Volume II, Issue 1 (February 2017)

Page 1

“You must never be fearful about what you are doing, when it is right.” — Rosa Parks

THE

Longview Voice Sharing the good news about LISD!

Vol. 2 No. 1 January / February 2017

A publication of Longview Independent School District

Complimentary Copy

Hope you had a blessed holiday season!

During the holiday season students from various elementary and middle school campuses came by the district ESC building to share of their skills and talents, performing excellent renditions of seasonal favorites. Thank you to all our talented students, hard-working staff, and supportive parents in making these wonderful programs possible!

LHS violinist to play Carnegie Hall

I

sabella Cowart, a junior violinist at Longview High School, has been selected for the 2017 High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall. She will perform with the Symphonic Orchestra in February. Participation in one of the five Honors Ensembles is limited to the highest-rated high school performers from across the world.According to Morgan Smith, Program Director, more than 18,000 nominations were processed this year, with the organization selecting the most talented student performers from around the world. “Being selected to the Honors Performance Series is something each Finalist should be extremely proud of accomplishing,” Smith added. “Working with these conductors and performing at Carnegie Hall is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that these musicians never forget.”Earlier this year, Isabella auditioned for the Honors Performance Series and was accepted after a review by the Honors Selection Board. Acceptance to the elite group is a direct result of the talent, dedication, and achievements demonstrated in her application and audition recording. Isabella will join other performers from all 49 United States, Guam, two Canadian provinces and a number of foreign countries for the special performance at world-famous Carnegie Hall, a venue that marks the pinnacle of musical achievement.

Eight early graduates receive diplomas

I

t may not have had the usual “pomp and circumstance” of the end of year graduation ceremony, but the diplomas presented to eight Longview Early Graduation High School students are just as special. During the Longview ISD trustees meeting Monday, Dec. 12, graduates were recognized by Principal Kristi Means. Means said the graduates each had an obligation to, “share your gifts with the world.” • Kaylie Hawkins is a Globe Scholar graduating on the recommended plan. She will attend Tyler Junior College. She aspires to become a sonogram technician. • Mirna Gonzalez Hernandez will major in Early Childhood Education at Kilgore College. She aspires to become a Kindergarten teacher. • Raven Houston plans to attend Kilgore College to major in Nursing. She desires to become a registered nurse. • Tru’Neal King will pursue a degree

Isabella has studied violin for 11 years and is a member of the Longview High School Orchestra. She has auditioned and been a member of the TMEA All Region orchestra for 5 years, receiving superior ratings for UIL Solo and Ensemble contest. Last

year Isabella received a superior rating for her solo and duet at the UIL State Solo and Ensemble contest held in Austin. As concertmaster of the Kilgore Area Community College Orchestra, she had the opportunity to play and perform in a master class lead by renowned performing solo violinist Chloe Trevor. Isabella has also attended the Fine Arts Summer Academy in Nashville led by the Annie Moses band for the past 4 years and has performed on the Grand Ole Opry stage with this academy. Finalists will come together in New York City for five days in February

See Violinist on Page 3

Alumni’s daddy-daughter video goes viral

in Industrial Maintenance at Kilgore College. • Kelsey McDaniel will attend Kilgore College in the spring. She plans to major in Process Technology. • Enrique Pineda plans to attend The Art Institute of Dallas, TX. He plans to have a career in graphic design. • Ge’Kaelup Watkins is a Globe Sc holar g raduat ing on t he recommended plan. She plans to attend Kilgore College to major in Cosmetology. • Jayden Boykin plans to pursue a degree in music production. He is undecided on a university at this time. The Long view Early Graduation High School (formerly known as LEAD Academy) serves progressive students who wish to graduate early. Providing dual-credit courses for students seeking higher education, it also features career and technology options, online/distance learning, and ACT/SAT preparation.

Derrick Culpepper was just sharing a glimpse of his family’s morning routine, but his video went all over the world as an endearing portrait of a father’s love. A 1995 graduate of Longview High, the Culpeppers now live in the Dallas area. Derrick is married to Lakisha and together they have three kids: 14-year-old D.J., 12-year-old Christine, and the baby of the family, Linda, who’s 4. In September, a video of Derrick doing his youngest child’s hair started blowing up, nearly a year after he’d originally posted the clip. News had also just broken about the shooting of another unarmed black man by a

white police officer, this time in Tulsa, Okla., which Derrick suspects had something to do with why his video resonated with so many Americans. “People were angry at what had taken place,” he says, “yet finding hope in what they’d seen through the video, from a black American.” The clip shows Derrick, who shares morning routine duties with his wife, diligently brushing away while receiving plenty of sweet encouragement from little Linda. “My family encourages me to be be the best Dad that I can be and I never get to catch these memories on video,” Derrick wrote in the caption on YouTube. “I have been a barber pretty much all my life and still find it difficult to style my daughter’s hair.” However, he says, Linda “keeps me encouraged” whenever he tries his hand at styling. The clip begins with Derrick having already completed half the work on a pigtails hairstyle, then he asks his girl how he’s doing. “Good!” she replies. As he grabs a bit more product to work into her locks, he asks her what to do next. She explains that he just needs to “brush it then put a band on it!” He follows her instructions and as he gathers the hair on the other side of her head as he brushes away, Linda tells her daddy that he is “doing a great job” and that he is “almost done!” “Baby thank you so much, you’re so encouraging to dad,” Derrick replies with a

See Video on Page 3

inside the

THE

Longview Voice

Opinion Coming Events

2 3

District Science Fair Foster Earns Silver

3 3

Debate Team Honors Everhart Raise Money

4 5


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.