Posted on Aug 28, 2009 | Tagged in: City of Friendswood
Last Monday Friendswood City Hall staff member Roger Roecker was sworn in as the City of Friendswood's new City Manager. Larry Taylor, State Representative performed the honors for Roecker, 56. For 20 years Roecker was on the City Hall staff, 3 of those years during this run as interim city manager. While he loves the low profile work he has done, he feels it is time to step up and embrace a new challenge.
During an interview at City Hall Roecker stated, "God really puts you where He wants you to be," and adding "Sometimes you agree with where He puts you and you like being there. Other times, you don't. My belief is you're better off going willingly. This is not a commentary on the city manager's job. It never was on my list, quite frankly, but it's what I feel God wants."
He was sworn in with open arms as a unanimous decision was made by City Council to officially make Roger Roecker its new Friendswood City Manager. All this after his 17 month interim capacity served prior to this. Council members praise him, and even gave him a standing ovation as he was sworn in last monday.
"I've known Roger Roecker for probably 25-plus years," State Representative Taylor said. "Leadership? He's great. His professionalism is of the highest quality. He's also a great man of character, very serious-minded about his work (and he's) hard working. The one thing Roger Roecker is not, is an actor, so I'm glad he's losing that ‘acting’ city manager title because he's the real deal."
"I've known Roger for quite a while and we know what we're getting with Roger,” Councilman Jim Hill added. “This is not an unknown quantity. I don't think at this time we could find a better person to be city manager of Friendswood."
Posted on Aug 21, 2009 | Tagged in: healthcare , Friendswood ISD , education
Texas kids are getting ready to go back to schools, and for many children, preparation includes getting a few more immunizations. This year, big changes have been made in immunization requirements which will impact incoming kindergarten and seventh grade students.
The changes to the requirements were made to bring Texas into line more closely with what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory committee on Immunization Practices recommend. These changes started on August 01 and include:
- Hepatitis A Vaccine: All students entering kindergarten will be required to have two doses of Hepatitis A vaccine.
- Measles, Mumps, Rubelle (MMR) Vaccine: All students entering kindergarten will be required to have two doses of the MMR vaccine.
- Varicella (chickenpox) Vaccine: All students entering kindergarten and 7th grade will be required to have two doses of the Varicella vaccine. However, a written statement from the parent/guardian, school nurse or physician attesting to the child already having had chickenpox may replace the vaccine.
- Tetanus, Diptheria and acellular pertussis-containing Vaccine (Tdap): All students entering 7th grade will be required to have one dose of Tdap vaccine. Students in the 7th grade are required to have a booster shot of Tdap only if it has been five years since their last dose. Students in grades 8-12 are required to have a booster shot of Tdap if it has been ten years or more since their previous dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine.
- Meningococcal Vaccine: All students entering 7th grade will be required to have one dose of meningococcal vaccine.
For more information on immunization requirements for Texas kids:
West Ranch residents visiting and attending Friendswood High School this Fall semester should be aware of potential traffic congestion in the area. Friendswood I.S.D and the City of Friendswood have issued the following warnings as a convenience to the community:
Traffic around FHS at the start and end of the school day will be congested. Parent drop-off is the same as last year and will be done on the right side of the building (senior parking lot). Students will enter the school through the first set of double doors. Parents will not be allowed to drop-off at any time in the bus drop-off and new teacher lot (left side of building). Seniors who will park in the front senior lot will still need to enter off Greenbriar Avenue. We are encouraging our juniors and seniors who will park in the football stadium lot to enter and exit on the new drive off Falling Leaf, next to the Natatorium construction.
We will still have overflow parking for juniors on Mustang Road and for seniors in the field next to the new teacher lot.
Please allow extra time in the mornings to get to school. Please be patient with our traffic challenges as we kick-off another great year at FHS!
City Construction Alert: As of Wednesday, August 19, 2009, Falling Leaf is closed between Sunset Drive and Greenbriar Avenue. Please contact the city for a re-open date and please plan accordingly.
West Ranch also wishes FHS students and teachers and excellent school year; have a great one and stay safe on those roads!
Posted on Aug 17, 2009 | Tagged in: Friendswood ISD , City of Friendswood
They said it couldn't be done. Friendswood school district reps were told it was too expensive, and that the trees would never survive the move. However, they were all wrong. In an effort to save mature trees on the campus of Friendswood High School, Davey Large Tree Moving successfully moved 10 trees to another part of the campus. Originally, many of the trees were thought to be lost causes. Thankfully, that is when Curt Smith of the Davey Company stepped in.
The crew at Davey Company carefully moved bare cypress, oaks, and river birch trees from the soccer field to other ends of the campus. Five trees were also moved along side the tennis court, and more was done to give a more landscaped, green look. "We are hoping to make that area nice and landscaped," said Trish Hanks, FISD Superintendent. "We really kind of like the idea of the high school being sort of a green fit in the neighborhood."
Posted on Aug 11, 2009 | Tagged in: travel , Friendswood ISD , community
West Ranch residents should be wary when driving through Friendswood I.S.D.'s and other schools' school zones, as a new state law will prohibit the use of wireless communication devices while operating a vehicle in a school zone. Violators must pay a fine of up to $200 per violation.
House Bill 55 is set to take effect on September 1, and is intended to promote the safety of students. While the law has not taken effect in all areas of Texas yet, it is in effect in the Friendswood area.
A few facts about the law:
- Provisions under the law will allow drivers to use cell phones in school zones with a hands-free device or when their vehicle is stopped.
- School bus drivers will be affected, too.
- The law is an amendment of the Texas Transportation Code, section 545.425.
- An additional exception is provided in emergency situations, when a driver needs to use a cell phone in a school zone to contact police, fire, or emergency medical personnel.
We beg West Ranch residents to heed this new law, as it is designed with the safety of you and your children in mind!
Posted on Aug 10, 2009 | Tagged in: Friendswood ISD , education
West Ranch community students will officially be attending school in an Exemplary school district this 2009-2010 school year. With the recent release of Texas Education Agency ratings, all six Friendswood Independent School District campuses earned Exemplary status - the highest ranking possible.
This accomplishment surpassed last years ratings, which left all six still Exemplary, but the district overall as "Recognized."
Superintendent Trish Hanks claimed Exemplary was a "very challenging" rating to receive, and attributed the district's success to continued concentration on helping at-risk students, additional planning time for teachers, and an increased number of students who reached the commended level of proficiency on the state assessment.
To receive an Exemplary rating, at least 90% of a school's students must score passing rates in reading, social studies, mathematics, and science on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test. Student subgroups at the high school level must also score a 90% passage rate in those four areas.
Learn more about the TEA's rating systems.
Source: Chron.com.
