CISD Informed — Oct.20, 2023

Dear Coppell ISD Families,

Last week, I had the privilege of visiting the bright and enthusiastic second graders at Pinkerton Elementary and sharing with them my thoughts on leadership and the role the superintendent plays as a leader in the community. Witnessing the potential of our young leaders at the elementary level reminds me of the incredible foundation we are building together. Our students had some incredible insight at such a young age, which makes me confident our future is in good hands!

Speaking of leadership, I want to take a moment to remind our high school juniors and their families of a fantastic opportunity to develop their leadership skills further. The Nov. 1 deadline for applying to the Student iLead program is fast approaching. This program is designed to cultivate our future leaders and provide them with the skills and experiences they need to excel and make a difference in our community. I encourage all eligible students at both CHS and New Tech to take advantage of this opportunity to apply to participate in this program that will help shape their lifelong leadership journey.

Also this week, we held the CISD Strategic Planning retreat, an event that truly underscores the commitment and dedication of our parents, students, staff, and community and business volunteers. Their willingness to invest their time, energy and expertise in shaping the future of our district is nothing short of inspiring. What a powerful experience it was for me to hear from all of these stakeholders on what is working in CISD and, more importantly, what are the growth opportunities and areas where we can improve. Having such a diverse group of individuals working together to focus on our district's future is exciting. I admired how people from different backgrounds and with differing ideas were able to work together so collaboratively.

It is through such collaborative efforts that we ensure our schools continue to thrive. I cannot emphasize enough the invaluable contribution of our student panel at the Strategic Planning retreat. Their insights and perspectives were instrumental in shaping our vision for the future, highlighting the importance of involving our learners in our future decision-making processes, as their voices play a pivotal role in the development of our district.

To learn more about Strategic Planning, Community-Based Accountability, Bond Updates and other important information about CISD, I extend this invitation to our community members to join us at the CISD State of the District Showcase. This event will take place in the Coppell High School Commons area at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 24. It's an opportunity to celebrate our collective achievements and learn about the exciting future that awaits us.

As we continue to focus on our core value of collective engagement in CISD, we remain committed to nurturing and inspiring the leaders of tomorrow. Thank you for your dedication and partnership as we work together to serve and educate our children.

Sincerely,

Dr. Brad Hunt

Superintendent

The Annual Community Tailgate is just one week away, but meal orders are due today at 4:30 p.m. Meals cannot be purchased at the Tailgate, so act now. Order your $5 Dickey's Barbecue Meals at go.coppellisd.com/23TailgateMeal to get the full experience of a night of food, fun and football. Select your choice of a brisket or turkey sandwich with chips or a baked potato with toppings on the side. Waters will be provided by CISD. The Community Tailgate will take place on Friday, Oct. 27 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the CHS Fieldhouse indoor practice facility. Come to eat, play and stay for the final district game of the season as Coppell Cowboys Football takes on Flower Mound. Kickoff is at 7 p.m., and game tickets are sold separately at coppellahtletics.net/e-tickets.

CISD will host its October Board Meeting and a public hearing on its FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) rating report for the 2021-2022 school year during the Oct. 23 Board Meeting at 6 p.m. The hearing and the Board Meeting will take place in the Board Room of the CISD Vonita White Administration Building, located at 200 S. Denton Tap Road. In August, the district announced that it had received the Texas Education Agency’s top financial rating for the 21st consecutive year. In its findings, the TEA announced CISD had received both an “A” Superior Achievement Rating and a “94” Score in the School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) ratings. The district has received a “Superior” rating since 2002. Read more at go.coppellisd.com/23FIRST.

CMS North's Hispanic Heritage Night, which took place on Oct. 13, was a vibrant celebration of culture and community. Attendees were treated to a colorful display of music, dance, and traditional cuisine, as students and families came together to honor and share the rich Hispanic heritage that enriches the school's diversity. The event served as a wonderful opportunity to embrace the cultural tapestry that makes CMS North such a dynamic and inclusive learning environment. The event was organized by CMS North's Bertha Barrientos-Figueroa, Graciela Gomez and Linda Rothey

“Tooting” our own horn — Both the Junior Varsity and Varsity Coppell Bands “marched” to success at the UIL Region 31 Marching Evaluation earlier this week with each ensemble receiving a Superior Rating. Earning the highest marks possible at this competition for both JV and Varsity speaks to the strength of CISD’s Band program, which begins in middle school.

CISD high school choir members hit another high note as 33 singers have earned a chair in the Regional 31 Honor Choir, the highest number of singers from one school who auditioned for this choir. Brava and Bravo to these singers!

Both JV and Varsity Boys Cross Country teams “crossed the finish line” as District Champs, proving they're a “run” above the rest. Henry Henze finished 1st overall and is the District 6-6A Champion. Our Varsity girls' team just missed qualifying for Region by finishing 4th. However, Mallory Sherrer and Maya Easterwood finished in the top 10 and qualified as individuals for the regional meet. Our JV girls also finished 4th.

Congratulations to the following young men and women who have qualified for the 6A Region 1 Meet to be held in Lubbock on Oct. 24:

• Samarth Dubey (5th) - 15:58

• Henry Henze (1st) - 15:35

• Rohit Kalpathy (8th) - 16:07

• Grant O'Neal (20th) - 16:49

• Dominic Piccolo (27th) - 17:08

• Ansh Singhal (16th) - 16:35

• Pranav Vegiraju (9th) - 16:10

• Maya Easterwood (4th) - 18:34

• Mallory Sherrer (10th) - 19:15

Read more in this CHS The Sidekick story by senior Sri Achanta and photo by Rhea Chowdry https://go.coppellisd.com/BoysCrossCountry.

Fourth-grade students at Valley Ranch Elementary put their innovative skills to work as they strived to breathe new life into Old Town Coppell. As part of the newly introduced STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) curriculum for the 2023-2024 school year, these young minds showcased their imaginative plans to City of Coppell elected officials and staff leaders members on Wednesday, Oct. 18.

The City of Coppell has been actively pursuing the revitalization of Old Town as part of its long-term community development goals. Under the guidance of their teacher, Kelly Beach, Valley Ranch fourth graders took on an engineering planning project to reinvigorate the historic district and draw in more visitors.

Read more at go.coppellisd.com/VRESTEAMOldTown.

Photos courtesy of Austin Kindergarten teacher Ginny Kaur.

On. Oct. 19 Austin Elementary hosted its inaugural Multicultural Night, with an impressive representation of approximately 50 diverse cultures. The evening featured a captivating array of cultural booths, captivating performances by both students and their families, delightful culinary exchanges, and much more. This vibrant event at Austin Elementary truly reflected the mosaic of cultures that beautifully weaves together the fabric of our school's student and family community.

CISD Superintendent Dr. Brad Hunt accepts an autographed copy of “The Team Behind the Team: Student Athletic Trainers” written by CHS Senior Nanaki Matharu.

In the realm of sports medicine and student athletic training, Coppell High School's very own Nanaki Matharu is stepping up to the plate. A student in the CHS sports medicine program, Matharu has taken the initiative to create a playbook for student athletic trainers with the manual “The Team Behind the Team: Student Athletic Trainers.” Her goal is to shed light on a program that often operates under the radar, providing a comprehensive resource for current and future student athletic trainers.

"I wanted to give something to the student athletic trainers in the coming generations that may not have had the same resources as me, or are struggling to find their way around the program," Matharu shares. Read more at go.coppellisd.com/Matharu.

CISD schools are gearing up to celebrate Red Ribbon Week from Oct. 23 to Oct. 31 with the theme "Be Kind to Your Mind. Live Drug Free." This annual observance offers an opportunity for our students and staff to come together in support of a healthier drug-free lifestyle. Through engaging activities, discussions and educational programs, we aim to empower our young learners to make positive choices and prioritize their well-being. Red Ribbon Week serves as a reminder that we can all be instrumental in creating a safer and more nurturing environment for our school community.

CHS9 and New Tech High @ Coppell students, as well as middle school and high school counselors from CISD, are taking a proactive step in spreading hope and mental health awareness by attending the Hope Rising Conference this week. This gathering of young minds and counselors from different schools in North Texas is an opportunity to inspire positive change and foster mental well-being within their communities. As part of the Hope Squad initiative, these dedicated students are poised to learn, share, and collaborate on strategies that promote mental health support, while helping to break the stigma surrounding it. The Hope Rising Conference signifies a strong commitment to building a compassionate and supportive environment within the school, championed by the proactive efforts of these young individuals.

This year, twenty-one educators in the Coppell Independent School District have submitted twenty-two grant requests to improve their classrooms at 11 campuses. Grants requested include funds for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM), suicide prevention, fine arts, history, culture, outdoor learning, audio/visual, makerspaces and more. Everyone is invited to view and choose grants to support this fall by visiting: www.give4grantscisd.org.

The Coppell ISD Education Foundation would like to recognize CISD educators and staff for doing great things! CISD is full of dedicated and hardworking teachers, administrators, and support staff who often go above and beyond. We would like to give you the opportunity to shine a spotlight on these CISD employees by nominating them to be a Super Star. Any parent, middle school student or CISD employee can nominate a CISD employee at their elementary or middle school. Deadline to nominate a staff member is Nov. 19. To nominate a CISD employee visit: www.coppellisdef.org/superstar.

Teeing off for a great cause — the Coppell High School Golf Team Booster Club is taking its fundraising game to the next level, aiming to drive support for this growing program. In their quest to improve indoor practice equipment and secure funds for entry and travel fees for tournaments, they've partnered with Kandi America to offer the ultimate prize in high school raffle contests — the Kandi Electric Kruiser 4P, a decked-out golf cart valued at $13,125, proudly showcasing Coppell's colors. Golf enthusiasts and supporters can chip in by purchasing raffle tickets through Oct. 31, with a chance to win this incredible prize. The winner, who will be announced on Nov. 3, is in for a hole-in-one experience! To join in the raffle, click here.

Grow It Land Designs in Coppell is hosting free pumpkin painting for kids this Saturday, Oct. 21 from 11 a.m.- 2pm. Come on by for a scary good time! The event will take place at 754 Denton Tap Road in Coppell.

On Saturday, Oct. 21 from 6 to 10 p.m. ghosts, ghouls and monsters will take over Trinity View Park, 2221 E. State Hwy 356 for Eerie Irving. But not to worry, these not-so-scary creatures are family-friendly. The free event will feature:

· Carnival Ride

· Games

· Face Painting

· Balloon Art

· Photo Ops

· Live DJ

· Food Vendors

· Pumpkin Giveaway (Limit 3 per family)

More daring eventgoers can enter the Eerie Walk-Thru Experience and test their limits with five enclosed spooky scenes. Characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Ghostbusters also will be there.

Entrance and Parking

Attendees traveling from Loop 12 should take the Irving Blvd. exit and travel east. Access to Eerie Irving will be available from both entrances on the service road from Irving Boulevard/State Highway 356 to Trinity View. Handicapped parking will be available at the front entrance of the park. View an interactive map. Entry to the park will close at 9:15 p.m.

Join CISD counselors for enriching Parent University as they delve into the vital topic of "Mental Health 101" on Wednesday, Oct. 25 from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Board Room of the CISD Vonita White Administration Building at 200 S. Denton Tap Road. This valuable session promises to offer essential insights and resources to help us better understand and support the mental well-being of our loved ones and ourselves.

CISD is excited to invite all 11th grade students to apply for the Student iLead Program. Topics covered include personal leadership skills, youth advocacy, service and volunteerism, local government, and business growth and development. To be eligible, you should be in good academic standing, enthusiastic about boosting your leadership abilities, and have obtained permission from your parents and school principal. Be prepared to commit to the program's schedule, as attendance is required at all sessions. Remember, not everyone who applies will make it into the Student iLead program, so make sure to submit your application by Nov. 1 at 4:30 p.m. For more details, including the application checklist, program dates, and the application itself, visit www.coppellisd.com/page/student-ilead. If you have any questions, reach out to Angela Brown, CISD’s Chief Communications Officer, at abrown@coppellisd.com.

CHS9 Theatre presents "Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind" — 30 plays in 60 minutes – at CHS9 on Thursday, Oct. 26, Friday Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28. All performances are at 7 p.m. The performance is in the CHS9 Band Hall at1301 Wrangler Cir., Coppell, TX 75019. Enter at CHS9 Auditorium Entrance (North facing parking lot on Wrangler Cir.). To purchase tickets, visit https://chstb.booktix.net.

Get ready for a fantastic Fall Festival hosted by New Tech High @ Coppell students. This event promises to be an evening of fun and family-friendly activities for the entire community to enjoy! With a lineup featuring games, timed events, trunk or treat, and mouthwatering food, mark your calendars for Saturday, Oct. 28, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The event does include a Haunted House experience that is recommended for middle school students and older.

The CHS Girls Soccer Team is lacing up their cleats for their first ever Trunk or Treat event on Oct. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. They're aiming to score big in both fun and fundraising and would be thrilled to have the community's support. The entry fee is $10 and can be purchased HERE. With creative trunks and games that will keep kids of all ages entertained, it's bound to be a spooktacular event. Join in for a kickin' good time and help Girls Soccer reach their goal.

The Woven Health Clinic will offer a number of free clinics for adults in Coppell in October and November. For a list of dates, please visit https://www.facebook.com/wovenhealthclinic/events.

• Oct. 23 — CISD Regular Board Meeting at 6 p.m.

• Oct. 24 — CISD State of The District Showcase at 6:30 p.m. in the CHS Commons

• Oct. 27 — Annual Community Tailgate at 5 p.m. in the CHS Field House

• Nov. 5 — Daylight Savings Time Ends

• Nov. 13 — Regular Board Meeting at 6 p.m.

• Nov. 20-24 — Thanksgiving Break