When you gather 13 cheerleading squads together from the Dallas area and the backdrop is the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, you have entered the world of UCA Entertainment, Spirit and Fun. There is no way around it. Italy High School sent their cheerleading squad and mascots in June to learn a few new tricks about turning up the volume for spirit and they excelled every day they attended.

The Gladiator Regiment Marching Band is revving up for a exciting marching season. Backing them every beat of the way is the Band Boosters. The next Band Booster meeting has been set for August 19th at 6:15. All parents of band students are urged to attend, as the dreams and goals of this marching season cannot be attained without that support.

Midnight Madness sets the tone for the the Lady Gladiator volleyball program, the new look Gladiator football program and for Italy Athletics as a whole.

The Italy School Board of Trustees hired Jennifer Eaglen of Waxahachie as the Family Consumer Science Teacher at a special meeting held Tuesday evening in the administration office.

After he accepted the role as Italy ISD’s athletic director and head football coach late this summer, we finally have a chance to know better, Charles Tindol, who brings a fresh new energy to the Italy Athletic Department.

Central Baptist Church of Italy, Texas, will celebrate 110 years of existence on Sunday, August 18, 2013. If you have ever had an association with the church in any way, they would be excited to have you come and help celebrate this special occasion. The celebration will be especially exciting since former pastors, worship leaders and youth leaders are invited to join as well during the morning worship time which starts at 10:45 a.m.

The 2013 Mini Italy Cheer Camp hosted by the Italy varsity and junior high Cheerleaders for girls in 1st – 6th grades prepares the spirit leaders for the upcoming school year.

Italy ISD AD/HFC Charles Tindol requests all student-athletes interested in playing volleyball or football, but have yet to get physicals, to please continue to attend the Midnight Madness practices on Monday, August 5 @ 12:01 a.m.!!!!!

July is the month of celebrations such as July 4th, National Baked Bean Month, National Hot Dog Month, National Ice Cream Month, National Picnic Month and July birthdays at Trinity Mission!

The Italy ISD Board of Trustees will have a called meeting on Tuesday, August 6, 2013. The 7:00pm meeting will be held in the Italy High School Cafeteria located at 300 S. College Street, Italy.

Angela Chambers is the new CBI teacher for Stafford Elementary. She has been teaching for eight years and loves her job.

Maggie Westrick is Stafford Elementary’s new fifth and sixth grade science teacher. She hopes to bring her love of science to her students, get them excited about science and have fun with it as they learn.

FINAL IYAA football and cheer signups will be Saturday, August 3, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Upchurch Ballpark. NO ROSTER HAS BEEN FILLED. Players will be sporting new jerseys and pants this season and will get to keep their jerseys!

The Italy Athletic Department invites fans to attend the Midnight Madness Volleyball and Football practices on Monday, August 5th, with both practices starting precisely at 12:01 a.m.

Coming from a family of teachers, it is no wonder that Brandon Ganske decided to become a teacher too. His dad retired after 33 years of teaching physical education, his brother has also been teaching physical education for several years. So following in their footsteps, Brandon went straight from college right into the world of teaching as a physical education teacher and has joined the team of teachers at Stafford Elementary teaching physical education.

Watch Italy Football’s Marvin Cox on Direct TV 677 (Fox Southwest) tonight at 7:00 p.m. as he competes in the "2013 Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) All-Star Football Game presented by Fuddruckers in Fort Worth.

Azlin Itson, 5, is a kindergardener attending Stafford Elementary in Italy and is adding her celebrity as a beauty queen to help collect donated school supplies for her fellow schoolmates.

Melinda Haake will be bringing her teaching skills to the third grade classroom at Stafford Elementary this year and boy is she excited. She will be teaching math and science this year along with all the other subjects and can’t wait to get started.

Lady Gladiator volleyball will be having a mandatory volleyball parent meeting on Sunday, August 4th at 7:30 p.m. in the dome. Plus, the Lady Gladiators will take the court on Monday, August 5th, beginning at 12:01 a.m. for their Midnight Madness practice to begin the season!

All Italy High School 7th thru 12th grade student-athletes planning to participate in any sport during the 2013-2014 school year must turn in proof of having a recent physical. The Italy Athletic program is conducting physicals at Italy HS on, Thursday, August 1, starting at 1:00 p.m. and will be done on a first come, first serve basis. Those planning to attend must notify AD/HFC Charles Tindol A.S.A.P.

In an effort to thoroughly communicate with our parents we posted the school supply list on the ItalyNeotribune and mailed home a copy of the list to your address. During this process, we made a mistake.

Kortnei’s Car Wash will be Saturday, July 27, to raise money for travel and lodging expenses for Italy High School’s, Kortnei Johnson (jr.) who is hoping to compete in the Junior Olympics, August 1, in Detroit.

The Ellis Co. Shooting Sports 4-H Club coached 18 youth to the State 4-H Shooting Sports Games in San Antonio at the National Shooting Complex held July 14 – 20. Shooters competed in a variety of archery and shotgun events and learned much about sportsmanship, camaraderie and rules and techniques for many shooting games. Stafford Elementary student Hunter Hinz, age 11 of Italy, was on the Ellis County shooting team.

Italy Baseball proudly announces pitcher Caden Jacinto and shortstop Marvin Cox as recent selections to the Collin Street Bakery / Texas Sports Writers Association’s Class 1A all-state baseball team!

Since January, the Food Pantry has distributed 19,158 lbs. of food to the hungry in Italy and exists solely on your contributions, donations and participation.

Stadium Chairs with Italy in gold and white printed on the back are available now thru the Gladiator Athletic Booster Club. Contact Kelly Lewis at: 214/878-4623, Robbie Jones at 972/921-4067 or by Email: [email protected] and get yours before the big game on Friday night!

Two Italy School District retirees were honored Monday evening as the school board of trustees recognized Margie Davis and Speed Hamby for their service to the district.

Sydney Lowenthal (Stafford 6th grader) is no stranger to the stage. Syney has performed in many plays such as Fiddler on the Roof, Aesop’s Foibles, Bye, Bye Birdie, Substitute Fairy Godmother and Wizard of OZ. Her next play is The Mysterious Case of the Missing Ring written by Janie Downey Maxwell in which she plays Barbecue Barbie.

Gladiator Athletic Booster Club vice-president, Flossie Gowin, has called a meeting for Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at 5:45pm to be held in the Italy High School’s Library. The primary purpose of the meeting will be to elect officers for the upcoming school year. Volunteers are also needed to serve as seasonal coordinators: Fall, Early Winter, Late Winter and Spring. If you cannot attend the meeting but are willing to help please contact Flossie Gowin at (972) 523-6799 or email [email protected].

The Italy ISD Board of Trustees will have their regular monthly meeting on Monday, July 22nd at 7:00pm. Prior to the meeting there will be a budget workshop at 6:00pm.

Italy High School principal, Lee Joffre, has released the school supply lists for the high school and junior high school campus. The staff at this campus has compiled this list as a convenience for the families and all are looking forward to a great year.

^{List updated Monday, July 22, 2013-9:10am}

Hill College’s Lady Rebel Softball coaching staff is having two, 2-day softball camps in July. The first camp, to be held on July 18th and 19th, will be for 10 thru 14 year-olds and the second camp, to be held on July 25th and 26th, will be for 15 thru 18 year olds. Both of these camps will be held at the Hill College softball field in Hillsboro, just a short drive from Italy.

Stafford Elementary and Italy High School has always had dedicated teachers. We have known that for a long time, so anything they do should not amaze me. But never the less they never cease to amaze me.

As a convenience to Stafford Elementary students and their families, Stafford Elementary Principal, Jonathan Nash, has released the school supply list for the 2013-2014 school year.

The Italy High School Gladiator Regiment Band under the guidance of band instructor, Jesus Perez, gains knowledge during week-long summer camp while the IHS Color Guard trains with sponsor Amber Droll and Scooter Spicer of the Garland ISD.

Shelley Nance Memorial Art Exhibit will be held on Saturday July 27 from 5-7 pm at the Italy Community Center downtown Italy. Admission is Free. Donations will be accepted but not required for admission. Please come as we share our daughter’s talent with the Italy community.

The 2013 varsity and JV Lady Gladiator Volleyball Schedule is official with newly hired head coach, Morgan Mathews, and assistant coach, Tina Richards, looking forward to reinvigorating the program.

The 2013 varsity, JV and junior high Gladiator Football Schedules are posted here with new HFC/AD Charles Tindol in place and a new era of Gladiator Football just moments from kickoff.

Watch State Champion Kourtnei Johnson (jr.) represent Italy High School and Ellis County during the 2013 edition of the AAU Track & Field Club Championships live online at ESPN3.com starting Sunday at 8:00 a.m. Texas time.

The 2nd Annual Guns vs. Hoses Softball Game between the Italy P.D. and the Italy F.D. ensures the kids win in the end as funds are raised to support the Italy P.D.’s caring Shop With a Cop program.

It was the trip of a lifetime for many of the 10 member team from Central Baptist Church in Italy. They spent 10 days in Athens, Greece, a mission endeavor that Pastor Joseph Barrett and his wife had taken several years earlier.

Italy High School product and Tennessee Tech commit, Alyssa Richards, continues her winning ways during the Texas Girls Coaches Association All-Star softball game in Austin.