Education

TEA meets privately with parents

ODESSA AMERICAN

The Texas Education Agency met with parents of ESL/bilingual students on Wednesday night as part of their week-long visit in the Ector County Independent School District.The TEA-led meeting was completely closed from the public, as well as school...... Full story

Senior Kenya Rendon leads young girls in a dance during the Future Paws Dance Clinic Saturday at Permian High School.

Panther Paws prepare for 'Dance Explosion'

PHOTO BY HEATHER LEIPHART

Senior Kenya Rendon leads young girls in a dance Saturday during the Future Paws Dance Clinic at Permian High School. Many of the students will dance in an upcoming “Dance Explosion” at Permian. Dance Explosion is sponsored by the...... Full story

President Barack Obama talks with Janet Nieto, left, Gwynelle Condino, center, and Ana Nieto, right, all from Presidio, Texas, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, for the White House Science Fair. All three girls have successfully competed in a number of rocketry challenges and have attended the NASA Student Launch Initiative Advanced Rocketry program. Obama hosted the second White House Science Fair celebrating the student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the country.

Presidio Rocketry team travels to White House Science Fair

BY CAYLOR BALLINGER

Three students from Presidio Independent School District traveled to the nation’s capital to present their rocket exhibits to President Obama at the second White House Science Fair and were treated to a group hug from the commander in...... Full story

Blanton Elementary parents make Valentines for their children at the school during a

Parents make 'PS I love you' valentines for children

PHOTO BY MARK STERKEL

Blanton Elementary parents make Valentines for their children at the school during a "PS I Love You" session Wednesday morning. Several schools throughout ECISD offer the program that provides the supplies to make cards that are presented to the...... Full story

Permian fans Aubrey Abalos, from left, Brandi Abalos, Tiffany Abalos, Marcella Carmona and Daisy Sanchez watch the Odessa High versus Permian High boys' soccer game Tuesday at Ratliff Stadium in temperatures which were forecast to drop to the lower 30's.

Braving the weather

PHOTO BY HEATHER LEIPHART

Above, Permian fans Aubrey Abalos, from left, Brandi Abalos, Tiffany Abalos, Marcella Carmona and Daisy Sanchez watch the Odessa High versus Permian High boys' soccer game Tuesday at Ratliff Stadium in temperatures which were forecast to drop to the...... Full story

ECISD workshop helps to set agenda for next board meeting

BY CAYLOR BALLINGER

The Ector County Independent School District’s Business Operations department gave an overview of its functions and there was a discussion of Superintendent Hector Mendez’s goals at Tuesday’s board workshop meeting.The meeting,...... Full story

Hospital district votes to fund UTPB nursing program

BY GABRIELLA LOPEZ

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin’s impending bachelor of science in nursing program is getting a little help from its friends since the Ector County Hospital District board approved a resolution for an endowment trust Tuesday...... Full story

Under the watchful eye of a Great Blue Heron, a male and female Hooded Merganser take flight Monday morning from one of the duck ponds at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. A

Morning at the duck pond

PHOTO BY MARK STERKEL

Under the watchful eye of a Great Blue Heron, a male and female Hooded Merganser take flight Monday morning from one of the duck ponds at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. A cold, cloudy Monday morning gave way to sunny conditions during...... Full story

ECISD MENUS: Feb. 6, 2012 - Feb. 10, 2012

oalife@oaoa.com

Following are the menus for Feb. 6 through Feb. 10.PRE-K BREAKFAST Monday: Chocolate chip muffin top, juice, milk. Tuesday: Kolache, juice, milk. Wednesday: Gogurt and graham crackers, juice, milk. Thursday: Berry smash bread, juice, milk....... Full story

SCHOOL NOTEBOOK: Feb. 6, 2012 - Feb. 11, 2012

oaschools@oaoa.com

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BLANTON Daily: 7:45 a.m., Blanton news team presented by Monica Nieto’s first-grade class. Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., “P.S. I Love You!” parent workshop. Friday: Blanton spirit day, wear blue and...... Full story

TEA in Odessa, Midland next week

Officials ready for agency visit

BY CAYLOR BALLINGER

The Texas Education Agency plans to intervene in both Ector County and Midland school districts next week due to some deficiencies in their programs, but both districts said they are ready for the visit.Since Dec. 14, ECISD officials have known TEA...... Full story

UTPB Hosts Business Professionals Of America Regional Conference

UTPB Staff Writers

The Regional Conference for Business Professionals of America was hosted by UTPB on Friday, January 27, 2012. The conference offered 60 contests to more than 300 participants providing the opportunity for high school students to showcase their...... Full story

Lola Torres, right, practices the 3 and 4-year-old dance routine during the Future Paws Dance Clinic Saturday at Permian High School.

Panther Paws dance clinic

PHOTO BY HEATHER LEIPHART

Above, Senior Kenya Rendon leads young girls in a dance during the Future Paws Dance Clinic Saturday at Permian High School. Below, Permian High School's Panther Paws dance team sponsored a dance clinic for local girls ages 3 to ninth grade...... Full story

Local high school musicians head to All-State

BY CAYLOR BALLINGER

For the musically inclined, being selected to perform at the annual All-State concert is a huge honor.This year’s All-State performers will include eight band and choir students from Odessa. The process to be selected as an All-State performer...... Full story

Prospective students to get taste of college experience

BY CAYLOR BALLINGER

Students looking for higher-education opportunities in the Permian Basin area may need to come to Falcon Day.Falcon Day is an event put on four times a year at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin for its prospective students. It will take...... Full story