Thursday, November 21, 2013

BULLETIN: Here are a few November 2013 Highlights and Announcements for Parents With Children Attending School In Fort Bend ISD Schools

http://www.fortbendisdnews.com/go/site/1934/
VISIT THE FBISD NEWS CENTER TO STAY INFORMED: Fort Bend ISD continuously updates the News Center with accurate and timely information about our schools, programs, achievements of students and staff, District policies and procedures, Board decisions, critical education issues and emergency/inclement weather information. Fort Bend ISD is committed to open two-way communication with the public and offer numerous opportunities to share ideas, suggestions and information.

 Granny Dupre delivers Anti-Bullying Message to Quail Valley Elementary Students

FORT BEND ISD - Quail Valley Elementary School (QVE) students and staff demonstrated their commitment to creating a bully-free community by taking part in various activities designed to help spread awareness of the effects of bullying.

 The school kicked off its anti-bullying week observation with a schoolwide pep rally, followed by such activities as “Hat Day” to put a cap on bullying, “Pajama Day” to show that students are dreaming of a bully-free school, “Wear QVE Shirt Day” to show that together we are stronger, and “Crazy Sock Day” to sock it to bullying.

 One of the highlights of their anti-bullying campaign was a visit by Granny Dupre (also known as Seeju Dupre, wife of FBISD Superintendent of Schools Charles Dupre), who presented a comical, yet thought-provoking performance to students. She engaged the audience with music and humorous skits relating to their week-long anti-bullying activities. She also mentioned popular books and movies that featured bullies whom students could easily identify, and reminded them that fictional bullying may be funny when seen on tv or read in books, but it isn't funny when demonstrated in real life.

 To wrap up their anti-bullying campaign, QVE students and staff invited parents and other community members to join them in forming a human peace sign on the school grounds to demonstrate their commitment to creating a peaceful community.


Photo 1: Pictured (front row, from left) are students Gabriel Vasquez,
Sara Dean, Vincente Dean and Jackie Athaide; and
(back row) Lulu DeAnda, Principal; Seeju Dupre, as “Granny Dupre”,
Lisa Jones, Counselor; and Shenique Spears, Assisant Principal.


Photo 2: Granny Dupre is shown signing QVE’s “No Place for Hate” banner.


 Photo 3: QVE students and staff formed a peace sign for
an aerial photograph that was taken by QVE parent, Alan Thomas.

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 Elkins Students donate $20,000 to Habitat for Humanity

 FORT BEND ISD - Members of Elkins High School's Habitat for Humanity Club presented $20,000 to the Fort Bend Habitat for Humanity during the organization's Youth Leadership Conference. The money resulted from fundraising activities held by the Elkins club members over the past few years. The Fort Bend Habitat for Humanity will use the donation to purchase materials to construct a “high school” habitat house built primarily by area high school students.



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Drug Take Back a Success thanks to Community Support

 FORT BEND ISD - More than 150 community members took part in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s “National Drug Take Back Initiative,” sponsored by the Fort Bend Police Department, Safe and Drug-Free Schools Department and the Fort Bend Community Prevention Coalition. The event gave community members the opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets of old, expired or unwanted medicine and avoid giving youth access to the medications, which can lead to abuse and addiction.

 Among those taking part in the event were Marie Hoyte and her son, Shawn Thibodeaux. Shawn is a heart transplant patient. He and his mother learned about the Drug Take Back event from their CVS pharmacist.

 “My son and I are both heart patients, and my husband is a spine patient,” said Hoyte. “Between the three of us, we have several bottles of medication that we can no longer use. We asked our CVS pharmacist where we can dispose of the medication, and he suggested we drop them off at this event.”

 The event also welcomed community members who disposed of medications belonging to family members who recently passed away, led group collections throughout their neighborhoods, and simply cleared out their personal medicine cabinets. Combined, community members dropped off more than 580 pounds of medication for safe disposal.


 Photo 1: Shown (from left) are: Louis Ontiveros, FBISD Police Officer;
Ronnie Rutledge, FBISD Substance Abuse Specialist;
community members Marie Hoyte and her son, Shawn Thibodeaux;
and Ethan Shinogle, Fort Bend Community Prevention Coalition member.


Photo 2: Mary Kiernan, FBISD Substance Abuse Specialist (right),
accepts medication from Jenieffe Heaven, FBISD Assistant Director of Nutrition.


 Photo 3: Amanda Nguyen, University of Houston student intern
for UnitedHealthcare, shares an informational pamphlet
with community member Nomita Bajwa and her daughter Tarani,
who dropped off medication for disposal.
 

 Photo 4: The owner of this car dropped off several bags
of medication that once belonged to a deceased family member.

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 Clements High School students benefit
from $15.7 million Fort Bend Education Foundation
grant funded by Schlumberger

 Unique college and career learning opportunity for students

 FORT BEND ISD - Computer Science students at Clements High School are exploring the field of engineering by taking part in a pilot program made possible through a $15.7 million Fort Bend Education Foundation grant funded generously by Schlumberger.

The pilot program will provide educational programs to assist students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) labs. Included in the agreement are 25 Licenses for Petrel Software, which supports the study of petroleum, earth science and technology, as well as 25 Licenses for Ocean Kit Software that are geared toward science, technology and engineering. Schlumberger will also provide a new computer lab equipped with 25 computers.

 Participating in the program this year are Clements students enrolled in Computer Science III classes, led by teacher Lubna Lorena. The students will benefit from working with a college-level intern and engineers throughout the school year.

 “We are extremely grateful to Schlumberger for their support of our Computer Science program,” said Lorena. “I am delighted at the thought of the opportunities that our students will have the doors which will be opened for them and the learning that will take place. For me personally, this program represents the realization of a dream. I have the means to enhance my instruction and the resources that will allow the Computer Science program to strengthen and grow.”

 Schlumberger employees understand the importance of sharing their products and expertise to expose students to computer science and engineering. “It is definitely our goal to introduce concepts and partnerships that will encourage students to excel in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and continue on to STEM majors and careers,” said Paula Harris, Schlumberger’s Director of Community Affairs.

 Schlumberger currently collaborates with more than 530 universities worldwide in providing this program. Clements is one of only two high schools in the world to pilot the program.

 “I would like to thank our business partner, Schlumberger, for their outstanding and continued support for the teachers, students and schools in Fort Bend ISD,” said Brenna Smelley, Executive Director of the Fort Bend Education Foundation.


Photo: Pictured at the grant presentation are (front row, kneeling from left): students Alexander Aitken, Annie Chang, Ivy Moore, Xinhe Ren, Zal Darogo, Michael Fink, Michael Li; (second row) student Raymond Chee, Charles Dupre, FBISD Superintendent of Schools; Andy Ralph, FBEF President; David Yaffie, CHS Principal; Lubna Lorena, Computer Science teacher and Computer Science Club sponsor; Paula Harris, Director of Community Affairs for Schlumberger; Rod Nelson, Vice President of Government and Community Relations for Schlumberger; and (back row) Brenna Smelley, FBEF Executive Director; Dr. Phillys Hill, FBISD Associate Superintendent; Molly Perkins, CHS Assistant Principal; and Joshua Fugel, math teacher and Computer Science Club assistant.

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 About the Fort Bend Education Foundation

 The mission of the Fort Bend Education Foundation is to provide opportunities to enrich and enhance the quality of education for all students in Fort Bend ISD through our Grants to Teacher and Schools programs. For more information, please visit our website at www.fortbendisd.com\foundation.

 About Fort Bend ISD

 Fort Bend Independent School District is the seventh largest school district in the state of Texas and is located in Fort Bend County, which is part of the greater Houston southwest area. With more than 70,000 students on 74 campuses, District teachers and administrators are committed to a holistic approach in the education of each child. Fort Bend ISD’s mission is to provide an environment for each student to acquire knowledge, develop skills, and build character to lead a productive and responsible life. For more information, please visit our website at www.fortbendisd.com
 
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 Mission Glen Elementary Students
enjoy Reading with the Stars

FORT BEND ISD - To help keep students motivated and excited about reading, Mission Glen Elementary School hosted a “Reading with the Stars” event that welcomed local celebrities to the classrooms for fun lessons in literacy.

 Among the many guest readers and performers were: H-E-Buddy with Logan Fitzpatrick, Sugar Land Skeeters staff and Mascot Swatson, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Deputy Vernon Charles, Wonder Reader (aka Principal Kari Bruhn); Superintendent of Schools, Charles Dupre; and Dr. Javier Villarreal, FBISD Assistant Superintendent.

 Each guest read to students then engaged them in a question and answer period to discuss story characters, definitions of key words and how the book related to their personal lives.


 Photo 1: H-E-Buddy and store representative Logan Fitzpatrick
read the book, Imagine Harry, to students.


 Photo 2: Superintendent of Schools Charles Dupre
was honored to be among the many guest readers
at Mission Glen Elementary.


 Photo 3: Students enjoyed hearing Dr. Javier Villarreal,
FBISD Assistant Superintendent,
read Pete the Cat, I Love My White Shoes.
 

Photo 4: Wonder Reader (aka Principal Kari Bruhn)
surprised students with her disguise.
 

Photo 5: Skeeters Mascot, Swatson, joined staff in presenting a
skit based on the book, Casey at the Bat.

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 Elkins Students donate $20,000 to Habitat for Humanity

 FORT BEND ISD - Members of Elkins High School's Habitat for Humanity Club presented $20,000 to the Fort Bend Habitat for Humanity during the organization's Youth Leadership Conference. The money resulted from fundraising activities held by the Elkins club members over the past few years. The Fort Bend Habitat for Humanity will use the donation to purchase materials to construct a “high school” habitat house built primarily by area high school students.