Students in the Killeen Independent School District will be released early on Thursday, October 9th, for the purpose of parent conferences at all elementary and middle school campuses.

Students will be dismissed two hours early and bus service will be
adjusted accordingly.

Campuses will schedule conferences for the afternoon and evening on the 9th.

Classes will return to their usual schedules on Friday, October 10th.

The next parent conference day is set for February 26, 2009.

The Belton ISD Tax Ratification Election passed on Saturday, Oct. 4 with the following numbers:

Total For: 869
Total Against: 421

Total Voting: 1290

Midway ISD has scheduled a public hearing regarding the proposed elementary and intermediate school attendance zone realignment on Tuesday, October 7 at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend the meeting in the Midway High School Auditorium located at 8200 Mars Drive. Please visit our website, www.midwayisd.org for more details. Select: Attendance Zone Information.

WACO, TEXAS – Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 will present a transition fair for students with disabilities called "The Spirit Within…My Moment to Shine." The event will focus on post-high school options and services for students with diverse needs. It will take place 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Fri., October 3 for students and from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sat., October 4 for parents at First Baptist Belton, 506 Main in Belton.

Sharon Fredriksson, Director of Special Education for ESC Region 12 in Waco will welcome participants to the Fall 2008 Transition Fair. The fair will feature Kelly Sinclair, Temple singer/songwriter as the keynote speaker. Sinclair is an assistant children's librarian at the Temple Public Library and former reporter.

"This is an event aimed at preparing high school students to meet the challenges of the post-secondary world of education, employment, and life" said Sharron Stephenson, organizer of this year's fair and education specialist for ESC Region 12. "Our Transition Fairs are a way of providing an opportunity for students and parents to visit with representatives from various schools, training programs, employers, and professionals to receive information about exciting ways to achieve goals."

Break-out sessions will focus on self-advocacy, community resources, employer trends, driver safety, financial aid, military options and college survival skills. College and agency exhibitors will be onsite with information about available resources. Representatives will be on site with information about various post-secondary programs throughout Central Texas. Texas State Technical College will be showcasing programs in Computer Networking and Systems Administration/Networking Security Technology and Recreational Vehicle Maintenance. In addition, representatives will be available from McLennan Community College, Hill College, Temple College, Central Texas College of Cosmetology as well as military options and various employment options.

Gwen Ryan with ESC 12 will present a session titled, "Celebrating Diversity." When talking about her session, Ryan asks,
"Think being different is not cool? Think again. We all have differences that are worth celebrating." Her session will explore stereotypes related to age, gender, ability and race. Participants will explore ways to address these beliefs and develop an acceptance of personal differences.

About Kelly Sinclair
Sinclair will welcome students with songs she has written geared toward individual success as well as many others that are close to her heart. Sinclair graduated summa cum laude from the University of Texas-Permian Basin with a degree in mass communications. Her message to students will be about sticking with your dreams in order to achieve what you set your mind to. A former reporter for The Brownfield News, Sinclair comes from a musical family and has performed various styles across many venues most of her life. She has played back up for a bluegrass fiddler, sang lead in a progressive rock band, and written industrial dance songs. She has also worked many years as a writer and has a contract to publish a novel next year. A poem of hers has been published in the Texas Observer magazine.

Although the fair is free and open to sophomores, juniors and seniors, pre-registration is required. Lunch will be provided to students at no cost. Interested individuals should register online for this event at www.esc12.net and use Session # 29511 for the student day (October 3, 2008) and Session # 29547 for the parent day(October 4, 2008).

For more information, please contact Sharron Stephenson at 254-297-1152 or sstephenson@esc12.net.
About ESC Region 12

One of 20 centers throughout Texas, ESC Region 12 provides professional training and technical assistance for the purpose of improving student performance for all students. Based in Waco, with offices in Nolanville, Corsicana, Goldthwaite, Hillsboro, and Teague, the Region 12 service area includes Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Limestone, Mills, McLennan and Navarro counties.

# # #

Tarver Elementary in Belton ISD is will recognize Celebrate Freedom Week at its second annual Flagpole Assembly on Friday, Sept. 19, at 8 a.m. The ceremony will honor men and women who have served, or are currently serving in the armed forces, as well as local police, fire fighters and other civil servants. Fourth grade students will perform a musical program.

(Tarver Elementary is located at 7949 Stonehollow in Temple--turn off FM 2305 on Pea Ridge Road, opposite Chuck's BBQ and continue to Stonehollow; turn right and continue to Tarver.)

After we sent out the previous message, Fairfield called back and said that they felt like it was an unwise decision to travel at anytime tomorrow---- The varsity volleyball game is canceled as stated in the first message. Sorry to fill up your mailbox.

A decision has been made to change the location of the Varsity Volleyball game rather than canceling it. The Varsity volleyball game vs. Fairfield will be held in Gatesville at 4:30 on Sept. 12. All sub-varsity volleyball games are canceled.

Due to the approach of Hurricane Ike, the varsity football game scheduled for Friday, Sept. 12, in Fairfield has been moved to tonight,Thursday Sept. 11, at 7:30 in Fairfield. All Junior High and Sub-varsity games scheduled for tonight have been re-scheduled for our open week on Friday, October 3rd. The high school volleyball scheduled for tomorrow night vs. Fairfield has been canceled.