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Dr. Annette Griffin
Superintendent of Schools
June
2007
en Español |
Way to Go C-FB ISD!
As the Carrollton-Farmers
Branch School District wraps
up the 2006-07 school year,
I want to take this opportunity
to reflect back over the
school year. May has been
a whirlwind of activities
for our seniors filled with
honor breakfasts, senior
walks, the last final exams
and the ultimate -- high
school graduation.
This school
year, our students, staff,
schools, and departments
have had many, many successes
and accomplishments. Too
many to outline in this monthly
column, but to each of our
award winning individuals
– thank you for all your
hard work, your dedication,
your commitment to purpose,
and your support of our district's
vision.
The national
spotlight shined brightly
on C-FB ISD this year. Our
use of technology to improve
student learning, district
operations and to communicate
with our community and staff
is so comprehensive that
we receive calls and emails
from other school districts
asking questions about our
programs. We also get requests
from state and national groups
asking for team members to
share their expertise. The
editors of eSchool News have
recognized C-FB ISD as leader
in technology as well as
the National School Boards
Association and the National
School Public Relations Association.
Our music education
program was in the national
spotlight when it made the
list as one of the "100
Best Music Education Communities." We
have a wonderful music program
that begins in our elementary
schools where our music teachers
help our elementary children
learn about rhythm, vocal
expression, movement, musical
instruments and much more
before they move into middle
school. Our middle and high
school programs are incredible.
I find it amazing that about
43 percent (5,400) of our
secondary students participate
in choir, band or orchestra.
With the national
spotlight on our district,
we continue to focus on the
district's vision of every
student graduating college-ready.
As I tell visitors, C-FB
ISD is a truly remarkable
public school system because
we honor diversity, value
each child, embrace creativity
and celebrate all accomplishments.
Because of the goals that
we set in C-FB ISD, we are
helping all of our students
see that college can be part
of their future.
- This year, we piloted
a two-way dual language
program at Blanton and
Janie Stark Elementary
Schools with kindergarteners.
The students, their families
and teachers involved found
this project so rewarding
personally and academically
that as the children move
to first grade so does
the program. Next year,
the two schools will have
the program in kindergarten
and first grade.
- Nationwide ninth grade
is a difficult year for
most teenagers. Based on
an extensive review by
our very own leading high
school teachers and administrators,
the district implemented
a ninth-grade student academic
success initiative. We
wanted to break the ninth-grade
failure cycle. Thanks to
hard-working ninth-grade
teachers and changes in
our ninth-grade programming,
the district saw mid-year
pass rates increase. They
indicate increases in student
achievement.
- Our Early College High
School (ECHS) at Brookhaven
College is completing its
first year and is really
making its mark on a group
of very special ninth graders.
In May, I had the opportunity
to welcome the second group
of students and their families
into the program. I am
so proud that we in C-FB
ISD can give our students
so many choices, and the
ECHS is one of those choices.
Part of the Texas High
School Project and an even
larger national initiative,
ECHS will enable our students
to earn a high school diploma
and two years of college
credit within four to five
years of entering ninth
grade.
- We've been working
several years to expand
the state-required pre-kindergarten
from half-day pre-kindergarten
to a full day class. We
know that pre-reading skills
are among the most significant
predictors of what that
child's tenth grade reading
ability will be. Being
able to have full-day pre-kindergarten
is a dream come to true
for me. Because I know
if children enter school
without these very necessary
literacy skills they start
behind and often stay behind
throughout their entire
school career. With the
full-day program, our pre-kindergarteners
will spend time learning
about math, science, social
studies and fine arts.
When our four-year-olds
leave the pre-kindergarten
classrooms, they are ready
for kindergarten.
- Our plans for METSA
-- the Math, Engineering,
Technology and Science
Academy -- are becoming
real. The building is almost
finished at R. L. Turner
and is designed specifically
for courses that include
college preparatory mathematics
and science courses. Our
students will experience
project-based coursework
that will introduce them
to engineering and engineering
technology.
We've had a great school
year because our C-FB ISD
community believes in public
education. Your belief in
a solid public school system
allows us to provide the
varied educational choices
that today's students need.
The C-FB ISD educational
team appreciates your believing
in this district's vision
that "every student
can graduate college-ready." You
are helping fulfill the dreams
of our students and parents
– a quality education.
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