Celebrate Texas Public Schools

Districts across Texas are joining the campaign to Celebrate Texas Public Schools. Our public schools bring top quality education to more than 4 million students. Talented teachers and caring staff members and administrators set a strong foundation for this success, which is truly something worth celebrating. 

— from CelebrateTPS.org

CFISD supports the Celebrate Texas Public Schools campaign and encourages campuses to get involved. Below are suggested activities that can be used. Share the ways your staff and students celebrate by sending photos and stories to communication@cfisd.net.

National Principals Month (October)

Activities:

• Shadow your principal for a day and write a report to publish in the local school/community paper or on social media about what you learned and how difficult a job it is.
• Participate in the Principal Props Video Contest for a chance to win a $200 Best Buy gift card. Visit http://www.principalsmonth.org/contest.php for more information.
• Organize an Opposite Day where students dress like the principal and the principal dresses like the students.

National School Bus Safety Week (October 20-24) 

Activities:

• Share school bus safety tips every day during morning announcements; make sure to include tips for passengers and pedestrians. 

Red Ribbon Week 
(October 23-31)

Activities: 

• Have a door decorating contest at your campus. 
• Have theme days where students can dress up based on that day’s theme. 
• Go to redribbon.org for more activities, contest and ideas on celebrating. 

Video Contest

Enter for a chance to win $1,000 for your campus. The contest is open to all public schools in Texas. Read the complete guidelines for submissions on CelebrateTPS.org.

International Visitors at CFISD NACs

CFISD recently had special visitors from China to observe two New Arrival Centers (NACs). Dr. Linda Macias, associate superintendent of curriculum and instruction and accountability, organized the event. She escorted the visitors to Hairgrove ES where they were met by principal Darynda Klein. The purpose of the visit was to observe ESL classrooms and teaching strategies. The visitors were introduced to staff and students and taken on a tour of the school, observing classroom activities and a teacher planning session. Dr. Macias also led a tour of Cy Ridge HS to observe its NAC program.

"They were very interested in the way we educate with group work instead of having the students sitting in rows of desks," Klein said, "and how we meet the individual needs of each student within the same classroom." 

Lieder After-School Clubs

Lieder third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students participate in the Fit Girls after-school club on Oct. 7.

In order to provide a fun and free outlet for the Leopard students, the staff at Lieder ES launched after-school clubs for third- through fifth-grade students on Oct. 7.

The after-school clubs, which are held each Tuesday for an hour after school, served 222 students the first week.

“The after-school clubs were fantastic,” said principal Dr. Karen Stockton. “This has been a goal of ours to provide a service for the kids and their parents. Many of the parents work after school and it’s tough for them to get them involved. Our staff response was unbelievable.”

Twenty-nine Lieder staff members volunteered their time to get students plugged into various clubs, including Fit Girls, sports, Legos, knitting, science, art, games, computers and crafts.

“The teachers might have gotten more enjoyment out of it than the kids,” Stockton said. “The excitement and enthusiasm from our staff truly made it happen.”

Several students joined the knitting after-school club at Lieder.    

A total of 222 students signed up and participated in the launch of Lieder after-school clubs.

Lieder principal Dr. Karen Stockton participates with students in the Lego club. 

Sheriff Garcia at Bane ES

Sheriff Adrian Garcia of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office was recently invited to speak about his life and career to fourth- and fifth-grade students at Bane ES. Students learned that through positive life choices that Garcia made, he worked his way up the ranks of the Houston Police Department before running for Harris County Sheriff. 

Garcia also answered questions from students. He recognized the initiative of students who asked questions by presenting them with a commemorative pin from the Harris County Sheriff's Office. To thank him for his visit, Garcia was given a certificate of appreciation and a Bane Spirit shirt.

Sheriff Garcia presents fifth-grade student James Vickers-Jones with a commemorative pin, making him an honorary deputy of the department.

Spillane MS Fundraiser

Spillane MS is putting a unique spin on a classic fundraising event. Registration is open to the community and all funds raised will benefit the school's performing arts department. The Cypress Creek Mirror recently highlighted the event.

More information on registration can be found online. The event will be held Nov. 22.

Health Expo

Representatives from Say Ahhh! Pediatric Dentistry interact with visitors at the inaugural CFISD Health Expo on Oct. 11 at the Berry Center. More than 2,800 guests attended the community-wide event.

CFISD raised more than $10,000 for the Health Organization of Physical Educators (H.O.P.E.) scholarship at the CFISD Health Expo, held Oct. 11 at the Berry Center. 

More than 2,800 visitors attended the Health Expo, which offered numerous health and wellness opportunities for CFISD parents, employees and the surrounding community. Event sponsors were Memorial Hermann, Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, Bridgeland, Next Level Urgent Care, the Cy-Fair Federal Credit Uncion and Shield Bearer.

“The success of the Health Expo was a result of the partnership of all the CFISD departments and the surrounding community,” said Kristina Perez, director of community programs. “We accomplished our goal of equipping visitors with health and safety knowledge while they enjoyed an enjoyable and relaxing atmosphere.”

Student performances took place every 15 minutes, featuring choirs, dancing groups and martial arts demonstrations. 

Many business vendors offered interactive booths for visitors. At the H-E-B booth, community coordinator Marti Owens and Cypress Market showtime manager Chris Mszar gave cooking demonstrations and distributed samples of organic popcorn and H-E-Buddy whole grain grahams.

“It was a great event that we were proud to participate in. Physical education is one of the pillars we love to support at H-E-B,” Owens said. “We were amazed at some of the questions the students had. They were very informed and interested in nutrition.”

Perez said she is already looking forward to the second annual Health Expo next year. 

“We have received nothing but compliments, but we certainly intend on making it a bigger and better annual event,” Perez said. “There were so many different aspects to the Health Expo—there was something for everybody.”

Health Expo visitors had the opportunity to walk laps around the second floor concourse with “superheroes” like Batgirl, Ashley Adams. 

H-E-B community coordinator Marti Owens, left, and Cypress Market showtime manager Chris Mszar create a healthy blend of vegetables and fruits to distribute to visitors to their booth at the inaugural CFISD Health Expo.

The Sampson ES choir, under the direction of Adrienne Applewhite, performs for the Health Expo crowd.

CFISD students visit the CFISD Police Department booth, where guests learned safety tips from CFPD officers. 

SchoolMessenger for Employees

CFISD’s mass notification system, SchoolMessenger, provides an easy way for campus and district administration to send accurate, real-time notifications by phone, text and email. SchoolMessenger replaces the Phone Master system as an improved means of communicating.

SchoolMessenger pulls contact information directly from the Employee Access Center (EAC), so it is very important for all employees to log into the EAC from inside.cfisd.net and update their contact information. Having the correct contact information is especially vital in an emergency situation. Adding your cell phone number to the personal cell phone field will allow you to receive text messages from your campus and the district. To opt-in for critical communications, employees will first need to:

1. update their contact information at inside.cfisd.net (or my.cfisd.net from home); then
2. text Yes to 675-87 to opt-in to receive text messages. This option is for employees only, not parents.

CFISD staff members responsible for sending messages through SchoolMessenger should refer to inside.cfisd.net for useful information. For questions regarding sending and recording messages, contact SchoolMessenger at support@schoolmessenger.com or 1-800-920-3897.

Edit 10/15/14: SchoolMessenger syncs with Employee Access Center each night. There may be a delay of up to 24 hours, after you update your contact information, before your correct information is in the SchoolMessenger system. If you receive an error message from SchoolMessenger after updating your information, wait 24 hours and try again. 

Family Academic Day

by Amy Criswell

On Sept. 25, Dean MS hosted a Family Academic Day for families of students who receive additional support and specialized instruction. This annual event is held in an effort to inform parents about the services students receive throughout the year. More than 75 families attended.

Upon arrival, each family/student received a folder of resources to be utilized at home. This folder is individually personalized to notate the instructional programming the student is currently receiving on campus. Academic achievement specialists gave an overview of the services they offer. Families could view stations showcasing the programs facilitated by Campus Content Instructional Specialists, such as reading workshops, READ 180, math labs, Home Access Center, ESL classes and Title I, II and III grant funded interventions.

“Family Academic Day is a special time to engage our parents and share important information as we partner together to assist students in reaching their full potential," said Chris Hecker, Dean MS principal. "Having the opportunity to listen and share is rewarding and helps us better understand the needs of each family.”

Amy Criswell is the academic achievement specialist at Dean MS.

General Leadership Training

Emery ES assistant principal Catharine Null and behavior interventionist Ruben Perez read a handout at the first GLT session of the year.

Several CFISD employees recently took part in the first session of General Leadership Training (GLT), a series of sessions provided to campus principals and district leaders in the curriculum and instruction department. The sessions run through the school year. 

Participants choose between two learning paths, during the first session, that will decide the direction of their training sessions for the rest of the year. These paths are developed with a focus on current needs in the district by the GLT Advisory Committee, which consists of CFISD principals and curriculum staff. This year, participants chose between the following:

• Developing and Implementing Strategies and Conditions for Enhanced Teaching and Learning; or
• Leading Learning in 21st Century Schools. 

Dr. Lawrence Kohn of the Rice Education Entrepreneurship Program (REEP) gives a presentation at the first GLT session of the year.

CFISD principals and curriculum and instruction department leaders listen to a presentation from Dr. Leo Linbeck, Rice University REEP.