Education-Henderson County Now

AISD Food Services Promotion

Athens ISD’s food services department held a breakfast promotion during National School Lunch and Breakfast Week last week. Athens High School and Middle School students who ate breakfast were given scratch-off cards for chances to win a la carte items, free snacks, free breakfasts and movie gift cards.

TOP: Pictured with their $25 Fandango gift cards are (from left) high school students Katie Kelley, Joel Holmes and Alex Jophlin. Not pictured is Jasmine Johnson.

BOTTOM: The winning students at the middle school are (from left) Charlie Gutierrez, Eduardo Reyes, Rodrigo Garcia and Richard Thong.

The promotion was sponsored by food service management company Chartwells K-12.

(Photo from AISD Facebook page)

School Board President Risko Finds Service ‘Gratifying’

Note: This is the first story in a series from Athens ISD profiling the seven members of the Board of Trustees.

By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist

It’s quite possible Rob Risko has never met a stranger. Gregarious even as a youngster, Risko fittingly makes his living as a professor of history. And as president of the Athens ISD Board of Trustees, he handles procedural matters with polished aplomb.

Risko graduated from Athens High School in 1989 with a full football scholarship from Southern Methodist University to play on their offensive line. After graduating from SMU, he earned his master’s degree in history and political science from UT Tyler. His first job in education was at Brownsboro ISD, where he taught all the social sciences during his tenure — history, government, geography, economics — to students ranging from seventh graders to seniors. Then, in 2001, Risko was hired as a history professor by Trinity Valley Community College, where he happily remains. Continue reading “School Board President Risko Finds Service ‘Gratifying’”

Master Gardeners Awarded for SAE Children’s Garden

South Athens second graders Kimora Hudson and Jason Davis pick cherry tomatoes for snacks. (Toni Garrard Clay/AISD)

Bill and Marie Hancock show off the first-place award given to the Henderson County Master Gardener Association by the statewide chapter. The award was in recognition of the local chapter’s work with the South Athens Children’s Garden. (Toni Garrard Clay/AISD)

By Toni Garrard Clay/Athens ISD Communications Specialist

The partnership between South Athens Elementary and the Henderson County Master Gardener Association is a winning one. In fact, the master gardeners have a plaque to prove it.

For the past five years, the school and the association’s members have teamed up to create a children’s garden at the elementary campus. The garden is used as a learning tool, a way to introduce children to a variety of vegetables, and a way to encourage healthier eating choices. The HC Master Gardeners submitted the South Athens Children’s Garden project in a statewide contest held by the Texas Master Gardener Association. The results just came in, and the county chapter was awarded first place among mid-sized groups for their “exemplary work” in 2013 with the children’s garden.

Master Gardeners Bill and Marie Hancock were at South Athens on Thursday teaching students a lesson on how compost is created and how it benefits the soil. Children also had an opportunity to pick the tomatoes and peppers (no hot varieties) that continue to grow from their spring planting. Continue reading “Master Gardeners Awarded for SAE Children’s Garden”

Junior Stingerette Camp Scheduled

Junior Stingerette Camp will be held Monday through Friday, Oct. 20-24 from 4:30-6 at the AHS Annex Gym. Girls ages 3 to 13 are invited. The cost is $40 a dancer. Come learn an exciting jazz routine with the AHS Stingerettes and then perform with them during the halftime performance at Bruce Field on Oct. 24. Pick up registration forms in the AHS main office or download from athensisd.net. Just click on “News and Announcements” from the home page. (Photo: Toni Garrard Clay/AISD)

Congratulations, Mabank Band!

Congratulations to the Mabank High School Marching Band, which received straight 1’s at UIL Wednesday and are advancing to Area. They will be competing next Saturday in Denton. Featured: Mabank High School Band Seniors Class of 2015. (Courtesy Photo)