FOSTER STUDENTS SWEEP AT MONEY WEEK ESSAY CONTEST

Foster High School students swept all three podium spots at the Houston Federal Reserve Bank’s Annual Money Week essay contest.

This is also the fourth consecutive year that a Foster student has won the essay contest.

Joe Solis won first place, earning $1,500; Alec Plehn took second and $1,000; and Caroline Billings finished third, taking home $500.

All three are AP Economics students and taught by Missy Marvin.

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FORT BEND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY NAMES 2018 VALEDICTORIAN AND SALUTATORIAN

Joselyn Yang was named the Fort Bend Christian Academy (FBCA) Class of 2018 Valedictorian.

Yang has attended FBCA for a decade. She has served as co-president of Mu Alpha Theta, vice president of National Spanish Honor Society, treasurer of National Honor Society and secretary of National English Honor Society. She is also the co-founder and co-president of Future Health Professionals (HOSA) as well as a member of both Interact Club and Rho Kappa.

Yang had the unique experience to intern at the Kaohsiung Min-Sheng Hospital in Taiwan under the Director of Family Medicine the summer before her senior year. She has also traveled with Student Leadership University (SLU) to San Antonio, Washington, D.C. and Europe. This summer, she plans to intern at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in the Department of Experimental Therapeutics. She has served various philanthropic and mission-oriented organizations including the Houston Food Bank, Elijah Rising/Kendleton Farms, Project Linus, Sole Hope and more.

She has earned multiple awards including FBCA Academic Excellence Award in Honors Biology, Honors World History, Spanish III, and Honors Pre-Calculus, third place at TAPPS State Competition Ready Writing, FBCA Scholar Athlete Award in cross country (four years) and Most Improved Runner of the Year in varsity cross country.

After obtaining a degree in medicine, health and society from either John Hopkins University or Vanderbilt University, she plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as an emergency physician. Yang is the daughter of Dah-Tseng Yang and Nina Yang of Sugar Land.

Kolton Kaminski was named the FBCA Class of 2018 Salutatorian.

An FBCA “lifer,” Kaminski has attended the school for 13 years. Kolton has served as president of Student Council, chaplain of NHS and the International Thespian Society, and as the Spanish Club officer. He is also a member of Interact, Rho Kappa and National English Honor Society.

Kaminski had the opportunity to attend the Youth Leadership Forum Business Conference. He has served philanthropic and mission-oriented organizations in Florida, North Carolina, Washington, D.C. and the Dominican Republic. Kolton’s awards include TAPPS State One Act Champion and first place in the Ready Writing Competition.

He plans to study finance or supply chain management at the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. His long-term goal is to study law. He is the son of Timothy Kaminski and Patti Parish-Kaminski of Missouri City.

FBCA is a private school in Sugar Land. Visit fortbendchristian.org for more information.

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SEVEN FBISD STUDENTS IN FIRST ROUND OF 2018 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Fort Bend ISD is proud to announce that seven District seniors are among the first group of winners in the 63rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation released the names of approximately 1,000 distinguished high school seniors, who have won corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards financed by 200 corporations, company foundations and other business organizations.

FBISD’s 2018 National Merit Scholarship winners named in the first round include: Nikitha Bhavani, Dulles High School, NM-S&P Global Scholarship; Isha Dhawan, Clements High School, NM-Jerry R. Junkins Memorial Scholarship; Palak Diwanji, Dulles High School, NM-The PWC Charitable Foundation Scholarship; Stephanie Guo, Clements High School, NM-National Oilwell Varco Scholarship; Star Ni, Dulles High School, NM-Dr. Joseph J. Jacobs Scholarship; Abigail Sackett, Dulles High School, NM-Fluor Scholarship; and Sally Mingshuang Yan, Clements High School, NM-Fluor Scholarship.

These scholars were selected from students who advanced to the Finalist level in the National Merit Scholarship competition and met criteria of their scholarship sponsors. Corporate sponsors provide National Merit Scholarships for Finalists who are children of their employees, who are residents of communities the company serves, or who plan to pursue college majors or careers the sponsor wishes to encourage.

Most of these awards are renewable for up to four years of college undergraduate study and provide annual stipends that range from $500 to $10,000 per year. Some provide a single payment between $2,500 and $5,000. Recipients can use their awards at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university of their choice.

 

Colony Meadows Elementary’s Genius Hour

A new program was initiated for the students at Colony Meadows Elementary (CME) this year. Each Friday morning the classroom doors open and the students start their day with Genius Hour.

Initially, to an observer, it may seem like an unstructured fun time for the kids. The halls and classrooms have small groups chatting, some are dancing and acting with various handmade costumes, the school yard is filled with sports and music can be heard. But if one were to stop and eavesdrop, they would hear the kids intently working, excitedly talking about their plans and executing their thoughts into action. The students are passionate and knowledgeable about their endeavors, and they are willing to teach what they have learned, their “passion projects.”

The variety of topics is encompassing, from gardening to coding, sewing to sports, instruments to architecture and beyond. When the hour is up, the kids tidy up, spend some time reflecting on their Genius Hour progress in their journals and resume with their daily schedule.

The concept of Genius hour is simple and even Google uses it with its engineers, driving concepts like Gmail to be born. The idea is that when you use 20 percent of your work time on something you are passionate about, your productivity increases.

When CME’s principal, Melissa Bolding, and assistant principal, Jacquie Boyd, heard of Genius Hour, an excursion to get advice was planned for a school near Dallas where the program had been running for a few years. To ensure the program’s immediate success at CME, they incorporated the information from the Dallas school, trained the staff and adjusted the schedule so that the traditional learning routine was uninterrupted.

The students, with little instruction and timelines, are facilitated by the teachers to work on something they love, to be creative and to incorporate answers to these questions: How does this make me a better person? How could this improve my school? How could it change the world? Periodically teachers visit the questions with the students to ensure progression of ideas. Now, at the year’s end, the results are that instructional videos have been created, PowerPoint presentations have been generated, plays have been written, music groups have formed, and older students are teaching skills to the younger students.

The administration and teachers say the program has offered huge benefits. The children can’t take part in Genius Hour if the work for their week is not complete. The number of children taking part in the program has increased over time as they strive to complete their studies. Also, Friday attendance has improved and tardiness is reduced. One teacher even noticed improvements in a student’s reading ability and feels that it is due to the focus required in the student’s sewing project.

 

 

Terry Artists On Display At Houston Mayor’s Exhibition

Two Terry High School sophomores will have their art work displayed as part of the Houston Mayor’s Art Scholarship Exhibition.

The artworks of Janae Chavez and Joshua Chudoba will be on display on the fourth floor of the Houston Public Library’s Central Location for the rest of April.

Chudoba’s piece is entitled Sunburst and is an acrylic on canvas, using the pointillism technique of placing tiny dots of paint next to one another. The final finish is a high gloss with a micro-crackle radial design around the sun burst.

Chavez’ El Campo is an “Inktense” drawing/painting on stone/mineral paper. The process of applying dry ink and then wetting with a brush allowed Chavez to develop such intricate texture variation.

Mary Catherine Watson is their art teacher at Terry High School.

 

Elkins High School Girls Varsity Soccer District Champions

The Elkins High School Girls Varsity Soccer had a perfect season in District play going16-0-0 with zero goals against them. They are now District Champions for second year in a row under the guidance of Coach Kristen Adams.

On March 29, the team won a home playoff game against Sharpstown High by a score of 9-0. On April 3,they lost in a neutral playoff game against Port Neches-Groves by a score of 1-0.

Members of the championship team are: Alyssa Zamora (goalkeeper), Casey Gray, Leslie Braddick, Grace Snyder, Josephine Henry, Sarah Faraone, Kayla Woods, Lauryn Weller (captain), Katarina Shanar, Imaan Hussaini, Mollie Hickel, Narally Morales, Jessica Neal and Jenna Bernhard.

 

Three Fort Bend Scouts Earn Rank Of Eagle Scout

Three Boy Scouts from Troop 1282, chartered by Congregation Beth El in Missouri City, participated in their Boy Scouts of America Eagle Court of Honor ceremony on Friday, April 20.

Elijah Hughes, Joe Angel Valenzuela and Langston Taylor have been friends, classmates and scouts together since first grade. All three young men are graduating seniors at Hightower High School. They each earned Boy Scouts’ highest rank, Eagle Scout, during the 2017- 2018 school year and decided to have a joint Eagle Court of Honor, concluding their scouting experience the same way they began – together. Fort Bend County Precinct 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage graciously took time to attend the Court of Honor, congratulating the scouts on their accomplishment and charging them to continue pursuing excellence into adulthood.

Hughes is a member of the Hightower High School Digital Media Academy, National Honor Society and served as a drum major for the Hightower Marching Band during his senior year. In the fall, he will attend Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York, majoring in game design and development.

Taylor is a member of the National Honor Society, as well as Hightower High School Medical Science Aca­demy and Key Club. In the fall, he will attend the Uni­versity of Texas at San Antonio to major in marketing.

Valenzuela is a member of the Hightower High School Digital Media Academy and captain of the varsity swim and baseball team. He will be graduating cum laude. In the fall, he will attend Texas State Uni­ver­sity in San Marcos, majoring in electrical engineering.

 

 

 

Pattison Elementary Student’s Artwork Wins Big

Pattison Elementary fifth-grader Lindsey Kwon recently won Reserve Champion for her artwork at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Her still life titled The End of a Dusty Day went to auction where it sold for $22,000. She created the work using Prisma­color pencils, toned paper, and lots of incredible focus. She is a shining example of the dedication and grit that Pattison Elementary students show every day.

 

 

Fort Bend Christian Academy Names 2018-2019 Cheer Squad

The Fort Bend Christian Academy recently announced its 2018-2019 cheerleading squad. The group includes the following seniors: Sydney Hendershot, Manoella Giovanaz, Georgia Scott, Skylar Shaw, Maci Winters and Shea Slovack.

Other members are Annie Matthews, Paige Estes, Mandy Kamp, Naviah Dixon, Jaylnn Gerard, Maddie Roberts, Hannah Potter, Kiley Blanchard, Lauren Ramirez, Hailey Hendershot and Maya Sledge.

 

 

FBISD’s Richard Embrick Wins National NSTA Shell Science Teaching Award

Richard Embrick, Crockett Middle School science teacher was recently honored with the 2018 Shell Science Teaching Award. In partnership with the National Science Teachers Association, the award recognizes one outstanding classroom teacher (K-12) who has had a positive impact on his or her students, school and community through exemplary classroom science teaching.

NSTA honored Embrick, along with more than 60 top K-12 teachers, principals, professors and other science education professionals from across the country, at a special banquet and awards ceremony held during the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Atlanta, Georgia.

“I am honored and humbled to accept the 2018 Shell Science Teaching Award. I thank Shell for providing me with the opportunity to share with the world my dreams and what I do for students,” said Embrick. “I could not have done this without the support of my wonderful Crockett Middle School friends and colleagues, as well as the parents, District personnel and my absolutely fantastic students.”

Embrick was among 10 finalists for the award. As the winner, he received $10,000, a certificate of distinction, and an all-expense-paid trip to attend the NSTA National Conference on Science Education.

In selecting Embrick for the award, the Shell Science Teaching Award Judging Panel reviewed his YouTube video submission that featured classroom activities with his students and reflected his teaching philosophy and application submission. They also conducted a site visit to Crockett Middle School to see Embrick in action and meet with some of his students, parents, colleagues and District supporters, who could speak on his behalf.

Dr. Charles Dupre, FBISD Superintendent of Schools, joined Embrick at the awards ceremony in Atlanta where he addressed attendees.

“Richard took a fledgling program and created a model from one section of robotics for about 300 students at his school. Now he’s modeling and coaching teachers to build the same program at schools throughout our District. It’s amazing what he has done, and we are exceptionally proud of him,” said Dupre.

Frazier Wilson, VP Shell Oil Company Foun­dation, presented the $10,000 check to Richard at the Shell Awards Reception prior to the NSTA awards ceremony. “Gifted science teachers like Richard Embrick are key to channeling the curiosity and developing the higher order thinking skills of inquisitive learners while sparking their interest in science and the pursuit of STEM careers. We applaud Richard and his peers for nurturing the next generation of innovators who will find solutions for the world’s energy challenges that will improve our lives and drive our economy.”

Embrick’s efforts to expand students’ knowledge and appreciation to STEM learning have led to his receiving many awards and honors. He earned the 2017 H-E-B Excellence in Education Rising Star award, the 2017 Wihelmina C. Robertson Excellence in Science Teaching award, a 2016 Innovation and Impact on STEM Education award and numerous other awards and honors over the years. He was also named Fort Bend ISD’s 2016 District Secondary Teacher of the Year and Crockett Middle School’s 2015 Campus Teacher of the Year.

To share his love of STEM learning, Embrick has also developed and facilitated numerous STEM summer coding camps and workshops, and has led various professional development programs. To date, he has received more than $70,000 in award grants to support STEM instruction at his school.