Stafford Elementary will have its yearly Pre-K and Kindergarten Round-UP on Thursday, May 10, 2012 from 3:30-6:30 and Friday, May 11, 2012 from 8:00-3:00. There will be a scheduled lunch break from 12:00-1:00.

May 12, 2012 is the date for the upcoming election of two trustee seats on the Italy Independent School District school board. The district’s poling place will be at Italy City Council Chambers (105 West Main Street, Italy).

My name is Mark Souder Sr.  I have been a Construction Superintendent for Pegasus Texas Construction LP for the last 10 years.

I am Cheryl Owen. I grew up in Italy, attended our schools, and graduated from Italy High School. My 26 years of experience in education and my service of 6 years on the board enable me to understand the many points of view of the issues raised in our school system. I am seeking to continue my service on the school board in order to guide the evolution of our schools for the children of this community.

Italy High School principal, Lee Joffre, has release the testing schedule for End of Course (EOC) testing for the week of May 7th through May 10th. All freshman and some 8th grade students are required to take an EOC if they are enrolled in Algebra I, Algebra II, World Geography and Biology. Also, any student that is in a Chemistry class is required to take an EOC Field Test.

My name is Russ Lewis. I am an Inventory Manager at Williams Gin & Feed in Frost. I attended Tarleton State University. I was raised on a farm in Rule, Texas where, along with my father and brother, we farmed various crops and raised livestock. I have a daughter who is currently a freshman at Italy High School and another that is a 2007 Italy HS graduate. I would appreciate your support in the upcoming Italy ISD School Board election (May 12, 2012).

Hello, I am Albert Garcia Jr. My family moved from Dallas to Italy when I was 6 years old to provide a better education and environment for our family. After graduation from Italy High School in 1994, I accumulated the required college hours to apply as a firefighter with the City of Dallas. I grew up here, and am raising my family here because I believe in the schools and the community. I would love your support and welcome any questions or comments.

Mrs. Davis, Italy HS/JHS Counselor, has published a few reminders to help the Italy High School’s 2012 graduating class stay on top of things as they move towards graduation.

On March 10, 2012 students representing the Italy High School and Junior High School Art program entered a project in the Star of Texas Rodeo Austin Eco Art Show in Austin, Texas. 

How many of you remember your second grade teacher? Well, if you had Jan Shepard for your second grade teacher you would remember her. She goes the extra mile to make your child’s school experience a good one.

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Charlotte Morgan has been teaching first grade for about twenty-two years at Stafford Elementary and credits Mr. George Scott (a past Italy ISD superintendent) and her husband John Morgan for her success.

The Italy Gladiator Regiment Band Booster Club will be hosting a spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Saturday, Feb 11, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Uptown Cafe.

2012 Personal Ads Are Here! Personal ad space is available for purchase for Italy ISD students in the 2011-2012 yearbook, The Gladiator.

The Stafford Elementary Honors Assembly honored students for their work during the first and second six weeks of school. The gymnasium was filled with smiling parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles and students. But the biggest smiles were the ones on the students faces when Jason Miller (principal) handed each of them their awards.

November 11 is a day of celebration and honor for American Veterans. Thanks isn’t good enough for the sacrifices made or the willingness to put one’s life on the line. Gratitude may be small thing but it is what we want to give.

On Thursday, November 10 there will be a bonfire/pep-rally behind the field-house at the Italy High School Campus.  Our gridiron Gladiators will take on Franklin in the first round of the playoffs this Friday night and this is the perfect way to get our boys “fired up!!”  Everyone is welcome to come out and show your support.

Amidst the improvements and work-in-progress projects going on within the Italy Independent School District communication tools and avenues are definitely a priority.  Besides the school website, Italy High School principal, Lee Joffre is urging parents to make it a habit to view the district’s Facebook page.  You DO NOT have to have a Facebook page yourself to view this page.

Italy High School students participated during the nationally recognized Red Ribbon Week campaign in an effort to promote a drug-free lifestyle for everyone.

On Friday, November 11, the community is invited to an assembly honoring our local veterans at Italy High School. The celebration will begin promptly at 9:00am in the George Scott Gymnasium and everyone is encouraged to wear red, white and blue to carry on the theme of the day. Our veterans are invited to an intimate Meet & Greet gathering at 8:20am in the high school library before the main celebration. Refreshments will be served.

The Italy School Board of Trustees received good news Monday night when Barry Bassett, superintendent, announced the district had earned a superior achievement rating with the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas for the 2009-2010 school year.

The Italy Gladiator Regiment Band will complete in their regional marching competition at LaVega High School on Wednesday, October 19 at 2:45pm.  Both the Italy High School and Stafford Elementary campuses will have a send-off assembly Wednesday morning at 8:30am as the renowned band heads off to compete in this event.  The bus will also make its way thru downtown Italy so that local merchants can show their support as well.

Elmerine Bell was named recipient of the Living Legacy Award Saturday at a breakfast hosted by Barry Bassett, Italy ISD superintendent.

With the first six weeks of school complete and homecoming week in progress I wanted to pause and write a personal letter of thanks for the support Italy Independent School District receives from parents, grandparents, and community members.  Additionally we offer special thanks for the trust we are afforded in providing a safe and effective learning environment in which each student can reach their full potential. 

The Italy ISD George Scott Scholarship Board looks forward to serving the community this Friday at the annual Scholarship Bar-B-Que Dinner.  Dining with family, classmates and old friends and meeting the scholarship recipients is what the evening is all about. We hope you can make it Friday, October 7th from 5:00pm – 7:00pm.

If you are at Stafford Elementary at about 7:15 AM don’t be surprised when you see Jason Miller greeting each student as they get off the bus. He is the new principal for Stafford Elementary.

The annual George Scott Memorial Scholarship Fund barbecue dinner will be held Friday, October 7, 2011 at the Italy High School Cafeteria. Cost for the meal is $7 per person. The meal will be catered by Bubba’s of Ennis.

There’s a new sheriff in town and his name is Joffre. The new Italy High School principal came to us from the James Coble Middle School in Mansfield, in which he was the Assistant Principal. Teaching two years in 5th grade and then promoted to high school teaching math.

Friday at David’s Supermarket you could see some very skilled shoppers making their way through the store. They were the CBI students from Italy High School and Avalon High School with Lee Joffre (Italy High School principal). They were busy hunting down various items on their shopping list.

The attached TEA brochures were submitted by one of our readers for the benefit of all parents of school age children.  The STAAR testing program is a end of course testing system that will begin with this year’s high school freshmen down through elementary age students.  

The Scholastic Book Fair will be next week Sept. 19-23 at Stafford Elementary Library from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. each day.  We will close on Friday at 10 a.m. The theme this year is “Reading Is Out of This World.”

Stafford Elementary sees how special grandparents are and invited them to have lunch with their grandchildren on Monday, September 12th, Grandparents Day. The cafeteria was over flowing with grandparents and laughter as students and grandparents shared lunch together.

The Italy ISD Board of Trustees will have their regular monthly meeting on Monday, September 19, 2011. Meeting time is set for 7:00pm and will be held in the Italy ISD Band Hall at 300 S. College, Italy.  The agenda includes an item to consider/approve a resolution sanctioning 4-H as an extracurricular activity. See the agenda for a complete list of action items the board will be considering.

We all know the sadness that took place ten years ago on September 11th. We know that terrorists attacked our wonderful country, the United States of America. Four planes were hijacked in mid flight. Two of the planes were flown into two skyscrapers at the World Trade Center in New York City and caused them to catch fire and collapse. Another plane destroyed part of the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. and the fourth plane crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. In all, nearly three thousand people were killed in the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Italy JH/HS has been invited to Career Night assemblies at two area high schools.

Teresa Young, the CB&I teacher for Italy High School, is really enjoying her job. Last year she was the CB&I teacher for Stafford Elementary. With her new position at the high school, teaching life skills is a big part of her job. Every Friday Mrs.Young and her class go around the community and do volunteer work. This Friday they were at Trinity Mission.

Barry Bassett and the Italy ISD hosted a luncheon for pastors and leaders of the community Wednesday at Central Baptist Church.