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Virtual Parent University

Parent University

Launching February 27, 2020

CFB Parents will receive links to videos on these topics

Topics in English & Spanish:

Anxiety & Depression in Youth: When to worry and when to relax

Free College with Dallas County Promise

Home Routines for Student Success

Be on the lookout for NEW presentations in the future!

Contact Bridgit Basel for more info baselb@cfbisd.edu

Virtual Parent University videos In English:

All CFBISD parents are invited to view these videos in English by clicking on the link.

FREE College with Dallas County Promise

Anxiety & Depression in Youth: When to worry and when to relax

Home Routines for STUDENT SUCCESS

Virtual PArent University Videos In Spanish:

Todos los padres de CFBISD están invitados a ver estos videos en español haciendo clic en el enlace correspondiente.

Universidad GRATUITA con Dallas County Promise

La adolescencia y las emociones, entendiendo las emociones de sus adolescentes

Rutinas en casa para el ÉXITO DEL ESTUDIANTE

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CFBISD Alum Pablo Peillard Accepted to LaunchPad Lift Program

LaunchPad Lift Accepts UTD Computer Science Senior to Elite Program

BY  from dallasinnovates.com

University of Texas at Dallas computer science senior Pablo Peillard, founder of a startup for decentralized ledger technology (DLT), has been selected to participate in the spring cohort of LaunchPad Lift, a program from Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars at UT Dallas.

He is the second UT Dallas student to be chosen for the program. Veena Somareddy, co-founder and CTO of NeuroRehabVR and a former graduate student of the UTD School of Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication, was a participant in 2018. The spring 2020 cohort kicked off on Jan. 27.

The LaunchPad Lift program is a virtual cohort-based program where student entrepreneurs get individualized support and long-term mentorship to get their ventures moving forward faster.

Peillard’s startup, Hashing Systems, is an integrated development platform for innovators and enterprises to create and manage projects using decentralized ledger technologies. The intent is to make it easier to build on distributed ledger technologies with less coding. Hashing Systems is backed by Dallas-based enterprise distributed ledger company Hedera Hashgraph, and Hong Kong-based Animoca Brands and Mind Fund.

Meet Pablo Peillard

Pablo Peillard [Photo: Courtesy UTD]

Peillard is an experienced young entrepreneur and said he’s always been a maker. He first came to UTD in 2013 because of its emphasis on research and its renowned computer science program.

“Finding a community that cares about developing the technology behind products was a priority for me,” Peillard, a native of Chile and graduate of R.L. Turner High School in Carrollton, said. “I’m very grateful that we have these opportunities today where we’re able to go somewhere and talk to someone about our ideas. That’s something you can sometimes do online, but it’s very different when you can do it face to face.”

At UT Dallas, Peillard has helped run several projects, co-founding ThreadAI and later founding Hashing Systems. He’s participated in the Big Idea Competition, CometX, and the UTDesign Startup Challenge, and also taken academic course, and joined organizations such as the blockchain club and Makerspace.

Looking to the future, Peillard said he pondered how to mentor students at the university after he earns his degree in May from the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.

“Pablo has consistently worked hard to bring his vision to life and has been very dedicated in his pursuit of launching a successful business venture,” Dresden Goldberg, director of programs and operations at the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UT Dallas, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to work with him in our programs and look forward to supporting his continued growth as a student and a founder.”

In 2017, we told you about Peillard and fellow UTD computer science student Raviteja Lingineni leading a team to a first-place finish in the 30-hour Smart Cities Hackathon at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. They won for their Alexa-based tool that maps safety on the streets in cities.

Peillard said being in the LaunchPad Lift program will be a boost for his startup, as it will help him find other companies with similar issues, along with advisers who share relevant experience.

“The type of technology we’re building is still new, so the services that can be provided are still developing. There are a lot of great ideas out there, but they still need to be proved in the market,” he said. “For example, when the cloud started out, companies didn’t immediately take it seriously until there were a few test cases. The same can be said for the video game boom and extremely abrupt bust in 1983-85. What’s key for us and for any new technology is to legitimize the changes we’re offering to the market.”

The ins and outs of LaunchPad Lift

Student teams from LaunchPad campus programs were chosen by a panel of Techstars and Blackstone executives.

Founded in 2006 in Colorado, Techstars is a U.S. seed accelerator. As of 2019, it has accepted more than 1,600 companies into its programs with a combined market capitalization of $18.2 billion. Techstars accepts less than 1 percent of its of applicants.

In the Lift program, students are matched with Techstars mentors based on their specific business and needs, and they participate in biweekly Q&A calls with Techstars subject matter experts. During the calls, mentors share their knowledge on a wide variety of entrepreneurial topics such as fundraising, business structure, pricing models, sales, marketing, and more.

LaunchPad Lift includes peer networking and education in fundraising, growing sales, making executive hires, and formalizing the supply chain. Participants also compete in front of potential investors and Techstars accelerator managing directors for up to $50,000, which is provided by the Blackstone Charitable Foundation.

“The Lift program provides a unique opportunity for some of our most successful LaunchPad student entrepreneurs to gain access to unparalleled mentorship from the Blackstone and Techstars networks, which really sets our student founders up for future success,” Amy Stursberg, executive director of the Blackstone Charitable Foundation, said in a statement.

Other spring cohort startups operate in various industries, including financial services, transportation, manufacturing, and more. Participants also come from other universities like Texas A&M, UT Austin, Syracuse, the University of Southern California, and the University of California at Berkeley.

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CFBISD Turns to Gaggle to Improve Student Safety

If We Only Knew: District Turns to Gaggle to Help Prevent Student Suicides and Self-Harm

By Gaggle.com| PDF Download

Knowing that students who are in crisis aren’t always going to share their fears and worries with an adult, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD in Texas wanted a technology platform that would put administrators, counselors, and teachers in closer touch with students across its 37 campuses.

A Google district where most campuses are 1:1, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD also knew that its students were expressing themselves more freely in email, essays, and via other digital means. “By adopting a student safety platform, we gained another way to recognize and help students in crisis,” said Mario De La Rosa, director of Safety and Security.

Prior to using Gaggle, the district was hearing about those online interactions secondhand, but had no way of accessing the content. In an era where concerns about student situations, social issues, and mental health concerns compound upon themselves every year, De La Rosa said getting an alert about a student who is writing a suicide note to his parents on his Google account creates real opportunities for successful intervention. “That really happened,” he said.

The district has also intervened in cases of self-harm—yet another indicator that a suicide could potentially be in the planning stages. “Although many students don’t have current suicidal ideation with self-injury,” said the district’s Counseling Behavior Coordinator, Lyn Torres, “the research indicates that those who do self-injure by cutting, burning, or picking may have a greater likelihood of suicide ideation and/or an attempt in the future.”

The district has a crisis team that responds to Gaggle alerts. Working together, its counseling department and safety teams assess the urgency level and then respond accordingly. “We address it right at the moment that it happens,” said Torres. That means reaching out to parents, sending police out to perform welfare checks, or taking whatever steps necessary to mitigate the potential problem.

“After handling the situation, we give them immediate resources for evaluations,” said Torres, whose team works closely with the county’s mobile crisis units, which can be dispatched immediately to determine if the student needs help (or, if the district recommends an emergency room visit or psychological evaluation).

Every Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD campus does training in suicide awareness and the district has built mental health awareness into its curriculum. It also brings in organizations like Grant Halliburton to talk to students and staff about suicide prevention and awareness. “This is a major initiative for our district,” said Torres. “We know that if we’re not meeting our kids’ social and emotional needs, then they’re not going to be able to learn.”

By focusing on the root of the problem, De La Rosa said the district attempts to effectively minimize the occurrence of student suicides, self-harm, bullying, and cyberbullying. Using Gaggle, its Anonymous Alerts app, and other tools, the district can take proactive steps to ensure that students are okay or confirm that they need assistance.

“Like the saying goes, ‘If we only knew,’” De La Rosa said. “Well, now we know, and we are using the information to help keep our students safe.”

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Winning Weekend for Creekview Law Academy

Creekview Law Academy students enjoyed successes on multiple fronts this weekend.

In Dallas, the DBA Mock Trial Team beat Lovejoy and Richardson in single elimination rounds to become Regional Champions and will be moving on to the State tournament in March.  The team is composed of Natali Arredondo, Kassandra Busby, Liza Frolova, Isabella Barkat, Brandon Fantine, Elizabeth Adeoye, and Camila Vasquez.

This year’s DBA case, loosely based on problems surrounding the Fyre Festival, deals with the liability of a social media influencer for damages suffered by a follower who attended a disastrous event.

In Austin at the YMCA Youth and Government State conference, both Mock Trial and Moot Court students enjoyed success, including a State Champion and 8 National Qualifiers—a Creekview record!  Students will go on to compete at the National Tournament in Chicago in late July.

For Mock Trial, the team of attorneys Lazet Soto, Julian Le, Ricky Martinez, Paige Ganzer, Leslie Plata, and Alanyz Gudino placed 4th and qualified for Nationals.  This case was a criminal case about a minor under the influence hitting a bicyclist.

For Moot Court, the team of Makaylia Askew and Brian Kang placed 4th and qualified for Nationals and Senior Samantha Watkins won State Champion Best Judge.  The issues argued on appeal included the use of peremptory strikes to eliminate all black jurors from the jury, the failure of the prosecution to disclose evidence, and ineffective assistance of counsel.

Congratulations to these students who’ve been working hard on these cases since September!

Winning Weekend for Creekview Law Academy

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Elementary Regional Science Fair Winner

GARLAND – CFBISD students and administrators, including Superintendent Dr. John Chapman, were in attendance for the regional elementary science fair at the Curtis Culwell Special Events Center in Garland. Carrollton-Farmers Branch along with six other school districts (Allen, Mesquite, McKinney, Garland, and Richardson) took part in the fair.

CFBISD student Kellan Lewis a first grader at Kent Elementary took home a first-place trophy for his science project “Lightning… By the Hammer of Thor!”

Lewis, a big Marvel fan, wanted to come up with a way that he could create a superhero power with science.  At last year’s event, he used magnets to make his Star Wars toys levitate creating ‘The Force’ with science earning a similar first-place finish as a kindergartner.

After watching a science program explaining that static electricity was the same thing as lightning, Lewis decided to make Thor’s Hammer.  One of the experiments used an aluminum pie plate and styrofoam, which he changed from a pie plate to mini loaf pans, and cut out a styrofoam handle to put it all together.  After constructing the project, the Kent First Grader then tested different ways to create static electricity to find the most effective method and recorded it all for the project.

Lewis won first-place at Kent Elementary, then first-place for his grade and division (engineering) at regionals and, finally, was awarded the Grand Prize.  He was one of three grand prize winners overall in grades 1-6 across seven districts. His project also included a 20-page handwritten journal.

Science runs in the family as his sister, Rayli Lewis, won third-place at regionals for her project, “Shake, Rattle, and (Don’t) Fall”, which tested building methods to withstand earthquakes.

Judges for this event have backgrounds in science and engineering and are recruited from area businesses and universities.

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Creekview Mock Trial Advances to Regional Finals

This weekend, Creekview Mock Trial competed in the Regional qualifying tournament for the DBA Texas High School Mock Trial Competition later this Spring.  In the toughest Region in the State (for comparison, DISD’s region generally has four schools competing for three state spots, Region Ten has twenty-five schools competing for three state spots), the team advanced to the Regional finals next weekend, where they will vie for a State qualification.

Please join me in congratulating the team!

Coach: Brian Sheguit
Attorneys: Natali Arredondo, Kassandra Busby, Liza Frolova
Witnesses: Isabella Barkat, Brandon Fantine, Camila Vasquez, Elizabeth Adeoye
Courtroom Artist: Edwin Walsh

This year’s case is about a social media influencer’s potential fraud liability in promoting an event which turned out to be disastrous.

Creekview Mock Trial Advances to Regional Finals

 

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Las Colinas Elementary Students Travel to Austin with Education in Action

Fourth graders from Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD’s Las Colinas Elementary traveled to Austin and San Antonio on an Education in Action Discover Texas Field Trip, Friday, January 17, 2020, to experience what they are learning in Texas History. Students visited the Texas State Capitol and The Alamo.

During the charter bus ride to Austin, students discussed why Texans are so proud of their unique heritage and participated in activities and games in preparation for their day. In Austin the students visited the Texas State Capitol where their legislators, The Honorable Nathan Johnson, State Senator, District 16 and The Honorable Julie Johnson, State Representative, District 115, office. Students saw first-hand where Texas laws are made as they toured the State Capitol including the Senate and House of Representatives chambers with a focus on the legislative process, leadership, and Texas leaders, past and present. Students then traveled to San Antonio where they toured The Alamo, one of the most famous missions in the United States, and learned about the Battle of the Alamo’s role in the Texas Revolution.

”Education in Action’s Discover Texas Field Trips are based on the understanding that the most effective way for students to learn is through experience,” stated Lacey Phillips, Discover Texas Field Trips Director. ”Student activities during Discover Texas Field Trips reinforce and supplement Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) learning objectives in fun and hands-on ways at significant Texas sites that bring the content to life.”

Education in Action’s Discover Texas Field Trips make it easy for teachers to take their 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade classrooms on organized, fun, and educational site-based learning experiences. Discover Texas Field Trip staff members handle all details, including round-trip charter bus transportation, reservations, and TEKS-based program curriculum, so participating teachers can focus on their students and making connections between the experience and what students are learning in the classroom.

Discover Texas Field Trips are presented by Education in Action, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering educated and involved young people. In addition to one-day Discover Texas Field Trips to Abilene, Austin, San Antonio, Waco/Georgetown, Dallas, and Fort Worth, Education in Action also offers summer Lone Star Leadership Academy camps for outstanding 4th-8th graders. During the weeklong, overnight camps, participants experience significant Texas sites in Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin/San Antonio, or Houston/Galveston with Texas educators and a focus on leadership. For more information about Education in Action visit www.educationinaction.org and www.facebook.com/educationinaction.

Las Colinas Elementary Students Travel to Austin with Education in Action

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CFBISD TMEA All-State Honorees

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD had 10 students named to the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State rosters.  This is a tremendous accomplishment showcasing our CFB students who compete and win at the highest levels of music.  Below is a list of the students who placed in an all-state organization, their schools and their directors.

All-State is the highest honor a Texas music student can receive. 1,780 students are selected through a process that begins with over 68,000 students from around the state vying for this honor to perform in one of 15 ensembles (bands, orchestras, and choirs). All-State students participate in three days of rehearsals directed by nationally recognized conductors during the annual state TMEA Clinic/Convention. Their performances before thousands of attendees bring this extraordinary event to a close.

These students will travel to San Antonio on Feb. 12-16 to participate in the All-State rehearsals and performances during the TMEA convention at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.

Creekview High School Choir Director – Kelly Pfaffenberger
Alex Gutermuth – TMEA All-State Treble Choir
Jakob Jeter – TMEA All-State Tenor-Bass Choir
Kianna Montanez – TMEA All-State Tenor-Bass Choir

Creekview High School Band Director – Arturo Denis
Samuel Shin – TMEA All-State 5A Symphonic Band
Natalie Wilson – TMEA All-State 5A Symphonic Band

Ranchview High School Band Director – Jarred Carlton
Gerardo Rivera – ATSSB All-State Symphonic Band

Ranchview High School  Orchestra Director – Brian Towndrow
Esther Peng – TMEA All-State Philharmonic Orchestra

Newman Smith High School Choir Director – Aaron Lucero
Anna Merrill – TMEA All-State Mixed Choir

Newman Smith High School Orchestra Director – Jessica Milbrandt
Jacob Von Tress – TMEA All-State Symphony Orchestra

R.L. Turner High School Choir Director – Evan Brown
Gerson Fuentes – TMEA All-State Tenor-Bass Choir

 

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CFBISD’s 4th Annual African-American Read-In

CFBISD's 4th Annual African-American Read-In

The African American Read In, created by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English, celebrates Black History Month through literature. Anyone of any age or ethnicity can participate by reading or reciting poetry, book excerpts, speeches or other text written by African American authors. CFBISD students in elementary, middle, and high school as well as teachers, administrators, and local community members will participate. Many others will attend to listen and support those who read.

Everyone is welcome!

When:
February 3, 2020
Jazz Band 5:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Event starts at 6 p.m.

Where:
Newman Smith High School
2335 N Josey Ln, Carrollton, TX 75006

For more information, please contact
Patty Gonzalez
gonzalezp@cfbisd.edu
(972) 968-6515

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