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Volume 3, Issue 3: 9/12/25
Volume 3, Issue 3: 9/12/25
Greetings Bulldogs! Happy Friday.
BIG NEWS, BULLDOGS!
Thorndale ISD was just awarded $5,000 through the Friday Night 5G Lights promotion with T-Mobile! But we’re not done yet — now we’re going for even MORE to bring BIG upgrades to our school and community!
What’s Next?
We’re in the running for:
- $1,000,000 for a game-changing homefield upgrade
- A stadium experience expert consultation
- A weight room upgrade by Gronk Fitness
- An unforgettable tailgate party in 2026
How YOU can help:
- Spread the word and get our community buzzing!
- Stay tuned for voting details and events where YOUR support can push us to the top.
- Show off your school spirit and tag @TMobile, #FN5GL, #Sweepstakes, @ThorndaleISD, and #tisdstrivingforexcellence to keep the momentum going! The more tags and share the more chances to WIN!
This is a HUGE opportunity for Thorndale — let’s show the nation what Bulldog Pride looks like!
#tisdstrivingforexcellence #FridayNight5GLights #Sweepstakes #tmobile #FN5GL
Did You Know - Student Learning on iXL
Learning is all about practice and feedback. iXL is a unique software platform used by districts across the state.
Thorndale ISD has launched iXL district-wide for Math, English, and Science K-12.
The program is being used primarily at the elementary school and middle school, but will ramp up at the high school soon as well.
It is NOT a substitute for instruction from the teacher, but it works best when used to provide some students in the class with targeted practice with instant feedback while the teacher circulates the room and/or pulls a small group aside one group at a time to practice a concept. Sometimes teaching directly to 20ish students isn’t the best way to ensure learning is sticking.
Check out this graphic of how many questions Thorndale ISD has already answered as a district! That is pretty impressive for a school of our size and shows the hard work and practice our students are getting.
Note: if your child has a school issued chromebook or for our younger students, a computer at home, they can log into their iXL and keep practicing problems AND getting quality feedback instantly.
The image below takes our data one step further and shows that not only are students exposed to content based questions through iXL, but they are also getting them right!
The image below shows “skills” which are learning clusters or groups of content. It shows that our students have practiced nearly 9,000 skills, and have gotten really good at 4,700+, and have even “mastered” nearly 3,500. To master, a student has to get over 10 questions IN A ROW right on a certain skill. Which would prove they have truly mastered the content!
Thorndale ISD 2025 Homecoming Court
Congratulations to the 2025 THS Homecoming Court!
Back Row: Nathan Grimm, Lance Pesl, Casey Alexander, Isaac Biar
Front Row: Adalyn Hodgson, Logan Bukowsky, Kyla Daniell, Jordyn Stutts
The Homecoming King will be announced at the pep rally Friday, and the Homecoming Queen will be crowned at halftime of the football game!
TISD Sports & Activities Updates
We have so many students, from each campus, competing in so many things it can be hard to keep up!
Instead of me restating all the scores and highlights in the blog, I encourage you to follow all of our Facebook pages (and other social media accounts) to stay up to date on all the happenings.
ParentSquare
Have you downloaded the ParentSquare app on your phone yet? Nearly 65% of our parents have downloaded the app! This is a great way to get updates from the district, campus, and even your child’s teacher. Here is the QR code and information to download the app:
Here is some district wide data to show how connected our parents are. Lets boost those numbers even higher!
Region 13 September STAR of the Month
Doug Franklin, Social Studies teacher, coach, and girls athletics coordinator was recently recognized by the executive director and team from Region 13 as the STAR of the month. This is a prestigious award and one that he was nominated for, and chosen out of nominations from across the region which includes 53 school districts, 27 charter schools, 8 institutions of higher education, and 18 private schools. Check out the map below of all those districts and just imagine how special it is to earn this recognition. Fun fact, he is the second Bulldog to win in the last 2 years, before coach Franklin, our very own elementary counselor, Abby Jones was a recipient.
Please help me congratulate Coach Franklin next time you see him.
Congratulations - Thorndale Bass Club!
Congratulations to Grayson Stoecklein and Colby McAnulty on their 2nd place finish out of 77 boats at Lake Limestone this past Saturday! The team brought in a 5-fish limit weighing 14.53 pounds, .03 pounds shy of first place—an incredible performance!
Best of luck to Brady Unnasch and Colton McDonald as they head to Richland Chambers Reservoir to compete in the Next Gen season opener this upcoming weekend.
September Alumni Spotlight
September Alumni Spotlight: Darius Brooks, Class of 2015
Thorndale ISD is excited to feature Darius Brooks, a proud 2015 graduate whose journey reflects both the traditions of excellence at TISD and the values he continues to carry into his personal and professional life.
During his years at Thorndale, Darius was an active and dedicated student. He was a member of the band, where his group qualified for state, showing his commitment to teamwork and discipline beyond the athletic field. On the field, he made his mark as part of the Bulldog football program, experiencing many wins and multiple playoff appearances during his time. Darius also competed in track, where his relay team earned the opportunity to advance to the state relays. His involvement in so many different activities speaks to his versatility and determination as a Bulldog.
One of Darius’s fondest memories is from the 2013 football season, when Thorndale advanced to the Regional Quarterfinals. That historic year marked the first time since 2006 that a Bulldog team had gone four rounds deep into the playoffs. “It was such an amazing moment,” Darius shared. “It’s one of those memories that I still tell stories about to this day.”
After graduation, Darius took his talents to McMurry University in Abilene, Texas, where he was able to continue his love for football at the collegiate level. His years there were filled with growth both on and off the field. In 2020, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Education—a moment that opened the door to his professional journey as an educator and coach.
His first position took him back to Abilene ISD, where he began shaping the lives of students both in the classroom and on the field. After a year and a half, Darius decided it was time to come closer to home and accepted a position at Rockdale ISD, where he is now entering his fourth year. Through teaching and coaching, he has been able to give back to students the same way his teachers and coaches poured into him during his time at TISD.
Along this journey, Darius met his wife, Kenndra, and together they are raising three wonderful children: Khaizen (7), Amaias (4), and their newest addition, Aaliyah (5 months). Balancing the roles of husband, father, teacher, and coach, Darius continues to embody the Bulldog spirit of perseverance and excellence.
When asked what advice he would give to current Thorndale students, Darius shared these powerful words:
“No matter how much negativity happens in your life, you have the opportunity to change every aspect of it. Be the difference maker in someone’s life. Leave this beautiful life better than you found it.”
Looking back, Darius is deeply grateful for his time at TISD and the lasting impact his teachers and coaches had on him. “My experience at TISD was amazing. I learned so much from teachers and coaches. They pushed me to become the best version of myself, and I thank them for that. Striving for excellence is not just a vision—it’s a way of life. I’m proud to be a Bulldog. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! IT’S A GREAT DAY TO BE A THORNDALE BULLDOG!!”
Darius’s journey is a testament to the power of hard work, positivity, and staying true to one’s roots. Thorndale ISD is proud to call him one of our own and to celebrate his story as an inspiration for future generations of Bulldogs.
To read more please visit -TISD website
Nominate a TISD alumni for an upcoming highlight by scanning the QR code or visiting this form
TISD Staff Shoutouts
Previous Bulldog Bulletin’s - Superintendent’s Blogs:
In case you missed out on the 24-25 Superintendent’s blog and want to look back at any issue, here is where you can find them: TISD websiteBulldog Bulletins
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Most sincerely,
Zack Kleypas
Superintendent
Thorndale ISD
#TISDStrivingForExcellence
“Keep improving, always, in all ways.”
