Successful Steps

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This week, I joined Metrocrest Social Services to help them win a grant for $20,000 to feed C-FB students through a program called Sack Summer Hunger. How did I help? I went back to my athletics days and ran the steps at Standridge Stadium. I ran 800 stairs representing the 800 students that this grant will feed this summer.

In C-FB ISD, we are committed to partnering with local organizations and agencies to help our students. Every day, our staff members find innovative and creative ways to meet the needs of C-FB students. They are committed to providing a learning environment where our students will achieve at high levels.

One of our strategic objectives is “Continuously improve the learning environment for students and staff.” Our staff members are committed to making sure that students eat healthy meals at school and home, have a caring adult mentoring them and have that their basic necessities are met. To meet this objective, sometimes, we have to partner with outside organizations like Metrocrest Social Services, Rotary Clubs and our PTAs.

I want to ask you to consider partnering with us to help us meet our goal of high achievement for all students. 

•  Can you commit to mentoring a student each week? 
•  Would you donate food to Metrocrest Social Services? 
•  Do you have clothes that you can donate to the PTA Clothes Closet? 
• Can you volunteer at your child’s school? 

I encourage you to get involved. Together, we can guide our students through the steps (or in this case - Stadium steps) to be successful. Will you partner with us?

Vote Through April for the Metrocrest Social Services Grant

Volunteer in C-FB ISD

Mentor Program at Field and Farmers Branch

PTA Clothes Closet

Metrocrest Social Services

Your Children Need YOU: Parent Involvement is Essential

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Today, I had planned to talk to you about parent involvement. In light of the tragedies in Boston and West, this issue is even more important. Our children are bombarded at an early age with issues that are difficult to process. They see, hear and read about tragedy all too often.

We, as the adults, must help protect and prepare our children for the uncertainty of life. I have said it before but I want to reiterate it - we must talk to our children. Turn off the tv and digital devices – and interact with your children. Engaging kids in age-appropriate conversations is crucial to their development. Our kids need to talk and process all kinds of issues. And we, as parents must listen and ask important questions to help them process the tragedies around them. From the anxiety of taking state tests to the pressures of college admissions, our students face emotional issues that they need to talk through. I encourage you to spend time each day talking to your child. Engage in conversation. Ask about their hopes, dreams, fears, and anxieties. Talking does help.

Several of our campuses including Davis, Riverchase, Bush, Ranchview, Kent, and McLaughlin Strickland have programs specifically for dads. The programs help dads connect with their children in a deep and much needed way. Dads, get involved. Be present in your child's life. Talk to your children. And become involved

in your child's school.


I want to remind you that we have professional counselors on each campus. If you and your child need help or guidance, use them as a resource.

Remember this: Talk, talk, talk. Engage, engage, engage. Together, let’s commit to being involved in our children’s lives.

The Prescription for Growing Your Brain

Did you notice that today’s Focus Points did not include a video? I wanted you to read. (Yes, you can count this as your daily dose of reading.) 

Want to “grow” your brain? Read on to discover the secret prescription.

Did you know that April 2 is International Children’s Book Day? I learned an interesting fact this week: April the 2nd was chosen as International Children’s Book Day because it's the same date as Hans Christian Andersen's birthday, the author of many famous children's stories such as The Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling.

Reading is fundamental to achievement. In C-FB, our goal is high achievement for all students. In order to achieve our goal - we need the help of parents to encourage reading. All of our students need to read or be read to by family members every day. Every. Day. And parents, family members, friends, staff, volunteers – we need your help. Encourage the children that are in your life to read. Read for school. Read for fun. Just read.

I recently read an article that captured my attention about an organization called Reach Out and Read. The article explained that the organization encourages doctors to inspire their patients, particularly parents, to read to their young children. The organization’s tag line is “Books build better brains.” I couldn't have said it better myself.

Annie Murray Paul wrote, in a New York Times article titled "Your Brain on Fiction," "Stories, this research is showing, stimulate the brain and even change how we act in life." She added, "Reading great literature, it has long been averred, enlarges and improves us as human beings. Brain science shows this claim is truer than we imagined."

So what is the prescription for building a child’s brain? The answer: Reading. Read great books to your young children every day. And have your older children read a book to you every day. Teenagers should be reading for pleasure every day also.

Do you need tips on reading with your child? Check out the resources provided by Reach Out and Read here.