Irving ISD celebrates excellent

Photo: Members of the Irving ISD Board of Trustees eagerly await the announcements of the award winners at the 2015 ICE Awards on Thursday, Feb. 19. / Photo by Nick Kammerer

Hundreds of students, teachers and adoring parents gathered to celebrate the annual ICE Awards at the Irving High School auditorium on Thursday, Feb. 19. The Irving Celebration of Excellence, also known as the ICE Awards, encompasses all Irving ISD schools, including elementary schools, middle schools and high schools.

The ICE Awards recognize unique accomplishments by Irving ISD students, teachers and campuses in one of seven categories. The categories include Humanities, Math and Science, Fine Arts, Physical Education and Athletics, Community Service and Citizenship, Special Campus and District, and Parent Involvement activities.

Irving ISD Superintendent Jose Parra presented Perfect Attendance awards to five students including Micah Edward Cole (12 years), Eden G. Tesfaslassie (13 years), David Hoang Khoa Tran (13 years), Jerod Velasquez (13 years) and Chidimma Okwara (14 years).

For each elementary school, middle school and high school, three finalists were selected in each of the seven categories. Crystal, Silver and Bronze awards were given to the finalists in each category.

Students from Cardwell Career Preparatory Center won the Crystal Award in the Humanities category for their documentary about Teen Parenting. Out of the district’s middle schools, Travis Middle School won the Crystal Award for their Battle of the Books reading incentive. Thomas Haley Elementary also won the Crystal Award for their #socialREADia learning activity.

In the Math and Science category, Crystal Awards were given to Cardwell Career Preparatory Center for their Junior Achievement Finance Park project, Travis Middle School for their Algebra Peer Assisted Learning Sessions (PALS) and Schulze Elementary School for Family Math Night at Fiesta Supermarket.

In the Fine Arts category, Crystal Awards were given to Irving High School for their theatrical performance of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ Lamar Middle School students for their performance series at Carnegie Hall and Elliott Elementary School for their Mini Davinci’s student club.

In the Physical Education and Athletics category, Crystal Awards were given to Irving High School’s varsity volleyball team for becoming District 9-6A Champions, Bowie Middle School’s 7th grade boy’s undefeated football and track and field City Champions, and Farine Elementary Family for their Fitness Fun Night.

In the Community Service and Citizenship category, Crystal Awards were given to Irving High School’s Football team for their community service activities, Austin Middle School students for raising money and awareness for homelessness in Irving and John Haley Elementary School for their Socktober homeless project.

In the Special Campus and District category, Crystal Awards were given to Cardwell Career Preparatory Center for their ALLIANCE Student Men’s Group, Bowie Middle School for their Cubbies for Cancer Scholarship Fund and Pierce Early Childhood School for their new Outdoor Learning Classroom.

Finally, in the Parent Involvement Activities category, Crystal Awards were given to Cardwell Career Preparatory Center for their “I Dream a World” ESL Adult English class, Bowie Middle School for their Parent Involvement Center and Kinkeade Early Childhood School for their Collaborating for Success child engagement activities.

At each ICE Awards ceremony, two prestigious Golden Apple awards are presented to an individual partner in education and group partner in education.

According to Irving ISD, “The Golden Apple Award is the highest honor that the Irving ISD Board of Trustees awards a Partner in Education for outstanding contributions to Irving ISD students and schools. This distinction recognizes dedicated groups and individuals that enhance the personal and academic achievement of IISD students by providing volunteers and valuable resources.”

This year, Dr. Thomas Velma (individual partner) and NCH Corporation (group partner) received Golden
Apple Awards.

In addition to the twenty-one trophies given to ICE Award finalists, one award is presented to an overall, “best-in-show” entry for the highest score from any of the seven ICE award categories. This year the award was given to Schulze Elementary School for their family math night at Fiesta Supermarket.