Holocaust survivor Paula Weissman is about to impart some wisdom to a group of high school students in Abilene from the city’s three public high schools.

She will speak to students at a joint event at Wylie High’s Performing Arts Center at 10 a.m. on Monday.

It’s part of his “Me Go America” ​​program. But Weissman has approached his life with students for years.

She’s roughly the same age as Anne Frank, the literary face of Nazi Germany’s cruel treatment of the region’s Jewish people, if she had.

Weissman will share stories from his youth, time spent in concentration camps, and stories from his life over the past 70 years in New York after the war. It’s impressive the celebrities and influencers she has met on her way.

Although it’s long, there’s a video available online of a recent conversation she had in a similar setting, where she tells her story. He can be viewed below or by visiting Youtube.com and searching for his name.

More information about his life is available on the Jewish Heritage Museum website, mjhnyc.org.

Around town recently

Over the past few weeks, there have been many funny images and videos shared of students doing great things in their communities.

From the Abilene High School FFA helping with the Mission: Thanksgiving fundraiser to the marching bands parading through the city center during the unofficial kickoff to the holiday season in the city, there was plenty to see.

Take a look, courtesy of the organization’s social media:

Abilene High FFA students volunteered to help raise donations at a recent Mission: Thanksgiving drop-off.

Abilene ISD fine arts students sang and performed in front of cheerful crowds as part of City Sidewalks, a return to normal after COVID-19 issues led to last year’s cancellation.

Wylie High School’s FFA students in the broadcast program qualified for the state competition last week and received a strong start from their peers. They finished the event as a finalist. Congratulations.

The students at Abilene Christian School enjoyed quality treats, books, and some time with the big guy.

Revolution Strings took their popular music to the Brookhollow and River Oaks Roads. Make sure to follow them to see when and where they might appear next with some Christmas tunes.

Decision time

Administrators at the Abilene Independent School District are battling against the clock over whether to part with the Active Care health plans of the teachers’ pension system for current employees or stay in the program.

Over the past two years, AISD has been able to operate both in and out of the plans thanks to rules set by previous legislators. But last year, those rules were changed to eliminate both options.

Currently, the district offers a private plan through Aetna as well as Active Care plans.

At the end of the calendar year, the trustees must decide whether they wish to remain in the program. The directors will meet for the last regular meeting of the year at 6 p.m. Monday at One AISD Center, 241 Pine St.

To leave Active Care, the district must be out of the system for five years before eventually joining. If this option is taken, the district could provide a number of plans through private insurers. But the prices could be higher.

For more agenda items go to abileneisd.org.

Timothy Chipp covers education and is a general assignment reporter for Abilene Reporter-News. If you value local news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.