Sixth-grade students at Hunters Glen Elementary School are taking a stand against bullying by leading their schoolmates in anti-bullying efforts. On May 11, the students wore t-shirts that carried the message “Gangs, Drugs, Bullies, Not 4 Me. I’m Violence Free.” The t-shirts were donated by the Missouri City Police Department. Students also took part in a moment of silence and recited an anti-bullying pledge to show their strong stance against bullying and against being innocent by-standers during incidents of bullying. The sixth-grade students wanted to demonstrate that bullying is not cool and serve as role models for younger students on campus before they transition to middle school next year.

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The Missouri City Little League and Little League of America honored 11 Fort Bend ISD athletes during the 100-year celebration of little league in March. The honorees, who are current students at Hightower and Ridge Point High Schools, were inducted into the Missouri City Little League’s first Charter Alumni Team of Players. Honored were: Jax Biggers (RPHS), Ben Brown (RPHS), Trevor Fenner (RPHS), Kyle Harris (RPHS), Justin Jackson (RPHS), Keenan Johnson (HHS), Matthew Kennedy (RPHS), Crafford Lee (HHS), Jaydrian Lee (HHS), Tyler Vlasek (RPHS) and Torian Williams (RPHS). Williams was also recognized for playing three sports (junior varsity football, basketball and baseball) during his freshman year in high school.

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The B.F. Terry High School athletic department announced its Outstanding Athletes of the Year at the annual “Spring Fling,” a fun event for all athletes. Named the outstanding male athletes of the year are Christian Cruz and Frankie Guerra. The outstanding female athletes are Kaitlyn McInturff and Ugonna Onyekwere.

Cruz played on both the soccer and football teams. In 2011, he was named to the 1^st Team All-District Kicker and he was the football team captain that same year. (more…)

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The 2011-12 Badge staff at B.F. Terry High School won awards at the annual San Jacinto College Communications Day Contest. Shown are staffers, front, Alex Fonseca, Jamarco Shaw, Justin Cruz, Megan Foncannon and Ashley Gamino; standing Darryl Breland, David Nilsson-Campos, Christian Reyes, Navdeep Kaur and Chris Monge. Not shown are Josie Lopez and Jenna Loesch.

The Badge newspaper staff at B.F. Terry High School won a variety of awards at the annual San Jacinto College Communications Day Contest. Numerous schools from across the Houston area competed in the contest that included all aspects of both an online and print newspaper.

“There is a lot of talent in the Houston area, and it showed in this contest,” said Communications Professor Fred Faour with San Jacinto. (more…)

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Fort Bend ISD had several students win medals at the UIL Track & Field State Meet in Austin.  Twenty-nine athletes representing 10 of our high schools competed in the annual event, and twelve made a trip to the podium for earning first, second or third place in their respective events.

“I am very proud of all of the athletes and how they competed and represented our District at the competition,” said Philip O’Neal, Athletic Director.

Following are the FBISD top athletes in the state: (more…)

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Foster High School’s Stephanie Tsai is among only 10 high school students in the country a HOSA Internship this summer with the United States Office of the Surgeon General in Washington, D.C.

HOSA – Future Health Professionals and the Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps selected the HOSA Internship participants for this summer. Tsai’s internship will be August 13-17. (more…)

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For the second year in a row, two George Ranch High School students have been selected as members of the UIL One Act Play State Meet Honor Crew.

Sophomores Kelsey Haass and Sarah May will work on the stage and lighting crews at the UIL 3A, 4A, and 5A One Act Play State Contest. These young women were selected as part of the honor crew based on their participation in the George Ranch HS Theatre program and their academic success in all classes.  (more…)

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On May 9^th, two cadets from the Clements High School Navy  JROTC program paid a visit to Don Kerstetter,  owner of Classic Chevrolet in SugarLand.

Cadet Lieutenant Commander  Christopher Mann and Executive Officer  Ed Alexander presented an award as a token of thanks and appreciation to Mr. Kerstetter and his dealership for a donation made earlier in the school year to the Clements NJROTC Unit.  Clements cadets are very active in the community providing manpower for numerous charities including the Alzheimer Association and  The Fort Bend Education Foundation.

Featured in the picture are left to right: Ed Alexander, Don Kerstetter, Christopher Mann

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All four Lamar Consolidated ISD high schools – Foster, George Ranch, Lamar Consolidated and Terry — have received national certification for the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) program.

PLTW, a nonprofit organization and the nation’s leading provider of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education programs, offers a rigorous world-class curriculum that allows students to apply what they are learning in math and science class to real-life engineering and technology projects. PLTW also prides itself on high-quality professional development of its teachers and an engaged network of business, community and university partners to give students the fullest experience. (more…)

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A group of First Colony Middle School students recently returned from what can only be described as the “ultimate social studies trip” to Washington DC including visits to the Capitol, the Smithsonian Institute, the Holocaust Museum, the home of George Washington and the site of the first Civil War battle.

“The trip allows our students and reach out and experience what they talk about in the classroom,” says First Colony Middle School Principal Jerrie Kammerman.  “They come away with a renewed appreciation for our nation’s history and its landmarks.” (more…)

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Fort Bend ISD will have several students representing the District at this year’s UIL Track & Field State Meet in Austin this weekend.  Following are the athletes who placed either first or second in their respective track and field events at the regional meet, which qualified them for state:

Austin High School

Bria Druilhet – Girls Triple Jump

Bush High School (more…)

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Lamar CISD honored employees who have reached milestones of service at the 2012 Employee Banquet, held May 1 in the cafeteria of George Junior High.

Each year, Superintendent Dr. Thomas Randle and the members of the LCISD Board of Trustees thank employees for their service to the children of our community, beginning with five-year veterans. The cafeteria was decorated in an Africa motif and featured a performance from the Terry High Drummers. (more…)

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Cindy Cormier, a fifth-grade teacher Jan Schiff Elementary School, has been named the Fort Bend ISD’s Elementary Teacher of the Year.

Cormier, who has taught for 16 years, joined Schiff Elementary when the school opened in 2008.  While at Schiff, she has taught all subjects at the fifth-grade level with an emphasis on the individual growth of each of her students.

“Ms. Cormier does more than simply educate, she teaches ‘life,’” says Schiff Elementary Principal Mary Brewster.  “Her students truly have a special bond with her.” (more…)

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First Colony Middle School student, Aeliya Arif, earned second place in the national “Breaking Barriers” essay contest, sponsored by Scholastic and Major League Baseball. The competition honors Jackie Robinson who broke the Major League Baseball color barrier in May of 1947.

Aeliya entered the essay contest as part of a class project of her seventh-grade English Language Arts teacher, Claud Ridgway. Each student wrote an essay that incorporated one or more of Jackie Robinson’s nine core values: courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment, and excellence. Aeliya’s essay, titled “Courage” was awarded second prize based on how well she expressed how she gained the courage to overcome prejudice. (more…)

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Austin High School students Eric Abney, Shawn Cleary and Jaquala Couch are recipients of Navy ROTC scholarships in the collective amount of $180,000. They earned the scholarships based on their SAT scores, written essays, community service, extracurricular activities and teacher recommendations. Abney will attend Yale University, Cleary will attend The Citadel, and Couch will attend the Air Force ROTC program at Texas A&M University. Both Abney and Cleary were also appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy.

“It is quite an honor to see the results of our labor,” said Lieutenant Commander Edwin R. Sellards, Senior Naval Science Instructor at Austin High School. “It is always our hope and dream that our students will go on to college and eventually serve our great country.” Sellards credits the school’s principal, faculty and staff, and parents for the students’ success at earning the Navy ROTC scholarships. (more…)

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FORT BEND ISD - Middle school students who have a love of music are invited to attend Fort Bend ISD’s 2012 Band and Orchestra Camps. The camps will operate July 9-19, from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm, Monday through Thursday at Sartartia Middle School (8125 Homeward Way, Sugar Land, 77479).

The instrumental music camps will offer students the opportunity to perform in large ensembles and in small sectional rehearsals of like instruments, under the direction of music teachers. Students will also receive instruction in sight-reading, basic theory and rhythm study. The camps will conclude with a public concert, which will be held Thursday, July 19 at 7:00 pm. (more…)

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If you are a student who wants to experience a unique opportunity to study modern and classical theatre, then plan to attend Fort Bend ISD’s annual middle school Drama Camp. No experience is necessary, only a desire to have fun, meet new friends, work as a team, and improve overall acting and presentation skills. The camp will be offered July 9-19, from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm, Monday through Thursday at Sartartia Middle School (8125 Homeward Way, Sugar Land, 77479).

Current FBISD theatre directors will work closely with beginning, intermediate, and advanced students on speech and theatre skills. Students who attend the camp will participate in improvisation, script analysis, blocking and stage movements, voice production and flexibility, back stage elements and stage combat. The students will also perform an end-of-camp production for their parents, friends, and community members on Thursday, July 19, 2012 at 5:00 pm. Enrollment is open to all students who have completed grades 5, 6, 7 or 8. (more…)

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Fort Bend Christian Academy (FBC) is pleased to announce the selection of Heather Kisner as the new Varsity Volleyball Coach.  Graduating with a BBA in Finance from the University of Texas, Heather was a 4-year starter for the Longhorns. Her college honors and awards are extensive: Texas single-season record 488 digs in 2008, Team Captain 2008 & 2009, 2009 Final Four Finalist, 2010 Texas Tough Award, Texas Exes Lifetime Achievement Award, 2007-2009 Team Academic MVP, 2008 CoSIDA ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 6 Second Team, Two-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, 2008 Time Warner Cable Texas Invitational Most Valuable Libero, 2007 CoSIDA ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 6 First Team, 2009 and 2008 Collegiate Beach Nationals participant. (more…)

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Fort Bend Christian Academy is pleased to announce the valedictorian and salutatorian for the Class of 2012.  Valedictorian Nathan Christopher Wong will be attending the University of Texas and is planning a double major in Philosophy and Physics. Nathan is the son of Dr. Daniel and Mei Wong of Sugar Land. He is the recipient of numerous academic and fine arts awards, and received the Wings Scholarship.

Salutatorian Jeremiah Baker will be attending Texas A&M University, majoring in Chemical Engineering.  Jeremiah is the recipient of the Lechner Scholarship, as well as numerous academic achievement awards.  He is the son of Rose and Gene Baker of Arcola.

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The Beasley Elementary Student Council received the Honor Student Council Excellence Award for 2011-2012 from the National Association of Elementary School Principals. The student council was recognized for outstanding achievement in community service, student leadership, citizenship and school spirit.

Front row, Sponsor Jocelyn Payne, Daniel Vasquez, Alisa Martinez, Arianna Espinoza, Matthew Brdecka, Warren Scott, Susana Ortiz, Dylan Long, Jimena Duran, Juliana Balmos, Joana Ramirez, Polama Maldanado, Jasmine Duran, Lexi Enriquez, Dereck Montgomery, Korey Marek and LeAnn Pelley; Back row (standing on bench) Isabella Sanchez, Joe Duenez, Brianna Rodriquez, Edith Resendiz, Lyric Gay and Hannah Humphrey.

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Foster High School senior Stephanie Tsai is one of only 20 students in state chosen for the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP) All-State Academic Excellence Team.

The award recognizes Texas high school seniors for their outstanding academic achievements and the rewards of superior scholarship. (more…)

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The Sugar Land Rotary honored Fort Bend ISD’s 2012 Rookie Teachers of the Year during a Teacher Appreciation Day recognition program held at a recent Rotary meeting. The Rotary has recognized exceptional first-year teachers through this recognition program for more than 16 years.

Sugar Land Rotarians welcomed the teachers and their campus administrators to the event, expressing their gratitude to these young adults as they begin their education careers. Dr. Olwen Herron, FBISD Chief Academic Officer, introduced each honoree. The rookie teachers then shared why they became a teacher and what they have enjoyed most about their first year of teaching.  (more…)

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FBISD high school art students competed at the State VASE (Visual Arts Scholastic Event) competition in April and earned a total of 31 awards. VASE recognizes exemplary student achievement in visual art through individual and original expression of ideas applying the elements and principles of art based upon research of art media and art history. This year’s competition welcomed more than 24,000 students from 25 regions throughout Texas. Among those, 855 earned state medals, with the top 1% being selected as Gold Seal winners. The artwork of the Gold Seal winners becomes part of a year-long traveling show at various venues across the state.

Among the FBISD students to earn VASE awards are: (more…)

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Little did Hightower student, Neerja  Aggarwal, and Travis student, Sydney Hodges, know when they met ten years ago in Mrs. Maynard’s second grade class at Arizona Fleming Elementary that one day they would both be attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology together.  Over the next decade they became great friends, participating in Girl Scout Troop 175 and excelling both academically and in extracurricular activities.  Both are National Merit Finalists, and winners of numerous other scholastic and Girl Scout awards. Their dreams of pursuing their love for science and problem solving were realized on “Pi Day” (March 14 – 3.14) when they learned of their acceptance to M.I.T.  Neerja and Sydney are two of the three FBISD Seniors headed to M.I.T. which accepted a record low of less than 9% of all applicants this year.   Along with the rigors of school, they each will make time for their other passion – Neerja plans to participate in theatre and Sydney will swim for the varsity team.  Hard work, discipline, and focus have paid off for these two!

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Lamar Consolidated High School senior Rebecca Welty won the 2012 Best Teen Chef contest, April 21 at the Art Institute of Austin.  Rebecca’s culinary efforts earned her a $15,000 scholarship to the Art Institute’s culinary program.

Judges evaluated and scored each entrant on his/her technical skills based on the following criteria: knife skills, safety and sanitation, mise en place (having the proper ingredients ready to cook), cooking techniques and clean-up. Scores in these areas comprised 45 percent of the entrant’s total score. (more…)

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Seven Fort Bend ISD teams competed in the State Destination Imagination tournament on April 14 with three teams advancing to the Global Finals, which will be held May 23-26 at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. This year, more than 8,000 students representing 1,200 teams have advanced to the Global Finals. This celebration of creativity will feature unique solutions for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), Improv, Theater Arts, and Community Service challenges. Advancing to the Global Finals are: (more…)

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Glover Elementary School students were rewarded well for their outstanding reading efforts as their school earned the Grand Prize award in the Houston Rockets “Read to Achieve” program. This year, Glover students in grades 1-5 completed more than 450,000 minutes of reading. The school’s top grade level readers were: Keshawn Minor (1^st grade), Terrance Jones (2^nd grade), Johnae Pickard (3^rd grade) and Kaila McZeal (5^th grade).

As the winner of the program, the Glover Eagles received 60 tickets to the Rockets versus Golden State Warriors game, a Houston Rockets and University of Phoenix themed reading corner for their school library, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony and pep rally at their school. The school was also recognized at the Houston Rockets’ “Read to Achieve” Jam Fest, held at the Toyota Center. The event engaged students throughout the Houston area in energetic, interactive games and activities to celebrate their love of reading.

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Only one open-concept school still remains in Fort Bend ISD.  Meadows Elementary is a very unique place that takes this concept of teachers and students collaborating in an “open” atmosphere and creates a true community of learning.  At the school’s helm is Principal Irma Cobos, a very unique leader who has embraced the open concept and ensured that students and teachers thrive in this team-like, cooperative setting.

Cobos has been awarded for her unique leadership, as well as her dedication to her faculty and students, by being named the 2012 Elementary Principal of the Year. (more…)

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David Yaffie begins each school day greeting students as they arrive on their buses because he likes seeing them first thing in the morning.  He also monitors the hallways during class changes and oversees the 8^th grade lunch time.  These duties, however, are the only thing “routine” about each day he serves as principal of Baines Middle School.  And that’s just how he likes it.

“This is one of the things I like about my position – it is never boring!” said Yaffie, now in his sixth year as principal of Baines.  He enjoys that each day brings new challenges, new opportunities and new reasons to celebrate.   His fellow principals would now like to celebrate him. (more…)

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Real World Design Challenge (RWDC) 2012 National Championship Best First Year Team After besting 14 competitors to win first place in Texas, four seniors from Stephen F. Austin High School in Fort Bend ISD attended the Real World Design Challenge (RWDC) national championship in Washington DC on April 21st and won “Best First Year Team” honors. (more…)

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Congratulations to both Austin High School and Clements High School French students who fared well in various events at the Texas French Symposium. Students from 36 high schools around the State of Texas competed. The Texas French Symposium is a non-profit organization that offers opportunities for French students from level 1 through level 5/6, and experienced French speakers to compete against their peers from across the state in a broad array of academic and artistic events. The Texas Education Agency recognizes this Symposium as the official state competition for high school students and considers it UIL equivalent.

At the Texas French Symposium, Austin High School French students, led by teacher Melissa Pauletti, won overall first place in the state, and placed in various other events. Earning awards were: (more…)

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Talented young artists from Austin Parkway Elementary were honored on April 12 at the PTA Reflections Reception and International Dinner. The event welcomed contest artists, along with their families and teachers, for an evening filled with exotic foods representing India and the Middle East, entertainment and a showcase of art.

Taking part in the program were former Austin Parkway Elementary School students Mason Bynes and Tamera and Rachel Coleman. Bynes provided the musical entertainment and the Coleman sisters served as hostesses. All three are Clements High School students. The event also included a slide show presentation of student artwork that was shown throughout the evening. (more…)

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Fort Bend ISD congratulates Cindy Cormier of Schiff Elementary School, who was named FBISD Elementary Teacher of the Year, and Nancy Trunk of Clements High School, who was named FBISD Secondary Teacher of the Year at a special awards dinner on May 4.

Cindy Cormier is a fifth-grade teacher at Schiff Elementary. She has been teaching for 16 years, with four of those at Schiff. Cindy was influenced greatly by her supportive parents and by wonderful teachers and professors during her education. She believes her most significant contribution as a teacher is to the individual growth of each of her students. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from Jackson State University, her Master of Education in Elementary Education from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently working on her Doctorate in Urban Education from Texas A&M University. (more…)

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Three Lamar CISD seniors have received scholarships from the Lamar Consolidated Educational Secretaries Association at the group’s annual End of School Year Luncheon, held May 8 at Another Time Soda Fountain in Rosenberg.

Lamar Consolidated High’s Logan Lester, Foster High’s Charlea Marler and Terry High’s Megan Stevenson will all continue their education with help from the Association’s $500 scholarships. Each year, LCESA awards scholarships to one deserving student at each Lamar CISD high school. (more…)

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The fifth-grade students in CWE Math Masters advanced their mastery of math as they excelled in math and science tournaments throughout the school year, earning the 1^st Place Sweepstakes Trophy for the best overall results in each of the four TMSCA tournaments in which they competed, placing 2^nd in the region and 5^th in the state in the 2012 Texas Math League Sixth-Grade Contest, achieving outstanding accomplishments in the Math League Fifth-Grade Contest, earning the 1^st Place Team Trophy in the mathleague.org elementary contest, earning the highest achievement award for placing in the top 10% worldwide in the elementary division of the Mathematical Olympiad, and earning numerous individual awards throughout the school year. Congratulations, math masters!

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The Travis Tigers ProGrad organization is sponsoring exciting fundraisers to support the graduating class of 2012. The group is currently promoting the sale of a limited edition cookbook, Cooking for Tigers, which features favorite recipes of Travis seniors and their families. You will find simple recipes for chicken quesadillas, almond tea, cilantro lime shrimp, zebra cake and more. The cookbook costs $10 and will make a wonderful keepsake and great gift for Mother’s Day or other special occasions. The cookbooks can be purchased at Travis High School on Fridays during all lunch periods or by email requests to jaynthomas@aol.com. (more…)

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Children at Risk researched and ranked 1,196 public schools in the Greater Houston area and five Fort Bend ISD schools are recognized in the top 2012 Children at Risk ranking lists. Ranked No. 5 among the Top Middle Schools is Fort Settlement Middle School. Among the Top Elementary Schools are: Commonwealth Elementary School, ranked No. 4; Colony Meadows Elementary School, ranked No. 7; and Walker Station Elementary School, ranked No. 8. Also included in the Top 10 Children at Risk ranking list for Top High Schools in Science and Mathematics is Clements High School, ranked No. 4. (more…)

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Three students at Frost Elementary were the top three finishers in the Irma Hogg Chapter of the Daughters of the Texas Republic’s annual essay contest.

Parker Wolny finished first, earning $25. Madison Howell was second, earning $15 and Sydney Richer was third, taking home $10. (more…)

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The David Crockett/Bowie Middle Schools Combined Mixed Orchestra, led by first-year conductor Neal Springer, earned the highest rating at the UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest held recently atHightowerHigh School.

All six judges gave the combined orchestra the highest rating of “Superior” for their performances on stage and in sight reading.

“Winning a Sweepstakes rating at U.I.L. contest this year is an amazing accomplishment,” Springer said. “The students worked extremely hard and were very excited when they heard the results.”

It is the first Sweepstakes honor for both Fort Bend ISD schools. The Crockett program began in 2007 while theBowieprogram is in its inaugural year.

“This experience has given us the sense of success and we are already looking forward to next year’s contest,” Springer said.

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Lamar Consolidated High School’s Ashtin Calvin is not exactly a “one in a million” student. But she is one in a thousand.

The senior is one of only 1,000 talented students in the entire United States to win a Gates Millennium Scholarship. Started in 1999 with a $1 billion grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the program chooses 1,000 students every year and funds their entire college career … for as long as they want to be in college. This includes graduate school funding in the areas of computer science, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health or science. (more…)

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A local student was recognized for her innovation and scientific prowess at the ExxonMobil Texas Science and Engineering Fair (EMTSEF), held March 29 – April 1 in San Antonio.

Hosted by The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) College of Sciences, the state-level competition offered students who placed at regional science fairs the opportunity to vie for top prizes and college scholarships as well as a spot at the international science fair.

Zahrah Agha, an eighth-grader at Harmony Science Academy, received fifth place in junior-division computer science for her project, “Word for Word.” (more…)

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Four Lamar CISD elementary schools are among only 501 campuses in Texas to be named Distinguished Title I Schools.

Bowie Elementary, Long Elementary, Ray Elementary and Velasquez Elementary are all part of the Distinguished list. (more…)

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Clements High School’s theatre production of Urinetown, the Musical was nominated for four Tommy Tune Awards. Developed by Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS), the Tommy Tune Awards honor musical theatre excellence at the high school level and encourage future development of theatre talent. In deciding this year’s award nominees, a team of 32 Houston-based theatre professionals reviewed and evaluated 44 participating area high schol productions during the 2011-2012 school year and made 154 nominations in 15 categories. An additional committee considered 44 potential scholarship recipients. Clements’ production of Urinetown, the Musical earned the following nominations: • Best Supporting Actor – Carter Shults (Caldwell B Cladwell) • Best Choreography • Best Orchestra • Best Lighting Design

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Skateboarding enthusiasts at Sartartia Middle School now have a formal meeting group thanks to the efforts of four people who helped establish a skateboarding club at the school. Principal Ginger Carrabine approved the creation of the club after reviewing a petition from student Matthew Jacobs. With assistance from math teacher Chris Spisak and parent Kelly Kallina, the club was formed to provide skateboarders with an outlet for sharing sporting news and ideas regarding skateboarding gear, safety issues, skateboarding maneuvers and more. The school also offers a safe and fun environment for skateboarders to skate. The club meets every Thursday from 4 to 5:15 p.m. on campus.

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On Saturday, March 24, the Fort Bend Education Foundation held its 9^th Annual Schlumberger Education Expedition bike ride. More than 700 riders gathered at Hightower High School for this BP MS 150 recommended ride. As a result of participants’ support, the Foundation raised more than $25,000 to benefit programs which provide opportunities to enrich and enhance the quality of education for all Fort Bend ISD students through its Grants to Teachers and Schools programs. (more…)

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Briscoe Junior High 8^th-grader Bronson Teles is a National winner in the 2012 Do the Write Thing Challenge. Teles will serve as a National Ambassador for Houston/Harris County.

Do the Write Thing essay contest is part of national campaign to end youth violence. Each essay was asked to address three questions: (more…)

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Austin High School’s One-Act Play advances to Regional Competition

Austin High School’s theatre department will represent Fort Bend ISD in Regional competition for its UIL one-act play after winning the Area competition on Saturday, April 14.

Under the direction of Bradly Cummons and Jennifer Minor, Austin High School (AHS) will present “The Imaginary Invalid” by Molière at San Jacinto College on Saturday, April 21. The play centers around a fearful but miserly hypochondriac who divides his time between summoning his doctor to care for his ailments and trying not to pay the resulting bills.  The cast earned several awards at the Area level:  Best Actor – David Herrera; All-Star Cast – Courtney Russell; and Honorable Mention All-Star Cast – Nora Hunt. (more…)

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Terry High School’s Emilee Martin is one of only nine finalists in the nation in Lucerne’s seventh annual “The Art of Dairy” Contest. She now has a chance at the grand prize — $20,000 for her school, $5,000 for herself and $5,000 for the her teacher.

This is the second consecutive year that a Terry artist has made the finals. Last year, Terry’s Fariha Rashid came in first place and won $5,000 for the school, $2,500 for herself and $2,500 for Joan Batts, her art teacher. (more…)

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Two teams of Quail Valley Middle School GT Academy students participated in the Regional Science Bowl held in March at Texas A&M University and won first and second place out of 32 other teams competing in this highly challenging competition.  In April, the first place team will compete in the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl Finals competition in Washington, D.C. (more…)

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Two Quail Valley Middle School GT Academy students, Stacy Tao and Anton Zhou, received art awards at The 2012 National Scholastic Art & Writing Competition. Stacy received two Gold Key awards for her oil paintings, “Tune of Spring” and “Melody of Nature,” in the South Reagion-at-Large program. Her painting, “Tune of Spring,” also earned high honors as an American Visions Nominated piece. Anton earned a Gold Key award for his oil painting, “German Folk Valley,” and a Silver Key award for his painting, “Veteran Cowboy.” (more…)

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Travis High School student, Avanthika Gopal, is all about action. She isn’t one to sit on the sidelines and watch things happen, but rather a natural-born leader who is working to make a difference.

Two years ago, Gopal started a Red Cross Club at her school. The idea came to her after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that left more than 283,000 people dead and destroyed homes and property in 11 Indian Ocean countries. Seeing news coverage following the disaster and learning about the Red Cross’ timely efforts to assist those in need motivated Gopal to take action in her own hometown. (more…)

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The Lamar Consolidated High School Law Enforcement SkillsUSA team, Chapter 3696, under the direction of Dr. Fred C. Guess, won first place in the SkillsUSA State competition, March 23, in Corpus Christi. The team will now represent Texas at the SkillsUSA National competition in Kansas City, June 23-28. (more…)

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The NJROTC cadets camped-out over the weekend at Brazos Bend State Park. They competed on the Orienteering Course; which consisted of finding 19 check-points by using a map and compass. It’s a timed completion and the medallions for 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd place winners will be presented at the NJROTC Annual Award Ceremony.  (more…)

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Fifty-four members of the Wessendorff Middle School Colt Beginner Band participated in their first solo and ensemble contest on March 31. All seven small ensembles came away with first-division medals.  Fifty-seven soloists also garnered first-division medals. Their lowest rating earned was a pair of second division soloists who were awarded ribbons for their efforts. The band wishes to thank Lamar CHS band director Jason Levin and Lamar JH band directors John Barton and Tammy Disharoon for their assistance in preparing for this contest. Timothy Zamora is the band director at Wessendorff.

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Rahul Nagvekar, an 8^th grade student at Quail Valley Middle School’s GT Academy, won the Texas State Geography Bee and will now advance to the national competition in Washington, D.C., in May.

As a sixth grader, Rahul placed 3^rd in the competition and then placed 2^nd as a seventh-grader.  He has been coached each year by his father and two GT Academy teachers and Geography Club sponsors, Lawrence Anderson and Lisa Dennis-Francis. (more…)

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Seven Fort Bend ISD teachers are recipients of 2012 Fund for Teachers grant awards for professional development projects they designed and submitted for funding. Fund for Teachers awards fellowships for self-designed, professional growth opportunities for PreK to 12^th grade teachers who recognize the value of inquiry, the power of knowledge, and their ability to make a difference. Since 2001, Fund for Teachers has awarded more than $15.9 million in grants, up to $5,000 for individuals or $10,000 for teams, to nearly 4,500 teachers. Earning individual grant awards were Naomi Brown and Lily Ann Graff-Archuleta. A team grant was presented to teachers Brooke Wilson, April Davis, Kelly Caldwell, Destiny Parker and Tawanna Evans. (more…)

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Fort Bend Junior Service League (FBJSL) proudly accepted a check from William B. Travis High School athletic trainers in the amount of $800. The League will use the donation from Travis High School and that of other partnering organizations, including Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, to further the community’s fight against breast cancer. FBJSL is working with the American Cancer Society in an ongoing, collaborative effort to provide financial support for programs and services designed to improve quality of life, provide access to early detection and treatment, and diminish suffering for Fort Bend County breast cancer patients. (more…)

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The Fort Bend Medical Society Alliance hosted its “Red Ties & Rubies” WATCH Preview Party on February 3 that welcomed business and communty members for an evening of entertainment and networking to help spread awareness of the roles the Alliance and Fort Bend ISD School Health Advisory Committee play in promoting WATCH Week.

Held annually in March, WATCH Week is devoted to teaching students about the five risk factors (Weight, Activity, Tobacco, Cholesterol and High Blood Pressure) for heart attacks and strokes. The Fort Bend Medical Society Alliance has partnered with FBISD for the past 10 years in promoting the campaign throughout FBISD schools. (more…)

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For the second consecutive year, Fort Settlement Middle School student Sivateja Tangirala has been named winner of the Houston PBS Spelling Bee. The eighth-grader competed against 54 top spellers representing 1,040 schools in 42 Texas counties. As winner of the Houston PBS Spelling Bee, Tangirala will go on to represent the Southeast Texas Region in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, to be held May 27-June 1 in Washington, D.C.

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Lake Olympia Middle School seventh-grade student, Samuel Melvin, won first place in the 7^th grade category of the Earth Day Houston Art Contest. His winning work of art featured an illustration of two hands holding our planet surrounded by images of fish, plants, animals and trees. As winner of his division, Melvin earned a U.S. savings bond and recognition at an awards ceremony hosted by Air Alliance Houston. His artwork will be framed and displayed at The Greater Houston Convention Visitors Bureau and at Houston City Hall during the Houston Earth Day Celebration on April 7. (more…)

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Fifty-one Fort Bend ISD secondary school students were named winners of the 10^th annual Fort Bend Regional Texas History Day Competition, held, March 3 at Sartartia Middle School. The competition welcomed students from Fort Bend ISD, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, and Fort Bend County home-schooled students. The contest required students to choose historical topics related to the theme “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History” and conduct extensive research through libraries, archives, museums, oral history interviews and historic sites. After analyzing and interpreting their sources and drawing conclusions about their topics’ significance in history, students present their work in original papers, websites, exhibits, performances and documentaries. The winners will go on to compete at the Texas History Day Competition, which will be held May 4-5 in Austin, Texas. (more…)

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Austin and Travis High School theatre departments will represent Fort Bend ISD in Area competition for their respective UIL one-act plays after recently advancing at the District level.  Both schools will compete with other area high schools on Saturday, April 14, at George Ranch High School in Lamar Consolidated ISD. Under the direction of Bradly Cummons and Jennifer Minor, Austin High School will present “The Imaginary Invalid” by Molière.  The play centers around a fearful but miserly hypochondriac who divides his time between summoning his doctor to care for his ailments and trying not to pay the resulting bills.  The cast earned several awards at the District level, such as Best Actor for David Herrera and Best Actress for Courtney Russell.  Cody Kenner was named to the All-Star Cast, while Nora Hunt and Kathryn Victory were named to the Honorable Mention All-Star Cast.  Zanira Ghulamhussain won an award for Outstanding Technical Achievement. (more…)

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The Girls Varsity Soccer Team at Ridge Point High School has advanced to Area competition in the UIL District 46-4A state-qualifying playoff games after defeating Houston’s Booker T. Washington team 7-0 on Friday, March 30.  The Area game will be played against Brazosport High School on Tuesday night at 7:00 pm at Hopper Stadium (800 W. 2^nd Street, Freeport, 77541).

The Lady Panthers ended their inaugural season of varsity play with a record of 14-5 and are the first varsity sports team from Ridge Point High School to reach the state playoff level.  Led by coaches Susanna Schroeder and Michele Janke, the team is mainly comprised of freshman and sophomore players, with one junior on the squad.

In Friday’s game, Madison Grover and Nicole Dupin each scored 2 goals, and Zoey Pawlik, Sara Bartzak, and Jaylyn Sampson each scored one.

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Antoinette Reading Junior High in Richmond celebrated its first ever “No Place for Hate/Bully Free Week” on March 19-23 by taking the bully by the horns. The school counselors planned several activities for the week, including mix it up at lunch where students were asked to sit with other students with the same birthday month, bully free lessons during advisory, and a contest for students to design an original T-shirt special to RJH to bring awareness to Bullying and the long lasting effects it has on students.  The winner was 7^th grader Megan Hudson. Attached is a photo of some 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade students, and staff proudly displaying their t-shirt which reads “Take charge trample the bullies”.

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Chung Hon Michael Cheng of Sugar Land, Texas, won first place at the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Junior Composition Competition.

Cheng, 14, is a freshman at Clements High School in Sugar Land. Born in Hong Kong, he has played piano since age four and composed since age six. He owes his musical accomplishments much to teachers Ann Witherspoon, Nancy Chin and Cindy Tan. In 2008, he passed the prestigious ABRSM Grade 8 Piano Exam with distinction, and in 2011, passed the Grade 8 Theory Exam with a perfect score. He was won numerous awards as a pianist and was the national second place winner of the MTNA Composition Competition in 2011. (more…)

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Blue Ridge Elementary School recently held a dedication ceremony to celebrate its new Freedom Shrine donated by the Exchange Club of Sugar Land. The Freedom Shrine contains a collection of 30 historical documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, which will help educate students on the importance of historical events that have taken place throughout American history, while helping them gain a better appreciation of their forefathers who helped found our great country.

Dierdre Holloway, principal at Blue Ridge Elementary School, welcomed guests to the event and gave a brief history on the Freedom Shrine. Following was the posting of colors by students Barry Wilson and Jarryd Allen and performances by sixth-grade student Erin Davis, who sang the Star-Spangled Banner; the 6th Grade Band, the Showstoppers Dance Team, Blue Ridge Cheerleaders, and the 1^st Grade Choir. (more…)

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First Colony Middle School announced its 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Science Fair winners whose entries included the research and study of physical, biological and social sciences.

Pictured are several of the winners including (front row, l. to r.) Shubhanker Das (Static Friction), David Black (Up, Up and A Weigh), Uishru Iyer (Impact of Light Intensity), Chris ZumMullen (Defying Gravity), Nandan Marwaha and Baonan Ji (Trash to Gas) and Mithul Kandathiparampil (How To Make An Aircraft Invisible to Radar). Standing in the back row (l. to r.) are Emily Bohnsack and Emma Yarrow (Adhesive Bandages), Jordan Pulsifer (Which Common Household Food Item Is The Most Effective Fertilizer), Renee Yu and Keerti Rao (Anti- Bacterial Cleaner Test) and Allyson Ho (Starches in Formation).

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Bush High School’s Navy JROTC Drill Team competed against 15 other top drill teams in the state and placed second at the Texas State Championship Navy JROTC Academic, Physical Fitness and Drill Meet. This achievement qualified them for the Navy JROTC National Championship Meet for the seventh-consecutive year. Bush will be among the top 24 Navy JROTC drill teams from across the nation to compete at the National competition will be held at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida in April.

At the state competition (which included military drill, academic exams, physical fitness events and a battalion personnel inspection), the Bush NJROTC cadets, commanded by Cadet Commander Aubrey Brent, earned the following awards: (more…)

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Last year, synthetic running track surfaces were installed at Ken Hall Stadium at Hightower High School and at Elkins High School. The American Sports Builders Association (ASBA) recognized both facilities with a “Distinguished Outdoor Track Facility Award” for Excellence in Design and Construction.  Victor Quiroga with Fisher Tracks, Inc. presented the two awards on behalf of ASBA to Dr. Timothy Jenney, FBISD Superintendent, and the Board during the March 26 Board of Trustees Meeting. Pictured (from left to right) are: Victor Quiroga with Fisher Tracks, Inc.; Susan Hohnbaum, FBISD Board President; and Dr. Timothy Jenney.

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In a speech competition that drew more than 190 students who won local qualifiers, the four entrants from Southminster School all were medalists and earned superior ratings.   Fourth-graders Annika Overstreet and Jasmine Wright won gold medals in poetry and fable/folklore, respectively.   Third-grader Dylan Thomas was silver medalist in poetry for his division, and Ryan Michlewicz earned silver in fourth-grade Bible verse.   (more…)

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March is designated National School Social Worker Month in recognition of the many contributions of these professionals to our students and staff. Fort Bend ISD is proud to join school districts throughout the nation in saluting its social workers. The District currently has 14 social workers; six assigned to the Student Support Services Department and eight to the Special Programs Department’s Title I division.

Some of the many services provided by the Student Support Services social workers include: consultations with school staff, individual student counseling, crisis intervention, interagency coordination, as well as after-school tutorials and other campus-based student enrichment projects. District social workers also facilitate the Truancy Diversion Program and work with partners to provide resources for shelter, food, and outside health care services to students and their family members.  (more…)

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Briscoe Junior High’s Mike Semmler is Lamar Consolidated ISD’s 2012 Secondary Principal of the Year and Velasquez Elementary’s Heather Patterson is the 2012 Elementary Principal of the Year. Both were honored by their peers Friday at a meeting of the District’s administrators.
Semmler has been principal at Briscoe since 2006. Prior to taking the helm at Briscoe, Semmler served as an Assistant Principal at Foster High School and Briscoe, as a Technology Trainer for LCISD and as a science teacher at Wessendorff Middle School.

Semmler has his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of South Dakota, where he was an All-Conference football player. He also coached for one year at his alma mater. (more…)

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Sixty-two students from seven Fort Bend ISD high schools (including Austin, Clements, Dulles, Elkins, Hightower, Kemper and Travis) were represented at the Texas Forensic Association State Meet, held March 1-3 at Amarillo High School. After competing in various divisions, three
FBISD students now hold championship titles. Dulles High School student Amyn Kassam placed first in Lincoln-Douglas Debate and the Kempner High School team of Eric Diep and Brandon Daniels earned first place in Public Forum Debate. FBISD now holds two championship titles in Public Forum Debate since its 2009 debut at the TFA state competition when a Clements team became the first to hold the title. (more…)

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Baines Middle School hosted an Author Visit on January 18 that welcomed Gary Soto. The event was coordinated by Laura Downes, Library Media Specialist at Baines.

Soto is the author of 11 poetry collections, most notably New and Selected Poems, which was named a 1995 finalist for both the Los Angeles Times Book Award and the National Book Award. During his visit to Baines, Soto read excerpts from copies of his books, including Nerd Landia, Accidental Love, Local News and Hey 13! He also reminded students that like any profession, writing takes dedication and commitment. (more…)

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Lantern Lane Elementary School fourth and fifth graders recently took part in a bullying prevention discussion, hosted by School Safety Specialist Dwight Stewart of the Texas School Safety Center. Stewart spoke on the issue of bullying and reminded students about the consequences they can face if they choose to bully someone. He also offered the students advice on having positive interaction with their peers, whether in person, on the Internet or through various forms of social media, including Facebook.

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Middle School students throughout Fort Bend ISD experienced a high-impact, energizing day of learning at the second annual Middle School PAL (Peer Assistance & Leadership) Conference, held at First Colony Middle School. This year’s theme was, “Taking Action Together.” The event gave eighth-grade PAL students the opportunity to take part in various motivational activities, led by renowned motivational speaker and success trainer. Aric Bostick.

Bostick and PAL sponsors welcomed students to the conference by forming a receiving line, where they extended “high-fives” to students as they entered the gym. Students then took part in line dances to get them energized and geared up for the day’s events. (more…)

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Fort Bend ISD lunch menus will see minimal change resulting from the recently announced new federal nutrition standards.  As part of the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has established new and improved nutrition standards for school lunches.  Fortunately, Fort Bend ISD’s Child Nutrition Services will only need to make small adjustments to its menus to comply with the new standards because the District already follows a more nutritional meal plan for its schools.

Child Nutrition will offer additional whole grain products and will increase the number of servings of fruits and vegetables.  The District will implement these changes in the 2012-2013 school year, a year ahead of when the regulations are mandated to go into effect.  The new federal standards mark the first major change to school meals, on a national scale, in more than 15 years.

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Fort Bend ISD has been awarded the Energy Star certification for 16 campuses, which immediately qualified for the distinction.  As part of a Board of Trustees initiative, the District investigated the Energy Star Program and submitted building and utility data to determine compliance with energy codes and standards.  The District expects more campuses and facilities to be awarded the certificate as the process continues.

Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy with the aim to help businesses and individuals save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. (more…)

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Fort Bend ISD has reduced its operating costs by 25 percent over the last three years due to a diligent focus on process improvements.  After conducting a thorough review of expenditures across all departments, District leaders targeted three main areas that could benefit from increased efficiencies:  facility maintenance, custodial services and energy expenses.

“The effort required to make this happen and the savings that have been realized would not have been possible without the hard work and determination of the 550 employees in our facilities maintenance and operations division,” said Ben Copeland, Chief Auxiliary Services Officer.  “They have made the organization leaner and more responsive, and have increased efficiency.”

These significant operating cost reductions are part of the District’s continuous efforts in improving processes and procedures, as well as being fiscally responsible.

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Students at Campbell Elementary had a different kind of day.  Students, teachers, and parents arrived in their 1950’s wear: poodle skirts, bobbie socks, leather jackets, sunglasses, ponytails and slicked- back hair.  It was “bring a pair of socks to school day.”  We were donating socks to LCISD’s Common Threads.  But there was more… our gymnasium was transformed into a soda fountain/dance floor.  We had a hula hoop contest.  We did the limbo.  We did a freeze dance.  We played games.  We had so much fun at “The Hop.”

A special thank you to Houston area disc jockeys who shared part of the day with us:  Michelle Fisher, Tim Tuttle, and Kevin Kline.  They were exciting and made the day very special!  Also, a HUGE thank you to Mr. Curtis Clark, father of Courtney Clark, who brought over his 1968 Ford mustang for the day.  (more…)

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William P. Clements NJROTC/NNDCC Unit selected Cadet Kiana Farokhpour as the January Cadet of the Month.  Cadet Farokhpour is a 9th grade student, which classifies her as a Naval Science I Student.  Cadet Farokhpour possesses characteristics exceptional to her peer group. In addition her unmatched drive and determination   sets her apart.  She stated, “Coming to Clements is probably one of the greatest decisions I’ve made; but it comes second to joining NJROTC.  I’ve met and made outstanding friends, I’ve learned many characteristics of becoming a good leader, and it changed me for all the better.”  She has learned all the required knowledge (chain of command, orders to the sentry, etc.), and when in uniform she emulates a recruiting poster picture.  Additionally, Cadet Farokhpour is the only female on the Armed Drill Team. She looks at spinning the 9.5 lb weapons as just another challenge.  Kiana closed her statement with, “I now live by the Navy Core Values, Honor, Courage and Commitment, and now there is nothing I can’t handle.” She is the daughter of Gity Haghkhah and Von Farokhpour.    Cadet Farokhpour will receive the Cadet of the Month Ribbon, Cadet of the Month Certificate, and a free uniform day pass.

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Six athletes from B.F. Terry High School were named to the THSCA 2011 AAAA Academic All-State Football Team. Named to the second team are Kelechi Amushi, Miranda George and Shawn Whitehair. Named to the Honorable Mention team are Isaac Cox, Ronald Irving and Cody Williams.

“These athletes have made the choice to consistently excel both in the classroom and on the field,” said Campus Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Tim Teykl. “Strong character, outstanding class rank and GPA, along with a fine standardized exam score, are just a few of the incredible accomplishments by these youngsters.”

Amushie, #24, started at defensive back and was a captain on the varsity football team. He also earned District 23-AAAA honors (Academic All-District Football Team and all-District Defensive Back). Cox, #54, started at offensive tackle. He also earned District 23-AAAA honors (Academic All-District Football Team and All-District Offensive Line).

George, football manager, also earned District 23-AAAA Academic All-District Honors. Irving, #77, played offensive line and was named to the District 23-AAAA Academic All-District Football Team. Whitehair, #58, played offensive line and was named to the District 23-AAAA Academic All-District Football Team. Williams, #8, quarterback, was also named to the District 23-AAAA Academic All-District Football Squad.

The athletes chose a teacher to pose with them in the official picture, an educator that played a positive, significant part in their life at Terry High. Williams chose Ms. Johni Thiebaud, Amushie chose Ms. Shana Wenzel, Cox chose Mr. Larry Sanders, George chose Coach Kevin “Doc” Roberts; Irving chose Mr. Neal Huebotter and Whitehair chose Mr. John Troutman.

Since THSCA has begun recognizing Academic All-State football players in Texas, The Terry Rangers have placed over 85 athletes on the list. Terry was named a MetLife National Breakthrough School in 2011. Principal at Terry High is Dr. Vera Wehring.

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Students at Jones Elementary School celebrated the 100th day of school on January 30 by taking part in various activities to benefit students, as well as the community. Students celebrated with a 100th Day Parade, an appearance by Zero the Hero, and various classroom activities.

The school also set a goal of raising $100 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, but through the generous donations of students, staff and parents, the school surpassed its goal by raising $750. The school also collected more than 100 pounds of food items to benefit the East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry. The event was coordinated by Reginald Taylor, math specialist.

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Service is available to all FBISD students currently enrolled in K-5 and K-6 grade elementary schools

Fort Bend ISD’s Extended Day Program (EDP) provides full day service during Spring Break to all K-5 grade students who are currently enrolled in the district. Programming is also available for sixth-grade students attending K-6 grade campuses. The EDP Spring Break program will operate March 12-16, from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm. (more…)

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Fort Bend ISD Board President, Susan Hohnbaum, sponsored a recent day-long leadership seminar as part of the FBISD Junior Student Leadership Program. The seminar was the third in a series of six that will be offered to the leadership class this school year. The session gave students the opportunity to meet with leaders of the Fort Bend County Juvenile Detention Center and the Fort Bend County Justice Center to learn about their roles in the community.

During their visit to the Fort Bend County Juvenile Detention Center, the leadership class met with Brian Fraser, Detention Superintendent; and Frankie Hill, Assistant Superintendent; who explained their roles at the center and shared details on how the center operates. The students also toured of the facilities. (more…)

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The award winning B.F. Terry High School Varsity Choir sang the National Anthem for the Harlem Globetrotters when they performed at the Toyota Center Saturday, Jan. 28. The choir, under the direction of Ms. Rhonda Klutts, was also asked to sing last year, one of only two Houston-area choirs invited to perform for the national touring basketball team. From left, front row, Maria Carillo, Danielle Lopez, Bryson Baugus, Eric Gonzales, Alex Dy Cruz and Naylea Villarreal; back row, James Ives and Jacob Castro. Photo by Lindsie Lev.

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The Art Club at B.F. Terry High School meets Mondays after school, and the sponsor is Ms. Joan Batts. Officers are, from left, Treasurer Navdeep Kaur; President Shannon Rodriguez; Secretary Lorena Morin and Vice President Caley Grover. Students recently competed in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and are completing three-dimensional art works in any medium.

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FORT BEND ISD – Fort Bend ISD’s Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) members will take part in the Second Annual Darling Dash Memorial 5K Run and 1K Family Run/Walk on Sunday, February 26, from 8:00am to 10:00am, at Sweetwater Country Club (4400 Palm Royale Blvd., Sugar Land). SHAC members will form a team to walk and run in the race and serve as volunteers to help recruit participants.

Runners and walkers of ALL levels are welcome to participate in the Darling Dash. Registration completed online or postmarked by February 15 is $25 for adults (13 years and older) and $10 for youth (12 and younger). The registration fee after February 15 until race day is $30 adult and $15 youth. Post race refreshments will be provided. Awards will be presented to the top two male and female overall time; and to the top three male and female runners in six age categories: 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60-plus. The fundraiser event will benefit the “As One Foundation.” (more…)

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The Fort Bend ISD Building Utilization Committee met on January 31, 2012, and has two additional meetings scheduled in the next 30 days. The committee is reviewing the latest demographic data and growth trends within the District and will recommend any changes in school attendance areas to the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees in March 2012. (more…)

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Fort Bend ISD has reopened the application process for entry into high school academies for the 2012-2013 school year. Current eighth and ninth-grade students who are interested in attending a high school academy are asked to complete and submit an online application for the academy of their choice. The deadline to apply is February 24. (more…)

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The Foster ProStart Management team ranked 3rd place in the 2012 ProStart Regional Competition held January 21 at the Humble Civic Center. They advance to State competition with a final score of 81.3 percent. The team’s highest-scoring area was Visual Display, with a score of 93 percent. The team consists of Team Captain Victoria Bowman, Diontre Journet, Colton Coyle and Akila Rogers. (more…)

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The “Show Me City” recognized Hightower High School’s football team, the Hurricanes,
for reaching the Class 5A Division I Finals at the City Council meeting held on Tues., Jan. 17. Following a winning regular season, Southlake Carroll came from behind three times to edge Hightower 36-29 in the Class 5A Division I state championship game played in front of nearly 43,000 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington on Dec. 17. (more…)

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On Friday, January 27, 2012, Congressman Pete Olson was at Clements High School presenting a Humanities Texas Award; during his tour of the campus he requested to speak to the cadets.  He reflected on the units’ distinguished accomplishments and the value of the program to our nation’s future.  He answered cadets’ questions concerning the proposed Oil Pipeline and Protect IP Act 2011, just to list a few.  First year cadets were astonished to see Congressman Olson; amazed that he would find time in his busy schedule to visit them. However, the cadets that were in the program last year have great appreciation for Congressman Olson. Last year when the Navy elected to close the unit; Congressman Olson came to the rescue.  He wrote congressional letters, made phone calls, made personal visits and somehow convinced the Assistant Secretary of the Navy to visit Clements campus. (more…)

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Foster High School is home to the Regional Champions for Academic Decathlon. The team won the Region crown after competing January 20-21 in Porter. The team advances to the State Academic Decathlon Tournament, February 24-25 in San Antonio.

In addition to the team title, Foster won the Super Quiz Combined and was 2nd in Super Quiz Relay.Lamar Consolidated High finished 5th in the team standings. Foster’s Michael Duncan was the top scorer at the meet, with 8,673 points. Duncan placed first in the Honors Division, for students with Grade Point Averages (GPA) between 3.75 and 4.0. Foster’s Neil Byers was 2nd in the Honors Division.
Foster’s Laurel Toskey had the highest score in the Scholastic Division (GPA between 3.0 and 3.75) and Brad Killingsworth placed 3rd.
Foster’s Katelyn Byers was 4th in the Varsity Division (0.0 to 2.99 GPA). (more…)

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The David Crockett Middle School Parent Teacher Association, administrators, and counselors recently held the 5th annual Eighth Grade Career Day. The event invited various professionals from a variety of career fields to speak to students about what it takes to succeed in a globally fueled and competitive job market. Houston Dynamo Account Specialist Reyna Gonzalez kicked off the event and ESPN radio announcer Carl Dukes was the Keynote Speaker. (more…)

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Fort Bend ISD students are among 230,000 Texas students who will benefit from a $100,000 grant from the State Farm Youth Advisory Board to Junior Achievement (JA) of Southeast Texas. State Farm Agent, Darryl Mayo, presented the grant award to Rick Franke, president of JA of Southeast Texas, during a check presentation on January 26 at Ridgegate Elementary School. The grant will help fund JA’s financial literacy service-learning project, “What A Difference A Day Makes,” which allows high school students to serve as role models to younger students in their communities while sharing important knowledge about financial literacy, entrepreneurship and free enterprise. (more…)

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The Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees named Mike Hejducek as the new principal at Scanlan Oaks Elementary at its January 23 Board meeting.  Hejducek is an experienced educational leader and has served in public education for 23 years.  He most recently had served as the Head of Lower School for Grace School.  Prior to this role, he opened Scanlan Oaks Elementary in 2004 as its first principal and also served FBISD as an assistant principal and art teacher. (more…)

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Four Fort Bend ISD students have been selected by the United States Department of Education as candidates for the United States Presidential Scholars Program. Each year, up to 141 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the Nation’s highest honors for high school students. In honoring the Presidential Scholars, the President of the United States symbolically honors all graduating high school seniors of high potential.
The following Fort Bend ISD students have been selected as candidates for the United States Presidential Scholars Program: (more…)

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Come for the food. Stay for the drinks. Leave with the auction items.

The planning committee for Men Who Cook 2012, presented this year by Andy Sanford and Diana Alexander of RBC Wealth Management, is finalizing the details for this year’s event, to be held February 18, at Safari Texas in Richmond. The festivities begin at 6:30 p.m., with the Billie Ledbetter Orchestra providing the evening’s musical entertainment. (more…)

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