awards, has had six round robin national debaters, and has qualified 10 debaters to TFA state.