CYPRESS CREEK SOPHOMORE QUALIFIES FOR OLYMPIC SWIM TRIALS

Cypress Creek High School sophomore Hayden Miller has qualified for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials for the 800-yard freestyle race with a time of 8:44. The 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials are scheduled for June 21-28 at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb.

By Evan Harris, Cypress Creek HS

Every year, thousands of swimmers across America put in tireless hours in hopes for the opportunity to compete in the Olympics. One of those thousands of swimmers, Cypress Creek High School sophomore Hayden Miller, has qualified for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials and could compete in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. The highly competitive event includes racers from all over America with impressive times in their respective strokes, all competing for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team.

“It’s really exciting getting to know that you are going to be able to race alongside past Olympians,” Miller said. “I know this is an experience I will never forget and I’m very excited.”

Miller started swimming at age 5 when her neighbor joined a summer swim league. After finding a passion for swimming, she decided to continue competing in the pool by joining a year-round league in middle school. Miller won the 500-yard freestyle 2019 state title with a time of 4:50.13.

Miller qualified for the 800-yard freestyle race with a time of 8:44. To prepare for the trials, Miller practices every Tuesday and Thursday morning from 5-6:30 a.m. and every day after school from 3:40-6 p.m. Miller also has practice twice a day on Saturdays.

“I practice at least 20 hours a week,” Miller said. “I try to get all my homework done either at school or after practice.”

The 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials are scheduled for June 21-28 at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb.

Visit the USA Swimming website for more information

CYPRESS CREEK RECEIVES SUPERINTENDENT'S INCREMENTAL GROWTH GOLD AWARD

Cypress Creek High School for the second year has received the Superintendents’ Incremental Growth Gold Award.  This award is more strenuous than the state accountability. Cypress Creek was the only campus to receive the award for two consecutive years.

This is a direct reflection of the dedication and hard work by the entire staff.  I could not have been prouder to receive the award on the behalf of Cypress Creek. Dr. Henry will be providing Creek a lunch as a token of his apperception.

The Superintendent’s Incremental Growth Award Criteria:

• Bronze- Growth in all tested areas in Economically Disadvantaged 
• Silver- Growth in all tested areas in Economically Disadvantaged and Hispanic or African American
• Gold- Growth in all tested areas in Disadvantaged, Hispanic and African American

BAND AND COLOR GUARD EARN FIRST DIVISION RATING

Congratulations to our Band and Color Guard for receiving a First Division rating at the Region 27 UIL Marching Contest this past Saturday at the Berry Center.  The Band and Color Guard will perform at 3:45pm at the Cypress Showcase Marching Contest at the Berry Center on Saturday, October 26th.

CY CREEK EDUCATOR SELECTED AS NATIONAL STUDENT TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Lauren Hornbeak, a first-year biology teacher at Cypress Creek High School, was named the 2019 National Student Teacher of the Year by Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society in education, and the Association of Teacher Educators.

Lauren Hornbeak, a first-year biology teacher at Cypress Creek High School, was named the 2019 National Student Teacher of the Year by Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society in education, and the Association of Teacher Educators.

A 2019 graduate of Baylor University, Hornbeak served as a student teacher at Midway High School in Waco. The award recognizes one student teacher/intern who demonstrates the ability to develop classroom management skills and instructional strategies, establish relationships with students, parents, faculty and staff, and reflect powerfully on their experience.

As part of her application, she submitted a lesson on human body systems, which Hornbeak taught to a pre-AP Biology class.

“Lauren sought ways to understand the needs of each student and then designed lessons and experiences that would benefit the diverse learners in this classroom,” said Lisa Osborne, who served as the professional development site coordinator at Midway High School where she worked with campus teachers and administrators and Baylor faculty to coordinate clinical experiences for Baylor students completing their field experience requirements. “She is relational and student-centered, making her an excellent candidate for this honor.”

In addition to working in the classroom, Hornbeak invested in the local community. She volunteered with an afterschool program, served as a volleyball coach and coordinated a reading initiative.

“I know I will rely heavily on lessons created and implemented alongside my mentor during student teaching, and it is because of my intern experience that I walk into the classroom confident in my abilities,” Hornbeak said. “I will draw on my knowledge of differentiated instruction to meet the needs of every soul that I have the privilege of teaching.”

In addition to the honor, Hornbeak earned a $2,000 scholarship. She will speak at Kappa Delta Pi’s annual convention in October in Norfolk, Va.

UIL INDIVIDUALS AND TEAMS ADVANCE TO REGIONALS

CONGRATS to all of our UIL participants for the UIL Academics Spring Meet. Way to go to the following teams for advancing to Region for individual and team:

• Science
• Number sense
• Mathematics
• Informative Speaking
• Poetry Interpretation
• Headline writing

FFA Competition Results

Congratulations to the FFA Competitors! This past weekend the FFA program took 19 students to Texas A&M for the Area 3 Career Development Competition.

Congratulations Entomology Team for advancing to State!

Great job Nick Pinina (Top 10 Individual), Anna Wells, Abigail Stones, and Mikayla Owen.

Please wish these students luck as they compete at the state contest later this month.

Horse Judging Team: 12^th place, Malena Lopez (Top 10 Individual), Merrie Urban, Shelby Wells, Simone Yeary

Nursery Landscape Team: 6^th place, Abigail Jones, Brianna Sechelski, Anna Urban (Top 10 Individual)

Poultry Judging Team: Alexandrea Haman, Katy Heaney, Adam Resendez, Jacob Shafer

Livestock Judging Team: Taylor Guillott, Madison Luker, Jayden Prentice, Haley Winkler

SPEECH AND DEBATE TEAM COMPETE AT STATE COMPETITION

Congratulations to the Speech and Debate team that competed at the TFA State tournament last weekend. Ivey Knebel Placed 2nd in Poetry Interpretation. Alyssa Henson and Aliyah Holmes advanced to semi finals in Duet Acting, Nathan Nguyen advanced to Semi Finals in POI and Elijah Ochoa Advanced to semi finals in Impromptu Speaking!