As the nation's eleventh largest school district, Dallas Independent School District serves more than 160,000 students who come from homes where 58 different languages are spoken. Operating with a $1 billion dollar budget, DISD employs 18,613 employees including 10,000 teachers in 220 schools.
8 Jun 2001
After completing a successful academic year in classrooms across the Dallas Independent School District, some students have decided to have a little fun during the summer months. These students are participating in the enrichment programs sponsored by the district. They will be learning about dinosaurs, taking excursions and recapturing their heritage.
"The district's enrichment programs are designed to enhance the learning experience of those students who passed their courses during the regular school year," said Andrea Hilburn, DISD executive director–School Instructional Leadership and Operation. "By participating in the various summer enrichment programs, students are exposed to the arts, cultural experiences and nature that will further their academic experience."
One of the DISD summer school enrichment programs is the Smithsonian T-Rex, a curriculum designed in collaboration with Voyager Expanded Learning and the Smithsonian Institute. This hands-on discovery-based adventure program captures the imagination of student as they journey to another time and place. The students are learning to separate dinosaur fact from fantasy. They are exploring the latest findings and discoveries about the monster-like creatures, including the concepts of time, extinction, adaptation, life cycles, niches, food chains and ecosystems. This free program runs through June 28 and is located at all 54 elementary schools designated for summer school.
For students who are interested in studying their American Indian background, the Tribal Heritage Program will teach them about tribal history, crafts, arts and games, said Peggy Larney, DISD program manager–American Indian Education. The program helps students preserve tribal traditions. There will be elders from about 15 different tribes including the Cherokee tribe and Kiowa tribe. "The Tribal Heritage Program is a chance for Indian elders in the community to share their heritage with the students and their families," Larney added.
The Tribal Heritage Program is free for students in grades 4-12 and will be offered from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The program runs from June 18 to June 29 at Mount Auburn Elementary, located at 6012 E. Grand Avenue (MapscoŽ key 47E). Summer school enrollment forms may be obtained from the Mount Auburn counselor's office and the Office of the American Indian Education Program, located at the district's Lincoln Instructional Center, 5000 S. Malcolm X Blvd.
To learn more about life in Dallas, students are enrolled in the Summer in the City Enrichment Program. These students are participating in a series of Young Audiences/ArtsPartners summer excursions to prominent cultural centers. Some of those sites are the Dallas Museum of Art, Science Place, Dallas Museum of Natural History, Dallas Zoo, Dallas Arboretum, African American Museum and Dallas Children's Theater.
The excursions will begin with an introduction to the cultural center. Each excursion has a link to language arts, mathematics, science, social studies and fine arts. All students in grades 3-6 are eligible to take an excursion in the Summer in the City Enrichment Program.
Other Enrichment programs range from swimming lessons to piano lessons and from art history to music evolution.
Transportation will be provided for elementary and middle school students who qualify for service and for high school students on established routes. For additional transportation information, contact your local campus.
The DISD Food & Child Nutrition Services Department is sponsoring a Summer Food Service Program. Children may receive a free breakfast and lunch at designated sites.
For more information about 2001 Summer School and Enrichment Programs, contact Andrea Hilburn at (972) 925-3300.