Clutch the Bear at Keith ES

Keith ES students (L-R) Michaela Brown, Justin Perez, Marcus Moore and McKenzie Diggs display “Shoot For The STAAR” stars as “Rockets Ranger” Dominic Davila prompts the crowd to chant the words prior to Clutch the Bear’s arrival on April 15.

Houston Rockets mascot Clutch the Bear and the Rockets Ranger visited Keith ES on April 15 to give third- through fifth-grade students some motivation for the upcoming STAAR assessments.

Clutch encouraged the students to do their best on the STAAR test and offered the following test-taking suggestions to help them SHOOT FOR THE STAAR:

1. Listen to your teacher and Teamwork.
2. Go to bed early.
3. Eat a good breakfast.
4. Put on your thinking cap.

“Clutch was a great stress-reliever for our kids and staff as STAAR approaches,” said Cheryl Fisher, Keith ES principal. “We wanted our kids to have a lot of laughs, positive energy, encouragement and fun to pump them up, and Clutch definitely provided that for all of us!”

Clutch the Bear kisses Keith ES teacher Crissy Baucom’s hand during his assembly at the school on April 15. 

Clutch teases Keith ES teacher Megan Breidenthal as Principal Cheryl Fisher (standing) and Emily Brien look on. 

Clutch sits on Keith ES instructional specialist Lynlea Dickerson’s lap during the STAAR pep rally as Ashlee Kemp, left, looks on. 

Clutch points to Keith ES students to answer questions about the importance of a good education during his STAAR rally.

Clutch illustrates what it looks like to put his “thinking cap” on for the Keith students. 

Clutch gets silly with the Rockets Ranger at the Keith assembly.

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

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.

New District Sports Show

CFISD has launched a new, monthly sports show called The Locker Room. The show, produced by students and CFTV staff, highlights athletes and sports programs across the district. This month's episode, co-hosted by Alan Jaquez Orozco of Jersey Village HS and Paige Parker of Cy Creek HS, features the 2014 football playoffs, Cypress Ranch's volleyball team and individual achievements from CFISD athletes.

The Locker Room is now showing on CFTV Comcast Channel 16 and is also available on CFISD's YouTube Channel.

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.

Post ES Flag Crew

On Sept. 11, the Post ES flag crew honored CFISD first responders. Standing with two CFISD police officers are students (L-R) Leah Parris, Camryn Kelly, Cole Missall, Silvano Torres and Sarah Osborne. 

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. 

PSAT Testing

CFISD will administer the Preliminary SAT (PSAT) to 10th - 11th-grade students on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014. The fee for registration is $18. Contact the high school counseling office for details. The PSAT provides practice for the SAT, an opportunity to enter the National Merit Scholarship Program and access to college and career planning tools.  

As stipulated by TEC 29.916, home-schooled students may attend public school to participate in the PSAT administration. Specific registration information can be obtained by contacting the counseling office at the student's designated high school campus.

Principal by Day, Plant by Night: Q&A with Cy Springs’ Travis Fanning

Cypress Springs High School principal Travis Fanning stands beside the stage prop for Audrey II, the giant plant that will be featured in the school’s production of Little Shop of Horrors.

Cypress Springs High School principal Travis Fanning will serve as the voice of Audrey II in the school’s upcoming performance of Little Shop of Horrors. The musical will take place at the school (7909 Fry Road) Sept. 26-27 and Oct. 1-2 at 7 p.m.; Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. and Sept. 28 and Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance (call 281-345-3070) and $12 at the door, with advance dinner theatre tickets available for the Sept. 26 show for $25. Fanning, who is in his third year as the Panthers’ principal, discussed his upcoming role as the giant plant.

For those who haven’t seen Little Shop of Horrors, how would you describe it and why should they come out to see it at Cypress Springs?

Little Shop of Horrors is a fun, entertaining play that is guaranteed to make you laugh, yet is sometimes sad. Seymour Krelborn is a nerdy orphan working at Mushnik’s, a flower shop. He harbors a crush on fellow co-worker Audrey Fulquard, and is berated by Mr. Mushnik daily. One day as Seymour is seeking a new plant, he finds a very mysterious unidentified plant which he calls Audrey II. The plant seems to have a craving for blood and soon begins to sing for his supper and becomes temperamental. Soon enough, things spin out of control and it goes bad rather quickly.

The Cy Springs cast for this play is AMAZING! The talent level of the students rival that of many professionals. They are eager to learn and are always willing to display their talents.

The character of Audrey II is described as being “an anthropomorphic cross between a Venus flytrap and an avocado.” Are you glad that you will not be required to wear this costume during the musical?

The most exciting part about this play, is the fact that I am off stage and serving as the “voice” of the plant. The puppet masters have the hard work. They are in a tight, confined space for over an hour controlling the movement of the plant during his various temper tantrums.

How were you approached for the role, and how much convincing did you require?

Having done acting in high school, college and for several small theatres in Houston, it did not take much convincing. Our tech theatre teacher (Mr. Greg Alldredge) saw me in a play last year and asked me if I would do this production, and so I gave a quick “yes.”

Is your family pretty excited about it?

They are. I take my son to school most days, so for the past few weeks he has listened to the song during our commute. He like the song Feed Me the most from the play.

Do you have any past or current experience with theatrical performances or singing?

Yes. I have acted in numerous plays since age 15.

What has the rehearsal experience been like, working alongside the Cypress Springs students and theatre director Andrea Boronell?

The students have been GREAT. I tell them to treat me like a cast member and not their principal during rehearsal. They give me notes and share ideas with me to help enhance the comedy aspect of the show. Mrs. Boronell is an excellent director! She expects the best from all of us each and every day.

What is your favorite musical number in Little Shop of Horrors, and why?

Supper Time. It is fun because I as the plant am convincing Seymore to kill once again so that I can eat. 

You will be voicing Audrey II for four of the seven performances (Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.; Sept. 27 at 2 p.m.; Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 5 at 3 p.m.). Who is doing the voice for the other three?

Chaz Coronado

You currently trail Mushnik’s Florists (@MushniksF) in Twitter followers, 616-196, from your @Cy_SpringsPrin account. Do you think this role will increase your social media reach?

I hope so! My goal is to have thousands of followers! LOL.

Cypress Springs principal Travis Fanning joins fellow cast members (L-R) Chaz Coronado, Sebastian Hitt, Rufino Sanchez, Leandro Argueta and Simon Gonzales on stage next to Audrey II.