May 23, 2008

News Release

TISD Students GEAR-UP for High School

            The GEAR-UP Coordinators at John Tyler High School wish to extend an invitation to you to attend the first Pride Day for incoming freshmen students on Friday, May 23, 2008 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

            The event will take place at John Tyler High School varsity gym, located at 1120 NNW Loop 323, in Tyler.  The Pride Day program includes performances by the clubs on campus, including the John Tyler band and various dance groups.  In between performances, representatives from the school will speak with students about programs available to them this summer, as well as the upcoming school year.

“We want them to get excited about coming to John Tyler,” said Vanessa McFarland, GEAR-UP Coordinator.  “We want them to take pride in their new school they will attend in the fall.”

More than 550 students from five middle schools will attend the half-day event.

GEAR-UP stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs.  It is a competitive grant awarded to the University of Texas at Tyler and is designed to increase the number of low income students to enter and succeed in post secondary education.  It is a six-year grant to provide services at high poverty middle and high schools.  The grant services an entire cohort of students and follows that cohort from 7^th grade through high school.  Tyler ISD is the partner school district for the UT Tyler grant.

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