METSA hosts activities for grade school students

To celebrate Engineers Week, seniors from the Math, Engineering, Technology and Science Academy (METSA), Esmeralda Ramos and Elizabeth Lopez, developed fun, hands-on engineering activities as part of their Capstone Project. The week of activities introduced grade school students to engineering principals and how to apply what they learned to real projects. METSA hosted several 5th grade classes from Central Elementary. Attendees learned about the engineering process by designing and constructing various objects ranging from birdhouses to mobiles. METSA is one of many programs that continue to make C-FB ISD an Innovative Leader in Learning.

International Marathon Runner and Published Author speaks at McWhorter Elementary during Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month, Mr. Anthony Reed, published author and world wide marathon runner, visited McWhorter Elementary to share his story with students.

Ranchview Wolves Head To Area Round of Play-offs

The Ranchview Boys' Basketball Team takes on Argyle High School on Fri., Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Flower Mound Marcus High School, 5707 Morris Road, Flower Mound in the area round of state play-offs. Ranchview is the visiting team. Ticket prices are $5 for adults and $3 for students.

The Texas Association of High School Basketball Coaches has rated the Argyle team second in the state.

In Tuesday's night, the Wolves soundly defeated Princeton High School 74-50 in the bi-district game.

Go Wolves!

Gently Used Book Sale Starts Thursday

It's the best organized gently used book sale you've seen! The doors open 10 a.m. on Thurs., Feb. 24 in the Trinity Valley Shopping Center, 2660 Josey Lane, Carrollton -- Josey Lane at the George Bush Turnpike.

Run by dedicated volunteers, you will find more than 90,000 items ... hardback books, paperbacks, CDs, DVDs, and much, more. Basically, you will find most any item that is typically found in a book store.

Here are the hours and basic prices:

Thurs., Feb. 24: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. -- Hardback books: $2.00; Paperbacks: $1.00

Fri., Feb. 25: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. -- Hardback books: $1.50; Paperbacks: $.75

Sat. Feb. 26: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. -- Hardback books: $1.00; Paperbacks: $50

Sun., Feb. 27: noon to 6 p.m. -- Box of Books: $12; Hardback books; $1.00; Paperbacks: $ .50

There are also other items such as DVDs, audio books, magazines at other prices.

Proceeds benefit projects of the C-FB ISD Council of PTA and the Educational Foundation, the two organizations that coordinate the event. The projects funded include: student grants and scholarships, teacher grants and scholarships, Post Proms, the clothes closet, and PTA program grants. Both organizations support projects that go back to the students and staff of the Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District.

Many hours of preparation goes into making this event possible. You can check out what the site looks like, and see some of the outstanding volunteers by clicking here: //www.flickr.com/photos/cfbisd

For more information, please visit the sale's website at http://www.gentlyusedbooksale.org/.

Hope to see you at the Gently Used Book Sale. It's a book lover's paradise!

Ranchview Basketball Play-off Game

The Ranchview Wolves boys' basketball team, second seed from District 12-3A, will take on Princeton High School, third seed from District 11-3A, on Tues., Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at South Garland High School, 700 Colonel Drive, Garland.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students. Ranchview is the home team. The winner of the game will advance to the area round of the state basketball play-offs.

District Extends School Day 15 Minutes: New Schedule Begins February 28

Superintendent says: “We are meeting our educational commitment to the children and families.”

We are adding 15 minutes to our instructional and work day beginning Mon., Feb. 28. We believe that this adjustment to our schedule is extremely important to meeting our goal of "high achievement for all students."

This positive action of giving 15 more minutes each day adds to the existing excellence in the classrooms and enhances the support district operations provides all of our students,” said Dr. Bobby Burns, superintendent of schools.

The C-FB ISD team has always focused on what's best educationally for our students and their families. Adding this time is an innovative approach to the unprecedented number of days missed because of the unusual North Texas weather. Neighboring school districts have contacted C-FB ISD to learn about our creative way of how we are helping students and teachers handle the missed instructional time.

The School Board approved a Texas Education Agency Waiver for Missed Instructional Days at its meeting on Feb. 10. The Administration recommended and the Board supported the adjustment to the current daily schedule. You may want to watch the discussion from the School Board Meeting on our Vimeo Channel.

We will begin the longer instructional and work day on Mon., Feb. 28. Everyone in C-FB ISD will follow the new schedule. The new schedule for campuses and district offices is as follows:

*Elementary School Students: 8:10 a.m. – 3:25 p.m.
*Middle School Students: 8:50 a.m. – 4:05 p.m.
*High School Students 7:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
*Our campus staff will add an additional 15 minutes to their current work day.
*Administration Building and other district offices that have hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. will be: 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
*Other facilities will extend their work day additional 15 minutes too.

We have a great team in C-FB ISD. We are committed to our district goal of "high achievement for all students." We are innovative leaders in learning, and we believe that we have one purpose: learning.

Bluebonnet Reading Celebration at Furneaux

Fifth graders from Furneaux Elementary who participated in the Bluebonnet Books Reading Program were rewarded with a pizza party. Students were recognized for reading 5 or more books, 10 or more and 15 or more of the books selected as Bluebonnet Books by the Texas Library Association (http://www.txla.org/TBA). Coupons were given to the top readers that could be exchanged for new books of their choice from a selection in the library.

C-FB ISD Athletes Signed to Play College Sports

On Feb. 8, C-FB ISD High Schools honored athletes who signed with colleges to play sports for National Signing Day. The district has an award winning athletics program that continues to make C-FB ISD an Innovative Leader in Learning. Congratulations to the following students for the hard work, dedication and achievement both on and off the field:

Creekview High School
Dax Collison – Southwestern University – Tennis
Myka DeMarco – Marshall University – Soccer
Devon Duncan – Navarro College – Softball
Tony Hong – Hill College – Baseball
April McCoy – Texas Christian University – Golf
Jennifer Park – University of Louisiana-Monroe – Golf
Erin Smith – Murray State University – Soccer
Allie Tripp – University of Arkansas – Fayetteville - Soccer

Newman Smith High School
Zach Smith – Southeastern Oklahoma – Football
Braxton Bearden – Stephen F. Austin – Football
Kelby Keeling – Midwestern State - Volleyball
Alyssa Cousins – University of Missouri – Softball
Lisa Chavera – Grayson County College – Softball
Whitney Porter – Vernon College – Softball

Ranchview High School
Xavier Williams – University of Texas at El Paso – Football

R. L. Turner High School
Brandon Moore- Tarleton – Football
Avery Alegeh- Abilene Christian – Football
Jacob Van Compernolle – UNC Wilmington – Soccer

Press Release

McWhorter Elementary Demonstrates Technology for State Legislators

Students from McWhorter Elementary attended the Texas Capitol Schoolhouse onJanuary 31 at the Capitol Rotunda basement in Austin showcasing the innovative use of technology in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District (C-FB ISD). “The participating schools clearly demonstrate their effective day-to-day use of educational technology in teaching their students and preparing them for the 21st century,” Schoolhouse organizer and Executive Director Dr. Deborah Jolly said. “We bring the schools together to show our legislators the wonderful things their technology funding has done for Texas classrooms. Each time the event becomes more and more impressive as the technology use becomes more and more sophisticated,”
Jolly added.

At the beginning of each legislative session, a number of schools are invited to bring a small representative group of their students along with their teachers with current applications of educational technology. Teachers and students set up their classrooms in the Capitol. Throughout the event, they conduct class just as they do every day in their home districts. This year, students, utilizing both PCs and Macs, will be working with video & sound editing, robotics, iPods, iPads, online virtual learning environments, 1 to 1 laptop computing, on-line interactive learning and other educational technologies. Legislators and invited guests had the opportunity to venture through actual classrooms to observe and experience educational technology in use by teachers and students.

“Educational technology brings schools high tech education tools deployed by our teachers and used by our students to prepare them to succeed in the 21st century. These students are eager to show their Representatives and Senators how these tools are used in the education process and how much they benefit from their use,” Dr. Jolly concluded.

February 10 School Board Meeting Videos

Feb. 10 School Board Meeting Agenda

School Closed on February 9

School is closed on Wednesday, February 9 because of the weather. Please visit our website for more information and future weather updates at www.cfbisd.edu.

Wed., Feb. 9 Is Early Release Day for Students

C-FB ISD students will be released early on Wed., Feb. 9 so that faculty and staff can participate in staff development programs.

The early release schedule for staff development days is as follows:

• High Schools release at 10:45 a.m.
• Middle Schools release at 12:15 p.m.
• Elementary Schools release at 11:25 a.m.
• Mary Grimes will release at 12 noon.
• Bea Salazar will release at 10:35 a.m.

Buses for the schools will run according to the early release schedule.

School Closed on February 4

C-FB ISD will be closed on Friday, February 4 because of the inclement weather. 

Inclement Weather Make-Up Days Information

Once C-FB ISD reopens, the district will explore its options with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) regarding applying for a waiver for the instructional days missed beyond the two “bad weather” days set aside in the district’s academic calendar. TEA does provide this type of waiver for school districts. Please note that March 11 and April 22 are now instructional days.  We will keep you posted on what happens.

February 3 School Board Meeting Cancelled

The C-FB ISD School Board meeting scheduled for Thurs., Feb. 3 has been cancelled due to the inclement weather.

The meeting will be reposted and rescheduled.

School Closing February 3

This is the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD calling to inform you that school is closed on Thursday, February 3 because of the weather. Please visit our website for more information and future weather updates at www.cfbisd.edu.

School Closed February 2

This is the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD calling to inform you that school is closed on Wednesday, February 2 because of the weather. Please visit our website for more information and future weather updates at www.cfbisd.edu.

School Closed on February 1

This is the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD calling to inform you that school is closed on Tuesday, February 1 because of the weather. Please visit our website for more information and future weather updates at www.cfbisd.edu.