November 2018 Newsletter JaDana Hygh ~ Site Coordinator William B. Travis Elementary, Marshall, Texas CIS is off to a great start this year at Wil- liam B. Travis. I had my 1st attendance party, which was a great success. Almost 275 students were in attendance for the event. On October 12th, I had Marshall Fire Department to come out and talk to kindergarten about fire prevention. This year the counselor and I have started a mentoring program for 3rd -5th grade stu- dents. We have decided to call it Guys N Ties & Girls N Pearls. These students are being trained to help younger students here at William B. Travis by modeling positive behaviors. Others campus events that CIS was a part of was the Breast Cancer Walk, Anti-Bullying Assembly, and Red Ribbon Week. Donna James ~ Site Coordinator Lufkin Middle School of East Texas LMS celebrates Unity Day 2018!!! The students were encouraged to wear or- ange to celebrate Unity Day, which is a day set aside to bring awareness to Bul- lying. The first picture is a group of 6th grade student. In the second picture the students love taking pictures in the frame made by our Art Teacher Mrs. Hayes. Communities in Schools Dolores Perez ~ Asst. Program Coordinator Lufkin High School, Lufkin,Texas We came together in one giant ORANGE message of hope and support, WEAR- ING AND SHARING ORANGE to color our campus, nation, and even the world, visibly showing that Lufkin High School believes, that no child should ever ex- perience bullying. And during our daily morning announcements, selected CIS students had the opportunity to share it over the schools PA system. We had students sign the Texas Say What banner, pledging to live a tobacco free life. Materials from the kit was passed out, and info fact cards were placed in teachers mail- box, and also posted on the bulletin board all over campus. This was an amazing way to close Red Ribbon Week. The banner was hung outside on a fence by the students parking lot. Our indoor activity reached close to 2500, and having the banner outside will reach the whole population of Lufkin, TX! Lufkin High School Site Coor- dinator, Ms. Perez with one of her students, Iris Rojo setting up in the cafeteria for the Club Rush school wide event. This is an opportunity for all students to sign up for Lufkin High Schools Com- different clubs, and organiza- munities In Schools students tions offered on campus. volunteering to work various booths for the Fall Festival at Dunbar Primary School. Blessing Davis ~ Site Coordinator East Texas Montessori Prep Academy, Longview To kick start National Fire Prevention Month, East Texas Montessori Prep Academy part- nered with the local fire department to help bring awareness to our campus. The Fire De- partment provided a puppet show for our stu- dents, who were very excited. They also pro- vided our kids with some good information, by showing them how to stop drop and roll in case they were ever on fire. Also how to crawl in smoke filled areas to prevent inhaling too much smoke. Seasons Greetings! East Texas Montessori Prep Academy, through Communities In Schools of Deep East Texas, is hosting a canned food drive in part- nership with Community Outreach Mission of Long- view Texas. Community Outreach Mission is a non- profit organization that specializes in helping meet the needs of the community, whether by food, bill payment, or etc. Our hope is to teach the students community service and the importance of giving back now, to help shape a better future for us all later. Thus far, we have gathered over 620 nonper- ishable items and hope to gain many more by No- vember 16, 2018. Taylor Taylor ~ Site Coordinator Longview High School Take a look at Longview High School on Unity Day! Princi- pal Brewer supported the stu- dents by participating! The theme was We are one. The students were able to get their hands dirty and place their hand print on paper to show their pledge for unifying the campus!! April Wilson ~ Site Coordinator Judson Middle School, Longview, Texas Although we got off to a slow start this school year, Judson is making headway with the students. We are underway with out lunch bunch fun and games. This month we have had discussions on bullying, making good decisions, how to get better grades, and being the best student that you can be to ensure advance- ment to the next grade level. On Monday, the student had to use strategies and teamwork to get out of the hand maze they were in. This is where everyone held one hand with the person on the opposite side of the circle and the other hand with the person next to them and they had to use their thinking caps to get the circle back into rounded position. There was one student that talked her cir- cle into doing the right order to getting back to where they were suppose to be and so she was able to assist the other team with their circle also. The object of this game is to show the students teamwork can make the dream work . Caitlin Alverson ~ Site Coordinator Hallsville East Elementary, Hallsville, Texas Hallsville East Elementary Communities in Schools hosted a full day of events to celebrate Unity Day on October 24, 2018. The halls were lined with orange balloons, and there were posters up everywhere. Both students and teachers wore orange to show their support. Teachers made videos talking about why they personally were against bullying. In P.E., the students did team-building exercises to learn the value working together, and why every- one is needed in order to be truly successful. In art, they explored new ways of being kind to others. In music, they worked together to create their own songs about the joy that comes from acceptance and friendship. In their classrooms, they watched the Spookley the Pumpkin movie about unity. Most importantly, they learned a deeper meaning to the color orange. Here at Hallsville East, we are One family, we Respect others, we are Always kind, we are Never hurtful, we are a Good friend, and we Encourage others. Nancy Essary ~ Site Coordinator New Diana Intermediate/Hunt Elementary Communities in Schools along with CIS partners has launched their 7th year of the backpack program for Robert F. Hunt Elementary School. New Diana High School PALS break down each of the food boxes, separate the items. assemble the sacks of food, then fill the backpacks to be delivered. Students and their families receive a backpack weekly to help meet their food needs in the home. Robert F. Hunt celebrated RED RIIBBON WEEK with themes/activities each day along with a gift item. Communities in Schools along with New Diana High School PALS help sort, and assemble over 2,660 RED RIBBON items for the week. Robert F Hunt Elementary Communities in Schools Site Coordinator, Nancy Essary had her students use pumpkins to express their thoughts of: I LIKE COM- MUNITIES IN SCHOOLS BECAUSE: (some of the responses were): I CAN EXPRESS MY THOUGHT AND FEELINGS WHEN I AM SAD SHE (Mrs. Essary) gives me a hug. She is always nice and smiles. SHE HELPS ME TO FEEL CONFIDENT #ALWAYS LOVE YOURSELF I LOVE TO HELP PEOPLE WITH NEEDS BECAUSE EVERYONE IS LOVED Dewayne Brown ~ Site Coordinator Longview Early Graduation High School During Red Ribbon week, October 22nd through the 26th at Longview Early Graduation High School we had a theme for each day throughout the week. Monday was “shade out drugs day”, where we al- lowed students to bring their best shades to school. Tuesday was “turning your back on drugs day”, where students were able to wear their shirts on backwards for the day. Wednesday was “put a cap on drugs day”. On this day students were al- lowed students to wear baseball caps. In addition, on Wednesday the East Texas Council on Alcohol- ism and Drug Abuse (ETCADA) did a presentation to two class periods on drug abuse. On Thursday, we had our day were students and even faculty had a chance to make a pledge to stay drug free by signing a poster that ETCADA donated to the school. This activity is to encourage drug-free envi- ronments and celebrate the drug-free choices and unity of students and faculty. And last but not least, on Friday it was ‘’shock it to drugs day’’. where stu- dents was able to show off their crazy shock. Adora Hall ~ Site Coordinator Ware Elementary, Longview, Texas These are Ware CIS students who participate in my lunch group and earned a candy treat for good behavior. Also they always comment on my CIS sign because they say that they like the little house so I let them take a picture with my sign. Stephanie Whitten ~ Site Coordinator J. L. Everhart Elementary, Longview, Texas On October 23rd, J. L. Everhart Ele- mentary held their annual Hispanic/ International Program. CIS Site Coor- dinator Stephanie Whitten helped with this event by choreographing several dances for the Bilingual classrooms. Pandra Pleasant ~ Site Coordinator Herty/Coston Elementary, Lufkin, Texas CIS and Coston Elementary are teaming up to provide personal hygiene products to Lufkin residents in need. We are col- lecting toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodor- ant, lotion, liquid and bar soap, razors, hand sanitizer, dental floss and any other toiletries you can donate. You can send the items to school by your student or you can drop the items off at the front office. Isha Brown ~ Site Coordinator Baker Koonce Intermediate, Carthage, Texas Sixth grade CIS students from Baker Koonce Intermediate students were able to gain early awareness of college options during their recent participation in the Car- thage High School College Fair.