Welcome Back!

Northwest Dallas neighbors, I want to thank you for your continued support of Dallas ISD schools. The support I have seen from community groups and churches is unmatched and I am truly grateful.  Returning students to in-person learning is a community effort.  It requires clear communication of important information and an understanding that situations can change rapidly.  I want to thank you for helping share information and for being there for each other throughout this first month of the semester. This type of community collaboration will be needed throughout the school year to make this academic year a success.

As a reminder, there are three different Dallas ISD 2021-2022 school year calendars. The majority of campuses are on a base calendar but nine District 8 schools, including Foster Elementary in Midway Hollow, have adopted an alternative school year calendar to help combat missed learning. Learn more and verify your school’s calendar at dallasisd.org/schoolcalendars.

Redistricting

Every 10 years, Dallas ISD participates in redistricting to better ensure appropriate representation based on the shifts in population trends. Redistricting is the process by which the boundaries of the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees Single Member Districts (SMDs) are periodically redrawn in response to changes in population as measured by the decennial federal census. This fall we will have the opportunity to update the boundaries of District 8 and of all trustee districts.   

What would you like to see? What would be best for our neighborhoods and community?

In the coming weeks and months, Dallas ISD will have a series of redistricting meetings, virtual town halls, and surveys to capture community feedback on what our trustee districts should look like for the next 10 years. Let us know your thoughts and stay tuned for ways to get involved at: dallasisd.org/redistricting.

Project R.E.A.D.

An exciting transformation could be coming to a Dallas ISD library near you! District libraries will soon be reimagined through Project R.E.A.D., Dallas ISD’s library redesign initiative and the outcome of a yearlong partnership between Apple and Dallas ISD.

District 8 Project R.E.A.D. schools include Gabe P. Allen Elementary, Maple Lawn Elementary,  Eladio R. Martinez Elementary, Joe May Elementary, Montessori Academy at Onesimo Hernandez, Julian T. Saldivar Elementary, Ignite Middle School, Spence Middle School, and Innovation, Design, Entrepreneurship Academy. You can learn more at: dallasisd.org/projectread.

Attendance Awareness Month

In order to raise awareness of the link between school attendance and academic achievement, Dallas ISD Parent Services is celebrating September Attendance Awareness Month with a variety of ways for students and schools to participate – from weekly spirit days, to individual student and school competitions, to a social media challenge.

Efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism help give all students an equitable opportunity to learn, grow and thrive academically, emotionally and socially. Visit dallasisd.org/attendance for more information.

Spanish Website for Dallas ISD Parents

As part of the Dallas ISD Hispanic Heritage Month campaign and the equity and racial effort, the Dallas ISD Parent Advocacy Department has launched a Spanish web page,  dallasisd.org/PADRES, to offer culturally relevant information for parents. The site includes the Spanish weekly information sessions broadcast live on Facebook, Spanish podcast episodes, parent resources and Dallas ISD department links, all on one page.

For the latest districtwide information and events, parents may also visit the district’s main Spanish web page: www.dallasisd.org/espanol.