In the past few years Dallas ISD sliced library funding by about 20 percent. Still, in fall 2010, the Marsh library received a much-needed renovation through a grassroots fundraising effort that put the students to work. About 40 students worked two-hour shifts, cleaning, painting and re-organizing, and in return, their library fines were waved. After that, the vision for a more active and inviting library for students, many of whom come from low-income families, took off, like a tech cafe with web access and hot chocolate. “This is not your mama’s library,” librarian Mary Virginia Meeks says. Advocate photojournalist Danny Fulgencio talked to Meeks about how these students and their library are thriving in a time of budget cuts. Read our March 2011 issue story about it here.

Pictured from left: Ed Schaffler, president and CEO of The Catholic Foundation; Most Reverend Bishop Kevin J. Farrell, D.D. of the Diocese of Dallas; 2012 Catholic Foundation Award recipient Sister Margaret Ann Moser, O.S.U.; and Tom Merkel, chair of The Catholic Foundation Board of Trustees

Sister Margaret Ann Moser, O.S.U., president of Ursuline Academy of Dallas in Preston Hollow, received the 2012 Catholic Foundation Award, which recognizes her commitment to serving the city’s Catholic community.

She was honored during the Foundation’s annual dinner a couple of weeks ago, celebrating a “year of giving.” In 2011, The Catholic Foundation gave more than $4.8 million to local churches, schools and nonprofit organizations in the Diocese of Dallas. It also presented a $10,000 grant to the Dallas Diocesan Education Endowment Trust in Sister Margaret Ann’s honor.

Sister Margaret Ann actually attended Ursuline through the high school level. She has served as president since 1989, making her the longest-serving leader in the school’s history.

“Under her leadership, Ursuline has seen great achievements in infrastructure, enrollment and parental involvement, and her example has left a lasting impression on countless Ursuline graduates,” says Catholic Foundation CEO  Edwin M. Schaffer. “Her commitment to the community extends far beyond the school as well.”

The Rangerettes Drill Team from Ursuline Academy surprised Sister Ann Margaret with a performance during the Catholic Foundation dinner.

Sister Margaret Ann led efforts to provide $10 million in campus improvements and expansion, including the addition of the Jane Neuhoff Athletic Center (1996) and the Ursuline Center for Performing Arts (2000). She has directed the Academy through a $22 million campus renewal, including construction of The French Family Science, Math, and Technology Center and new music building, as well as significant growth in endowments.

Dallas native Monica Thieu, an 18-year-old psychology sophomore at the University of North Texas, became the youngest winner ever of the “Jeopardy” college championship this week. She also happens to be a Hockaday School 2010 alumna.

Thieu won $100,000 and a guaranteed spot in the show’s next Tournament of Champions. Check out this interview with her from the show.

Thieu attends the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science at UNT. The “Jeopardy” college championship began early this month with 15 contestants whittled down from about 12,000 across the country. And one of Hockaday’s own beat them all.

Hillcrest High School held its second Ethics Fair Wednesday, sponsored by the Park Cities Rotary Club. The now annual event successfully launched last year. Students present creative displays of human values through mediums such as painting, writing, music and even video.

Journalism instructor Lori Todd sent us some pictures. Take a look at this year’s winners below:

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If you ever wanted to see what our neighborhood public schools are up to, this is your chance. The Northwest Council of PTAs host Open House events this week.

Review curriculum, meet the principals, teachers and other parents. Plus, you can learn about all the extended learning opportunities and extra-curricular activities that make these schools stand out.

The Open House idea started in 2009 with Hillcrest and W.T. White high school parents. The Northwest Council of PTAs hopes to extend it district-wide.

The first event is Tuesday at Nathan Adams. Go here for a full schedule for all the DISD schools in the Preston Hollow area.

Marsh Middle School has come a long way over the past decade or so, and there’s no doubt that the ROTC program has played a major part. We’ve written about the program several times in the Advocate.

Later this month, the PBS show “Ideas in Action With Jim Glassman” will feature Marsh ROTC in an episode about what schools are doing to end the drop-out rate. Since ROTC and Coach David Bates came to Marsh in 1999, the students involved have performed better academically, and they’re staying in school. What’s more – the program receives barely any funding from the district, which pays for Bates’ salary, and that’s it. So, it’s no surprise that Marsh is a shining example of what a school can do with limited money and resources.

Most recently, the ROTC has been raising funds to establish a military museum, which we wrote about in our October 2011 issue. It’s a student-driven project that will help Marsh’s ROTC play a role in educating younger kids in the district while also honoring neighborhood veterans. They’re still collecting memorabilia. Call Bates at 214.549.1826 or stop by the school, which is at 3838 Crown Shore.

Check out this Advocate video to learn more about the museum:

The kids at the Jewish Community Center just got a little closer to nature. On Sunday, the JCC celebrated the completion of the J Naturescape, a new playground that boasts gardens, climbing walls, hills, caves, rock piles and water features.

The idea was born out of the J Camp and Early Childhood directors looking for more ways to get children out from in front of the television and into nature. Julie and Jay Liberman led a committee that came up with the vision and found local donors to help fund the project.

North Haven Gardens continues its free series on proper lawn watering, following the city’s latest restrictions. The “Water Right” workshop is Feb. 18 at the garden center.

Elizabeth Esterchild and Judy Mank volunteer at Midway Hills Christian Church making blankets as part of Project Linus.

DeGolyer, Withers and the Northwest Council of PTAs host a special program for parents at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday at W.T. White High School.

Guest speaker Brenda Bird presents “Building Stronger Families with Love & Logic Tools.” Bird travels the country motivating parents and teachers about how to raise more responsible children. She’s a mother and former high school teacher herself.

The program will explore topics like “one sentence intervention,” the “anticipatory consequence,” and “three communication styles.”

It’s all part of “Love & Logic,” a national program that provides resources and techniques that help parents cope with power struggles and have more fun raising their kids.