Posted on Sep 4, 2009 | Tagged in: Friendswood ISD , education
Friendswood High School students who want to show their love for
America aren't alone; the Patriot Club was formed at Friendswood
High School this year. The purpose of the club is to provide a
positive outlet for American patriotism and to encourage love of
America without partisan bias.
Membership is open to all Friendswood High School students
regardless of nationality, or political affiliation, in-line with
their mantra of non-partisan bias.
The Patriot Club activities proposed so far are participation
in the Fourth of July parade and festivities, raising money to
distribute small American flags during the Fourth of July parade,
and collecting money to replace worn flags for Friendswood
residents during patriotic holidays. They also plan on
assisting local homeowners and businesses with worn flag
disposal.
The founding president of the Patriot Club is senior Alex
Lovely, with Robert Wise acting as the faculty
sponsor/representative. They will host a minimum of quarterly
meetings of student membership. To learn more about this club
please call 281-992-0150.
West Ranch parents might consider encouraging their children
to look into this positive club. In Friendswood I.S.D., clubs and
extra-curricular activities that promote camaraderie, community
service, and learning are encouraged for all students to
consider!
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.
Posted on Jul 15, 2009 | Tagged in: Friendswood ISD , education
West Ranch parents and children will soon have school on their mind, as the Friendswood I.S.D. 2009-2010 school year kicks off on August 24th. We hope to bring our community a bundle of resources for the new school year.
New Students/Enrollment
If your child is new to West Ranch and Friendswood I.S.D., registration is required, but an easy process. Simply assess which school your child will attend (West Ranch students attend Cline Elementary K-3, Windsong Intermediate School 4-6, Friendswood Junior High 7-8, and Friendswood High School 9-12), and register on location.
Friendswood, Texas has once again been recognized nationally as one of America’s best places to live. The new issue of Money magazine cites America’s top 100 best small towns, which were judged by readers in terms of a solid job base, affordable housing, great schools, and area attractions.
Friendswood, home of the new master-planned West Ranch community, was ranked No. 32 on the magazine’s list of the top 100 Best Small Towns. The magazine cites, “Friendswood was founded by Quakers and remains dry, but that doesn't mean its residents don't know how to have fun. The community hosts frequent parades, summer concerts in Stevenson Park, and an opening ceremony for the baseball season. Residents can travel north to Houston, south to the Galveston beaches, or east to the Kemah boardwalk; all are less than an hour away.”
Money lists major employers in the area: Boeing, Valero, BP, NASA as well as the busy Port of Houston. The magazine also reports, “Friendswood has a strong jobs base. And the housing market here is healthier than most.”
West Ranch, the master-planned community located in the city of Friendswood, is developed by Friendswood Development Company and features beautiful new homes by Trendmaker and Village Builders. Prices range from the $270,000s to the $700,000s.
This summer, West Ranch residents are enjoying their own pool and recreation center, in addition to the numerous summer attractions and activities that are close to home.
Students in West Ranch are served by the Friendswood Independent School District and attend exemplary rated schools at all grade levels.
Posted on Jun 19, 2009 | Tagged in: Friendswood ISD , education
Two new gifts were recently bestowed upon Friendswood ISD. The Board of Trustees has officially and unanimously approved the purchase of three additional school buses, as well as repairs to the foundation of the Friendswood Junior High girl’s gymnasium.
"The number of buses in our fleet needs to be increased," FISD Superintendent Trish Hanks said. "The Transportation Department has had several times this past school year where they have had to combine routes because extra curricular trips were using buses that should have been on a route."
Posted on Apr 29, 2009 | Tagged in: Friendswood ISD
Business Week magazine has named Friendswood the Best Affordable Suburb in Texas for 2009.
Cities taken into consideration had to be within 25 miles of the most populated city in their state and have populations of 5,000 to 60,000 people, low crime rates and median family incomes of $51,000 to $120,000.
Other factors included commutes, education (test scores), crime, economy (job growth and income), green living and overall affordability.
City Manager Roger Roecker said that when people factor in the 20 percent homestead exemption and compare tax rates, they will understand why Friendswood is more affordable than other areas. He also said that tax rates remain low, the police department is one of the finest and the Friendswood citizenry is well educated.
