Land of the Free and Home of the BRAVE!

Recently I saw the movie “American Sniper” as well as learning that Governor Abbott declared February 2nd as “Chris Kyle Day” in Texas.  For those of you that have seen the movie, I think you will agree that it leaves you with a mix of emotions. Personally, it reminded me of the loyal sense of duty our soldiers feel to defend our freedom that we should never take for granted.  Secondly, it spotlighted the sacrifices that our military families make while their loved ones are in foreign lands, often cut-off from lines of communication while staring evil in the eye.

We should never forget the Braves and Lady Braves that join the military and defend our country.  I always notice how they have changed when they come back to visit.  It is very obvious they appreciate the people that have played a vital role in their lives.  They have experienced life outside of Community ISD and probably gained an appreciation for the little things in life that most of us are susceptible to take for granted.

I ran across these pictures the other day that probably caught my attention a little faster after seeing the movie, but honestly I thought they were pretty neat before that!  Two CHS graduates that are proudly defending our country pose with an even happier retired CHS teacher beaming proudly that developed them both through a student organization, FCCLA.  We have several other CHS graduates currently serving that are not pictured, but they all should know how proud we are of all of them!

A few weeks ago, I was at an event where a Boy Scouts troop posted the colors.  It was a county-wide event where I knew the CISD students and the group was sitting down below me.  Unfortunately, I saw other teenagers not remove their caps and carry on conversations during this ceremony.  There was no thought of paying respect to our flag or giving the Scouts the attention they deserved.  However, I am proud to say as I do often, that our students modeled the type of behavior that I constantly receive compliments on from others.  I am glad to see that there is no “disconnect” between patriotism and respect in CISD from the general curriculum.  I believe we reinforce that unapologetically as we should.

Just as CISD is proud of any graduate that pursues a post-secondary opportunity, we are especially proud of the honorable men and women that enter the military and sacrifice so much for the freedom and liberty we enjoy everyday.  When you think of our former students that are currently serving or have served, it gives an all-new meaning to… Home of the BRAVE!

Cole McClendon, Ed.D.

Superintendent

“A Work of Heart”

January is School Board Appreciation Month in Texas.  Last night, our campuses from across the district paused to recognize the service of these individuals.  Students had produced videos, made hand-crafted thank-you cards, and even showed up in person to shake the hands of board members that volunteer their time and service to Community ISD.  A special “Thank You” also goes out to their family members that sacrifice some personal time in order for them to fulfill their requirements as current board members.  Many people are unaware of the continuing education credits necessary in order for board members to fulfill the requirements set forth by the state.  However, I believe that each member would tell you the positives outweigh the negatives  in terms of setting the course for a better future for CISD students and staff.

Please join me in recognizing these individuals for their service as CISD Board of Trustees:

Mike Shepard, President

Randy McCuistion, Vice-President

Tammy Walker- Secretary

Polly Stelzel- Member

Mike Cook- Member

Jeff Pendill- Member

Troy Bontrager- Member

As servant leaders, their leadership and work can certainly be described as “A Work of Heart.”

Cole McClendon, Ed.D.

Superintendent

G-O-O-O-O-A-L!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Braves Soccer!  Lady Braves Soccer!  Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?  Well, that is about to become reality.  A common question for many years posed by students, both new and old, has been “When will we get soccer in Community?”  Wait no longer! We hope to see everyone at the very first Braves/Lady Braves soccer games as well as supporting them throughout non-district and district play.

New CHS Soccer Coaches Peter Noonan (CHS Boys) and Lonnie Pollard (CHS Girls) are excited about the inaugural season.  “I believe this season will be an exciting one given the efforts the student-athletes have put in so far.  Starting soccer in CISD helps aid in the construction of excellence, giving more students an opportunity to display their talent and passion.”  states CHS Boys Coach Peter Noonan.  According to CHS Girls Coach Lonnie Pollard, “I am very excited to be starting the inaugural girls soccer program here at Community High School.  I am blessed and looking forward to helping each of these kids discover their untapped potential both on and off the field.  These kids are a fantastic group of young ladies and I hope this season brings them a challenging but fun and positive experience.”

Schedules for both boys and girls soccer can be accessed through the CISD website (www.communityisd.org) by clicking on the Departments link>Athletics>Sports Schedules>Community High School>Mens/Womens Soccer.  Most girls/boys game are back-to-back at same location.

We invite everyone out over the holiday break to watch our first UIL competitive soccer games ever in CISD.  Save the date of January 2, 2015 as our Braves and Lady Braves face Spring Hill at home.  Game time is 10:00 a.m. for girls and 11:30 a.m. for boys. Let’s help our teams start their soccer legacies with a big, home crowd!

Go Braves and Lady Braves Soccer!

Cole McClendon, Ed.D.

Superintendent

 

 

“Once a BRAVE, Always a BRAVE!”

Tradition is defined as “the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction.”  In my opinion, traditions are so important to build a culture where each person belongs and understands what that means- “to belong.”  I want to thank the Community Education Foundation for starting a new tradition today that will continue in years to come.  What began as an idea to “connect” incoming CISD students with outgoing CISD students was a true blessing to see in action today.  It would rank up there really high as one of the highlights I have had the opportunity to witness that I think truly encompasses the core values that are important in CISD.

One thing that I know from being an Aggie is that experiences span across time and generations.  When we hire graduates from Texas A&M, I know firsthand the journey they’ve traveled (although, I’m a little bit older, cough, cough.)  Traditions provide that common bond in many tradition-rich institutions.  That experience doesn’t have to wait until college though.  We have traditions in CISD that are so commonplace people don’t even stop long enough to realize it.  Visit Edge MS during the week before Thanksgiving and you will see our Senior Citizen Club eat Thanksgiving Lunch and be served by our Student Council members.  Does that happen everywhere?  The answer is “no.”  Traditions are alive and well in CISD and we are trying to start new ones that have the ability to survive the test of time.

Project “Once a Brave, Always a Brave” was a huge success this week.  On Monday, Seniors received their Class of 2015 t-shirts provided at no-cost by the Community Education Foundation.  They were reminded of the importance of being leaders and positive role models in the community.  Today, 7 outstanding students leaders from CHS visited Kindergarten classrooms at NeSmith Elementary and passed out the same t-shirt, except they are Class of 2027!

This was not a simple t-shirt exchange. From now on, this is an important component of our CISD Character Education Program.  Each Senior explained what it means to be a “Brave” or “Lady Brave.”  Ask your Kindergarten student about the letters of B-R-A-V-E:

B-e proud to be a Brave and Lady Brave!

R-espect yourself and others!

A-ttitude, Have a positive one and make a difference!

V-alue your education!

E-ffort, Give 100% everyday!

What a rewarding experience!  I can tell you that from driving the suburban back to CHS, our Seniors gained as much from this leadership experience as our K classes.  Thanks to these Seniors for being ambassadors in our program:  Nick Brophy, Adrian Escandon, Leticia Gonzales, Lauren Bruffett, Jonathan Strebeck, Vanessa Cortez, and Baylee Rinks.

No matter the age or grade, just remember “Once a BRAVE, Always a BRAVE!”

Cole McClendon, Ed.D.

Superintendent

“PLAY FOR CLAY”

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!  The COMMUNITY once again did not disappoint in our efforts to help one of our own.  We appreciate all the support for the “Play for Clay” campaign as Mr. Clay Barkley so “BRAVE“ly fights cancer and shows us what courage and strength truly looks like.  I am proud to say that the “Voice of the Braves” returned to action last night as he announced the JV football game vs. Caddo Mills.  The Braves claimed victory which was very fitting upon his return!  Thank you to everyone that purchased a “Play for Clay” t-shirt and stepped up to show support.

This is just another example of how our “Community” rallies around our community members.  It happens all the time and always has.  There are numerous examples of how we pull together to help one another.  Community ISD is a special place and I hear that all the time, especially from new employees that immediately feel a part of the family.  There is a sense of family here that exists unlike many places.  Character education is key for our students and I am proud that they are actively engaged in activities that teach those lessons.

The other “moral of the story” is that this sheds light on all the individuals that volunteer their time for the sake of kids in CISD.  We have volunteers throughout our district that expect little in return and do not like the spotlight.  Yet, when they are unable to show up for whatever reason, their absence is truly felt by many.  Thank you to all the parents whether you are a PTO member, CABC member working a concession stand, Band Booster member hauling equipment everywhere, or FFA parent raising money to help purchase students’ livestock projects.  Of course, there are many, many, many other examples of parents that pitch in and do whatever is necessary to get the job done.  We are excited to see these opportunities for involvement increase as the formation of a PTO at Community High School has been a great addition to that campus.

I believe people are sometimes put in our paths so that we can learn from them and all become better people from the experience.  Look around CISD and never take that for granted.  We pull together in tough times, support each other in ways we can, and celebrate victory once the skies clear.  For those of you that know our school history, the mascot of the BRAVE was selected for its symbolism of stamina and individual strength.  I would say that is still true today!

Cole McClendon, Ed.D.

Superintendent

 

Summer: When Learning Doesn’t Stop in CISD

It humors me when someone’s image of “summer vacation” includes ingrained memories of kids throwing paper out of the bus windows going down rock roads on the last day of school and teachers looking forward to three months of duty-free life, not returning until after Labor Day.  Wow, how times have changed!  If you are a parent, you sometimes probably feel like an event coordinator or shuttle bus driver just getting your children to all the summer camps and social events.  For those of us in the education “business”, we realize that the myth of  summer break ranks right up there among the list including Bigfoot and the Lochness Monster (although believers-let’s not digress here).  CISD offers great summer programs for students including Bleed Blue camp for middle school and high school athletes, conventions and leadership conferences for student organizations such as FFA and FCCLA, and our first annual eMagination camp sponsored by our CISD Technology Staff which offered enrichment activities in the area of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

A reality check is in order for those individuals that think “must be great to have 3 months off in the summer as a teacher!”  The fact is that a large amount of professional learning happens in the summer as our CISD instructional staff attend numerous workshops and conferences to prepare them for the upcoming school year, and ultimately benefit the students in their classrooms.  These dedicated individuals don’t spend their summer learning because they “have to,” but instead because they are true professionals that are indeed life-long learners.

So if you experienced a “couch potato” teenager this summer, I am here to tell you there really is no reason for that!  Encourage your student to join a club/organization in the upcoming 2014-15 school year.  Learning does not stop when the last class bell rings in CISD!  We offer lots of opportunities for students (and staff) to grow over the summer and stay connected.  Unlike many may believe, the “down time” for a school district is minimal as we do not lock the schoolhouse doors for the summer.  Congratulations to all of our students that took advantage of offerings to gain leadership, improve as an athlete, use critical thinking skills integrating technology, or just have plain FUN while staying active!

Cole McClendon, Ed.D.

Superintendent

2013-14 Year at a Glance

“Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.”  Yes, that will make absolutely no sense to anyone except my age group that grew up in the age of soap operas.  Truer words have never been spoken though as each school year comes and goes, seemingly faster the older I get.  Reflecting back on the 2013-14 school year, there are so many accomplishments that happened in CISD that we had a difficult time keeping up.  This is my feeble attempt to spotlight just a few, while probably accidentally omitting several that should be mentioned.

Enrollment in CISD hit an all-time record and continues to climb weekly.  We are closing the year with 1,700+ students in PK-12.  Each week, even this late in the year, we gain students and approve outside transfer students wanting to be in our school district.  Technology integration is state-of-the-art as our students are involved in 1:1 technology initiatives with either iPads or Chromebooks.  Our students have access to tools and resources that have not been available to them in the past.

Our CISD Business Department received a Platinum Award bestowed by the State Comptroller’s Office for achieving 22 out of a possible 22 criteria.  This perfect score represents the financial transparency and efficiency that CISD utilizes in the allocation of resources including local, state, and federal revenue sources.  Stakeholders have immediate access to the financial standing through increased transparency through the district website and public reporting requirements.  This award shows the commitment CISD has to being good financial stewards of taxpayer money.

Facility improvements were made to Edge Middle School, being one of our oldest campuses, in the area of interior painting, replaced ceilings, and improved hallway lighting.  The building was renamed in honor of Leland E. Edge, former CISD Superintendent, as we honor the past while focusing on the future.  New opportunities will be provided to students in the form of additional sports (boys and girls soccer) with the installation of artificial turf at Braves Stadium.  It will be an exciting time next Fall as CHS, EMS, and the community, as a whole, take pride in the appearance of this new playing surface.  This year also brought the creation of a new CHS Counseling Center, housed by two full-time counselors, that is always open and provides students with college information, financial aid applications, and career guidance.

The real “stars” continue to be our people.  Student success stories were alive and well throughout the school year.  From extra-curricular events such as athletics and fine arts to co-curricular UIL competitions, our students excelled.  Our CHS and EMS Bands had exceptional years, bringing home trophies and medals from marching contests and sight-reading.  Our athletes represented us proudly on and off the field, both at the high school and middle school level.  Congratulations to our high school girls for the “trifecta” of making the playoffs in volleyball, basketball, and softball.  Freshman Keely Morrow represented CHS in the State Track and Field Meet in Austin in only her first year in high school.  Our organizations such as FFA and FCCLA produced chapter, district, area, and state-level officers as well as competed at high levels in various contests.  Charitable events were sponsored by our leadership clubs such as PALS, Student Council, and KC Clubs at our elementary schools.

Our teachers and staff go the extra mile and are some of the best educators in the state.  Teachers like Alicia Young, Edge Middle School 8th grade Social Studies teacher, serve as positive role models for our youth.  Mrs. Young was awarded the DFW National Educator Award in Citizenship for her civic involvement by the Farmersville chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  Not only did she win at the local and regional area, but now is a state finalist based on her love and service to country.  She exemplifies many of our outstanding CISD teachers in the sense that she brings her classroom to life and “practices what she preaches.”  CISD recognized Teachers of the Year from each campus:  Margarita Solis, Jennifer Helge, Lora Titlow, and Caleb Hudgens, as well as Paraprofessionals of the Year: Kim Cook, Terri Chesser, Debbie McGahan, and Penny Pierce.  Our support staff are critical to our success including Maintenance/Transportation Employee of the Year Scott McKee and Child Nutrition Employee of the Year Tonya Vaughan.

Community ISD was recognized as one of 12 schools in the state of Texas selected in Texas School Business magazine’s Bragging Rights Issue.  The magazine chooses only twelve outstanding programs throughout the state to spotlight in their annual edition.  CISD was chosen for our “Community U” program, which invites parents, business leaders, and community members to attend an informational session once monthly to learn about the great happenings in the school district.  This program was recognized for the community engagement is encourages and promotes the involvement of citizens which otherwise might not be included.  Community “U” just graduated Class 3 and is planned again for 2014-15.  Project INSPIRE was another successful new program, created by our teacher leaders, that paired coaches (volunteers from the community) with certain students throughout the district to encourage and support.

Last, but not least, we have reason to celebrate academic success this school year.  We do not rely just on standardized tests, as we are equipped with other forms of assessments that measure the progress of our students as well.  We know that one test, given on one specific day, provides a “snapshot” of academic ability but may not holistically measure other hidden strengths and talents of each child.  With all this said, CISD is pleased to celebrate improvements in certain STAAR and EOC exam scores.  Work is never done and there is always room for improvement from year to year.  However, the hard work of our students and staff should not go unnoticed.  Congratulations to Edge Middle School for having 100% of their 8th graders in Algebra I pass the end-of-course exam.  Community High School students met standard 95%  on U. S. History EOC  and 91%  on Biology EOC.  Community High School improved in all areas and achieved the highest results, for the campus, since EOC testing began.  Other areas of strength included McClendon Elementary students showing academic growth, such as 83% meeting standard in 5th grade Mathematics, compared to their previous percentage of 63% in 4th grade.  We will continue to improve and focus on areas of need, while continuing the strategies and programs that were very successful.

Thank you for your support during a very memorable school year.  A school district is only as good as the community that supports it.  With your help, we were able to accomplish so many things this year and provide our students a quality educational experience.

Cole McClendon, Ed.D.

“COLORfully” Prepared!

 

Who said learning can’t be fun?  Edge Middle School certainly proved that it can be as they hosted their Color Games for grades 6-8.  Although it may have looked like a traditional Field Day that is not uncommon in the Spring for schools, this was also educational.  Each station was a game that included STAAR questions for students to answer.  I witnessed students paying attention and giving lots of thought to answer the questions correctly in order to “win”.  In my opinion, they were all winners in the way they conducted themselves and helped each other be successful.

An event like this would never be successful if CISD didn’t have dedicated, hard-working staff that put in many hours ahead of timing organizing the day.  As I looked around, I saw parent volunteers that were covered in blue, green, and purple having fun and laughing with students during the entire day.  Special kudos to Edge Middle School for thinking “out-of-the-box” on this one and motivating an age group that definitely is high-energy and active!

All of our CISD campuses have worked very hard in preparation for STAAR and End-Of-Course testing this year.  Strategies, such as the Color Games, have been implemented that engage and develop active learners.  I am very proud of the innovative ideas that are being generated by our teacher leaders that will contribute to the academic success of all CISD students.

Thank you to those that played a role in the EMS Color Games and, most importantly, thanks to the great students of Edge Middle School for their great behavior and attitude during the entire day.  The activity proved to be one of the most enjoyable combinations of fun and learning this Superintendent has ever seen!  Edge Middle School shines as they prepare for STAAR!

Cole McClendon, Ed.D.

Superintendent

 

Let’s Be “Real”!

January, for obvious calendar reasons, always brings with it a new beginning.  Traditionally, it is also the month in Texas that school districts across the state recognize their local board of trustees.  In my 20+ years in public education, I’ve seen this take various forms and approaches.  At the CISD monthly board meeting, I witnessed probably the best I’ve ever seen in regards to overall representation by our most important assets- our kids.

I was visiting with a family that is fairly new to CISD but has been here long enough to see the in’s and out’s of our district.  When the parent asked their student about what he liked about CISD, he responded “Because the people are real, and really care about you.”

As I watched our CISD students present tokens of appreciation to our board, that is the thought that popped into my head.  These were not purchased items.  Instead, they were student-produced in the form of videos, posters, cards, and paintings.  It would make even the most enthusiastic Pinterest hobby-lover envious at the creativity and ingenious works of art that our own CISD students came up with!

So when one of our own describes us as “real” take that as a huge compliment.  Relationships and getting to know the individual student is a huge plus that CISD can brag about!  I hope we never forget that a student DOESN’T CARE HOW MUCH YOU KNOW, UNTIL THEY KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE!

Cole McClendon, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Standing For The Fallen

Our CHS students once again amaze me in their spirit and generosity to support a worthy cause.  The National Honor Society, Student Council, and PALS students participated in the Snowball Express on Friday at Main Event in Plano.  They welcomed, greeted, and cheered to show children and families that the sacrifice of their fallen hero is not forgotten.  Snowball Express remembers those fallen heroes who will never return, and honors the supreme sacrifice the families have made.  The organization tries to provide hope and happy memories to children of fallen military who have died on active duty since 9/11.

I am very proud that in this holiday season, which is unfortunately sometimes consumed in commercialism and “receiving” rather than “giving”, that our CISD students remember the less fortunate.  We have several community service projects at each campus including toy drives, coat drives, and food basket delivery.  We have participated in Fostering Hope as a school district, helping families in our area receive gifts for their children which otherwise would not be possible.  It is very heart-warming to live and work in a community that reaches out to others and remembers the true meaning of the holiday.

On behalf of Community ISD, I would like to wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Cole McClendon, Ed.D.

Superintendent