Week of September 2

Our PK students are doing so well after
the first week of school!

Celebrate Excellence - End of 1st 3 Weeks
Our first 3 weeks of school will be over on Friday, September 6.  We have been working hard to build high expectations for behavior and learning, and our students have learned a new problem solving strategy called C4B4Me. 

This week, I want to let you know that our district focus for the previous week was relationships.  We know that no significant learning occurs without a significant relationship first, and our teachers and staff are working hard to build strong relationships with all kids.  Next week, our weekly emphasis will be student engagement in every classroom.



Bulldogs of the Week

Each week, we will highlight our Bulldogs of the Week.  The Bulldogs of the Week are one student, one staff member, and one volunteer who exemplify our motto, Be The LIGHT.  This week our Bulldogs of the Week are the following:

• Staff Member of the Week - Anneth Garcia, Primary PPCD Teacher (top right)
• Student of the Week - Dean King (bottom right)
• Volunteer of the Week - Brin Ritter (left)

Thank you for all that you do for Carthage ISD.

#BeTheLIGHT

Our motto for 2019-2020 is "Be the LIGHT".  In order to lead all students to discover their excellence, CISD staff are committed to showing all students the way by being the light for them with their attitude and example.

This week, I will highlight the first letter in our LIGHT acronym, L.  L stands for Love.  We will love our students, and we will inspire students to love learning by modeling our love for learning as educators.  Finally, we will show our love for Carthage ISD, its students and one another so that we can make Carthage ISD better each and every day.


Upcoming Events

Last Friday, our central office staff surprised all CISD
employees with a Sonic drink to end a great 1st week of school.

• Fri, Aug 30 - FB at Jacksonville
• Mon, Sep 2 - Labor Day (School Holiday)
• Tue, Sep 3 - Students and Staff Return to School
• Tue, Sep 3 - VB vs Hallsville
• Wed, Sep 4 - Blood Drive at CHS Little Theatre
• Thu, Sep 5 - F/JV FB at Liberty Eylau
• Fri, Sep 6 - End of 1st 3 Weeks Grading Period
• Fri, Sep 6 - VB vs Pleasant Grove at 4:30 p.m.
• Fri, Sep 6 - FB vs Liberty Eylau at 7:30 p.m.
• Mon, Sep 9 - Open House at CJHS at 5:30 and at CHS at 6:30 
• Tue, Sep 10 - Open House at Baker Koonce at 5:30
• Week of September 23 - End of 1st 6 Weeks and Formative Assessment Week 

Click Links below to each School Calendar

Chromebooks are being deployed on every campus.  Here,
BK students are already enjoying them in their learning.

Carthage HS Calendar
Carthage JH Calendar
Baker-Koonce Calendar
Libby Elementary Calendar
Carthage Primary Calendar

Your Input Matters
If you have a question, suggestion, or comment, please leave a comment below. Comments are not published immediately. Please do not leave negative comments about individual people. If you have a negative comment, please email the principal, superintendent or call 903-693-3806.

Week of August 26

Celebrate Excellence - In the Board Meeting
At the August board meeting, the Board of Trustees conducted the following business:

Thank you to our transportation employees and bus duty staff for doing a fantastic job welcoming the kids to school.

• Prior to the board meeting, the board conducted a public hearing on the proposed budget and tax rate.
• The board recognized Tammie Evans for being named as the Region 7 Secondary Teacher of the Year,
• The board adopted the budget consisting of $31,502,642 of projected revenue and $31,502,642 of proposed expenditures.
• The board adopted the tax rate of $1.21 per $100 valuation.  This is a decrease of $0.07 from the tax rate in 2018-2019.
• The board adopted a budget amendment for adjustments in legal fees and contracted services.
• The board heard a presentation on campus and organizational handbooks,
• The board approved a resolution regarding hazardous traffic conditions,
• The board approved the TASB Policy Update 113,
• The board approved changes  TASB Policy Exhibits DIA, FB, FFC, FFG, FFH, FFAF (LOCAL)



All campuses had student meetings to set high expectations
for behavior and learning.  Here, Mrs. Davis teaches the
students the "Libby Way"!


• The board approved policy changes related to District of Innovation, 
• The board heard a report on the academic accountability ratings,
• The board approved the bid for school district copy paper from Complete Printing in Carthage.
• The board reviewed the superintendent's mid year evaluation.

#BeTheLIGHT

Routines and procedures are very important.  They promote good behaviors, but they also create the conditions for learning.  At Carthage ISD, every teacher team wrote their routines and procedures together so that the expectations for learning and behavior are both high and consistent from classroom to classroom.  When teachers are consistent from classroom to classroom, students have a greater chance of successfully meeting those expectations.

If you would like to learn more about the expectations for behavior and learning for your child, please contact your child's teacher or the campus principal or assistant principal.




Upcoming Events

• Thu, Aug 22 - VB @ Tyler Tournament through Saturday
• Tue, Aug 27 - VB vs Lindale
• Thu, Aug 29 - F/JV FB vs Jacksonville
• Fri, Aug 30 - V VB at Longview (4:30 p.m.)
• Fri, Aug 30 - FB at Jacksonville
• Mon, Sep 2 - Labor Day (School Holiday)
• Tue, Sep 3 - Students and Staff Return to School

Click Links below to each School Calendar

Carthage HS Calendar
Carthage JH Calendar
Baker-Koonce Calendar
Libby Elementary Calendar
Carthage Primary Calendar

Your Input Matters
If you have a question, suggestion, or comment, please leave a comment below. Comments are not published immediately. Please do not leave negative comments about individual people. If you have a negative comment, please email the principal, superintendent or call 903-693-3806.

Week of August 19 (First Week of School)

Celebrate Excellence

Tammie Evans (CHS) was named the
Region 7 Secondary Teacher of the Year

Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year.  Can you believe it's here?  We have so much happening in our school, and we can't wait for the kids to arrive.  Beginning on the first day of school (Monday, August 19), our teachers and leaders will be training the students on their high expectations for our ultimate goal, Excellence.

All of Carthage ISD's 2700 students will be exposed to our consistent plan of action to reach this goal.  Throughout the summer, our teachers and leaders have been working, learning, and building a system that aligns what we expect of both educators and students.  This system will ensure that kids hear a common language and a common belief system that helps every student behave and learn.  We call this the Bulldog Way.

Over the first weeks of school, students will learn about the following concepts in some shape or fashion during the first week of school.

Thank you maintenance and custodial staff
for making our buildings so nice and ready
for the first day of school.

• C4B4Me - This is a problem solving model that we want students to use when they don't know what to do.  Over the next weeks, I will share this process with you.
• Routines and Procedures - In every classroom, teachers will create strong routines and procedures that are similar across grade levels that teach students to be successful and independent learners.
• Relationships for Learning - Every teacher's goal is to build a strong relationship with every student that facilitates learning.  Over the coming weeks, our teachers and leaders will be focused on building strong relationships that will inspire all students to love learning.
• Engagement - The goal for engagement is simple.  We want every student to work hard from the moment they enter the classroom until they move to a different class.  If we want students to learn at high levels, we will expect them to work hard, and we are committed to help them develop their work ethic.  This not only prepares them to be great learners, but eventually great future employees and leaders.

We are excited about the school year. Our teachers have put together a strong plan of action to make sure your child has the best first week of school ever.  If you have any questions or need any help supporting your child, please remember that the first person you can always call is the teacher and then the administrator or counselor.  We want to be your support system to help you encourage your child to reach their goals.

Check out the Ladydogs on Tuesdays and Fridays as they begin
their road to state!

State Accountability Results

The Bulldogs are ready to make a run for state!

Our district received its overall rating from the Texas Education Agency.  Overall, the district earned a rating of B.  While we are proud of our performance and how much we have grown on this assessment, we also realize that this is not the only instrument that we use to rate ourselves as a district.  There are many things that Carthage ISD does for kids that were not used to determine our rating.  To learn more about Carthage's rating, click here.



Upcoming Events

CJHS Social Studies Team
made huge gains in student achievement
 this year and earned a distinction.

• Mon, Aug 19 - 1st Day of 2019 - 2020 School Year
• Mon, Aug 19 - Board Meeting at 6:15 p.m.
• Thu, Aug 22 - VB @ Tyler Tournament through Saturday

Click Links below to each School Calendar
Carthage HS Calendar
Carthage JH Calendar
Baker-Koonce Calendar
Libby Elementary Calendar
Carthage Primary Calendar

Your Input Matters
If you have a question, suggestion, or comment, please leave a comment below. Comments are not published immediately. Please do not leave negative comments about individual people. If you have a negative comment, please email the principal, superintendent or call 903-693-3806.

Welcome to the 2019-2020 School Year

Celebrate Excellence
Welcome back, Carthage ISD.  I hope that you have had a fantastic summer.  This summer has been extremely busy getting everything together to make sure that the first day of school is the best day ever for every student.

This summer, we have had the following accomplishments:

The Champions Closet was established this summer to
provide students in need school clothes and toiletry items.
If you would like to be a part of this fantastic project or
need assistance with school clothes, go to
the Champions Closet on Facebook or text 903-806-1229.

• The proposed tax rate will decrease by $0.07 this year.
• All teachers will receive a raise this year with 0-5 year teachers getting $3500, and 6-20+ years getting a $4000 raise.
• Recapture will decrease significantly due to the tax rate reduction.
• The teachers and staff have been busy earning 5 days of professional learning to prepare for the upcoming year.
• CISD facilities have seen upgrades and deep cleaning on every campus.
• CISD Summer School served over 100 students in a collaborative partnership with AYEP for 6 weeks.
• Carthage HS TSA earned 8th place at the National TSA Convention in Washington D.C.
• Athletic workouts have seen extremely high turnout all summer long.
• Band, Cheer, and Belles worked hard this summer at camps and rehearsals gearing up for the year.
• The Carthage ISD Champions Closet has lots of clothes and has already been helping several Carthage ISD families with school clothes.
• We have hired some outstanding new employees at all campuses this summer.

This is not all that has happened in Carthage ISD.  There are a lot more things that have happened thanks to our outstanding leaders and employees.  The summer work they have done will no doubt set a strong foundation for the upcoming year.

Start of the School Year Info

Below are important district dates that you need to be aware of.  For dates pertaining to your child's campus specifically, please check either the campus calendars below or the campus Facebook pages.

• Tue, Aug 6 - Central Baptist hosts National Night Out at JH Stadium from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.
• Wed, Aug 7 - CISD teachers and staff report to campuses
• Fri, Aug 9 - CISD will be closed
• Sat, Aug 10 - Bulldog Media Day begins at 8 a.m.
• Mon, Aug 12 - CISD District Convocation and Professional Development Day at CHS from 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• Mon, Aug 12 - CISD Board Meeting for Budget Workshop at 6:30 p.m.
• Mon, Aug 19 - 1st Day of School for Students
• Mon, Aug 19 - Meet the Bulldogs at 6:30 p.m. at CHS Gym
• Mon, Aug 19 - CISD Board Meeting begins at 6:15 p.m.

Thank you Mission Carthage for hosting the Back to School Bash
on Sat, August 3 and to all of the churches and organizations
for supporting all of the kids in Panola County.

Thank you to our maintenance and custodial
staff for all of your work getting the schools
ready for August 19.

Click Links below to each School Calendar
Carthage HS Calendar
Carthage JH Calendar
Baker-Koonce Calendar
Libby Elementary Calendar
Carthage Primary Calendar

Your Input Matters
If you have a question, suggestion, or comment, please leave a comment below. Comments are not published immediately. Please do not leave negative comments about individual people. If you have a negative comment, please email the principal, superintendent or call 903-693-3806.