While school is not yet back in session, the Ranchview High School band is back to practice. School begins Aug. 20.
FBE Has Jump Start on 2018
Teachers and students have come back early at Farmers Branch Elementary to get a jump start on 2018. Students get to meet teachers and engage in some learning activity before the school year begins.
Every CFBISD Secondary Student Will Have a Laptop for the 2018-2019 School Year
**UPDATE** Over the past three years, CFB has purchased Chromebooks (grades 3-12) and iPads (grades PreK-2) to build the digital learning experience of students. Over three years, the Board of Trustees allocated approximately $7 million from local funds and from the Instructional Materials Allotment provided by TEA to purchase devices. The district phased in the devices to allow for incremental purchase and to create a reasonable replacement cycle. Teachers have received training in digital learning practices over the past several years to prepare for the eventual 1:1 roll-out. For 2018-19, CFB will launch 1:1 experience for students in grades 6-12.
Every 6th-12th grade student in CFBISD will begin the year with a Chromebook to use for schoolwork and homework. At this stage of the one-to-one technology program, each student will be assigned a laptop (Chromebook) that the student will take to each class and home in the evenings. Much like a textbook, the Chromebook will be checked out to the individual student.
In CFBISD, we believe technology can transform learning in a powerful way. Technology is designed to be used for any time anyplace learning. Having consistent access to a Chromebook allows teachers and students to engage in new and exciting learning opportunities.
Secondary campus personnel will communicate with parents and students regarding topics like the checkout process and care of the Chromebook. Student and parent questions will be addressed at Meet the Teacher Nights, Open Houses, Schedule Pick-Up Events and more.
State of Texas Will Release A-F Ratings for Districts
The 85th Texas Legislature passed House Bill 22, establishing three domains for measuring the academic performance of districts and campuses: Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing Achievement Gaps. Districts will receive a rating of A, B, C, D, or F for overall performance, as well as for performance in each domain, on August 15, 2018. Campuses will receive A–F ratings beginning in August 2019.
While CFBISD anticipates a positive rating from TEA, the District agrees with the Texas Association of School Administrators when it says, “Texas students would be better served by a comprehensive community-based accountability system that looks beyond high-stakes, multiple-choice tests to meaningful assessments that have value for students, parents, and teachers, as well as measures what each community deems important in promoting college and career readiness.”
CFBISD is committed to high achievement for each student and will continue to focus on meeting the individual needs of each student that we serve.
CHS Mock Trial Team Attends Chicago Judicial Conference
Mock Trial students in Creekview High School‘s Law and Criminal Justice Academy wrapped up their 2017-2018 competitive season by attending the YMCA Youth and Government National Judicial Conference in Chicago. To qualify for this tournament, Creekview Mock Trial advanced as District Champions and placed 2nd at the State Tournament last January and Moot Court advanced having been both District and State Champions.
The Mock Trial team of Kasi Reed, Anonik Tep, R’Mani Ervin, Yusraa Tariq, and Amena Tep brought home 4th place, which is the highest National placement of any Mock Trial team in Creekview’s history. Additionally, rising Junior Yusraa Tariq won a National Champion Best Witness Award.
Final rankings for Moot Court have been delayed and are still pending, but the State Champion team of Simon Pena and Joanna Boyer garnered the praise of both judges and competitors at the tournament.
This year’s Mock Trial case was a criminal case dealing with a woman who killed her sleeping spouse and claimed self-defense under a Battered Women’s Syndrome theory. The Moot Court case dealt with a student who claimed that a school district’s suspending him for a tweet made off campus that included threatening language about a teacher purported to be sexually harassing female students violated his first amendment right to free speech.
Law and Criminal Justice Academy director, Jonathan Ray, stated, “please join me in congratulating these students, particularly Class of 2018 students Kasi Reed, Anonik Tep, and Simon Peña, for whom this has been their final tournament representing Creekview.”
See more photos from this event in our Flickr gallery.
Kindergartner, Raven Myles, Transfers to Spark STEM Academy
Kindergartner, Raven Myles, has transferred to Freeman Elementary so she can attend the Spark STEM Academy. A STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) classroom is an active environment in which student learning is collaborative and project-based. Students learn hands-on how to solve real-world problems. STEM students like Raven are curious, analytical, and strategic.
CFB Superintendent, Dr. John Chapman, visited Raven and her mom to personally welcome her to the Stellar program (see more photos from this event).
Would your student like to attend our Spark STEM Academy or Imagine Fine Arts Academy? You do not have to live in the CFBISD attendance zone to attend CFB schools. If you live outside the district, but would still like your student to attend one of our CFB Academies, you may apply online. We’d love to have you join the CFB family!
Has your student already transferred to CFB from another district to attend our academies? We’d love to know your story. Please contact us at cfbinfo@cfbisd.edu or by private message on our Facebook page.
District – Parenting the Love and Logic Way
All CFB middle and high school parents are invited to join us for a free 6-week class beginning Thursday, Sep. 6. We will have a weekly video series resulting from over 40 years of research and practice from the Love and Logic Institute. You will learn practical skills including:
- How to avoid un-winnable power struggles and arguments
- How to stay calm and empathetic when your kids do incredibly upsetting things
- How to set enforceable limits
- How to avoid enabling and begin empowering
- How to help your kids learn from their mistakes rather than repeat them
- How to raise kids who are family team members rather than demanding dictators
- And much more!
Please register online at http://bitly.com/FieldLLFall18 by Wednesday, September 5, 2018.
Childcare and translation assistance are available.
Vivian Field Middle School 13551 Dennis Lane Farmers Branch, TX 75234 972-968-3900 haymesc@cfbisd.edu
McLaughlin Strickland Elementary Moves into One Building
Beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, all K-5 students at McLaughlin Strickland Elementary will attend school in the Strickland building on Fyke Road. The McLaughlin building will not be used as a school.
The campus will retain its name McLaughlin Strickland honoring its namesakes Neil Ray McLaughlin and Nancy H. Strickland.
Country Place Named National PTA School of Excellence
has been named as a 2018-2020 National PTA School of Excellence. The National PTA School of Excellence program is a recognition program that supports and celebrates partnerships between PTAs and schools to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being for all students. The designation as a National PTA School of Excellence is for two academic years.
Full Circle: CFB Graduate Returns to Teach
La Villita Elementary P.E. teacher, Vanita Krouch, returned to her roots after a professional athletic career. A U.S. Flag and Touch Football champion quarterback, Ms. Krouch expresses her joy in getting elementary students excited about staying fit and having an attitude of good sportsmanship. Krouch began her education at Carrollton Elementary, then went to Perry Middle School, and graduated from R. L. Turner High School. She then attended Southern Methodist University on a full scholarship. She began her love of sports in 3rd grade. Encouraged by coaches at CFB, sports remained an important facet of her life, and ultimately a career path.