Dear CISD Family,

Can you believe that it is  November?  As we enter into  this season of Thanksgiving, I want to take this opportunity to thank the entire Coppell ISD community for all you do each and every day to support our students, our district and our mission.  As our mission states, “Working together, we are committed to creating profound learning experiences for each child, while nurturing meaningful relationships, to positively impact our world.”  I believe that “working together” is key to all we do at CISD every day to achieve our mission.  It is that spirit of togetherness and unity that sets us apart from other communities.

This time of year also kicks off recognition season for CISD teachers.  You will start seeing CISD recognizing Great Teaching, one of our Core Values, through our Super Teachers, Teachers of the Year and Great Educators that Matter (GEM) awards.  These achievements are worth honoring, because I truly believe what gets recognized gets repeated.

It also is the time of year that student achievements begin garnering more attention.  As we highlight our amazing students, we are cognizant of another CISD Core Value, Redefining Success. As expressed in that Value statement, “We value each individual’s contribution, because success can be different for everyone.” In addition to sharing stories about students’ academic and other accomplishments, CISD also is committed to spotlighting other stories of success.  Success truly can be different for everyone. For me, both personal and professional success is about being a little better today than I was yesterday.  It's about being the best you can be and supporting others in their similar efforts. Learning, growing, caring and fellowship, while being committed to constant improvement, all personify success for me.

I hope you will consider your own personal definitions and measures of success, and have conversations with your children about what success means to them.

Enjoy your weekend with your family,

Sincerely,

Brad Hunt

Superintendent

KCBY Wins National Emmy

Congratulations to Coppell High School’s KCBY-TV, which recently was selected as the best student-run broadcast newscast in the nation by The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences through its National Student Production Emmy Awards. Announced Oct. 18, this national Emmy award recognizes former students Autumn Jones, Blake Snawder, Kolbe Klemet and MaryKathryn Ferguson for producing the winning newscast from May 2017. KCBY Adviser Irma Lazos Kennedy said, “We were up among some amazing broadcasting powerhouse schools that have been winning top awards year after year, so it means even more to have come out on top.”  She added, “I'm so proud of the 2016-17 leadership team and all who worked on the winning show. These students, who are now sophomores in college, set the bar high, but I think it just moved even higher for our current students.”

CHS Band to Compete at BOA Super Regional & State

We wish the Coppell High School Varsity Marching Band the best of luck as they compete in the Bands of America Super Regional competition this weekend. The Coppell HS Varsity Marching Band also is heading to the UIL 6A State Marching Band Contest in San Antonio on Nov. 5-6 after qualifying during the UIL Area B Marching Band Competition held on Oct. 27.  Congratulations Coppell HS Band!

Volleyball Bi-District Champs

Congratulations to the High School Cowgirls Volleyball Team, which became the Bi-District 6A Champions after defeating Keller Oct. 30. The Cowgirls will play their area match against Waxahachie tonight at Mansfield Legacy High School at 6:30 p.m.  Go Cowgirls!

Cross Country Headed to State

After a great competition at Regionals Oct. 22, the Coppell Girls' Varsity Cross Country Team and Boys' Cross Country Runner Evan Caswell, a freshman, have qualified to move on to the State 6A Championship Nov. 3 in Round Rock. Click here to read more about the Regionals results.  Best of luck to Cross Country at State!

CMS West PTO Celebrates Cultural Diversity

On. Oct. 30, Coppell Middle School West brought a taste of the Diwali Festival of Lights cultural experience to the school during a hospitality luncheon for teachers and administrators. Parent PTO volunteers Bhargavi Kakani and Swethal Jathan, along with parent Urhasree Kolluru, planed and served a menu featuring Indian food, dressed in traditional Indian garb and shared about their cultural experience with attendees.

VRE’s Rachael Piatt is Good Morning Texas’

“Teacher of the Month”

Congratulations to Valley Ranch Elementary Kindergarten Teacher Rachael Piatt, who was selected as the Good Morning Texas Care Now “Teacher of the Month” for October.  Ms. Piatt, who was nominated by her fiancee for the honor, was recognized for her dedication and caring towards her students. The story showcasing Ms. Piatt’s selection aired on Oct. 26 on WFAA, Ch. 8, which is the local ABC affiliate.  Click here to view the segment.

CMS North “Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat” Food Drive

Instead of candy, each year around Halloween, Coppell Middle School North students participate in “Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat” and collect non-perishable food and other donations for the hungry.  Led by Drama Teacher Brittany Reese, this year the food drive collected 2,100 funds (4,566 rolls) of toilet paper and 5,225 pounds of food donations for the Christian Community Action’s local food bank.

CHS Yearbook Finalist for CSPA Crown Award

The 2018 CHS Round-Up yearbook is one of only 89 yearbooks in the nation chosen as Finalists for the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CPSA) Crown Awards to be presented March 2019 in New York City. The Crown Awards honor top student publications from across the nation for overall design, photography, concept, coverage and writing. Crown Finalists are not nominees, but actual winners as some will be announced as Gold Crowns and the rest are Silver Crowns. Congratulations to Round-Up Adviser Sallyanne Harris and her students!

Ed Foundation “Give for Grants”  Fundraising Campaign

Did you know that more than  $1,078,900 has been awarded to CISD schools and educators through grants from the Coppell ISD Education Foundation? The Coppell ISD Education Foundation’s annual Give for Grants fundraising campaign begins next week, running through Nov. 16. The Foundation is able to award these grants using the contributions from our community’s families and businesses. With your help, we can continue to support motivating, innovative education for all Coppell ISD students! Click here to donate and see our grant money in action! Donations over $25 receive a free yard sign!

CISD Community Gardens

More than just growing food that will used by CISD Child Nutrition, CISD Community Gardens are planting the seeds of knowledge that cross several academic disciplines. These gardens provide outdoor learning experiences in math, science, art, writing and other hands-on learning opportunities.  Plus, students get their hands dirty, which always is fun for them!

Funded by a grant from the Texas Department of Nutrition, the Austin, Denton Creek, Town Center, Pinkerton and Wilson elementary schools are experiencing enhanced Community Gardens this year.  The grant came about through the CISD School Health Advisory Council, which has the goal of reinforcing the connection between health and learning.  

Many of CISD’s newest community gardens had their first planting days in October, including Pinkerton Elementary, pictured right. Items grown in the garden will be sampled in the lunchroom by students, who then can see the connection between planting and eating. For more information on CISD Community Gardens, contact Dorothy Thompson at dathompson@coppellisd.com.

CHS Engages in Random Acts of Kindness

By engaging in random acts of kindness this week, Coppell High School students nurtured relationships and showcased their commitment to a culture of integrity, as outlined in the school’s purpose statement. It states, "Coppell High School is a supportive, diverse, and dynamic learning community that celebrates successes and is committed to a culture of integrity. We nurture relationships, foster collaboration, and maximize potential of each and every Cowboy."

These random acts of kindness included: Red Jackets providing ice cream floats to teachers, students providing thank you notes on teachers’ doors, students making snacks for teachers at other schools, the Connections Class handing out 240 random acts of kindness notes and more.

“Learners at Coppell High School are committed to promoting a culture of mutual respect and understanding that transcends Coppell High School,” said CHS Principal Dr. Nicole Jund.

• Last Weekend for “All Shook Up” at CHS - There are only two performances left of the CHS Theatre Department’s production of “All Shook Up.” The last shows are Nov. 3 and Nov. 4.  Visit www.coppellhstheatre.com for tickets to this show that showcases the songs of Elvis Presley and is inspired by Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”
• Nov. 6 Election - Tuesday, Nov. 6, is Election Day.  Visit dallascountyvotes.org/voter-information for Dallas County polling locations or votedenton.com for Denton County polling locations.  Cottonwood Creek, Lakeside, Mockingbird, Pinkerton, Wilson and Valley Ranch elementary schools will serve as polling places on Election Day, Nov. 6. CISD is working with local police departments to have enhanced officer presence at these schools on election day.
• Ed Foundation Superstar Nominations Due Nov. 9 -
  CISD is full of dedicated and hardworking students, teachers, administrators and support staff who often go above and beyond. We would like to give you the opportunity to shine a spotlight on these students and CISD employees by nominating them to be a Coppell ISD Education Foundation Super Star. This year there will be only two nomination periods that match up with the fall and spring semesters. Any CISD employee (teacher, administrator or support staff) can nominate a student. Any parent, middle school student or CISD employee can nominate a CISD employee (teacher, administrator or support staff). The next nomination deadline is Friday, Nov. 9, at 5 p.m.

• Nov. 4 - Daylight Savings Time
• Nov. 5 - Board Training Meeting 6:00 p.m.
• Nov. 6 - Election Day
• Nov. 9 & 12 - Campus Veterans Day Events (Check  with your campus for events)
• Nov. 14 - Bond Oversight Committee Meeting 6:30 p.m.
• Nov. 19 - 23 - Thanksgiving Break
• Nov. 26 - Regular Board of Trustees Meeting 7 p.m.