SUMMER 2014

INSIDE: Exchange students in Lamar CISD

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Quiz BowlHistoryChamps

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HEB Excellence in Education2014 Nominee

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Longhorns at State!

LCISD’s Cream of the Crop

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The George Ranch High School baseball squad made the whole community proud with its trip to the State Tournament in Round Rock.

Congratulations to Coach Greg Kobza and his players on their tremendous 31-win season.

Thomas Randle, Ed.D.Superintendent

Superintendent’s MessageMelissa Fields, coach of the Terry High Lady Rangers basketball team, is the 2014 4A Outstanding Coach of the Year in Texas.Fields received the Dean Weese Outstanding Coach Award from the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches May 16 at the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Annual Clinic.The award is named for Texas basketball legend Dean Weese, a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, winning 10 state titles and four national college titles and four National Women’s Invitational

Tournament titles.The Lady Rangers were 22-10 on the season and reached the Regional semifinals, the furthest the team has ever gone in the playoffs.Fields is finishing up her 18th year at Terry and has been in teaching and coaching for 23 years.

Terry’s Fields is top 4A hoops coach

Sincerely,

Another school year has passed us by, but I can already see the next one coming over the horizon. There is much to do before 2014-2015 gets here. For instance, a group of citizens, school administrators and even students met in June to consider the District’s needs for the next five years. By the time you read this, the Citizens’ Bond Advisory Committee will have made its presentation to the Board of Trustees, with the possibility of a bond election in November. The largest chunk of the committee’s recommendation goes toward six additional elementary schools. That does not include Arredondo, which will open in 2015, and was financed in the 2011 Bond program. Six elementary schools may seem drastic, but we have to consider the number of families expected for the area. In fact, in the past year, 21 subdivisions or master-planned communities have been planned within the boundaries of Lamar CISD. While we look to the future, we have so many reasons to be proud of the school year that has just passed. Shaking the hands of every graduate is always a thrill. The class was special to me, because I arrived in Lamar CISD 13 years ago. So this group of students started kindergarten when I started working. We’ve had a wonderful trip together and I know they will make all of our futures brighter. A great group of youngsters from George Ranch High School went all the way to the State Baseball Tournament. Coaches at George Ranch and Terry high schools were named tops in their field. One of our teachers was a finalist for one of the state’s most prestigious teaching awards. Those are just a few of our shining moments from the past school year. And I know the Class of 2015 will soon write its legacy, leaving a path for others to follow.

Here’s wishing us all a good summer. We look forward to having the children back in August, for the best school year ever.

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Positive Coaching Award

George Ranch High School head football coach and campus athletics coordinator Rick Tullos is Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine’s 4A Coach of the Year. “Tullos is on his way to building something truly special at Richmond George Ranch,” the magazine wrote

in an article that will be in the summer edition. “In just the program’s second year of existence, the Longhorns surprisingly advanced to the regional finals.”This fall with be Tullos’ fourth season leading the Longhorns. GRHS went 13-1 in the 2013 season.

Briscoe Junior High track and football coach Tim Bristol is one of 25 recipients of the Positive Coaching Alliance’s Double-Goal Coach Award.

The award is given to coaches who embody the PCA’s ideal of striving to win, while also teaching life lessons through sports.

The award – named for coaches who strive to win while pursuing the more important goal of teaching life lessons through sports – carries a $250 prize.

Positive Coaching Alliance has helped develop “Better Athletes, Better People” primarily through live group workshops, online courses and books for youth and high school sports coaches, parents, student-athletes and school/organizational leaders.

In partnership with nearly 2,000 schools and youth sports organizations nationwide, PCA has conducted more than 13,000 live group workshops and impacted more than 5 million youth.

Tullos earns nod as top

football coach

SCHOOLBONDPLANNING2014LAMAR CONSOLIDATED ISD

That’s what Velasquez 5th-grade reading teacher Pamela Berdou said while explaining her path to being nominated as a finalist in the HEB 2014 Excellence in Education Awards program.The 24-year veteran – the daughter and granddaughter of teachers - is among one of only five teachers still in the running for the grand prize in the Elementary Lifetime Achievement category.If Berdou is chosen, it will mean $25,000 for her and $25,000 for Velasquez Elementary. HEB will announce the winners May 3 in Houston after another round of interviews. Berdou has already won $1,000 and a matching $1,000 has gone to the school.Officials from the grocery chain and the District surprised Berdou Friday in her classroom.Velasquez principal Kera Faltysek praised her teacher’s dedication.“If there is a new book series coming out that will appeal to younger readers, you can bet she is on the list to get the first copy,” Faltysek said. “She is always searching for ways bring a love of reading to her students.”The Oprah Book Club has nothing on Berdou. Her students form “literacy circles” to discuss the novels they have read.Berdou admits things have changed in her 24 years in education,

citing the effects technology has had in the classroom.Except for one thing.“The kids are the same,” she said. “As long as there is a child that needs me; not just as a teacher, but as a shoulder to cry on, the person to confide in, the one that they know they can turn to, I will be a teacher.”Berdou measures success in her classroom by a child’s love of reading.“I tell students on the first day of school that my goal is to find them the perfect book,” she said. “If a child leaves my room having read a book that touches their heart, connects to their life or made them laugh, then I

am a success.”And she knows where the money will go if she should win the big money.“I’ll buy more books!” she said.Lamar CISD has a history of success in the Excellence in Education program. The District was honored in the Large District category in 2009. Ray Elementary special education teacher Donald Clark earned the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.This is the third nomination for Velasquez.Sharon Horn, who still teaches at Velasquez, was a finalist in the Leadership category in 2009 and former Velasquez principal Beth Dow was a finalist in 2008 for Elementary Principal.

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Four of Lamar’s stars were recognized by the Lamar Classroom Teachers Association as Paraprofessionals or Teachers of the Year.Frost Elementary secretary Shyla Hansche is the Elementary Paraprofessional of the year. Phoenicia Wilson, teacher’s aide and nurse at Ryon Middle School is the Secondary Paraprofessional of the Year.Williams Elementary reading facilitator Rachel Merkt is the Elementary Teacher of the Year and Reading Junior High band director Kevin Cranston is the Secondary Teacher of the Year.

She was born to be in a classroom . . .

Dickinson Elementary School’s Karen Mumphord is Lamar Consolidated ISD’s 2014 Elementary Principal of the Year and George Ranch High School’s Leslie Haack is the 2014 Secondary Principal of the Year. Both were honored by their peers at a meeting of the District’s administrators.Mumphord became principal at Dickinson in 2003. Prior to taking the helm at Dickinson, she served as an assistant principal at Dickinson from 1999 to 2003. Mumphord was an assistant principal at Smith Elementary from 1995-1999.

Prior to entering administration, Mumphord taught elementary grades in Lamar CISD and Victoria schools, and was a teacher and coach at Lamar Junior High.Mumphord recently completed her doctorate at Texas A&M University.Leslie Haack has lead George Ranch High School since it opened in the fall of 2010.She has 16 years of experience in education, including three years as a teacher and coach, three years as an assistant principal at Cinco Ranch High School and four years as an administrative assistant principal at Morton Ranch High School.Prior to coming to George Ranch High School, Haack was principal of Sealy High School. Each year, Lamar CISD principals choose two of their colleagues to be the principals of the year. Only elementary principals (grades K-5) vote for Elementary Principal of the Year and only secondary principals (grades 6-12) vote on Secondary Principal of the Year.

Cranston Merkt Wilson Hansche

Haack Mumphord

Pamela Berdou

Principals of the Year

Mengjia Liu is the Valedictorian for the Class of 2014 at Lamar Consolidated High School.The daughter of Lijong Zhao and Jinghua Liu, Mengjia will attend Rice University, majoring in Economics.

While at Lamar, she was a National AP Scholar, a U.S.

Presidential Scholar Semifinalist and earned a gold medal in Music Theory at State UIL.

She is the president and founder of Culturekinnect Club and served on the youth advisory committees for the Mayor of Sugar Land and U.S. Rep. Pete Olson.Mengjia earned a National Merit and George Foundation Youth in Philanthropy scholarships.

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NATATORIUM

Elena Montesis the Salutatorian for the Class of 2014 at Lamar Consolidated High School.The daughter

of Antonio and Kim Montes, she will attend the University of Oklahoma, majoring in Broadcasting and Electronic Media.

While at Lamar, Elena was a National Merit Finalist and a National Hispanic Scholar.

Her scholarships include National Scholars from Oklahoma University, Voice of Democracy, American Legion and Rotary Club.

Zoey Kramer is the Valedictorian for the Class of 2014 at Terry High School.The daughter of Robert and Basilia Kramer, she will attend Texas A&M University and major in Chemical Engineering.While at Terry, Zoey played tennis and was secretary of

the National Honor Society and volunteered in the children’s ministry at her church.Her scholarships include a Merit Scholarship from Texas A&M and a Society of Women Engineers Scholarship.

Emilee Martin is the Salutatorian for the Class of 2014 at Terry High School.Emilee

plans to attend college in the New England area and major in pre-law.She was a National Merit Scholar at Terry.

Lamar Consolidated High School

Terry High School

Valedictorians & Salutatorians

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Denise Irvin is the Valedictorian for the Class of 2014 at Foster High School. The daughter of Dan and Darlene Irvin, Denise will attend Texas A&M University, majoring in Computer Engineering.While at Foster, Denise earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Team Computer Science Gold medal and

an Individual Computer Science Gold medal. She also lettered in Cross Country and played in the Falcon Band.She is an AP Scholar with Distinction and a Commended National Merit Scholar.Scholarships include the Lechner Scholarship, Top 10 percent Scholarship, Emerald Circle Scholarship, Weston Lakes Women’s Association Community Foundation Scholarship, 2014 FIRST Scholarship and the ConocoPhillips Dependent Scholarship.She is a member of the National Honor Society and was a construction worker for Habitat for Humanity.

Mallet Njonkem is the Salutatorian for the Class of 2014 at Foster High School. The son of

Brenda Njonkem, he will attend Yale and major in Biomedical Engineering.While at Foster, his honors included National Commended Scholar, National Achievement Scholar AP Scholar with Distinction and Texas Boys’ State Participant.He was also active in track Peer Assistance Leadership, Science Olympiad and DECA.

Foster High School

George Ranch High School

Caryssa Burckart is Salutatorian for the Class of 2014 at George Ranch High School.The daughter

of Brent and Elvie Burckart, she will attend Liberty College, majoring in Biomedical Sciences.While at George Ranch, Caryssa was a National Hispanic Scholar, an AP Scholar with Distinction Award and a member of the National Honor Society.She is receiving a full tuition Salutatorian Scholarship at Liberty College.

Mahak Mithani is the Valedictorian for the Class of 2014 at George Ranch High School.The daughter of Farid and Rubina Mithani, Mahak will attend Texas A&M University, majoring in Computer Science.While at George Ranch HS, she was a member of the National Honor

Society, the Outstanding Female Student of the Year, the Female Science Student of the Year, an AP Scholar with Distinction and a National Merit Commended Scholar.Mahak was Class Secretary for three years and competed in Speech and Debate, qualifying for State and National competition. She was a GED tutor, founder and president of Cultures in Action and a Charity Field Day Project Manager.Her scholarships include the Ayn Rand “Fountainhead” Essay Scholarship and the Texas A&M President’s Endowed Scholarship.

Valedictorians & Salutatorians

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George Ranch High School principal Leslie Haack believes in putting new students to work as soon as they hit the door.Even when their previous school is on the other side of the world.Thirteen students, along with two school administrators from Foshan, China are visiting Fort Bend County as part of an international exchange program. The students are staying with families in the community and for the 10 days they are enrolled at GRHS, they will be in the Choir, with the basketball teams, being tossed around as part of cheerleading team, making pancakes with the culinary arts department, working on their advance math skills … all the things that

a student transferring from any other school would do.“They all gave themselves ‘American’ names for their student IDs,” Haack said. “We have an Alice, a Stephanie, Renee, Sofia, Ian, Ben. They are having a great time!”She already credits the new students for learning the ropes at lightning speed.“After the first day of classes, they came in and requested changes to their schedules,” Haack said. “They caught on quick!”The visitors are part of program to promote an ongoing relationship with Foshan. A delegation, including Lamar CISD Superintendent Dr. Thomas Randle and County Judge Robert Hebert, visited China

in 2011. This is the second group of visitors from Foshan. The first was comprised of government and school officials.The Fort Bend Global Initiative, a local non-profit organization began the cultural exchange.Foshan is a city in central Guangdong province located in southern China with a population of 3.6 million. Key industries include: household electrical appliance and tool manufacturing; furniture; non-metal ore and manufacturing; electronics and communications; stainless steel products; plastic products and ceramics.

Students from China attend George Ranch

This past spring, three Lamar CISD atheletes represented their school and the community at the state level.George Ranch High School junior Ally Maciel returned from the UIL State Tennis Tournament carrying hardware, earning a bronze medal in the 4A Girls Singles.Maciel is the three-time district champion and finished second

at the Regional Tournament.Across town, Foster High’s Kristyn Williams placed 3rd in the girls’ 4A 800-meter run at the State Track Meet.Her time of 2:10.88 was a personal best and new school record. Teammate Cheyenne Oxford placed 6th in the girls’ 4A discus.

Track and tennis stars go to State!

Williams and OxfordMaciel

George Ranch High School Principal Leslie Haack with the students and administrators from Foshan, China. Randle with Foshan administrators.

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Ray Elementary principal Ben Perez is the District 4 TEPSAN of the Year for the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA).Members from the 20 TEPSA Districts across the state annually recognize colleagues for their outstanding service to the association. Honorees will be recognized at the TEPSA Awards Reception June 11, at the Austin Renaissance Hotel.“These exceptional school leaders go above and beyond the call of duty to serve their students and colleagues,”

said TEPSA Executive Director Harley Eckhart.Perez, whose career in education spans 18 years, is currently serving as TEPSA District 4 President. He was the 2013 named Lamar CISD Elementary Principal of the Year.TEPSA has served Texas PreK-8 school leaders since 1917. Member-owned and member-governed, TEPSA has more than 5,800 members who direct the activities of 3 million PreK-8 school children.

What would you think is the best title for a diagram with a circular arrangement of the phrases?

• Colonists staked out huge pieces of land for farming; • Free labor was available; and • More and more successful farms.

A team of 8th-graders from Lamar Junior High correctly answered “Growth of Slavery in America” would be the best title, earning them the title of Champions in the first Lamar CISD U.S. History Quiz Bowl.The team battled students from the other three junior highs, before winning in a sudden-death tie-breaker against Reading Junior High.Wednesday’s Final was the culmination of a year-long competition. Students competed via an

Internet connection in November and February, answering 15 questions each time.“It was very tight coming into the Finals,” said Kevin McCune, Lamar CISD’s Specialist for Social Studies. “At one point, three teams were tied for the lead, with the other team one point behind.”After 28 more questions, LJH and RJH were knotted at the top. Both teams correctly answered the first three tie break questions, before the Ponies took the crown.

For her dedication to the children of Williams Elementary, Nancy Nowak was honored May 8 at the Houston Chronicle’s Salute to Nurses luncheon.Sponsored by CHI St. Luke’s Health and Houston Methodist Hospital System, the luncheon honored the top 100 nurses in the Houston area.Nowak, who retired at the end of the school year, is the only nurse Williams has ever had, arriving on campus when it opened in 1985.“To keep from crying, I tell the students I finally passed the (assessment test) and I am moving on,” Nowak said.A Williams parent nominated “Nurse Nancy,” in large

part for the care Nowak has shown her diabetic son.“My biggest worry was being away from my child while working,” said Dee Bailey in her nomination. ”Nurse Nancy was the nurse that made this transitional period easier.”Bailey described Nowak as a dependable, loyal and devoted nurse.“Every time I visit the school, she is walking the halls assisting children with finding their way to class, tending to minor children injuries or helping a clinic with an array of medical needs,” Bailey wrote.

Ray principal earns honors

Williams’ Nowak among top area nurses

Lamar Junior High: History Quiz Bowl Champs

Lamar CISD honored its Volunteers of the Year at a luncheon April 24, thanking them for their service to the children of the District.

The Elementary School Volunteers of the Year are: • Adolphus Elementary, Nitzia Flores; • Austin Elementary, Florene Watson; • Beasley Elementary, Hallie Sabrsula; • Bowie Elementary, Amy Cloud; • Campbell Elementary, Tammy Champion; • Dickinson Elementary, Carol Lansky; • Frost Elementary, Christine Wu; • Hubenak Elementary, Dana Musch; • Huggins Elementary, Michelle Frietsch; • Hutchison Elementary, Dee Ann Phipps; • Jackson Elementary, Juanita Velasquez; • Long Elementary, Tanya McDonald; • McNeill Elementary, Nadine Cyr • Meyer Elementary, Shelley Bergeron; • Pink Elementary, Tres Davis; • Ray Elementary, Sarah Martinez; • Smith Elementary, Melissa Contreras and Lupe Fuentas; • Thomas Elementary, Carmen Lara; • Travis Elementary, April Hlavinka; • Velasquez Elementary, April Kincade; • Williams Elementary, Cecille Legaspi; and • Seguin Early Childhood Center, Norely Martinez.

The Middle School Volunteers of the Year are: • Navarro MS, Mary Jo Gardovsky and Berta Garcia; • Ryon MS, Angela Johnson and Jill Paquette • Wertheimer MS, Pat Sanders; and • Wessendorff MS, Cindy Kainer.

The Junior High School Volunteers of the Year are: • Briscoe JH, Dana Mersiovsky; • George JH, Suzanne Crippen; • Lamar JH, Sarah Marinomp; and • Reading JH, Kelly Pitts.

The High School Volunteers of the Year are: • Foster HS, Dannette Fennessey; • George Ranch HS, Bruce Shaw; • Lamar CHS, Leisa Sanchez and Eileen Jacobson; and • Terry HS, Kris Sweet.

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BOARD OF TRUSTEESJulie Thompson, President Rhonda Zacharias, Vice President Kay Danziger, SecretaryAnna Gonzales Dar HakimzadehKathryn KaminskiFrank Torres

Dr. Thomas Randle, Superintendent

This is a publication of the Community Relations Department of the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District, written for all citizens of the district. Comments, suggestions and requests to be placed on the mailing list are welcomed and should be directed to 832.223.0330 or e-mailed to communications@lcisd.org.

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