SMSD EDUCATION FOUNDATION GALA ON FRIDAY, FEB. 17

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1 UPCOMING EVENTS Feb. 1 National Signing Day, Noon, Competition Gym Feb. 2 Primary School Science Fair, 6 p.m. Feb. 3 Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce A-F Resolution Forum, 11 a.m. Feb th Day of School Celebration Feb. 7 Boys/Girls Basketball (Senior Night) vs. Sealy Feb. 8 Student Council Induction, 5:30 p.m. Stafford Intermediate School Feb. 9 UIL Academic Event, Stafford High/Middle campuses Feb. 10 Super Senior 55+ Breakfast, 8:30 a.m. Stafford High School Feb. 13 Board Meeting,6:30 p.m., Board Room Feb. 17 Stafford MSD Education Foundation Mardi Gras Themed Gala, 7 p.m. Stafford Centre Feb. 24 Black History Month Program, Stafford Intermediate School SMSD EDUCATION FOUNDATION GALA ON FRIDAY, FEB. 17 The Stafford MSD Education Foundation, a non-profit, has awarded 150 teaching grants totaling more than $120,492 impacting over 3,400 classrooms and 200 classroom teachers. Its net-financial impact in grants and scholarships is $267,918.

2 The Education Foundation will be hosting a Mardi Gras-themed Gala on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. the Stafford Centre. To find out how you can help the Stafford MSD Education, Foundation President John Ferro at foundation@staffordmsd.org or call STAFFORD PRIMARY/ELEMENTARY CELEBRATE LUNAR NEW YEAR Stafford Primary and Stafford Elementary Schools celebrated the Lunar New Year 2017: Year of The Rooster on Thursday. Students from SMSD s K-4 Chinese and Vietnamese Language Programs dressed in traditional New Year s costumes and performed songs and distances in accordance with New Year s celebrations. SMSD LONG RANGE FACILITIES PLANNING UNDERWAY

3 As we prepare to close out the first month of 2017, SMSD Superintendent Dr. Robert Bostic, administrators, parents, teachers, and community leaders are busy working on multiple projects that will help take SMSD to even greater academic heights. SMSD is being transformed into a District of Innovation. The Texas Education Agency now allows school districts to apply to be a District of Innovation if they meet certain criteria. Parents, students, teachers, and community leaders have also been working diligently on the district s Strategic Plan. How do we ensure every student graduates college and/or career ready? What should our class sizes be in order to achieve the highest academic performance? How do we increase parental involvement and student accountability? How do attract and retain the best and brightest teachers and administrators? A Long Range Facilities Planning Committee comprised of parents, teachers, administrators and community members have been meeting to look at the district s capital and facility needs.the next meeting for this Committee will be held from 5:45-9 p.m. at the SHS Cafeteria on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Dr. Bostic and his team have already begun to make improvements to SMSD s Softball Field. Plans to remodel and renovate the girls locker room and girls coaches area are underway. These are exciting times at SMSD -- Stay tuned and stay involved. WEATHER CHANNEL TO HIGHLIGHT REUNION

4 The Weather Channel, based in New York City, has requested (and been granted) permission to use the now viral video of Stafford High graduate Jasmine Morales, a member of the U.S. Army, being reunited with her younger sister and best friend, Alyssa Jackson. Houston Channels 11 and 13 have already done stories on the amazing reunion between Morales and Jackson. More than 21,000 people have viewed the video recorded by SHS Teacher Blake Hambledon on the SMSD Facebook Page. The post has 375 likes at this time. SIGNING DAY SET FOR WEDNESDAY

5 Stafford High senior James Brown (pictured above) is expected to sign a scholarship with Abilene Christian University during the National Signing Day Ceremony, at Noon on Wednesday in the Stafford High Competition Gym. Fellow senior Kameron Hill (Lineman) is also expected to sign with Abilene Christian, a Football Championship Series member of the Southland Conference. Although Abilene is 6 hours, 21 minutes from Stafford, the ACU Wildcats regularly visit conference rivals HBU (Houston), Sam Houston State (Huntsville) and Lamar (Beaumont). Stafford senior running back Cam Montgomery is expected to sign with Division I Rice University, an academic powerhouse located less than 14 miles from the Stafford MSD campus. SHS senior lineman Moses Horn is expected to sign with Texas A&M-Kingsville. More seniors may announce their Signing Day plans between now and Wednesday.

6 SMSD LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES The Stafford MSD Board of Trustees approved the SMSD Legislative Priorities for the 84 th State Legislative Session, which began earlier this month in Austin and will continue into the spring. These are important issues that continue to impact the present and future of Stafford MSD. Here is a link to the information below and how you can directly contact your state officials (from the Stafford area and members of the House of Representatives Public Education Committee). State Rep. Ron Reynolds is sponsoring a bill for municipal school districts to receive adequate transportation funding for students that ride buses in a reduced radius of miles to the school campuses. It is listed as House Bill (HB) 601. PRIMARY SCIENCE FAIR SET FOR THURSDAY

7 Stafford MSD Board Secretary Xavier Herrera attended the Stafford Elementary School Science Fair last week. On Thursday (Feb. 2), Stafford Primary School will host its Science Fair from 6-7 p.m. Science Fairs allow students the opportunity to showcase their skills in the areas of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math). BASKETBALL TEAMS CONTINUE TO THRIVE The Stafford High Boys Basketball Team overcame a 15-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat Needville, With the win, the Spartans improved to 4-0 in District Competition. They will visit Columbus tonight (Friday) and return home for the beginning of the second half of District Competition when they host Brookshire Royal on Tuesday, Jan. 31. The Stafford High Girls Basketball Team is 4-2 in District, after a hard-fought loss to Needville. They visit Columbus tonight (Friday) and host Brookshire Royal on Tuesday, Jan. 31. The Lady Spartans have an excellent chance of qualifying for the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.

8 SMSD FACEBOOK LINK GOAL: 2,400 FOLLOWERS Stafford MSD s Facebook page has been a great communications tool for our community. We ve been able to post pictures of events, communicate key information and answer and/or direct questions to parents and community members. It is a great way to keep up with daily updates at SMSD. We currently have 2,256 followers, as we ve been growing rapidly, since we only started it about eight months ago. OUR GOAL IS 2,400 FOLLOWERS BY SPRING BREAK WE KNOW IT S A LOFTY GOAL, BUT WE KNOW OUR SMSD KEY COMMUNICATORS CAN HELP US GET THERE. The link for our Facebook page is: The 82 is a nod to the year classes started in our district. Be sure to share the link with friends, family and neighbors!