Volume 8, Issue 4

January/February 2023

Did you know that great things are happening every day in your neighborhood schools? Each day, Cypress School District students and staff are engaged in activities that support high levels of academic achievement, develop important life skills, and promote civic engagement and an appreciation for community. 

We hope you enjoy this edition of our e-News which highlights the many ways we make a difference for students.

Sincerely,

Anne Silavs, Superintendent

Arnold Lions Leading the Way

Following a pandemic-induced hiatus, the Arnold student leadership team has come back strong this year. Over 100 fifth and sixth graders applied for leadership office positions this year, including committee chairs. Under the direction of leadership team advisors Ms. Kahlert and Ms. Redmond, students are in full swing supporting positive behaviors schoolwide. In January, members of the leadership team had the honor of presenting to the Cypress School District Board of Trustees, where they shared information about the roles they serve and how they work collectively to make a positive impact at school.

Encouraging Enthusiastic Reading at King

Ms. Dunagan was recently awarded a SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Education Foundation grant that enabled her to acquire $5,000 in new books for students. Ms. Dunagan noticed that some students in her fifth-grade classroom were reluctant readers. With the belief that access to engaging, high-interest literature can create enthusiastic readers, she researched popular adolescent literature titles and found that many have been adapted into graphic novels. The idea is that novels with pictures make reading a little more fun. It appears Ms. Dunagan’s students would agree!

Landell Leopards Helping Hearts

Students at Landell are gearing up for participation in the school’s third annual Kids Heart Challenge sponsored by the American Heart Association. Landell students look forward to this special time in the spring to raise awareness about heart disease and how kids can keep their hearts healthy and strong. Last year, 270 students pledged their commitment to heart health and raised over $19,000 for the American Heart Association. What started as a small endeavor several years ago has bloomed into a fun and healthy school tradition!

Mathematical Understanding in the Making at Luther

Luther recently received a grant for ST Math, a game-based program with a solid track record for improving student achievement in math. The program starts by teaching foundational concepts visually, then connects the concepts to symbols and words. Research shows that through visual learning, students are better equipped to tackle unfamiliar math problems, recognize patterns, and build conceptual understanding. Students also love JiJi, the quirky little penguin that demonstrates each math concept and provides feedback so they can understand and learn from their mistakes.

Morris Mustangs Learning Economics During Entrepreneur’s Day

Each trimester, Morris fourth graders take part in Entrepreneur’s Day in which students come together to buy and sell goods they have created, such as homemade slime, bookmarks, and jewelry. The “currency” for Entrepreneur’s Day is purchased with PBIS points that students earn for demonstrating positive behaviors at school. The event gives students the chance to create a business, sell products, calculate expenses, and estimate profits. As consumers, they learn about buying power and budgeting, which are great life skills. Students were all smiles during this fun and educational activity!

Bulldogs Celebrating Lunar New Year

This year, Vessels hosted its first Lunar New Year event, a celebration of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar. Lunar New Year is the most important holiday in China and is also widely celebrated in South Korea and Vietnam. Vessels partnered with a local Chinese school that provided students with opportunities to engage in crafts, learn about traditional Lunar New Year folklore and customs, and participate in the Lion Dance. It was a great opportunity to learn more about another culture represented in the Vessels school community.