Dear CISD Families, 

As we continue to focus on our Engagement core value, I hope you will join us at our upcoming Pop Up Party events that celebrate our 60th Anniversary.   I want to thank our community partner, Andy’s Custard, which will host a Pop Up party the evening on Monday, Dec. 9, starting at 6 p.m. We also continue to partner with our schools with Pop Up Parties at their events, and will be at the CMS North Bingo Night on Dec. 13. 

I also want to thank you for sharing your feedback with us via our recent Family Survey.  In addition, we are asking for you to share your preference and thoughts on our proposed calendars for the 2020-2021 school year at www.coppellisd.com/calendaroptions.  You may share additional thoughts about the calendar at input@coppellisd.com.  I also encourage you to use input@coppellisd.com for your feedback on the district, or if you don’t know who to contact with your questions.  As a reminder, if you have an issue that you need resolved with your child, it is best to start with your child's teacher or your school’s administration team, including counselors and assistant principals, first. 

Continuing with our Engagement theme, I hope you enjoy watching the Catch Up with Hunt weekly videos, as much as I do making them.  This is another venue where we are telling our CISD Story, as well as giving you the important information and updates about the district. 

I want to end by thanking you for your engagement with Coppell ISD and for all that you do to support our district. Have a great weekend! 

Sincerely, 

Dr. Brad Hunt

Friday, Dec. 20, 2019, is an Early Release Day for all CISD campuses prior to the Winter Break Holiday.  Elementary schools will dismiss at 12:15 p.m. and buses will leave at 12:30 p.m. Middle schools will release at 1:45 p.m. and buses will leave at 1:55 p.m.  High schools, including CHS9, will release at 1 p.m. and buses will leave at 1:15 p.m. The last day of school, Thursday, May 21, 2020, also will be an Early Release Day with the same schedule. 

CISD continues to celebrate our 60th anniversary with Pop Up Parties in December. Andy’s Custard is hosting a Pop Up party on Monday, Dec. 9, and will be offering free ice cream to the first 60 people starting at 6 p.m. and have $2 sundaes until 7 p.m. in honor of our birthday.  CISD will also have a Pop Up Party at CMS North’s Bingo Night on Friday, Dec. 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there!  

Your feedback is important as CISD considers academic calendar options for the 2020-2021 School Year. Please express your preference between Option 1,  Option 2 or Option 3 by taking the district’s survey now through Jan. 6, 2020. The CISD Board of Trustees is set to approve the 2020-2021 CISD Calendar at its Jan. 13, 2020, Board Meeting. The option selected for 2020-2021 will be duplicated for the 2021-2022 academic calendar. To see the calendar options and take the survey, visit www.coppellisd.com/calendaroptions.

Under the leadership of teacher Pilar Castro‑Zena, Nine CHS juniors have been accepted to the NASA High School Aerospace Scholars program. Congratulations to Hannah George, Fiona Lopez, LeeAn Zhong, Abigail Simon, Matthew O'Quinn, Marcos Morales-Martinez, Calen Halcom, Akash Vijay and Gregory Sabuncuyan.  As High School Aerospace Scholars, these students will take a 16-week online interactive course on NASA activities related to space exploration, earth science, technology, mathematics and aeronautics. They also will complete design challenges including 3D drawings, science quizzes, discussion posts, technology writings and monthly webinars with NASA scientists and engineers. High-achieving scholars may be invited to a six-day residential experience in summer 2020 at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, where they work with NASA experts on designing a mission to Mars.

Congratulations to CHS Theatre Director Karen Ruth and her CHS and New Tech High @ Coppell students who are national qualifiers after competing at the Texas Thespian Festival Nov. 21 to 23.  Seniors Claire Harris and Millicent Coleman** qualified for Duet Acting in “Life is Short;” CHS juniors Jordyn Morris and Raquel “Rocky” Andrews qualified for Duet Acting in “Rabbit Hole;” CHS Seniors Alex McCord and Angeli Smith and New Tech High @ Coppell Senior Ryan McCord qualified for Group Acting in “Our Lady of 121st Street;” Senior Ashlyn Peterman** qualified for stage management for “Newsies;” Junior Lauren Myers** qualified for stage management for “All Shook Up;” and Senior Molly McGill qualified for sound design for “Property Rites.” These students will perform and compete at the International Thespian Festival in Indiana University in Bloomington in June 2020. 

**Denotes the student received a perfect score on their performance/presentation.

CHS Student Media tv station KCBY, led by Teacher Adviser Irma Lazos-Kennedy,  and the Sidekick student newspaper, led by Teacher Adviser Chase Wofford, recently received prestigious national and statewide awards and recognition. Both KCBY and the Sidekick were selected as Pacemaker finalists by the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) and each placed 8th in “Best in Show,” which means they are designated among the 10 best student media channels and publications attending the National High School Journalism convention in Washington, D.C. CHS is the only high school in the nation with both newspaper and broadcast programs named as NSPA Pacemaker finalists this year. In addition, for the first time in program history, two Sidekick staff members were named national champions in NSPA individual honors. 2019 CHS graduate and former Sidekick editor-in-chief Kelly Wei and CHS/Turning Point graduate and former Sidekick photographer Laura Amador-Toro won 1st place in Newspaper Front Page Design. Seniors Pramika Kadari (Opinion Story of the Year) and Akansha Singh (Local Climate Change Reporting) received honorable mention from NSPA, placing them among the top 10 in the nation. Amador-Toro also received honorable mention for environmental portrait from NSPA. KCBY also had recent state recognition, as it won four awards at the Lone Star EMMYs in November — Best Newscast, English; Best Newscast, Spanish; Best General Assignment, Light News; and Best General Assignment, Serious News.  KCBY is now eligible for the national Emmys, which will be announced in the Spring. Congratulations, Coppell Student Media!

Congratulations to Nan Fullinwider, who is CISD Human Resources’ November Substitute of the Month! Each month, CISD Human Resources recognizes a district substitute teacher who exhibits outstanding commitment to their role. Fullinwider has been a substitute with Coppell ISD since 2007.  She is a shining star at the high school, subbing in a variety of long-term jobs consistently each year. With her gentle demeanor, combined with her knowledge and experience, she is loved by both the staff and students. Fullinwider has no problem rolling up her sleeves and helping out the campus in any way she can. She is a huge asset in CISD, and we appreciate her always going above and beyond.  Thank you, Nan Fullinwider, for your hard work and dedication!

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and the Colts of Cottonwood Creek Elementary are spreading a little holiday cheer!

Cottonwood Creek partnered with Cross Timbers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Flower Mound to bring the holiday spirit to the residents by decorating their doors. Sixty-one Cottonwood Creek families volunteered to "adopt a door" and donate holiday decorations. Thirty-five members of the Colt Council, plus parent and staff volunteers, traveled to Cross Timbers Dec. 3 to spread joy and cheer as they decorated the doors and conversed with the residents.

"Experiencing our learners, staff, and families actually ‘living’ CISD's core values of ‘valuing authentic relationships’ and ‘valuing collective engagement that positively impacts the lives of our children and world’ was so rewarding," says Cottonwood Creek Principal Dr. Andra Penny. "We are excited about a continued partnership with Cross Timbers and demonstrating what it truly means to ‘live’ the core values of CISD."

Elizabeth Watson, who teaches 2nd grade at Valley Ranch Elementary, is celebrating Redefining Success in her classroom with Personal Victories “Pow Wow” every Friday.  She gives her learners the opportunity to share about the accomplishments, school related or otherwise, that they are proud of with their classmates. A recognition board also celebrates improved school work and personal achievements such as karate, winning a singing competition, learning another language and more. “To see the student's faces light up when they get to share about their success warms my heart and reminds us all that we are more than just students and teachers,” Watson said. “We are singers, dancers, artists, brothers, sisters, and friends with an appreciation for what's on the inside and what makes each of us different.” 

Watson was inspired by the Leader in Me program, which helps boost youth leadership development with teaching methods, classroom techniques and social and emotional learning systems. She believes having a dedicated time to share the personal things that make us all different fosters a feeling of acceptance and individuality, while also fostering relationships in the classroom. “Sharing personal victories each week has broadened everyone’s knowledge of real world activities that are going on outside of the classroom,” Watson said. “We have all learned so much about each other, and we are surprised each week by new talents that are being shared.”

The deadline for the 12th Annual Coppell Gifted Association Writing Competition for 4th to 12th graders is midnight, Dec. 6.  Visit https://coppellgifted.org/competitions/ for details.

The second round of the Coppell ISD Education Foundation Super Star program is underway.  Please help CEF spotlight the dedicated and hardworking students, teachers, administrators and support staff in CISD by nominating them for a Super Star award. The deadline for the second round of Super Star nominations is Dec. 6. Everyone nominated, regardless of whether they are chosen as a winner, will receive a printed certificate, so please nominate as many deserving individuals as possible! Visit www.coppellisdef.com/super-star  for more information about the Super Star program.  Click here for a link to the nomination form.