We have an SBDM meeting scheduled for September 20^th at 5:00 pm. If we have any interested parents who would like to participate, you are more than welcome to join us.  We are in need of a full SBDM Board.

What exactly is SBDM?

In Texas, the focus of all district and campus planning and decision making is to improve the performance of all students. The ultimate purpose of all planning and decision making in schools is to attain the state's educational goals of equity and excellence in achievement for all students.

Senate Bill 1, passed by the Texas Legislature in May 1995, contained provisions that specified the district and campus planning and decision-making processes expected of all school districts. The 76th Legislature amended several areas of state statute pertaining to these requirements. Texas Education Code (TEC), § 11.254 requires the Commissioner of Education to oversee the provision of training and technical support to all districts and campuses in respect to planning and site-based decision making.

Legal Requirements

Texas Education Code (TEC)

• 11.251 Planning and Decision Making Process
• 11.252 District-Level planning and Decision Making
• 11.253 Campus Planning and Site- Based Decision Making

Dallas ISD Board Policies

• BQA (LEGAL) – Planning and Decision Making Process District-Level
• BQA (LOCAL) – Planning and Decision-Making Process Campus-Level
• BQB (LEGAL) – Planning and Decision-Making Process Campus-Level
• BQB (LOCAL) – Planning and Decision-Making Process Campus-Level

Site-Based Decision Making is:

A process for decentralizing decisions to improve the educational outcomes at every school campus through a collaborative effort by which principals, teachers, campus staff, district staff, parents, and community representatives assess educational outcomes of all students, determine goals and strategies, and ensure that strategies are implemented and adjusted to improve student achievement.

Composition

• School Personnel/Employees
• Parents
• Students (where appropriate)
• Community Members
• Business Representatives

Roles and Responsibilities

In accordance with the administrative procedures established under Section 11.251 (b), the campus-level committee shall be involved in decisions in the areas of:

• Planning
• Budgeting
• Curriculum
• Staffing Patterns
• Staff Development
• School Organization

If you are interested in becoming a member of a Site-Based Decision Making Committee please contact Tiffany Huitt at thuitt@dallasisd.org or 972 925-5960. 

SEM is hosting a four square tournament -September 20- September 22 from 4:30 pm-5:00 pm, outside the commons. All Townview schools and grade levels are welcome to participate.

Fall Fling is the equivalent of  Townview’s Homecoming celebration,

• 8:30am- Townview Marching Band Performance in front of the school  (Parents prepare for extra onlooker traffic).
  
• There are campus events throughout the day and an evening of band performances in the student parking lot after school from 5:00 pm-9:00 pm.
• The  Fall Fling entrance fee  is $7 presale and $10.00 at the gate.   
  
• The TMC Band Booster will sell refreshments during the evening event to raise money for Band performances throughout the year.
  
• Each school  recognizes a Homecoming Court and many of the Townview students in the surrounding area come back to attend the evening’s festivities.
  
• Parents are welcome to attend. Bring lawn chairs, comfortable shoes, and plenty of money for drinks and turkey legs.  
  

Looking for an easy way to be involved? Please contact Mr. Hyman at shyman@dallasisd.org. He needs some parents to be available for a few meetings this year. 

Lap Tops

The lap top distributions are taking place with Mr. Allen, Townview’s computer technician. The lap tops should not be picked up before or after school. The Lap tops should be picked up during the student’s:

• 9^th / 10^th – computer science classes
• 11^th -Principles of Engineering class
• 12^th -English class

The check-out process takes less than five minutes. Mr. Allen is distributing lap tops in room 314. He is available the first 30-45 minutes of each period on scheduled pick up days. He will coordinate with teachers to ensure students that have paid, can pick up their lap tops as soon as possible.

Tutoring

Please check your student’s grade on Gradespeed. SEM teachers offer tutoring before school and after school. View the teachers' tutoring schedules at this link.  Activity buses run Monday-Thursday at 5:30 pm.

Yearbook Pictures

Grades 9-11, September 22 and September 23 during English classes. See this link for ordering information. 

Also, sign up for MyFamily Rewards through Lifetouch and receive one high-resolution digital print. 

• Sign-up Bonus: One free hi-res digital image
  
• Every purchase counts toward your next reward
  
• View your order history
  
• Discover more about MyFamily Rewards program
  

Townview College Fair

September 22, 2016 from 6 pm -8 pm in the Commons. All SEM Seniors are encouraged to attend. Bring copies of your transcripts and resumes. Click here for flyer with more information.

College Visit Calendar for September

Please click here to view a calendar with information about college visits to SEM.

ACT Testing

All SEM seniors will take the ACT September 27^th during school day testing. Seniors have had an opportunity to attend Summer prep sessions and had an ACT practice test on 8/27. Students that did not take advantage of the practice session took a practice exam home. All students received profiles and are working to complete prescriptive work independently. Please be sure to check with your child to find out how their independent practice is going.

SEM Club Recruitments

Clubs/ and organization recruiting for all SEM students will be Wednesday September 28^th in front of the SEM lockers on the 3^rd floor from 4:15-5:15 pm. There will also be a meeting for SEM freshmen interested in student council on the same day in room 333 at 4:30.

SEM NAF Academy of Engineering (AOE) Recruitment Event

We are gearing up to recruit for NAF partnerships. On September 27^th, SEM will host a recruitment event in Room 211 (new location!) at 8:15 am. If you have  business contacts that might like to partner with the school in one of the following ways:

• Worksite Visits (student field trips to Engineering and Computer-based companies)
• Guest Speakers
• Student Group Presentations (Panel of Professional judges)
• Practice Interviews for students (HR representatives that can assist with interviewing skills).
• Mentors (face to face or virtual mentors)
• Student participation in Real World Projects
• Paid student Internships
• Monetary donations for field trips, programs or internships

Please send the prospective partner an invite to our event. They can RSVP by calling Ms. Martinez by September 23 at 972 925-5960.

DISD has set up an easy new system to register volunteers. It is called "VOLY" and can be accessed here: http://www.dallasisd.org/domain/10416

The process basically includes an online form, and you go thru a short presentation of the rules of engagement with students, how to dress, which restroom to use, etc. and then sign your application electronically. You should receive your email confirmation right away. Entire process takes ~20 minutes.

Thank you for supporting SEM!

Click this link for the Big D Band performance calendar

Students are encouraged to attend and participate! 

Yearbook

Mondays in 134B (with Ms Tangman)

Newspaper

Wednesdays in 134B (with Ms Tangman)

Please email Newsletter with other meetings for this ongoing calendar

Submissions or corrections to the newsletter? Please email Jennifer Fitzgerald