United Independent School District

The Alexander H.S. indoor percussion ensemble won 1st place at the Texas Educational Colorguard Association (T.E.C.A.), state contest that was held in Brownsville, Texas on Saturday, March 27, 2010. The ensemble featured both battery percussionists and keyboard/auxiliary percussionists performing a marching show on a gym floor. The performance is similar to a marching band show, minus the brass, woodwind and colorguard members. The 2010 show was entitled “Piece of Mind.” It musically and visually depicted the differences between the left brain (analytical and logical) and the right brain (creative and artistic). The students performed music and marched a drill arranged and designed by Alexander H.S. Assistant Band Director and Percussion Specialist Christopher Lunsford with assistance from Emmanuel Flores and Jason Dye.

Winning 1st place in the T.E.C.A. circuit is a first for Alexander H.S. and the City of Laredo.
Last year, Alexander H.S. joined with United H.S. and won 1st place in the “scholastic A” division. This year, the Alexander percussion students took 1st place and a gold medal in the top “open” division in the circuit. In addition, the Alexander H.S. Winterguards also came home with medals. The “B” guard took 2nd place in the “Regional A – Red” division and the “A” guard took 2nd place in the “Open” division. Congratulations to all of these outstanding performers!

Alexander H.S. Percussion Ensemble tops in state competition

• April 2010
• March 2010
• February 2010
• January 2010
• December 2009
• November 2009
• October 2009
• September 2009

“My Librarian Rocks” award presented to two UISD Librarians.

United States Congressman Henry Cuellar and United Independent School District (UISD), announced the recipients of the 2010 “My Librarian Rocks” award. Congressional and literacy honors went to Cristina Viduarri of Col. Santos Benavides Elementary School and Laura Gonzalez of George Washington Middle School. The award, sponsored by the South Texas Literacy Coalition, is presented at the Festival of International Books and Arts (FESTIBA) which is held at the University of Texas-Pan Am (UTPA) in Edinburg. “On behalf of our Board of Trustees, I would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to these outstanding and deserving individuals,” said UISD Superintendent Roberto J. Santos. “I thank them for being excellent role models for their students and their colleagues,” he continued.

The main highlight of the festival includes a Congressional Roundtable of Hispanic Literacy, which includes United States Congressman Henry Cuellar and his Congressional colleagues of South Texas. This panelist’s discussion is a way to improve success in secondary and post-secondary education, and provide educational opportunities for at-risk youth in South Texas.

There are only two awards that are given to outstanding librarians that serve South Texas through the Region One Education Service Center. United States Congressman Henry Cuellar and UISD are proud to have the only two awards to be given to outstanding librarians who commit themselves everyday in improving the overall quality of education for students.

Cuellar commented “Our librarians deserve recognition for promoting and demonstrating dedication towards student excellence. There are no walls and boundaries that a person can not break through without using his or her mind. It is imperative that we honor these people on a daily basis because without them, our students would live in a society without imagination and creativity.”

Laura Gonzalez George Washington Middle School

Cristina Viduarri Col. Santos Benavides Elementary School

While the District has been working with students to prepare them for the TAKS test, parents are also encouraged to consider using following test taking tips with their child provided by the www.testtakingtips.com website to help them, as well:

• Encourage your child to stay relaxed when taking the tests.
• Make sure that your child gets enough sleep and rest the night before the test.
• Encourage your child to do well but don’t pressure or stress him/her.
• Ensure that your child eats a healthy breakfast and avoids heavy foods that may make him/her groggy and avoid high sugar foods that may make him/her hyper.
• On test days, make sure that your child gets up early enough so that he/she will be on time to school.
• Praise/reward your child for their hard work in preparing for these tests.

Centeno Elementary students are ready for the TAKS!