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Important Information Regarding the Zika Virus

Posted/span> on May 25, 2017 in Barbara Bush, Blair, Blalack, Blanton, Carrollton, Central, Country Place, Creekview, Davis, District News, Early College, Farmers Branch, Field, Freeman, Furneaux, Good, Kent, La Villita, Landry, Las Colinas, Long, McCoy, McKamy, McLaughlin, McWhorter, Perry, Polk, Rainwater, Ranchview, Riverchase, Rosemeade, Sheffield, Smith High School, Stark, Thompson, Turner High School

School Superintendents and School Board Members:

Thank you for your commitment to the education of the school children of Texas. We know the impact of our schools extends well beyond the walls of their campuses and into the communities they serve. As the school year draws to a close, mosquito season is just beginning. As hubs of your community, we are asking for your help in preventing the spread of Zika by providing your students and their families with additional information.

Zika is primarily spread through mosquito bites (Aedes aegypti species). As the weather warms and mosquito activity increases, we expect the threat of local mosquito transmission of Zika to resume and persist. Pregnant women are particularly at risk due to the Zika virus’ ability to cause birth defects in unborn infants. We must ensure that their families and their communities are educated on ways they can prevent the spread of Zika. The public health measures we take together will help prevent serious health impacts on the next generation of Texans.

Combatting Zika begins at the local level. When done in concert, these simple steps represent a big step toward preventing the spread of Zika:

  • Apply EPA-approved insect repellant when planning to be outdoors.
  • Wear long-sleeved shirts and wear long pants when outdoors for prolonged periods.
  • Utilize screens or close windows and doors.
  • Regularly remove any standing water in and around your home or school that could provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
  • Cover trash cans or containers that may collect water.
  • Visit your doctor if you suspect you’ve been exposed to Zika or exhibit any of the symptoms of Zika, which may include fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes.

For your convenience, we have enclosed flyers (below) that identify the steps outlined above. Disseminating these flyers to your school children as the school year draws to an end provides an easy method for educating your community and ensuring that, together, we can prevent the spread of Zika.

DSHS’ website dedicated to Zika (www.TexasZika.org) has a variety of other free information and materials —in English and Spanish – available for download and order. DSHS has created a Zika communications toolkit for organizations interested in sharing important information with their stakeholders, including employees, school-aged children and their families, and it features newsletter copy, social media content, and more. The website also includes website banners and other shareable graphics; we ask you to please post and share these images on your ISD and school websites and social media platforms.

We encourage all schools and communities to take action now to address the threat of the Zika virus in Texas this summer. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us or your local health department as we work together to limit locally-transmitted cases of Zika in Texas and help you prepare school campuses for the summer months. Please feel free to send any questions to TexasZika@dshs.texas.gov. Thank you for your assistance in this important public health matter.

Sincerely,
Greg Abbott (Governor), John Hellerstedt (M.D. Commissioner, DSHS), Mike Morath (Commissioner, TEA)

Click here to view the original letter/Zika Virus Protection & Prevention Flyers

 

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Newman Smith Football Booster Club Selling Tunnel Vision Shirts

Posted/span> on May 11, 2017 in Smith High School

Dear Newman Smith Trojan Football Families:
Our Tunnel Vision tee shirts are in! These shirts are $10 each and proceeds will go to purchase the team’s first-ever spirit tunnel. But…

We Need Your Help to Buy this Spirit Tunnel!
We Need to Sell 300 Tunnel Vision Shirts by May 26!

If every family would purchase (or sell) a minimum of 4 shirts, we would reach our goal in no time!

Get in the Game…Step Up to this Challenge:
Your Player Deserves to Have a Spirit Tunnel!

We will be selling shirts outside the Tutt this week.

  • Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
  • Come by when you pick up your son from practice…
  • Or have your student stop by to purchase your shirts after practice!

So far, we have two corporate sponsors (a big shout out to Trinity Valley/Trinity Plaza and Action Stainless & Alloys, Inc.). If you know of a business that might like to have their name associated with this historic event, please let Pat know. If all of us do just a little bit to help, it will be enough…and our Trojans will have a spirit tunnel.

Let’s go, Trojan Nation!
Pat
214.893.5596

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The Washington Post Names Newman Smith as One of America’s Most Challenging High Schools

Posted/span> on May 5, 2017 in District News, Smith High School

 

The Washington Post newspaper has listed Newman Smith as one of America’s Most Challenging High Schools for 2017!

This marks the 15th consecutive year Newman Smith has been listed among the top 2300 secondary schools in America. The Washington Post’s annual rankings of how successfully schools challenge their students are based on an index formula.   This formula was originated by Washington Post’s Education Writer, Jay Mathews, years ago. For 2017, Newman Smith is ranked at the 1467 spot nationally out of 22,000 public schools in America. The total number of public and private schools in the United States total about 30,000!

The Most Challenging High Schools program ranks schools through an index formula that’s a simple ratio, according to The Washington Post.

The ratio include: The number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests given at a school each year, divided by the number of seniors who graduated that year. A ratio of 1,000 means the school had as many tests as graduates. Other factors include SAT, ACT, PSAT, dual credit, socio-economic data and other statistics that reflect a school’s focus on academic achievement for students. Newman Smith is projected to be among the top 500 schools in 2018.

Recently US News & World Report ranked Newman Smith #721 nationally out of 22,000 public high for 2017.  The news magazine listed Newman Smith in the #84 spot in Texas based on the school’s college readiness index, percentage of senior students tested via Advanced Placement exams, and AP passing percentage among several additional academic factors.

Various colleges and universities are taking note of the caliber of student at Smith.

Additionally, Newman Smith received a letter grade of “A” for College Readiness from NICHE K-12 for 2017.

Congratulations faculty, staff and students!

Click here to see Newman Smith’s Campus Page

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Ranchview & Newman Smith Track State Qualifiers

Posted/span> on May 3, 2017 in Athletics, District News, Ranchview, Smith High School

Track State Qualifiers from Ranchview & Newman Smith

Congratulations to our State Qualifiers from Ranchview and Newman Smith High School.  These athletes made it out of Regionals and are on their way to the UIL State Track Meet in Austin to compete on May 11-13.

CFBISD is very proud of all of our State Bound athletes, Head Girls Track Coach Tiffany Cherry from Ranchview and Head Boys Track Coach Tom Neuman from Newman Smith for preparing our kids for greatness!

Newman Smith’s Triple Jumper – Marquies Tinsley will be competing on Thursday May 11th, at 5:00 pm at the Mike A. Myers Stadium located at the University of Texas – Austin.

Ranchview will have several compete at the Mike A. Myers Stadium located at the University of Texas – Austin on Saturday, May 13th:

MaQhi Berry will be competing in the Long Jump at Noon, and Destiny Barclift, Olivia Thomas, LaMantra Fricks, and MaQhi Berry (Alternates: Alexis McGill and Lauryn McCollum) will compete in the 4 X 100 Relay at 6:00 pm Saturday night, and Aalivyah Woodard, Olivia Thomas, MaQhi Berry, and Lauryn McCollum (Alternates: Imani Mayfield) will compete in the 4 X 400 Relay at 10:15 pm Saturday night.

Good Luck to all of our competitors! Great job Athletes and Coaches!

Click here to see CFBISD’s Athletics Page

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Newman Smith Student Council Places 3rd in Texas DPS Competition

Posted/span> on May 3, 2017 in District News, Smith High School

Newman Smith Student Council Places 3rd in Texas DPS Competition

Congratulations to the Newman Smith Student Council for earning a 3rd Place Award in the Teen In The Driver Seat® (TDS) contest.  This contest sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation and State Farm Insurance. The competition’s goal is to reduce or eliminate the number of teen auto accident involving texting, alcohol and other distractions.  This is the 10th year that the competition has been held.

Texas has taken great strides in saving teen lives and TDS is proud to be part of the solution. In Texas, the number of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes has dropped nearly 70 percent and is the only state where fatal crashes involving teen drivers has decreased every year since 2002.

The Newman Smith Student Council produced a video that earned it a 3rd place award and $500!

Recently the Newman Smith Student Council was selected as the top program in Texas by the Texas Association of Secondary Principals.

Sabrina Pace is the teacher/director of the Newman Smiths Student Council program.

Click here to see what else is going on at Newman Smith

 

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Newman Smith Student Accepts Award from World Affairs Council

Posted/span> on May 2, 2017 in District News, Smith High School

Newman Smith Student Accepts Award from World Affairs Council

Newman Smith Student Accepts Award from World Affairs Council

Newman Smith student, Lamisa Mustafa, accepted an award from the World Affairs Council on Saturday, April 29th.  Lamisa was recognized for her Global Leadership as a part of their “20 Under 20 program.”  These young leaders were selected as individuals who consistently give back to their communities and exemplify what it means to be a globally aware citizen. She has proven her leadership skills and her interest in international and domestic policy.

While this is the first year of the program, Lamisa had to outshine 11 other individuals. She won the honor of “First Runner Up” in the competition and was granted a $1,500 scholarship from the World Affairs Council of Dallas Fort Worth.

Lamisa spoke about her experience:

“Dear Amy Miller, Jim Falk, and the esteemed Board of the World Affairs Council of DFW,

Thank you so much for affording priceless opportunities to me and my classmates. It was an honor to be recognized as the runner-up for the Global Gateway Grant of 2017, but I was prouder to have even been in the room, full of influential and kind-hearted people, shaping the future of our world.

I appreciate the value that you and your organization put in education. As a student in a Title 1 public school, I know how hard it is to give students enriching experiences outside of the classroom. Thanks to you, my peers and I have met powerful and inspiring people who encourage us to keep walking the walk. Furthermore, we’ve realized the importance of putting a global focus into everything we do, especially in this increasingly interconnected world.

I look forward to my future involvement and the Newman Smith Human Rights Forum’s future involvement with the WAC of DFW. We are constantly in awe of the events you organize to get people involved with world affairs and thinking of more than just their direct surroundings.

I plan on using this grant money to fund my education at Southern Methodist University, where I will work tirelessly to help those in need and inspire others to do the same.”

Congratulations Lamisa on your amazing accomplishment!

Click here to see what else is going on at Newman Smith

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Newman Smith Student Council Wins Top State Honors from TASC

Posted/span> on May 1, 2017 in District News, Smith High School

Congratulations to members of The Newman Smith Student Council!

For the fifth time in the past 7 years, the Newman Smith Student Council Program sponsored by Sabrina Pace has won top state honors from the Texas Association of Student Councils.

The TASC, sponsored by the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals, recently announced that the NSHS Student Council was best in Texas in the following areas:

  • Outstanding Student Council
  • Drugs, Alcohol, Safety and Health
  • Energy and Environment
  • Pride and Patriotism
  • Community Service
  • Sweepstakes

The TASC outstanding school recognition program is designed to set a standard of excellence for Texas student councils as outlined  in criteria published in state report forms. The report forms are reviewed annually by the TASC Board of Directors to ensure that the recognition program is rigorous and relevant.

Fewer than 20% of TASC member schools are recognized in one or more areas in this statewide competition.

This will mark the fifth time in recent history that Newman Smith students have earned top honors  in the six categories above. The TASC considers this to be “quite an accomplishment!”

Congratulations Sabrina Pace and student!

Click here to see what else is going on at Newman Smith

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Newman Smith State VASE Winners

Posted/span> on May 1, 2017 in District News, Fine Arts, Smith High School

Newman Smith State VASE Winners

Katherine Burchett, Anna Martinez and Zoe Porsche all received superior ratings at the State Visual Art Scholastic Event in San Antonio this past weekend. They ranked in the top 4% against competition from the entire state of Texas.

Zoe Porsche received medals for both of her artworks and Katherine Burchett’s work received a perfect score!

The State Event is held annually in April. At the event, students and teachers are given a warm welcome and the event schedule for the day. While the artworks were being judged, the students participated in professional workshops, lectures, slide presentations, demonstrations, and outdoor sketching opportunities. The event is intended to provide a forum for art teachers and students to meet and to grow artistically and personally.

All of the entries are exhibited and open for viewing after the jury process has been completed. This provides opportunities for students to view the works of other student artists and to see the vast talents and fresh ideas of other students their age. The Awards Ceremony is the exciting end to a long day!  This recognition represents the pinnacle of artistic success in the VASE program. This work of art has now been juried through three levels and has received the Superior Rating IV. Each student receiving a Superior Rating is draped with the VASE State Medallion. Many art students are now lettering in the Visual Arts and are receiving letter jackets and chenille patches.

Congratulations Zoe, Anna, and Katherine!

Click here to see CFBISD’s Fine Arts Page

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Newman Smith High School Presents “These Shining Lives”

Posted/span> on April 27, 2017 in District News, Fine Arts, Smith High School

 

Newman Smith High School Presents “These Shining Lives”

The CFBISD community is invited to attend a 7 p.m. encore performance of NSHS’s state qualifying One-Act Play, “These Shining Lives” by Melanie Marnich.

The performance is scheduled for 7 p.m., Thursday May 4, at the Smith Theatre.

Admission to the performance is a “pay what you can” event with all funds going to the NSHS Theatre Program.

Earlier this month the Smith cast and crew were only one point shy of earning a 3rd place medal for its production of “These Shining Lives.”
Smith placed 4th out of 253 5A schools in Texas that competed in UIL One-Act Play competition this spring.
Only eight 5A schools from across the state earned a spot at state competition this spring.
This marked NSHS’s seventh One-Act Play state appearance. Newman Smith has won state One-Act Play championships twice in past years.
For more information regarding the encore performance please contact NSHS Theatre Director Tyler Brodess at 972-968-5200, brodesst@cfbisd.edu

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Newman Smith Choirs Excel at UIL

Posted/span> on April 21, 2017 in District News, Fine Arts, Smith High School

Newman Smith Choirs Excel at UIL

Newman Smith Choir Receive Superior Ratings

This past week, five Newman Smith Choirs competed at the UIL Concert & Sight Reading Contest. The A Cappella Varsity Mixed, A Cappella Varsity Women, A Cappella Varsity Men, Non Varsity Women, and Non Varsity Men received a one (“superior”) both in concert and sight reading awarding them with the highly coveted honor of “Sweepstakes.”

Newman Smith consistently receives superior ratings and “Sweepstakes” with its choirs, but this is the first time in 21 years that Newman Smith has received the “Sweepstakes” trophy with FIVE Choirs. We are extremely proud of our students for carrying out the tradition of the Newman Smith Choir Department in being the “Voice of Excellence.”

Please congratulate these choir students for their hard work and high achievement!

Click here to view CFBISD’s Fine Arts Page

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