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- Humanities
Saturday, September 23, 2023
CSHS Social Studies teacher John Irish
Carroll Senior High School teacher John Irish received a distinguished award Monday.
Irish was named the 2016 Outstanding Teacher of the Year Humanities award winner. Humanities of Texas staff member Sam Moore and State Senator Konnie Burton of District 10 were in attendance at CSHS to present the award to Irish.
Humanities of Texas presents these award annually to Texas social studies and language arts teachers who have made exemplary contributions in teaching, curriculum development and extracurricular programming in their schools and community. Over 700 teachers were nominated and only one teacher is recognized. Irish will receiving a $5,000 prize and an additional $500 to CSHS for purchase of instructional materials.
Durham’s Recycling Club and PTO are partners in the Urge to Purge Clothing Drive going on now through the end of April.
Durham is one of two CISD campuses that have a World Wear bin. World Wear collects clothing, blankets, sheets, backpacks, coats and shoes and ships them to third world countries. What cannot be salvaged is turned into industrial rags.
“It’s a great way to help others and keep items out of our landfills,” said Durham Humanities Teacher, Fran Lowen.
On Tuesday, April 14, to inspire global awareness of the needs of others, Durham students and staff were encouraged to donate shoes and go shoeless for the day.
If you would like to help Durham’s PTO and Recycling Club earn 12 cents for each pound collected, you can drop off your items in the World Wear bin behind the school.
The Student Ambassadors at Durham Intermediate School have been busy since returning to school following the winter break.
DIS Ambassadors and Humanities students will spread the love this February with Meals on Wheels. The students made Valentine cards for local seniors, which will be delivered by Meals on Wheels volunteers on Friday, Feb. 13.
“Valentine’s Day is all about showing others how much they are loved,” said DIS teacher Fran Loewen.
Lowen added that for many older adults and disabled persons living alone, they make experience social isolation.
“Valuing others and showing compassion are just two of the core values Durham students learn,” said Lowen. “What better way to apply that lesson than to spread the love to members of our community?”
Last month, the DIS Ambassadors Club raised over $200 for Spokes 4 Hope with their “SNOW-one like You” campaign. Spokes 4 Hope is a non-profit organization that supplies bicycles to abused children who are going through difficult times.
Each morning in January, students were encouraged to purchase a snowflake for their friends, writing a unique quality about that friend on each snowflake. The fifth and sixth grade class held a friendly competition to see which homeroom class bought the most snowflakes. Winners were Mrs. Scogin’s 5th grade class, and Mrs. Snow’s 6th grade class. Both classes will receive a popcorn party for their efforts!
Durham Intermediate Humanities classes hosted their biannual Shoes for Orphan Souls shoe drive this past October and November.
Students and staff collected over 300 pairs of shoes, along with 1,059 pairs of socks and 57 pairs of shoelaces. All collected items will be sent to children in need in the United States and 23 countries around the world.
Looking beyond our own needs and showing compassion toward others are top goals at Durham Intermediate School. All classes participated in a competition to earn points for the most shoes, socks and laces brought in each week.
At the end of the drive, the 5 and 6 grade class earning the most points won the Most CompasSHOEnate Class award and a popcorn party. Congratulations to Ms. Hinzman’s 5 grade and Mrs. Snow’s 6 grade classes!
Carroll Middle School U.S. History teacher Amanda Dorsey was recently selected to attend a one-day “Understanding the Federal Government” workshop at the George W. Bush Presidential Library in Dallas.
Dorsey leads students in history discussion at CMS
Sponsored by Humanities Texas, the workshop offered teachers the opportunity to work closely with leading scholars, studying the U.S. Constitution as well as the branches of the federal government. During the morning, participants attended dynamic lectures and presentations. In the afternoon, they joined faculty in small workshops to examine primary sources and develop effective strategies for classroom instruction.
Faculty members included Richard A. Baker of the United States Senate Historical Office and Raymond W. Smock of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies. Baker is the first historian of the United States Senate. Smock is former historian of the United States House of Representatives and is now director of the Byrd Center.
Group photo from workshop, provided by Humanities Texas
Charles Flanagan, director of educational programs of the Center for Legislative Archives at the National Archives, also served on the workshop faculty.
Other faculty members included retired U.S. federal judge Royal Furgeson of the University of North Texas at Dallas and Jeffrey Engel of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University. Furgeson is founding Dean of the University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law. Engel is director of the Center for Presidential History
“Humanities Texas is delighted to include an exceptional teacher from Southlake in this educational endeavor,” said Humanities Texas Executive Director Michael L. Gillette. “Bringing teachers together to learn from leading scholars and from each other is an effective way to ensure that Texas students continue to receive the best possible educational opportunities.”
The workshop was made possible with support from the State of Texas, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the George W. Bush Presidential Library. scholars and from each other is an effective way to ensure that Texas students continue to receive the best possible educational opportunities.”
Click here for more information about the workshop.
Durham Intermediate School fifth and sixth grade G/T Humanities students joined with Meals on Wheels to deliver more than just a nutritious meal this Valentine’s Day.
Students in the G/T ELA and G/T Social Studies classes created fun, personal Valentine cards along with a special bookmark for 180 Meals on Wheels clients. The Humanities program encourages students to reach out to the community and engage with and serve others. The Valentine cards were delivered on Feb. 14 to a Dallas County area branch.
Pictures below show students at work on their Valentines.