Complete Panorama Survey by Nov. 4

There's still time for all CISD Staff to complete the Panorama Teacher/Staff Survey . The deadline is Nov. 4. Staff who are not on assigned campuses should complete the survey from the perspective of their general experiences visiting campuses.

• Staff (Non Instructional) Survey
• Teacher (Instructional) Survey 

Disney’s Newsies: The Musical opens tonight at Coppell High School and showcases a cast of 43 talented student actors. Showtimes include Friday, Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 2, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 3, at 2:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 9, at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 10, at 2:30 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit https://chstb.booktix.com. CISD employees are eligible to receive one free ticket with their ID badge at the door. 

Save The Date! 

The Coppell ISD Holiday Open House theme this year will be "Frozen - A Winter Wonderland.” The event will be held on Friday, Dec. 13, at the Vonita White Administration Building from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. We look forward to welcoming the entire CISD employee family to this district-wide tradition that offers fellowship, food and fun. See you there!

Health & Wellness

• From sharing snacks and healthy recipes, to yoga, weight training, ping pong, and more, the Staff of Coppell High School finished their October Health & Wellness Challenge stronger than ever thanks to eager organizers Chip Lowery and Julie Stralow. The Challenge continues and Staff is primed and ready for participation in Round 2 - November is “30 Days of Thanks and Planks!” If you’re up to the task, try starting a Health and Wellness Challenge at your own school or building, and don’t feel like you have to reinvent the wheel...just ask for a few “How To” tips from Chip.

• The Go Red District Heart Challenge is underway! This School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) initiative that partners with the American Heart Association, aims to help educate the CISD family on ways to become heart-healthy through moderate exercise, regular blood pressure checks, and balanced nutrition. November is Eat Smart Month and with the holiday season ahead, it’s a great time to 1) snack with heart health in mind, 2) move more and 3) eat without dieting or giving up all the foods you love.
  
  Find out how to ditch the junk (sugar and sodium are not your BFFs!), and give your body the nutrient-dense fuel it needs. Remember: 80 percent of cardiovascular disease is preventable. Watch for additional information in the coming weeks and months ahead, and learn more at www.heart.org.  For a link to order your Go Red t-shirt (credit card only) and show your support during the Month of Mondays in February - American Heart Month - simply text DHCCOPPELL to 41444. CISD is championing healthy habits, because YOU MATTER!

Curriculum Connection

• Father of Texas Day announcements started going out across the district today, for the annual recognition of Stephen F. Austin. The goal is to properly celebrate the birthday, Nov. 3, of this significant pioneer patriot, and to inspire a greater love for our beloved state Father of Texas Day (Gov’t Code 662.045). Social Studies teachers should explore the Father of Texas Day page from the Recognition Days Resources in Schoology.
• Veterans Day is Monday, Nov. 11, as a remembrance of all U.S. military veterans – past and present. In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I, then known as “The Great War.” Commemorated in many countries as Armistice Day the following year, Nov. 11th, became a federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became legally known as Veterans Day. Social Studies teachers are highly encouraged to explore the Veterans Day page from the Recognition Days Resources in Schoology.

Safety & Security

Oct. 18 correction: A team of first responders was inaccurately identified in the cutline with a group of CISD Nurses collaborating on school safety. The meeting, held at Canyon Ranch Elementary, was attended by Chief Russell and first responders from Coppell Fire Station #1.

Did You Know?

• The City of Coppell is conducting a survey and needs our help. Over the past ten years, the Cozby Library and Community Commons has seen an increase in the number of requests for materials in languages other than English. Such requests have come as a direct result of the city’s growth and rapidly changing demographics. To best serve the community, the library is assessing the need for and exploring the possibility of a World Languages Collection.
  
  They need input from Coppell residents and CISD affiliates (staff, students, parents of students) to create a collection that best reflects the community’s current needs. You can provide your input by completing a 3-minute online survey. The survey is available now through November 30. Participants can be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $75 Amazon gift card!
• CMS West student Shreeya Jain was recently recognized by the Board of Trustees for her actions on the night of Sept. 21, when there was a fire at the Reflections Apartment complex in Irving, where she and her family lived.
  
  Shreeya was watching TV with her family that night, when her Dad noticed something outside and her mother shouted it was “fire.” Shreeya grabbed her phone and used Siri to call 911. She then handed the phone to her father and started knocking on the doors of her neighbors, telling them of the fire and to get to safety. Shreeya had the presence of mind to call 911 because of her training at CMS West. In fact, CMS West had just had a fire drill the day before the fire.
  
  The Irving Fire Department credits Shreeya with saving many lives that night, as she was the first and only one to call 911 to alert the Fire Department of the fire. She also was helpful in telling her neighbors to stay outside and safe and not to worry about their things. She wrote in a school essay about the event that night, “Lost things can be made again, but not the lost lives.”
  
  Though no lives were lost and no injuries were sustained, many CISD families did lose everything that night, including Shreeya’s. The Jain family credits the CMS West teachers and staff for Shreeya’s preparedness and for helping them cope with the situation as they have transitioned to a new apartment and begin to replace what was lost.
  
  Shreeya was honored for being brave, poised and caring about the lives of others, and for truly personifying the district’s Core Values of Redefining Success and Relationships.
  

• The Dallas Mavericks are offering a Teacher Appreciation Night next week. Join the Mavs on Friday, Nov. 8, during this fun night for educators, friends, and family. Teachers can take advantage of a special discount on tickets by going to www.mavsgroup.com/mavsteach1920, and all attendees can shoot a free throw on the Mavs court after the game!
• Metrocrest Services needs more partners for its January and February Donation Drives! Metrocrest Services is still hoping more CISD schools will partner with the organization for its pantry donation drives coming up after the Winter Break. If you are interested in partnering with Metrocrest for the months of January or February, please contact Tamerah Ringo at tringo@coppellisd.com.
• Child Nutrition Pumpkin Contest Winners:
  First Place: CRE's beautifully carved pumpkins
  
  Second Place: CMS North's creepy Cougar Cinema pumpkins featuring "IT"
  
  
  Third Place: Denton Creek's cute DumDum pumpkins
  
  

CISD welcomes the following recent new hires to the district:

• Tanya Berent, Crisis Counselor, Student & Staff Services;
• Anne Lawler, PPCD Teacher, Austin Elementary; and
• Holly Taylor, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher, Lakeside Elementary.

The latest district staff vacancies are listed at coppell.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx.

More Important Dates 

• Teacher of the Year Campus Nominations due Nov. 8. The district recognizes the excellence in teaching that exists in every Coppell school through participation in the "Teacher of the Year" awards program. This program, aligned with the state and national level programs, honors outstanding public educators and is coordinated by the Communications Department. Click here for more information.
• GEM Nominations due Nov. 22. There’s still time, so help spread the word! Do you know a CISD employee who goes above and beyond their job expectations and satisfies all the GEM program criteria? Do you think they might qualify to be recognized by the Board of Trustees at a reception held in their honor as a Coppell ISD Fall GEM (Great Educators Matter)? If so, please nominate this dedicated individual(s) by visiting the Staff and Student Recognition site.
• Door prize donations for the CISD Holiday Open House - We will again be offering various door prizes for some lucky employees attending the event on Friday, Dec. 13, and we wanted to extend the offer to those of you who may be interested in making a door prize contribution this year. Previously, this has included everything from gift cards to themed baskets to wreaths, and more. This year's theme is “Frozen - A Winter Wonderland” should you want to tie-in to that theme, but you certainly do not have to do so. If you are interested in donating door prizes for the event, please contact the Communications and Community Engagement office. All door prize contributions must be dropped off no later than Friday, Dec. 6, at the Vonita White Administration Building.
• Gingerbread House Competition - ‘Tis the season and what a fun way to show our holiday spirit than with a festive and friendly gingerbread house building competition! Campuses and/or departments are invited to incorporate this year’s theme - “Frozen - A Winter Wonderland” - so get your creative juices flowing, and submit an entry in the 2nd annual CISD Gingerbread House Competition. Entry form and Rules & Regulations are available here. Entry form is due Friday, Nov. 22. All entries must be delivered to the Vonita White Administration Building for set-up on Thursday, Dec. 12.

Last year's First Place Winner, "Who-ville" was created by Cottonwood Creek Elementary.

Robotics Camp 2020, presented by Verizon, will be held at Coppell Middle School West this coming Jan. 8 - Feb. 29. Registration opens on Monday, Nov. 4, at 8:00 a.m. Seats are limited, so register early and SAVE! Those registering between Nov. 4 and Nov. 7 at 8:00 a.m. will receive an Early Bird discount. Click here to learn more.

This year the Coppell ISD Education Foundation received 59 grant requests totaling $180,000 as part of the Give for Grants program. Click here to view all classroom grants submitted by Coppell ISD educators.

Congratulations to Wilson Elementary for “Recess Creativity Kits” being the first grant funded by the community this year!

Remember: You can support your campus by creating and sharing social media posts, including grant links in your teacher newsletters and by sharing links in emails to parents. Grant links can be found on each grant campaign. Please follow CISD’s online Fundraising Guidelines - “All employees shall be prohibited from using the name, image, logo, or mascot of the District, a campus, or any student to solicit web-based donations.” Here are a couple of examples of acceptable social media posts: 1) “The @coppellisdef enhances learning for every student at every school every day. Want to contribute to their cause and impact our students? Check out this grant request. (Insert a link to your grant)” 2) “Want to make an impact on student learning at our campus? Check out this grant request submitted to the @coppellisdef Give for Grants campaign. (Insert a link to your grant).”

Community funding ends November 15.