Howdy Bell County Ags!

After a brief stint in the Houston area, I'm very glad to be back in Central Texas.

I grew up in Waco/Hewitt (and lived there again from 1998 to July 2011) and most of my family and my wife's family are from that area, but Temple is quickly becoming home.

I've enjoyed looking through old threads dating back to 2009 and getting tips on restaurants, stores, vets and even a good handyman.

This is a great resource!

My wife is hoping to teach (she went through the Region 12 program last spring), and we were able to get our 18-month-old son into a good day care program. Right now, my wife is working at a temporary job. The pay is pretty good, but her heart is set on teaching, and I really admire that.

Does Temple have an active A&M club? When and where does it meet?

Also, I'm working for the local media covering education, so any good positive story ideas are always welcome. I'm a dinosaur, I suppose -- an Aggie journalist!

Jan, I'm looking forward to writing a feature story about THS' outstanding IB program at some point, and have really been impressed with a lot of great things the district is doing.

It was also fantastic to watch a professional jazz trombonist work with the THS jazz band a couple weeks ago and have the chance to write a story about it, as well as learning about the ACE program and how it is helping get low income parents interested and involved in their children's education.

Kathy (3GA), I had the chance to meet Bob Callaghan today and he shared many great things that Rogers kids have done, including having a national champion entomology team, winning a state ag competition in San Antonio that included competition from schools of all sizes and the great charity work that students and community members have been involved with through the EAGLES Team.

And of course the athletic success at Rogers has already been well publicized.

There's plenty going on just at Temple and Belton ISDs to keep me busy, but I want to give the smaller area schools coverage as well.

Also, if any of you have any recommendations on places to visit, things to do, etc. I welcome them.

I hope he also mentioned our terrific drama department. Mr. Taylor is almost worth a story on his own.

Well, couple of things that rarely get mentioned. The CAC has a concert series and brings in good performers. This month was Bob Schneider. Joe Ely, Carolyn Wonderland and others are coming up. Also, Temple has an excellent theater - The Temple Civic Theater. They're doing "Oliver" right now and for the next two weeks. "Grease" is this summer. Plenty of local "ISD" student involved in that, I'm sure. There's lakes, movies, golf, hiking at Miller Springs and Chalk Ridge, etc.

Temple High is doing "Les Miserables" soon. Not sure when.

JCO,

Great to hear that Temple ISD IS going to get some positive publicity and recognition from the local media. The students and staff of the district definitely deserve some positive recognition. I think it helps that they have finally hired an athletic director that will not accept the mediocrity that was taking place in the TISD system. You've already mentioned their AP/IB program which they have now expanded all the way down to the elementary school levels at Thornton Elementary. They are doing some pretty revolutionary things with their gifted and talented program as well. It seems most of the local media's positive publicity is usually reserved for the white flight schools in the central Texas area such as Belton, Midway, China Spring, Robinson, etc...

Another huge positive for secondary students in the surrounding area is the Texas Bio Science Institute. From what I've seen it is a one of a kind.

You also need to check out Cameron ISD when you get a chance; championship level athletics, award winning band, theater arts (their Performing Arts Center blows away any other theater type facility in the area), FFA, is a Recognized District with a couple of Recognized campuses with as diverse of a student population as you will find in these parts. Also have some great programs in the community such as the local chapter of the 4-H and Master Gardeners that seem to win every competition they enter.

There are a couple of people that post in his forum that have kids in that district or graduated from there that can probably tell you much more about the area than I can.

Kathy, Mr. Callaghan did mention the excellent theater department. Looking forward to looking its progress.

Pablo, thanks for the suggestions. I was fortunate to be able to write a preview on the Belton ISD Fine Arts Program's upcoming production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella." One of our entertainment writers will do the story on TISD's "Les Mis."

Cru, thanks for the info. Dr. Battershell talked about how the district is expanding its IB program, and I think that's fantastic.

I'll definitely check out Cameron, as well. I was hoping to do an overviews on the smaller school ditricts in Bell County and then branching out to include schools like Cameron and Rosebud-Lott.

I can't wait until the weather is a little warmer and so I can visit Lake Belton and some of the other area recreation opportunities. My son would usually rather be outdoors, so I'm sure we'll get to know plenty of the area parks quite well.

Actually, Cameron Park in Waco is one if the best, if not THE best inner city park in the State. Temple Lions is OK - has a jogging track with about 100' elevation change to get some incline training. Miller Park has open space and concerts in the Summer. Killeen has great ethnic cuisine all over town. Bell County is not a terrible place to live... if you're not single...

If you are interested in looking at people, one of our Rogers students not only finished Harvard but is giving back to society working in Teach for America. She would make a great human interest story.

Thanks, Kathy.

Should I get in touch with the high school principal or a specific counselor for info./contact # on the Rogers grad? Were you one of her teachers?

She does sound like an outstanding success story.

***
Pablo, Cameron Park is one of those hidden jewels. People from outside the community are often in awe when they find out that such a place exists in Waco. Cameron Park Zoo is a great place to take kids, as well.

Jan and I both taught her. Email me on the school website and I will give you contact info. We have a new principal and he might not even know how to contact her.

kathy



[This message has been edited by 3rd Generation Ag (edited 1/31/2012 8:10p).]

Why'd she go to Harvard? Couldn't get into A&M?

What year did she graduate from Rogers?