2015 HORIZONS Student Showcase

The Berry Center hosted the 2015 HORIZONS Student Showcase on April 13. This annual event featured approximately 900 CFISD students representing grades 1-12 and 390 projects. Students demonstrated their advanced-level products to more than 4,000 visitors.

Additional photos from the event are available on the CFISD Facebook page.

Pennies for Patients

Fourth-grade students in the classrooms of (L-R) Latrice Martin, Nikia Canton, Lauren Turner and Kyanna Williams raised the most money during Francone's Pennies for Patients fundraiser. 

Francone ES held a campaign to raise money for the Pennies for Patients foundation during February. Pennies for Patients is a nationwide charity event that gives students the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. The money raised benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. Francone raised a total of $2,865.

The following classrooms raised more than $100 each:

Erica Kent's and Christina Sanchez's first-grade classes; 

Rita Flores' second-grade class;

Felicia Worchesik's third-grade class; and

Susan Moschella's fifth-grade class.

Car Care Clinic

The Cy Springs HS automotive technology class, taught by Sanford Lee, recently hosted Men of Honor students for a Car Care Clinic. The instructional after-school event allowed the automotive students a chance to strengthen the knowledge they have gained by sharing it with less-experienced individuals. The Men of Honor students were shown the basics of auto care and were provided with a valuable, hands-on opportunity to examine several cars. 

"This was definitely a great evening for all the students," said Clay Smith, Cy Springs assistant principal. "It was a huge success!"


After the learning session, the students were provided a barbecue dinner to thank them for their involvement.

Gleason ES Rodeo Day

Cesar Deleon appears as a larger-than-life cowboy along with his handler Elizabeth Guerrero at the Gleason ES Rodeo Day event.

Students at Gleason ES recently enjoyed a special Rodeo Day event courtesy of the Houston Rodeo Committee. Each year, during rodeo season, committee members select campuses to visit and present educational and entertaining stations for students. Gleason teacher Pam Salley submitted the school as a possible location for such a visit. Campuses are evaluated prior to selection to make sure the schedule and space requirements can be met. 

On the day of the event, stations were set up and overseen by more than 20 volunteers from the rodeo committee. Each booth had a theme, covering such topics as rodeo history, cowboy life and cattle ranching. Student groups had the opportunity to experience each station, transitioning between them every 25 minutes. The sound of galloping horse hooves was played over the school PA system to signal students when it was time to transition. As part of the festive occasion, students were encouraged to come to school in western wear.

“All of our students, from pre-K through fifth-grade, really enjoyed each station,” said Nancy Skinner, Gleason secretary. “We look forward to hosting this event again.”

Campuses must wait three years after hosting a Rodeo Day event before they are eligible to be selected again. 

Gleason students (L-R) Vincent Guarino and Londyn Bean have a chance to try out western dancing after hearing a presentation about its place in rodeo history.

Lillian Meche shows off her dance skills and western wear at the Gleason ES Rodeo Day event.

Melanie Rodriguez displays her drawing of a longhorn steer at a Rodeo Day arts and crafts station.

Sampson ES Choir

The Sampson ES Stallion Singers Choir performed the National Anthem on March 21 at the Houston Rockets vs. Phoenix Suns basketball game. They were led by choir director Adrienne Applewhite. The students were given the opportunity to enter the stadium through the players’ tunnel entrance, receiving “high fives” from the players as they walked by.

“The students were thrilled at the experience of performing at a NBA basketball game in front of the players and many adoring fans,” Applewhite said. 

Cy-Fair HS Symphonic Band

The Cy-Fair HS Symphonic Band traveled to Colorado during the last week of March to compete in the Winter Park Music Festival. Students from schools in four states gathered at the annual event to compete against one another. Out of the 15 bands, orchestras and jazz bands represented at the festival, Cy-Fair was selected as the best in the large school classification, as well as winning the top overall award for outstanding instrumental ensemble. 

Mark Veenstra, band director, accompanied the students on the trip, along with Radele Walker, Cy-Fair HS assistant principal, and several band booster organization chaperones.

Explore UT

A group of Thornton MS students attended Explore UT at the University of Texas at Austin on March 7. The annual, day-long event is advertised as the biggest open house in Texas and features many attractions for students of all ages. Campus tours, including education facilities and residence halls, provide students a chance to explore post-secondary education options. Students, educators and families are also able to experience museum exhibits, an interactive science presentation and the Children's International Festival, among other educational attractions.

Read more about Explore UT on the University of Texas at Austin website.

Cy-Fair HS Reading Program

The Cy-Fair boys' basketball team experienced a successful season on the court by making the playoffs and they also had a big impact in their community off the court.

The Cy-Fair HS boys' basketball program partnered with Lamkin ES in a reading program during the 2014-2015 school year. Players from the junior varsity and varsity teams visited elementary classrooms to read to students. The program started with players reading to two second-grade classes. After a positive response from Lamkin students, the program expanded and players paired up to read to eight classes from grades 1-3 once a week during the basketball season. After reading, the players would answer questions from the elementary students.

“We want our guys to realize how much of a positive impact they can have on their community and that life is about helping others," said head coach Chad Suleimanji. "Our guys probably had more fun than the elementary kids and we really enjoyed this experience.”

The Cy-Fair boys' basketball program wanted to express their appreciation for the support of Lamkin administration and teachers with the reading program.

Cy Creek GEM Grant Project

Cy Creek HS teacher Wendy Bruner assists two students during a special credit-recovery class funded in part by a GEM grant. 

Cy Creek HS is home to one of five winning teams of the 2014 GEM grants. The school's application sought to take advantage of existing district technology and provide students from grades 10-11 with a way to retake classes after school and on weekends instead of during summer school. Using campus computers and a CFISD-licensed digital credit recovery program, grant money was used to cover off-contract pay for teachers to provide instruction.

“These classes are a great opportunity for students to recapture credits during non-traditional hours,” said Richard Alcorn, Cy Creek assistant principal. 

Alcorn led the team responsible for submitting the grant application. 

The classes will continue through the remainder of the 2014-2015 school year.  

The guidelines for submitting an application for the 2015 GEM Grants can be found inside.cfisd.net.

Father-Daughter Dance

Holbrook ES held its second annual father-daughter dance on Feb. 6. Nearly 300 girls attended the Valentine’s Day-themed event, accompanied by fathers, grandfathers, uncles and older brothers. This was an increase of almost 100 student participants from the previous year.

Novel Teens

Thornton MS students (L-R) Zoe Hosten-Broadwater, sixth grade, and Jason Cruz, eighth grade, help deliver duffel bags to Sheridan ES. 

Students from the Thornton MS Novel Teen Book Club recently completed their Meadows Grant project by providing Sheridan ES BackPack students a family movie night. The book club members began working on the project in October 2014 by creating a list of items that would be needed. During the next several months, students gathered the items and worked during lunch breaks to pack the items into duffel bags.

“I am so thankful for their generosity, time and effort to help our students,” said Sheridan ES counselor Shirley Davis.

Sponsors Gina and John Jones accompany Thornton students as they complete their Meadows Grant project.

TSPRA Video Contest Winner

Jersey Village HS was selected as the state winner of the Celebrate Texas Public Schools video contest in the High School category. Cy Creek HS was a runner-up in the Foreign Language category. A full playlist of CFISD’s CTPS entries is available on the CFISD YouTube page.

A press release with further details on the contest and the regional finalists can be read on cfisd.net.

Update 3/4/15: Read the press release on the winning video from Jersey Village HS, available on the district website.

Cy Springs HS Wild Things

Students from Cypress Springs HS recently performed an adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are for McFee ES, Swenke ES and Pope ES students. The production was put on by the advanced theatre arts class, led by Andrea Boronell, and the advanced technical theatre class, led by Greg Alldredge. Community volunteer Connie Alldredge assisted with costume design.

After the performance, elementary students were able to ask questions about theatre productions. 

The students also performed the show for classmates from Cy Springs HS and visiting students from Hemmenway ES on Feb. 13. 

Rising Stars

On Feb. 14, several Campbell MS students were recognized as Rising Stars by Rice University for academic excellence and outstanding character, in and out of the classroom. These Rice Rising Stars received a certificate, two Campbell Gator shirts and a ticket to the University of Alabama-Birmingham Blazers vs. Rice Owls men’s basketball game. During the game, the students were recognized on court.

Bookworm at Holbrook

Margaret Clauder, dressed as The Bookworm, uses a puppet in her presentation to Holbrook ES students. 

On Jan. 23, Arts in Education performer Margaret Clauder presented Let’s Read with the Bookworm at Holbrook ES for pre-K, kindergarten, PPCD and first-grade students. The students were captivated with Clauder's dramatic reading of Mean Soup, The Kissing Hand and Kat Kong. Clauder has performed for thousands of children in hundreds of Texas schools and libraries, using interactive storytelling, puppets, magic tricks and humor.

M. Robinson Lionettes

The Lionettes perform during a football game at the University of Houston in November.

The Lionettes are one of two dance squads from M. Robinson ES, consisting of 80 fourth- through fifth-grade students. Former Houston Texans cheerleader Edith Patel, fourth-grade teacher, acts as main sponsor for the squad. She is assisted by Elsa Garza, fourth-grade teacher; Paula Coffman, administrative secretary; and Kristy Marshall, paraeducator. M. Robinson is also home to the Dandy-lions, a cheer squad for second- through third-grade students. 

This school year was the first time the Lionettes began to use uniforms. This created a cost restriction for some of the students. To offset the cost for these students, the staff held a fundraiser, ensuring that all qualifying students could participate with the squad. 

The Lionettes are excited to perform at the Feb. 28 Rice University basketball game as part of the Elementary Cheerleader Extravaganza halftime show.

Cy Woods GEM Grant Project

CFISD band students join Waller and Spring Branch ISD students to form the All-Region band for a special series of concerts.

Cy Woods HS is home to one of the five winning teams of the 2014 GEM grants. Their application presented a plan to give additional students an opportunity during All-Region band auditions by providing tutoring during the summer. The team responsible for this project was made up of Cy Woods teachers Kevin Wood, Cinjin Casillas and Michael Vasquez. Woods acted as team leader.

The weeklong band camp took place during August 2014. The grant money enabled the team to hire professional musicians to work with Cy Woods band students on instrument-specific music fundamentals. The students also practiced the music that would be used at All-Region auditions. These two-hour sessions allowed the ninth- through twelfth-grade students to develop a more consistent and unified approach to playing their instruments. 

The positive impact of the GEM grant project was evident in November when six Cy Woods students earned membership into the UIL Region 27 All-Region Orchestra—a 50% increase from 2013.

The guidelines for application submissions for the 2015 GEM Grants can be found online.

A Work of Heart

Campuses throughout the district celebrated CFISD's Board of Trustees in January for School Board Recognition Month. The School Board is a team of seven individuals, each elected by the CFISD community for a four-year term. Board members receive no salary for their service to the community.

A few of the ways CFISD campuses recognized Board members in January are listed below.


Hopper MS 

Eighth-grade student Treyvon Taylor reads one of the new books donated to Hopper MS library in honor of the School Board.

To show its appreciation for the CFISD Board of Trustees during ‎School Board Recognition Month, Hopper MS dedicated books focused on career choices to the school library in the Board's honor.


Watkins MS

Board member Kevin Hoffman visits with eight-grade students from Carol Barron's class at Watkins MS after being presented with a certificate recognizing the donation of a book to the school library in his name. 

Several campuses chose to donate a book dedicated to a specific Board member. Watkins MS selected Kevin Hoffman, who was honored to make a visit and meet with some of the students.

Jose Martinez, Watkins principal, presents Hoffman with a certificate recognizing the donation of a book to the school library in Hoffman's name.

Birkes ES

Birkes ES students created works of art to demonstrate the school's appreciation for the CFISD Board of Trustees. More photos are available on the district's Twitter page.

Keith ES

Several students at Keith ES created mixed-media portraits of the CFISD Board members which were displayed at the school. Some of the artwork is available to view on Twitter and Facebook.









Bane ES


Board member Bob Covey was visiting the offices of the CFISD communication department when several over-sized "thank you" cards and posters were delivered from students and staff at Bane ES. 

Board Meeting 

 During the Jan. 20 Board meeting, banners, posters and cards from several campuses were displayed in the board room and halls of the ISC. Certificates, student art and various tokens of appreciation were delivered to the Board members at the beginning of the session. In addition, Jersey Village HS choir students, led by choir teacher Neena Taylor, performed a song and dance routine.

2015 Elementary Spelling Bee

Jenifer Jones, grades 2-5 English/language arts/social studies curriculum coordinator, congratulates Ellie Jung and Zayn McGhee at the Feb. 3 event. 

McFee ES fifth-grade student Zayn McGhee won first place in the 23rd round of the annual districtwide Elementary Spelling Bee by correctly spelling the word existential. Ellie Jung, fifth-grade student at Kirk ES, was runner-up. McGhee and Jung will compete in the Houston Public Media Spelling Bee on March 28. 

The full list of champions representing CFISD elementary schools is available in the press release on the district website.