Many East Dallas schools cash in grocery receipts from Tom Thumb and Minyard’s for computers and other school supplies. Last year, Zion Lutheran School, Skillman and Lovers Lane, exchanged $525,000 worth of Tom Thumb receipts for three IBM PS-2 computers with printers.
Tom Thumb’s Knowledge For The ‘90s computer program offers both IBM and Apple Macintosh computers.
Minyard’s Computers for Kids program offers Apple computers, copiers, overhead projectors, televisions and VCRs, musical instruments and playground equipment. In fact, by exchanging $2 million in Minyard’s receipts, a school can receive a 12-passenger van.
Most East Dallas schools participate in one or both of these programs, and they would be happy to add your receipts to their collection. (Remember: There’s no additional grocery cost to you; simply save the receipt following each grocery purchase.) Contact the schools for more information.
Morgan Wins State Teaching Award
J.L. Long Middle School teacher Sharon Morgan is one of three statewide winners of the 1991 Presidential Award in Science and Mathematics teaching. She was selected from 68 nominees.
In addition to teaching algebra to eighth graders, Morgan sponsors the Long Math Team, which has never placed lower than third in competitions, she says. Last year, the team placed first in the Metric Contest, second in Math Olympiad and second at Math Counts regional competition.
“It’s a true privilege to be entrusted with the responsibility of teaching children,” Morgan says. “However, when it ceases to be fun, I’ll quit.”
J.L. Long Implementing DISD Site-Managed Education
J.L. Long Middle School is one of 10 DISD schools selected to participate this year in the School Centered Education Program initiated by Supt. Marvin Edwards.
The program allows school staff, parents and neighbors to work together to enhance education quality through goals and individualized programs. The program is an about-face from traditionally managed, top-down schools, says Al Harris, Long principal.
“We are still operating within (school) board policy, and we have the same goals, but we are given more latitude by which we achieve those goals,” Harris says.
Among the goals: increasing performance on standardized tests by prioritizing learning, decreasing the dropout rate, decreasing absenteeism, and increasing parental involvement.
“Even though we are early into the program, attendance and parental involvement has increased,” Harris says. Parents contributed 750 hours to the school in October, he says.
Other special programs underway include:
1) Point Program: Students receive points for good citizenship, perfect attendance, homework and extra-curricular activities. Points are calculated each six weeks, and prizes are awarded.
2) Teacher Incentive: Teachers with 100 percent attendance for a six-week period are rewarded with a gift from a neighborhood merchant.
3) Parent/Partner: Parents are encouraged to increase their involvement in the school and classroom.
“This program gives everyone a chance to be vested in our school,” Harris says. “We want to send a message to the community that this is their neighborhood school, and invite and encourage them to participate to help us reach our goals.
Other East Dallas schools participating in the program are Bryan Adams High School and the High School for Health Professions.
