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Archive → March, 2014

Chapa Middle School’s First Parent University

Enjoyed Chapa Middle School’s first ever Parent University tonight! Parents and students came to get informed about upcoming summer high school technology classes, athletics, student clubs, middle school life, and other opportunities. Thank you to the Chapa Staff and PTA for this wonderful event! And special thanks to the PTA for deciding we needed something like this. I appreciate the involvement and dedication of the PTA.

Parent University - Chapa Middle School

Hemphill Elementary Demonstrates Committment to be Bully Free

A bully free school ensures safety, and a secure place for learning. Hemphill Elementary School is a “No Place for Hate” campus in Hays CISD in Kyle, Texas. This “Bully Free” rap demonstrates our commitment to anti-bullying. Led by fifth grade teacher, Mr. “Vanilla” Price, our students reach out to one another to model respect, become friends, and show everyone that Hemphill Elementary is “Bully Free!”

My First Day of School

My first day at Kyle Elementary wasn’t the best. But to fully appreciate the events of the first day of school I need to let you know what happened before I made it to the first day of school. I need to let you know what only my family knows…….until now.

I was very excited to be starting school. I grew up adjacent to Kyle Elementary, so as a small child, I could see the children on the playground, running around, playing tag, and spinning the merry-go-round. It looked like fun and I wanted to be there too.

I was also looking forward to learning. My mom had taught me to read, how to count and name all the primary colors. So I was ready to learn more.

So when it came time to register for school, I was ready to go! My mother and I and walked to school. My mother completed the enrollment forms (I’m sure there was less paperwork back then).

As part of the enrollment, I had to take a test. Mrs. Barrera asked questions about the alphabet, numbers and general knowledge questions, like “how much is a dozen?”

One question I still remember was what do you do if you lose something? I proudly said, “Find it”. (I am not sure if my wife would agree with that statement.)

Then we went home.

A day or so later, the school call Mom and told her I could not start school.

I could not start due to an item on the first page of the enrollment packet.

My birthdate.

I wouldn’t turn five years old until a few days after school started. The law back then was very clear. Not five – no school. This wasn’t a line in the sand; it was like the Berlin Wall. (It was still around back then.)

When the first day of school rolled around, I remember going to my parent’s bedroom, which faced the back of the school, and watching, very sadly, the children playing before school started. I wanted to be there, but I had to wait a whole year to get there.

So the whole year passed……SLOWLY.

But when next September came, I was ready. I woke up, ready for school. My Mom took me by the hand. I proudly walked to the school, climbed the stairs, took one look inside Mrs. Witte’s class, and said, get me out of here!

There is always one child who cries more on the first day of school, than anyone else, and I took the trophy in 1973. Sheesh, I even cried on day 2.

Yes, that is how the school board president started out in public school.

KXAN news story on May 2014 Hays CISD Bonds

KXAN interviews Hays CISD Board President, Willie Tenorio, Jr. – January 2014

Tenorio discusses the $59 bond proposal to build a new middle school, increase safety and technology district wide, and purchase school buses.