Students at Sheffield Elementary participated in the first PTA “Color Fun Run.” Students who wanted to participate were blasted with color chalk by parents and volunteers as they ran the obstacle course. Students raced against each other, ran across hula-hoops, and walked across balance beams during the fun run. Proceeds from the event will help provide school buses for school field trips this spring.
Nutrition Department Recognized for Summer Meals Program
Carrollton Farmers Branch ISD, Student Nutrition Department received the Silver Sponsor distinction from the Dallas Excellence in Summer Meals Campaign. The Dallas Excellence in Summer Meals Campaign (ESMC) is a project of the Texas Hunger Initiative, the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas to recognize Summer Meals sponsoring organizations that are utilizing best practices in programming, operations, food quality, outreach and marketing. The project conducted site visits, interviews with site coordinators, reviewed meal plans, and much more. On March 1, 2019, eighteen (18) summer feeding sponsor were recognized for their outstanding and comprehensive programs.
Students’ nutrition needs do not end with the last day of school. CFBISD is proud to provide healthy and delicious meals to children during summer months to maintain optimal health and well-being. During the summer 2018, Carrollton Farmers Branch operated ten (10) feeding sites in which they served over 30,000 meals to children ages 1- 18.
More than half of the children in North Texas receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year, but although these children are all eligible, only a fraction currently get meals in the summertime through the federal Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
Perry Middle School Students Compete at Botball Regional Competition
On Saturday, March 9th the DeWitt Perry Middle School Robotics Club traveled to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to compete in the multi-state Oklahoma Botball regional competition against 55 other teams, mostly high schools. Botball is a challenging autonomous robotics competition for middle through high school students. There are no division lines and the Perry Middle School students competed against mostly high schools. The students had 9 weeks to design, build, program and test up to two 100% autonomous robots to compete head to head in a non-violent robotics competition. The students programmed their robots in C and Python, professional computer programming languages used every day in the engineering world. The students must also prepare a presentation to perform in front of a pair of professional engineers. The DeWitt Perry Middle School Robotics Club was formed 18 years ago and is one of the longest lived and most successful robotics clubs in the country.
After a grueling day of competition and presentations the club did very well, taking away the following awards:
Judges Choice – Best programming.
Judges Choice – Outstanding outreach
1st place – Documentation
1st place – Alliance competition
2nd place – Alliance competition
3rd place – Seeding
3rd place overall
The club sent almost 55 students to the competition, more than any other school at the competition. The club wouldn’t be able to serve the number of students that it does without the generous support of the CFBISD Advanced Academic Services department, the CFB Association of the Gifted and Talented and the wonderful staff and administration of Perry Middle School.
Congratulations, Perry Robotics Club!
CFB Purchasing Department Recognized by TASBO
At its Annual Conference Awards Luncheon in March, the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) recognized CFBISD with the Award of Merit for Purchasing Operations. TASBO recognized only 35 school districts in the entire state for following best practices in the area of purchasing operations.
“There’s no better way to achieve professional purchasing operations than to share best practices throughout the state and document your district’s policies and procedures,” said Tracy Ginsburg, TASBO Executive Director. “And each year we honor districts for demonstrating exceptional purchasing operations. We could not be more pleased with the growing recognition of the important work all of our honorees do to streamline operations, comply with regulations and set the standard for how to utilize taxpayer dollars.”
from left to right, Steve Fisher, TASB BuyBoard, Gary D. Kerbow, CFBISD Director of Purchasing, Phillip Ellison, Executive Director of Procurement Services, Spring ISD and TASBO Purchasing Award of Merit Review Coordinator, and Arturo Salinas, Director of Cooperative Procurement, TASB BuyBoard.
CFBISD Teacher Job Fair
Submit your application online to be invited to the job fair at cfbjobs.com
This job fair is by invitation only.
When:
Saturday – April 13, 2019
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Where:
Ranchview High School
8401 Valley Ranch Pkwy E
Irving, TX 75063
Representatives from all 39 CFBISD campuses will be present to meet and talk with you about teaching opportunities for the 2019-2020 school year.
Please bring at least 25 copies of your resume to the job fair. For questions, email us: CFBJobFair@cfbisd.edu.
Before You Come
We want to give you the inside scoop on how to land a job at our CFBISD job fair!
Tune in to a Facebook Live event and hear tips from principals and Personnel Services on earning your dream job in CFBISD!
Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. (CST) on the CFBISD Facebook page.
Anonymous Alerts Coming to CFBISD
Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD is pleased to introduce a new communications tool called Anonymous Alerts
What is the Anonymous Alerts app?
The Anonymous Alerts anti-bullying and safety app reporting system helps combat bullying and other negative activity in schools by empowering students to speak up. Social and peer pressure are some of the hardest obstacles for students to overcome.
The system allows for 1-way or 2-way anonymous encrypted communications between submitters (students, parents or community members) and district administration and/or school staff. Users of the system have the option to remain anonymous or reveal their identity when submitting a report.
How does it work?
To use this revolutionary new app, students, parents or other school personnel can simply visit the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD website and click on the “Anonymous Alerts” button or text link to submit a report expressing their concern. Anonymous Alerts® mobile applications can be downloaded directly from the Apple, Google Play or the Chrome stores.
Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD supplies students an activation code, making the app remarkably easy to use and students select which school the message should go to. In addition, informational posters explaining how to use the app will be displayed throughout schools and offices in the district.
To send reports from the Web/Internet go to: https://report.anonymousalerts.com/cfbisd
To send a report from your phone:
- Download the Anonymous Alerts® app for free from the Apple Store, Google Play store, or the Chrome store
- Start the App, enter activation code: cfbisd
- Send important reports to school officials
- Add a screenshot, photo or video about the incident
In an emergency, always call 9-1-1!
CFBISD is Sharp Says Texas Agriculture Commissioner
Using Local and Healthy Texas Products to Prepare Meals Promotes Wellness and the Economy
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller recognized CFBISD with a Sharp Cheddar Award for its achievement in the Texas Department of Agriculture’s (TDA) 2018 Farm Fresh Challenge. Every October, participating schools are challenged to incorporate more Texas products in meals. Additionally, they provide memorable lessons about healthy lifestyles and Texas agriculture. Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, Student Nutrition Department earned the Sharp Cheddar Award.
“Texas agriculture offers something local for any meal or menu. When schools serve that food in the cafeteria, families are more likely to do so at home,” Commissioner Miller said. “When school meals include products like citrus and lean beef, it provides a lesson in healthy eating that lasts a lifetime.”
More than 54 million meals are served during challenge. It encourages each district to keep their buying power close to home. This also supports local economies and businesses.
Farm Fresh challenge participation increased 29 percent from 2017-2018, with more than 230 school districts participating in the 2018 Farm Fresh Challenge. Sharp Cheddar Award winners met the second highest standards of the Farm Fresh Challenge and have showcased extraordinary commitment to Texas agriculture.
Texas is one of the largest producers of fresh fruits and vegetables. Every Friday during the 2018-19 school year, elementary students have the opportunity to eat a fresh product grown in Texas. Each month highlights a different product and students choosing those products receive a “Farm Fresh Friday” sticker. Throughout this year, CFB students will enjoy Texas sweet peppers, watermelon, apples, carrots, spinach, button mushrooms, broccoli, and more. CFBISD students consume an average of 3,300 pounds of healthy fresh produce per school day.
Manufacturing Initiative Provides Real-World Experience
CFBISD Partners with Local Manufacturers for Workforce Readiness
The Mary Grimes Initiative is a partnership between Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District, the Dallas County Community College District and local manufacturers including Alexandria Industries, Haas, Applegate, Hilite International and Western Extrusions.
The manufacturers participating in the initiative have opened up their facilities for our current students to enjoy tours and hands-on experiences. The students learned about employment opportunities for summer employment and employment post-graduation. For example, students from CFB were employed by Western Extrusions in the summer of 2018. Some students have continued to work at Western Extrusions during the school year.
This partnership creates authentic work-based opportunities for students interested in the fields of manufacturing and welding, ultimately producing model employees for manufacturing groups in and around the CFBISD communities.
The following Pathways and Certifications are offered to CFB students because of this partnership:
- Welding and Manufacturing
- Advanced Manufacturing and Design Certification
- Gas metal Arc Welding Certification
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding Certification
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration Certifications
Sheffield Celebrates Read Across America
In celebration of Dr. Seuss Day, volunteers visited Sheffield Elementary to read to students. Every year, the National Education Association celebrates Read Across America, which coincides with the birthday of author Dr. Seuss.
Former Dallas Mavericks basketball player, Michael Finley, was among those who came to share the love of reading with students. Other volunteers included Assistant Superintendent Tracy Smith and board members Randy Schackmann and Tara Hrbacek. Teachers and parents also read to students.
zSpace Visits CFB
zSpace is a California-based company that utilizes a platform by the same name, that provides highly realistic visualization and natural 3D interaction to designs. Also used by the U.S. military, zSpace allows students to learn through Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality experiences. On Feb. 28, he company visited R. L. Turner and Ranchview High Schools with their interactive trailer. Students were able to enjoy the technology hands-on and see its applications in nearly every area of study. The zSpace trailer is has with 10 computers for students so they may experience objects by “lifting” them off of the computer screen and manipulate them in all angles.
Career & Technology Education
Wearing special glasses, students could see objects such as an automobile engine or a human heart floating in space. Using buttons on the stylus, students were able to look at exploded-views of objects to see how they worked internally. Thanks to haptic feedback in the stylus, students could feel the pulse of blood as it passed through the 3D beating heart floating in front of their screens. CFB’s Career & Technology Education department provides many real world experiences for students interested in various career paths. Students taking part in the Virtual Reality experience with zSpace have interests ranging from computer programming to biochemistry.