United Independent School District

Two United South High School Students have been honored by the National Hispanic Recognition Program. The program sends a list of all recognized students to subscribing colleges and universities that are particularly interested in academically outstanding seniors of Hispanic/Latino Heritage. Qualification is based on critical reading, math and writing skill scores on the PSAT. Students must also a minimum grade point average of 3.0.

The Mighty LBJ “Wolf Band” are to be commended for their superior performance at the UIL Area G 4A Marching Band Contest held during the month of November. Out of the 25 4A high school bands, LBJ band was only one of 10 that advanced to finals competition in the evening, and the only Laredo Band in class 4A to advance to finals! In finals competition they competed with other bands from the Valley and all of South Texas and they placed 9th overall. Congratulations to all Wolf Band members, LBJ Band Director Eliseo Morales, and Assistant Directors Fidel Borrego and Marisela Hernandez.

LBJ’s Mighty Wolf Band makes U.I.S.D. proud!

Trautmann Elementary School was nominated for the 2010 Blue Ribbon Schools Award informed the Texas Education Agency.

Commissioner Robert Scott announced the nomination of 26 Texas public schools for this prestigious recognition. The award honors schools for academic excellence and making significant progress in closing the achievement gap.

For the past 27 years, this prestigious program has honored more than 5,800 of America’s most successful schools, including almost 500 Texas schools. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools. The schools are selected based on one of two criteria:

• Schools that dramatically improve student performance to high levels on state tests;
• Schools whose students achieve in the top 10 percent of their state on state tests.

The nominated schools were recommended by an intra–agency committee that examined student achievement statistics for the more than 8,000 public school and charter campuses in the state. The schools selected have demonstrated success in closing the achievement gap and each school has an economically disadvantaged population of 40 percent or greater. Schools nominated for the award serve as models of best practices for schools across the state.

The nominated schools will now complete a rigorous application process through the U.S. Department of Education. Announcements of the award winners will be made in September 2010.

Schools that receive the prestigious award are recognized at the Blue Ribbon School conference in Washington, D.C.

United South High School Freshman Juan Ruiz was recently chosen as a finalist in the Texas Alliance for Geographic Education (T.A.G.E.), poster contest. The contest gives students an opportunity to explore a geographic theme and present their findings in a creative way. This year’s theme was “Europe Beyond Borders: Exploring the Physical and Cultural Landscape” More than 15,000 students from across the state submitted entries for this year’s poster contest. This is the first year that United South High School participates in the contest.

U.S.H.S. T.A.G.E. finalist Juan Ruiz