Pirate Stadium Track Closed for Upgrade Work

11/18/2008

Work began on Tuesday, November 18 on an upgrade to the Pirate Stadium track and tennis courts. Core drilling has begun at the MHS track. Fugro Consultants Inc., an engineering firm, will analyze the ten-inch cores to determine the base and resurfacing requirements to upgrade the track to meet UIL standards for surfaces. An eighth lane will be added to the track. The track will be closed to students and to the public when construction begins. The track and tennis courts will be completed in early 2009.

McCraw Parents and Students Attend Nature Day at Camp Karankawa

11/17/2008

Parents and students from McCraw Junior High School went to camp on Friday, November 14. They attended Camp Karankawa at Lake Corpus Christi along with parents and students from Alice, Corpus Christi, Falfurrias, Kingsville, and Driscoll. Fathers Active in Community and Education (FACE), and the Gear Up/Star program organized the “nature safari” at Camp Karankawa.

The activities began with introductions in the camp amphitheater, and moved on to archery, canoeing and kayaking, and fishing, and outdoor skills demonstrations. Dads, moms, and uncles as well as students took the opportunity to try new sports; shooting with a bow and arrow was new to everyone. The most popular sport was canoeing and kayaking. Camp Karankawa had a large number of canoes and kayaks ready so that all parents and their children could have time on the water. One parent said that he learned, “not to wear boots while paddling a canoe”; his canoe tipped him, and his party of two students into the lake for an unexpected dunking. A number of parents brought their fishing rods. No fish were caught by the fisherman, but many commented that it was a perfect day to enjoy the camp, the lake, and the sunshine.

Eighth grade students Nathan Hinojosa and his uncle, Robert Deleon, paddle a canoe with Adrian Gonzalez, another eighth grade student, along for the ride.


The most popular sports were canoeing and kayaking. The parents and students picked up canoeing and kayaking skills quickly; a number of students took the canoes out twice.

Weber-Hardin Students Become a Focus Group for MHSIS Students

11/11/2008

Weber-Hardin Elementary third grade students played the role of a focus group for shoe advertisements for the Mathis High School for International Studies (MHSIS) 9^th and 10^th grade students. The students in Donna Trevino’s English class researched the history of shoes, developed a shoe prototype, and created an advertisement to market the shoe.

On Tuesday, November 4, the Weber Hardin third graders gathered in their gym. The MHSIS students used videos and live role playing to pitch their shoes to the student focus group. The efficacy of shoes with wings, and names such as “The Revolution”, “EAR”, “B-Flat”, and “The Cat” were demonstrated with ads that emphasized the ease of jumping, the enhancement of one’s ability to hit baskets, to perform acrobatics, to dance, and to win racing contests. The third grade students raised their hands to be chosen to receive the sample shoes. The lucky students who received shoes in some cases could actually wear them, and when the shoe was too big to wear, the student cradled it in his arms to carry it back to his classroom as a prize.

A MHSIS student group asked a third-grade student to review the qualities of the shoe they designed: left to right Weber-Hardin third grade student Sarah Martinez (with back to camera), and MHSIS 9^th grade students, Jose De Santiago, Miranda Farias, and Corine Gonzalez.

Weber-Hardin Elementary Students Treat MHS Football Players to Lunch and a Pep Rally

11/10/2008

The Weber-Hardin Elementary School students invited the MHS football team over for lunch on Friday, November 7. After the players ate lunch with groups of students, they joined the MHS and McCraw Junior High Cheerleading team for a very loud pep rally in the Weber-Hardin Gym.

The combined MHS and McCraw Junior High cheerleading team lead Weber-Hardin students in a “which class can yell the loudest” contest.

MISD Schools Honor Veterans

11/10/2008

Weber-Hardin third-grade students shake hands with veterans, and thank them for their service: left to right: Ray Bera, U.S. Navy; Roy Guerrero, U.S. Navy; Alfredo Cabrera, U.S. Army; Rueben Nerios, U.S. Army/Navy; Oscar Contreros, U.S. Navy; and Ron Rittenhouse, U.S. Navy.

Mathis High School held a Veterans Day ceremony on Monday, November 10. Weber-Hardin Elementary and the Intermediate School on Tuesday, November 11. “Remembering” and “honoring” were the themes of all the ceremonies.

All Mathis High School students attended the ceremony held in the Old Gym on Monday. In addition to the thirty veterans who participated in the ceremonies, MHS students in the Skills USA organization, students from Mrs. Letica Leal’s math class, and students from Mrs. Veronica Gutierrez’s math class participated in the color guard ceremony. The MHS students made a connection with the veterans who were uncles, cousins, friends of parents, and with the veterans who had recently returned from duty in Iraq.

Weber-Hardin Elementary students recited the pledge of allegiance, sang the national anthem, and filed out of the Gym to the sounds of “America the Beautiful”. When the students saw the veterans who had participated in the color guard standing at attention, they formed lines to shake hands with each of the veterans.

The Intermediate School students met in the Event Center Gym where the colors were presented by the Mathis veterans, and Mr. Frank Guerra, a representative from Rep. Juan Garcia’s office, spoke on the significance of the day. The ceremony concluded with an echo rendition of Taps played by Felicita Lara and Melody Mendez, members of the MHS Mighty Pirate Band.

MHSIS Students to Participate in Model United Nations Conference

11/10/2008

In December, Mathis High School for International Studies will send 98 sophomore and junior students to participate in the Model United Nations San Antonio (MUNSA). MHSIS students will represent countries and serve as ambassadors in a United Nations simulation along with approximately 900 other students from around Texas and Mexico. The sponsor of the simulation is the sister school to MHSIS, The International School of Americas in San Antonio, and the event is the largest student-run simulation west of the Mississippi.

MHSIS students are preparing to represent Australia, Argentina, Botswana, Brazil, Finland, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, Malawi, Morocco, the Netherlands and the Philippines at the simulation of the United Nations that provides a forum for students to use their academic, leadership, and interpersonal skills to discuss and suggest solutions for the world’s pressing problems.

Preparations include brushing up on parliamentary procedure, reading country background and reports, writing resolutions, writing position papers, honing negotiation skills, and learning to “dress as an ambassador”. The students need help for the latter point—dressing like an ambassador. MHSIS is asking for new to “slightly-used” business clothing suitable for wearing at the Model United Nations three-day session. Please contact Liz Ozuna, Associate Principal, at 361-443-5375 or Cyndi Westbrook, MUN Sponsor, at 361-947-3346 with questions or donations.