Dateline: GCISD - Friday, October 26, 2001 5:18 PM

One hundred thrity-eight gcisd students named ap scholars

Sixty-four students at Grapevine High and seventy students at Colleyville Heritage have been named AP Scholars by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level AP Exams. Only about 13 percent of the more than 840,000 students in 13,680 schools who took AP Exams in May 2001 performed at a sufficiently high level to merit such recognition.

Students take AP Exams in May after completing challenging college-level courses at their high schools. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on the number of year-long courses and exams (or their equivalent semester-long courses and exams).

Seven students from GHS and 13 students from CHHS qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. From GHS, these students are Ashley Bowen; Patrick Dinneen; David Feil; Emiko FitzGerald; Jonathon Hance; Padma Rao, and Liane Roach. CHHS students are Colleen Boerman, Michael Crain, Sanjay Dastoor, Kristen Fagen, Austin Henley, James Hulsey, Julie Kvasic, Carol Lu, Matthew Middleton, Sarah Smith, Mary Svenstrup, Vivian Wang, and Jennifer Welchel.

Twelve students from each school qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. Students from GHS are Joseph Abel; Aaron Block; Holly Clark; Caely Fallini; Orijit Ghoshal; Michael Hughes; Jennifer King; Christopher Koenig; Clarise Koranek; Joshua Martin; Neeraja Penumetcha, and Kurt Wolber. Those students from CHHS who qualified for this award are Holly Brown, Ryan Duke, Matt Fay, Matthew Gibson, James Gill, Haider Khan, Brenna McWilliams, Jessica Moore, Leah Nedderman, Swathi Reddy, Matthew Shanks, and Everett Teach.

Forty-four students from Grapevine High and 45 from Colleyville Heritage High qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Examinations, with grades of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars from GHS are Timothy Adams; Justin Banta; Scott Botterman; Kelly Brolan; Kristen Brown; Tolga Cengiz; Adam Cherry; Natalie Claiborne; Ashleigh Collins; James Cooper; Carolyn Cunningham; Laura Davidson; Daniel Gale; Zachary Garcia; Justin Gilliam; Carol Gravley; Lisse Gunderson; Katherine Gunn; Ashwini Habbu; Rachael Haley; Brian Harkin; Nelson Hui; Megan Jacob; Cody Koontz; Brian Lueckenhoff; Alejandro Lugo; Andrew Minea; Michael Minea; Katherine Moose; Uma Mudaliar; Lyndon Page; Erin Peretti; Corey Pew; Anil Reddy; Christina Siegfried; Matthew Snyder; Dale Stark; Katherine VanOver; Kerry Wall; Stuart Wallace; Josh Wilkerson; Jared Williams; Meagan Wilson, and Stacey Yee. AP Scholars from CHHS are Jonathan Badger, Kristen Bays, Oscar Benitez, Ashley Bradbury, John Callahan, Kelly Cline, Courtney Cromer, Michael DeLeo, Rishi Dhir, Shelli Dunigan, Marcus Dunn, Amanda Ecklund, Colin Evett, Damian Gomez, Christina Gray, Christopher Hakemack, Laura Howard, Megan Johnson, Jason Jung, Chase Kissling, Jessica Knox, Christopher Lozano, Megan Marshall, Danielle Mathieu-Reeves, Andrew Maxwell, Proshal Nemati, Candice Nikkel, James Nobis, Jason Pond, Jason Ray, Julia Rey, Raeley Rinderknecht, Lauren Schutte, Stacy Scroggins, Ginger Smith, Stephanie Smith, Steven Smith, Kiran Talluri, Viral Tarpara, Jennifer Trojcak, Eric Wagner, Taylor Wallace, Benjamin Weidman, Joshua Weinberg, and Lauren Wollin.

Of this year’s award recipients from GHS, 21 are sophomores or juniors: Scott Botterman; Kelly Brolan; Tolga Cengiz; Carolyn Cunningham; Daniel Gale; Zachary Garcia; Carol Gravley; Katherine Gunn; Nelson Hui; Andrew Minea; Michael Minea; Corey Pew; Anil Reddy; Christina Siegfried; Dale Stark; Stuart Wallace; Meagan Wilson, and Stacey Yee. Of the award recipients from CHHS, seventeen are sophomores or juniors: Kelly Cline, Courtney Cromer, Michael DeLeo, Rishi Dhir, Marcus Dunn, Matthew Gibson, Christina Gray, Laura Howard, Jessica Knox, Megan Marshall, Danielle Mathieu-Reeves, Proshad Nemati, Jason Pond, Jason Ray, Swathi Reddy, Ginger Smith, and Benjamin Weidman. All of these students have at least one more year in which to do college-level work and possibly earn another AP Scholar Award.

Most of the nation’s colleges and universities award credit, advanced placement, or both based on successful performance on the AP Exams. More than 1,400 institutions award a full year’s credit (sophomore standing) to students presenting a sufficient number of qualifying grades. There are 35 AP Exams offered in 19 subject areas, each consisting of multiple-choice and free-response (essay or problem-solving) questions except for the Studio Art exam, which evaluates students’ original artwork.

Each year, the College Board serves over three million students and their parents, 22,000 high schools, and 3,500 colleges, through major programs and services in college admission, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT, the PSAT/NMSQT, the Advanced Placement Program, and Pacesetter.

The College Board is committed to the principles of equity and excellence, and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities, and concerns.

Students from all four GCISD middle schools have qualified for participation in the talent search for mathematically and verbally bright students sponsored by Duke University’s Talent Identification Program (TIP). Four hundred and forty-four students in GCISD were among those seventh graders selected, including 122 at Colleyville Middle, 116 at Cross Timbers Middle, 133 at Heritage Middle and 73 at Grapevine Middle.

These seventh graders will have an opportunity to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or ACT Assessment, normally taken only by college-bound junior and seniors. Many students selected for the talent identification program score as well or better than the average college bound senior. All participants receive certificates of merit and some become eligible for state-wide recognition ceremonies or a variety of educational programs.

To be eligible for the program, the student must be in the seventh grade, must not have missed any questions on the Reading TAAS test and no more than one question on the Math TAAS test given in the Spring of 2001.

Students who choose to take the SAT or ACT test through the talent search will have opportunities to prepare through special tutorial sessions offered by the district later this year.

GCISD's Red Ribbon Week, October 22–28, featured a variety of activities created to reinforce an anti-drug and alcohol message to students throughout the district. Campuses were invited to participate in the decoration contest and used plenty of red ribbons and imagination to design creative “front door” decorations emphasizing anti-substance abuse messages. Winners of the decorating contest are: First Place – Glenhope Elementary; Second Place – Cannon Elementary; Third Place – Grapevine Elementary; Honorable Mention – Colleyville Middle.

Winners are:  Grades 6-8: 1st place-Amy Kowalski, 6thgrade, Holy Trinity; 2nd place-Ashsto Torres, 6th grade, CMS; 3rd place-Emily Harwell, 8th grade, CMS Grades 4-5: 1st place-Tiana Dalton, 4th grade, Bransford; 2nd place-May Collins, 5th grade, Holy Trinity; 3rd place-Ariel Brewarton, 5th grade, Bear Creek Grades 2-3: 1st place–Ashley Moskovitz, 2nd grade, Bransford;2nd place Nick Trimmer, 3rd grade, Holy Trinity; 3rd place-Hunter Barr, 3rd grade, Bear Creek.  Grades K-1: 1st place-Olivia Cooper, 1st grade, Holy Trinity; 2nd place-Savannah McLemore, 1st grade, Bransford, 3rd place-Blake Gober, 1st grade, Bransford.

Sign up now for drivers’ education classes which begin Jan. 10. All classes until then are full. The fee is $265 for GCISD students and $299 for out of district students. To register, please call 817/251-5525. For questions, call Bev Bergeland, 817/ 251-5474.

Bransford Elementary PTA is sponsoring a beautification day Saturday, Nov. 3 from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. at the school, located at 601 Glade Road in Colleyville. Students, parents and staff are invited to help plant flowers and clean flowerbeds. Volunteers are requested to bring their own gardening tools. Donations of gardening materials such as mulch, fertilizer and pansies are welcomed.

Members of Bransford Elementary PTA are sponsoring the annual Sock Hop/Carnival on Friday, Oct. 26th from 6 -10 p.m. at the school. The Sock Hop/Carnival offers a variety of activities including games, both cake and book walks, dunking booth, dance contests as well as a DJ playing tunes from the past and present. Admission is free and refreshments and gametickets are available for purchase.

The Scholastic Book Fair will be held Nov. 12th -16th in the Library at Cannon. On Monday, Wednesday and Thursday the fair will be open from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.; on Tuesday it will be open from 8 a.m. - 8:15 p.m.; and on Friday it will be open from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Preview Day is Friday, Nov. 9th.

Third grade students will perform the "Elephant's Child," on Nov. 13th at 6:45 p.m.

The kindergarten students at Colleyville Elementary School (CES) will present “Hooray for Thanksgiving” on Thursday, Nov.15, at the regular meeting of the CES PTA. The meeting and program will begin at 7 p.m. Songs will include “I’m a Little Indian,” “Over the River,” “Mr. Turkey,” and others with a Thanksgiving theme. The students will be making paper costumes to wear in the program.

The students at Colleyville Elementary School will celebrate Special Friends’ Day on Friday, Nov. 16,1 p.m. Special friends will have an opportunity to visit classrooms and experience our school environment.

Colleyville Elementary Campus Excellence Committee will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 4 p.m. in the media center. Parents should notify the school office with topics for the open forum.

On Oct. 31, at 1:30 p.m., grades 2-5 will join former New York Giants football player Keith Davis in the school cafeteria to listen to him speak about "Dreammakers and Dreambreakers: Good Choices and Bad Choices."

Students will wear their Dove shirts or school colors of red and blue to show school spirit on Spirit Day, Friday, Nov. 2.

To celebrate Veteran's Day, Heritage Elementary School is hosting a "Rally Around the Flag Pole" on Nov. 12th, at 8:30 a.m. The award-winning CHHS band will line the front steps of the school and play patriotic music for all people in attendance. Each student will carry a hand made flag and each class will present a hand made banner in honor of the men and women who have worked hard to protect our country. A member of the VFW will perform a flag raising ceremony as students, parents, neighbors, and veterans circle the flagpole in the front of the school. This promises to be a heart-warming celebration of freedom!

The 2001-2002 yearbook for Silver Lake Elementary School is now on sale. Orders received by Nov. 1st are $11 each. Yearbooks can be bought through December but are a higher price after Nov. 1st. Contact Leigh Allison through the school office for more information, 817/251-5750.

The Silver Lake Elementary School PTA is sponsoring entries in the 2001 Reflections Program. This year's theme is "I hold in my hand . . ." Entries must be received by the PTA on Friday, Nov. 2nd. Winners will advance to the council level. The Reflections Program is a national fine arts competition. For information regarding the event, contact Wendy Guess through the school office, 817/251-5750.

The 4th Grade Choir at Silver Lake Elementary School will present a program on Thursday, Nov. 15th in the school cafeteria at 7 p.m. Everyone is invited. For information, call the school office, 817/251-5750.

The Grapevine Middle School Fall Book Fair will be held Monday, Oct. 29 through Thursday, Nov. 1, in the Grapevine Middle School Library. Students and their parents are invited to see the latest materials and books available for sale from Scholastic Book Fairs during the hours of 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. All proceeds will be used to benefit the Grapevine Middle School library. For more information, contact Danette Jurgens, librarian, or Laila Khavari, assistant librarian, 817/251-5660.

PTA General Meeting - October 23, 7 p.m. Parenting Program with guest speaker Leigh Ann Smith, topic "Put it out Coalition," an informative program for parents about drugs.

Morning Coffee with HMS Principal, Chip Evans - November 17. Parents are invited to a morning coffee and open forum discussion about HMS with the principal.

Destination Imagination - Teams are forming for the sub-regional tournament in February. Sign up now, for more information contact Ruth Johnson at 817/283-8978.

Cotillion - January/February. Students are invited to attend the annual Cotillion series featuring Ms. Debbie Jones and Ms. Suzi Blonder from DJs Dance of Southlake. Instruction will include introductions, conversations, manners, receiving lines and basic etiquette. For additional information contact Terri Hart at 817/488-7972.

The CHHS Panther Marching Band received straight superior ratings, (Division I), at The Region 24 U.I.L. Marching Band Contest on Oct. 20, the third consecutive Division I rating for the band this year. Since Colleyville Heritage is a 5A school and this is a 4-A State marching contest year, the Panther Band has advanced as far as possible in U.I.L. competition for 2001. The award-winning Panther Band, will finish up its competitive season on Oct. 29 with a performance at the highly competitive Duncanville Invitational. The band will perform its "Portraits of Spain" contest show, in preliminary competition at 3:30 p.m., against 27 other bands, with a chance to advance to the finals that evening.

Members and staff of the Grapevine High School Mustang Band proudly announce that the band earned straight "First Division" ratings from the judges at the U.I.L. Region 24 - Marching Band Contest on Oct. 20. This qualifies the band to advance to the U.I.L. Area contest on Oct. 27. 

The marching show, titled "New Century Dawn," features original concert band music that has been specially arranged for the GHS Band. Grapevine will take the field, in its quest for state honors at the U.I.L. Area "C" contest, Mesquite Memorial Stadium on Oct. 27th at 3:30 p.m.

Memorial Stadium is located on Scyene Road just west of LBJ (635) freeway. The event is open to the public and the admission is $5 per person.

Grapevine High students will observe Red Ribbon Week Oct. 29 – Nov. 2 and the GHS Student Council has planned a variety of activities to help kids stay alcohol and drug free. On Monday, the council will pass out red ribbons to the teachers to distribute to their first period classes and students will be encouraged to wear them throughout the week. On Tuesday, tombstones will represent the number of students who die every year from alcohol and drugs. Wednesday’s slogan is “Be a life saver and don’t do drugs” and students will get Lifesavers candy. Thursday the entire student body will be encouraged to wear red. On Friday students will participate in Goblin Day – a celebration of school clubs and involvement.

Grapevine High School's Speech and Debate students had another successful tournament on Saturday, Oct. 20, with the following results: Jennifer Miller, 3rd Place Speaker in Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate; Alex Kohlmann, 4th place in United State Extemporaneous Speaking; Cody Davis, 2nd Place in Humorous; Eddie Ledesma, 3rd Place in Humorous; Melissa Minshew, 5th Place in Oratory; Matthew Wiegmann, 4th Place in Prose.