As we enter the final six weeks of the 2018-2019 school year, Goose Creek CISD is even busier than usual. Despite threatening weather, which, thankfully, resulted in blue skies, our celebration marking the district’s 100th anniversary took place Saturday, April 13, at Bicentennial Park, featuring vendors, inflatables, face painters, food trucks and many other activities. Kicking off the event, Baytown Mayor Brandon Capetillo, Will Carter from U.S. Congressman Brian Babin’s office and Hector Morales from Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia’s office presented proclamations. Guests enjoyed the music of 1980s cover band Molly and the Ringwalds from 6:30-8 p.m. Thanks to everyone for bringing your lawn chairs and joining us as we celebrated 100 Years of Class!

 

The administration of State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) along with End of Course (EOC) tests has begun. Every year, our students and teachers put monumental effort into preparing for these assessments. It is now time for students to take a deep breath, relax and rely on what they’ve learned to tackle these tests with confidence! While the state-mandated tests must be taken seriously, I do not feel that these subject-specific tests are an effective measure of all that students are achieving intellectually, socially and emotionally as our staff prepares them to become productive citizens who contribute to our society in magnificent ways.

 

Voters will have the opportunity to consider Goose Creek CISD’s 2019 Bond proposal during early voting, April 22-30, and on Election Day, Saturday, May 4, 2019. Highlights of the $335,725,000 bond proposal include the construction of an elementary school and a junior school along with a replacement school for San Jacinto Elementary; renovations, repairs and improvements to aging schools and facilities; a new field house at Stallworth Stadium and four-lane running tracks with field lighting at the five junior schools; safety and security improvements, such as bus camera systems and GPS equipment upgrades, additional security cameras district-wide and GCCISD Police Department fleet vehicles to accommodate the expanded department as well as technology replacement and upgrades.

 

Thanks to the Citizens Bond Planning Committee members for their dedication to working together to recommend a 2019 Bond to benefit our district’s students and staff. For more information about bond projects, early voting locations and Election Day voting locations, please visit our website at www.gccisd.net.

 

As the school year winds down, please remember that it’s important to finish strong. For students, this means continuing to work to achieve good grades, good attendance and good behavior. For teachers, this means using your talents, abilities and energy to continue making a difference in the lives of your students up through last day of school even though your patience may be wearing a little thin. For parents, this means figuring out activities for your children to keep them learning, progressing and staying occupied throughout the summer. Nothing’s worse than hearing, “I’m bored,” on the second day of summer, so make plans now.

 

Don’t forget that our summer will be a little shorter this year as we have adjusted our school calendar to accommodate balanced semesters. This will benefit both students and faculty in planning, studying and testing. The net result will mean an earlier start to summer next school year. Best wishes for a fantastic final six weeks of the school year as you plan for family time during the summer break.