Student Testing

Tips for Parents

Students will be taking the STAAR Test beginning March 30 and parents can help by making sure their child:

• Gets plenty of sleep the night before the test; 
• Has breakfast on the morning of the test; and
• Goes to school on the day of the test. 

No Cell Phones

As a reminder to maintain the best testing environment for students, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has determined that cell phones and electronic devices will not be permitted during any state assessment (STAAR 3-8, EOC and TELPAS). Cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off and not visible; therefore, students are not allowed to place or receive cell phone calls or text messages during test administration.

Current Testing Dates

March 30		STAAR Writing (day 1)	Grades 4 and 7
		EOC English I	High School
March 31		STAAR Writing (day 2)	Grades 4 and 7
		STAAR Reading (SSI #1)	Grades 5 and 8
April 1		EOC English II	High School
April 20		STAAR Math	Grades 5 and 8
April 21		STAAR Math	Grades 3-4 and 6-7
		STAAR Social Studies	Grades 8
April 22		STAAR Reading	Grades 3-4 and 6-7
		STAAR Science	Grades 5 and 8
May 4		EOC US History	High School
May 5		EOC Algebra I	Middle School and  High School
May 6		EOC Biology	High School

Emergency Notification Test

CFISD will send out a test on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 5:30 p.m. via its mass notification system, SchoolMessenger, to confirm that parents are signed up to receive emergency messages from the district.

Parents who are already signed up in the system will receive a phone call, text and an email.

Parents who only receive a phone call may not be registered in SchoolMessenger. To ensure that parents are signed up in the system and that all contact information is current, log on to www.cfisd.net/messenger and follow the simple instructions.

The easy, one-time process requires only three things for parents:

• The ID number for each student in the family; 

• The primary phone number on file with the school(s); and 

• A valid email address. 

General questions about SchoolMessenger can be directed to the CFISD Customer Care Center at 281-955-4030 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Questions regarding student ID number and primary phone number on file can be directed to the school.

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

Chef Brent Trudeau

Chef Brent Trudeau is the executive chef and production manager at the CFISD Food Production Center. He has worked in CFISD since 2002, helping to develop the nutritious meals served at CFISD schools. The following is a recipe for a unique meal you can serve at home:  


Roasted Corn and Cactus Chowder
(about 12 servings)

Ingredients:
2 lb. frozen corn
1 medium onion (diced)
2 jalapeño peppers (deseed, rough cut)
3 cloves fresh garlic (rough chop)
2 lbs. cleaned, diced cactus (nopales) Fiesta stores prep and sell this daily.
1 large russett potato (peeled, diced—hold in water)
6 pieces fully cooked bacon (diced)
1 large tomato (diced)
1 bunch cilantro (leaves only)
2 large cans (about 1/2 gallon) chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream

Spices: 
1 tsp. each black pepper, cumin, onion powder and garlic powder 
1 tbsp. salt

Directions:

1. Heat the water the potatoes are resting in and cook potatoes about half way.
2. Toss corn in 1-2 tablespoons of bacon drippings or olive oil. Spread out on a flat pan and roast in the oven at 400 degrees until corn begins to brown.
3. Remove the pan from the oven, add the onions, garlic, jalapeño and cactus. Place back in the oven for about 10-15 minutes.
4. When everything is done browning, maybe even a little burnt, puree the vegetables with a food processor or hand blender.
5. When desirable consistency is achieved, add chicken broth and bring to a boil.
6. Reduce the heat. Add spices and simmer for five minutes. Add bacon, tomato, potato and chopped cilantro and simmer for ten minutes.
7. Finish with cream. Taste, adjust, serve and enjoy.

SchoolMessenger Launch

CFISD is pleased to announce the launch of SchoolMessenger, the district's new mass notification system, to keep CFISD families informed about:

• district and campus activities;

• attendance; 

• transportation; 

• food service; and, most importantly, 

• accurate, real-time information during an emergency situation.

With the previous communication system, families were only contacted at one phone number—usually a landline. The new system is designed to send phone calls, emails and text messages, allowing users to select how they prefer to be contacted. This way, CFISD can be in contact with you where you are during any time of the day—no more important missed communications. Users will be able to update contact information themselves, ensuring that the most current information is on file. They can also add contact information for multiple people, choosing which alerts they will receive. The system works like a mailbox, giving users a place to review messages they may have missed.

A letter was mailed home to CFISD families on Sept. 10 explaining the process for signing up. Each letter contained the individual login information for each student. If you did not receive this letter, or need help signing up, please contact the CFISD Customer Care Center at 281-955-4030. This phone number is specifically for members of the community seeking assistance with SchoolMessenger. The Care Center’s operating hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The New CFTV

CFTV is the district's TV Channel that can be viewed 24/7 online via the district website (www.cfisd.net) or through Comcast Cable Channel 16 for CFISD residents who subscribe to Comcast. This school year, CFTV is undergoing a major reconstruction with the production of various programs and a fresh new look that includes a new logo for the channel. 

Parents, students, staff and other members of the Cy-Fair community can tune in to CFTV to find out what is happening around the district through news packages highlighting campus and districtwide events. CFTV staff members are collaborating with Audio/Visual Production (AVP) classes to provide current news that covers the district's 86 schools and the numerous facilities housing CFISD departments, such as transportation, operations, student services, etc.

In addition to CFTV Online and Comcast Channel 16, CFTV staff members also maintain the district's YouTube Channel that includes monthly broadcasts, news packages highlighting best practices of the district and numerous other events. The district's monthly Board meetings and annual graduation ceremonies are streamed live on the YouTube Channel and posted for viewers. To stay up-to-date with the latest news, subscribe to the district's YouTube Channel, or watch CFTV Online or Comcast Channel 16.