That's a wrap!
     For H.G. Olsen Elementary School fifth graders in teacher Rhonda Burger's room, some practice at gift wrapping doubled as a math lesson on figuring volume, area and perimeter during a class session on Monday, Dec. 17.
More ...

Challenge TV show to air Saturday
      A team of four Port Aransas High School students lost to a Corpus Christi high school team in a game show-style academic competition televised on Monday, Dec. 17 The PAHS students lost, 245-110, to Carroll High School, in the game show called "Challenge!" on KEDT public television. A repeat of the show with the Port Aransas team is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec.
More ...

Little elves
     Kindergarteners arriving at their two H.G. Olsen Elementary School classrooms on the morning of Monday, Dec. 17, were delighted to find that Santa Claus had left elf hats as gifts on all of the children's desks. The hats even were customized with each child's name emblazoned in silver glitter. The students responded by writing letters of thanks to St. Nick. From left, classmates Katie Pitts, Kylee Barwise and Maddie Garlough work on their letters.
More ...

LAST DAY BEFORE HOLIDAYS
Writers' tea, caroling set
      The community is invited to the annual H.G. Olsen Elementary School Writers' Tea tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 21. It will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the school. Each kindergarten through fifth grade classroom will feature students ' compositions, with students choosing their favorite.
More ...

EDUCATION NOTES
Weigh drug-testing carefully
      There is a lack of substantive discussion in our community about teen drug and alcohol use/abuse. Not to suggest people don't recognize it's a "problem", but overall, dialogue has lacked continuity and direction.
More ...

For a good cause
     Members of Port Aransas High School's service-learning class present a check to officials with the Helping Hands Food Pantry Tuesday, Dec. 18. The students raised $500 for the charity by creating ceramic bowls and selling meals of soup in them as a class project. Deadlines
More ...

PAISD lists penalties for violations of drug policy
      Students who are involved in extra-curricular activities and stand accused of violating controlled-substance policies at Port Aransas High School face increasingly severe consequences each time they break the rules.
More ...

Legislature mandates statewide drug testing
BY DAN PARKER SOUTH JETTY REPORTER
      Port Aransas High School is one of hundreds of high schools around the state where students could undergo testing for steroids this school year. But Port Aransas school officials have no way of knowing whether the testing will be done this year at PAHS. And when they do find out, they won't have more than two days' notice before the testing actually takes place.
More ...