NORSEMAN

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www.BryanHighNoresman.com

B r y a n

H i g h

S c h o o l

IN-BRIEF

Volume 41, Number 1 August 2011

School website upgrade Archives now available

Sports

The Sports section of the online edition of The Norseman

features full scoreboards for
current sports and features on
Bryan High Athletes.

Entertainment

The Entertainment section of

the online edition of The Norseman features reviews of movies, books, television shows and
musicians/albums.

Opinions

The Opinions section of the online edition of The Norseman

features editorials over current
issues, columns by staff members, staff editorials and letters
to the editor.

Viking Voice

The Viking Voice section of the

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School Information

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calendar, and information on
PTSO, Yearbook, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program and other extracurricular
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resources to maintain an independent website and because of an expansion and

upgrade to the online edition
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In an effort to preserve the

history of Bryan High School,
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available for download on
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The offering is a part of a
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school year.
The issues can be accessed
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All online articles that have
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Those that are in possession of previous issues of The
Norseman are encouraged to
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New superintendent brings leadership, perspective to difficult school issues

John Fuller
Editor
Students may not start classes until August
22, but for new Superintendent Thomas Wallis, preparing for the school year began on July
1.
Wallis, the former Superintendent of Palestine ISD, began reading about the new superentindents job in mid-Spring, as it appeared
in postings on Texas Education websites, but
hadnt initially considered applying for the position.
I went wow, this is a pretty cool school
district. This district has a great deal to offer
for kids but, I thought, No, I need to finish
what I started in Palestine, Wallis said. Ill
be derned if that very day the phone doesnt
ring and its the head-hunter in charge of the
search for Bryan ISDs superintendent.
Although Wallis said he was interested in
the opening, he was uncomfortable leaving
Palestine ISD after three years, because that
district was in the middle of finishing a series
of construction projects.

My wife told me, If the doors open, walk ones alike. Its got diversity. Diversitys a great
through it, and if its supposed to shut, it will, thing because you get to learn about different
Wallis said. I called [the head-hunter] back cultures, about other ways of living, other beand told him Id put my name in.
The rest is history.
Bryan ISD has some of the best programs
As a parent of two children, an
in the nation, Wallis said. Youve got just
educator, and, now, superintenabout everything that a student
dent, Wallis said hes impressed
needs to be successful.
with the variety of programs offered in the district.
Bryan ISD has some of the best programs lief systems, and it opens your mind. I think
in the nation, Wallis said. Youve got just diversity should be celebrated.
about everything that a student needs to be A part of this diversity is the wide array of
successful. If youre not involved in Bryan ISD, opinions and perspectives that community
I dont see that you can be involved anywhere, members have, which Wallis says the district
because theres something for everyone here. will use and welcome.
In becoming adjusted to the new school dis- Youve got poverty, youve got single-parent
trict and the programs it offers, Wallis says he families, youve got the affluent, youve got the
also appreciates the resources, like Texas A&M well-educated, youve got those that are workUniversity, available to students and the diver- ing three jobs to make ends meet, Wallis said.
sity of the community.
We all have differences of opinion, and in
Whats not to want to be here? Theres a lot Bryan, were going to embrace those. Were
of great things in Bryan, Wallis said. Its not going to do the best job we can to do whats
a homogeneous school district where every- best for the kids.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE THINGS?

Food:

Mexican

Pastime: Coaching
his kids,
Golf

Movies: Independence Day &

The American President

Website: ESPN.com

Gadget: iPad 2

School
Subject:

History,
Science

Book: Quiet Strength Sports

Team:
by Tony Dungy

Texas
Rangers

School Board approves new dress code

At a meeting on June 13, the School Board approved a new dress code policy that requires shorts
and skirts to extend to the top of the knee, male
students to be clean-shaven with tucked-in shirts
and prohibits athletic shorts and sweatpants outside of approved activity, among other changes.
The change in policy will be enforced starting
with the 2011-2012 school year and includes the
following changes:
Sleeves are required on garments in all
grades.
Boys shirts must be tucked in the waistband.
Pants/slacks must be appropriately sized, worn
at the waist, and belted.
Acceptable shorts, dresses, skorts and skirts
must reach the top of the knee or longer.
Male students must be clean-shaven; fuzzy and
stubby beginning growth must be shaved. Side-

burns must not extend below the earlobe.

Garments revealing the shoulders/undergarments are prohibited.
Students are prohibited from wearing garments that are excessively tight.
Oversized, baggy clothing and those with holes
or tears are prohibited.
Hair shall not be worn to cover facial features.
Leggings may not be worn as the primary garment.
Costume contact lenses are prohibited.
The full listing of Dress and Grooming policies
for BISD students can be seen on bryanisd.org.
The change was enacted a year and half after the
Student Council petitioned the School Board to
adopt a more lenient dress code policy to reduce
the amount of time administrators and teachers
spent enforcing the policy.

One such way Wallis plans to incorporate campuses and remain in-touch with administhese differing opinions is through parent, trative personnel throughout the district.
faculty, community member and student com- Im going to walk around and Im going to
mittees.
go from class to class, Wallis said. Students

Ive always found it interesting that may not know my name in a district this size
we bring in teachers,
right off the bat, but theyll
we bring in community
know that the big bald-headed
members, but we dont
guy is the superintendent.
ask kids a lot of the time,
One of the things Wallis says
Wallis said. I plan on
hes not interested in doing,
working with student advihowever, is making changes
sories and councils that will
for shock-value.
come to me occaisionally. I
For any leader to come in
want to hear whats going
and just start making changes
on at Bryan High School.
for changes sake is wrong,
Wallis doesnt just want to
Wallis said. I was told one
hear whats going on at each
time by one of my mentors that
school though, he wants to
there are fences built for a reasee it and be apart of it himson and before you tear them
self.
down, find out why they were
Dr. Thomas Wallis joins
My goal is to be in every
built.
Bryan ISD as the new
classroom in this district be Although the public educaSuperintendent.
fore Christmas Break, which
tion system is facing many cutincludes all 23 schools, evbacks, Wallis says he is excited
ery single class. I want to meet every single about the potential he sees in the district.
teacher by the time Christmas rolls around, What I do believe is that if Bryan ISD emWallis said. So, Ill be at your school a great ployees and Bryan ISD students and Bryan
deal, youll never know what door Im going to ISD community members will sing the praises
walk in. It may be the back door, it may be the of Bryan ISD, and talk about all of the great
front door, it may be the cafeteria. Its not an things in Bryan, then I think Bryan will be
I gotcha!. Its that I want to know the people known not just state-wide, but will be known
in the district. I want to get to know the kids. I nationally, Wallis said. I think therell be
want to know what makes them tick.
people flying in to find out what Bryan ISD is
Equipped with an iPhone and iPad, Wallis doing. Its real-world America.
says hes taking advantage of modern technology to allow him the ability to be on school

Principals, Advisors to
oversee grade levels

For the 2011-2012 school year, Assistant Principals and Academic

Advisors will be assigned students based on grade level instead of
by alphabetical order. With this change, the assistant principals and
academic advisors will also be paired to the same offices.
9th Grade (Room 3101): G.H. Childress (Assistant Principal)

Carolyn Waldon (Advisor)
10th Grade (Room 2201): Hugo Ibarra (Assistant Principal)

Andrea Kubala (Advisor)
11th Grade (Room 3201): Blake Allen (Assistant Principal)

TaShauna Green (Advisor)
12th Grade (Room 5180): Tara Hunter (Associate Principal)


Justin Estes (Advisor)
Dean of Instruction Donna Willett, Lead Academic Advisor and IB
Diploma Student Advisor Heidi Sauer, 504 & ELL Coordinator Kay
Leifeste, Career and Technology Advisor Kelley Sommerlatte and
Professional Registrar Cindy Wolfe will remain in the Blue Campus
Academic Advising Center for the 2011-2012 school year.

Dr. Wallis on issues facing schools

With the school boards decision
In the most recent session
to change the district dress code for
of the Texas Legislature, a cut
the 2011-2012 school year, many
of $4 billion dollars to public
attributed the change to Dr. Waleducation was approved.
lis, but he says he had no initial plans to modify
To deal with this change, Wallis said that
the dress code.
the district, along with other districts across
My initial plan was to not do anything with
Texas, will be forced to make difficult changthe dress code my first year, Wallis said. Now, I
es.
support the dress code. I support the dress code
Were going to have to learn, in Bryan,
100% and were going to enforce it.
to live within our means. With public edu The new dress code was developed and procation, with government, we all have to live
posed by a committee that the district formed
within our means. Wallis said. That will
before Wallis was considbe the subject of some
ered for the position of suof the conversations
With public education,
perintendent.
were going to have in
with government, we all
Ive heard a lot of people
the next year or so.
say were not going to en Such conversations
have to live within our
force it, but watch and see
the district will be
means.
because we will enforce it,
having to find possible
Wallis said.
extraneous expenses

include looking at existing district programs
For the first time, students
and asking, How many kids does this proacross the state will be required to
gram serve? How much does it cost?.
take the STAAR exam, which re Wallis said that he wants to be able to offer
places the TAKS as the statewide
as many classes as possible, but will possiassessment.
bly have to cut electives that are less popular
Wallis says he disagrees with the decision to
amongst the student body.
change the assessment.
Although Wallis said he feels the cuts were
Ill support the STAAR test, Wallis said. But
wrong, he will support the decision of the
the reason I disagreed with it was that in a finanlegislators.
cial crisis, this was the wrong time to implement
As a public educator, I disagree with the
a STAAR test.
cuts being made to education, Wallis said.
A new exam, Wallis said, requires more money
But, I went to some sessions in Austin and
for teacher training and exam consultants for the
I sat in the chamber room and I heard them
district.
speak, and theyve got some valid argu To give another assessment in the same year
ments.
that theyre taking money and resources away
For the 2012 Fiscal Year, using prior-year
makes it very difficult on a teacher, Wallis said.
funding formulas, it is estimated that Bryan
If a teacher doesnt feel comfortable, the kids
ISD will lose $5,861,888 in state funding.
arent going to do well.

DRESS
CODE

BUDGET
CUTS

STAAR
TEST

Easy to Access
Google Apps can be accessed
from any computer with an internet connection. Email, Google
Docs and other apps do not require the purchase of any other
software or instillation. This also
reduces the need for email attachments (documents can be shared
instantly) and completely elimiThe new Google Apps nates the problems created by
accounts will replace trying to access files with different
student First Class versions of a particular software.
e-mail accounts this
school
year. Stu- Global Collaboration
dents will be able Students are able to collaborate
to access most of the on documents without being in
Google services through the same room as others in their
group. Documents are updated
a Bryan ISD account.

in real-time and allow for communication across any distance

and provide a log of revisions so
others can see who and how documents have been changed by others members of the group.

Increased Email Storage

Students were limited to 25MB
of data with FirstClass (about the
size of 20 digital pictures). With
Gmail, student accounts will increase to 25GB of data (about the
size of 7000 digital pictures).

Privacy and Security

Although students will be uploading their work to Google servers, they will still own and con-

trol all content. Google does not

share or look at any user generated content. In addition, because
BISD has partnered with Google
through Apps for Education, information uploaded to the servers
will not be shared with Google's
advertisers and all content will be
secured.

Fiscally Smart
With the reduction of technology staff and budgets throughout the district, Google Apps for
Education helps BISD continue
to meet the needs of students by
providing email and storage space
for free while remaining secure,
available and reliable.

Though Bryan ISD will continue to monitor student use of technology resources, the district will not be archiving communication or data through Google Apps for Education.

Around Campus
News & events at Bryan High School

Meet the Vikes

Hosted by the Athletic Department, Meet the Vikes will
be held on August 18 from 6:00
P.M. to 7:00 P.M. in the Silver
cafeteria.
Schedule Changes
If there is a problem with
a students schedule for the
2010-2011 school year, stu-

dents should talk with their

Academic Advisor by noon on
August 19.
Student Council Meeting
The first Student Council meeting will take place on
Wednesday, August 24 at 4:00
P.M in room 1200. The Class
Councils will meet from 3:454:00 before Student Council.

Date

Pep 9/23
Rallies 10/07
10/14
9/09

Significance

Round Rock McNeil

Ellison (Homecoming)
A&M Consolidated
Copperas Cove

Date

Dinner

9/09

Cheerleader - Hamburger
Band - Spaghetti
Student Council Tailgate
Shy-Anne - Chicken

10/28 Junior Class - Roadhouse

Date

Dress-Up Theme

8/31

Animal Print/Camo

9/07

Beach Attire

9/14
DressUp 9/28
Days 10/05
10/12

Favorite Sports Jersey

Twin Day
Wear/Decorate Trash bag
Western

10/19 Bling or Winter Attire

10/26 Pink Out - Go All Pink
11/02

Mourn Temple

Homecoming Week

Picture Day
Underclassman pictures will
be taken on Sept. 2 in Gym 3
during English classes. Information regarding such pictures

will be distributed by English

teachers.

Student Council Sponsor Cyndi

Owens by Wednesday, Sept. 7.

Homecoming Elections
Elections for the 2011-2012
Homecoming King and Queen
will occur during the week of
Sept. 12.
Clubs looking to nominate a
King or Queen should submit
their nomination and $25 to

Choir Concert Just Short

The Bryan High School Choirs
will be performing in their first
concert of the year on Monday,
Sept. 26 in the Rudder High
School Auditorium starting at
7:30 P.M.

Important Dates

Opponent

10/28 Belton (Parents/Srs night)

9/23
Football 10/07
Dinners 10/14

Parent Open House

Open House and Parent Orientation will be on Monday,
August 29 from 6:00 P.M. to
7:30 P.M.

Mon

Tues

Wed

Thurs

Fri

MixMatch

Favorite
Color

Superhero

Crazy
Socks
Fresh
Kicks

GO BIG
BLUE All blue

Date

First Day of School

Aug. 22, 2011

Labor Day Holiday

Sept. 5, 2011

End of 1st Six Weeks

Sept. 23, 2011

Begin 2nd Six Weeks

Sept. 26, 2011

School Holiday

Oct. 10, 2011

End 2nd Six Weeks

Nov. 4, 2011

Begin 3rd Six Weeks

Nov. 7, 2011

Thanksgiving Holidays
End 3rd Six Weeks
Winter Break
Staff Development
FYP Days

Nov.23-25, 2011
Dec. 16, 2011
Dec. 19-30, 2011
Jan. 2, 2012
Jan. 3-6, 2012

Begin 4th Six Weeks

Jan. 9, 2012

MLK Day Holiday

Jan. 16, 2012

End 4th Six Weeks

Feb. 17, 2012

Presidents Day/Bad
Weather Day Holiday

Feb. 20, 2012

Begin 5th Six Weeks

Feb. 21, 2012

Spring Break

March 12-16, 2012

End 5th Six Weeks

April 5, 2012

Good Friday Holiday/

Bad Weather Day

April 6, 2012

Begin 6th Six Weeks

April 9, 2012

End of Semester

May 24, 2012

Bad Weather Day

May 25, 2012

FYP Days

Regular Bell Schedule

May 28-June 1,
2012

Activity Bell Schedule