6 minute read
Cypress School News
Source: CFISD news Media
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
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 Past Dreams Ezequiel Lara Transcendence Aidyn Lawton Nova Jacob Lemos New Wave Macee Richardson Cola-Fun Jack Serice The Empty Form of a Human Shell CYPRESS RANCH Danielle Vassalotti Dreamer’s Home Gabriela Valladares Julianita
SILVER KEy WInnERS
BRIDGELAND Bridget Bennett Release Karla Bernal Matthew Hannah Everage Me Ava Finch Madame Chicken Ezequiel Lara Burning Desire Christen Lee Soar High Zahra Martinez Caban Self-Sabotage Emily McKellar Untitled04 Spencer Phillips The Plant-Man Alex Venkatesan Last Look At Light Drake Zapalac BArms Elise Dávila La La Land A Leg To Stand On Dress Up Carolyn Gilbert Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall Abigail Judd The Perils of Yearning Robert Mock The Fishing Pole
Silver Key Winners continued CYPRESS RANCH Malayna Betz Argus Field Mariel Campoy Downward Spiral Joshua Gutierrez One Way Kylie Henk In the Head Mustansir Karimi In Seventh Heaven Lauren Manahl Terrorized Renaissance
Anh Nguyen
Bright Eye Ana Tovar Tempered Glass Angel Trujillo Inequity Andrew Ung Bonsai Park Danielle Vassalotti Dissolving Selena Wang Scorched Price of Evolution Greatness Adewumi Who Am I? Kaitlyn Salmeron 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.
Shawn Ray
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 BRIDGELAND Jaylen Benard Keddric Mays Mason Docks Michael Nelson Dubem Muoneke Luke Ramirez Second Team BRIDGELAND Jordan Clardy CYPRESS RANCH Dami Alabi Colby Rasberry CYPRESS RANCH Franklin Sampson
