Dateline GCISD: September 13, 2001  2:21 PM

GCISD Calendar Updates

• GCISD elementary students will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 27 for parent/teacher conferences.

• The GCISD Board of Trustees regular meeting will be held on Monday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. in the district’s Administrative Building.

• Students and teachers will observe a school holiday on Monday, Oct. 8 for Columbus Day/Fair Day. All students will receive a complimentary ticket to the State Fair of Texas for use on October 8 or any weekday after that, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

GCISD Project Child Find helps those with disabilities

Educational areas of concern include, but are not limited to: cognition, language, articulation, socialization, self-help and motor skills. Anyone who is aware of an individual between birth and 21 years of age who has or may have a disability, please contact Shelly Talbert, educational diagnostician for GCISD Early Childhood Services, (817) 251-5488. Referrals during holidays and the summer should be directed to the GCISD Office of Special Services, (817) 251-5533. All referrals are confidential and the parent, legal guardian or surrogate parent has the right to refuse services.

Transportation Director Receives Certificaiton

Steve Bond, director of Transportation at GCISD, received the Texas Association for Pupil Transportation Certification, the highest certification offered by the state organization. He was required to successfully complete at least eight courses approved by the Texas Education Agency and Bond completed all course requirements within a year, when that process usually takes much longer. The certificate is awarded to individuals who demonstrate overall competency and knowledge of pupil transportation and its laws and regulations, and who fulfill personal, ethical and professional requirements.

GHS Band Percussionist Mari Fitzgerald Selected Outstanding Performer

GHS Band percussionist Mari Fitzgerald was selected as an Outstanding Performer at the 2001 U.I.L. Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest held in Austin this summer. Mari earned this state recognition by performing a memorized solo on the multiple pitched percussion instruments called timpani, often referred to as kettledrums.

Of the approximately 75,000 students participating in the regional U.I.L. music contests and the 20,000 musicians who performed in the T.S.S.E.C., only 187 students earned the distinguished honor of being named as an Outstanding Performer.

Mari, a junior at Grapevine High School, has been a percussionist for more than five years and is currently the Mustang Band drum line captain.

GHS Debate and Oral Interpretation Teams Wins Second Overall

Grapevine High School's Debate and Oral Interpretation teams won second place sweepstakes overall this past weekend at the Garland Debate tournament, where they competed against 37 other schools. GHS students earned special recognition in the following categories:

CHHS Debate Team Update

The CHHS Debate team competed in its first tournament at Creekview HS in Carrollton and came away with several top achievements. Juniors Aimi Hamraie and Justin Murray won 1st place in Varsity Cross-Examination Debate. Jeff Wilkie, a junior and Garrett Hester, Jason Murray, and Jonathan Lewis, all sophomores, reached the quarterfinals. Jason was the top speaker and Jonathan was third. Erica Nenow and Cory Jarvis, both sophomores, reached octo-finals but had to defer to their teammates.  Senior Danielle Mathieu-Reeves placed 3rd in Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate. Cindi Timmons is the CHHS debate coach.

At its second tournament of the year in Garland on Sept. 14 and 15, the CHHS Debate Team had an outstanding showing. In Varsity Cross-Examination Debate, junior Justin Murray and sophomore Jason Murray placed third. In their final preliminary round, Justin and Jason defeated one of the top sixteen teams in the country, made up of two seniors. Jason was third speaker at the tournament. Sophomores Erica Nenow and Cory Jarvis reached quarterfinals. In Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate, senior Danielle Mathieu-Reeves was the second place speaker.

This was the first tournament for novices. Junior Bonny Clinkenbeard placed first in Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate and was also the first place speaker. Freshmen Kavita Kannan, Aparna Talluri, Z Tajani and sophomore A.J. Bhatia closed out the final round of Novice Cross-Examination Debate winning both first and second place. Kavita was the first place speaker.

CHHS Performing Arts Center

First, a hit Broadway play, then a movie smash, and finally a long-running TV series, The Odd Couple by Neil Simon has had many permutations and Colleyville Heritage High School Theatre will present two of those in alternating performances beginning Sept. 27th at 7:30 p.m. in the CHHS Performing Arts Center. The female version will open at the Sept. 29th matinee at 2 p.m. Additional performances are Sept. 29 (male), Oct. 1, (female), Oct. 2, (male) and Oct. 3 (female) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 in advance, $6 at the door and a special combination ticket good for both shows is $9.

The original "Odd Couple" written for two men is the most well known version. In it, Oscar Madison, the notorious slob, takes in his obsessive-compulsive friend Felix Ungar when Felix's marriage unravels.

The ensuing complications of the two totally opposite men provide moments of sheer hilarity. The Odd Couple cast for the male version features Brandon Sylve and Cody Dearing in the title roles with Chris Copeland, Ted Dollar, Chris Olsen, and David Smith as the poker playing buddies. Demarest Thompson and Heidi Wermuth play the Pigeon sisters.

In 1984, Mr. Simon changed the gender and created The Odd Couple (female version). This is the second play that will be performed on the same set with changes in the set decoration and props. This time the laidback Olive Madison takes in the uptight Florence Unger. The Odd Couple (female version) features Krystal O’Connor and Laura Howard in the title roles with Jill Morris, Natalie Berry, Kendall Kirkham, and Allison Beall as the Trivial Pursuit playing girlfriends. Eric Cullather and Mark Jasso-Torrez play the Spanish brothers. For additional information, call 817-358-4752.

CHHS Theatre to Perform in the Play Marathon Festival

CHHS Theatre is proud to announce they have been chosen to perform in the Play Marathon Festival at the International Thespian Society's Texas State convention in Wichita Falls this November. CHHS Thespians will be performing "The Show Must Go On" by Laurence Klavan. The cast includes Krystal O'Connor, Daniel Hayden, Eric Cullather, Cody Dearing, Lacy Lynch and Chris Copeland.

Colleyville Heritage PALS Hosting Service Project

Colleyville Heritage PALS is hosting a service project, “Christmas in Haiti” where donated items will be packaged and sent to the needy in Haiti. Clubs or sports are being asked to donate specific items. Anyone interested in contributing to this cause may contact a PALS member or sponsor Martha Gibson at CHHS, 817/358-4700.

Three Heritage Elementary Students Win in "Name the Fall Festival" Contest

Three students were selected as winners of the Heritage Elementary PTA "Name the Fall Festival" contest. Kailey Sweet, 3rd grader, won the fall festival name contest with her entry, "Celebrating Our Heritage.....Heritage Hullabaloo!" This winning theme will accompany a special picture by TJ Nichols, 3rd grade.

Tyler Knox (5th grade) won first place for entering the slogan and picture that will be used on this year's directory. It will also be used for this year's PTA theme. His slogan is "Eagles Exemplifying Excellence! - To Infinity and Beyond!"

Colleyville Elementary School Elects Student Council Representatives

Student Council representatives were elected on Sept. 14 at Colleyville Elementary School. The student council provides opportunities for students to accept responsibilities and experience applied learning in real life situations. Each year one boy and one girl are elected by student vote from each third, fourth, and fifth grade classroom.

Third Grade: Grace Kafer, Zach Nell, Laci Satterfield, Connor Bourland, Paige Warner, Ben Heath, Kristen Jones, and Will DiCaro.

Fourth Grade: Alex Robertson, Clay Warner, Tracey Chapman, Michael Chernoff, Cassie Grieco, Chance Bufe, Taylor Nyquist, and Tate Rouch.

Fifth Grade: Katherine Parham, Michael Agnew, Jaclyn Taylor, Braxton Banning, Raquel Brown, Stephen Williamson, Jordan Klein, Zach Kacir, Layne Lynch, and Travis Banks.

During the fall they help with the collection of food for Grace. Last year they acted as Greeters and Guides for Open House and conducted a school-wide presidential election in conjunction with the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

The fundraisers for Student Council include candy sales on selected Fridays and the sale of singing Valentines in February. Student Council representatives must maintain an academic average of 70% or more and not have any unsatisfactory conduct grades. They must take notes in each meeting and report back to their classroom. They also write announcements for promotion of Student Council sponsored activities.

CES Starts Chess Club

The first weekly meeting of the Colleyville Elementary School Chess Club will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 3 – 4 p.m. in the cafeteria.

CES Fourth Graders to Present a Musical Tribute to Texas

Fourth graders at Colleyville Elementary School will present a musical tribute to Texas on Thursday, Oct. 18 in the school cafeteria. The program, which begins at 7 p.m., will include “Yellow Rose of Texas,” “Texas, Our Texas,” “Don Alfonzo” and other selected songs about Texas.

CES Sky Ranch Information Meeting to be Held

Parents of Colleyville Elementary fourth grader are invited to attend a Sky Ranch information meeting Tuesday, Sept. 25, at 6 p.m. in the CES cafeteria. Sky Ranch is an outdoor educational camp in Van, TX and the trip for CES fourth graders is scheduled for May 15 – 17. Parents, teachers and students will attend classes offered at Sky Ranch in areas that correlate with the fourth grade curriculum.

Dove Elementary Students Respond to Recent Tragedies

Dove students are responding with enthusiasm and compassion to the recent tragedies.

• Kindergarten classes are making a big flag using paper handprints made by the children. The grade level will make one big flag.

• First grade have decided to make a banner to send to the Pentagon. They will use red paper for the banner and will have the children make blue and white painted handprints surrounding a drawing of the American flag.

• Second grade students have decided to make a banner that says, "Our hearts are with you" and have students sign hearts on the banner.

• Third grade will send posters to New York, Washington, and Pittsburgh to encourage strength.

• Fourth grade will make cards, banners, and letters to send to American Airlines.

• Fifth grade will make a banner in the hallway related to "heroes" and send it to the children in New York.

• Pennies collected by the whole school total $867 and the collection is still growing.

Glenhope Elementary Show Patriotism and Price in America

Students, staff, and parents of Glenhope Elementary came together last week to show their patriotism and pride in America by collecting $1175 through a bake sale and collecting coins for the American Red Cross.

On Friday, everyone gathered for a “Stand Up for America” rally that included patriotic songs by members of the Colleyville Heritage High School choir, a presentation by the Glenhope Talk Hands sign language group, and a lesson in pride and patriotism by John Grace, who served in the Army and National Guard for 14 years.