March 2015 Volume 1 Issue 24 For customer service please call
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Edcouch-Elsa Student Takes State Championship see page 3.
Empowering Business Women
Prescription for Death
see page 4.
see page 5.
Hollywood Actor visits John F. Kennedy Elementary On March 3, Hollywood actor Valente Rodriguez visits John F. Kennedy elementary in Elsa to inspire students with his own story. Valente Rodriguez graduated from Edcouch-Elsa and soon graduated from the University of Panam American in Edinburg. He is best known for his role as ‘Ernie’ on The George Lopez Show, but Rodriguez has been working steadily in Hollywood since the 1990s. Rodriguez says that growing up in the Rio Grande Valley and being a migrant farm worker – his experience closely mirrors that of the children of McFarland. McFarland, USA is a recent film that just came out of the box office. Valente plays principal Camillo at a Latino high school in McFarland California, where many of the children also work in the fields. Jim White (Kevin Costner) football coach channels their talent to cross country to eventually go to the state championship.
Pre-k 3rd Movement in Raymondville ISD Raymondville ISD is considering offering a half a day pre-k 3 program and would like for the community to voice out their need in this early education program. PK 3 Interest Surveys have been sent out by the elementary campuses. Everyone is welcome to pick up a survey at the Central office. The district is interested in investing early in the children’s education. Ben Clinton, Director of special programs states that the districts priority is to empower all students to learn, achieve and succeed and the district is supporting that” Many studies show that investments in early childhood education such as pre-k 3 will reap a tremendous return to society. They improve children’s suc-
cess in later grades; reduce crime, and cut joblessness and poverty. To achieve these returns, the community needs to treat pre-K 3 as a responsibility to children. Andrea Mungia, Curriculum and Instruction Director mentioned about the huge difference from having a half a day pre-k4 program to a full day program, “The progress was tremendous and I’m just excited to see what a pre-k3 program will do to our children’s future and the Raymondville community”. Administrators will be gathering the surveys and tallying up the numbers to determine whether the community is interested in having this program and implemented in the district and whether there are enough
students to fill the pre-3 program at the two elementary schools. Children meeting the criteria will be able to participate if implemented. • years of age on or before September 1, 2015;and • Educationally disadvantaged according to state standards: or • Unable to speak and comprehend the English language; or • Homeless; or • The child of an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserved component of the armed forces, who is ordered to active duty by proper authority; or
• The child of a member of the armed forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserved component of the armed forces, who was injured or killed while serving on active duty; or • Foster care status. Each student satisfying the requirements will be admitted if his/her parent, guardian, or person having lawful control of the student resides within the district. If you need more information please contact the Central Office at 689-8175