Academics News
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Ode to the Drama Teacher
By Samantha Bennett, Guest Column | Tuesday, February 07, 2012 9:40 AM
(Permission was granted by the author for the reprint of this column. You can find her work at: http://www.TheOrganizedArtistCompany.com)
I am not exaggerating when I say that I owe my very life to the teachers, coaches and camp counselors (yes, I went to theatre camp – Camp Harand, anyone?) who taught me how to act and, in the process, taught me how to live.
This past October I was delighted to be asked to present two days worth of workshops for CETA (California Educational Theatre Association: http://www.cetoweb.org) at their annual retreat at Asilomar, CA. We had a blast. o honor them and the extraordinary work of teachers everywhere, I wrote this poem.
Ode To The Drama Teacher
And as you stand there: Aghast
Because we’re three days from Opening Night and
Scholastic Journalism Week: Celebration Time
By Jeanne Acton, UIL Journalism Director | Tuesday, February 07, 2012 9:28 AM
It’s time to party.
Or at least celebrate.
Feb. 19-25 is Scholastic Journalism Week.
Too often, advisers and students forget to celebrate and honor themselves. Deadlines rule the roost in journalism rooms — especially in February.
Computer Application Contest Changes with Evolving Technology
By Linda Tarrant, State Computer Applications Director | Tuesday, February 07, 2012 9:23 AM
Since the Computer Application Contest is based on Microsoft Office, we will continue to make incremental changes to keep abreast of the evolving technology. This year, the competitors will be using only Office 2007 or Office 2010. The format of these two versions of software is fairly consistent.
Access seems to have the most differences, including the following:
• Access 2010 has a new File ribbon that replaces the features found on the Office button of Access 2007.
• Access 2010 report wizard has no Style element, so tests primarily use the "None" style in Access 2007 to produce similar reports.
Academic Director Retires from League
By McKensie Wallesen, UIL intern | Tuesday, February 07, 2012 8:44 AM
At the Capital Conference, Academic Director Treva Dayton presents a session to help academic coordinators organize and plan the upcoming year.
Photo by Julianne Coyne
Academic Director Treva Dayton may finally have time to eat.
After 22 years of service as a UIL contest consultant or staff member, Dayton decided to retire on Jan. 31.
“Often I would go to Treva’s office in late afternoon, and she would look up from a pile of work and say, ‘Oh my gosh! I haven’t eaten today,” Journalism Director Jeanne Acton said. “It was crazy. She was so driven in her work that food just escaped her mind.”
While eating isn’t Treva’s main focus for retirement, she will have more time since she no longer will be running the largest academic competition program in the nation.
State CX Debate Final Rounds to be Held at State Capitol
By Jana Riggins, Speech and Debate Director | Tuesday, February 07, 2012 8:41 AM
Photo by Jeanne Acton
Football has its Cowboys Stadium. Marching Band fills the Alamodome. Basketballs bounce at the Erwin Center. Track & Field sets records at UT’s Myers Stadium.
Now, the championship rounds of Cross-Examination Debate will have a new venue worthy of its competition. The UIL State Office is pleased to announce that the semifinal and final rounds of all conferences will be held at the Texas State Capitol.
Essay Contest Reminder and A+ Hosting Tips
By David Trussell, Assistant Academic Director | Tuesday, December 06, 2011 9:45 AM
December tends to be one of the quieter periods in the UIL calendar for high school academics, but as you are wrapping up your semester and planning for the spring, don’t forget about our newest activity — the Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Competition.
Scholarship money is awarded to the top three statewide winners, and the top three winners from each of the competition’s 10 regions will have their essays added to the official historical record in the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.
Academic Department Adds New Resources for Students and Coaches
By Treva Dayton, Academic Director | Monday, December 05, 2011 12:10 PM
Many of you are no doubt looking forward to a well-deserved break from your school responsibilities and the chance to spend time with family and friends or some quiet time to yourself or the chance to do something other than work that you truly enjoy. I hope that despite an often hectic holiday schedule of activities you find some time to rest and relax.
We’ve been working throughout the summer and fall to provide updated resources in all high school academic areas, and we trust that you’ve been using the newer information now posted on our website under each academic contest. In recent months, we’ve added a few additional items.
Legislative Council Approves Theatrical Design Contest Officially
By Ronald L. Watson, Theatrical Design State Contest Director | Monday, December 05, 2011 12:06 PM
A marvelous thing happened in October to advance the state of theatre education in Texas. At its regular meeting on Oct. 17, the UIL Legislative Council voted to make the Theatrical Design Contest an officially sanctioned contest by the League. Officially sanctioned means that the Council recognizes the educational benefits that the Theatrical Design Contest provides students in the state of Texas and encourages all schools to participate. The contest will not be a part of the district academic meet, though.
The Theatrical Design Contest began as a pilot contest in the spring of 2006 and has been held every year since. Growth in participation has been tremendous. There were 36 entries in 2006 for the first contest and more than 300 entries for last year’s contest. Participants include students from schools all over the state and from every conference from A to 5A. State finalists and winners have come from all five conferences as well.
Documentation Details for 2011-12
By Jana Riggins, Speech and Debate Director | Monday, December 05, 2011 11:55 AM
As you prepare for competition, one of the most important things prose and poetry performers must do is to secure appropriate documentation for the performance categories.
Securing documentation is not a task that can be left until the last minute. The categories were designed to document easily, but you should secure proper documentation in advance of invitational and district meets.
Do this before you put your heart and soul into analyzing and rehearsing a literary work for competition. If documentation is insufficient, you won’t even get to compete, so knowing the requirements and making certain you have met the contest rules is an integral part of preparation.
Top Two Debate Areas Announced
By Jana Riggins, Speech and Debate Director | Monday, December 05, 2011 11:53 AM
Infrastructure and Immigration are the possible Cross-Examination Debate topics for the 2012-13 season. Following the national topic selection meeting in August attended by state association directors and leading debate coaches and then a preliminary ballot distributed and counted by states earlier this fall, two topics emerged as national contenders. Infrastructure and Immigration received the most votes from debate coaches across the nation.
A vote to select the final topic is now being conducted. Texas coaches have received a ballot from the State Office or they can access the ballot online. We need all schools to submit their ballot so the Texas vote will be representative of the entire state. The deadline for returning ballots to UIL is Jan. 3.