Cy-Fair Lifestyles and Homes magazine Feb 2010: School News in Cy-Fair Texas

Farney Students Show Giving Spirit with Miracle Jar - What began as a book reading for staff members transformed a school-wide benevolence effort at Farney Elementary School. The book, Penny’s Christmas Jar Miracle, was read to the students who took to new heights Penny’s idea of giving a jar of change to someone in need. Each teacher kept a jar in the classroom to collect spare change from students. The individual jars were then emptied into the enormous master jar called the “Farney Miracle Jar.” Before the giving deadline arrived, students filled four master jars. Principal Beth Coleman delivered a generous amount of money before Christmas to two families in need.

“We’re just so proud of our kids because they’re so giving,” Coleman said. “It means a lot to know that the kids can take that story and have such a heart for helping others. We had no idea they would do quite so much. ”

Thirty-nine National Merit Semifinalists Named - Thirty-nine CY-FAIR ISD students have been confirmed as semifinalists in the 55th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The finalists will be honored at a National Merit recognition program at the Berry Center on Jan. 11 —along with Commended, National Hispanic and National Achievement scholars.

National Merit semifinalists from Cy-Fair High School are: Andrew Atwood, Colleen Franklin, Bhargav Hiremagalore, Audrey Lee, Benjamin Lefler and William Whitham.

National Merit semifinalists from Cypress Creek High School are: Alejandro Azocar, Daniel Bankus, Kristen Flint, Taylor Jellison, Zachary

Leonard, Mitchell Ludden and Frank Weise III.

National Merit semifinalists from Cypress Falls High School are: Angela Li and Jasneet Singh.

National Merit semifinalists from Cypress Woods High School are: Samantha Katsounas, Sairam Krishnan, Eric Kuxhausen, Katherine Nguyen, Kidong Park, Sadia Quddus, Seth Richter, Kylee Stouder, Eric Sun, Derek Whitmire and Yue Wu.

National Merit semifinalists from Jersey Village High School are: Steven Fly Jr., Elizabeth Kilson, Nathan Park and Cybil Zhang.

National Merit semifinalists from Langham Creek High School are: Zal Bhathena, Mark Colby, Dalton Dinderman, Travis Heine, Zachary Meyer, George Rixey, Kenneth Sheedlo and Nicole Tran.

Looking Out for Layla Grace - Layla Grace is a 22-month-old girl who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, a tumor that develops from nerve tissue, in her kidney. She had a massive tumor in her abdomen that extended from above her left kidney, around her side, over her belly and around her aorta. Her grandmother is a faculty member at Cypress Ranch High School.

The Cypress Ranch Key Club held a lock-in and designated funds raised from Macy’s “Shop for a Cause” to help Layla Grace.

At the school lock-in, students paid $30 to attend or $25 and a donation of two new children ’s books. Students also enjoyed activities such as food, friends, karaoke, movies and video games. Door prizes were awarded and games were played all night long. The Cypress Ranch Key Club raised more than $6,000, and $4,500 was donated to Layla Grace ’s medical bills. The other $1,500 will be split among the Key Club’s Lieutenant Governor’s and District Governor’s projects.

In October, Cypress Ranch Key Club members sold Macy’s discount coupons for $5. The proceeds from coupons sales were also designated for Layla ‘s medical bills. The members raised a total of $1,100 by selling 220 coupons.

To learn more about how to help, visit www.laylagrace.org.

school. The flag was flown on June 19, 2009, in Afghanistan by a United States Army Special Forces team during a mission. The Miller ’s son, Jonathan gave the flag to his parents to present to Cypress Christian in honor of all the prayer warriors who have prayed for him during tours to Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Miller family asks everyone to pray Psalm 91, the Soldier’s Psalm, for all soldiers who are in harm’s way. It is said that, during WWI, the soldiers of the 91st Brigade recited the 91st Psalm daily. This brigade engaged in three of that war's bloodiest battles. Other units suffered up to 90 percent casualties, but the 91st Brigade did not sustain a single combat-related death.

Cypress Christian School is honored to support U.S. troops through prayer and donations. For more information, contact Sharon Miller at 281-469-8829 or go to www.CypressChristian.org.

Cy Creek Students Qualify for International Thespian Convention - Nine Cypress Creek High School theater students qualified for the International Thespian Convention for their performances at the Texas State Thespian Convention last semester.

The first-place qualifiers are: Lauren Harsany, Duet Musical; and Tyler Galindo, Duet Musical. The second-place qualifiers are: Brianna Ripkowski, Monologue; Nathan Crooks, Solo Pantomime; Danielle Drab, Duet Pantomime; Natalie Tischler, Duet Acting; Jon Cozart, Solo Musical; Justin Salinas, Duet Pantomime; and Mac Mitchell, Duet Acting.

All of Cypress Creek’s qualifiers are also cast members of the school musical, Pippin, which will be performed on the main stage for the International Thespian Convention.

“These nine students truly did most of the work themselves as they prepared for the state-level competition. They were all in production for the school musical so they had to find time to squeeze in a little rehearsal, ” said Marilyn Miller, Cypress Creek theatre co-sponsor. “While gaining the confidence to make their own performance decisions, these students polished their skills learned in class and extracurricular productions. Their accomplishments are quite remarkable. ”

on Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 14, 2:30 p.m., Feb. 19 and Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Emily Thompson, a Memorial Parkway Junior High student in Katy ISD, is cast as Pepper. Emily will play Pepper on Feb. 13, Feb. 20 and Feb. 21 at 2:30 p.m. She is a part of the Orphan Ensemble on the other days. Holly Harris of Katy is a member of the Orphans Ensemble for all dates.

For tickets, go to www.HoustonsCenterStage.com.

Just for the Kids Campaign Recognizes Higher Performing Schools - Twenty-one Cy-Fair ISD schools were recognized by the National Center for Educational Achievement for the 2009 Just for the Kids Campaign for Higher Performing Schools in Texas. NCEA used two measures in the analysis for this recognition: growth and college and career readiness. Schools recognized for growth achieved better improvement rates for their students compared with other schools with similar demographics. Schools recognized for college and career readiness are the top 5 percent of schools in the state, based on the percentage of students scoring at or above NCEA ’s CCR Targets.

The following schools, listed with their respective indicators, were recognized as Higher Performing Schools: High Schools – Cypress Woods – Math (Growth and CCR), Science (CCR) and Social Studies (CCR); Jersey Village – Social Studies (Growth); and Langham Creek – Social Studies (Growth); Middle Schools – Aragon – Social Studies (Growth and CCR); Goodson – Science (Growth and CCR) and Social Studies (Growth and CCR); Hamilton – Reading (CCR), Science (CCR), Writing (Growth and CCR) and Social Studies (Growth and CCR); and Spillane – Social Studies (CCR); Elementary Schools – Black – Grades 4 and 5 Science (Growth and CCR); Copeland – Grade 3 Math (CCR); Danish – Grades 4 and 5 Reading (Growth) and Science (Growth); Emmott – Grade 3 Math (Growth); Hamilton – Grade 3 Math (CCR) and Reading (CCR); Grades 4 and 5 Math (CCR), Science (Growth and CCR) and Writing (CCR); Jowell – Grades 4 and 5 Math (Growth); Keith – Grades 4 and 5 Math (Growth and CCR) and Science (CCR); Lamkin – Grades 4 and 5 Science (Growth); Millsap – Grades 4 and 5 Science (Growth); Moore – Grades 4 and 5 Science (Growth); Owens – Grades 4 and 5 Math (Growth); Sampson – Grade 3 Math (Growth and CCR) and Reading (CCR); Grades 4 and 5 Math (Growth and CCR), Reading (CCR) and Science (CCR); Sheridan – Grades 4 and 5 Math (Growth); and Willbern – Grades 4 and 5 Math (Growth).