As the nation's eleventh largest school district, Dallas Independent School District serves more than 164,500 students who come from homes where 58 different languages are spoken. Operating with a $1 billion dollar budget, DISD employs 19,234 employees including 10,500 teachers in 218 schools.
13 Dec 2001
DALLAS—DISD schools have planned a variety of events to commemorate the holiday season. Most activities are possible thanks to the support of community partners and volunteers who will bring toys to be distributed to children who otherwise would not receive a gift for the holidays. The events are listed in date order. For more information, please call the DISD Press Office at 972-925-3900.
Santa Takes Flight and Lands at Chavez Learning Center
• Students at Cesar Chavez will lift their eyes from their textbooks long enough to see the arrival of Santa Claus and his helpers on three helicopters Friday, December 14, at 1:30 p.m. Santa's helicopters, filled with toys donated by Navidad en el Barrio, will land on the school's soccer field. Representatives from the Latino Peace Officers Association will escort all the characters, including Rudolph, toy soldiers and Raggedy Ann to the auditorium for a holiday program. The school is located at 1710 North Carroll.
Food Baskets and Gifts To Be Presented to Refugee Families
• Eighty Bosnian families who participate in the Refugee Children School Impact grant's tutoring and family literacy program, along with 400 other DISD families, will benefit from a holiday food basket and gift distribution Sunday, December 16, at 1:30 p.m. at Heart House at Sterling Point, 7407 Fair Oaks Ave. The guest families have children who attend Hexter, Preston Hollow, Hill, Rogers and Franklin schools.
Van Full of Toys Will Make Wishes Come True for Burnet Elementary Students• A giant holiday card will be the background for a gift distribution at 1:30 p.m. Monday, December 17, at Burnet Elementary School. More than 250 students ages 8-11 will be the recipients of toys, books and clothing courtesy of Sears Care-A-Van Holiday Project. Burnet Elementary is located at 3200 Kinkaid.
Company Continues 25-Year Commitment to Dallas School
• Home Interiors' Charities will continue a 25-year tradition at Fannie C. Harris Elementary School. Students grades pre-k through will receive toys at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 18. For the past 12 years, Home Interiors has outfitted each child at the school with three uniforms as well as giving special toys during the holiday. The school is located at 4212 E. Grand.
Toy-Filled Stockings Add Holiday Cheer to Last Day of School
• Elisha Pease Elementary and Arcadia Park Elementary are the sites for a holiday stocking distribution sponsored by the Quilter's Guild of Dallas at 2 p.m. Thursday, December 20, the last day of school for DISD students. First graders at Elisha Pease will receive 120 stockings. Kindergarten students at Arcadia Park will be recipients of 90 stockings. This is the 15th year the guild has donated candy and toy-filled stockings to children in district schools. Other district schools to receive stockings are Bonham, Dunbar, Carr, Douglass, Terry, Weiss, McMillan, Arlington Park, Field, Gill, Reagan, Hall and Cockran. Pease is located at 2914 Cummings St.; Arcadia Park at 911 N. Morocco.
Hip-Hop Music Adds Unique Touch to Nutcracker Suite
• A hip-hop version of The Nutcracker, performed by students in the after-school program at Adelle Turner Elementary, is the highlight of the Holiday Around the World program at the school Thursday, December 20, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The students have been coached by Young Audiences of Greater Dallas. Each grade level has studied holiday customs from the around the world and the event culminates the study unit. Turner Elementary is located at 5505 S. Polk St.