Did you get the message?

CFISD conducted a test of the emergency notification system on Jan. 28. Parents who were signed up through SchoolMessenger‘s Contact Manager program received a text message, email and phone call during the test. If you did not receive all three notifications, you may not be registered or your registration may be incomplete. Please note, you may be receiving communication from your campus but not be signed up in the new system.

To register or update your information, go to the SchoolMessenger website. You will need your student’s ID number and access to the phone number listed as your emergency contact to complete this process. After logging in, make sure the box next to each phone number and email address has a check by it. Detailed instructions are available on the district website. 

Sign up to help us reach you where you are.

Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten Students
Kindergarten preregistration for 2015-2016 classes will be held at all elementary schools on April 9 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m.

A child must be five-years old on or before Sept. 1, 2015 to be eligible for the full-day program (with no exceptions). To register, parents must provide the school with the documents listed at the end of this article.

For additional information on where to register kindergarten students, parents can contact their neighborhood elementary school. A student currently enrolled in the district’s prekindergarten program will be automatically registered for kindergarten. Therefore, there is no need for parents of current prekindergarten students to attend the kindergarten registration on April 9.

Prekindergarten for LEP Students
Parents of LEP students—students who are unable to speak and comprehend the English language—may preregister their student on April 9 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. at the prekindergarten campus in their attendance zone. LEP students must be present at the time of preregistration to determine, through testing, whether or not the student qualifies for the program. To be eligible for the half-day prekindergarten program, students must be four-years old on or before Sept. 1, 2015. 

The prekindergarten program is currently being offered at the following 47 campuses: Adam, Andre’, Ault, Bane, Bang, Black, Copeland, Danish, Duryea, Emery, Emmott, Farney, Fiest, Francone, Frazier, Gleason, Hamilton, Hairgrove, Hemmenway, Holbrook, Holmsley, Horne, Jowell, Kirk, Lamkin, Lee, Lieder, Lowery, Matzke, McFee, Metcalf, Millsap, Moore, Owens, Post, Postma, Reed, Rennell, M. Robinson, A. Robison, Sheridan, Swenke, Tipps, Walker, Willbern, Wilson and Yeager.

To find out which school a student is currently zoned to, go to the campus locator on the district website under Parents & Students > Registration > Which School Do I Attend?. You will need your street name and zip code. 

Since not every school has a prekindergarten program, parents may call the neighborhood elementary school to help determine the school in which to register their child. Parents or guardians must provide all required documents listed below in order to preregister.

Preregistration Documents
Parents should bring the following documents to preregister their students:

• A certified copy of the child’s birth certificate from the Bureau of Vital Statistics (see City of Houston Bureau of Vital Statistics to obtain a birth certificate, if born in the city of Houston); 
• current immunization record; 
• proof of residency (i.e., a lease agreement or a gas, electric or water bill); 
• photo ID of parent or guardian (a parent or guardian must sign the application); and
• a social security card for each child, if available.

Additional information can be found on www.cfisd.net.

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.

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. 

Military Academy Night 2014

CFISD will host its annual Military Academy Night on Nov. 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Berry Center. In-depth information will be available to parents of middle and high school students interested in attending the nation’s service academies (Military, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine). Representatives from each academy will be on site to offer information packets and answer questions regarding the application process, admission requirements and nominations. For more information, students should contact their campus guidance counselor.

General Elections 2014

Early voting for the Nov. 4 general election started Oct. 20 and end Oct. 31. A sample ballot can be viewed online on the Harris County clerk's website by entering your name and address.

In addition to the U.S. senatorial race, Texas gubernatorial race and several judicial races included on the ballot, there is a proposition regarding the Lone Star College System bond. More information on the LSC bond is available on the Lone Star website.

Matzke WatchD.O.G.S. Program Launch

Photo by Scott Moore

The Matzke Elementary School WatchD.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program got off to a great start with a pizza night for all the Matzke fathers on Sept. 15.

More than 100 WatchD.O.G.S. and their children showed up for the event, where they signed up forWatchD.O.G.S. days to volunteer at the campus throughout the school year.

Matzke received donations from H-E-B, McDonald’s and Dattz Pizza for the program launch.

“The best part of the night was when one daddy signed up next to another one, and they shook hands and introduced each other and kept chatting about the program,” said Matzke assistant principal Kyla Mote. “We brought the community together. Many dads volunteered to help more than the one day that we asked of them. It was a total success!”

Bus Routes and Safety Information

The transportation department provides regular morning and afternoon bus stops for eligible students attending their home campus as determined by the established CFISD attendance boundaries. Students on a transfer are ineligible for transportation. Eligible addresses for transportation within your student’s attendance boundary are: 

1. your home address, 
2. state-recognized daycare provider or 
3. your student’s grandparent address.

Find the right bus for you.

Before- and After-School Care

CFISD's before- and after-school program Club Rewind is now providing before-school care at the following middle schools:

• Arnold
• Campbell
• Hamilton
• Hopper
• Labay
• Smith

Tax-Free Weekend

This year’s Sales Tax Holiday is Aug. 8-10. As in previous years, the law exempts most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks priced under $100 from sales and use taxes, which could save shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend. 

- from the website of Susan Combs, Texas Comptroller