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On Monday, Nov. 10, Cross Roads High School students competed in the Regional UIL Congressional Debate tournament. Cross Roads ISD served as the host site for all classifications 1A-6A for the Region 7 Congressional Debate tournament. Cross Roads hosted 29 schools consisting of 150 students and 45 adult coaches and adjudicators. Each classification advances three students to UIL State competition. Continue reading “Three CRHS Students Advance to State in Debate”
By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist
Bel Air Elementary’s annual Veterans Day Parade might not have floats or folks throwing candy, but it has plenty of joyful spirit. It also has the high school band, banners, happy flag-waving kids, cheerleaders, Stingerettes, and, most importantly, veterans.
“The message of the parade is the importance of service and patriotism. It makes the kids think about how important our veterans are,” said Bel Air Elementary Principal Rosalie Dennis. “People look forward to it.”
The parade is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11. Students, veterans and other parade participants will gather at that time in front of Bel Air and then head east on Willowbrook Drive to Guadalupe Drive, then on to La Jolla and back via Bel Air Drive. First, second and third-graders actually walk the route, while the younger students cheer them on as the parade leaves the school. Continue reading “Bel Air Invites Vets, Community to Veterans Day Parade”
By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist
What a day. You all know by now that Athens ISD had to evacuate each of our five campuses (Wednesday) morning due to a bomb threat. As if lost instruction time, frightened parents and children, and the expense and time required to deal with the situation weren’t bad enough, the individual who called in the threat did so on a cold and rainy day to boot.
It started at 9:33 Wednesday morning when the Athens Police Department called the District Support Center to tell us someone had called the station with the claim that a bomb was at each campus. If history is any indication, these types of threats are hollow. But, of course, they must be and are taken seriously. Within a matter of minutes, the campus-wide evacuation effort was launched and bus drivers responded to immediate need for transportation.
Within an hour and a half of the initial phone call, all five of our campuses were safely relocated to TVCC, the Cain Center, First Baptist Church, First Christian Church and Eastern Hill Church of Christ. Then began the scramble for food. Our meals for the day sat unaccessible inside empty buildings. Our food services personnel scrambled to make and deliver sandwiches to students and teachers at the five different locations. It was modest fare, to be sure, but mouths were fed. Continue reading “Anatomy of An Unplanned School Day”
By Michael V. Hannigan
Athens experienced its second bomb threat in as many weeks Wednesday morning.
Athens ISD evacuated students from all its campuses after receiving a threat that a bomb was at every campus, according to AISD officials.
AISD released the following statement as students were being moved:
The Athens Police Department received a call this morning from a person saying a bomb is at every campus.
While we have no reason to believe this is more than a terrible prank, we are taking it very seriously.
All students are being moved to safe locations. We ask that parents refrain from going to school campuses. This will cause traffic jams and unnecessary chaos.
Again, please do not go to campus. Will will follow-up with more information as soon as possible. All children are safe and in good hands.
We have sent a district-wide call out sharing this information.
AISD Communications Specialist Toni Garrard Clay said at last county, the school district had nearly 3,300 students spread across all its campuses. All students were evacuated by 11 a.m.
Many of the students were able to evacuate on foot, but the Middle School and the High School required busing. Students at South Athens and Athens Intermediate were able to evacuate on foot, but all other campuses required busing.
Students were evacuated to the following locations, where parents were able to pick them up:
Clay said the district would be bringing in a bomb detection squad to search the campuses.
On Oct. 20, the Henderson County Courthouse was evacuated when a bomb threat was called in to the 173rd District Court around 8:30 a.m. The call was received by the bailiff. The caller said there was a bomb in the courthouse set to go off at 9 a.m.
The Sheriff’s Office immediately evacuated the building. Later, a bomb detection squad was brought in from Dallas and a bomb dog searched the courthouse, but nothing was found.
ABOVE: Once a month, a group of children made up of one student from each second and third grade class at Bel Air Elementary walks to Lakeland House Assisted Living Center just down the road. Once there, they read to several of the residents. “It is precious,” said Bel Air Counselor Cheri Mahan. “They love to see the children, and our kids learn so much from being with them.” Pictured are (back row, from left) BreAnna Killingsworth, Daniel Banuelos, Jasmine Cerrillo, Kaitlyn Capp, Jorge Sotto, Julissa Marron, Grace Emerine, Austyn Basher and (seated, from left) Brylie Davila, Nancy Godinez, Marc Padilla and Kaylee Monday.
BELOW: Bel Air Elementary third-grader Daniel Banuelos reads to Lakeland Assisted Living Center resident Vivian Brownell.
Photos by Toni Garrard Clay/AISD
