Lynn Balderas Recieves the President’s Volunteer Service Award

EPHS would like to recognize a much deserved senior at our campus, Lynn Balderas. As a Prudential Spirit of Community honoree in our community, Lynn was among a select group of very talented and dedicated young volunteers to be considered for state-level recognition in "The 2016 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Program."  It is important that Americans of all ages think about how we can all make a positive difference in our communities. Lynn has spent a lot of his time battling environmental fairness in Maverick County and the Rio Grande River as well as cleaning up Elm Creek Park on Highway 277 North. Lynn Balderas is being recognized with the President’s Volunteer Service Award on behalf of President Barack Obama!! 

Congratulations for volunteering significant amounts of precious time to serve our community and country. “Lynn has demonstrated that young people across America are making remarkable contributions to the health and vitality of their communities,” said John Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. “These honorees practice a lesson we hope all young people, as well as adults, will emulate,” said National Association of Secondary School Principals Executive Director JoAnn Bartoletti.

EPHS Principal, Mr. John Cox, along with his Staff and student body would also like to thank and encourage Lynn to continue positively impacting our world!

Eric Herrera is Reserve Champion at the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo

EPHS Senior, Eric Herrera, recently competed at the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo Agricultural Science Fair in Animal Systems. He presented an experiment on how to transplant animal tissue into humans for human organ growth. The twenty minute presentation was done before a professor-based panel from Texas A& M and Texas Tech on Saturday, Feb 21, 2016. Eric was Reserve Champion. 

The 1^st Place recipient was ineligible to claim her prize enabling Eric to claim the $10,000 scholarship prize & banner, thereby advancing to compete at the Houston Stock Show and Rodeo March 2016.

Eric was a 1^st Time FFA & San Antonio Stock Show Competitor.  EPHS Career Tech Teacher, Mr. Charlie Cardenas introduced him to the competition and assisted Eric with guidance and the tools necessary to delivery his presentation. When asked what he would say about this experience, he responded “I could not have done this without my Agricultural Science Teachers.” Eric is the son of Noelia & Javier Herrera and the oldest of two children.

EPHS Principal, Mr. John Cox, along with his Staff and student body would like to wish Eric much luck!  The EPISD supports this hard working student, and wishes him continued success.

Informational Sessions Scheduled with DSHS

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Region 8 has recently identified a case of tuberculosis, or TB, in a student who happens to attend CC Winn High School.  DSHS staff will hold informational meetings for concerned parents, in English and Spanish, on March 3, 2016, at 6:00 pm, at CC Winn High School.

To prevent any other people from getting TB, DSHS Region 8 will perform TB testing for students, faculty, and staff identified as potentially exposed to TB.  Only people with prolonged, close contact with a person who has TB need to be tested.  DSHS will identify who needs a test and notify those people by letter during the week of March 7-11, 2016.  Parents of students who need a test will also receive a testing permission slip that must be signed and returned.  The testing will occur during the week of 21-25 March 2016.  The tests will be free for people who may have been exposed.

No one who might have been exposed to TB is in immediate danger.  TB is not easily spread and, when it does, develops very slowly.  The TB test identifies those who have TB infection so they can be treated.  The test is very accurate, but works best 8-10 weeks after exposure.  Anyone who tests positive will need medical treatment to prevent them from getting sick.  This treatment will be provided free by DSHS.

TB is spread by germs that float in the air.  The germs get into the air when a person with TB coughs, shouts, or sneezes.  Nearby people can inhale TB germs into their lungs.  

TB germs can live in your body without making you sick.  This is called TB infection.  Your immune system traps the TB germs and keeps them from causing disease.  Sometimes the TB germs break out of the trap and spread in the body.  The germs can attack the lungs or other parts of the body.  This is called TB disease.  Someone with TB disease may have a cough that won’t go away, feel weak, lose weight, have a fever, sweat a lot at night, or even cough up blood.  

With proper medical treatment, a person with TB infection will not get TB disease, and a person with TB disease will get better.

Update at Maude Mae Kirchner Elementary School

Students will report to class at Kirchner Elementary at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 23, 2016. Classes have been disrupted due to a minor power shortage.  
All other EPISD campuses will resume as regularly scheduled.

For more information on EPISD Inclement Weather Producers, faculty, staff and students can review the hazardous weather policy at this link: http://episdivision.blogspot.com/2015/01/if-inclement-weather-occurs-and.html

Information will be updated if needed on the EPISD Website: http://www.eaglepassisd.net/

Continue to stay connected with all the latest information and necessary updates at both our EPISD Facebook and Twitter pages.

Career Day at Sam Houston

On February 18, 2016, Sam Houston Elementary hosted a career day where students learned about the different career paths available to them.
The goal for this event was to inform and motivate students to stay in school, strive for good grades and become role models.  Students enthusiastically visited the different stations and learned about the tools and gears needed to accomplish the different jobs as well as the educational requirements for each career.  The EPISD would like to thank all community leaders who volunteered their time and expertise with the students of Sam Houston.

EPHS Rodeo Team

Congratulations to the EPHS High School Rodeo Team. All three are State- qualifiers and EPHS SENIORS: Colin Byrne, bull riding (3 time State- qualifier) Colin is the son of John & Rose Byrne. Isaac Cardona, Team Roping (3 Time State- qualifier ). Isaac is the son of Saul & Esperanza Cardona. Alexis DE LA Garza, Pole Bending (1st time state qualifier) Alexis is the daughter of Eliseo & Debbie De La Garza. State championship rodeo will be held in Abilene on June 6 thru June 10.

All three also received scholarships from the Texas High School Rodeo Association. Alexis received $1000.00; Colin received $500.00 and Isaac received $250.00.

EPISD Teacher of the Month, Norma Heredia

The Eagle Pass Independent School District has partnered with local businesses throughout our city to highlight the Teacher of the Month program, which honors educators who have made a difference in our community.  The program recognizes outstanding kindergarten, elementary, junior high, and high school teachers in Eagle Pass, Texas.

Mrs. Norma P. Heredia, of Liberty Elementary School, has been selected as the “Teacher of the Month” for February 2016.  Mrs. Heredia has been described as a highly compassionate, reliable, caring, and dedicated teacher.  She demonstrates every characteristic of an accomplished veteran educator.  Day after day, Mrs. Heredia walks onto campus, with what has been described as an “infectious positive attitude.”  As a Reading Interventionist, Mrs. Heredia works with small groups and has countless success stories with her students.  Her one-on-one approach allows the struggling reader or ELA student to confidently approach and master the subject.  Mrs. Heredia teaches with purpose and her techniques are respected by coworkers and administration on campus.  Her highly effective, caring, and enthusiastic attitude personifies what it is to be an excellent educator.  She teaches with real passion from the heart, with integrity, and above all a real concern for the success of her students.  It is because of all these reasons that Mrs. Heredia, of Liberty Elementary is our “Teacher of the Month” for February 2016. 

A segment will appear on iVision throughout the month of February detailing many more accomplishments of Mrs. Heredia.  This month she will also appear on community media, news publications and the EPISD website throughout February 2016.  

A teacher will be selected each month through June 2016 for a total of nine (9) honorees.  The “Teacher of the Month” will be chosen based on educational achievements in the classroom, community contributions and innovative programs and techniques used by the teacher. The “Teacher of the Month” will receive a certificate of recognition and will be featured on iVision, local media news, news publications and radio broadcasting.  Additionally, each “Teacher of the Month” will receive donations from local businesses.

Each T.O.M is receiving a “V.I.T (Very Important Teacher) Parking Pass”, a jean voucher for a month, 20 free meals at the Campus Café, and Class Cash to purchase class room supplies. Additionally, each “Teacher of the Month” will receive donations from local businesses, Ancira Ford–Eagle Pass, Ashley Furniture, and Bath and Body Works.