Sulphur Springs ISD 2021-2022 Calendar Approved
Sulphur Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees Monday evening approved a 2021-22 calendar very similar to the calendar approved last spring for the current school year, which had to be adjusted due to COVID-19.
While the calendar committee employed the same philosophies used to draft the original 2020-21 school calendar (approved on March 6, 2020, just ahead of the pandemic which closed schools for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year), the calendar for 2021-2022 school year incorporated at least one scheduling adaptation made due to the pandemic – school hours. In the past, arrival and dismissal times at the various campuses was staggered. However, when the 2020-2021 school calendar was reworked over the summer to incorporates state-required minutes while building in contingencies in the event a campus had to close due to a large percentage of students and staff either testing positive for or having to be out due to high risk exposures, class hours throughout the district were consistent this year
This was particularly helpful at the bus hub. While that means a longer day for elementary students, it worked out better for those younger students who ride the school bus; it meant elementary students do not have to wait at the bus hub for extended periods of time. Students currently remain at school until classes dismiss, then are bussed to the hub for a change of bus, if one is required, then head home. This gives students more time at school with teachers and less time waiting.
SSISD Superintendent Mike Lamb said that worked out so well that SSISD plans for class hours district-wide to be on the same schedule. Classes will begin at 7:50 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. weekdays, with the tardy bell sounding at 8 a.m., for all students in prekindergarten through 12th grade at SSISD.
The only other difference from the original 2020-21 calendar is that the SSISD 2021-2022 calendar takes what in the past were two staff exchange time days which employees could previously use at their discretion for additional training and schedules staff on two designated dates for specific training to meet additional requirements set by the state over the last year. This is in addition to staff preparation days added in the last couple of years, for things like reading training and new teacher training, the superintendent explained
The 2021-22 calendar adds another day at the beginning of the year to provide additional time for staff to training in use and incorporation of technology in the classroom as well as a third training day for new teachers. New teachers will attend orientation from Aug. 2-4, 2021. End-of-school and back-to-school preparation days for all staff will be Aug. 5-6, Aug. 9-13 and Aug. 15-17, 2021; and May 26-27, 2022.
Staff preparation days during, which staff will be required to attend while students have the day off, include: Sept. 24, Oct. 8 (reading academy), Oct. 15 and Nov. 5, 2021; and Jan. 3-4, Feb. 14, March 11, April 18 and May 20, 2022. Staff development work days are from 8 to 3:30 p.m. for employees with 1 hour lunches and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for those with 1 1/2 hour lunches.
Holidays for students and staff once again include: Labor Day, on Sept. 6, 2021; Fall Festival (Hopkins County Stew Contest), Oct. 22, 2021; Thanksgiving, Nov. 22-26, 2021; Christmas break, Dec. 20-31, 2021; Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 17, 2022; Northeast Texas Livestock Association (NETLA) Day, Feb. 25, 2022; spring break, March 14-18, 2022; Good Friday, April 15, 2022; and Memorial Day, May 20, 2022.
Nov. 17, 2021 (the Friday before the weeklong Thanksgiving break) is now scheduled as an early release day as are Dec. 17, 2021 (the Friday before Christmas break) and May 25, 2022 (the last day of school).
Classes will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 18, with the first 9-weeks grading period ending on Oct. 7, 2021. The second 9-weeks grading period will span Oct. 11-Dec. 17, 2021; the third from Jan. 5 through March 10, 2022; and the fourth 9-weeks grading period will be from March 21 to May 25, 2022. High School graduation will then follow on May 27.
History Class Study at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Campus
LIBRARY STUDY
These students in Kelly Waltman-Payne’s History 1302 class at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center are spending some time in the library picking out books. The students are, from left, Sidney Shearer, Lois Rocha, Briceida Chavez an Andrea Delgado.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
Villarino: Benefits of Soil Sampling
Farmers across Texas are familiar with standard soil testing procedures and many make use of soil tests to determine fertilizer applications for a wide range of crops and soil types.
You have likely been encouraged to soil test annually and “Don’t Guess—Soil Test” to better pinpoint your soil fertility program. According to Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, TAMU Soil & Crop Sciences there are considerations to help you capture more value from soil test results:
1. There are different philosophies of soil testing.
Producers regularly comment to me that they sent the same sample to two different labs and received different recommendations. Why? There are several reasons why this could be. First, there are two components to soil testing and recommendations. On one hand there is the specific test method that is used. This includes how the nutrients are extracted from the soil and what method is used to analyze the nutrient. These may not be the same between two labs. On the other hand, an individual lab may have a different basis for what they recommend based on both the measured nutrient value and your goals.
2. Who soil samples your field and makes your recommendations?
Particularly for large farms, producers may rely on a crop consultant or the fertilizer dealer themselves to conduct soil sampling on your different fields. Ensure they are taking representative samples for each sampling unit or field (at least one probe point per 4 acres, preferably 1 per 2 acres especially for smaller sampling areas). Also, if the individual who conducts soil sampling may not be familiar with different soil types or other production zones in your field (good areas, poor areas) that you observe, let them know so they can sample accordingly and not commingle soil samples from potentially different management zones.
3. Be alert for possible conflicts of interest.
You know this, and it should go without saying. But if someone is doing your soil sampling for you, handles soil testing and recommendations, and you buy your fertilizer from them, this is a potential conflict of interest. Just so you know, regardless of the level of trust you may have. I have colleagues that strictly recommend you control the soil sampling process and sourcing of fertilizer recommendations that fully reflects your best interests. Then you shop for fertilizer based on cost, type, availability, and possible fertilizer application services.
4. There is a trend to increasing the depth of soil sampling.
Initially, this was driven by recognition that there may be substantial amounts of the readily available form of soil nitrogen, or nitrate, below 6”—and sometimes lots of nitrate-N, even up to 100 lbs. of N per acre in rare cases—that is utilized by all crops. Some highly agricultural states now recommend standard soil samples to 24” deep for the basic, routine analysis. This includes Kansas and North Dakota. But you know that soil sampling to 24” is more difficult and will take more time (consultants and producers in the Texas High Plains tell me that they are generally readily able to sample to 18” without much difficulty). But what is the value of better fine-tuning your nutrient needs?
Texas A&M AgriLife does not currently recommend deeper soil sampling for general soil nutrient analysis, though we acknowledge it would provide more information to better pinpoint fertilizer recommendations. We do recommend, however, greater attention to soil nitrate-N below 6”. To use this approach, you collect your standard soil sample (likely a 6” depth) which is analyzed for basic nutrients and any additional tests. A companion soil sample is collected at the same point beginning at 6” then deeper into the soil. This sample is analyzed inexpensively for nitrate-N only, and it is credited to your crop requirement. It represents a potential cost savings on fertilizer N, especially in wetter regions of Texas where nitrate could be lost out the bottom of the root zone from excessive rains.
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
Wildcats Baseball and Lady Cats Softball Have Home District Games if Fields are Dry Enough
On this game day Tuesday (March 23), there is scheduled baseball and softball in Sulphur Springs. That depends on how wet Wildcat and Lady Cat Parks are after heavy rainfall Monday evening. Both teams are scheduled to face Marshall in district play.
The Wildcats enter the game with a 2-1 district record after their 6-1 loss Friday at Texas High. The Wildcats have a season record of 5-11. Plans call for a JV game at 4 p.m. The Varsity game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. If the game is played, KSST Radio will bring you the Mavericks and the Wildcats from Wildcat Park. The game is expected to have streaming video and audio. The game will also be recorded for replay at a later date on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
Meanwhile, the Lady Cats Softball Team is scheduled to face Marshall at Lady Cat Park. Plans call for a JV game at 4:30 p.m. The Varsity game is scheduled for e 6 p.m. start. The Lady Cats have won three straight district games including a 9-1 win at Texas High Friday. The Lady Cats are 3-1 in district play and 12-3 for the season. Max Preps has Marshall with a 2-2 record in district play. KSST’s sister station KRVA-FM, 10-7.1, will bring you Lady Cats and Lady Mavs softball live from Lady Cat Park at 6 p.m. Ross LaBenske will have the play by play.
If we find out about a change in the status of these games, we will let you know.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Two Lady Cats Compete at Girls Powerlifting Meet in Corpus Christi Last Saturday
Lady Cats senior Czhela Moya and freshman Machelle Allen competed at the Girls State Powerlifting Meet Sat. March 20, in Corpus Christi.
They are the first Lady Cats ever to compete at State.
Last year Lady Cat Sable Erdmier qualified for the State Meet but it was canceled due to coronavirus concerns.
Saturday Moya, competing in the 97-pound weight class, ended up 10th in state with a 135 pound squat, an 80 pound bench press and a 160 pound dead lift for a total of 375 pounds. Allen was 7th in state in the 269+ weight class with a 350 pound squat, 150 pound bench press and 255 pound dead lift. The State Meet had 139 lifters.
This Saturday, at the boys State Powerlifting Meet in Abilene, senior Ryan Carrillo and sophomore Matthew Mitchell are scheduled to compete in the 181 pound weight class.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Texas To Expand COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility To All Adults Starting March 29
DSHS To Launch Website Where People Can Register For COVID-19 Shot Through Some Public Health Providers
Texas Department of State Health Services and Health and Human Services at 10 a.m. Tuesday, announced that the state’s vaccination plan is expanding again at the end of next week. All adults will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas beginning Monday, March 29.
The Texas Department of State Health Services, in the news release, stated they expect vaccine supplies to increase next week, as providers in multiple parts of the state have made great strides in vaccinating people in the current priority groups. The state’s Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel recommended opening vaccination to everyone who falls under the current Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorizations to protect as many Texans as possible.
“We are closing in on 10 million doses administered in Texas, and we want to keep up the momentum as the vaccine supply increases,” said Imelda Garcia, DSHS associate commissioner for laboratory and infectious disease services and the chair of the Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel. “As eligibility opens up, we are asking providers to continue to prioritize people who are the most at risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death – such as older adults.”
In Hopkins County, the state hosted a vaccine clinic last Saturday, offering vaccines to those who register, but the vaccine clinic was open to those age 65 and older, first responders or healthcare professionals, and school nurses and staff. Although the state previously expanded, making those age 50 and up eligible for a shot, only those the earlier categories were able to get it in Hopkins County at the designated locations. Many residents age 65 and older are still reporting difficulties getting an appointment locally to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, due to limited supplies. Some have managed to get appointments in other counties, but that has meant traveling quite a distance, which for some is not an option.
DSHS currently is directing vaccine providers to prioritize people 80 years old or older when scheduling appointments and to accommodate anyone in that age group who presents for vaccination, whether or not they have an appointment, by immediately moving them to the front of the line, to place as small a burden on those age 80 and up as possible.
Also next week, DSHS will launch a website to allow people to register for a shot through some public health providers. The public will be able to enroll in the Texas Public Health Vaccine Scheduler to identify upcoming vaccine clinics hosted by DSHS or a participating local health department and be notified when new clinics and appointments become available. People can continue to find additional providers though the DSHS Vaccine Information page at dshs.texas.gov/covidvaccine.
Local officials had yet to determined what, if any, impact this will have on COVID-19 vaccine availability in Hopkins County, which has a designated Local Health Authority.
According to DSHS, online registration will be the best option for most people. For those for whom that is not an option, DSHS will launch a toll-free number to provide assistance making an appointment with a participating provider or locating another provider that has vaccine available.
To date, Texas has administered more than 9.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, equating to more than 6 million people with at least one dose and more than 3 million fully vaccinated. Most vaccines are authorized for people 18 years old and older; the FDA has authorized the Pfizer vaccine for use in people 16 and older.
According to DSHS, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs was among at least 481 providers in 183 counties allocated first-doses of the COVID-19 vaccine this week. CMFH-SS is slated to receive 500 of the 685,470 doses allocated for distribution this week.
People can find more information on COVID-19 vaccine at dshs.texas.gov/covidvaccine/.
Other COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Links:
Tensions Run High For Dike Residents About French Solar Farm
Tensions continue to run high between the citizens of Dike and the French Solar Company, Engie. The Hopkins County Commissioner’s court, which approved a tax abatement for the solar farm, held a public forum at the civic center on Monday night, in an effort to relieve concerns from the affected neighbors. The residents in Dike are very upset, and contend that they were not properly notified of the solar farm or what effects it would have on the community. More than 60 county residents showed up to first listen to a one-sided Zoom presentation from Ryan Economy, who is the Senior Advisor For Project Development for Engie’s North American office. After thirty minutes of technical issues, residents inside the civic center listened to the last half of Engie’s presentation of how a solar farm is good for the community of Dike. All participants were then allowed to ask specific questions to the advisors, but had to be typed into the software, instead of the normal Zoom protocol of live video and microphones. The sound quality inside the civic center proved to be sub-standard, so it was difficult for the participants to hear their questions asked and answered from the Engie team.
Community members were then allowed to speak and ask questions of the Commissioner’s Court, and the majority of those that spoke voiced concern over the lack of notification as well as all of the unknown impact that the solar farm will bring. Damage to roads, constant construction and operation noise, as well as the unsightly fencing and solar panels were major concerns throughout the night. Other residents brought up concerns about displacement of wildlife and the clear-cutting of trees to make way for the solar panels, which will cover over 1,800 acres, so far. The Hopkins County Commissioner’s Court maintained that they had followed the law by posting public notices in the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram, but Dike residents were not in agreement and had stated that only a handful of the residents still subscribe to the local paper. Citizens kept demanding that county officials should have done more to “get the word out.”
In the end, a lot of valid points were raised, but unfortunately due to the format, Engie was not able to hear the concerns voiced at the meeting. It will now be up to the Commissioner’s Court to reach out to the French firm and try to get some answers. Although the parent company of the French conglomerate boasts over 170,000 employess world-wide and had over $70 billion in revenue in 2019, not one employee chose to attend the meeting in person, and technical issues kept the Dike residents an arms-length away from being in full contact with the Solar Company.
10 Sulphur Springs ISD Employees Retiring, 4 Resigning
Ten Sulphur Springs ISD employees tendered notices of retirement and four letters of resignation, all except two are effective at the end of the school year or contract term. The 14 personnel leaving will impact staffing at seven different SSISD campuses, according to information provided by SSISD superintendent’s office.
SSES will be losing four employees to retirement. Tag Williams, a behavior interventionist at Sulphur Springs Elementary, is retiring early. Library aide Diane Coke, music teacher Deanna Spraggins and reading interventionist Juli Varosi all turned in early notification of pending retirement at the end of either the school or contract year.
Jordan Tyler, a math teacher at Sulphur Springs Middle School, is leaving to begin a new job. Also at SSMS, Vickie Vaughn also notified the district of her pending retirement after this year.
Three employees will be leaving Barbara Bush Primary at the end of the year/contract. Denise Booher, dyslexia coordinator and teacher and Michele Smith, library aide plan to retire. Kimberly Pellam, a special education aide, submitted a resignation letter notifying SSISD administrators she does not plan to return after this year.
Austin Academic Center is losing two educators. Principal Julie Ashmore Greenland and DAEP teacher Lesa Knotts notified the district of their plans to retire after this year/contract.
Gordon Fulcher, the 2019 SSISD Police Department Officer of the Year, will be retiring for the second time. He retired several years ago from Sulphur Springs Police Department, and recently notified SSISD of his plan to retire as a campus police officer at Douglass Early Childhood Learning Center at the end of this year.
Karen Phillips, a part-time science coordinator working out of the SSISD Administration Building, and Candice Lamb, a Title I aide at Bowie Primary, notified the district that they do not plan to return after this year/contract as well.
In addition to these early notifications of planned retirement and resignations, SSISD Board of Trustees following an executive session March 22 also extended employment contracts for certified and non-certified administrative personnel for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years.
VFW Steak Night Tonight!
Even though it has been rescheduled a few times, tonight March 23rd, 2021 is steak night at the VFW in Sulphur Springs, TX.
The VFW will be serving Steaks with all the trimmings cooked by Big Smith’s Bar-B-Q on sight. $25 per person. Tickets available at the Canteen.
Click here for more information
SSHS FFA Cash Vititow’s Red Brahman Heifer Wins Best in Breed at Houston Livestock Show!
From a March 22 press release from John Holland, SSHS Ag Instructor/FFA Advisor, during this past month 8 students on the livestock show team traveled to the Houston Livestock Show. Cash Vititow, Maurie Flecker, Savannah Allen, Jace Mayers, and Jose Flores all took Breeding Beef Heifers, and all showed extremely well in very large classes. Cash Vititow and his heifer TO 68 won the Senior Division Red Brahmans. Vititow’s entry then proceeded to win Overall Grand Champion Red Brahman Female. For those that may not know, that means Cash and ’68’ were selected as the best Red Brahman Female at the Houston Livestock Show! Congratulations to Cash on this huge accomplishment.
Also at Houston, Braddox Rawson took a Market Barrow Hog. Jayden Arledge showed 2 Dairy Heifers in the Breeding Show, and placed 7th in class with his Jersey heifer and 3rd in class with his Holstein heifer. Annie Horton took a market lamb to Houston, placing 3rd in her class at Houston and making the sale her senior year. We had an overall great trip to Houston this year and look forward to next year’s shows.
In addition to the Houston Show we had 2 students travel to Abilene for the State Holstein show. Wayne Hinton and Robert Smith took their string of Dairy Heifers and did very well showing.
In other competitions which SSHS FFA students entered, Annie Horton also traveled to the Austin Livestock show. Cash Vititow and Savannah Allen will be traveling to the Waco for the International Beef Heifer Show this coming week.
