Season's Greetings

Congratulations to the annual CFISD holiday card winners:

by Katelyn Murillo
Emery ES
1st Grade
Art Teacher: Mary Pegg  

by Amel Gupta
Spillane MS
7th Grade
Art Teacher: Lisa Bennett

by Chi Nguyen
Cy Ridge HS
12th Grade
Art Teacher: Nicole Newland

Windfern HS Graduation

Windfern HS graduation will stream live on Dec. 19. The link will be available at www.cfisd.net. 

Shriner Toy Drive

Collected donations are presented to Shriner's Hospital by Cy-Fair AFT staff (L-R) Ben Brinkman, AFT organizer; Jennifer Hughes, Shriner donor development director; Lauren Duperray, AFT lead organizer; and Mike Garcia, AFT organizer.

The CFISD operations department partnered with the Cy-Fair branch of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and community volunteers to collect hundreds of toys over the summer. Items gathered will benefit the patients of the Shriner's Hospital for Children in Houston. Donation boxes were placed at campuses throughout the district and volunteers went door-to-door in the community to collect toys.
  
"We would like to express our appreciation to all who contributed to the success of this project," said Mike Garcia, field organizer for Cy-Fair AFT.  

Cy-Fair AFT will make a presentation regarding the fundraiser to the CFISD School Board during the Dec. 15 Board meeting. A video on the Cy-Fair AFT YouTube channel highlights the effort put into the fundraiser by volunteers and how the donations positively impact the quality of life for Shriner's Hospital patients. 

Tammy Blankenship, CFISD director of operations, and volunteer Zachary Corbett, Texas A&M Galveston, pack a car with donated toys to be given to Shriner's Hospital for Children in Houston.  

Random Acts of Appreciation

As part of a new effort to randomly show appreciation to CFISD staff throughout the district, the community engagement department has arranged deliveries of special treats to campuses and facilities. Most recently, the VIPS (Volunteers in Public Schools) executive board filled approximately 240 bags of chocolate and delivered them to staff at the Science Resource Center, Emmott ES and Metcalf ES. More information about the community engagement department can be found on the district website. For more information about partnering with CFISD, contact Leslie Francis at 281-894-3950.

Community Feedback

Community Connect readers have the option to leave comments on any blog post, with an appropriate online account. CFISD encourages this feedback as a means of culturing transparency in the district's communication. Comments will always be passed on to the appropriate departments, so concerns and questions can be addressed by the most qualified persons.

To leave a comment:

1. look for the comment box after the post;
2. type your comment;
3. select the online service you will be using to log in; and
4. click on the Publish Post button.

CFISD's policy on comments for all district social media sites is as follows:

CFISD reserves the right to delete comments that use inappropriate language, are defamatory or are otherwise unrelated to the CFISD posting.

School Adoptions

Local companies and organizations partner with CFISD through school adoptions arranged by Leslie Francis, director for marketing and business relations for the community engagement department. These partnerships provide additional support to staff at CFISD campuses. As 2014 comes to a close, we are highlighting school adoptions that took place over the past year. 

Black ES
adopted by H-E-B Grant Market
Dec. 2014
Read the press release.

Gleason ES
adopted by Harvest Christian Fellowship
Dec. 2014
Read the press release.

Goodson ES
adopted by Grace Life Baptist
March 2014

Read the press release.

Kirk ES
adopted by EagleBurgmann
Oct. 2014
Read the press release.

Thornton MS
adopted by Lone Star College - CyFair
Dec. 2014
Read the press release.

Truitt ES
adopted by Bayou City Fellowship
Nov. 2014
Read the press release.

Windfern HS
adopted by Raising Cane's
Sept. 2014
Read the press release.








If you would like to schedule an appointment to discuss partnering with CFISD, please contact Leslie Francis at 281-894-3951.

Annual Turkey Giveaway

The district's student services and homeless grant department delivers donated food to giveaway recipients. Volunteers included: Jose Cauton, Langham Creek HS; Conner Smith, Goodson MS; Gabriela Cauton, Langham Creek HS; Carson Smith, Goodson MS; Alexis Smith, Goodson MS; Jordan Sherrill, Cy-Fair HS; Jonathan Schaeffer, Klein ISD; Jake Mader-Cooper, Pearland ISD.

On Nov. 25, the CFISD student services and homeless grant department hosted their sixth annual Turkey and Trimmings Giveaway. There were 50 families identified to receive this donation. The giveaway was the result of a partnership between CFISD and local businesses Kroger and Hampton Inn Houston-Brookhollow, who donated the food.  

"We appreciate everyone’s collaborative effort to make Thanksgiving special for these families," said Dave Schrandt, homeless liaison and director for student services/admissions.

Family Reading Night at Bang ES

David Jessop works with his daughter, Bang ES student Lenet Jessop on a reading-related project during the ‘All Aboard the Reading Express’ family reading night on Dec. 2.

Students in grades pre-K through 5 brought their families to the schoolwide family reading night, “All Aboard the Reading Express,” at Bang ES on Dec. 2. 

Bang students and their families dressed in their favorite pajamas and traveled to nine different stations that included engaging activities. After being greeted by the conductor, assistant principal Dr. James Bishop, students listened to a dramatic reading of The Polar Express by librarian Elisa Mann.

At a writing station, students wrote letters and winter wishes and read them to their parents. In the computer lab, students participated in a scavenger hunt using various technology resources.  The event included a book walk, as well as Smart Board activities in the cafeteria. 

“Many students won a book of their choice,” said Bang principal Erwann Wilson. “The excitement on their faces was priceless!” 

Students who traveled to the music room enjoyed roasting marshmallows while singing around a make-believe campfire. Music teacher Emily Sullivan and fifth-grade teacher Katheryn Nasr challenged the students to read the words of the songs, sing in their best voices and roast their marshmallows at the same time. 

In the next room, sequencing activities took place. Students of all ages worked closely with their parents to read a short story and construct a sequence chain. Numerous families enjoyed stopping by the “Snuggle Up With a Great Book” station, reading in a relaxed setting created by the kindergarten team. Just a few feet away, many students enjoyed reading and writing vocabulary in colored sand.  

“At the end of family reading night, students and their parents left with a suitcase of ideas, prizes, and other goodies,” Wilson said. “They also left with a smile and stated they will be back on the express for next year’s event. ‘All Aboard the Reading Express’ family reading night was a huge success!”

Memphis Papini assists her daughter, Brielle Papini Flores, on family reading night. 

Add captionBang LIFE Skills aide Jennifer Kaler and teacher Julie Gassaway dress up as elves for Family Reading Night.

Bang ES students Natalie Cornelio and Julianna Cornelio “roast” marshmallows over an imaginary fire with teacher Katheryn Nasr during family reading night. 

Bang ES librarian Jennifer Mann reads The Polar Express to students during family reading night. 

Holiday Visitors to CFISD Campuses

Wilbern ES

Yolanda Ramirez, instructional support aide at Willbern ES, received a surprise visit from her son, Victor, who has been stationed in Japan for more than a year while serving in the Navy. See the video on the campus' Facebook page.

Lowery ES

Students at Lowery ES recently received a special visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.  

"He encouraged them to pick up their rooms, do what their parents and teachers asked of them and to be on their best behavior," said Brenda Trial, Lowery ES principal. "Our kids have been working very hard to be on Santa’s nice list."  

Santa and Mrs. Claus were played by Truitt MS assistant principal Dan Wilson and his wife Carol, principal's secretary at Lowery.