Posted on Dec 4, 2009 | Tagged in: events , education , community
The Friendswood Community recently had the chance to tour the finest Holiday homes from City Hall to gardener’s homes chosen for their Holiday décor. The 43rd Annual Christmas Home Tour, hosted by the Friendswood Heritage Gardeners Club, took place Saturday November 21 and Sunday, November 22. A Bazaar, Bake Sale and raffle started at 10am, with delightful lunch and assortment of desserts served in an old fashioned tea room at high noon. The afternoon followed with a tour of Friendswood homes and gardens dressed to impress for the Holiday season.
The bake sale was a hit, with more than 300 pies and cakes for sale, and the raffle awarded lucky winners with a cash prize of $99, a gourmet food basket and a chiminea donated by H-E-B. Raffle and Bake Sale Chairman Carlotta Garza shared that she baked six cakes, 10 loaves of pumpkin bread, and several dozen homemade macadamia nut cookies. “They sell really well every year,” she said.
This was one of two main fundraising events to support the educational and charitable activities hosted by Heritage Gardeners. Throughout the year the club gathers at their garden center for plant exchanges, field trips, craft workshops, flower shows, luncheons and much more. They even sponsor a garden club for children ages 6-12 where they learn a curriculum developed by Texas A&M and become certified Texas Jr. Master Gardeners.
Heritage Gardeners, Inc. was founded in 1966 and “is dedicated to the horticultural enhancement of home and community.” They are best known for their Christmas and Spring Home Tours. The Spring Home Garden tour will take place the last weekend in April, from 12pm-4pm on Saturday April 24 and 1pm-5pm on Sunday April 25, 2010. The Spring tour will also include a bazaar, raffle and bake sale but will also feature a plant sale and flower show. The cost for the Spring tour is $10 (or $7 advance purchase) and kids 10 and under are free.
For more information on the Home Tours or on Heritage Gardeners Inc. please visit them online at www.heritagegardeners.org
Posted on Nov 4, 2009 | Tagged in: Friendswood ISD , education , community , charity
Did you know: YOU can donate to the Friendswood Education Foundation, a non-profit that benefits Friendswood ISD students and teachers through scholarships and grants, by subscribing to the Houston Chronicle?
Each month they send us a check that consists of a portion of the donated subscription money when subscribers named us as their CHARITY OF CHOICE.
How?
It is always such a nice surprise to get a Chronicle check and the donor gets his Chronicle. Win-Win!
Posted on Oct 26, 2009 | Tagged in: Friendswood ISD , education , community
CLEAR – Clean Living Encouragement and Responsibility – is a student led group club that encourages Friendswood students to stay away from drug and alcohol use. The club is now in its third year at the Friendswood Junior High and High Schools and continues to have a positive impact on the community.
This group challenges students to take a step up and out into the light letting other students know that it is not the norm to do drugs, but rather many students prefer to live a drug free – a clear – life. In this way students become leaders and create an awareness of the positive opportunities and lifestyles that result from staying away from substance use. By participating in this voluntary program students show their commitment by volunteering to be randomly drug tested.
Each group must find sponsors from among their teachers to help support students in planning substance free activities, educating the community and guiding the students on this path by answering questions, addressing concerns and fears, and supporting them in their healthy choices.
Teachers Megan Marshall, Corey Dalton, and Lindsay Hutchins enthusiastically filled the role of sponsors at the Friendswood Junior High. Megan Marshall was actually in CLEAR when she was in high school and stands behind the program. Sophie Wostal, Paul Tucker and Kristen Castillo have come forward as sponsors at the Friendswood High School because they believe in the program and the positive effect it will have on students’ lives.
“I know every year these kids are propositioned about drugs and alcohol at an earlier age. CLEAR is a program worth fighting for! Having a group that gives students an outlet to express concerns, questions, fears, etc about substance abuse, peer pressure, stress and anything else they want is amazing!”
Friendswood Independent School District has raised the bar in financial accountability - they have received a rating of "Superior Achievement" from the Texas School's FIRST Rating System. This is the Financial Accountability Rating System of Texas (FIRST), which is in its seventh year of awarding ratings. "It shows that our district is making the most of our taxpayers' dollars. This shows that FISD's schools are accountable not only for student learning, but also for achieving these results cost-effectively and efficiently," said George Rogers, FISD's Assistant Superintendent of Business.
The FIRST rating was developed by the Texas Education Agency as a standard accountability system for Texas school districts to ensure they achieve the highest quality in managing their financial resources. The rating system designates a rating based on data quality, with the highest rating being "Superior Achievement," followed by "Above Standard," "Standard Achievement," and "Substandard Achievement." If a school district has serious data quality problems they may receive an additional rating of "Suspended - Data Quality."
"We are very pleased with FISD's School FIRST rating," Rogers shared. It is an achievement that Friendswood families and taxpayers can also be proud to share in as they move forward in the coming academic and fiscal year. They have set a standard that will hopefully spur on other school districts and continue to raise the bar for Texas school’s financial responsibilities.
Posted on Oct 9, 2009 | Tagged in: healthcare , education , community
Money Magazine and CNN/Money recently named Friendswood, TX as one of the country’s “Best Places to Live.” It was one of only six Texas cities to be awarded the title, and it was ranked number 32 out of 100 cities in the U.S.
The 2009 list focuses on smaller communities that offer the best economic opportunities, great education, a safe environment, and a range of activities that draw the community together. In 2007 Friendswood ranked number 51 out of 100. In both instances, Friendswood was the only community in the greater Houston area to be awarded this title.
The winning cities were chosen based on criteria of populations between 8,500 and 50,000, job growth, cost of living, housing prices, education, arts, leisure activities, safety, diversity and health care. With these factors weighing in their favor, West Ranch residents can enjoy their community and be proud to hold this title for the second time in three years.
For the complete list of cities, visit http://money.cnn.com
Source: www.ci.friendswood.tx.us
Posted on Oct 9, 2009 | Tagged in: healthcare , Friendswood ISD , education
Students at Friendswood Junior High and Friendswood High School have the opportunity to take a leadership role in reducing alcohol and substance abuse among youth in their community by becoming members of a student-led group called Clean Living Encouragement and Responsibility (CLEAR). By becoming members, they help to change student norms and perceptions by making others aware that the majority of students do not do drugs, but prefer to live a clean and clear life.
In order to assist students in their activity planning, schools must find teachers who will volunteer to become CLEAR sponsors.
"It is the mission of our schools to provoke quality instruction for our students in a safe and secure environment. These dedicated sponsors help us to secure and promote a healthy environment," Superintendent Trish Hanks said.
As CLEAR begins its third year at Friendswood I.S.D., educators have volunteered to serve as sponsors and have agreed to share some personal reasons for their commitment to Friendswood I.S.D. youth.
Posted on Oct 6, 2009 | Tagged in: events , education , community
On Monday, October 12th, the charitable organization Julia F. Thompson, Inc. is having its 9th Annual Pink On The Green Golf Tournament.
This fundraising event will take place at the Timber Creek Golf Course on 4554 F.M. 2351 in Friendswood, Texas. Funds will help volunteers assist elementary school children with their reading skills, and secondary students with their math and science skills.
The competition will be heated, as the putting contest sponsored by Keller Williams Realty is awarding $5,000 to its winner. The Hole-in-One prize also raises the stakes by offering a chance to win a 2009 automobile, donated by Bayway Lincoln-Mercury.
The prices are $150 per golfer, $600 for a foursome, and $10 for the putting contest. Visit golfdigestplanner.com/11301-PINKONTHEGREEN to register for this event. For more information on the Julia F. Thompson, Inc. charity group and the event, visit their website at www.jftcharities.org.
Source: CultureMob.com and jtfcharities.org
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:
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.
