Sixteen Italy Junior High students were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)Tuesday night during a student led ceremony at the high school.

The following students placed accordingly at the Heart of Texas Creative Arts Show, Waco, with their Art Projects. The projects will be on display until this Saturday October 12, 2013 at the Creative Arts Building. Congratulations to all!

Italy ISD nurse, DeeDee Hamilton, has coordinated a flu shot clinic to be held at both Italy ISD campuses on Monday, October 14th. The community is welcome, however; you must contact Mrs. Hamilton via phone or email by Thursday, October 10th to make sure that enough vaccine is made available. Please call 972/483-6342 or email [email protected].

Italy High School students turn signing yearbooks into an event which proved to be a great filler during the bye week.

Jon Cady is a new math teacher at Italy High School. He is also the new head baseball coach and an assistant football and basketball coach. Prior to coming to Italy, he was a teacher/coach at Mason, Buffalo and Mansfield. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin University with a degree in Kinesiology.

Bobby Campbell is enjoying his first year on staff at Italy High School. In addition to teaching technology, health and leadership, he is also an assistant football coach, head power lifting coach and head track coach. Prior to coming to Italy, he was a teacher/coach for five years in Itasca, two years in Fairfield, eight years in McGregor and eight years in Temple.

When Morgan Mathews was hired as a teacher and the new Head Volleyball Coach at Italy High School, she brought expertise, energy and excitement with her. She wants her students and athletes to live up to their potential while having fun and working hard. She wants them to do their best and live for the moment because that moment only comes around once.

Italy ISD offers services to gifted and talented students in a variety of formats. If your student is not currently identified as gifted and talented, and you believe that your child shows these tendencies, then you may nominate him/her for the screening process which is divided into three elements: standardized test of mental ability, teacher judgment based on observation and characteristics, and standardized achievement test scores (if available).

Johnny Jones is very happy to be back at Italy High School. He taught history and AP government from the fall of 1997 to the summer of 2005 at IHS. He was also the softball coach. Under his leadership, the IHS softball team went 4 rounds into the playoffs twice in Class 2A.

David Graves was hired this year as Italy’s Assisstant Band Director when Erica Miller moved to the counselor’s office. In school, he gravitated to the band hall and the trombone. He was not a jock due to his size, so being in the band was a good fit for him and started his life long journey in music. He served in the Air Force for four years and played in the Air Force Band.

The Marshmallow Challenge is an activity meant to increase teamwork and brainstorming skills, said IHS Science teach Ms. Schweitzer. “I heard of the challenge from a TED Talk online. The students were told their goal: create the tallest free-standing tower out of the materials given to them, with a marshmallow placed on top.”

Erica Miller joined the staff at Italy ISD in 2011 and for two years she was the Assistant Band Director. She now has the job title of Jr. High and High School Counselor.

Jennifer Eaglen is the new Consumer and Family Science teacher at Italy High School. The class includes Lifetime Nutrition and Wellness and Child Development. In the child development part of the class, the students use “real babies” that they must be responsible for and take care of from feeding and changing diapers. The “babies” let them know when something is wrong by crying, long and loud.

The Italy High School science lab has seen several changes in the last few years, but none can compare to the new lab tables that they received over the summer.

Stephanie Gresham brings thirteen years of teaching experience to Italy High School this year. She will be teaching social studies to juniors and seniors. Prior to coming to Italy, she taught in Burleson and Red Oak. She has also taught at Navarro College. She is the first full time social studies teacher at Italy High School. In the past all the social studies teachers were also coaches.

Nichole Vajdak is very excited to be one of the Agriculture teachers at Italy High School. She was raised on a farm in Snook, Texas so she has been around animals and ag all her life.

The students at Italy High School are enjoying something new this year when they eat breakfast and lunch. Rhonda Bridges, Director of Student Nutrition, purchased and painted new tables with umbrellas for the courtyard outside the cafeteria.

7th graders trade in their Stafford Elementary tiger stripes for Gladiator armor and participate during Italy High School’s Meet The Teacher Night in preparation for the 2013-2014 school year.

The Gladiator Regiment Marching Band and Color Guard performed on field for fans during their annual Band Social and then shared ice-cream with the community inside the band hall.

Italy High School students enjoy a Back-to-School Bash hosted by the Lewis Family with the first day of school drawing near.

Meet Mrs. Nichole Tindol who will be the Italy Junior High Language Arts teacher for 7th grade this upcoming school year.

Holly Bradley is one of the new teachers at Italy High School, but the campus is not new to her. She attended Italy schools beginning in the 3rd grade and graduated from IHS in 2008. In high school, Holly was a cheerleader and participated in softball and track.

Cassie Joffre has a love for books, reading and young people, so her employment with Italy I.S.D. as the new librarian should be a perfect fit for her and her students.

Italy resident, Gus Allen, graduated from IHS this year. Parents Leslie and Brian Allen are very proud of their son. Gus didn’t leave empty handed when he left that campus in May. He received several scholarships. The Shelley Nance Memorial Art scholarship, band scholarship and theater scholarship from Navarro College in Corsicana.

The Dale Hansen Football Classic academic scholarship was established in 2012 to aid high school students wishing to pursue secondary education at the collegiate level. The classic is pleased to offer academic scholarships, ranging from $500.00 to $1000.00, to one boy and one girl in the senior class from each of the six high schools represented in the 2013 games. Applications are available in the office of the lead counselor at each of the six high schools – Italy Malakoff, Florence, Thrall, Alvarado, and Mexia.

Lee Joffre (principal) started the evening out with thanking all of the parents and students for coming to the orientation (Monday night) and said that we are here to tell you about what is new and what our expectations are for the junior and senior classes.

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 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.

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.

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}

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.

New Dates, New Deadlines: The cheer camp has been postponed. Please review for the latest information on the IHS Cheer Camp for girls entering Kindergarten through 6th grade.

Charles Tindol, newly-hired offensive coordinator at Italy High School, was upgraded to athletic director and head football coach at a special meeting of the school board of trustees Tuesday evening.

Grace Schweitzer is coming to Italy High School in August as the new high school science teacher. She has an obviously curious name but not knowing if she is related to the famous Nobel Peace Prize recipient, she does have a few things in common with the good doctor.