Week Long Arts Trip a Great Success

Spring break was an opportunity for exploration for 33 Falcons. Twenty-three students, five parents, and five faculty members visited London during spring break. Mr. Nicholas Brandt, theater teacher, planned a jam-packed itinerary through Explorica. Mrs. Christine Voigt, curriculum director, Mr. Daniel Harrelson, band director, and Mrs. Robbie Zeske, art teacher, helped with planning and chaperoning along with Ms. Melanie Gibson, librarian, who also attended as chaperone.
 
The group arrived early on March 6, 2016 and hit the ground running. Steve English, Explorica’s tour guide, led the group to Westminster Cathedral for Mass, then on to Covent Garden for shopping and sightseeing. Mr. English and Mr. Brandt packed the following days with activity, and students and adults quickly adapted to the fast pace. Days began with traditional English breakfasts and ended with dinners of fish and chips, bangers and mash, and curry.
 
The group visited Windsor Castle, the Tower of London, rode the London Eye, and took a Thames River cruise. Students participated in two workshops, one focusing on musical theater and the other on classical acting skills with an actor from the Globe Theater. Students had the opportunity to visit the British Museum, the Tate Modern, the National Gallery, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
 
The group traveled by foot and London underground almost everywhere and had the chance to see many famous sights, including the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. They also attended three outstanding performances: the musicals Billy Elliot and Wicked, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3.
 
On the final day, the group traveled to Shakespeare’s home in Stratford-upon-Avon and Brasenose College, Oxford. Everyone returned safely with souvenirs, memories, and a greater appreciation of the arts and history.
 

For more information on Bishop Dunne Catholic School's programs and trips see the school's website: www.bdcs.org or www.Dunnesports.com.

The School's 13th Annual Golf Tournament is Monday, April 4, 2016, at Stevens Golf Park in Oak Cliff. For more information contact Lydia Torrez at ltorrez@bdcs.org. To register see: www.bdcs.org/golf

Bishop Dunne Science Teacher Perri Carr Named District Winner in the 2016 Shell Science Lab Challenge Administered by the NSTA

18 District Winners Competing For Up To $93,000 in Prizes, Including a $20,000 School Science Lab Makeover Support Package

Perri Carr, a science teacher at Bishop Dunne since 2013, has been named a district winner in the Shell Science Lab Challenge, a competition for middle and high school science teachers.

Sponsored by the Shell Oil Company and administered by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the competition encouraged teachers (grades 6-12), who have found innovative ways to deliver quality lab experiences with limited school and laboratory resources, to share their approaches for a chance to win a school science lab makeover support package valued at $20,000. Carr is one of 18 district winners named, from which five national finalists will be chosen, and from the national finalists a grand prize winner will be selected.

Carr has taught Advanced Placement science for 33 years. Her Bachelor of Science degree is from Texas A&M University and her Master’s degree in Science was earned at Texas Christian University.

Mrs. Carr teaches AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, and pre-AP Biology. Her specialty is the incorporation of student field studies and STEM projects in her classes. A current AP Environmental Science exam reader, she also leads AP Biology and AP Environmental Science preparation workshops for teachers and students. Her recent accomplishments include being selected as a Toyota International Teacher for the Galapagos program in 2008, repeating as a Texas Healthy Habitat grant winner for a prairie restoration and green roof project, authoring a lab for a college environmental science text, developing a Duke TIP class, and earning her Texas Master Naturalist certification. She has led student field and mission trips to the Galapagos and Costa Rica. She developed and led a marine biology field course in the Bahamas for several years and looks forward to exploring similar innovative programs at Bishop Dunne. A lifelong learner, she recently took a graduate course on climate change.

To enter the Shell Science Lab Challenge, science teachers of grades 6-12 in the United States and Canada were asked to describe their school’s current laboratory resources, explain why the school’s laboratory facilities might be classified as “limited” resources, and describe their approach to science education instruction utilizing their school’s current lab facilities. A panel of science educators then reviewed and selected the top entries.

As a district winner, each teacher and their school will receive a $3,000 science lab prize package that includes:

• $1,000 Shell grant to purchase lab equipment and other science education resources;
• $1,000 in donated science lab equipment from Ward’s Science;
• $300 gift certificate to the NSTA Science Store;
• One year NSTA membership for two teachers;
• NSTA Learning Center subscription for two teachers; and
• Paid registration for two teachers to attend a 2016 NSTA Area Conference on Science Education.

Recognizing that the laboratory experience is integral to science education and that many schools, especially schools in urban and rural areas, do not have the resources to invest in quality lab equipment, NSTA and Shell partnered on NSTA’s Shell Science Lab Challenge to bring much needed lab materials and resources to school districts nationwide and in Canada.

Announcement of the national finalists and grand prize winners will be on Monday, March 21, 2016.

For more information about Bishop Dunne and its Science department see the website: www.bdcs.org

About NSTA

The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA's current membership includes approximately 55,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.

About Shell Oil Company

Shell’s commitment to community and social responsibility has been in place for more than 50 years. During this time, we have contributed more than a billion dollars to support community, health and welfare, environmental, arts and cultural activities, various educational initiatives, including minority education, and diversity and inclusiveness programs in Houston and the U.S.

FOR INQUIRIES CONTACT: Shell Oil Company Media Line +1 (713) 241- 4544 or Cindy Workosky, (703) 312-9248

Bishop Dunne Wrestlers Compete at State: Individuals Win 2nd and 3rd place, Team Places 6th Over-all

The Bishop Dunne Falcon Wrestling team finished a successful season this past weekend, February 19 and 20, 2016, at the TAPPS State Wrestling Tournament in San Antonio, TX. Bishop Dunne took seven wrestlers and six alternates to compete in the following weight classes:

126 lb - David Rodriguez

138 lb - Kameron Bryant

145 lb - Raymond Evans

Senior Houston Little won his consolation finals match 10-5 to TX School of Deaf wrestler placing 3rd and earning TAPPS All-State honors.

The Falcons earned an impressive 6th place overall team finish in a very competitive field. Congrats to the entire team and their coaches! ?#?FalconP

160 lb - Chris Ivie
152 lb - Andy Rubarth
182 lb - Houston Little
195 lb - Ja160 lb - Chris Ivie

152 lb - Andy Rubarth

182 lb - Houston Little

195 lb - Jack Gibson

Senior Andy Rubarth lost the championship match in the 152 lb weight class 3-1 to a McKinney Christian wrestler earning him 2nd place and TAPPS All-State honors.

Senior Houston Little won his consolation finals match 10 to 5 vs. his opponent from the TX School of Deaf wrestler, placing 3rd and earning TAPPS All-State honors.

The Falcons earned an impressive 6th place overall Team Finish in a very competitive field.

Bishop Dunne congratulates the team and Head Coach Vice Principal Stephen Guerrero, in his 19th year teaching and coaching at Bishop Dunne, and assistant coaches Vladimir Sosa, BD Class of  '03, and former BL wrestler Andrew Rohe.

For more information on Bishop Dunne see the school's website: www.bdcs.org and www.Dunnesports.com

The school is hosting National Geographic Photographer Joel Sartore on Thursday, February 25, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium. The public is invited to attend his lecture and see his photos of rare and now-extinct animals. See: www.bdcs.org/geotech or contact mgracheck@bdcs.org for more information.

Senior Andy Rubarth lost the championship match in the 152 lb weight class 3-1 to a McKinney Christian wrestler earning him 2nd place and TAPPS All-State honors.

Senior Houston Little won his consolation finals match 10-5 to TX School of Deaf wrestler placing 3rd and earning TAPPS All-State honors.

The Falcons earned an impressive 6th place overall team finish in a very competitive field. Congrats to the entire team and their coaches! ?#?FalconPrideBe a Falcon for a Day! Bishop Dunne has grades 6th through 12th.

Interested students in grades 5th - 11 can shadow a Bishop Dunne student for a day: for more information: www.bdcs.org  or call 214-339-6561

Falconettes Receive Superior Ratings throughout the Competition

The Bishop Dunne Falconette drill team won a Super Sweepstakes Award for receiving scores of all 90’s and above from every judge as they kicked off their competition season at the MA Regional Dance Competition at Heritage High School in Midlothian, Texas, on January 30, 2016. In addition, they won the High Point Award in Pom, Prop, and Hip Hop.

The Falconettes also received a Choreography and Best in Class in the Private High School Division.

The Falconette Officers also won a Super Sweepstakes Award and Best in Class as well for their outstanding performances in Lyrical, Contemporary, and Novelty.  The six officers additionally received a High Point and Choreography Award for their Lyrical and Novelty.

The Falconette Trio won first place for their Hip Hop performance and the Falconette 8^th Grade Ensemble won first place for their Jazz Routine.

Soloists, Audrey Blackburn, Alexis McDaniel, and Faith Colbert all received a Superior Rating for their solos at the competition. Audrey Blackburn received second Runner Up in the 15-16 year old Solo competition.

The squad will compete at the American Dance/Drill Team (ADTS) State Competition at Duncanville High School on February 27, 2016.

The Falconettes will hold auditions for the 2016-17 Drill Team on April 1, 2016. Any Bishop Dunne student can try out for the squad. Please contact Director Kelly Norman for details on the dance workshop March 29-31, 2016 at knorman@bdcs.org

For more information see the school’s website: www.bdcs.org.

--Information above provided by Coach Kelly Norman.

The public is invited to hear renowned National Geographic photographer and conservationist Joel Sartore on Thursday, February 25, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.

Joel Sartore is trying to save our ecosystem through his work with a camera. He photographs rare species and his book, RARE: Portraits of America’s Endangered Species, is one of several he’s published to document the danger of allowing the loss of these animals. He says that it is folly to think that we can destroy one species and ecosystem after another and not affect humanity. He feels that when we save a species, we are actually saving ourselves.

Sartore has contributed to Audubon Magazine, Time, Life, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated and is a regular contributor to CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood. He travels around the world to take photos of species on the verge of extinction, and then uses these in shows throughout the globe to help viewers become aware of what is happening on planet Earth. He is scheduled to project some of his photos onto two screens outside the Vatican next year.

His work was highlighted in a recent CBS Sunday Morning piece by Martha Teichner, aired on November 15, 2015, who noted he is working against the clock to document species before they disappear forever. Bishop Dunne will host Joel Sartore on February 25, 2015, at 7:00 p.m., in the school’s Milam J. Joseph Auditorium. The public is invited to attend. Tickets are $20 per person and $10 for Bishop Dunne students and their family members.

Joel Sartore Keynote Registration