The finish line to the 2020-2021 school year is within reach! We can all agree that the path here has been filled with many obstacles, but I am so proud of our staff, students and parents for staying on track to finish the year strong.
We celebrated many successes this year, and chief
among them in a year marked by COVID-19 safety protocols was keeping our
schools open throughout. After three months of solely virtual learning in the
spring of 2020, we knew how critical it would be to find a way to provide a
consistent education for our face-to-face and virtual learners alike this
school year.
Next week, on April 27, we will celebrate the
completion of an ambitious Learning Together Everywhere (LTE) 1-to-1
districtwide rollout. Our technology department worked relentlessly to deliver
more than 115,000 devices into the hands of students following Board of
Trustees approval last summer. I am so thankful for Board members who put our
students’ needs first and a group of dedicated employees who brought their
vision to life.
On April 14, a little more than a year after
launching our curbside meals program on March 16, 2020, the nutrition services
team celebrated serving 3 million meals to community members! What an
incredible milestone and representation of our district’s theme of Opportunity
for All.
Our agriculture science students had a successful
Livestock Show and Sale in February. The freezer sale, silent
auction, gifts to students and live auction combined to reach approximately $570,000.
In a year when many athletics and fine arts
programs around the country were not able to compete, our performers thrived. The
Cypress Woods and Bridgeland high school marching bands placed among the top 15
in Texas. The Cypress Creek High School girls’ basketball team was state
runner-up, the Cypress Woods boys’ swim team placed third in state, and the
Jersey Village High School boys’ soccer team made the state semifinals—the best
finish of any soccer program in CFISD history. This weekend, we will host the
state wrestling tournament at the Berry Center and hope to have more CFISD
students claiming top honors.
CFISD
Class of 2021 graduation ceremonies are just around the corner, and we are
looking forward to celebrating 12 high school graduating classes May 27-June 4
at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium. We are increasing the number of tickets per graduate for
the outdoor event this year and are looking forward to celebrating our students.
We extended the pre-registration period for our
pre-K and kindergarten programs through May 26. A student is more likely to
thrive if they start with us in early childhood, so we are eager to increase
our enrollment in these excellent programs. Registration is also open for CFISD
summer school programs, which are available for all students at no cost. We are
hopeful that more summer offerings will allow students impacted by learning challenges
during the pandemic a better chance to get ahead.
It has been extremely encouraging to see the rapid
rollout of coronavirus vaccinations throughout the nation. I have seen so many
teachers and staff posting their immunizations on social media, and I am
grateful that the majority of our workforce will have vaccines as we head into
the summer.
With the 2021-2022 school year approaching, we have
not yet decided if there will be a virtual learning option. Based on current law, CFISD
would not receive state funding for a virtual education option unless the commissioner
of education extends the current waiver or legislation passes this session to
provide state funding to school districts to offer a virtual education option.
I will update our school community if and when there are any changes.
However, since vaccines are becoming more readily available and the spread of
COVID-19 is diminishing, the districtwide mask mandate will be lifted starting
June 7. Although they will be optional, we will continue to encourage staff,
students and visitors to wear masks while indoors. We will also continue to
follow many of the safety protocols currently in place, including enhanced
cleaning procedures and increased air filtration and ventilation.
It is easy to see why I am so proud to be a part of
this incredible school district. We have indeed come a long way in 2020-2021,
and we are not done yet. As we reflect on the achievements behind us, let’s zero
in on the goal ahead of us and finish strong.
~ Mark Henry, Ed.D.
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