Academics News
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Blogging Renewed my Passion for Writing
By Jeanne Acton, Journalism Director | Thursday, October 14, 2010 11:05 AM
I started a blog.
There, I said it.
It’s not that I am ashamed, but it feels weird telling people about it.
It’s self-indulgent and probably needs some editing, but it’s been a pretty great experience so far.
At this point, you are probably wondering why I am making this confession.
I didn’t have to tell a soul.
I am sharing my little secret because writing the blog has relit my passion for writing.
2010 All-State Journalism Staff Named
By | Monday, September 13, 2010 8:34 AM
Fifty-two students have been named to the 2010 All-State Journalism Staff. To qualify for the staff, students must have earned 50 points by participating and winning different journalism contests throughout the year. Students can earn points by participating in UIL invitational contests, UIL district, regional and state contests, as well as ILPC and similar type journalism contests.
After Busy Summer, Changes are on the Horizon for OAP
By Luis Munoz | Monday, August 30, 2010 2:33 PM
I pray that all of you have had a wondrous and enlivening summer break. Some of you stayed home, some traveled, some directed and some acted. It was so good to keep up with you and yours through your phone calls, emails and the ever-enlightening Facebook posts. What a barrage of messages, babies, new profile pics, old profile pics, Farmville, gifts, pokes, surveys, quotes and pictures. From Mark Twain to Mark Pickell, they have all been interesting.
I had the pleasure of working with the Texas Thespians All-State Cast and directing another group of high school students at the Texas Tech Theatre Camp. I also had the opportunity to attend the International Thespian Society’s Festival at The University of Nebraska at Lincoln and be around 3000 students from across the nation and a few other countries. I congratulate Clint Cottom, Bryce Ballew, Toby Drake and the cast of Piece of My Heart from Tomball High School on an outstanding production. It was moving, beautifully staged and well-acted. I also congratulate Marilyn Miller, her colleagues and the Cypress-Creek company on their production of Pippin. I enjoyed the “private concert” at your rehearsal. I wish I had been able to stay and see their production but I had to return to Texas for the TETAAO summer meeting. Denison High School wowed the crowds with ZFX Flying Effects show. Round Rock High School also represented us with a production of This, Uh, Body. All of you made Texas proud. I was inspired, and the importance of our work with the youth of our state was reaffirmed.
All in the Family: Gearing Up for the New Year
By Jana Riggins | Friday, August 27, 2010 1:18 PM
Even in the triple digit dog days of summer that linger over Austin, I feel a sense of excitement about school bells ringing again! There’s nothing like the opening week of school when colleagues renew relationships with other faculty members, students arrive to newly-painted walls, waxed floors and colorful bulletin boards alive with news of what is to come. Everyone feels the synergy!
It is especially exciting to me this year because my son Matthew takes the reigns of his very own classroom. Helping him move in and set up his room took me back down memory lane of when my husband Johnny and I started our teaching careers. Ironically, Matt will begin his career just a few miles from where his dad did, oh so many years ago. With a personality that parallels that of his father, somehow I know he will touch as many lives in an undeniable way just as Dad did. And that makes me proud. What a noble profession teaching is! Who changes the world more?
He’s not the only Riggins joining the teaching ranks. His brother Josh begins his student teaching at Anderson High School in Austin this fall, along with coaching athletics. The first day of summer strength camp when he bounced into my office to say, “They called me “Coach, Mom!”, I fought back tears as I asked, “How did that feel?” and his voice enthusiastically resounded, “G-R-E-A-T!”
Exciting and Busy Year Begins for Academics
By Treva Dayton, academic director | Thursday, August 26, 2010 8:49 PM
Welcome back to yet another new school year! We hope it is an exciting and successful one for you and your students. It was wonderful to see so many of you enthusiastically preparing for another season of academic and theatre competition at our largest ever Capital Conference in July. You can see and hear more about the conference through a slideshow posted in this Leaguer.
If you attended the conference and turned in your attendance hours for CPE credit, you need to go to the academic Web page and print your certificate before Sept. 30.
As you can see from the totally new look of our website, UIL staff has been working diligently to provide more user-friendly, effective communication with member schools and the general public. Please take the time to explore the site to locate those links and resources you most often use and to discover the many new features now available. With a little patience you can find everything you need at this time of year. Honest.
New Media Workshop Excites More Than It Scares
By Jeanne Acton | Thursday, August 26, 2010 7:12 PM
This summer I went back to the classroom. Not as a teacher, but as a student. I attended the TAJE/ILPC New Media Workshop. For three days, former professional journalist Andrea Lorenz filled my brain with all things new media.
The workshop was amazing. Andrea taught me and 18 other classmates how to set up a website, how to make audio slide shows, how to edit podcasts, how to edit video and more. It was a lot, but Andrea organized everything in such a way that my simple brain could wrap itself around all of the new information.
Plus, she gave us so much supporting materials, that even if I forgot everything I learned in those three days, I could relearn it through the information she gave us.
Donahue Comes Home to the League
By Julianne Coyne | Thursday, August 26, 2010 10:14 AM
Ashley Donahue
Photo by Julianne Coyne
UIL’s newest employee, Ashley Donahue, administrative assistant for speech and debate, has an almost 20-year history with the League. That’s pretty impressive since she’s only 26 years old.
In second grade Donahue started competing in storytelling and creative writing. It was a rather traumatic first experience with UIL.
“When I first got to the school for that competition, I had to go to the restroom,” she said. “A teacher showed me where to go, but when I came out everyone was gone. They just left me.”
ILPC Pilots Documentary Contest
By Jeanne Acton | Friday, August 20, 2010 1:48 PM
At the 2010 ILPC Summer Workshop, instructor Andrea Lorenz works with adviser Bill DeFries from Corpus Christi King High School. DeFries and his editor took the New Media class to learn how to create videos, audio slideshows, websites and more. Photo was taken by a 2010 ILPC Summer Workshop photography student.
It’s time to tell us your school’s UIL story — video documentary style.
The Interscholastic League Press Conference will offer a new documentary film contest this year — “UIL: Our Story.”
2010 Capital Conference Wrap-Up
By Julianne Coyne | Thursday, August 19, 2010 8:54 AM
Slideshow from the 2010 Capital Conference.
Academic State Meet Deemed a Success
By Julianne Coyne | Friday, May 14, 2010 9:57 AM
Current Issues and Events State Director Tom Ray congratulates the 5A Champion, Michael Zhu from Dulles HS in Sugarland.
Photo by Jeanne Acton
Students from across the state descended on the University of Texas at Austin campus May 6-8 to compete at the Centennial Academic State Meet. More than 2,500 students vied to be state champions and take home a centennial medal.