CY CREEK STUDENT PLACED FIRST IN SUPERINTENDENT HOLIDAY CARD CONTEST

 Wells Elementary School fourth-grade student Avery Loudon placed first in the elementary school category with her oil pastel piece titled “It Snowed!” in the annual Superintendent Holiday Card Contest.

Nov. 15, 2018—Students at Cypress Creek High School, Kahla Middle School and Wells Elementary School saw their card designs place first in the annual Superintendent Holiday Card Contest, as their designs were selected from more than 260 entries across every CFISD campus.

The superintendent and associate superintendents served as jurors for the contest, designating the top three honorees at each level and an additional 21 entries that were recognized as the Super’s Choice Awards.

In the elementary school category, Wells Elementary School fourth-grade student Avery Loudon placed first with her oil pastel piece titled “It Snowed!” Black Elementary School third-grade student Patricia Dipippo finished second and Sampson Elementary School fifth-grade student Julie Hepp placed third.

In the middle school category, Kahla Middle School eighth-grade student Bao Tran Hua Nguyen finished first with her mixed media piece titled “A Seat with a View.” Anthony Middle School eighth-grade student Tralonda Washington was the runner up and Spillane Middle School eighth-grade student Jacob Lemos placed third.

Kahla Middle School eighth-grade student Bao Tran Hua Nguyen finished first in the middle school category with her mixed media piece titled “A Seat with a View” in the annual Superintendent Holiday Card Contest.

In the high school category, Cypress Creek High School junior Thavy Bou earned first place for her digital photography piece. Cypress Park High School sophomore Kyla Nguyen placed second and Cypress Falls High School senior Sabrina Lowe finished third.

The following students were selected for the Super’s Choice Awards:

• Olivia Nguyen (Horne Elementary School), Aymeth Cordova(Emery Elementary School), Tasifa Jannat (Moore Elementary School), Alan Torres (Owens Elementary School), Kimberly Lam(Hancock Elementary School), Caroline Motley (Birkes Elementary School) and Sophia Guerrero (Keith Elementary School);
• Tierra Cullivan (Salyards Middle School), Emily Hancock (Smith Middle School), Kolby Lawton (Salyards), Desiree Gonzalez (Dean Middle School), Alicia Fernandez (Salyards), Chelsea Dinh (Cook Middle School) and Mia Gonzalez (Kahla Middle School); and
• Jessica Lan-Anh (Cypress Lakes High School), Nhi Nguyen(Cypress Park High School), Erika Noda (Bridgeland High School), Maryssa Best (Cypress Creek High School), Antonio Manriquez(Cypress Falls High School), Devin Higginbotham (Cypress Ridge High School) and Julissa Hernandez (Jersey Village High School).

Cypress Creek High School junior Thavy Bou earned first place in the high school category for her digital photography piece in the annual Superintendent Holiday Card Contest.

The top three entries in each category, those selected for the Super’s Choice Awards and other designated designs will be on display throughout the halls of the Instructional Support Center (ISC) until Dec. 14.

CCHS RECEIVES SUPERINTENDENT'S GOLD INCREMENTAL GROWTH AWARD

Cypress Creek was one of three CFISD campuses to receive the Superintendent's Gold Incremental Growth Award. Mrs. Snokhaus was honored to accept the award on the behalf of Cypress Creek High School. The award, established in the 2015-16 school year, acknowledges campuses making incremental growth in three areas: the economically disadvantaged, African American, and Hispanic student groups in all content areas. The criteria for earning the award are more rigorous than state accountability calculations. As a Gold Award winner, Cy Creek staff and faculty will be treated to a luncheon.

JUNIOR’S ORNAMENT PICKED FOR 2018 CAPITOL TREE DISPLAY

Cypress Creek High School junior Sierah Haines holds the ornament she designed and created that was chosen to represent Texas District 126 and Rep. Kevin Roberts on the 2018 Christmas tree at the State Capitol. It will be on display from Nov. 29 to Jan. 2.

By Kai Fortner Newby, Cypress Creek HS

Nov. 1, 2018—Sitting on a 23-foot Christmas tree in the House Chamber of the Texas Capitol during the holiday season will be a holiday ornament created by Cypress Creek High School junior Sierah Haines. Her artwork will represent Texas District 126 and Rep. Kevin Roberts.

Each year, one ornament from each of the 150 Texas House districts is chosen to help decorate the eye-opening, Texas-grown Christmas tree. Going into the tenth year, the project highlights advanced artistic skills from district constituents across the state.

In addition to the ornaments themselves on display, a picture and description of each will also be published in the House of Representatives’ 2018 ornament book.

Haines’ work presents a unique spin on the devastating effects of last year’s Hurricane Harvey, which is written alongside the ornament’s base. One side shows several outstretched hands reaching from the storm toward the sun’s rays. The other shows flowers in full bloom.

Sierah Haines’ ornament design features several outstretched hands reaching from the storm toward the sun’ rays, representing the Houston area and its recovery following Hurricane Harvey. The other side displays flowers in full bloom through the rain. The ornament will represent Texas District 126 on the 2018 Christmas tree on display at the State Capitol from Nov. 29 to Jan. 2.

“It’s symbolizing hope,” Haines said. “Numerous colorful flowers grow despite the heavy rain.”

Haines, like many others in the Houston area – and District 126 specifically – saw the effects of the hurricane and record flooding that followed the storm. Moore Elementary School suffered significant damage, with the entire staff and student body being displaced for the 2017-2018 school year.

Her ornament also ties the area together through adversity, displayed through the hands and flowers.

“It represents the compassion and perseverance of the citizens of the 126th District during and after Hurricane Harvey,” Haines said.

All 150 ornaments will be on display during the holiday season, which runs from Nov. 29 to Jan. 2, in Austin. For those who have already viewed Haines’ artwork, including Cypress Creek Principal Vicki Snokhous, the reception has been nothing short of positive. Snokhous also gave praise to Angela Guy, Cypress Creek art teacher who helped guide Haines in producing the winning piece.

“It is absolutely beautiful,” Snokhous said.