COLLEGE & CAREER READY STAFFORD MSD CONVOCATION 2017

STAFFORD MSD FACULTY & STAFF STARTED THE 2017-18 SCHOOL YEAR WITH ARIC BOSTICK GIVING AN EXCELLENT MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH! THE PROGRAM INCLUDED SPEECHES FROM DR. BOSTIC, BOARD PRESIDENT JACKSON AND MAYOR SCARCELLA. BOARD, COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVE ‘17-’18 BUDGET The Stafford MSD Board of Trustees and Stafford City Council voted 13-0 to approve the 2017-18 Stafford MSD Budget. It was the fourth consecutive year that the Joint Budget Meeting has produced a unanimous approval.

Read more about it here:

http://staffordmsd.ss8.sharpsch ool.com/a_b_o_u_t_u_s/news/s chool_board__city_council_una nimously_approve/ STAFFORD MSD TEST SCORES RISING…

FROM AUGUST 2017:

Stafford Municipal School District is very proud of our Stafford Intermediate Math students. The Fifth Graders increased their STAAR scores from 91 to 96 percent. The Sixth Graders increased from 80 to 90 percent. At Stafford Middle School, One Hundred Percent of the Eighth Graders who took Algebra I passed it. ...District-Wide, SMSD tested above the State Average in 16 areas. SMSD HISTORICAL MARKER DEDICATED

The dedication of Stafford MSD’s Texas State Historical Marker was a success.

Stafford MSD Superintendent Dr. Robert Bostic, Stafford MSD Board President Auturo Jackson, Stafford Mayor Leonard Scarcella, Stafford Historical Society Chairperson Sadie Williams, State Representative Ron Reynolds and other dignitaries spoke at the event.

Representatives of Congressman Al Green presented an American Flag to SMSD that had flown over the U.S. Capitol. Rep. Reynolds presented a Texas Flag that had flown over the State Capitol.

http://www.staffordmsd.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=895956&pa geId=28167231 DR. BOSTIC HONORS SHS EAGLE SCOUT

Stafford High senior Gerald May -- ranked No. 5 academically in the Class of 2018 -- recently became an Eagle Scout. As part of this distinct honor, May had a chance to meet with proud fellow Eagle Scout, Stafford MSD Superintendent Dr. Robert Bostic on Tuesday afternoon. Dr. Bostic congratulated May and told him that the lessons he's learned en route to becoming an Eagle Scout will serve him well in the future. ...May, who plans on studying Mass Communications in college, constructed a bench at Stafford High School for current (and future) SHS students.

SMSD/SHARE YOUR HOLIDAYS FOOD DRIVE For the second straight year, Stafford MSD participated in the “Share Your Holidays Food Drive.”

Stafford Intermediate School once again had the most donations, and won a pizza party, courtesy of Marco’s Pizza of Stafford. ED FOUNDATION DONATES $20K IN TEACHER GRANTS

For the list of 22 educators awarded grants, log on to facebook.com/SMSD82 Thank you to the SMSD Education Foundation for your commitment to SMSD! SMSD SERVED AS EMERGENCY SHELTER

• STAFFORD MSD WAS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS AND THE TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD TO HOST AN EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE HARVEY. • AFTER IT WAS AN EMERGENCY SHELTER, THE STAFFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL/PRIMARY SCHOOL CAFETERIA BECAME A DISTRIBUTION CENTER FOR THOSE IN NEED OF CLOTHES, NON- PERISHABLE FOODS AND OTHER ITEAMS SMSD EMPLOYEE RELIEF DRIVE

• STUDENTS AND STAFF COLLABORATED TO COLLECT NON-PERISHABLE FOOD, CLOTHES AND MUCH MORE FOR THE SMSD EMPLOYEES DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY HURRICANE HARVEY. • IN ADDITION TO THAT, MORE THAN 200 VOLUNTEERS CLEANED UP STAFFORD NEIGHBORHOODS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE HARVEY AND SUBSEQUENT TORNADOES ALUMNI UPDATE: DONATION DRIVE

HERE’S THE STORY OF SMSD GRADUATE CRAIG ROBERTSON’S DEDICATION AND LOYALTY TO THE STAFFORD COMMUNITY. HTTP://WWW.STAFFORDMSD.ORG/A_B_O_U_T_U_S/NEWS/S_M_S_D_GRA DUATE_DONATES_HURRICANE_RELIEF_/ AS A SIDE NOTE, ROBERTSON HAD ANOTHER GREAT SEASON AS THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS ADVANCED TO THE NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS. “NATIONAL NIGHT OUT” WAS A SUCCESS

• STAFFORD MSD PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF STAFFORD AND THE STAFFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT ON TUESDAY. • NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENTS WERE HELD STAFFORD RUN, VACCARO MANOR, DOVE COUNTRY, PROMENADE AND GROVE WEST (I & II). FALL FESTIVAL Stafford MSD students of all ages enjoyed the 2017 Fall Festival on Monday, September 30.

There was candy, face- painting, a scavenger hunt and more! PERFECT SCORES FOR SHS BAND! The Stafford High Band has a school- record 220 members this year, including 32 seniors.

They scored all 1s (top score) at the UIL Competition in El Campo. COMERICA BANK DONATES TO SMSD STUDENTS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE HARVEY

Stafford MSD is grateful for Comerica Bank, which coordinated with non-profits Women Working Wonders and Oakland Natives Give Back to donate backpacks and school supplies to more than 30 Stafford Middle School and Stafford High School students who lost their school supplies due to Hurricane Harvey. “We want Texans to know, that they have not been forgotten and that Oakland Natives Give Back cares about them," said Ms. Erica Harris, Program Coordinator for Oakland Natives Give Back. The students in this photo are the “Hometown Heroes – they ‘ve attended Stafford MSD from K to 12th Grade SHS VALEDICTORIAN/SALUTATORIAN

Congratulations to Stafford High School Class of 2018 Valedictorian Dung Trinh and Stafford High School Class of 2018 Salutatorian Bryan Burman.

Both have received significant scholarships to attend the University of Texas-Austin.

To read more about Trinh and Burman, click the link below:

http://www.staffordmsd.org/cms/one.aspx?portalId=895 956&pageId=41000224 PRESIDENT JACKSON’S SPEECH AT FORT BEND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Stafford MSD Board President Auturo Jackson presented to the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce's Education Division last month. Thank You to SMETV for highlighting President Jackson's speech.

https://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=XvdJT- iKRjw&feature=youtu.be MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN HIGH SCHOOL COURSES RISES BY: 41 % SMSD ED FOUNDATION AWARDS $27,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS The Stafford MSD Education Foundation awarded $27,000 in scholarships to 20 Stafford High seniors. They celebrated with a reception on Thursday afternoon. SOCCER TEAM REACHES REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

Stafford defeated Cleveland, 1-0, in the Area Championship Game with Efren Arias scoring the only goal of the game, and goalkeeper Jesus Iniguez coming up with eight saves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_7fq5ZONeU SMSD EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION SR. VIDEOS

VI DINH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hup78g0Rrt4

JALON JACKSON

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9yQsrcrt-M

LY’JHA JOUBERT: BRITTANY KIET https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTQzN1c-TjY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4Od9kBpqPM CULINARY ARTS’ TRIP TO ITALY

11 members of the Stafford Culinary Arts traveled to last week for a Culinary Arts Field Trip. The Fort Bend Star wrote a front page story before their trip. Here’s the link: http://www.fortbendstar.com/stafford- culinary-arts-students-to-get-a-taste-of- italy/ See photos from their trip on Instagram: staffordhsculinaryartsabroad BODWIN NAMED ATHLETE OF THE WEEK -- TWICE

• HTTPS://WWW.KHOU.COM/VIDEO/ SPORTS/HIGH-SCHOOL/ATHLETE- OF-THE-WEEK-STAFFORD-HIGH- SCHOOLS-KENNETH-BODWIN/285- 8116730

https://www.chron.com/sports/hig hschool/article/Boys-athlete-of- the-week-Kenneth-Bodwin- Stafford-12876119.php BOYS TRACK FINISHES SECOND AT STATE MEET

THE STAFFORD HIGH BOYS TRACK & FIELD TEAM FINISHED SECOND AT THE UIL CLASS 4A MEET LAST SATURDAY IN AUSTIN. THE SPARTANS HAVE NOW FINISHED IN THE TOP TWO IN THREE OF THE PAST FOUR STATE MEETS. HERE’S AN ARTICLE ABOUT THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, FROM THE FORT BEND STAR: HTTP://WWW.FORTBENDSTAR.COM/STAFFORD-BOYS-TAKE-SECOND-AT- STATE-TRACK-MEET/ THEY WERE HONORED BY THE SMSD BOARD OF TRUSTEES ON MONDAY. SHS ACADEMIC SIGNING DAY

STAFFORD MSD CONTINUED THE TRADITION OF ACADEMIC SIGNING DAY, FOR THE CLASS OF 2018. STUDENTS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN WITH THEIR FUTURE COLLEGE/CAREER OR MILITARY PATH IN FRONT OF FAMILY, FRIENDS, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS! DYLAN SMITH RECOGNIZED BY CHRONICLE Stafford High senior Dylan Smith signed a baseball scholarship to the University of Alabama last month.

Earlier this week, the Houston Chronicle recognized Smith as one of the top baseball recruits in the Houston area. Here’s the link: https://www.chron.com/sports/highschool/article/The-top- high-school-baseball-recruits-in-Houston- 12882856.php#photo-15492151 SUPER SENIOR 55+ BREAKFAST

Our monthly Super Senior 55+ Breakfast events, courtesy of our Culinary Arts program, have been very successful with the community! SHS ACADEMICS TEAM QUALIFIES FOR UIL REGIONALS

Several Stafford High School students qualified for the UIL Regional Championships last month in Corpus Christi.

They qualified in Science, Mathematics, Journalism & more. The Stafford Culinary STAFFORD MSD PREPARES MEAL FOR Arts Program, along with Stafford MSD CFO STAFFORD FIRST RESPONDERS Daniel Flores and Stafford MSD Superintendent Dr. Robert Bostic started a new tradition this year – preparing a delicious meal for City of Stafford First Responders.

We are grateful for our Police Officers and Firefighters! RAYMOND RETURNS TO HIS ROOTS

A 1998 Stafford High graduate is going back to his roots. The Stafford MSD Board of Trustees voted to hire Raymond Root as the next principal of Stafford High School during Monday’s February Board Meeting. ...“I graduated from this District 20 years ago,” Root said. “This is an amazing opportunity.” http://www.staffordmsd.org/a_b_ o_u_t_u_s/news/s_m_s_d_grad _raymond_root_hired_as_new_ STAFFORD WELDING TEAM WINS FIRST PLACE Four of our Stafford High Welding Students -- Andy Alvarez, Jose Garcia, Zachary Natt and Ja'Mourice Williams Lee -- who won first place in Welding Competition at San Jacinto College and earned Best of Show out of 80 competitors. The team advanced to the State Tournament, April 5-8, in Corpus Christi. 2018-19 SMSD BOARD OFFICERS

From left,

• PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER CALDWELL

• VICE PRESIDENT XAVIER HERRERA

• SECRETARY ALICIA LACY- CASTILLE HERRERA, HINOJOSA SWORN IN FOR SECOND TERM Stafford MSD Trustees Xavier Herrera and Manuel Hinojosa were sworn in for their second three-year term. They were unopposed to a second term, which expires in 2021. Herrera was sworn in by Fort Bend County Commissioner Grady Prestage and Hinojosa sworn in by David Hodgins, an attorney for Stafford MSD. WALLIS STATE BANK DONATES TO STAFFORD ELEMENTARY Wallis State Bank generously donated school supplies to Stafford Elementary School. STAFFORD ROBOTICS – TOP 20 IN TEXAS

The Stafford High Robotics Team competed at the UIL Championships, and they are among the Top 20 Teams in the entire State of Texas! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no- uXR0G9Ko&feature=youtu.be READING & RUGBY AT STAFFORD ELEMENTARY • STAFFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS PROUD TO WELCOME HOUSTON SABERCATS PROFESSIONAL RUGBY PLAYERS JUSTIN ALLEN AND JAKE TURNBULL TO OUR CAMPUS EARLIER THIS YEAR FOR THE "READING & RUGBY" PROGRAM. • ALLEN AND TURNBULL ENJOYED THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ TO THREE DIFFERENT KINDERGARTEN CLASSES. THEY ALSO FIELDED QUESTIONS FROM A PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASS! GALVESTON NEWSPAPER FEATURES SHS VOLLEYBALL COACH • THE STAFFORD HIGH VOLLEYBALL TEAM IS OFF TO ITS BEST START IN MORE THAN A DECADE. THE GALVESTON DAILY NEWS WROTE A STORY ABOUT SHS HEAD COACH IVANA ELLAS, A 2007 GALVESTON BALL HIGH GRADUATE, WHILE THE LADY SPARTANS WERE IN GALVESTON COUNTY TO PLAY IN A TOURNAMENT. • STAFFORD (8-4) FINISHED FOURTH IN THE SILVER BRACKET OF THE DICKINSON TOURNAMENT, WHICH FEATURED MOSTLY CLASS 6A SCHOOLS. • STAFFORD WILL CONTINUE PLAYING TOP-NOTCH COMPETITION. THEY WILL CHALLENGE 6A KATY TAYLOR TODAY (THURSDAY, AUG. 24) IN THE GEORGE RANCH TOURNAMENT. SMSD ALUMNI SUCCESS STORY

CHARLES & CARLTON ANUMNU GRADUATED THIRD AND FOURTH, RESPECTIVELY, IN THE STAFFORD HIGH CLASS OF 2013. THEY BOTH EARNED DEGREES IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS-AUSTIN LAST YEAR AND BEGAN FULL-TIME JOBS AS ENGINEERS AT VALERO (CHARLES) AND CHEVRON (CARLTON), RESPECTIVELY, IN JANUARY. ...READ THEIR FULL STORY HERE: HTTP://WWW.STAFFORDMSD.ORG/A_B_O_U_T_U_S/NEWS /STAFFORD_GRADUATES_EARN_ENGINEERING_SUCCESS_ DYLON TURNER RANKED 7TH IN THE WORLD

Stafford MSD would like to congratulate Stafford Intermediate School Sixth Grader Dylon Turner on winning the Texas State Silver Gloves Boxing Championship.

Turner is currently ranked No. 3 in the USA and No. 7 worldwide.

In addition to his accomplishments in the boxing ring, Turner is also an outstanding student! HOUSTON CHRONICLE RECOGNIZES SECRETARY HERRERA

The Houston Chronicle published a story about Stafford MSD Board Secretary Xavier Herrera getting accepted into the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Leadership 2018 Program.

Here’s the link: http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/sugarland/school s/article/Stafford-trustee-selected-for-TASB-leadership- 11820632.php FORT BEND STAR FEATUERES SMSD ALUM DANIEL PONCE

The Fort Bend Star featured Daniel Ponce, a 2016 Stafford High School graduate who was enrolled in the Stafford College & Career Center’s Welding Program, was hired in the Welding Department at Hunting Energy Services in Stafford.

Both the Stafford College & Career Center and Hunting Energy Services agreed that this is just the beginning of a wonderful partnership to provide jobs for students.

The SHS Welding Program is part of a partnership with Houston Community College.

To read more about Daniel Ponce, follow this link:

http://www.fortbendstar.com/hunting-international-hires-stafford-college-career-graduate/ STAFFORD MSD SUMMER READING With the school year https://www.powtoon.co winding down, we turn m/t/e1NMRSgkxzJ/1/m our focus to the Summer Reading Program, a very important part of our literacy initiative for our students. SMSD-CLASSIC CHEVROLET PARTNERSHIP Stafford Municipal School District is proud to announce that it is partnering with Classic Chevrolet of Sugar Land to honor the 2018-19 Stafford MSD District Teacher of the Year with a complimentary vehicle lease this summer. The SMSD District Teacher of the Year will be announced on the morning of May 31. SMSD BOARD APPROVES LAND PURCHASE The Stafford MSD Board of Trustees voted to approve the purchase of 19 acres of land from the City of Stafford to begin construction on the new Stafford Middle School, which was approved by voters in the 2017 Bond. Construction is expected to begin within the next few months! BOND SALE = TAXPAYER $AVINGS • SMSD sold $52 Million worth of the $62 Million Bond on Feb. 28.

• The remaining $10 Million will be sold in 2019, in a bank qualified option plan, as recommended by our financial advisors, RBC Capital.

• RBC Capital recommended two sales instead of one, lowering the cost from $8.75 per month per $100,000 valuation to $7.08 per month for taxpayers. WE ARE HIRING! Contact Tera Bressler, tbressler@staffor dmsd.org if you are interested in applying for a position with SMSD Child Nutrition or SMSD Transportation. SPARTAN SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Stafford High is starting a new initiative, the Spartan Scholarship Assistance Program. Our intent is to help high school students submit scholarship applications in a timely and professional manner.... The goal of this initiative is to ensure our students are being awarded the maximum number of scholarship dollars. We need the community’s support. We need volunteers who can donate a minimum of two (2) hours each month.

Here is a video we produced last week about the Spartan Scholarship Assistance Program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_vOHo-gHdk STAFFORD MSD IS STEM-FOCUSED • STAFFORD MSD IS ALREADY A LEADER IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATH (STEM). THANKS TO THE 2017 BOND, WE ARE ABOUT TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL. • WE WILL BECOME THE ONLY CAMPUS IN FORT BEND COUNTY TO HAVE A STEM MAGNET FOR GRADES 3-THROUGH-12. • HERE IS THE VIDEO: • HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=YIHCLSVJUXW