Time to Gear Up for End of School Year
04/01/2015
Obrien photo
Spring break is over, and I hope you had some time to relax and enjoy your family, your friends and the sunny days we experienced during the break.

It’s time to gear up for the numerous activities throughout the district until the end of school. Administration of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) and End of Course tests began at the end of March and will continue through the middle of May, depending on the grade level. Staff members spent many hours in training earlier in the school year learning innovative teaching strategies to provide our students with the skills they need to excel on the tests.

We appreciate all the time and effort put forth by the staff and students preparing for testing as well as for life. I have had the opportunity to visit our Goose Creek CISD campuses, and I have proudly observed that our teachers set high expectations for all our students. Learning goes far beyond the objectives needed for state tests. It is good to know that our children will be prepared for post-secondary opportunities and also have the skills they need to become productive citizens.

Donors to the Goose Creek CISD Education Foundation were honored recently at the annual Donor Appreciation Gala at SpringHill Suites. Since its inception a little over five years ago, the organization, whose volunteers generously donate their time and effort, has awarded more than $460,000 in innovative teaching grants to teachers throughout the district. The Foundation has also honored 75 teachers through nominations by senior students at the Students Choice Awards. Involving the community in assuring a quality education for the leaders and workers of tomorrow, supporting staff for innovative efforts, recognizing excellence in teaching and encouraging all students to work at their highest potential are the major goals of the Goose Creek CISD Education Foundation. I am proud to live in a community where the education of our students and careers in education are valued.

Our Stuart Career Center, expanding to provide more course offerings, certifications, and credentials to prepare students for life after high school and to meet the demands of the workforce, is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

Through our business and industry partners, SCC benefits from donations of supplies and machinery along with time spent by mentors guiding students to focus on their fields of interest. Celebrations, including a reception and the SCC Palooza, which was a day of activities including a car show and a plant sale, were held in honor of the anniversary. Former staff members and students, many of whom are now working in fields related to the courses they took at SCC, were on hand to join in the fun and to see how the program has grown.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Art Show gave many Goose Creek CISD students the opportunity to display their amazing art at the Administration Building. Three Ross S. Sterling art students, who advanced to the show in Houston, auctioned their art for a total of more than $140,000. Also, two Goose Creek CISD students were selected to have artwork displayed at the State Capitol Building for Youth Art Month, and one of these was selected to have artwork hang at the National Art Education Association’s annual convention in New Orleans.

Forty-seven students, who competed at the Regional History Day contest at Lee College, advanced to the State History Day competition to be held May 2nd in Austin. We wish these students well as they represent Goose Creek CISD, continuing in the district’s tradition of excellence in the History Day competitions. For more than 24 years, our students have brought home medals from the state and national competitions.

These are just a few examples of exciting things happening all over our district. We will keep you informed about what’s going on in Goose Creek CISD as the year winds down.

Another way to stay informed about the happenings in Goose Creek CISD is to download the free mobile app we recently launched in partnership with SchoolMessenger. It is available for Apple iOS and Android operating systems. Go to our website at www.gccisd.net or click here to download it. You will find many helpful items, such as school lunch menus and campus information, right at your fingertips.

Although the next two months will be filled with activities, before you know it, the school year will be over! Whether you are a staff member, a parent or a community member, thank you for your contributions to making GCCISD a premier school district in this great state!