CHS Celebrates Black History Month with Original Play

On Mar. 1, the Bridging the Gap Mentoring Program (BTGMP) from Creekview High School performed an original play, "Stories From the Drum." Proceeds from our play went to the students’ scholarship fund which helps to pay for college applications, SAT and ACT testing.

Established in 2006, BTGMP, is a peer-mentoring program in which students help students to develop and use better study/time management skills, utilize school resources and to make productive/positive academic choices. BTGMP's focus is to help prepare students for TAKS, college, and a student's next steps after high school. All of BTGMP graduating seniors have gone to a college or university in the past two years.

BTGMP also utilizes community professionals, such as lawyers, doctors, celebrities, athletes, etc. to lead students in activities such as long term and short term academic goal planning.

Kacie’s Run: Benefiting Special Athletes

Get, ready, set, go! We have a great place for you to be Saturday morning March 26 – the C-FB ISD Standridge Stadium. Everyone come out for Kacie’s Run.

We need lots of runners, walkers and even supporters who just believe in a good cause! This event touches many, many lives in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District.

Kacie’s Run benefits our Special Olympics Team – the All Stars and involves a wonderful C-FB ISD family – the Brekhus family.

The Brekhus Family has been truly touched that the run honors their daughter Kacie, a 2003 R. L. Turner High School graduate. The family serves as the run’s title and presenting sponsor.

Candi Brekhus has said, “Mel and I wholeheartedly support this event that honors and recognizes Kacie’s involvement in this worthwhile endeavor." Candi says people don’t have to walk or run to support this event. She and Mel just come out on the day of the run and visit with the runners and walkers because it’s a wonderful cause.

Let's Register Online
The 2011 Kacie’s Run is Sat., March 26 at Tommy Standridge Stadium on Valwood Parkway in Carrollton. Events include a 1 Mile Family Run/Walk and 5K Run. The 5K Run includes Champion Chip Timing conducted by RunOn! (http://www.runontexas.com/).

Early registration fees by March 24 are $20 for the 5K Run and $15 for the 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk. C-FB ISD students can register for the run or walk for $10. We encourage online registration.

You can find details about Kacie’s Run by visiting the district’s website at www.cfbisd.edu/kacie and looking for the Kacie’s Run page. Please register for the run online.

For Our All Stars
Special Olympics is such a wonderful program. It was in 1999, that C-FB ISD first formed its team. That year, we had 16 athletes. Today, we have over 160 students on our All Stars Team. And, like so many other C-FB ISD programs, our Special Olympics team has become a model for other districts.

Kacie's Run promotes our district’s character values of service, cooperation, responsibility, respect, pride, integrity and citizenship. At Kacie's Run, you will see our students helping students. Students from all campuses come together to plan this event. Kacie's Run is coordinated by the C-FB ISD family - teachers, students, staff, parents, community members -- anyone who believes in our All-Stars and volunteering.

We want to net at least $20,000. Our profits benefit our district’s Special Olympics athletes, the All Stars. These funds will allow all eligible students to participate at no cost. We estimate the annual cost for an individual athlete to participate in the track and field and bowling events to be about $150.

How Kacie's Run Began

Kacie’s Run, first began as the R. L. Turner Torch Run in 1999. And, in the beginning the run benefited Texas Special Olympics. As a R. L. Turner freshman, Kacie Brekhus became involved in the Torch Run. She was a member of the 2000, 2001, 2002 Torch Run Committee. As a RLT 2003 senior, Kacie was the Torch Run Coordinator.

While a freshman at The University of Texas at Austin, Kacie died in a traffic accident in October 2003. The 2004 event was renamed to honor her memory. That year, proceeds benefited a teacher grant in Kacie’s name through the C-FB ISD Educational Foundation. In 2006, the run began supporting the C-FB ISD Special Olympics Team.

Our district is known as an innovative leader in learning because C-FB ISD goes beyond the standard academics. Not only do we want our students to graduate college-ready or work-force ready, but we also want them to understand “what counts” as they prepare for a world unlike one we have ever known.

Remember … come out to Standridge Stadium on Sat., March 26 and support Kacie’s Run. You don’t have to walk or run – just come and say “Hi!” to Mel and Candi Brekhus and to our C-FB ISD students who are making a difference for our All Stars.

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