- Coppell Independent School District
- Stay In The Know

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January 20, 2023
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Dear Coppell ISD Families,
At Tuesday’s meeting of the CISD Superintendent’s Business Advisory Council, members shared what leadership lesson or advice they would share with their high school selves with the students in attendance. Most of the business, district and community leaders at the meeting shared about learning from failure, and how what seems like a setback at the time often turns out to be an opportunity for growth and grit in the future.
I shared a similar story, as in my sophomore year in high school I did not receive the leadership position I wanted in student council. This led to me seeking another opportunity in a different student organization, which I believe led to me ultimately becoming the student body president. Sometimes, we don't get what we want, but the alternative is far better than what we had originally wanted.
While we can learn a great deal from our achievements, we can grow and learn more through our setbacks and failures. I truly believe that the road to success is paved with setbacks and mistakes well handled. We as parents, educators and community leaders can help to instill a sense of resilience and grit amongst our students, as they journey through school and life. As CISD focuses on our core value of redefining success, I am reminded of this quote, “Life is not about how many times you fall down. It's about how many times you get back up.”
Thank you, as always, for your support of our district.
Sincerely,Dr. Brad Hunt
Superintendent
#CatchUpWithHunt: Lunch at Lakeside Elementary
Tune into YouTube each week for #CatchupWithHunt, as Superintendent Dr. Brad Hunt shares stories from our district. This week, you can catch up with Dr. Hunt and some ketchup, as he serves lunch to students at Lakeside Elementary.
Announcing CISD Spelling Bee Winner Sriya Gomatam and Runner-Up Avishka Dudala
From left: Sriya Gomatam and Avishka Dudala.
CISD hosted an “un- bee-lievable” Spelling Bee on Jan. 13 with “hive-fives” all around. After 24 rounds and correctly spelling “adieu,” Sriya Gomatam, a 7th grader from CMS North, is the 2023 CISD Spelling Bee Champion. Avishka Dudala, a fifth grader from Richard J. Lee Elementary, is the First Runner-Up.
Read more at go.coppellisd.com/SpellingBee23.
Upcoming Board Workshops and Board Meetings
During the Jan. 23 Board Meeting, which begins at 6 p.m., the two co-chairs of the Bond Steering Committee — community member Jim Walker and CHS student Dilan Patel — will present the Bond Steering Committee’s recommendations to Trustees. The School Board will discuss and consider the bond recommendation at the Feb. 6 Board Workshop, which begins at 5:30 p.m. The School Board will also discuss the bond and a possible bond election at the regular Board of Trustees Meeting on Feb. 13, which begins at 6 p.m. Details about Board Workshops and Board Meetings, including meeting agendas, meeting presentations and how to sign up to speak during Open Forum are available at www.coppellisd.com/board. Details about the bond planning process are available at www.coppellisd.com/bond.
Software Update Available for CISD iPads
Apple has released a new iPadOS that is now available for you to upgrade your iPad. Staff and students are now able to install the update by going to Settings … General … Software Update. iPadOS 16.2 is the most up-to-date version of the operating system for the iPad. Please install this update on your district device for the latest features, security patches and app compatibility.Ten High School Band/Instrumentalists Students Make State
Tooting our own horn — CISD had 10 high school students make All-State in Band and Orchestra. Overall, CISD is in the top 10 in the state for the number of high school students who have achieved All-State status from the Texas Music Educators Association. These results are a byproduct of the incredible band and music teachers in CISD who have worked with student performers since Kindergarten.
Congratulations to our All-State Band and Orchestra students:- Neha Bharadwaj, a senior at CHS — Horn
- Akshat Ghuge, a junior at CHS — Bass Clarinet
- Gavin Hoffmann, a senior at CHS — Percussion
- Deepali Kanchanavally, a sophomore at CHS — Cello
- Shrestha Mishra, a sophomore at CHS — Trumpet
- Dylan Newsom, a senior at CHS — Alto Saxophone
- Akshaj Ravi, a junior at CHS — Trumpet
- Akshara Sankar, a senior at CHS — Flute
- Rohan Sharma, a junior at CHS — Trumpet
- Lindsey Won, a junior at CHS — Flute
CISD Announces 2023—2024 Enrollment Dates
CISD is announcing enrollment dates for our choice elementary schools and high school and enrollment for Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten students. Below is a list of important dates to remember, and additional dates and information can be found at www.coppellisd.com/enrollment.
January- Jan. 20 — New Tech Early Action (Guaranteed Admission) Application Due
- Jan. 21 — NTH@C S@turday Flexperience @ New Tech, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
February- Feb. 3 — New Tech Legacy Application Due
- Feb 9 — Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Parent Information Session, 6-7 p.m., CISD Administration Building Board Room (200 S. Denton Tap Road)
- Feb. 10 — DLI Informational Session, noon, CISD Administration Building Board Room (200 S. Denton Tap Road)
- Feb. 15 — New Tech @ Night (Spring Open House), 6:30 p.m.- 8 p.m.
- Feb. 16 — New Tech Parent Overview and Panel, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
- Feb. 23 — New Tech Campus Tour for Parents and Community
- Feb. 24 — New Tech application window closes
- Feb. 28 — Pinkerton Elementary IB Parent Information Meeting #1, 6 p.m. Pinkerton Elementary
March- March 1 — DLI applications go live
- March 1 — CISD Resident Transfer window opens
- March 1 — Pinkerton IB begins accepting applications
- March 3 — NTH@C lottery if needed
- March 6 — Pinkerton Elementary IB Parent Information Meeting #2 at 6 p.m.
- March 2 — Pinkerton Elementary IB Tour, 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- March 7 — DLI Parent Information Session, 6-7 p.m., Brock Training Room 1
- March 21 — IB Pinkerton Tour #2 — 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- March 22 — Kindergarten Enrollment begins
- March 28 — DLI applications due by 5 p.m.
- March 31 — CISD Resident Transfer window closes
- April 7 — Pinkerton IB Applications Due
- April 14 — DLI Lottery/Pick Pinkerton Lottery, 8:30 a.m., CISD Administration Building Board Room (200 S. Denton Tap Road)
- April 17 — DLI agreements sent out
- April 17 — Pinkerton IB agreements sent out
- April 26 — CISD Resident Transfer decisions shared out
- April 28 — Re-enrollment links emailed to parents of current students
- May 1 — Victory Place Turning Point Program Applications for 23-24 Open
- May 4 — Kindergarten Round-Up
- Mary 31 — Early Childhood/Pre-K Fair
- June 1 — Second transfer window opens
- June 9 — Open Enrollment Window Opens
CHS Hosts CTE, Fine Arts and IB Program Open House Jan. 26
Coppell High School is hosting an open house for CISD students in grades 8 to 11 on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 5:30 p.m. The event will showcase the Career & Technical Education (CTE), International Baccalaureate (IB) and Fine Arts programs at CHS.
Place 4 and Place 5 Board Applications Available for May 6 Elections Place 7 Board Application for May 6 Election Staring Jan. 24
CISD is now accepting applications for candidates for Trustee Places 4 and 5, which will be on the ballot of the May 6, 2023, CISD School Board Trustee Election. Applications for the one-year expired term for Place 7, which will also be on the May 6 ballot, will begin being accepted on Jan. 24. The deadline to apply for the election for Place 4 and 5 is Friday, Feb. 17, at 5 p.m. The deadline to apply for place 7 is Monday, March 6 at 5 p.m. There will be a Board Candidate workshop for those interested in applying on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. at the CISD Administration Building. For more information, visit go.coppellisd.com/boardelection or contact Carol Snowden at csnowden@coppellisd.com or 214-496-8002.
CHS Theatre Presents Mamma Mia! on Jan. 28-29, Feb. 3-5
Tickets are now on sale for the CHS Cowboy Theatre Company's performances of the hit musical Mamma Mia! on Jan. 28, Jan. 29 and on Feb. 3, Feb. 4 and Feb. 5. Please note the show is PG-13. CISD Employee Badges are not being accepted for admission, however, special ticket pricing is available for staff and students. Visit https://chstb.booktix.com to purchase tickets.
Save the Date: CISD Night at the Ballpark on Friday, April 28
Coppell ISD Night at The Ballpark will take place on Friday, April 28, as the Texas Rangers take on the New York Yankees at Globe Life Park in Arlington at 7:05 p.m. Be on the lookout for details and ticket sales for this game soon.- Jan. 21 — NTH@C S@turday Flexperience @ New Tech, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Jan. 23 — Board Meeting 6 p.m.
- Jan. 26 — CHS Program Open House for CTE, Fine Arts and IB 5:30 p.m.
- Jan. 26 — Board Candidate Workshop 6 p.m.
- Feb. 6 — Board Workshop 5:30 p.m.
- Feb. 13 — Board Meeting 6 p.m.
- Feb. 17 — Professional Development Day (Staff Workday and Student Holiday)
- Feb. 20 — Bad Weather Day (No School for Staff or Students)
Are you ready for severe winter weather? Don’t get caught unprepared! Sign up for NotifyCoppell to receive weather alerts and other emergency communications from the City of Coppell via phone, email, or text!
https://member.everbridge.net/892807736723618/login
Wize Computing Academy
CODING & ROBOTICS PROGRAM
Offers Online & AFTER School Classes- Project-based approach to teaching designing, robotics and coding to learners Ages 4-16 years old.
- Small-group, award-winning instructors.
- Prepare for coding & robotics competitions like the First LEGO League. Register for a Free trial class
Questions? info@wizeacademy.com
469-471-8180It's never been a better time to think about what Dallas College can do for you. Get started.
www.dallascollege.edu -
January 13, 2023
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Dear Coppell ISD Families,
We have hit the ground running this new year and new semester, with many celebrations and fun activities already underway. I had the pleasure of attending the high school theatre variety show last Saturday, and the talent of our students continues to blow me away. Man are our kids good! From singers, dancers, instrumentalists, Tae Kwon Do demonstrations, magic acts to a stand-up comic, there was something for everyone. The evening concluded with a number from the upcoming musical Mamma Mia. You will be able to see this number and more talented students in the full production of Mamma Mia, so be sure to buy your tickets soon, because the show will sell out quickly.
We also had all seven of our high school choir students who auditioned for State Choir make it, which is unheard of to have such a high number and speaks to the hard work and talent of our students and the leadership of their teachers. Clearly, our kids are hitting all the right notes! I could not be prouder of our amazing students.
January also marks School Board Appreciation Month in Texas. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Board of Trustees for their dedication and commitment to our district and our students, teachers, staff, parents and community. The theme of this year’s School Board Recognition Month is “Forward, Together,” which, according to the Texas Association of School Boards, highlights the collaboration among school leadership, teachers, staff and parents on behalf of students.
Recognizing the efforts of our school board members is so important, because they are volunteers who give several hours of their time and hard work to ensure our district’s success. We are so fortunate to have such a terrific board of trustees. Please join me in thanking Trustees Leigh Walker (Place 1), Manish Sethi (Place 2), Anthony Hill (Place 3), Dr. Neena Biswas (Place 4), David Caviness (Place 5), Nichole Bentley (Place 6) and Jobby Mathew (Place 7) for all they do for our district.
Sincerely,Dr. Brad Hunt
Superintendent
#CatchUpWithHunt: Varsity Girls Basketball Team
Tune into YouTube each week for #CatchupWithHunt, as Superintendent Dr. Brad Hunt shares stories from our district. This week, you can catch Dr. Hunt talking with the Varsity Girls Basketball Team.High School Choir Students Make State
Music to our ears — the high school Coppell Choir had seven singers participate in the last and final round of the All-State Choir Auditions on Jan. 7 at the University of Texas at Arlington, and every single singer made state. Coppell ISD had the highest number of singers who made the 2023 Texas Music Educators Association's All-State Choirs from our area. This is a testament to the immensely talented students in Coppell ISD, and our choir teachers led by Bona Coogle and Aaron Coronado. Congratulations to our All-State Choir Students:- Sumita Bhattacharyya — Senior at CHS — Alto 1
- Anagha Dharmavaram — Senior at CHS — Tenor 1
- Ben Hall — Sophomore at NTH@C — Bass 2
- Preston Johnson — Junior at NTH@C — Bass2
- Roma Jani — Junior at CHS — Soprano 1
- Nicki Mikael — Junior at CHS — Soprano 2
- Piper Baranowski — Freshman at CHS9 — Alto 1
Upcoming Board Workshops and Board Meetings
During the Jan. 23 Board Meeting, which begins at 6 p.m., the two co-chairs of the Bond Steering Committee — community member Jim Walker and CHS student Dilan Patel — will present the Bond Steering Committee’s recommendations to Trustees. The School Board will discuss and consider the bond recommendation at the Feb. 6 Board Workshop, which begins at 5:30 p.m. The School Board will also discuss the bond and a possible bond election at the regular Board of Trustees Meeting on Feb. 13, which begins at 6 p.m. Details about Board Workshops and Board Meetings, including meeting agendas, meeting presentations and how to sign up to speak during Open Forum are available at www.coppellisd.com/board. Details about the bond planning process are available at www.coppellisd.com/bond.
CHS Hosts CTE, Fine Arts and IB Program Open House Jan. 26
Coppell High School is hosting an open house for CISD students in grades 8 to 11 on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 5:30 p.m. The event will showcase the Career & Technical Education (CTE), International Baccalaureate (IB) and Fine Arts programs at CHS.
Place 4 and Place 5 Board Applications Available for May 6 Elections Starting Jan. 18; Place 7 Board Application for May 6 Election Staring Jan. 24
Starting Jan. 18 at 8 a.m., CISD will be accepting applications for candidates for Trustee Places 4 and 5, which will be on the ballot of the May 6, 2023, CISD School Board Trustee Election. Applications for the one-year expired term for Place 7, which will also be on the May 6 ballot, will begin being accepted on Jan. 24. The deadline to apply for the election for Place 4 and 5 is Friday, Feb. 17, at 5 p.m. The deadline to apply for place 7 is Monday, March 6 at 5 p.m. There will be a Board Candidate workshop for those interested in applying on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. at the CISD Administration Building. For more information, visit go.coppellisd.com/boardelection or contact Carol Snowden at csnowden@coppellisd.com or 214-496-8002.
CHS Theatre Presents Mamma Mia! on Jan. 28-29, Feb. 3-5
Tickets are now on sale for the CHS Cowboy Theatre Company's performances of the hit musical Mamma Mia! on Jan. 28, Jan. 29 and on Feb. 3, Feb. 4 and Feb. 5. Please note the show is PG-13. Visit https://chstb.booktix.com to purchase tickets.
Save the Date: CISD Night at the Ballpark on Friday, April 28
Coppell ISD Night at The Ballpark will take place on Friday, April 28, as the Texas Rangers take on the New York Yankees at Globe Life Park in Arlington at 7:05 p.m. Be on the lookout for details and ticket sales for this game soon.- Jan. 9 — Board Budget Workshop 5:30 p.m.
- Jan. 16 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
- Jan. 23 — Board Meeting 6 p.m.
- Jan. 26 — CHS Program Open House for CTE, Fine Arts and IB 5:30 p.m.
- Jan. 26 — Board Candidate Workshop 6 p.m.
- Feb. 6 — Board Workshop 5:30 p.m.
- Feb. 13 — Board Meeting 6 p.m.
- Feb. 17 — Professional Development Day (Staff Workday and Student Holiday)
- Feb. 20 — Bad Weather Day (No School for Staff or Students)
Are you ready for severe winter weather? Don’t get caught unprepared! Sign up for NotifyCoppell to receive weather alerts and other emergency communications from the City of Coppell via phone, email, or text!
https://member.everbridge.net/892807736723618/login
Wize Computing Academy
CODING & ROBOTICS PROGRAM
Offers Online & AFTER School Classes- Project-based approach to teaching designing, robotics and coding to learners Ages 4-16 years old.
- Small-group, award-winning instructors.
- Prepare for coding & robotics competitions like the First LEGO League. Register for a Free trial class
Questions? info@wizeacademy.com
469-471-8180It's never been a better time to think about what Dallas College can do for you. Get started.
www.dallascollege.edu -
January 5, 2023
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Dear Coppell ISD Families,
I hope you enjoyed your winter break, and I want to wish you all a Happy New Year! I also want to extend a special welcome to our new students who are starting at our schools this semester. We have had several families enroll their children at CISD before the break and this week, and we are so excited to have them join our CISD community.
As we embark into 2023, I look forward to seeing the amazing work and achievements of our students thanks to our wonderful teachers and staff. In addition to continuing our focus on academic rigor and educating the whole child, our priorities for the new year include working on our budget and the upcoming potential bond election. The 2023 Texas Legislative session is also something the district will be paying close attention to, as we share our legislative agenda with our elected state officials. While I know there will be challenges in 2023, there also will be so many opportunities to make a difference in the life of a child by continuing our theme this school year of #CISDWorkingTogether.
As the parent of a Class of 2023 soon-to-be graduate, I know how fast time is and will fly by. I plan to try to take some time in 2023 to enjoy each moment that I can during this special season of my and my family’s life. I hope you will do the same.Sincerely,Dr. Brad Hunt
Superintendent
In this Issue:
- #CatchUpWithHunt:
New Tech - New Tech Hosts “Leap into Action” Career Events
- Upcoming Board Workshops and Board Meetings
- Girls Basketball Team Ranked No. 1 in State
- Congratulations Second Grading Period Super Teachers
- New Tech's Nadia Fox Qualifies for National Theatre Competition
- Bad Weather Closings Notifications Reminder
- CHS Theatre Host Variety Show and Silent Auction Jan. 7
- Lariettes Offer Dance Intensive Workshop on Jan. 14
- CHS Theatre Presents Mamma Mia! on Jan. 28-29, Feb. 3-5
- Save the Date: CISD Night at the Ballpark on Friday, April 28
- Upcoming Events
#CatchUpWithHunt: New Tech High @ Coppell
Tune into YouTube each week to #CatchupWithHunt, as Superintendent Dr. Brad Hunt shares stories from our district. This week, you can catch Dr. Hunt talking with New Tech High @ Coppell senior Anthika Gunaselan and sophomore Sanya Pillai, who organized the recent “Leap into Action” career exploration events at New Tech.
New Tech High @ Coppell Hosts “Leap into Action” Career Events
Story by New Tech High @ Coppell Senior Anthika Gunaselan
New Tech High @ Coppell Senior Anthika Gunaselan and Sophomore Sanya Pillai organized Career Development Program "Leap into Action” events at New Tech High @ Coppell in December 2022. This learner-led and designed project gave community professionals and mentors the opportunity to come to New Tech and speak to students about their career development journey and the skills they need to successfully land a job in today's job market as part of Flex Fridays at New Tech.
Students got to experience "Leap" Career Exploration on Dec. 9, from more than 20 speakers ranging from the Vice President of Sales at the McLaren American headquarters in Coppell to medical students to advertising agents and data science analysts. Students got to gain career development skills "into" on Dec. 16, through 12 mentors with workshops on how to give a proper handshake, how to turn one's passion into a profession, how to do an elevator pitch and more. Students will engage in "Action" — applying for internships and jobs during the third grading period at New Tech.
Upcoming Board Workshops and Board Meetings
The CISD Board of Trustees will have a Board Workshop on the budget on Jan. 9 at 5:30 p.m. During the Jan. 23 Board Meeting, which begins at 6 p.m., the two co-chairs of the Bond Steering Committee — community member Jim Walker and CHS student Dilan Patel — will present the Bond Steering Committee’s recommendations to Trustees. The School Board will discuss and consider the bond recommendation at the Feb. 6 Board Workshop, which begins at 5:30 p.m. The School Board will also discuss the bond and a possible bond election at the regular Board of Trustees Meeting on Feb. 13, which begins at 6 p.m. Details about Board Workshops and Board Meetings, including meeting agendas, meeting presentations and how to sign up to speak during Open Forum, are available at www.coppellisd.com/board.Girls Basketball Team Ranked No. 1 in State
For the first time in the program’s history, the Coppell Cowgirls Varsity Basketball team is ranked no. 1 in the state by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. The Cowgirls are 25-1 and next play Hebron at home on Friday, Jan. 6, at 6:15 p.m.. For more information and tickets, visit www.coppellathletics.net/e-tickets.
Congratulations Second Grading Period Super Teachers
Congratulations to CISD's Second Grading Period 2022-2023 Super Teachers, who design engaging and innovative learning experiences that ignite the interests of learners. Our latest Super Teachers are: Devrry Mitchell from CMS East, Nathan Harvey and Jeremy Lindquist from CMS North, Robert Hunter from New Tech High @ Coppell, David Barnette from Austin Elementary, Jennifer Pieper from Denton Creek Elementary, Hannah Jones from Richard J. Lee Elementary, Marissa Broome and Gina Pletcher from Mockingbird Elementary and Nadya Gulam from Valley Ranch Elementary,
New Tech's Nadia Fox Qualifies for National Theatre CompetitionNew Tech High @ Coppell freshman Nadia Fox recently competed at the Texas Thespian Festival and qualified to move on to the national competition at the International Thespian Festival in the Solo Musical Category. The International Thespian Festival will be held in Indiana in June 2023. Fox is among the CISD high school students who qualified for the national competition and was inadvertently left off the list of students shared in the Dec. 9 edition of the Informed newsletter.
Bad Weather Closings Notifications Reminder
If CISD closes schools due to inclement weather, the decision to close will be made as early in the morning as possible, but no later than 6 a.m. If the district closes, you will receive a CISD Alert via phone call, text, email, and messages will also be on CISD’s social media accounts. A yellow scrolling banner announcing the closing also will appear at the top of the CISD homepage at www.coppellisd.com, and the district also will notify local media outlets. Visit www.coppellisd.com/weather for details.
CHS Theatre Hosts Variety Show on Jan. 7 at Coppell Arts Center
The Cowboy Theatre Company is hosting its annual Variety Show and Auction at the Coppell Arts Center on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 6:45 p.m. An optional VIP reception will take place before the show from 5:45-6:45 p.m. at the Coppell Arts Center. There will be two 45-minute acts with 20 student performances, our fan-favorite live cake auction, a raffle drawing and a sneak preview from the two upcoming musicals — Mamma Mia! and Peter and The Star Catcher. For more information and to buy tickets, visit https://chstb.booktix.com.
Lariettes to Offer Dance Intensive Workshop for 6th to 11th Grade Students on Jan. 14
The Coppell Lariette Drill Team is offering a Dance Intensive Workshop on Jan. 14 for students in 6th to 11th grade who are interested in joining the Silver Stars or Lariettes. The event will take place on Saturday, Jan. 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at CHS9 and costs $40. For more information or to register, use the QR code above or click here.
CHS Theatre Presents Mamma Mia! on Jan. 28-29, Feb. 3-5
The CHS Cowboy Theatre Company will have performances of the hit musical Mamma Mia! on Jan. 28, Jan, 29 and on Feb. 3, Feb. 4 and Feb. 5. Tickets will be on sale soon. Visit www.coppellhstheatre.com for more information.
Save the Date: CISD Night at the Ballpark on Friday, April 28
Coppell ISD Night at The Ballpark will take place on Friday, April 28, as the Texas Rangers take on the New York Yankees at Globe Life Park in Arlington at 7:05 p.m. Be on the lookout for details and ticket sales for this game soon.- Jan. 9 — Board Budget Workshop 5:30 p.m.
- Jan. 16 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
- Jan. 23 — Board Meeting 6 p.m.
- Feb. 6 — Board Workshop 5:30 p.m.
- Feb. 13 — Board Meeting 6 p.m.
- Feb. 17 — Professional Development Day (Staff Workday and Student Holiday)
- Feb. 20 — Bad Weather Day (No School for Staff or Students)
Are you ready for severe winter weather? Don’t get caught unprepared! Sign up for NotifyCoppell to receive weather alerts and other emergency communications from the City of Coppell via phone, email, or text!
https://member.everbridge.net/892807736723618/login
Wize Computing Academy
CODING & ROBOTICS PROGRAM
Offers Online & AFTER School Classes- Project-based approach to teaching designing, robotics and coding to learners Ages 4-16 years old.
- Small-group, award-winning instructors.
- Prepare for coding & robotics competitions like the First LEGO League. Register for a Free trial class
Questions? info@wizeacademy.com
469-471-8180It's never been a better time to think about what Dallas College can do for you. Get started.
www.dallascollege.edu - #CatchUpWithHunt:
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December 15, 2022
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Dear Coppell ISD Families,
What an amazing first semester it has been in Coppell ISD. It’s hard to believe that Winter Break is upon us. I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your family Happy Holidays!
On a personal note, as the parent of a soon-to-be Class of 2023 graduate, I know how fast the school year can go by. The fall semester has been outstanding with the work and achievements of our students, the great teaching of our educators and staff, and the continued commitment to authentic relationships from our families and community. I could not be more proud of our students and teachers.
To our students, I want to thank you for being the reason for our district and what we do to serve and educate you each and every day. You are our district’s why, and we are dedicated to you and your success. To all our dedicated teachers and staff, thank you for everything you do. I am so very grateful to be working alongside such caring professionals and support staff in this outstanding district. To our CISD families, thank you for being our partners and for your love of our schools and our district. To our community partners and volunteers, thank you for your support of our district. Our CISD community is truly working together to do what is best for our children, and I appreciate you all.
I hope you will enjoy some quality time with your family and friends over the break and create some lasting and special memories. From our families to yours, Merry Christmas Happy Hanukkah, Happy Las Posadas, Happy Kwanzaa and a Happy New Year!
Enjoy your break,Sincerely,
Dr. Brad Hunt
SuperintendentIn this Issue:
- #CatchUpWithHunt:
Valley Ranch Elementary - Complete CISD Family/School Relationships Survey by Dec. 16
- Reminder: Early Dismissal Day on Dec. 16
- CISD Closed for Winter Break from Dec. 19 to Jan. 1, Students Return on Jan. 3
- Announcing the CISD's 2022-2023 Teachers of the Year
- Congratulations to Fall 2022 Great Employees Matter (GEMs)
- Girls Basketball Team Ranked No. 5 in the State
- Boys Basketball Team Cracks Top 20 in State Rankings
- Football Players Signing Day for Brown University, Indiana University and the University of Mississippi
- Lee Elementary’s Elvina Jojo Places 2nd in DEGA International art competition
- Coppell High School Student Council Collects $14,000 Worth of Food for Metrocrest Services
- Give for Grants Campaign Awards $90,000+ in Funds for CISD Teachers and Students
- Lariette Drill Team to Offer Dance Intensive Workshop for 6th to 11th Grade Students on Jan. 14
- Upcoming Events
#CatchUpWithHunt: Valley Ranch Elementary
Tune into YouTube each week to #CatchupWithHunt as Superintendent Dr. Brad Hunt shares stories from our district. This week, you can catch Dr. Hunt interviewing the 2022 Holiday Card Design Contest winner Ira Killi, a 5th grader at Valley Ranch Elementary.
Complete CISD Family/Schools Relationships Survey by Dec. 16
Each semester, CISD surveys our families on their relationships with their child’s school. The Fall 2022 CISD Family/Schools Relationship Survey is open until Friday, Dec. 16. Visit go.coppellisd.com/Fall2022FamilySurvey to take the survey and select your child(ren)’s school. If you have multiple children in CISD, we ask that you take the survey for each school your child attends. Email input@coppellisd.com, if you would like to share any additional feedback or insight not covered in the survey or have any additional comments to share with the district.
Reminder: Early Dismissal Day on Dec. 16
Friday, Dec. 16, is a CISD early dismissal day. Elementary Schools will dismiss at 12:30 p.m., Middle Schools will dismiss at 1 p.m. and High Schools will dismiss at 1:40 p.m. on these days. Dec. 12-15 will be regular school days before the winter break from Dec. 16 to Jan. 2.
CISD Closed for Winter Break from Dec. 19 to Jan. 1, Students Return on Jan. 3
CISD will be closed for Winter Break from Dec. 16 to Jan. 1, with staff returning on Jan. 2, and students returning to school on Jan. 3, 2023.Announcing the 2022-2023 CISD Teachers of the Year
Over the last few weeks, each CISD campus has announced its 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year. Congratulations to elementary school TOYs:- Austin: Kayleigh Smith
- Canyon Ranch: Mariah Wallace
- Cottonwood Creek: Brooks Burnap
- Denton Creek: Nikki White
- Lakeside: Valerie Hill
- Richard J. Lee: Laura Jennings
- Mockingbird: Deborah Samaras
- Pinkerton: Julia Golden
- Town Center: Marie Sork
- Valley Ranch: Abrielle Stone and
- Wilson: Kathryn Ondelacy.
- CMS East: Shelby Thompson
- CMS North: Julie Bottom
- CMS West: Julie Ann Price
- CHS9: Hilary Schieffer
- Coppell High School: Ian VanderSchee and
- New Tech High @ Coppell: Haley Arroyo.
Congratulations Fall 2022 Great Employees Matter (GEMs)
Travis Ponikiewski
Congratulations to CISD’s Fall 2022 Great Employees Matter or GEMs, who are district employees who go above and beyond in their duties in serving the district. The Fall 2022 GEMs are:- VRE Structured Learning Aides Team: Sandy Meyer, Maryam Hassan, Claudia Aceves, Haley Thomas, Kimberly Perez, Paridhi Sharma and Anita Gupta
- Travis Ponikiewski, Technology
- Trevor Ponikiewski, Technology
- Ashlyn Judd, CHS
- Jodie Deinhammer, CHS and
- Libby May, CMS West.
Girls Basketball Team Ranked No. 5 in the State
Photo by CHS Junior Emma Taylor
The Coppell Cowgirls Varsity Basketball team is undefeated and currently ranked No. 5 in the state. For a schedule of upcoming games, visit www.coppellathletics.net/sport/basketball/girls.
Boys Basketball Team Among Top 20 in State Rankings
Photo by CHS Senior Ethan Ma
The Coppell Cowboys Varsity Basketball team recently made the top 20 in state rankings. For a schedule of upcoming games, visit www.coppellathletics.net/sport/basketball/boys.
Three Football Players Sign for Brown University, Indiana University and the University of Mississippi
On Dec. 15, three Coppell Cowboy Varsity Football player seniors signed to continue their athletic careers at the college and university level. Ikenna Odimegwu signed to play at Brown University, Nicolas Radicic signed to play at Indiana University and Braxton Myers signed to play at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss).
Lee Elementary’s Elvina Jojo Places 2nd in DEGA International art competition
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Congratulations to Richard J. Lee Elementary 5th grader Elvina Jojo, who recently placed 2nd Place in the DEGA International Art Competition in the 9-11 age category. DEGA International Art Association is a nonprofit service organization that provides resources to artists and arts organizations.
Coppell High School Student Council Collects $14,000 Worth of Food for Metrocrest Services
A recent holiday food and monetary collection drive led by the Student Council at Coppell High School collected more than $14,000 worth of food for Metrocrest Services. This collection included a $3,450 donation to Metrocrest Services.
Give for Grants Campaign Awards $90,000+ in Funds for CISD Teachers and Students
The Coppell ISD Education Foundation (CEF) awarded more than $90,000 to 32 CISD teachers on Dec. 7 to benefit CISD schools and students through their annual Give for Grants campaign. Thirty-four grant requests were filled through the fundraising efforts of the CEF and the local community. A special thank you to all who donated. Grants awarded include funds for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) programs, outdoor learning opportunities, increasing the high school band library, books for specific educational programming, technology upgrades and small group instruction programming. Congratulations to the 2022-2023 Grant recipients!
Lariettes to Offer Dance Intensive Workshop for 6th to 11th Grade Students on Jan. 14
The Coppell Lariette Drill Team is offering a Dance Intensive Workshop on Jan. 14 for students in 6th to 11th grade who are interested in joining the Silver Stars or Lariettes. The event will take place on Saturday, Jan. 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at CHS9 and costs $40. For more information or to register, use the QR code above or click here.- Dec. 16 — Early Release Day for Students — Elementary Schools dismiss at 12:30 p.m., Middle Schools at 1 p.m. and High Schools at 1:40 p.m.
- Dec. 19-Jan. 2 — Winter Break
- Jan. 2 — CISD Teachers and Staff Return to Work
- Jan. 3 — Students Return to School
- Jan. 9 — Board Budget Workshop 5:30 p.m.
- Jan. 23 — Board Meeting 6 p.m.
It's that time of the year when we invite residents to help us Make A Child Smile! Go online to makeachildsmilecoppell.com to select a virtual ornament and purchase clothing and gifts for local children in need this holiday season.
makeachildsmilecoppell.com
Wize Computing Academy
CODING & ROBOTICS PROGRAM
Offers Online & AFTER School Classes- Project-based approach to teaching designing, robotics and coding to learners Ages 4-16 years old.
- Small-group, award-winning instructors.
- Prepare for coding & robotics competitions like the First LEGO League. Register for a Free trial class
Questions? info@wizeacademy.com
469-471-8180It's never been a better time to think about what Dallas College can do for you. Get started.
www.dallascollege.edu - #CatchUpWithHunt:
-
December 9, 2022
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Dear CISD Families,
Holiday celebrations have been in full swing in CISD this week. In addition to school concerts, special events and celebrations, we announced the winners and runners-up in our annual CISD Holiday Card Design Contest.
The talent of our elementary students continues to amaze and delight me, and it was such a joy to surprise Valley Ranch Elementary 5th grader Ira Killi with the news that she won the contest. Her artwork depicts two birds in front of birdhouses decorated for the holidays in a winter scene. The artwork of our runners-up from Canyon Ranch Elementary, Richard J. Lee Elementary and Austin Elementary are also featured in the card, and you can see these designs in the story below. We have such incredible young artists in CISD and hard-working art teachers, I appreciate them and their efforts to showcase the visual arts.
Yesterday also marked the return, after a two-year hiatus, of the CISD Holiday Open House for all of our teachers and staff. Our administration team works together to offer food and fellowship for all of our educators and support staff to celebrate the holidays and show them how much we appreciate the work they do all year long. I want to thank our generous parents and families, and community and business partners who help sponsor this wonderful event for our amazing employees. Thank you also to our Child Nutrition team and our amazing Chef Helen Duran for preparing delicious food. Thank you also to our Human Resources and Communications staff for all of their work behind the scenes to make this event such a huge success for our hardworking CISD employees.
Speaking of thanks, I want to say a special thank you to the parents, students, staff, and community and business volunteers who are serving on our 2023 Bond Committee. They are committing their time and expertise to review materials, financial analysis, community feedback and more to make recommendations to the Board of Trustees for a possible May 2023 Bond election. As a reminder, all of these materials are also available on the CISD website at www.coppellisd.com/bond.
There’s only a week left before the Winter Break, and I hope you enjoy it!Sincerely,
Dr. Brad Hunt
Superintendent
In this Issue:
- #CatchUpWithHunt:
Canyon Ranch and Mockingbird Elementaries - Complete CISD Family/School Relationships Survey by Dec. 16
- Reminder: Early Dismissal Day on Dec. 16
- Congratulations to CISD Holiday Card Design Winner and Runners-Up
- High School Theatre Students Succeed at Texas Thespian Festival and Qualify for National Competition
- KCBY-TV and The Sidekick Receive National Recognition
- Lariette Drill Team to Offer Dance Intensive Workshop for 6th to 11th Grade Students on Jan. 14
- Upcoming Events
#CatchUpWithHunt: Canyon Ranch and Mockingbird Elementaries
Tune into YouTube each week to #CatchupWithHunt as Superintendent Dr. Brad Hunt shares stories from our district. This week, you can catch Dr. Hunt reading to students at Canyon Ranch Elementary and Mockingbird Elementary.Complete CISD Family/Schools Relationships Survey by Dec. 16
Each semester, CISD surveys our families on their relationships with their child’s school. The Fall 2022 CISD Family/Schools Relationship Survey is open until Friday, Dec. 16. Visit go.coppellisd.com/Fall2022FamilySurvey to take the survey and select your child(ren)’s school. If you have multiple children in CISD, we ask that you take the survey for each school your child attends. Email input@coppellisd.com, if you would like to share any additional feedback or insight not covered in the survey or have any additional comments to share with the district.
Reminder: Early Dismissal Day on Dec. 16
Friday, Dec. 16, is a CISD early dismissal day. Elementary Schools will dismiss at 12:30 p.m., Middle Schools will dismiss at 1 p.m. and High Schools will dismiss at 1:40 p.m. on these days. Dec. 12-15 will be regular school days before the winter break from Dec. 16 to Jan. 2. Students return to school on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023.Congratulations to CISD Holiday Card Design Winner and Runners-Up
On Dec. 5, Superintendent Dr. Brad Hunt, along with Valley Ranch Elementary Principal Cynthia Arterbery and Art Teacher Jodi Benway, surprised 5th grade student Ira Killi with the news her art was chosen to be on the cover of the Coppell ISD Holiday Greeting Card. The three runners-up artwork is also featured on the back of the card. The 2022 Holiday Card Design Contest winners are:- Winner: Valley Ranch Elementary 5th grader Ira Killi, Art Teacher Jodi Benway
- 1st Runner Up: Canyon Ranch Elementary 3rd Grader Aaniya SenPaul, Art Teachers Nichole McMurry and Holly Feemster
- 2nd Runner Up: Richard J. Lee Elementary 5th grader Akshara Anand, Art Teachers Jessica Floyd and Audrey Allen
- 3rd Runner Up: Austin Elementary 5th Grader Pranav Pathivada, Art Teacher Lisa Ricciardelli
Winner: Valley Ranch Elementary 5th grader Ira Killi, Art Teacher Jodi BenwayHigh School Theatre Students Succeed at Texas Thespian Festival and Qualify for National Competition
CISD high school theatre students recently competed at the Texas Thespian Festival, and 15 of these students are national qualifiers. These students will move on to compete at the International Thespian Festival, which will be held in Indiana in June of 2023. Congratulations to Issac Mercado, who qualified in the Short Film category; Anish Kalra, who qualified in the Monologue category; Phoenix Clasby, who qualified in the Monologue category; Elise Howe, who qualified in the Monologue category; Graham Gorman, Tyler Schweitzer and Jude Taylor, who qualified in the Group Acting category; Olivia Willey, who qualified in the Solo Musical category; Jessica Bunting, who qualified in the Solo Musical category; Lauren Beach and Trinity Tackett, who qualified in the Duet Musical category; Mira Daniel and Sid Gunasekaran, who qualified in the Duet Musical category; Mehak Lohiya, who qualified in the Costume Construction category; and Sarah Myers, who qualified in the Stage Management category.
KCBY-TV and The Sidekick Receive National Recognition.
Coppell Student Media outlets KCBY-TV and The Sidekick newspaper recently received numerous national honors from the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) during the Journalism Education Association and NSPA National High School Journalism Convention held in St. Louis in November. KCBY-TV was recognized as one of only 21 national NSPA Broadcast Pacemaker finalists. The Pacemaker, awarded by the NSPA since 1927, is considered the highest honor in scholastic journalism. KCBY-TV also placed second in Broadcast Best of Show in St. Louis, one of only two Texas schools to receive Broadcast Best of Show and the highest-ranked school from Texas to place.
Coppell Student Media was awarded the top honor in Website Best of Show (enrollment greater than 1,800) by taking first place in St. Louis. After placing as high as second place on multiple occasions in Best of Show, this marks the first time the website has won first place in the competition since its launch in 2008.
The Sidekick claimed ninth place in Newspaper Best of Show (enrollment greater than 1,800) in St. Louis and was the only newspaper from Texas to place in the top 10.
Several student journalists from both KCBY-TV and The Sidekick staff received NSPA Individual Awards and Best of Show Individual honors. These are national honors where students compete with journalists across the country, in addition to a handful of schools overseas.- First Place: NSPA 2022 Design of the Year (Newspaper Page/Spread) — Srihari Yechangunja
- First Place: NSPA 2022 Cartoon of the Year (Comic Strip/Panel)— Srihari Yechangunja
- Third Place: NSPA Multimedia Journalist of the Year — Angelina Liu
- Honorable Mention: NSPA Marketer of the Year — Manasa Mohan
- Honorable Mention: NSPA Photo of the Year (Environmental Portrait) — Nandini Muresh
- Honorable Mention: NSPA Digital Story of the Year (Multimedia Feature Story) — Angelina Liu
- Honorable Mention: NSPA Digital Story of the Year (Multimedia Sports Story) — Iniya Nathan and Sruthi Lingam
- First Place: Best of Show Broadcast Feature Story — Sidd Sivakumar, Stephen Bunker Harris, Swarra Mudgulkar and Tarun Chintha
- Second Place: Best of Show Broadcast News Story — Sofia German, Natalie Garcia and Fatima Syed
- Seventh Place: Best of Show Broadcast Feature Story — Bunker Harris, Tarun Chintha and Angela Chon
- Ninth Place: Best of Show Broadcast Feature Story — Issac Mercado, Sophie Daiker and Sadie Klement
- Tenth Place: Best of Show Broadcast Feature Story — Sidd Sivakumar, Harrison Snodgrass and Angela Chon
- Eighth Place: Best of Show Newspaper/Newsmagazine Design — Srihari Yechangunja
Lariettes to Offer Dance Intensive Workshop for 6th to 11th Grade Students on Jan. 14
The Coppell Lariette Drill Team is offering a Dance Intensive Workshop on Jan. 14 for students in 6th to 11th grade who are interested in joining the Silver Stars or Lariettes. The event will take place on Saturday, Jan. 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at CHS9 and costs $40. For more information or to register, use the QR code above or click here.- Dec. 9 — Early Release Day for Students — Elementary Schools dismiss at 12:30 p.m., Middle Schools at 1 p.m. and High Schools at 1:40 p.m.
- Dec. 12 — Regular Board Meeting 6 p.m.
- Dec. 16 — Early Release Day for Students — Elementary Schools dismiss at 12:30 p.m., Middle Schools at 1 p.m. and High Schools at 1:40 p.m.
- Dec. 19-Jan. 2 — Winter Break
- Jan. 2 — CISD Teachers and Staff Return to Work
- Jan. 3 — Students Return to School
- Jan. 9 — Board Budget Workshop 5:30 p.m.
- Jan. 23 — Board Meeting 6 p.m.
It's that time of the year when we invite residents to help us Make A Child Smile! Go online to makeachildsmilecoppell.com to select a virtual ornament and purchase clothing and gifts for local children in need this holiday season.
makeachildsmilecoppell.com
Wize Computing Academy
CODING & ROBOTICS PROGRAM
Offers Online & AFTER School Classes- Project-based approach to teaching designing, robotics and coding to learners Ages 4-16 years old.
- Small-group, award-winning instructors.
- Prepare for coding & robotics competitions like the First LEGO League. Register for a Free trial class
Questions? info@wizeacademy.com
469-471-8180It's never been a better time to think about what Dallas College can do for you. Get started.
www.dallascollege.edu - #CatchUpWithHunt:
-
December 2, 2022
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Dear CISD Families,
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving break and enjoyed the extra time with your families and friends. These few weeks between Thanksgiving and our Winter Break are fast and furious, filled with many activities including holiday concerts, celebrations and special events to attend. While this is a busy time of year, it is also a festive and fun one, which I hope you will take the time to enjoy.
As we look ahead to the new year, CISD administrative staff and our Board of Trustees have begun the process of planning for the 2023-2024 Budget. We held our first Budget Board Workshop this week, with many more to come. We are at the very beginning of our budgeting process and are starting to have high-level discussions and idea sharing, as we look to address our budget deficit and slowing enrollment growth, especially at the elementary level.
I want to assure our community that we remain committed to being transparent and providing opportunities for feedback, as we plan for the district’s budget and future. I am confident in our Board of Trustees, our staff, our parents and our community’s willingness to work together to make decisions that are in the best interests of all of our students and staff, while being good stewards of our taxpayers' money. As a reminder, all Board Workshop and Board Meeting videos and presentations are available on our website at www.coppellisd.com/board.
Thank you, as always, for your support and partnership.Sincerely,
Dr. Brad Hunt
Superintendent
In this Issue:
- #CatchUpWithHunt:
Richard J. Lee Elementary - Nov. 29 Board Workshop Board Briefs Available
- CEF Super Star Nominations Due Dec. 2
- Coppell Gifted Association Writing Contest Entries Due Dec. 2
- Reminder: Early Dismissal Days on Dec. 9 and Dec. 16
- Fighting the Flu in CISD
- Mockingbird Elementary's Rakesgiving Featured on Fox 4
- Education and Training Students Qualify for State Competition
- Congratulations to Coppell Chamber’s Student and Teacher of the Month
- High School Choir Madrigals Present "Cinder Ella-Phant" Event Dec. 9 and 10
- Limited Inventory of Blackout T-Shirts Still Available
- Upcoming Events
#CatchUpWithHunt: Richard J. Lee Elementary
Tune into YouTube each week to #CatchupWithHunt as Superintendent Dr. Brad Hunt shares stories from our district. This week, you can catch Dr. Hunt talking about holiday traditions with students at Richard J. Lee Elementary.Nov. 29 Budget Board Workshop Board Briefs Available
The Board Briefs summary of the Nov. 19 Budget Board Workshop, as well as access to the presentation shared, are available at www.coppellisd.com/boardbriefs. In addition, video of this workshop, as well as videos of past meetings, is available at go.coppellisd.com/BoardMeetingVideo.
CEF Super Star Nominations Due Dec. 2 at 5 p.m.
Please help the Coppell ISD Education Foundation spotlight the dedicated and hardworking CISD students, teachers, administrators, and support staff in our elementary and middle schools by nominating them for a Super Star award. 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 and to nominate someone. Nominations are due on Dec. 2 by 5 p.m.
Coppell Gifted Association Writing Contest Entries Due Dec. 2
The Coppell Gifted Association is having its 15th Annual Creative Writing Competition, which is open to all CISD 4th to 12th graders. Those students not in the district also can participate, but must join the CGA. The deadline to enter is midnight, Friday, Dec. 2. Visit coppellgifted.org/competitions for details.Reminder: Early Dismissal Days on Dec. 9 and Dec. 16
As a reminder, Friday, Dec. 9, and Friday, Dec. 16, are early dismissal days. Elementary Schools will dismiss at 12:30 p.m., Middle Schools will dismiss at 1 p.m. and High Schools will dismiss at 1:40 p.m. on these days.
Fighting the Flu and Other Illnesses in CISD
It isn’t unusual for CISD to see an increase in student and staff absences during flu season at this time of year. The actions of students and staff also can help prevent or slow the incidence of flu. The most important of these is to stay at home and keep children at home while sick and until they are free of a fever for 24 hours without the aid of medication, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. According to the CDC, the first line of defense is getting the flu shot. Other preventative measures include covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands and keeping sick people away from others. Click here for more information on the district’s health attendance guidelines.
Mockingbird Elementary’s Rakesgiving Featured on Fox 4
On Friday, Nov. 18, Fox 4 News ran a story on its 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. broadcasts on the 10th Annual Mockingbird Rakesgiving, organized by Jennifer Braafladt, who teaches 4th grade. The story can be viewed at go.coppellisd.com/22RakesgivingFox4. In partnership with the Coppell-based Valentine Premier Construction, the bags of leaves collected were donated to the Coppell Community Garden.
Education and Training Students Qualify for State Competition
Ten high school education and training students recently participated in the Texas Association of Future Educators Area competition and qualified for state. Congratulations to: Sunya Ajani, who qualified in the Lesson Plan and Delivery STEM category; Jackson Cusano, who qualified in the Exploring Education Administration Careers category; Syndey Lang and Bethany Jaquish, who qualified in the Interactive Bulletin Board category; Fiona Dabiri and Rose Moxley, who qualified in the Interactive Bulletin Board Elementary category; Nathalie Petit, who qualified in the Interactive Bulletin Board Elementary and Exploring Support Services Careers categories; Yomna Elkayer, who qualified in the Interactive Bulletin Board Middle School/High School category; Erin Donovan, who qualified in the Interactive Bulletin Board Elementary category; and Medleigh Danchak, who qualified in the Educational Leadership Fundamentals category. Thank you to the students’ teacher advisers Raneta Ansley and Melissa MacMillan.
Congratulations to Coppell Chamber’s Student and Teacher of the Month
Congratulations to CHS9 student Hashini Raja and CHS9 Special Education Teacher Chaz Bowen, who are the Student and Teacher of the Month for the Coppell Chamber of Commerce. Each month, the Coppell Chamber of Commerce recognizes a student and teacher of the month with prizes from local businesses.
High School Choir Madrigals Present "Cinder Ella-Phant" Event on Dec. 9 and 10
Hear ye! Hear ye! Lords and Ladies, the King and Queen of the Coppell High School Madrigal Choir cordially invite you to a feast fit for a king, filled with music and merriment. Honored guests will enter the CHS Commons and travel back in time through medieval decor, colorful costumes, and period music. The Madrigal singers’ production, "Cinder Ella-Phant,” will keep you laughing and promises to keep guests entertained. The evening will close with a short concert featuring holiday songs. Dinner will be a bountiful buffet with your choice of entree (roasted chicken or vegetarian option) with side dishes, salad and a tempting dessert. The choir will graciously offer two performances: Friday, Dec. 9 and Saturday Dec. 10 with seating beginning at 6:30 p.m., and the Feast beginning at 7 p.m. The King has decided to limit each night to 200 guests, so be sure to make your reservations early. Dinner tickets are $25 or $30. Dessert tickets are available for just $10.
Dinner ticket sales will close on Dec. 2 at 10 p.m., so be sure to reserve your seat today. Purchase tickets at www.coppellchoir.com/tickets.
Limited Inventory of Blackout T-Shirts Still Available
The Coppell ISD Education Foundation has a limited number of Blackout T-shirts still available. Long-sleeve, short-sleeve and youth sizes are available. Purchase shirts here.- Dec. 9 — Early Release Day for Students — Elementary Schools dismiss at 12:30 p.m., Middle Schools at 1 p.m. and High Schools at 1:40 p.m.
- Dec. 12 — Regular Board Meeting 6 p.m.
- Dec. 16 — Early Release Day for Students — Elementary Schools dismiss at 12:30 p.m., Middle Schools at 1 p.m. and High Schools at 1:40 p.m.
- Dec. 19-Jan. 2 — Winter Break
It's that time of the year when we invite residents to help us Make A Child Smile! Go online to makeachildsmilecoppell.com to select a virtual ornament and purchase clothing and gifts for local children in need this holiday season.
makeachildsmilecoppell.com
Wize Computing Academy
CODING & ROBOTICS PROGRAM
Offers Online & AFTER School Classes- Project-based approach to teaching designing, robotics and coding to learners Ages 4-16 years old.
- Small-group, award-winning instructors.
- Prepare for coding & robotics competitions like the First LEGO League. Register for a Free trial class
Questions? info@wizeacademy.com
469-471-8180It's never been a better time to think about what Dallas College can do for you. Get started.
www.dallascollege.edu - #CatchUpWithHunt:
-
November 17, 2022
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Dear CISD Families,
As we head into our Thanksgiving Break next week, I want to take a moment to share a few things for which I am most thankful. I am thankful for my family and their unwavering love and support. I am grateful for my CISD family and our entire Coppell ISD community — our students, educators, staff, parents, families and supporters — who are working together every day to serve our children and support one another. I also appreciate our district’s dedication to instilling a mindset of service and giving back to our local community and those in need. This time of year, many of our schools host food drives, coat drives, toy drives and other donation opportunities to benefit our community partners. Thank you for your heart of service and willingness to help a person in need.
I also want to take a moment to say a sincere “Thank You” to those who volunteer their service to our schools and our district. Whether it is through the PTO, booster clubs, district committees, school events or other activities, or members of our local chambers of commerce, business and community organizations, we couldn't do what we do without our amazing parents and volunteers. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
The fall semester is almost at an end. For those of you who are on this "senior parent" journey with me, we have all heard how quickly senior year seems to fly by, and it's true. I am trying to savor every special moment and am grateful for this time with my senior. During this Thanksgiving Break, I hope you and your family can reflect on what you are grateful for, as well as take time to rest, rejuvenate and enjoy time with your families.
Happy Thanksgiving!Sincerely,
Dr. Brad Hunt
Superintendent
In this Issue:
- #CatchUpWithHunt:
Veterans Day at CHS and Wilson Elementary - Thanksgiving Break Nov. 21 to Nov. 25
- Board Workshop Scheduled for Nov. 29
- Fighting the Flu in CISD
- We’re Hiring: Several Job Openings Available in CISD
- Substitute Teacher of the Month: Joseph Green
- Requesting Donations for Door Prizes for CISD Teachers and Staff for Holiday Celebration
- High School Choir Madrigals Present "Cinder Ella-Phant" Event on Dec. 9 and 10
- Coppell Gifted Association Writing Contest Entries Due on Dec. 2
- Looking for Speakers for New Tech Career Development Day on Dec. 9
- CCA 2nd Annual Holiday Hustle on Dec. 10
- Upcoming Events
#CatchUpWithHunt: Senior Night and Signing Day
Thanksgiving Break Nov. 21 to Nov. 25
All CISD schools and buildings will be closed from Nov. 21 to Nov. 25 for the Thanksgiving Break. From our families to yours, Happy Thanksgiving.
Board Workshop Scheduled for Nov. 29
The CISD Board of Trustees will hold a Budget Workshop on Tuesday, Nov. 29 starting at 5:30 p.m. in the board room of the Vonita White Administration Building, located at 200 S. Denton Tap Road. Agendas, videos, minutes from past meetings, Board Briefs and more can be found at www.coppellisd.com/board.
Fighting the Flu in CISD
It isn’t unusual for CISD to see an increase in student and staff absences during flu season at this time of year. The actions of students and staff also can help prevent or slow the incidence of flu. The most important of these is to stay at home and keep children at home while sick and until they are free of a fever for 24 hours without the aid of medication, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. According to the CDC, the first line of defense is getting the flu shot. Other preventative measures include covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands and keeping sick people away from others. Click here for more information on the district’s health attendance guidelines.
We’re Hiring: Several Job Openings Available in CISD
CISD is hiring for several current open positions. To review all openings please visit the website located at go.coppellisd.com/jobs. Open positions include administrative assistants, campus secretaries, aides, teachers, substitutes and more.
Substitute Teacher of the Month: Joseph Green
Joseph Green has been a substitute teacher in CISD for more than 10 years. He recently completed a long-term job at CMS East, and the campus could not say enough kind words about him. Green keeps kids on track so they get their work done and shares insights from life to make the lessons more relevant. Our students' lives have been enriched because of their time with Green. CISD appreciates everything Mr. Green does for our district, as he is always willing to step into various roles wherever needed. Thank you Mr. Green for all you do, and congratulations on being our Substitute Teacher of the Month.
Requesting Donations for Door Prizes for CISD Teachers and Staff for Holiday Celebration
CISD is collecting door prizes for teachers and staff four our annual employee Holiday Open House. Donations can be anything from gift cards to themed baskets to wreaths and more. This year's theme is “A Charlie Brown Holiday Open House,” should you want to tie into that theme, but you certainly do not have to do so. If you are interested in donating door prizes for the event, please contact Sara McCullough at smccullough@coppellisd.com. Donations will be accepted until Friday, Dec. 2, and all donations may be dropped off at the Vonita White Administration Building at 200 S. Denton Tap.
High School Choir Madrigals Present "Cinder Ella-Phant" Event on Dec. 9 and 10
Hear ye! Hear ye! Lords and Ladies, the King and Queen of the Coppell High School Madrigal Choir cordially invite you to a feast fit for a king, filled with music and merriment. Honored guests will enter the CHS Commons and travel back in time through medieval decor, colorful costumes, and period music. The Madrigal singers’ production, "Cinder Ella-Phant,” will keep you laughing and promises to keep guests entertained. The evening will close with a short concert featuring holiday songs. Dinner will be a bountiful buffet with your choice of entree (roasted chicken or vegetarian option) with side dishes, salad and a tempting dessert. The choir will graciously offer two performances: Friday, Dec. 9 and Saturday Dec. 10 with seating beginning at 6:30 p.m., and the Feast beginning at 7 p.m. The King has decided to limit each night to 200 guests, so be sure to make your reservations early. Dinner tickets are $25 or $30. Dessert tickets are available for just $10.
Dinner ticket sales will close on Dec. 2 at 10 p.m., so be sure to reserve your seat today. Purchase tickets at www.coppellchoir.com/tickets.
Coppell Gifted Association Writing Contest Entries Due on Dec. 2
The Coppell Gifted Association is having its 15th Annual Creative Writing Competition, which is open to all CISD 4th to 12th graders. Those students not in the district also can participate, but must join the CGA. The deadline to enter is midnight, Friday, Dec. 2. Visit coppellgifted.org/competitions for details.
Looking for Speakers for New Tech Career Development Day on Dec. 9
New Tech High @ Coppell is holding its annual Career Development Day, named "Leap into Action," on Dec. 9 from 8:50 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. New Tech is looking for speakers to share their career experiences and bring an artifact from their workplace that will help students gain insight into different careers. Each session is approximately 45 minutes, including time for questions and answers. If you are interested in speaking at the event, please sign up for a time slot at go.coppellisd.com/NewTechSignUp.
CCA 2nd Annual Holiday Hustle on Dec. 10
Calling all CISD students and teachers. Please join the Coppell Cheer Association for its 2nd annual Holiday Hustle on Dec. 10. The school with the most students and staff participating will receive $150 donation for their PE department. Register at the link below:
runsignup.com/Race/TX/Coppell/CCAHolidayHustleFunRun.
- Nov. 29 — Board Workshop 5:30 p.m.
- Nov. 21-Nov. 25 — Thanksgiving Break
- Dec. 9 — Early Release Day for Students — Elementary Schools dismiss at 12:30 p.m., Middle Schools at 1 p.m. and High Schools at 1:40 p.m.
- Dec. 12 — Regular Board Meeting 6 p.m.
- Dec. 16 — Early Release Day for Students — Elementary Schools dismiss at 12:30 p.m., Middle Schools at 1 p.m. and High Schools at 1:40 p.m.
- Dec. 19-Jan. 2 — Winter Break
It's that time of the year when we invite residents to help us Make A Child Smile! Go online to makeachildsmilecoppell.com to select a virtual ornament and purchase clothing and gifts for local children in need this holiday season.
makeachildsmilecoppell.com
Wize Computing Academy
CODING & ROBOTICS PROGRAM
Offers Online & AFTER School Classes- Project-based approach to teaching designing, robotics and coding to learners Ages 4-16 years old.
- Small-group, award-winning instructors.
- Prepare for coding & robotics competitions like the First LEGO League. Register for a Free trial class
Questions? info@wizeacademy.com
469-471-8180It's never been a better time to think about what Dallas College can do for you. Get started.
www.dallascollege.edu - #CatchUpWithHunt:
-
November 11, 2022
*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*
Dear CISD Families,
One of my favorite CISD traditions is how each of our campuses honors those who have served our country through various Veterans Day celebrations, events and activities. These included a breakfast at CHS with Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta honoring staff members who are veterans. Many schools are having special celebrations, programs and exhibits, including CMS West, which had a pop-up museum honoring our veterans. On this Veterans Day, I want to express my sincere thanks to all of our staff members, parents, alumni, and community members for their service to our country. In particular, I thank our CISD employees who served in the military for continuing their path of service to the education and care of our kids.
With our Boys Cross Country team placing 3rd at State and our Coppell Band placing 8th at State, we have a lot to be proud of here in CISD. I am very proud of our amazing School Resource Officers and want to share a story that shows their commitment to our students. Officer Tonard “Tee” Warmsley stepped up on Senior Night last week to walk one of our senior football players, Modjet Brown, because his parents could not attend the game. It is stories like this that remind me of what a wonderful school district we have. As I was with my own senior and family at Senior Night last week, I am cherishing every moment during this special time as the parent of a soon to be Coppell High School graduate.
I hope you have a great weekend.
Sincerely,
Dr. Brad Hunt
Superintendent
In this Issue:
- #CatchUpWithHunt:
Senior Night and Signing Day - Bond Feedback Opportunity: Second Survey Due Nov. 17
- Board Approves Jobby Mathew for Place 7 Trustee Vacancy
- CISD Celebrates Veterans Day
- Boys Cross Country Team Places 3rd at State
- CHS Band Places 8th at State
- High School Athletes Participate in National Signing Day
- Honor Choir Brings Together Elementary and Middle Schools for Night of Harmony
- Football Playoff Game Update
- School Resource Officer Tonard “Tee” Warmsley Featured on NBC 5
- CMS North Collects 4,000 Pounds of Food for CCA
- CEF GIVE4GRANTS Deadline Extended to Nov. 11
- Shop at the Holiday House Event at CHS on Nov. 13
- Looking for Speakers for New Tech Career Development Day on Dec. 9
- Upcoming Events
#CatchUpWithHunt: Senior Night and Signing Day
Bond Feedback Opportunity: Second Survey Due Nov. 17
The CISD Bond Committee is conducting a second survey for community feedback from Nov. 11 to Nov. 17. CISD is engaged in a process to plan for the district's long-range facility needs that may result in a 2023 bond election. The 60-member Bond Committee appointed by the Board of Trustees is considering various options to address identified facilities’ needs. No decisions have been made yet. The committee will present to the Board in January or February their recommendations for capital investments to address those needs. This survey identifies draft options developed to address identified facilities’ needs. The survey results will be reviewed by the Bond Steering Committee and will inform their recommendations to the Board.
English Survey
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/G8CTW83
Spanish Survey
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GV8BVKJ?lang=es
Details about the bond planning process can be found at www.coppellisd.com/bond.
Board Approves Jobby Mathew for Place 7 Trustee Vacancy
After reviewing community feedback and 14 applications, the CISD Board of Trustees voted to approve Jobby Mathew to fill the vacant Place 7 Trustee position during its Special Board Meeting on Nov. 7. He will be sworn in as the Place 7 Trustee at a Special Board Meeting on Monday, Nov. 14 at 5:30 p.m., prior to the regular Board Meeting that begins at 6 p.m. He will hold the Place 7 Trustee position until the May 6, 2023 election. The unexpired term for CISD Trustee Place 7 will be on the May 6, 2023, ballot to fill the remaining one-year of the term. Place 7 will then be up for election for its full three-year term during the May 4, 2024 election. Read more at go.coppellisd.com/Place7.
CISD Celebrates Veterans Day
CISD continues its long-standing tradition of saluting our veterans and expressing our gratitude for their service to our country via various ceremonies, events and displays commemorating Veterans Day on Nov. 11. Many CISD elementary schools ask students to invite family members, who have served in the military or who are first responders, to participate in school assembly ceremonies to celebrate their service. CHS hosted an indoor parade and a breakfast for Veterans featuring Congressional Medal Honor Recipient Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta. CMS West installed a pop-up museum honoring veterans. Several elementary schools hosted assemblies and performances honoring veterans in their school and relatives of students who are veterans. CISD also recognized its employees who are veterans..
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Boys Cross Country Team Places 3rd at State
The Coppell Cowboys’ Cross Country team finished 3rd in the State UIL 6A Championship held Nov. 4 in Round Rock. Senior Andrew Mullen finished 7th and wraps up his high school cross country career with three consecutive State Championship appearances, two top 10 State 6A finishes, two top 10 Region 1-6A finishes and three top 10 District 6-6A finishes. Congratulations to the Cowboys Varsity Cross Country Team of seniors Vedant Bhattacharyya, Cameron Churchill-Dowd, Kavin Chengavarayan, Samuel Martinson and Andrew Mullen; and juniors Henry Henze and Samarth Dubey. The team is led by Head Coach Landron Wren and Assistant Coaches Don Kemp, John Robbins and Maddie Younger. “I felt like the athletes had to battle harder than they have had to at any meet this year,” said Coach Wren.“To me, that proves what I already knew about them — they have a rarely seen determination. I am so unbelievably proud and happy that their season ended the way it did.”
CHS Band Places 8th at State UIL Competition
Congratulations to the Coppell Varsity Band, which placed 8th at the 2022 UIL State Marching Band Championships on Nov. 9. The Coppell Band also was an 11th place finalist in the Bands of America San Antonio Super Regional.
High School Athletes Participate in National Signing Day
Congratulations to the 13 CISD high school student-athletes who participated in National Signing Day at the CHS Arena on Nov. 9. Congratulations to TJ Pompey, who signed to play baseball at Texas Tech University; Tanner Sever, who signed to play baseball at the University of Texas at San Antonio; Jules LaMendola, who signed to play basketball at Indiana University; Kirstin Angosta, who signed to play golf at Texas Christian University; Medleigh Danchak, who signed to play softball at Hillsdale College; Emily Fischetti, who signed to play softball at Messiah University; Lindsay Patton, who signed to play tennis at Baylor University; Megan Judd, who signed to run track at Dartmouth University; Sky Schuller, who signed for track and field at Stanford University; Waverly Hassman, who signed to run track at Northeastern University; Lulu Ehinger, who signed for the triathlon at South Dakota University (swimming and track); Ekwe Anwah, who signed for volleyball at East Carolina University; and Allie Stricker, who signed for volleyball at Oklahoma Baptist University.
Honor Choir Brings Together Elementary and Middle Schools for Night of Harmony
In harmony — the CISD Honor Choir hit the right notes, as about 230 singers from 5th and 6th grade from all CISD elementary and middle schools came together for the annual CISD Honor Choir Concert on Nov. 8. Now in its eleventh year, this annual event allows 5th and 6th grade students the opportunity to audition since they are not eligible for UIL competition. The Honor Choir students rehearse with music and choir teachers from all of the elementary and middle schools, as well as engage with the high school choir directors. This year technician Colton Blake was brought in to work with the students to help them learn and refine their techniques. “The Honor Choir experience highlights the arts in CISD and allows the community to celebrate our elementary and middle school choir programs,” said Wilson Elementary Music Teacher Eric Hanson. “The singers are able to learn from other choir instructors and get a taste of the opportunities ahead for them in middle school and beyond.”
Football Playoff Game Update
CISD is excited to host the UIL Bi-District 6A Division 2 Playoff Game between CHS and McKinney High School on Friday, Nov. 11, with kickoff at 7 p.m. at Buddy Echols Field at CHS. Since this is a UIL Football playoff game and not a regular season game, the district cannot provide free passes to enter the game. To purchase a general admission ticket for Friday’s game for $10, please visit www.coppellathletics.net/e-tickets. Go Cowboys!
School Resource Officer Tonard “Tee” Warmsley Featured on NBC 5
CHS School Resource Officer and Coppell Police Officer Tonard "Tee" Warmsley was featured on NBC 5 in the TV station's "Wake Up to #SomethingGood" segment on the morning of Nov. 8. Officer Tee was featured for escorting Senior Football Player Modjet Brown at Senior Night last week because Brown's parents could not attend the game. View the segment at go.coppellisd.com/NBC5OfficerTee.
CMS North Collects 4,000 Pounds of Food for CCA
CMS North collected 4,000 pounds of food for the Christian Community Action’s local food bank during a recent collection drive at the school. This annual tradition is led by CMS North Theatre Teacher Brittany Reese.
CEF GIVE4GRANTS Deadline Nov. 11
The deadline for the Coppell ISD Education Foundation’s Give for Grants campaign has been extended to Friday, Nov. 11. Currently, four grants have been funded, but there are still 34 we need to fill. Visit give4grantscisd.org to see all grants or follow the individual school links below.
https://give.livingtree.com/p/canyon-ranch-elementary
https://give.livingtree.com/p/chs-chs9
https://give.livingtree.com/p/cottonwood-creek-elementary
https://give.livingtree.com/p/denton-creek-elementary
https://give.livingtree.com/p/lakeside-elementary
https://give.livingtree.com/p/mockingbird-elementary
https://give.livingtree.com/p/new-tech-high-coppell
https://give.livingtree.com/p/pinkerton-elementary
https://give.livingtree.com/p/r-j-lee-elementary
https://give.livingtree.com/p/town-centerelementary
https://give.livingtree.com/p/valley-ranch-elementary
https://give.livingtree.com/p/wilson-elementary
Last year all grants were funded, and we are working hard to try to ensure all of this year’s grants are funded. Please help us by spreading the word.
Shop at the Holiday House at CHS on Nov. 13
The Coppell High School PTSO is hosting its annual Holiday House shopping event on Sunday, Nov. 13, from noon to 6 p.m. in the CHS Commons. The event benefits CHS Project Graduation.
Looking for Speakers for New Tech Career Development Day on Dec. 9
New Tech High @ Coppell is holding its annual Career Development Days, named "Leap into Action," on Dec. 9 from 8:50 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. New Tech is looking for speakers to share their career experiences and bring an artifact from their workplace that will help students gain insight into different careers. Each session is approximately 45 minutes, including time for questions and answers. If you are interested in speaking at the event, please sign up for a time slot at go.coppellisd.com/NewTechSignUp.
- Nov. 14 — Special Board Meeting 5:30 p.m.
- Nov. 14 — Regular Board Meeting 6 p.m.
- Nov. 21-Nov. 25 — Thanksgiving Break
- Dec. 9 — Early Release Day for Students — Elementary Schools dismiss at 12:30 p.m., Middle Schools at 1 p.m. and High Schools at 1:40 p.m.
- Dec. 12 — Regular Board Meeting 6 p.m.
- Dec. 16 — Early Release Day for Students — Elementary Schools dismiss at 12:30 p.m., Middle Schools at 1 p.m. and High Schools at 1:40 p.m.
- Dec. 19 - Jan. 2 — Winter Break
It's that time of the year when we invite residents to help us Make A Child Smile! Go online to makeachildsmilecoppell.com to select a virtual ornament and purchase clothing and gifts for local children in need this holiday season.
makeachildsmilecoppell.com
Wize Computing Academy
CODING & ROBOTICS PROGRAM
Offers Online & AFTER School Classes- Project-based approach to teaching designing, robotics and coding to learners Ages 4-16 years old.
- Small-group, award-winning instructors.
- Prepare for coding & robotics competitions like the First LEGO League. Register for a Free trial class
Questions? info@wizeacademy.com
469-471-8180It's never been a better time to think about what Dallas College can do for you. Get started.
www.dallascollege.edu - #CatchUpWithHunt:
-
November 3, 2022
*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*
Dear CISD Families,
This week many of our seniors and their families will have their last “Friday Night Lights” experience, or in this case “Thursday Night Lights” or, for the Coppell Band, "Wednesday Night Lights" at Buddy Echols Field. As the father of a senior who is a Lariette, I hope my comrades in parenting a soon-to-be graduate are taking a moment to recognize how special this occasion is in our and our child’s life. Also special are all of the people and hard work that led up to this achievement.
Our students don’t get to be seniors on their own. Our parents, who are the first teachers, our teachers and staff, mentors, grandparents, friends and our community — we are all part of a student’s journey to young adulthood. It can often be difficult, but it is so rewarding to see our children learn and grow. When I hear stories such as the recent one from a waitress at a Chili’s in Lewisville about how great our CISD Theatre students are, it shows me that our district and community’s focus on educating the whole child and helping our students have a positive impact on the world is working.
As a father, a former teacher and as your superintendent, the pride and joy of my life is having an impact on our kids. I thank all of our students, our teachers, our staff, our parents and our community who work together to take care of our children and help them become the amazing people they are. Thank you as always for your partnership and support of CISD.Sincerely,
Dr. Brad Hunt
SuperintendentIn this Issue:
- #CatchUpWithHunt: Town Center Elementary Red Ribbon Week Parade
- Bond Committee Invites Stakeholders to Community Dialogue on Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. at New Tech
- Varsity Football Game Moved to TONIGHT Due to Weather
- Coppell Cowboy Baseball Team Hosts Tailgate Before Nov. 3 Football Game
- New After-Hours Maintenance Number
- Costume Donations Make Richard J. Lee Halloween Book Character Parade Special
- Coppell Band Wins Area Competition and Heads to State
- CMS West’s Schuyler Beecher Chosen as Teacher of Year by the Council for Learning Disabilities
- Bianca Benitez Receives “Teacher on the Rise” Award
- Spotlight on Redefining Success: Dyslexia Awareness Month at Cottonwood Creek and Mockingbird
- Coppell Choir Presents Respira Dessert Show on Nov. 5 and Nov. 6
- Early Voting for Nov. 8 Election Ends on Nov. 4
- CHS IB Programme Showcase on Nov. 9
- CEF GIVE4GRANTS Deadline Extended to Nov. 11
- Shop at the Holiday House Event at CHS on Nov. 13
- Looking for Speakers for New Tech Career Development Day on Dec. 9
- Upcoming Events
#CatchUpWithHunt: Town Center Elementary Red Ribbon Week Parade
Bond Committee Invites Stakeholders to Community Dialogue on Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. at New Tech High @ Coppell
A Community Dialogue will be held on Nov. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the New Tech High @ Coppell Cafeteria to gather feedback on options being considered for CISD long-range facility and program needs. Join fellow CISD stakeholders to discuss and rate various options for capital investments. This feedback will help shape a potential 2023 Bond election. Please RSVP at go.coppellisd.com/Nov10RSVP so we can plan for enough materials for the audience. Information about the CISD facilities planning process and CISD Bond Steering committee can be found at www.coppellisd.com/bond.
Varsity Football Game Moved to TONIGHT Due to Weather
Due to the high chance of thunderstorms on Friday night, this week's varsity home football game vs. Plano and Senior Night festivities have been moved to Thursday, Nov. 3. Visit www.coppellathletics.net/e-tickets for tickets. This is the last game for the 8-1 Cowboys before they begin the playoffs.
Coppell Cowboy Baseball Team Hosts Tailgate Before Nov. 3 Football Game
The Coppell Cowboys Baseball Tailgate will now be held on Thursday, Nov. 3 from 5 to 6:30 p.m., since the football game is moving to Thursday. The Tailgate will take place in the grassy area close to the main parking lot entrance of CHS.CISD Announces New After-Hours Maintenance Number
If you see something that needs immediate attention after normal business hours, there is a new after-hours contact number for the CISD Maintenance Department. The new number is 214-496-8199. Please leave a message and an on-call attendant will forward your message to the proper person for handling.
Costume Donations Make Richard J. Lee Halloween Book Character Parade Special
The Book Character Parade at Richard J. Lee Elementary featured ninjas, dragons, princesses, Avengers characters and more. Behind the scenes, a few angels in the form of Occupational Therapy students from St. Augustine University designed and created costumes for special needs learners at Lee, so they could be part of the parade. See more photos from the parade at go.coppellisd.com/ParadeLee.
Coppell Band Wins Area Competition and Heads to State
Story by CISD Communications Intern and The Sidekick Writer Shrayes Gunna, a senior at CHS. Photos by CISD Communications Intern and The Sidekick Editor-in-Chief Angelina Liu. The story and photos originally appeared in The Sidekick.
The time is 1:12 p.m., and Coppell Band assistant director Riaz Mohammed leans over to a flutist. With one step on the turf at Pennington Field, they, in tandem, determine the ground is neither wet nor slick enough to prevent the band from performing its best.
And so the show went on.
Within 15 minutes, the band clinched a spot in finals, in which only 12 of 32 bands advanced. In yet another 15-minute run at 8:30 p.m., it had been named the 2022 UIL Class 6A Area B Marching Contest champion. Each movement tells the story of an archetype found within media — literature, art, film. On Friday, the band will take this narrative to the Bands of America San Antonio Super Regional Championship as well as the UIL State Marching Competition in San Antonio. Read more at go.coppellisd.com/22BandArea.
CMS West’s Schuyler Beecher Chosen as Teacher of the Year by the Council for Learning Disabilities
CMS West Special Education Teacher Schuyler Beecher is a recipient of the 2022 Council for Learning Disabilities Teacher of the Year Award. Each year, the Council for Learning Disabilities recognizes outstanding teachers who consistently provide quality instruction to students with learning disabilities. According to the Council, recognized teachers are dedicated to implementing evidence-based instructional practices and collaborating with classroom teachers and other service providers to improve the quality of education for all struggling learners.
Bianca Benitez Receives “Teacher on the Rise” Award from Market Street and Mrs. Baird
Bianca Benitez. center, stands with her nominator Aman Singhal, right center, and representatives from Market Street and Mrs. Baird's Bread.
CHS AP Biology Teacher Bianca Benitez was surprised this morning with the news that she is a “Teacher on the Rise” recipient for November. Benitez was nominated for this recognition by one of her students, CHS senior Aman Singhal. Sponsored by Market Street Supermarkets and Mrs. Baird’s Bread, the Teacher on the Rise recognition program honors three North Texas teachers every month — one in elementary, one in middle school and one high school — for their contributions to education. As the winning teacher, Benitez received a prize package that includes a $100 Market Street gift card and a $100 American Express gift card from Mrs. Baird’s Bread. Singhal also received a $50 American Express gift card for nominating the winning teacher.
Spotlight on Redefining Success: Dyslexia Awareness Month Events at Cottonwood Creek and Mockingbird Elementaries
Two CISD elementary campuses developed creative and engaging activities to commemorate October as Dyslexia Awareness Month. CHS Senior Emily Fischetti spent the day of Oct. 21 with Cottonwood Creek Elementary MLI (Multisensory Letter Introduction) learners. She answered questions about dyslexia and shared about her life after MLI and what learning looks like in high school. MLI learners at Mockingbird Elementary also worked to bring awareness about dyslexia. They created posters that shared facts and some of the struggles they face. These posters were compiled into a video that was shared with the Mockingbird staff and families to help them better understand dyslexia and hear from the students. Mockingbird staff then created a video to show support and encouragement to MLI learners.
Coppell Choir Presents Respira Dessert Show on Nov. 5 and Nov. 6
Respira, Coppell High School's treble show choir, presents their annual Dessert Show on Nov. 5 and Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. in the CHS Auditorium. Dessert will be provided at intermission. Purchase your tickets online at www.coppellchoir.com/tickets or at the door the day of the show.
Early Voting for Nov. 8 Election Ends on Nov. 4Early voting for the Tuesday, Nov. 8 Election lasts until Nov. 4. Learn more, including where to vote, at www.votetexas.gov. Cottonwood Creek Elementary, Lakeside Elementary, Mockingbird Elementary, Wilson Elementary and Valley Ranch Elementary will serve as polling locations on Election Day, Nov. 8. Voting will take place in the schools’ gym from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Each school’s gym has its own entrance and exit, so voters and election officials will be separated from students during the school day. Students will not be in these schools' gyms during election day. There may be a possible increase in traffic around these schools on Nov. 8, CISD is working with local law enforcement to have enhanced police presence at these schools on Nov. 8.
CHS IB Programme Info Session on Nov. 9 at CHS
There will be an Information Session on the International Baccalaureate Programme at Coppell High School for families of 6th to 10th graders interested in IB. The session takes place on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. in the CHS Lecture Hall.
CEF GIVE4GRANTS Deadline Extended to Nov. 11
The deadline for the Coppell ISD Education Foundation’s Give for Grants campaign has been extended to Friday, Nov. 11. Currently, four grants have been funded, but there are still 34 we need to fill. Visit give4grantscisd.org to see all grants or follow the individual school links below.
https://give.livingtree.com/p/canyon-ranch-elementary
https://give.livingtree.com/p/chs-chs9
https://give.livingtree.com/p/cottonwood-creek-elementary
https://give.livingtree.com/p/denton-creek-elementary
https://give.livingtree.com/p/lakeside-elementary
https://give.livingtree.com/p/mockingbird-elementary
https://give.livingtree.com/p/new-tech-high-coppell
https://give.livingtree.com/p/pinkerton-elementary
https://give.livingtree.com/p/r-j-lee-elementary
https://give.livingtree.com/p/town-centerelementary
https://give.livingtree.com/p/valley-ranch-elementary
https://give.livingtree.com/p/wilson-elementary
Last year all grants were funded, and we are working hard to try to ensure all of this year’s grants are funded. Please help us by spreading the word.
Shop at the Holiday House at CHS on Nov. 13
The Coppell High School PTSO is hosting its annual Holiday House shopping event on Sunday, Nov. 13, from noon to 6 p.m. in the CHS Commons. The event benefits CHS Project Graduation.
Looking for Speakers for New Tech Career Development Day on Dec. 9
New Tech High @ Coppell is holding its annual Career Development Days, named "Leap into Action," on Dec. 9 from 8:50 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. New Tech is looking for speakers to share their career experiences and bring an artifact from their workplace that will help students gain insight into different careers. Each session is approximately 45 minutes, including time for questions and answers. If you are interested in speaking at the event, please sign up for a time slot at go.coppellisd.com/NewTechSignUp.
- Nov. 7 — Special Board Meeting 8 a.m.
- Nov. 7 — Joint Meeting with the City of Coppell 6 p.m. Coppell Arts Center
- Nov. 10 — Bond Community Dialogue Session at New Tech High @ Coppell 6 p.m.
- Nov. 14 — Regular Board Meeting 6 p.m.
- Nov. 21-Nov. 25 — Thanksgiving Break
- Dec. 9 — Early Release Day for Students — Elementary Schools dismiss at 12:30 p.m., Middle Schools at 1 p.m. and High Schools at 1:40 p.m.
- Dec. 12 — Regular Board Meeting 6 p.m.
- Dec. 16 — Early Release Day for Students — Elementary Schools dismiss at 12:30 p.m., Middle Schools at 1 p.m. and High Schools at 1:40 p.m.
- Dec. 19 - Jan. 2 — Winter Break
It's that time of the year when we invite residents to help us Make A Child Smile! Go online to makeachildsmilecoppell.com to select a virtual ornament and purchase clothing and gifts for local children in need this holiday season.
makeachildsmilecoppell.com
Wize Computing Academy
CODING & ROBOTICS PROGRAM
Offers Online & AFTER School Classes- Project-based approach to teaching designing, robotics and coding to learners Ages 4-16 years old.
- Small-group, award-winning instructors.
- Prepare for coding & robotics competitions like the First LEGO League. Register for a Free trial class
Questions? info@wizeacademy.com
469-471-8180It's never been a better time to think about what Dallas College can do for you. Get started.
www.dallascollege.edu -
October 27, 2022
*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*
Dear CISD Families,
I want to begin by thanking everyone who attended our Community Tailgate last Friday. This annual tradition is a wonderful opportunity for us to engage with each other as a community. It was also amazing to see our first responder and veteran heroes recognized before the football game.
Our student athletes continue to achieve at the highest levels, with our Boys Cross Country team advancing to state, our Volleyball team beginning their playoff run and our Football team continuing to win and clinching a playoff berth. Our winter sports will begin soon, and I encourage our community to continue to support our Cowboys and Cowgirls.
The Fine Arts performance season is also underway, with upcoming Cowboy Theatre and Coppell Choir shows. I hope you will join me in supporting our students as they perform, as the talent of our students is truly amazing.
This week, many of our families and campuses celebrated Diwali. I love seeing and being a part of these celebrations, which brings our diverse community together. CISD also celebrated Red Ribbon Week with parades and dress-up days at our schools and a Parent University event on the signs of substance abuse. Red Ribbon Week is a national movement designed to serve as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities to encourage a lifetime of being drug free.
As we continue to focus on educating the whole child here in CISD, I want to thank our parents, who are essential partners in student success. Thank you for all you do for your kids, our schools and our district community. I appreciate you all.
Have a great week!Sincerely,
Dr. Brad Hunt
SuperintendentIn this Issue:
- #CatchUpWithHunt: CHS Pep Rally and Community Tailgate
- School Board Considering Next Steps for Open Place 7 Position Including Accepting Applications Until Nov. 1
- CISD Campuses Celebrate Diwali
- Pinkerton Elementary Living Museum Brings History to Life
- Tailgate Brings CISD Community Together
- Thank You CISD Community Tailgate Sponsors
- Looking for Speakers for New Tech Career Development Day on Dec. 9
- Boys Cross Country Advances to State
- Volleyball Begins Playoff Run with Bi-District Match
- Cowboy Theatre Company Performs Eurydice Oct. 28 to Oct. 30
- Coppell Choir Presents Respira Dessert Show Nov. 5 and Nov. 6
- Coppell Cowboy Baseball Team Hosts Tailgate Before Nov. 4 Football Game
- Early Voting for Nov. 8 Continues Until Nov. 4
- CEF Blackout Night T-Shirts for Nov. 4 Football Game Available for Purchase
- CEF Super Star Program Currently Accepting Nominations
- CEF Give for Grants Campaign Ends Oct. 31
- Project Graduation Curb Painting
- Upcoming Events
#CatchUpWithHunt: CHS Pep Rally and Community Tailgate
School Board Considering Next Steps for Open Place 7 Position Including Accepting Applications Until Nov. 1
The CISD Board of Trustees are considering the next steps for the open Place 7 Trustee position, including accepting applications for the vacant position for a possible replacement through Nov. 1. According to Texas law, CISD Trustees may either (1) call a special election to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term, (2) appoint a replacement for the Place 7 Trustee position through the May 6, 2023 election or (3) allow the position to remain vacant until the May 6, 2023, election. The Board is considering all of these options. In any event, the unexpired term for CISD Trustee Place 7 will be on the May 6, 2023, ballot to fill the remainder of the term. Place 7 will then be up for election for its full three-year term during the May 4, 2024 election.
An application for those interested in filling the Place 7 Trustee position is available on the CISD Board of Trustees website at www.coppellisd.com/board until Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. Anyone interested in applying for a potential appointment to the open seat must meet the requirements listed below and in District Policy BBA (LEGAL), and will be required to resign from any conflicting commitments, including, but not limited to, other district committees and nonprofits, PTOs, or booster clubs.
The Board also gathered community feedback about the process and qualities of a trustee through the district’s input@coppellisd.com email address from Oct. 20-23.
The School Board will hold a Special Meeting on Nov. 7 at 8 a.m. regarding the Place 7 vacancy.
The CISD Board of Trustees plans to review applications prior to the Nov. 14 Regular Board Meeting. Trustees will discuss their next steps and possible action regarding the vacant Place 7 Trustee position at the Nov. 14 Board Meeting. Read more at go.coppellisd.com/Place7Vacancy.
CISD Campuses Celebrate Diwali
Several CISD campuses celebrated Diwali this week by dressing up, campus displays and sharing the cultural customs and practices about this holiday. See how they celebrated at go.coppellisd.com/Diwali22.Pinkerton Elementary Living Museum Brings History to Life
Second graders at Pinkerton Elementary brought history to life last Friday with a Living Museum. Students dressed up as famous historical figures and shared their leadership and contributions to history as if they were that person. See more at go.coppellisd.com/PinkertonLivingHistory.
CISD Tailgate Brings Community Together
Story by CISD Communications Intern and The Sidekick staff writer Araceli Reynoso, a senior at CHS. This story originally appeared in The Sidekick. Photos by sophomore Sahasra Chakilam, staff photographer for The Sidekick.
As the smell of barbecue fills the air and children run about to play games and eat, the community of Coppell comes together to celebrate the Coppell Football Team with a tailgate. While the Coppell ISD Annual Community Tailgate itself is something that Coppell has been doing for many years, it has always been something special. It started off as something that was small and has grown into a large community event.
“We’ve had this for several years, but it’s really blown up into something pretty cool and special,” CISD Superintendent Dr. Brad Hunt said. “To have so many people come back and so many alumni, it’s just great.”
The Tailgate celebrates more than just the game of football. It allows for the recognition of former students and sponsors, and for elementary schools, to come out and show their spirit. Read more at go.coppellisd.com/22Tailgate.
Thank You CISD Community Tailgate Sponsors
CISD would like to thank the sponsors of the Community Tailgate — Hand and Stone Massage Coppell, AAA, Championship Martial Arts Coppell, Freeform Chiropractic, ERP, Stretch Zone Coppell, Bailey Orthodontics, Coppell ER, Mobility Credit Union, the YMCA, C2 Education, the Coppell ISD Education Foundation, Takis Chips, Living That Kind Life and the CISD Alumni Association.
Looking for Speakers for New Tech Career Development Day on Dec. 9
New Tech High @ Coppell is holding its annual Career Development Day, named "Leap into Action," on Dec. 9 from 8:50 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. New Tech is looking for speakers to share their career experiences and bring an artifact from their workplace that will help students gain insight into different careers. Each session is approximately 45 minutes, including time for questions and answers. If you are interested in speaking at the event, please sign up for a time slot at go.coppellisd.com/NewTechSignUp.
Boys Cross Country Advances to State
Congratulations to the Varsity Boys Cross Country, who finished 2nd in the 6A Region 1 Cross Country Championship in Lubbock on Oct. 24. The team has qualified for the State Cross Country Championship in Round Rock on Nov. 4. Congratulations to Varsity Boys Cross Country team members Vedant Bhattacharyya, Kavin Chengavarayan, Cameron Churchill-Dowd, Samarth Dubey, Henry Henze, Samuel Martinson and Andrew Mullen, who placed 8th individually at the Region meet. The team is led by head coach Landon Wren and assistant coaches Don Kemp, John Robbins and Maddie Younger.
Volleyball Begins Playoff Run with Bi-District Match on Nov. 1
The Cowgirls Volleyball team finished the season tied for 2nd in district and ranked no. 5 in district 6A. The team begins its bi-district playoff run on Nov. 1 vs. Denton Guyer High School. The game will take place at Lake Dallas High School at 6:30 p.m.
Cowboy Theatre Company Performs Eurydice Oct. 28 to Oct. 30
Coppell High School’s Cowboy Theatre Company presents Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl. The play runs from Oct. 28 to Oct. 30, and tickets can be purchased through the online box-office here: https://chstb.booktix.com.
Coppell Choir Presents Respira Dessert Show on Nov. 5 and Nov. 6
Respira, Coppell High School's treble show choir, presents their annual Dessert Show on Nov. 5 and Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. in the CHS Auditorium. Desserts will be provided at intermission. Purchase your tickets online at www.coppellchoir.com/tickets or at the door the day of the show.
Coppell Cowboy Baseball Team Hosts Tailgate Before Nov. 4 Football Game
Join the Coppell Cowboy Baseball Team for their tailgate prior to the Nov. 4 final home football game vs. Plano. The event will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the CHS Main Entrance parking lot.
Early Voting for Nov. 8 Continues Until Nov. 4Early voting for the Tuesday, Nov. 8 Election lasts until Nov. 4. Learn more, including where to vote, at www.votetexas.gov.
CEF Blackout Night T-Shirts for Nov. 4 Football Game Available for Purchase
Don't miss the opportunity to purchase the Coppell ISD Education Foundation’s Blackout Night Spirit shirt. This monochromatic t-shirt boasts the Coppell Cowboy's logo in a black look-of-leather ink, perfect for Blackout Night on Nov. 4. The shirt is available for the entire community and can be purchased in both short and long-sleeve adult sizes, as well as youth short sleeve.
**LONG-SLEEVE SHIRT IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN ADULT SIZES**
If you would like to view the shirt in person, stop by the CEF Booth at this Friday’s Community Tailgate. All money raised by purchasing a Blackout Night shirt will be earmarked for 2022-2023 school year and given back to the schools and students of CISD through teacher grants. Purchase the shirt at:
https://coppellisdeducationfoundation.revtrak.net/football-night/
CEF Super Star Program Currently Accepting Nominations
Please help the Coppell ISD Education Foundation spotlight the dedicated and hardworking CISD students, teachers, administrators, and support staff in our elementary and middle schools by nominating them for a Super Star award. Any parent, middle school student or CISD employee can nominate a CISD employee at their elementary or middle school. 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 and to submit some awesome candidates. The nomination deadline is Dec. 2.
CEF Give for Grants Campaign Ends Oct. 31
The Coppell Education Foundation Give for Grants campaign is designed to encourage, facilitate, recognize and reward effective, innovative, and creative, instructional approaches that directly impact CISD students while transforming classroom learning. There are 38 grant requests from 14 CISD campuses this school year. For the past two years, generous donations helped CEF fund every grant. To donate, visit www.give4grantscisd.org.
Curb Painting Benefits Project Graduation
Project Graduation is offering curb painting to support its efforts. Orders will be taken Oct. 17 to Nov. 18, and curbs will be painted within 30 days, weather permitting. For more information or to place an order, visit www.chsprojectgraduation.com/curb-painting.Looking for a new gig? The annual Work in Coppell Virtual Job Fair is coming up Tuesday, Oct. 25. Chat with local and national businesses in a variety of sectors.
Visit coppell.easyvirtualfair.com to register and fill out your profile before Oct. 24 to participate.