3 February | March 2017
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Contents ON THE COVER: The Wissing Family (left to right) John, Sandra, Matt, Jessica, Christina
Serving the Community of Cypress Creek Lakes
Photo Credit: Colette James Photography
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Wissing Family Roots Run Deep in Cypress Creek Lakes Cypress Happenings
16 Runway to Everyday 18 9 Tips to Age-Proof Your Resume and Get Interviews
10 Covid-19 Pfizer Vaccine Experience “A Breeze”
19 Let’s Dance
12 Canine Corner
20 Cypress School News
13 Farmer’s Markets
22 Cy-Fair Houston Chamber Award Winners
14 Best of Cy-Fair: 2 Guys 1 Pit BBQ
23 Reflections on Service Through Kids Care
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PINPOINTE RESIDENT PROFILE
Wissing Family
By Patricia Hudson
Roots Run Deep in Cyess Creek Lakes
(left to right) Matt with Hudson, Kaleb, Samantha, Sandra with Ellie Photo Credit: Patricia Hudson
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fter raising three children, Cypress Creek Lakes residents Matt and Sandra Wissing became “empty nesters” in 2007, when their youngest went off to college. It was quite a surprise when in 2015, siblings Christina, John, and Jessica each wound up buying houses in the CCL community. Sandra was ecstatic. “I was so excited to have them all so close, I had always teased them that if we paid for college, they could not leave Houston. If I don’t see them every day, I talk to them on the phone multiple times, especially my girls. We are a very close family.” Sandra recalls when she first met Matt, “It was at a mutual friend’s high school graduation party in Galveston in 1980. I had a boyfriend at the time, but thought Matt was cute. Another girl told me ‘Hands off! Matt’s mine!’ That’s when I decided I was interested!” After dating for 2.5 years, Matt asked Sandra to marry him over sandwiches on her lunch break. “He’s become more romantic over the years; we’ve been married for 39 years this coming November,” shares Sandra. 6 April | May 2021
Matt has been working at NOV since 1987, starting as a welder/machinist, and is now a design engineer. “Matt traveled the world for work, sometimes for 90-100 days at a time; I stayed home to hold down the fort,” explains Sandra. “I went from stay-at-home mom to stay-athome grandma, always there for the grandkids.” The oldest of the Wissing children, Christina, is a sale experience lead at HPE. Her husband, Bryan “Rip” Ripkoski, is a senior vertical engineer at Thyssenkrupp. “We call them the rebels of the family because they moved out of CCL last year, but they are only two miles away, in Bridgeland,” says Sandra. The Ripkoskis have two children: Samantha, 17, and Kaleb, 15, both students at Bridgeland High School. Kaleb likes golfing, fishing, playing Call of Duty, and driving his golf cart. Samantha enjoys spending mom and dad’s money shopping. She loves to organize and hang out with her friends. John followed in his dad’s footsteps, and works in the same department at NOV. John and Nikki are engaged; they dote on their fur babies, Jemma and Maya. An
athlete, John likes to go for 2.4 mile swims, 112 mile bike rides, and 26.2 mile runs. “He’s an official Ironman,” comments his proud mom. Jessica, the youngest, married her brother’s best friend, Colin Apostolo. Jessica is a 1st grade teacher and Colin is a sales manager. They have two children, Hudson, 3, and Ellie 2 months. Hudson recently told his mom that he wanted his grandma and papa to move next door to him “…because 1.8 miles is just too far.” Most days you’ll find Hudson dressed up as a superhero, asking why to anything and everything. “He has the whole family wrapped around his finger. But his little sister has him wrapped around hers. He’s constantly telling her ‘Ellie Belle, you’re so pretty! Love you so much,’” says grandma. Ellie enjoys napping and looking cute for her mom’s daily photo shoots.
meals.” Jessica says that her mom is “…hands down, the best cook in the house. She’s one of those people that doesn’t ever follow a recipe so you can only truly enjoy her cooking at her house. She specializes in Mexican.” Imparting advice is an important aspect of parenthood. “Our advice to our children has always been to The extended Wissing Family: (left to right) Kaleb, Christina, Bryan, Samantha, Matt, Hudson, work hard and to be Sandra, Colin, Jessica, John, & Nikki - Photo Credit: Colette James Photography responsible for their Sandra. “You can stop by our house actions,” states Matt. “We tried to on any given day, and I can guarantee teach them the value of a dollar from at least one of our kids or grandkids a very young age. From the time will be there, usually unannounced. they turned 16, we expected them to Some nights they all show up at have jobs. We bought them cars, but once. And just like when they were they were responsible for their car kids, they expect to be fed one of insurance and phone bills. Once they their mom’s delicious home cooked graduated from high school, we
“Our son-in-law, Colin, swore they wouldn’t be joining the rest of the family in CCL but now his family drops by our house the most,” smiles Sandra & Matt Wissing Photo Credit: Patricia Hudson
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helped them land internships to work towards figuring out what they wanted to do with their own careers,” explains Sandra. “Once they went to college, we rewarded them for earning good grades. It didn’t mean that we didn’t understand that sometimes they might get bad grades, but we wanted them to take responsibility for their grades. We didn’t want to find out they were struggling at the end of the semester; we Samantha & Kaleb
taught them to talk to us if they were struggling and that we would get them the help they needed in tutoring. We’ve taught them to work hard but to remember (that) nothing is more important than your family.” “Family time usually involves chaos, good food, wine, and doing Jessica & Colin holding Hudson & Ellie whatever Hudson James Photo Credit: Patricia Hudson asks of us. Sometimes we have dance parties,” comments John. “Sometimes, you’ll find the whole family dressed up as superheroes. Mostly, John competing in the we enjoy sitting outside, Ironman competition having a fire in the gazebo Matt built and watching the Astros play,” reports Sandra. The term “Handy Man” does not come close to cutting it when describing Matt,” says Jessica. “When he’s not designing and building for NOV, he’s busy designing and building stuff at the house. He spent the last year and half renovating the backyard; he built a gazebo, fireplace, and an outdoor kitchen.” As for Sandra, she enjoys hanging out in their backyard with a glass of wine, shopping, and spoiling the grandkids.
A gathering of heroes: The Wissing team ready for action.
8 April | May 2021
If you know of an exceptional Greater Fairfield, Towne Lake, Bridgeland/Blackhorse Ranch, or Cypress Creek Lakes individual or family that needs to be featured in an upcoming issue of PinPointe Magazine, please contact me: texasteacher024@outlook.com.
Cypress
HAPPENINGS
For more upcoming Cy-Fair events, visit: www.bestofcyfair.com
Metta's Local Eats Dine Out for Charity Benefiting Cy-Fair Helping Hands April 1, 2021 - June 30, 2021 Food, Fellowship, and Funds! www.facebook.com/MLEDineOutForCharity/
Cy-Hope Clay Shoot Wednesday, April 14, 2021 • Visit cy-hope.org for details Westside Sporting Grounds • 10120 Pattison Rd. • Katy, TX 77493
Reach Unlimited Golf Tournament Friday, April 23, 2021 • 7am-3pm Houston National Golf Club • 16500 Houston National Blvd. • 77095 w/ special guest Brett Favre reachunlimited.networkforgood.com
8th Annual CFISD Superintendent’s Fun Run Saturday, May 1, 2021 Registration info available at: www.cfisd.net/en/fun-run
CFISD Last Day of School Wednesday, May 26, 2021
Cypress Gems Present Class of 2021 23 young women in the senior class of the Cypress Gems Chapter of National Charity League, Inc. were recognized for their outstanding philanthropic service. At a formal event held at the Norris Conference Center on February 21, 2021, the Cypress Gems graduating class of 2021 were presented by their families and honored for their contributions to their chapter and their community. National Charity League is a mother-daughter service organization committed to fostering the mother-daughter relationship through community service, leadership development, and cultural experiences. Alongside their mothers, the 2021 class performed over 4,715.75 hours of community service. Their work has benefitted multiple non-profit organizations. The Cypress Gems chapter formed in 2014 and is comprised of girls attending Cypress Fairbanks, Cypress Ranch, Cypress Woods, and Bridgeland High Schools. The Class of 2021 Cypress Gems Ticktockers as pictured are: Bottom Row: Sara Bothe, Shelby Westfall, Anya Mohammed, Julia Weissinger, Madeline Nichols Second Row: Lindsey Campbell, Madeline van Staveren, Alyssa Linton, Julia Theriot, Bella Griffin, Sarah Costigan, Lauren Knight Third Row: Gillian Scott, Rachel Martin, Ainsley Engelking, Kadien Janson, Emma Herold, Tatum Wilson Top Row: Kailey Hatter, Madison Smith, Kara Lucas, Natalie Mason, Meghan Lee
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By Patricia Hudson front of me numbered no more than a dozen, with personnel distributing clipboards holding a brief consent form. (Prior to the visit, basic information was submitted requiring recipients only to show proof of completion, further speeding up the process).
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ccording to the Harris County Public Health Department, there have been 343,573 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Houston/Harris county, and 3,235 deaths, as of February 23, 2021. While the number of deaths appear to be decreasing, for those of us in the 65 and older age range, and for those with pre-existing health conditions, the reality is that we are the most susceptible to contracting the virus. As someone identified as an “Essential Worker,” and with a history of breast cancer, the decision was simple; when the opportunity presented itself, I would receive the vaccine. My appointment for the Covid-19 Vaccine Dose #1 was scheduled via email: February 10, 2021. The location, approximately a 45-minute drive from my home, was at the UT Cooley Health Center. After hearing the horror stories of people waiting 3 hours in line, I was pleasantly surprised to find ample parking in a self-pay surface lot, with directional signs clearly marking the path to the vaccine site. The line in
10 April | May 2021
My appointment was for 11 a.m., but as they were ahead of schedule, my first vaccine was administered early. Truthfully, I didn’t even feel it! After a 15-minute wait to check for a possible reaction, I was on my way out the door. For the next few days, I experienced some arm and shoulder pain, but as it dissipated, no other reactions manifested. I received Vaccine Dose #2 on Sunday, March 7, 2021; what a pleasant realization it was that I didn’t have to fight the Houston traffic. Side effects of my second dosage were limited to body aches and weakness for a couple of days. This is totally an individual result, as a recipient of 24 developed a number of these symptoms, a woman in her mid-70’s reported that flulike symptoms lasted only a few days. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is reported to have a 52% efficacy after the first dose, and a 95% efficacy after the second. Covid-19 vaccines help our bodies develop immunity to the virus that causes Covid-19 without us having to get the illness. The vaccine leaves the body with a supply of “memory” T-lymphocytes, as well as B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight the virus in the future. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC).
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Canine Corner
Photo by Patricia Hudson
By Patricia Hudson and Sophia Hudson, the Rescue Yorkiepoo
H
appy Spring, everyone! Sophie, here! I’d like to introduce you to my newest four-footed friend, Autumn! Beautiful Autumn is ready for her forever home. She is a 2.5 yearold lab mix that is 40 lbs., fully grown. Autumn is kennel trained, potty trained, and is a very well-behaved girl, but does jump when she gets overly excited. She is great on the leash and would make an excellent walking/running partner. Autumn is good with dogs of all sizes and would love a playmate, but would be fine as an only dog, too. She isn’t overly hyper, but does require daily exercise. She’s good with kids and is in a foster home with two boys, ages 2 and 4. Autumn would do great in most environments. Did you know that Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue is a Cypress based, foster only rescue, run totally by volunteers? This rescue is dedicated to rescuing homeless and abandoned puppies and dogs from high-kill shelters and owners who can no longer care for them. Autumn is so lucky to be fostered through Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue. She is getting the best of care, and is looking for her forever home.
Autumn
Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue www.cypressluckymuttrescue.org luckymuttrescuecypress@gmail.com
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12 April | May 2021
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Farmer’s Markets Provide a Breath of Fresh Air for Shoppers Story and Photos by Patricia Hudson Searching for the freshest produce, the butcher’s best cuts, the hottest sauces, or maybe even the newest beauty products in your area? If you are longing to leave the confines of your home, a weekend stroll through your local farmer’s market might be just what the doctor ordered. Bridgeland Farmers Market (2nd & 4th Sundays) • 12:30-3:30pm 10519 Fry Rd. • Cypress, TX 77433 Boardwalk @ Towne Lake Farmers Market (3rd Sat) • 12:30-3:30pm 9945 Barker Cypress Rd. • Cypress, TX 77433 Fairfield Farmers Market (Starting in Feb 3rd Sundays) • 11am-3pm 15103 Mason Rd, Cypress, TX 77433 The Jersey Village Farmers Market (1st & 3rd Sundays) • 12-3pm Jersey Village Civic Center Parking Lot 16327 Lakeview Dr. This family-friendly event features locally grown food and handmade merchandise. Tomball Farmers Market (Saturdays) • 9am-1pm A year-round weekly North Houston Farmers Market, with over 60 local vendors featuring farmers, producers, bakers, artisans and more. Located in historic Downtown Tomball, TX TFM provides a
diverse, fun, pet friendly, family outdoor shopping experience. Visit www.tomballfarmersmarket.org • (832) 422-5669 Focusing on Fresh Produce The Farm to Kitchen Collective is a co-op/ CSA hybrid that has brought locally grown, fresh vegetables to multiple locations across Cypress, Tomball and Northwest Houston for nearly six years. Locally owned and operated, the Farm to Kitchen Collective offers a ‘farm share’ each week on Wednesdays. With multiple memberships available, the Farm to Kitchen has options to fit into busy lifestyles. Visit www.FarmtoKitchenCollective.com for additional information.
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2 GUYS 1 PIT BBQ
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The Best of Cy-Fair P L AC E S TO E AT Story by Patricia Hudson Photos by Metta Marie Archilla
ake a ride down Spring Cypress a bit, chances are, you are headed to one of the most popular barbeque joints in Harris County: 2 Guys 1 Pit. Family owned and operated, Richard Rodriguez, together with his son-in-law, Christopher Clarabut, have established a reputation for doing Que well, and treating their customers right. “There’s a story behind our restaurant,” says Ashley Clarabut, “my brother Cody asked our parents to cater his wedding. Dad enlisted Christopher to help. On the way home afterwards, Chris commented, ‘If we did this full-time, we could have charged to cater!’ We started a side business, catering primarily weddings, in 2016. (Weddings account for 90% of their catering business today). Three years later, we opened the restaurant. I named the business. I was thinking that there were 2 guys, 1 pit; why not name it that? I asked jokingly. Next thing I knew, they submitted the name to the state,” grins Ashley wryly. Truly a family business, Dad Richard is the Pitmaster, Christopher runs the restaurant, Mom Michelle is in charge of catering, and Ashley handles marketing and social media. At a recent meeting of friends from Metta’s Local Eats, we were discussing the merits of great barbeque restaurants. It was no surprise that 2 Guys 1 Pit came up immediately. “They are welcoming as soon as you walk through the front door; all the staff greets you The Criswich
#1 Best Seller Brisket
with a smile, and are friendly and cheerful, which says a lot about their management/ownership,” shares Lisa Johnson. Metta Archilla, is quick to name her “go-to” choice. “The Chriswich is monumental and not for the slightly hungry; this a layered masterpiece of mixed pitsmoked brisket, 2G1P creamy dreamy white cheddar mac-n-cheese, the perfect crunch from a heaping pile of BBQ chips, and all between two locally sourced sweet sourdough buns with the usual trimmings, and choice of side! It is ALL that and a bag of chips. Once tried it becomes true!” “My favorite is the brisket watermelon salad, baby spinach with an amazing bacon vinaigrette, feta cheese, cool watermelon, and chopped brisket,” comments Keri Holloway. “The feta and watermelon pair perfectly; the juicy smoke ring brisket brings it together in a happy marriage.”
14 April | May 2021
Nancy Eugenio sings the praises of “… the absolutely amazing beef rib! Juicy, drippy and perfectly seasoned,
it is a massive piece of meat that can easily feed two. Even my dogs enjoy the gnawing on that big ole bone. All their sides are amazing. My favorite is the sweet potato casserole, which they will bring back in the fall.” “I adore the loaded baked potato. A steamy, oversized spud stuffed with the usual suspects and topped with a generous portion of meat... what’s not to love? I prefer mine with moist brisket, perfectly seasoned, smoky goodness that melts in your mouth,” contributes Vannessa Henley. Committed to giving back to the community, it is not unusual to find multiple fundraisers and charity events going on at the same time. During the recent winter freeze and despite a loss of power, Chris, Richard, and two employees doggedly remained open for the community and provided free meals for first responders and local hospitals. Between the pandemic and the freeze, running a successful barbeque restaurant has been challenging.
Loaded Baked Potato
Nevertheless, this hardworking family has a loyal Cypress following that craves their top sellers: brisket, pork ribs and burnt ends, as well as their outstanding sides. “It is important that we put the same quality into our sides as we do our meats,” states Ashley. What does the future hold for 2 Guys 1 Pit? “We will be expanding!”
2 Guys 1 Pit BBQ 11711 Spring Cypress Road Tomball, TX 77377 832.559.3923 bbq@2guys1pitbbq.com Days/Hours: Sunday – Thursday 11 am – 8 pm Friday – Saturday 11 am – 9 pm (Or until SOLD OUT)
For more restaurant reviews visit: www.bestofcyfair.com.
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R U N W AY T O E V E R Y D AY. How to we a r t h e n ewe st t re n d s f ro m N YFW. BY ALLISON OKUNEYE For those of you who may not know, February is the beginning of all things fashion in major cities across the globe.
We are going to take a look at what is hot off of the runway and see how you can apply those trends to your everyday wardrobe.
Don’t forget, trends are just that, so add them to your wardrobe or ignore them completely and stay within your comfort zone!
**But it doesn’t hurt to add a little spice here and there so keep that in mind!
TREND #1 FRINGE
This trend is no problem for Texans!! Most of us already own multiple fringed items so we are already on trend! Try to find ways to incorporate your fringe items into your everyday looks! Don’t pack up your fringe jacket/boots after the Rodeo Season...it is time to keep them in the wardrobe rotation! Don’t have any fringe?
Look for a statement piece like a jacket, or sweater that you can get use out of year after year and compliments the items that are already in your closet.
TREND #2 MIXING PRINTS
This is an easy trend to do because you most likely don’t need to buy anything new. You already own items that just need to be reimagined. This can be a tricky trend to pull off, so bear with me.
An easy mixed print look to pull off is using any black and white print (stripes/spots/zebra) and pairing with a bright colorful print.
Whether it is a floral, or a dizzy color explosion print, it will mix nicely with the contrast of the black and white.
16 April | May 2021
CLOSING THOUGHTS & FEELS
After the year that we have had it may seem silly to write about fashion or to even think about what to wear.
TREND #3 80s ALL OUT FASHION
After coming off of a year where we spent most of our time indoors (well...some of us) the fashion gurus are betting that when we do go out....we want to be as big and as glamorous as the 80s were.
Whether it is the corner bar, or a date night, one thing we ALL can do is DRESS IT UP!
This year has been devastating to so many families in our community for many different reasons. While a lot of what is happening around us can make us feel out of control, I truly believe that getting up, getting dressed, and throwing on some lipstick is one thing we can control.
Is a trendy outfit going to fix everything? Absolutely not.
Can it give you a moment of confidence and sense of control during your day, definitely!!
Let’s normalize getting fancy again!
There is NEVER an occasion where we can be overdressed, so keep that in mind for your next girls night, date night, or happy hour!
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Tips to Age-Proof Your Resume and Get Interviews By Deanna Poehlman
Author and Former Career Transition Coach
De-aging your résumé. Although it is against the law to discriminate against a protected age group (over 50), it is unfortunately still practiced. Keep in mind, the résumé’s only purpose is to advertise for an interview. When we gain the interview, we will win them over with our value, confidence, and relevance. Here are some ways your résumé may make you look older:
1. Including a middle initial or your middle name. Or, displaying your complete address, just include the city and state. Leaving off your complete address is not only recommended simply for your safety but also the potential of economic profiling
2. Including more contact numbers than your mobile number. If you are uncomfortable placing your cell number, then obtain a Google Voice number as your mobile number. It can be set-up so that it will ring on multiple phones and can be configured to transcribe the message, which can then be emailed and/or texted to you 3. Using an email address that is either Hotmail, aol.com, or has a reference to a cable company. Obtain a Gmail email address with your name or a forwarded email address from an alumni association or a professional society or association
4. Including the year you graduated college. Let’s leave that off. In some cases, it may be before the hiring manager was born. If you are, however, a recent graduate, then certainly include the year
5. Double-spacing after a period. I’ll be honest; I had to go back through this article and delete a couple of extra spaces! It is a sure give-away we are “Over 50” when displayed throughout your résumé. Seventy-five percent of all online applications will never be seen by human eyes thanks to the hiring bots, which are software programs known as an applicant tracking system (ATS). They can be programmed to look for double-spacing after a period 6. Including an objective statement. An objective statement is all about you and what you want, not 18 April | May 2021
typically what value you bring to an organization. It reminds me of a quote from Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy, who said, “We don’t hire you because you need a job; we hire you because we need you.”
7. If you can help it, try not to go back more than 10-15 years of professional experience. Most certainly, do not list the jobs you held back in the 80s or 90s. If you find that your past experiences, or significant achievements, bring tremendous value to the targeted position you are applying for, I would recommend you summarize “additional experience” and leave off the pertinent dates associated with those experiences. One exception would be if you served in the military. Frame your service on your résumé, not the tenure. (i.e., served in the U.S Army for four years (not from 1980-1984)
8. Don’t list skills like M.S. Word, PowerPoint, or Excel. It makes it look as if you’ve just gotten on board with those programs. The fact that you know how to use Microsoft Office is no longer noteworthy (unless your role requires advanced excel skills, then include your excel certification)
9. Join LinkedIn and provide a great profile. LinkedIn is a valuable platform for connecting with others in your industry and uncovering new job opportunities. Add the URL to your LinkedIn profile to the top of your résumé. More than 90% of employers admit to reviewing candidates’ social network profilesregardless of whether the candidates provide that information Since your résumé will get about a 10-20 second initial look by someone before they decide to read further, you do not want to be eliminated due to “old school” ways. Additional tips are available in the book Over 50 Starting Over, with a complete action plan.
by Liz Arrington f we can thank the internet for anything, it’s cat videos and dancing babies! Nothing captures our hearts quite like a chubby little toddler gleefully jamming to a classic song. Parents send me videos all the time of their little ones dancing to their favorite songs, share with me about how they use family dance parties to relieve stress on long, hard days, ease anxiety in little ones, to help with transitions, or to get through difficult routines like cleaning up or getting dressed. Dancing is one of our basic human instincts, we are just born to move!
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Developmental Benefits of Dance With all that moving and shaking, it’s easy to forget that there is actually a LOT of learning taking place. In addition to helping build fine and gross motor skills, movement activities help support bilateral coordination (using both sides of the body) and spatial awareness (understanding the relationship between ourselves and objects around us). Recent advancements in brain research present some strong evidence that active music participation can help develop the areas in the brain involved with language, reading, and the processing of speech. This is especially true during early childhood, when the brain is already rapidly developing through experience.
Choosing Music to Listen to at Home The thing about music and dancing at home is, it has never been more accessible! As a child in the 80’s and 90’s I remember my dad gathering my younger brother and I around our family record player. He gingerly pulled out one shiny dark disc after another, encouraging the proper respect for classics from the ‘60’s and ‘70’s. We danced with abandon, yet we still knew not to stomp or jump too hard, or we risked the dreaded record skip that happened when the needle bounced. Now, my family gathers around Alexa- shouting song requests one after another. Our favorites range from decades in the past
to current pop hits and a very long obsession with the Blippi collection of truck songs. Providing a variety of songs, including music that your little ones love, is a great way to make family dance parties a well-rounded and collaborative experience. Sharing music that you love with your children is one of the great joys of parenting! Your kids might not always love your music as much as you do, especially as they get older and start forming their own tastes and identities. Above all- sharing a love for music enforces a lifelong disposition as a musical person. Family dance parties bring everyone together, allow your children to see a fun and relaxed side to their grownups, and eases stress and tension. There are a MILLION amazing songs to dance to with your little ones! Especially when they are very young, they will be thrilled just to be spending that time together with you. If you’re a parent who is looking for a few new songs to add to your collection, here is a list of songs that never fail to get toddlers, preschoolers, and grownups moving and laughing together. William Tell Overture (Main Theme) Don’t Stop Me Now - Queen Shout! - The Isley Brothers Jump! - Patty Shukla We are the Dinosaurs - Laurie Berkner Run Baby Run - Caspar Babypants Animal Freeze Dance - The Kiboomers Freeze Dance - The Kiboomers Twist and Shout - The Beatles Allee Galloo - Music Together Liz Arrington combines her background in working with children and families with her love of music, to provide early childhood music and movement classes to the families of Cypress. Online music classes also available. See more at www.songfulbeginnings.com. PinPointe Magazine
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CYPRESS SCHOOL NEWS Source: CFISD news Media
Cypress Ranch Athletic Booster Club names Scholarship Recipients By Patricia Hudson The Cypress Ranch Athletic Booster Club announced their 2nd Annual Scholarship Award Recipients recently. Applicants were judged based on an assessment of their application and adherence to guidelines, as well as an essay entitled, "What it takes to be a good student on the field, in the classroom and in the community.” Scholarship judges consisted of a Cypress Ranch administrator, counselor, staff members, and an Instructional Support Center employee. “As there are many exceptional student athletes at Cy Ranch High School, the selection process was a difficult one,” shares Tammy Thompson, CRABC Secretary. “We hope to grow this program, and anticipate an increase in the number of applicants next year.” The following are excerpts from the scholarship recipients
CRABC Scholarship Recipients for 2021 “I am typically described as ‘That girl that can jump out of the gym!’ That moniker became my philosophy. Choosing to “jump out of the gym” means I go beyond limits to be the best me I can be. And that philosophy transcends sports. It is how I approach academics, my friendships, service, and work. It is a summation of my attitude and drive. I love people and I love life. I attack everything I do with a passion and get energized by bringing people with me.” – Ava Martinolli, Varsity Volleyball 1st place: $3,000 “Being a student athlete swimming for four years on the Cypress Ranch swim team has taught me many valuable lessons about what it means to not only actively be the best student that I can, but it has also taught me what it means to be a good teammate and a team player… Executing sportsmanship is one of the best things about being a student athlete at Cy-Ranch as it really shows the important ideals of sportsmanship that I will take with me from the pool into college and my future adult life in society.” -Nick Thompson, Varsity Swimming: 2nd Place: $1,000 “Sportsmanship is the means by which players can accept losses, whether it be their own doing or that of an outside source and move on with grace and dignity…When all is said and done, the lesson of good sportsmanship is the only thing we are left with when we hang up our cleats and put away our glove…. The lessons I learned in building confidence and sportsmanship allowed me to become a better teammate, student & friend. Aside from accomplishments on the field, the most important factor in an athlete’s skill set is applying those lessons off the field and sharing with others on how to do so.” -Ashley Buss, Varsity Softball: 3rd Place: $1,000
20 April | May 2021
Students Earn Regional 2021 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards More than 250 CFISD students were among the numerous regional winners from Harris County school districts in the 2021 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, hosted by the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE). The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards provide student artists and writers from grades 7-12 the opportunity to showcase their work for a national audience and foster their careers. Students were recognized with Gold Key, Silver Key and honorable mention awards. Of the total awards won in Harris County, CFISD students won more than 300 awards. Art and writing professionals, both local and national, volunteered to judge the competition. CFISD artists received 51 Gold Key awards and their work advanced to the national competition. In addition, students were awarded 96 Silver Key awards and 159 honorable mentions. The following students were among the Gold Key and Silver Key Winners:
GOLD KEy WInnERS BRIDGELAND Sophia Christensen Ezequiel Lara Aidyn Lawton Jacob Lemos Macee Richardson Jack Serice CYPRESS RANCH Danielle Vassalotti Gabriela Valladares
Past Dreams Transcendence Nova New Wave Cola-Fun The Empty Form of a Human Shell Dreamer’s Home Julianita
SILVER KEy WInnERS BRIDGELAND Bridget Bennett Karla Bernal Hannah Everage Ava Finch Ezequiel Lara Christen Lee Zahra Martinez Caban Emily McKellar Spencer Phillips Alex Venkatesan Drake Zapalac Elise Dávila
Carolyn Gilbert Abigail Judd Robert Mock
Release Matthew Me Madame Chicken Burning Desire Soar High Self-Sabotage Untitled04 The Plant-Man Last Look At Light BArms La La Land A Leg To Stand On Dress Up Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall The Perils of Yearning The Fishing Pole
Silver Key Winners continued
CYPRESS RANCH Malayna Betz Mariel Campoy Joshua Gutierrez Kylie Henk Mustansir Karimi Lauren Manahl Anh Nguyen Ana Tovar Angel Trujillo Andrew Ung Danielle Vassalotti Selena Wang Greatness Adewumi Kaitlyn Salmeron
Shawn Ray
Sixteen CFISD Art Students Earn 2021 Rodeo Art Awards Argus Field Downward Spiral One Way In the Head In Seventh Heaven Terrorized Renaissance Bright Eye Tempered Glass Inequity Bonsai Park Dissolving Scorched Price of Evolution Who Am I? The Girl and Her Nightmares
CFISD’s winners in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) School Art Program were announced after going through two district rounds of judging. A total of 16 winners were selected from the High School, Middle School and Elementary divisions. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of the 2021 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, student artwork will not be displayed at the Hayloft Gallery, but will still be auctioned in May.
“Grass Buffet” by Tracy Vu
Cypress Ranch High School junior Tracy Vu’s artwork “Grass Buffett,” earned a gold medal in the High School division of the HLSR Art Program. The district used two rounds of judging for the fourth consecutive year. CFISD art teachers narrowed the more than 400 pieces down to the top 214 for the second round of judging. 58 pieces were then selected to be judged by HLSR School Art Program judges.
Salyards MS Speller Earns Perfect Score, Qualifies For national Bee Salyards Middle School eighth grade student Shawn Ray was named the Houston Public Media Regional Spelling Bee cochampion on March 9. Ray will represent CFISD and the Greater Houston area at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The 2021 regional spelling bee was conducted virtually due to COVID-19. Spellers were asked to spell 50 words and Ray earned a perfect score. “After making it to the regional spelling bee three times, I finally conquered a strong majority of the dictionary,” Ray said. “It means so much for me to finally have a ticket to nationals.” Ray won the 2021 CFISD Middle School Spelling Bee by correctly spelling the word beguile in the 27th round and qualified for the regional bee. The win marked Ray’s third consecutive district title.
“We are thrilled to have Shawn represent CFISD at the national level,” said Jacquelyn Loyd, secondary English and language arts curriculum coach. “This is a huge accomplishment for him that represents years of dedication. We know he has even more great things in his future.” Due to COVID-19, the prelim, quarter and semifinal rounds of the Scripps National Bee will be held virtually. The final round in Orlando, FL on July 8 will have 10-12 champions participating.
District 16-6A Boys’ Basketball Players Earn Earn 2020-2021 League Honors District 16-6A boys’ basketball coaches released the 2020-2021 All-District 16-6A Boys’ Basketball Team, following the conclusion of each team’s season in the UIL playoffs. Cypress Woods High School earned two district superlatives as senior Damian Watson was named the district’s Most Valuable Player and Head Coach Chris Draudt was voted Coach of the Year. Cypress Park High School senior A.J. Ferguson was named Defensive Player of the Year. Cypress Ranch High School sophomore Jaylen Benard was named the Newcomer of the Year. The following CFISD student-athletes were among those named to the First Team, Second Team and Honorable Mention all-district teams:
First Team
Honorable Mention
CYPRESS RANCH Jaylen Benard Mason Docks Dubem Muoneke
BRIDGELAND Keddric Mays Michael Nelson Luke Ramirez CYPRESS RANCH Dami Alabi Colby Rasberry
Second Team BRIDGELAND Jordan Clardy CYPRESS RANCH Franklin Sampson
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Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce Announces 2020 Businesses of the Year and Chairman’s Award Photo Credit: Genesis Photographers The Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce announced the 2020 Businesses of the Year and Chairman’s Award at the March 2, 2021, General Membership Luncheon held at the Berry Center.
Small Business Winner: The Work Well
The Chairman’s Award was established in the early days of the Cy-Fair Chamber, and the recipient is selected by the Chairman of the Board. It is awarded to someone who is passionate about the growth, development, and betterment of the entire community. Outgoing Chairman of the Board, Leslie Francis with Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, presented the 2020 Chairman’s Award to Mark McShaffry and Debbie Blackshear for their contributions and service to the Cy-Fair community and the Chamber for their tireless work raising funds for the John Fox Chamber Herd. The Chamber Herd purchases animals exhibited at the CFISD FFA Livestock Show and Sale. The processed meat is then donated to local ministries.
The 2020 Businesses of the Year:
SMALL BUSINESS – FEWER THAN 10 EMPLOYEES: Winner was The Work Well. This business is located right in the heart of Cy-Fair. They are an innovative company with private offices and coworking community areas offering flexible membership plans for professionals to work, motivate, and inspire with others. Their services include private offices, collaborative open work areas, hybrid memberships, dedicated desks, conference and meeting room packages, a podcast booth, and virtual mail/phone services. The wide range of services and flexible terms make this business an ideal location for entrepreneurs and small business owners to focus on their business while the company provides outstanding workspace solutions.
Medium Business Winner: City of Jersey Village Jersey Meadow Golf Club
Finalists were Club Z! In-Home Tutoring of Cypress, Steam Commander, and The Work Well.
MEDIUM BUSINESS – FEWER THAN 50 EMPLOYEES: Winner, City of Jersey Village Jersey Meadow Golf Club, sits on part of what was once a 1,236-acre ranch owned by Clark W. Henry. The ranch was originally home to the F&M Dairy and one of the world’s largest and best herds of Jersey dairy cattle. In the late 1950’s a parcel of land was sold and earmarked as an employee only course for Cameron Iron Works. It was owned and managed privately until the City of Jersey Village purchased it in 2000. Given the large amount of adversity in 2020, their commitment and standard of service did not waiver. They experienced record numbers in rounds played, revenue, merchandise, concessions, and range fees all thanks to the forward-thinking of their staff. The staff worked tirelessly to increase the organization standard and invent the new way in which they operate. Finalists were Alicia’s Mexican Grille, America’s ER and Medical Center, and City of Jersey Village Jersey Meadow Golf Club.
LARGE BUSINESS – MORE THAN 50 EMPLOYEES: Winner, Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital recently celebrated 20 years of serving the Northwest Houston community. What started as a small 68-bed hospital is now a large tertiary care hospital with 358 beds. This organization employs more than 2,200 employees and has over 1,300 physicians on their medical staff. They provide a wide array of services along the continuum of care from primary care and women’s services to complex and robotic
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Non-Profit Winner: Cy-Hope surgery. With innovation at their core, their system and staff were able to respond quickly to the pandemic with innovative ideas and quick execution. They garnered national attention for their innovations and approach to the COVID pandemic and how they cared for the community and patients. Multiple stories were featured in the New York Times. Finalists were Bridgeland, HCA Houston Healthcare – North Cypress, and Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital.
NON-PROFIT: Winner, Cy-Hope, was established in 2011 by a core group of people concerned about the growing number of children in our community living in poverty and/or qualifying as economically disadvantaged by federal standards. This organization strives to fill in these gaps through programs, partnering with other community organizations to make sure they do not duplicate efforts but instead collaborate to meet the needs of the community. In 2020 they pivoted and fed more than 110,300 families in our community affected by the economic downturn due to the pandemic. This organization brings hope to all children so they will grow up to be educated and productive citizens, making a lasting impact on the community of Cy-Fair. Finalists were Cy-Hope, Cy-Fair Fire Department, and Shield-Bearer Counseling Centers.
Large Business Winner: Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital
For more information on the Cy-Fair Chamber, including a list of upcoming events, visit www.cyfairchamber.com or contact the Chamber at 281-373-1390.
Reflections on Service Through Kids Care
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By Kelsey Madison Cadien Co-Founder Kelsey and Cambel’s Kids Care, Inc.
y time as a non-profit leader in Cypress, Texas, has been nothing short of amazing! It began with my sister Cambel and I reaching out to our friends, asking them to write letters of compassion to the families who lost their children after the devastating shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary. With the help of my mother and other parents, we collected countless letters as a way to show that kids cared. I remember sitting in the backseat of my Mom’s truck while my sister and I toiled over a name for our non-profit. And then, just like magic, the name Kids Care came to us. Since 2012, with the help of friends, parents, neighbors and “family,” Kelsey and Cambel’s Kids Care, Inc. has consistently served the community of Cypress, Texas, and beyond. Words cannot adequately describe the gratitude that I have for our Cypress Creek Lakes neighbors and the Cypress community. They have jumped right in to assist Kids Care with peanut butter and jelly drives, BBQ and food distribution after Hurricane Harvey, Caroling For A Cause, Much Love Mission Showers, Covid drives, flood drives, help for homeless families, and so much more! Every single week, our neighbors drop off items to support causes of Kids Care. All of this support has reached Texas, Louisiana, New York, and Haiti. As I prepare to graduate from Cypress Ranch High School and head to Howard University in Washington, D.C. to study International Business, my heart is grateful for the love and support that I have received while growing up in Cypress. I will continue my signature of service while in college. I encourage other youth to stay or get involved in the community. I look forward to hearing from my sister Cambel while I’m away. I know she will continue to share about all of the wonderful support of our Cypress neighbors. PinPointe Magazine
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