Gifts

I am always so proud to be a part of this community, and never more so than when we rise up together in the face of adversity. I will never forget the immense support you gave to so many who lost their homes and possessions following Hurricane Harvey flooding in 2017. When we had to unexpectedly close schools last spring due to COVID-19, you all stepped up in one way or another to meet the needs of CFISD students.

And here again, as 2020 draws to a close, I stand amazed at the incredible undertaking that our first semester of hybrid instruction has been. Students, staff and parents have been asked to stretch the limits of their flexibility, and they have done so admirably. This has been a learning process for everyone, we’ve all made adjustments along the way, but we have reached the halfway point of this uncharted journey of 2020-2021.

As we enter this season of gift-giving, I want to give a special shout-out to all of our school personnel who have gone above and beyond to make this school year possible. From distributing curbside meals to disinfecting learning spaces to delivering remote and in-person instruction, our campus all-stars rose to the occasion to meet the needs of 115,000 students. We are forever in their debt.

To help brighten the season for these school heroes, let’s show them how School Personnel are a Gift. Download our graphic here, then post it to social media and tag the person you wish to recognize. Use the hashtag #CFISDGift to help us spread the cheer!

We have many things to cheer about as we head into winter break. Two of our marching bands, Cypress Woods and Bridgeland high schools, represented CFISD at the UIL State Marching Contest in San Antonio on Dec. 15. They both finished among the top 15 bands in the state during a very challenging and unusual year—kudos to the Wildcats and Bears!

 

By the end of this week, we will have completed distribution of Chromebooks to every student at all 12 of our high schools through the CFISD Learning Together Everywhere, or LTE 1:1, program. Our technology services team anticipates receipt of 36,000 additional devices by January, allowing us to expand distribution to middle school and elementary school students very soon!

During the December Board of Trustees meeting, our trustees unanimously voted to protect additional leave days for staff needing to isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19 that were set to expire from the federal government on Dec. 31. The Board also approved a LEAD Safely Retention Stipend for employees that will be deposited Thursday, Dec. 17.

Among the December Board meeting agenda items, we also viewed a presentation from PBK Architects on the Visual and Performing Arts Center that was part of the 2019 Bond package. This is going to be an incredible facility that will further showcase our robust fine arts in the school district when it is completed in 2022. I am grateful for a community that continually supports extracurricular enrichment and Opportunity for All!

2020 was a challenging year, but there is no community that I would have rather gone through it with than in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. Thank you.

Please enjoy a safe and restful holiday break. Continue to follow safety protocols and avoid large gatherings so we can have a healthy return to a successful second semester. Responsibility for One = Opportunity for All!

I look forward to seeing you again in January 2021.

~ Mark Henry Ed.D.

Staying Prepared in CFISD

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Following events like the Deer Park chemical fire last week, I often field questions from the community about the procedures we have in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD to decide potential actions to take as a district.

CFISD works closely with organizations such as the Harris County Office of Emergency Management and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality as well as fellow superintendents from every school district in the county to make important decisions on opening or closing schools and procedures we may implement during the school day.  In the case of ongoing events such as the fire, Hurricane Harvey flooding and the ice days we had in 2018, I joined at least one conference call a day with various Harris County organizations and other school districts to hear the latest on the key factors impacting our schools – be it weather, water levels, road conditions or air quality.

We take this obligation very seriously in CFISD. We want to keep our students, staff and parents sufficiently informed and our schools safe and secure. I am grateful for the preparation and collaboration of our county agencies and school districts during major events to try to make the best decision for hundreds of thousands of students and families across the county.

~ Mark Henry, Ed.D.

College Night 2017

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One of the great events that we put on for our high school students each fall, College Night, is scheduled for a two-night showcase on Oct. 3 and 4 from 5-8 p.m. at the Berry Center.

All ninth- through 12^th-grade students are invited to browse and visit with representatives from more than 200 colleges, universities, technical and specialty schools—as well as service academies and all branches of the military.

As a special change this year, we will open up the event to all Katy ISD high school students, since their event was canceled due to flooding.

For more details, including an event flyer and registration information, visit the College Night page on the district website.

This will be a great opportunity for students considering postsecondary opportunities, and I encourage you to take your high school student for an enjoyable and informative experience.

~ Mark Henry, Ed.D.

Back to School

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What a great time to be part of Cypress-Fairbanks ISD!

The TEA announced on Monday that we earned the highest possible rating of Met Standard in the annual accountability system for the fourth consecutive year.

All of our campuses met all four index targets, a very impressive feat amid rising standards and a new state testing contractor.

I hope you have enjoyed a great summer. It was so exciting to watch two of our graduates, Chris Brooks of Cypress Creek High School and Cammile Adams of Cypress Woods High School, competing in Olympic gymnastics and swimming, respectively. Their performances and achievements made me proud to be both a CFISD and American citizen.

We have been busy preparing for the first day of school on Aug. 22. A total of 38 new construction and renovations projects are underway valued at $720 million. You may notice some changes at your child’s campus when you return to school. Some of the more extensive projects will take some time to complete and we thank you for your patience as we work to create the best possible learning environment for our students.

Speaking of impressive learning environments, our 11^th comprehensive high school, Cypress Park High School, opens its doors Monday on Westgreen Blvd. near the Grand Parkway. Satterfield & Pontikes Construction did an incredible job building our first-ever three-story high school that will eventually be part of an educational village with a forthcoming middle school and elementary school.

We are also excited to re-open a freshly renovated Pridgeon Stadium for football fans this fall, along with a new on-site natatorium that is expected to open in January. New agricultural and transportation centers and a school-based health clinic will serve students in the southwest portion of our district when they open near Cypress Park this fall.

Our theme for 2016-2017 and going forward is CFISD For All, words that remind us that ALL students deserve the best possible education we can give them. I truly love being part of a district that ensures quality facilities and resources in all CFISD neighborhoods.

When you leave those neighborhoods on Monday, remember that roads will be more congested with school buses and back-to-school commuters as we prepare for 115,000 students. Please exercise caution and patience as you travel while we adjust to the new traffic flow.

This is going to be another great year in CFISD. I am excited to get started, and thank you for joining us on the journey ahead.

~ Mark Henry, Ed.D.