MISD Clubs Grooming Boys into Gentlemen

Chivalry isn’t dead, and staff at Mansfield ISD schools is making sure young males understand that.

Some MISD campuses host after-school clubs, like Men of Distinction, that are dedicated to transforming boys into gentlemen.

At D.P. Morris Elementary School, the boys actually meet during school hours to learn different lessons to present themselves well and treat others with respect.

The club, Men of Morris, meets every Friday morning for young males ages 8-10.

“They learn how integrity works and how to become a productive citizen, which is in line with the district’s vision,” said Cash Rountree, third-grade teacher and co-founder of Men of Morris.

The boys learned to give a firm handshake and keep eye contact.

Rountree and fellow teacher Matt Koceich wanted to start the club to teach the boys important life principles that will help them for years to come.

“Being a man is a very hard thing to do,” Rountree continued. “This is a right age where they can learn all of what it means to be a gentleman, and they can use what they learn to have a better future.”

Men of Morris is in its first year, and Rountree said he is starting to see a positive difference in the way the boys act with teachers and other students.

Third-grader Maxwell Miles said he can use the skills at home as well.

“I like learning how to be a man and a gentleman,” the 9-year-old said. “When you get older, you have to take care of yourself; and if you’re a nice person, you can get a job.”

Many Mansfield ISD elementary schools take part in different weekly clubs during the school day in an effort to get more students to take part in extra and co-curricular activities. For a list of all school clubs and activities, visit the MISD schools calendar.

Bilingual Learners Break Language Barriers

What happens when you combine children whose primary language is English with others whose primary language is Spanish? In Mansfield ISD, the answer is a group of bilingual learners.

Two-way dual language programs are now available at Erma Nash Elementary School for kindergarteners and at D.P. Morris Elementary School for kindergarteners and first-graders.

The English and Spanish-native students work simultaneously learning both languages in every subject.

“The students do an amazing job helping each other with words or pronunciations and understanding what the teacher is saying at times,” said Tara Sublette, principal at Morris Elementary. “They learn together, they play together, they socialize, they eat together, and language is never a problem.”

Anderson teaches the students how to read.

The programs allow students to be college and career ready by becoming bilingual, bi-literate and multicultural.

Sublette noted that the teachers work very hard to ensure that fun lessons are made in both languages.

Rebecca Anderson, a two-way dual language teacher, said it’s the social aspect of making friends and breaking barriers that has impressed her the most.

“We have students from all different schools and all different backgrounds,” Anderson said. “They’ve learned how to get along. They didn’t know each other at the beginning of the year, and they all love to come and be friends and learn each other’s languages."

Two-way dual language programs are part of MISD’s Power of Choice initiative. View more information about what’s offered here.