Thorndale ISD

Volume 1, Issue 3: 9/15/23

Greetings Bulldogs! Happy Friday!

We are trying out a new format for the Superintendent’s Blog that should be much more user friendly for phone and computer use. It has now been linked on our website.

Here are the past two versions if missed them or weren’t able to easily read them:

• 9/1/23 Blog – Thorndale ISD Blog  
• 8/15/23 Blog – Thorndale ISD Blog

Upcoming Events - September 17th- 2023:

For the most up-to-date information on upcoming events, please visit our Thorndale ISD website. However, here are some highlights of important dates below:

So Much to Celebrate in TISD!

There is so much going on at each of our schools that if you are not following us on Facebook, you are missing out! 

Whether it be the opportunity our culinary arts students received as they traveled to San Antonio to visit a Food Show.

Or maybe it was all the fun our students had with Homecoming Spirit Week, including “Nothing But a Backpack”:

How About Pajama Day, where even Coach Fisher got involved. Who doesn’t love Bucky’s Pajamas???

What about our 8th graders getting to meet Brady Taylor, Chief Meteorologist for KWTX news in Waco. He spoke about weather, severe weather, and let the students have a look at his storm chasing vehicle.

I couldn’t believe the participation of the elementary school for the “Throwback theme”:

Even Bella got involved in the themes… I can’t confirm it… but I think she enjoyed Pajama Day the most:

You have got to visit our campus and district Facebook pages for more great pictures of the FUN had in Thorndale ISD this week!

It isn’t All Fun & Games in TISD:

Although it is very evident that having a good time at school is important to us, it is also worth noting that we get to business when it comes to learning too!

You may have recently heard in the news a hot topic in education on School Accountability and how TEA has delayed (again) the release of our most recent A-F accountability results.

Nonetheless, we do know how our students performed on the STAAR/EOC exams and I have a lot of celebration to share from the 22-23 school year.

But before we dive into our results, it is important to note that there were MAJOR changes to the tests last year AND to how the calculations were determined.

Even TEA will admit… its different:

The main things that I think are important amongst the 7 changes are that:

1. The cut points and targets changed, which means it is harder to receive an A or a B. Imagine if you gave your kids a test. But then you told them, oh… I have decided, now that you have all finished taking your test that a grade of a 70 is actually failing, an 80 will earn a C, a 90 will receive a B and only a 95 and above will get an A…. that's basically what happened.
    
2. The CCMR indicators changed - basically meaning that certain things that students could do to be considered CCMR (a big part of the HS accountability) no longer apply and similar to the above example, the points to get an A, B, C, etc changed as well.
    

The other changes are significant, but those two will have the largest impact on our final A-F ratings. For a full list of information on changes and the accountability process, here are two helpful links: A-F Refresh Presentation - TEA and Supplemental A–F Refresh Info 

Now that we have gotten that bad news out of the way… let’s talk about the good news!

Here is our data for all tests broken down by subject (ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies) first compared to TISD over the past years and then compared to the state and region.

Prior Year STAAR/EOC – TISD 23 vs. TISD 22 vs. TISD 21

Prior Year STAAR/EOC – TISD vs. State vs Region:

Here is a full list of historical data:

What does all of this mean Kleypas? Here is my take:

Physical Therapy at TISD:

Sometimes finding a nearby Physical Therapist can be difficult and transportation from school/home to appointments can be even more difficult. Mrs. Laurel Herzog; PT, is offering an opportunity to Bulldog students in need of Physical Therapy. Check out the flier below for more information:

Reminder - Firearm Safety:

Texas law now requires school districts to distribute information to parents and guardians about the safe storage of firearms. The attached information will help you learn about options for, as well as how to talk to your child and others about, the safe storage of firearms. 

In 2021, 4,613 Texans experienced gun-related deaths. The Texas Department of State Health Services (SHS) reports that 55% of Texas firearms deaths in 2020 were suicides and that 59% of all suicides in Texas were by firearms. Suicide attempts involving firearms have a 90% fatality rate. Restricting access to guns is critical in reducing acts of violence, whether as self-harm or towards others. Acts of mass violence and interpersonal violence often end in suicide. 

It is unlawful to store, transport, or abandon an unsecured firearm in a place where children are likely to be and can obtain access to the firearm. Under Texas Penal Code 46.13, a person commits the offense of making a firearm accessible to a child if the child gains access to a readily dischargeable firearm, and the person with criminal negligence:

• Failed to secure the firearm; or
• Left the firearm in a place to which the person knew or should have known the child would gain access

The penalty for allowing a child access to a firearm can range from a Class C misdemeanor (punishable by a $500 fine) to a Class A misdemeanor (punishable by a $4000 fine, a year in jail, or a combination of the two). 

Texas exempts the purchase of firearm safety equipment from Texas Sales and Use Tax.

Remember, a gun should be stored unloaded in a safe or locked container, with ammunition stored elsewhere. You can learn more and find additional resources from the Texas Department of Public Safety at Saf Gun Storage of Texas . 

Safe gun storage is critical to preventing suicide, unintentional shootings, and other tragedies.

Here is a link to our official notice: Thorndale ISD Blog 

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Most sincerely,

Zack Kleypas
Superintendent
Thorndale ISD
#TISDStrivingForExcellence

“Keep improving, always, in all ways.”