by Michelle LeBlanc L to R: Giselle, Claire, Guillermo, Russell, and Lizzie School Year Success Tips For Cy-Fair Area Parents and Students Preparing Ahead Before the First Bell Rings I It s that time of year again the lazy days of summer give way to busy fall routines. Shopping for school supplies, starting a new grade at school, and scheduling after-school activities are just a few of the many items on Cypress area families back-to-school to do lists. Well, we ve got some tips that may make the transition back to school easier, no matter what age your Cy-Fair scholar is. Check and make sure that all immunizations and physicals for the coming year are complete. Schedule any optometrist, orthodontist, or dermatologist appointments now, if possible, rather than during the school year. Buy school supplies when they are on sale and stock up on extra supplies while the prices are lower. Check with your local PTO for special school supply bundles you can preorder before school starts. Buy only clothing or uniforms which comply with your school s dress code. Buy a good backpack and lunch kit since these items will get the most use. 16 cy-fair magazine Visit CyFairMagazine.com for jobs, events, news and more. Label all items that will be taken to school and label clothing that will be worn and taken off at school (jackets, gym clothes, etc.).
Get on a school schedule. About a week or two before school starts, start going to bed and waking up at the same times you would on a school day. Most schools have a Meet the Teacher day. If you did not meet the teacher on that day, call and schedule a time to meet. Complete all necessary emergency forms and paperwork. Review your school s rules and go over them with your child. Make a calendar listing school events, activities, and vacations for the whole year. Pals Giselle, Russell, and Lizzie say friendship makes school fun Eliminating First-Day Jitters Remind your child that he or she is not the only student who is a bit uneasy about the first day of school. Teachers know that students are anxious and will make an extra effort to make sure that everyone feels as comfortable as possible. Point out the positive aspects of starting school. It will be fun. It will be a time to see old friends and make new ones. Try to find another child in the neighborhood who goes to the same school with whom your child can ride with on the bus or in a carpool. Moving and Grooving All Year Long Make sure your child goes to bed at the same time each night and wakes up about the same time each morning. Allow enough time in the morning for your Cy-Fair student(s) to eat a good breakfast. Encourage your kids to make healthy choices at lunch and snack time (fresh fruit, low-fat dairy products, water, and fruit juice are good options). Create an environment that is conducive to doing homework. Set ample time for homework and be available to guide/help with questions during that time. Alleviate eye, neck, and brain fatigue while studying let your child take a 10-minute break for every hour of studying. Michelle LeBlanc, contributing writer, lives in the Cypress area and is a journalism and English teacher at Cypress Christian School. To advertise, call 281-579-9831 or email sales@cyfairmagazine.com cy-fair magazine 17
by KELLI CATALINE Bella shows off the book she just finished reading at Head Start to Reading Lessons in Learning Cy-Fair Area Tutoring Facilities Give Returning Students a Boost Back to school means back to the books for school-aged kids. Sometimes, the adjustment from the lazy days of summer to a new grade and level of intensity at school can overwhelm even the best of students. Well, no matter what your child s tutoring needs, you can find just the right level of support for learning in the Cy-Fair area. Club Z! 16710 Kleinwood Dr., Ste. 600 Spring, TX 77379 281-655-4640 www.clubztutoring.com One-on-one home tuturing in reading, mathematics, science, and history. Also, study skills, foreign languages, standardized test prep, assessment testing such as ACT and SAT, music lessons, and much more. Coloquia Language Arts, LLP 14222 Meadow Estates Ln. Cypress, TX 77429 281-256-8787 www.coloquia.com In home tutoring of English as a Second Language (ESL), Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Indonesian, Norwegian and (almost) any other languages. Classes for ages 3 years to adult. Creative Tutors of Cy-Fair 10419 Sanibel Falls Ct. Houston, TX 77095 281-758-8867 www.creativetutors4kids.com Matthew at Kumon Homework Assistance, TAKS, PSAT, SAT & ACT preparation, Handson Help for Science Fairs, Special Needs, Gifted & Talented, Home- Schooling, Summer/Day camps Head Start to Reading Main Location: 10960 Millridge North Dr., Ste. 115 Houston, TX 77070 281-897-9991 www.headstarttoreading.com Designed to give young children a start in reading, classes for 4- and 5-year-old children starting kindergarten next year and summer classes available for elementaryaged children. Other Cy-Fair Area Locations Good Shepherd United Methodist Church (in Fairfield) 20155 Cypresswood Dr. Cypress, TX 77433 Jersey Village Baptist Church 16518 Jersey Dr. Houston, TX 77040 Huntington Learning Center (Willowbrook area) 7524 FM 1960 West Houston, TX 77070 281-807-9600 www.huntingtonlearning.com Instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, and study skills, tutoring done at learning center. Kumon Cy-Fair Area Locations: Copperfield 6440 Hwy 6 N. Houston, TX 77084 281-861-8866 Cypress 12312 Barker Cypress, #1825 Cypress, TX 77433 281-304-1818 Northwest 9344 Jones Road Ste. E Houston, TX 77065 281-955-6284 www.kumon.com After-school math and reading program that employs a unique learning method designed to help each child develop the skills needed to perform to his or her full potential. Smart Abilities Tutoring Institute Cy-Fair Area Locations: 11124c Cypress N. Houston (All About Music & Arts Bldg.) Houston, TX 77065 281-970-2199 7103 Glen Chase Ct. (in the Cy-Fair Music & Arts Bldg.) Houston, TX 77095 281-855-8855 www.smartabilities.com Tutoring in most subjects, homework assistance, SAT prep, conversational Spanish, English, French, German, Norwegian and computer/internet training for all ages. Tutor Quest 8015 Lichen Ln. Spring, TX 77379 281-320-0977 Tutor.com 1-800-411-1970 www.tutor.com Online tutoring, on demand. Professional tutors in all subjects. Convenient one-to-one sessions. No appointments necessary. Webb Learning Solutions Michael Webb PhD 15815 House Hahl Rd. Cypress, TX 77429 832-282-7059 www.webblearning.com Webb Learning Solutions offers (K-8) academic tutorials at St. Aidan s Episcopal Church in Cypress. Tutorials are researchbased. Denotes Cy-Fair Magazine Advertiser 18 cy-fair magazine Visit CyFairMagazine.com for jobs, events, news and more.
To advertise, call 281-579-9831 or email sales@cyfairmagazine.com cy-fair magazine 19
by LORRIE CROW Homecoming Time in Cy-Fair Cypress Area High Schools Show Their Spirit for Past and Present Students Cy-Fair area football provides great family entertainment wwith eight different high schools in the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, one might think there would be eight various ways of celebrating Homecoming. But although each high school is unique in its own right, Homecoming traditions seem to pass on from school to school from the original Cy-Fair High School (opened in 1941) to the newest, Cy-Woods High School (opened in 2006). Here s a breakdown of the spirited traditions and fun festivities at each Cy-Fair area high school homecoming. Jersey Village High School Putting the Top Down for a Great Parade Homecoming: Friday, September 28 Game Location: Pridgeon Stadium Opponent: Cypress Springs School colors: Purple and Gold Mascot: Falcon Cy-Fair Bobcats face off against Jersey Village Falcons Courtesy of Siobhan Fine Photography Jersey Village High School homecoming activities begin with Homecoming Dress Up Days during the week, which can include Mix-Match Day, Crazy Socks Day, Purple and Gold Day, and Mum Day. Seniors nominate the King and Queen candidates and their photos are posted prior to Homecoming Week for the student body to view, according to Margie Comstock, Journalism Advisor. The candidates ride in convertibles during the Homecoming Parade, which winds through the city of Jersey Village the Wednesday before the big game. The parade has a Grand Marshall selected by the senior class, Comstock says. One year it was in memory of a young man who had died of cancer and his younger brothers rode in his place and represented him at the football game. 20 cy-fair magazine Visit CyFairMagazine.com for jobs, events, news and more.
Cypress Falls High School Lighting Up Mums in Celebration Homecoming: Friday, September 28 Location: Berry Center Opponent: Cypress Creek School colors: Green and Gold Mascot: Eagle Cypress Falls High School also has Homecoming Dress Up Days during Homecoming Week. However, their Homecoming Parade is held one evening a few days before the game so all students, parents, and siblings can get involved and help raise up our school spirit, senior Lindsey Bienvenu says. After the parade, everyone meets up in the gym for the Homecoming pep rally. During Homecoming, students hold a raffle, and winners get to throw a pie in a chosen teacher s face. On game day, students wear their mums to school. The seniors wear gold and white; the juniors wear silver and white, and the sophomores and freshmen wear green and gold for their mums, Bienvenu explains. And the bigger the mum, the better. It gets pretty outrageous. A lot of girls are wearing triple mums with lights it s pretty insane, she says. Cy-Fair High School Standing Room Only for Many Alums and Students Homecoming: Friday, October 5 Location: Berry Center Opponent: Jersey Village School colors: Maroon and White Mascot: Bobcat Cy-Fair Bobcat team captains are ready for action Cy-Fair High School students can attest that they have the most well-attended homecoming in the Cypress area. In fact, homecoming is a standing room only event, as many alumni choose to visit. I enjoy going to the Cy-Fair Homecoming football games because it brings back a lot of memories for me, says Joel Chambers, Class of 90. Chambers, who was a running back for the Varsity football team in his day, recently moved back to Cypress with his wife, Elena, and future Bobcat son, Kyle (2). Cy-Fair has continued with its Homecoming Week traditions of Dress Up Days, Homecoming Parade, and crowing the Queen at the game and the King at the Homecoming Dance. Students wear their mums to school on Friday and at the game (white only for seniors) but dress up for the dance on Saturday. Courtesy of Siobhan Fine Photography To advertise, call 281-579-9831 or email sales@cyfairmagazine.com cy-fair magazine 21
2006 Cy-Fair Homecoming Queen, Amanda Caldwell, beams for the crowd Cypress Creek High School Getting Gussied Up for the Big Dance Homecoming: Friday, October 5 Location: Pridgeon Stadium Opponent: Cypress Springs School Colors: Blue and Silver Mascot: Cougar Cy-Creek High School includes the traditional Crazy Days during its Homecoming Week of activities and peaks with a pep rally at the end of school on Friday. That day, students wear their mums to school and then to the game where they crown the Queen. Senior Austin Pooley says he thinks mums should not be too over the top. Some have lights and bears on them, but I prefer to personalize what my date is involved in at school, like dance or something, he explains. Cy-Creek students view the Homecoming Dance as a semi-formal event. We eat at a nice place, and then go to the dance where they crown the King, Pooley says. Students get into the spirit of their Homecoming parade at Cy Woods Cypress Springs High School Silencing Cowbells but Not Their Spirit Homecoming: Friday, October 12 Location: Berry Center Opponent: Cypress Ridge School Colors: Navy Blue, Red, and White Mascot: Panther It took some work to talk the Cypress Springs High School principal into having a Homecoming King. But, once he realized the other high schools had one, he gave in, explains Shannon Casto, Journalism Advisor. When Cypress Springs first opened, the school held an event called, The Premiere, because there were no alumni to return home only freshmen and sophomores in attendance. Casto says now that the school Courtesy of Siobhan Fine Photography is in its eleventh year, they have a Queen and a night pep rally during Spirit Week where the cheerleaders, drill team, HOLA Dance Club, and band perform. Casto adds, The Varsity football players and trainers are introduced and escorted by a parent, family member or teacher. Casto says that students who are involved on campus are usually very into Homecoming. They really dress up and go to eat and to the dance, Castro explains. They also wear their mums to school but have to silence the cowbells. Langham Creek High School Sharing Parade Fun with Future Lobos Homecoming: Friday, October 19 Location: Pridgeon Opponent: Jersey Village School Colors: Red, White, and Black Mascot: Lobo Langham Creek High School holds a traditional Homecoming Week that is filled with Cy Woods cheerleaders atop a homecoming parade float 22 cy-fair magazine Visit CyFairMagazine.com for jobs, events, news and more. Courtesy of Siobhan Fine Photography
One of our area s newest high schools, Cy-Woods players take the field a theme for each day. They also crown the Queen at the Friday game and the King at the Saturday dance. But both Principal Tom Strother and his secretary Cheryl Thurston agree that Langham Creek is a little bit more unique with their Homecoming Parade. We actually have our parade travel by two elementary schools and through a neighborhood. The kids look forward to it, Thurston says. She adds that part of a major roadway is blocked off so that even people who pass by that area can watch. Parents and their small children sit in their lawn chairs and watch the parade with all the floats go by. It s very special. Cypress Ridge High School Building on New Homecoming Traditions Homecoming: October 19 Location: Berry Center Opponent: Cypress Creek School Colors: Navy Blue, Forest Green, and White Mascot: Rams The Cypress Ridge Student Council sponsors Spirit Week and Dress Up Days, says Director of Instruction, Teresa Baranowski. On Spirit Day, students wear their mums to school. The school holds a giant pep rally the Wednesday night before the game at the school football field where everyone is welcome to come, Baranowski says. This year will be Cypress Ridge s third homecoming. Before we had Homecoming, we had Celebration Week, Baranowski explains. We do have some kids come back for Homecoming and last year s Queen comes back to crown this year s winner. Cypress Woods High School Lacking the Seniors, but No Shortage of Homecoming Fun Homecoming: JV Game School Colors: Red and Gold Mascot: Wildcats Although Cy-Woods High School will not have seniors until the Class of 2009, they still celebrate Homecoming, albeit with a JV Football game. They also participate with a Spirit Day and students wear their mums to school, according to junior Matt Briggs. Last year s Homecoming Queen and King were sophomores and the Homecoming Dance took place in the cafeteria. We have a lot of spirit. Briggs adds. Our Homecoming Dance was just as formal as anyone else s and we had a lot of people showing up at our game. Cy-Fair ISD Homecoming traditions will most likely weave their common thread for many years to come and have that chance next fall when the newest high schools, Cypress Ranch and Cypress Lakes, open their doors. Lorrie Crow is a freelance writer who owns her own company and was formerly a journalism teacher for Cy-Fair High School. She and a friend made her son s girlfriend s mum last year and it took six hours! Courtesy of Siobhan Fine Photography To advertise, call 281-579-9831 or email sales@cyfairmagazine.com cy-fair magazine 23
MUM s the Word in Cy-Fair! A Fun High School Tradition for Homecoming For many years, the homecoming mum has been a long-standing high school tradition in the south. Girls look forward to receiving a mum with 3-foot long streamers in their school colors with bells, charms, banners, plush animals, bows, sparkly letters and even blinking lights. Boys receive a smaller garter version worn on the upper arm. Bigger Is Better Cy Woods cheerleaders atop a homecoming parade float Mums come in single, double, and triple sizes. In her 20 years of mum making, floral designer Melissa Maxwell even recalls a unique six mum creation. It was a shoulder cascade hanging 36 in the front with a stuffed Bobcat on the top shoulder that also hung 18 down the back. Custom Ordered Mums Other students rely on local florists who are ready with trinkets, school colored ribbons, and numerous personalization options. Maxwell says mum trends are changing from the traditional footballthemed embellishments to decorations that reflect other school activities including soccer, golf, volleyball even music and drama. Hand-Made Mums Amy wearing her two mums a single and a triple Some crafty students are making mums by hand, specially suited to their dates. Sue Leverett, floral designer for Hobby Lobby at 1960 and Jones Road, remembers the old days of mum designing. We used to work with a paper plate and put a hole in it for a fresh mum. Today, large silk flowers are used and most hobby and craft stores carry a wide variety of trinkets, accessories, and ribbon colors to create any mum imaginable. 24 cy-fair magazine Visit CyFairMagazine.com for jobs, events, news and more.
2007 2008 Cy-Fair ISD High School Football Schedules Cy-Creek Klein Oak Fri. 7:30 8/31 Spring Woods Away - Tully Thurs. 7:00 9/6 Tomball Away - Tomball Fri. 7:30 9/14 Cy Falls Fri. 7:30 9/28 Cy Springs (HC) Fri. 7:30 10/5 Jersey Village Sat. 6:00 10/13 Cy Ridge Fri. 7:30 10/19 Sat. 6:00 10/27 Cy Fair Fri. 7:30 11/2 Langham Creek Sat. 1:00 11/10 Cy-Fair Stratford Away - Tully Fri. 7:30 8/31 Klein Collins Fri. 7:30 9/7 Alief Taylor Away - Crump Fri. 7:00 9/14 Sat. 6:00 9/29 Jersey Village (HC) Fri. 7:30 10/5 Langham Creek Fri. 7:30 10/12 Cy Falls Thur. TBA 10/18 Cy Springs Fri. 7:30 10/26 Cy Creek Fri. 7:30 11/2 Cy Ridge Sat. 1:00 11/10 Cy-Falls Bryan Away Fri. 7:30 8/3 Westfield Fri. 7:30 9/7 Katy Taylor Fri. 7:30 9/14 Cy Creek (HC) Fri. 7:30 9/28 Cy Ridge Sat. 6:00 10/6 Away Fri. 7:30 10/12 Cy Fair Thur.TBA 10/18 Langham Creek Fri. 7:30 10/26 Jersey Village Fri. 7:30 11/2 Cy Springs Fri. 7:30 11/9 Cy-Ridge Cinco Ranch Sat. 6:00 9/1 Klein Away - Klein Mem. Fri. 7:30 9/7 Magnolia Fri. 7:30 9/14 Langham Creek Sat. 6:00 9/29 Cy Falls Sat. 6:00 10/6 Cy Springs Fri. 7:30 10/12 Cy Creek (HC) Fri. 7:30 10/19 Jersey Village Sat. 6:00 10/27 Away Fri. 7:30 11/2 Cy Fair Sat. 1:00 11/10 Cy-Springs Morton Ranch Fri. 7:30 8/31 Cinco Ranch Away - Rhodes Fri. 7:00 9/7 Klein Forest Fri. 7:30 9/21 Jersey Village Fri. 7:30 9/28 Cy Creek Fri. 7:30 10/5 Cy Ridge (HC) Fri. 7:30 10/12 Away Fri. 7:30 10/19 Cy Fair Fri. 7:30 10/26 Langham Creek Sat. 6:00 11/3 Cy Falls Fri. 7:30 11/9 Jersey Village Clear Lake Away Fri. 7:30 8/31 Memorial Sat. 6:00 9/8 Humble Away - Turner Field Fri. 7:30 9/14 Cy Springs (HC) Fri. 7:30 9/28 Cy Fair Fri. 7:30 10/5 Cy Creek Sat. 6:00 10/13 Langham Creek Fri. 7:30 10/19 Cy Ridge Sat. 6:00 10/27 Cy Falls Fri. 7:30 11/2 Fri. 7:30 11/9 Langham Creek Katy Taylor Away - Rhodes Fri. 7:00 8/31 Mayde Creek Sat. 6:00 9/8 Morton Ranch Away - Rhodes Sat. 7:00 9/15 Cy Ridge Sat. 6:00 9/29 Away Fri. 7:30 10/5 Cy Fair Fri. 7:30 10/12 Jersey Village (HC) Fri. 7:30 10/19 Cy Falls Fri. 7:30 10/26 Cy Springs Sat. 6:00 11/3 Cy Creek Sat. 1:00 11/10 District Stadiums - BC Berry Center, KP Ken Pridgeon, SJ, Homecoming - HC Please contact schools to verify since dates may have changed prior to print. Cy-Springs Home Thurs. 7:00 10/25 Langham Creek Home Thurs. 7:00 11/1 Jersey Village Home Thurs. 7:00 11/8 To advertise, call 281-579-9831 or email sales@cyfairmagazine.com cy-fair magazine 25
Cy-Fair ISD Campus News O SCHO L HAPPENINGS Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas Celebrates 2 Million Milestone Last month, Farney Elementary School fourth-grade student Adam O Neal became the two millionth student to actively participate in Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas (JASET). O Neal was able to experience the JASET program Exchange City, a converted warehouse at 3710 Dacoma that allows students to run their own mock city for a day. O Neal will be featured in the JASET Annual Report that comes out in January, and gave a three-minute speech about JA at the JASET Annual Meeting in June. Hamilton Student Was the Write Choice for National Contest Hamilton Middle School student Kei Harvin was one of two national finalists selected from the Houston area for the National Campaign to Stop Violence Do the Write Thing challenge program. The contest gives middle school students an opportunity to examine the impact of youth violence on their lives, communicate what they think should be done to reduce violence, and commit to do something about the problem. Harvin and the other Houston-area selection, Aktssa Navarro Mahoney from Galveston, were selected out of more than 12,500 national entries and were honored in a national recognition ceremony in Washington, D.C. Both of the winning Harris County student essays were submitted at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. this summer. Submit School News Email school news and publicity items to editor@cyfairmagazine.com 26 cy-fair magazine Visit CyFairMagazine.com for jobs, events, news and more.
i n s p i r e Honor Your Great Teacher with a Cy-Fair Magazine INSPIRE Award! The Cy-Fair area is well known for its outstanding school system and fantastic schools. But, what makes our kids learning places so special? It only takes a quick walk through a CFISD hallway or a short visit to your child s class to know the answer the teachers. Cy-Fair Magazine is proud to recognize our outstanding teachers with a new award, our Cy-Fair INSPIRE award. Each issue, we ll profile several top educators nominated by their principals, fellow teachers, students, parents or community members. We re looking for teachers who excite their students about learning, go above and beyond the call of duty on the job, promote confidence and self-esteem in their students, and set a positive example. To Nominate a CFISD Teacher Email editor@cyfairmagazine.com and tell us why you think he or she is so special. To advertise, call 281-579-9831 or email sales@cyfairmagazine.com cy-fair magazine 27