La Porte ISD Insider - Spring 2024

SIDER LA PORTE ISD

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF LA PORTE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

MAGIC ON THE STAGE

Learn more about La Porte High School’s rendition of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella Page 12

BOND UPDATES IN 2024

See the latest updates on our 2023 Bond progress

Page 14

PROJECT LAUNCH

LPISD collaboration with UH-Clear Lake for 5th- and 6th-grade GT students

Page 16

THERE’S A BETTER APPROACH

TO CANCER CARE in Clear Lake

281.333.8899

The

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La Porte ISD Insider • 3

Board of Trustees

Danny Hanks, President

Russell Schoppe, Vice President

Jeff Martin, Secretary

Melissa Crutcher, Trustee

Greetings From the Superintendent Leadership

Dr. Walter Jackson

Dear La Porte Community,

I am filled with excitement for the possibilities that await La Porte ISD in the coming months. Our devoted educators and staff have been working diligently to ensure that our students receive the highest quality education as we complete these final few months of the 2023-24 school year.

I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the remarkable individuals of the La Porte High School Theater Department and the entire cast of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella. The 2024 musical production continued our 56-year longstanding tradition of excellence on the stage, all thanks to the exceptional talents of our actors, directors, musicians, stage crew, and the invaluable support of our community volunteers. Bravo! This edition features several photos from the musical, as well as a Q&A with Jonah Gallington, a La Porte alum who has returned home to join our outstanding drama department.

I also take immense pride in our budding artists whose creations were showcased at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Art Show’s Hayloft Gallery at NRG Arena throughout the rodeo season. Our athletics programs at the junior high and high school level have also enjoyed much success this school year, including the Bulldogs’ first football district championship since 2016, and teams making the post season in every fall varsity sport, along with championships in football and volleyball at the junior high level.

Our excellent fine and performing arts and athletics programs are just some of the many reasons why La Porte ISD has been recognized as one of three statewide finalists in the 2024 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards. This prestigious accolade is a testament not only to our students’ academic achievements but also to our commitment to inclusivity, professional development for our educators, and the positive culture within our district.

Many of these accomplishments have also contributed to U.S. News and World Report recently designating six of our elementary schools as among the best in the nation, while Niche graded our district as an A- educational destination.

Indeed, today is a great day to be a Bulldog!

As you drive past the Bulldog Stadium site or visit any of our campuses, you’ll witness the progress being made on the various LP Bond 2023 projects that received overwhelming support from the community. Despite facing challenges such as supply chain disruptions and adverse weather conditions, we are committed to completing these projects as swiftly as possible. I am pleased to report that we remain on track within the 18-24-month construction timeframe that we communicated to the community at the onset of the project.

The future shines brightly for La Porte ISD. Before we know it, we will be celebrating our students’ successes at awards ceremonies, scholarship presentations, inductions, and commencement exercises. In the meantime, I urge everyone to continue striving for excellence as we progress through the spring semester. We are immensely grateful to the La Porte community for your unwavering support.

With La Porte pride,

Walter Jackson, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools

Superintendent of Schools

H-E-B Finalist

LPISD Named Finalist for H-E-B’s Small District of the Year

La Porte ISD is one of three finalists in the 22nd annual H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards program for small districts with fewer than 10,000 students.

The honor is designed to recognize school districts and is based on commitment to student achievement through innovative programs, parent and community involvement, and professional development opportunities for teachers and administrators. The other two finalist districts are Angleton and Gregory-Portland ISDs.

“We are honored to have been chosen as an H-E-B finalist district,” said Superintendent Dr. Walter Jackson. “Our Board of Trustees has set such a high bar of excellence for our students, and we are blessed that they support us in all our educational endeavors. Our instructional staff and leaders are also laser-focused on ensuring student excellence.”

To determine the statewide winner, a panel of judges will tour each finalist’s district to engage with administration, staff, parents, and community members. Winners in all categories will be announced at the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards ceremony on May 5 at the Marriott Marquis in Houston.

Hall of Honor to Include Two New Awards Categories

La Porte ISD’s Board of Trustees on Jan. 9 unanimously approved the addition of the Distinguished Excellence and Distinguished Staff awards to the Hall of Honor categories. Former district staff members have been previously honored in the Distinguished Alumni category.

The Distinguished Excellence Award honors individuals and teams that have won state championships in athletics, fine arts and academics.

The 2024 La Porte ISD Hall of Honor nominating period is open through April 1 and includes the two new awards categories.

This is the seventh year of the awards program. More information and a nomination form are available at lpisd.org/our-district/about-us/distinguished-alumnicitizens.

Excellence in Business

District Earns “A” Superior Achievement Rating

La Porte Independent School District has received its 21st consecutive “A” rating for “Superior Achievement” under Texas’ School FIRST financial accountability rating system.

The rating is the state’s highest, demonstrating the quality of La Porte ISD’s financial management and reporting system.

This is the 21st year of School FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas), a financial accountability system for Texas school districts developed by the Texas Education Agency in response to Senate Bill 875 of the 76th Texas Legislature in 1999 and amendments under House Bill 5, 83rd Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2013.

The primary goal of School FIRST is to achieve quality performance in the management of school districts’ financial resources, a goal made more significant due to the complexity of accounting associated with Texas’ school finance system.

“We are extremely pleased that La Porte ISD has received superior fiscal accountability ratings every year since the FIRST system was put into place 21 years ago,” said Superintendent Dr. Walter Jackson. “This is a testament to our efficiency in providing a world-class education, and it shows that we are excellent stewards of taxpayers’ dollars.”

Purchasing Department Wins Statewide Award

La Porte ISD has been recognized by the Texas Association of School Business Officials with a 2024 Award of Merit for Purchasing Operations.

The Award of Merit was established in 2009 to recognize Texas school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and education service centers committed to following professional standards in the acquisition of goods and services.

Each year, TASBO officials review the award criteria to ensure it aligns with current best practices and review both new and recertification applications from organizations across the state. For 2024, only 77 recipients met the stringent criteria to qualify for the award.

This is the third consecutive year that La Porte ISD has received the award and the sixth year overall.

“It is an honor to be among the 77 purchasing departments across the state to receive this honor,” said Superintendent Dr. Walter Jackson. “This is another example of the dedication our Business Office employees put in each day to fulfill the district’s mission of achieving an exemplary education for our students while being excellent stewards of our taxpayers’ dollars.”

Members of the district’s purchasing team will be honored at an awards reception on Feb. 21 during the 2024 TASBO annual conference.

Award Winning LPISD

Six Elementary Schools Recognized Nationally

La Porte ISD’s College Park, Heritage, Jennie Reid, La Porte, Leo A. Rizzuto and Lomax elementary schools have been named among the 2024 Best Elementary Schools by U.S. News & World Report. The U.S. News & World Report ranking methodology focuses on state assessments of students who were proficient or above proficient in mathematics and reading/language arts while accounting for student backgrounds, achievement in core subjects, and how well schools are educating their students.

“The Board of Trustees’ bold vision for our school district reflects a commitment to excellence, and these achievements are a result of that vision,” Superintendent Dr. Walter Jackson said. “It is a huge source of pride knowing that the dedication of our teachers, students and parents has resulted in national recognition for our schools.”

The 2024 Best Elementary Schools honors are based on publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education.

“The 2024 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings offer a way for parents to get a snapshot of their child’s school and how well it is doing compared with other schools in their community,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News.

La Porte ISD Rated an “A-” District by NICHE

La Porte ISD has been rated as an “A-” district for 2024 by Niche.com, a national education ranking and review site. The district additionally received “A” grades for teachers and diversity, and an “A-” in college prep.

School districts are graded on a variety of factors, including academics, teachers, clubs, activities, sports, resources and facilities, diversity, college prep, administration, and food. Niche rankings combine this user input with statistical data to determine rankings.

La Porte ISD was additionally ranked as Harris County’s fifth-best school district in the “Best Teachers” category and seventh for “Best Places to Teach.”

“These ratings are reflective of our intentional work and meaningful relationships with our students, staff and community,” said Superintendent Dr. Walter Jackson. “That our stakeholders helped determine our final grades makes this not only that much more special, but also shows that La Porte ISD is on the right track in their eyes.”

To view the complete ratings, visit niche.com

JRE Counseling Receives CREST Award

Jennie Reid Elementary School has earned the prestigious CREST Award for outstanding counseling services in the 2023-24 school year.

Presented by the Texas School Counseling Association, the accolade recognizes the school’s commitment to effective communication and positive student outcomes across academic, career, and social-emotional realms.

“We are so proud of our counselor, Mrs. Danielle Knight, for being the first-ever La Porte ISD counselor to be recognized as a CREST Award recipient. Mrs. Knight goes above and beyond to provide our students and staff all of the privileges of a comprehensive school counseling program. Her presence on our campus the last few years has definitely made a positive impact on our Roadrunner family!” said JRE Principal Diane Weeden.

STEM Update

Students Compete in District Robotics Meet

Grit, determination, and teamwork shone through when the La Porte ISD Bulldogs 2.0 Robotics program competed in the FIRST Lego League intradistrict competition on Jan. 27 at Lomax Junior High. About 120 students competed in the event which not only evaluated programming and engineering skills in the Masterpiece Robotics Competition Game, but also pushed the thought processes and collaboration skills of teams in the Innovative Project competition. Every elementary and junior high in La Porte ISD participated, with a total of 12 teams. Over 40 volunteers helped support the program through mentoring, coaching, judging, and facilitating the competition. Students and volunteers were especially grateful for a special lunch sponsored by La Porte ISD Community Sponsor, LyondellBasell.

The Robo Runners from Jennie Reid Elementary took the first-place trophy in Robotics Game while La Porte Elementary’s Circuit Breakers achieved the highest score and first-place trophy in Innovative Project with plans for a VR trip to Mars and other planets. Rizzuto Elementary’s team Robo Rockets Diamond scored highest overall, earning second place in Innovative Project and fourth place in the Robotics Game. In addition to competition trophies, six special awards were determined in Lego League Core Values of Discover, Inclusion, Impact, Innovation, Teamwork, and Fun. These traits were emphasized throughout the competition season as the overall focus and purpose of the robotics program. Cheers, chants and costumes made the entire day a celebration and memory to last a lifetime.

LP Student is First in U.S. to Complete Coast Guard Maritime Program

Last semester, La Porte High School senior Dylan Lewis was recognized for his commitment and participation in the Maritime Dual Credit Program. Industry partner Jacquie Young with Port Houston presented a well deserved letterman jacket to Dylan and congratulated him on his achievement in this one-of-a-kind educational program. He is the first student in the nation to complete this program at the high school level.

During his high school career, Dylan has simultaneously been working on his high school diploma and an Associate of Applied Science in Maritime Transportation.

The Maritime Dual Credit Program in La Porte stands out as a truly unique offering, enhancing the academic opportunities available in our community and setting La Porte apart as a beacon of educational excellence. Students enrolled in the dual credit Maritime program embark on their academic journey at the San Jacinto College Maritime and Technology Training Center during the summer before their junior year. Throughout their junior and senior years, students attend classes at the SJC Maritime campus, simultaneously earning high school credits, college credits, and United States Coast Guard Certificates. Upon graduation from high school, students have the opportunity to attain their Associate of Applied Science Degree in Maritime Transportation by completing a select few additional college courses.

AP Scholars

36 La Porte High School Students Earn Prestigious AP Scholar Awards

Thirty-six La Porte High School students, including nine recent graduates, have been named as 2023 Advanced Placement Scholars.

The honor recognizes high school students who have demonstrated outstanding college-level achievement through their performance on multiple AP exams, according to information from the College Board. The AP Program announces the honorees each fall.

“These awards are a great honor,” La Porte High School Principal Carlin Grammer said. “We are extremely proud of the work and dedication that these students have put forth to earn these recognitions.”

Added Julie Abram, La Porte ISD’s executive director of teaching and learning: “The AP Program and the AP course offerings are a rigorous demonstration of college-level learning. The level of learning our students achieve to earn some of the best scores on AP exams is incredibly high. For them to also earn AP Scholar awards in addition is just a testament to the quality of our programs and the talent of our students.”

The 36 honors for 2023 mark the highest number of accolades bestowed at La Porte High School in the past four years.

Ana

Xavier Collins 10 (Current 11) AP Scholar

Natalie Gamble 10 (Current 11) AP Scholar

Lucas Halbardier 10 (Current 11) AP Scholar

Nadia Olson 10 (Current 11) AP Scholar

Abigail Powers 10 (Current 11) AP Scholar

Lillian Woolard 10 (Current 11) AP Scholar

Francesco Bitetto 11 (Current 12) AP Scholar

Ender Burris 11 (Current 12) AP Scholar

Ava Espinosa 11 (Current 12) AP Scholar

Aixa Garcia 11 (Current 12) AP Scholar

Ronan Marlar 11 (Current 12) AP Scholar

Yasmine Mohammed 11 (Current 12) AP Scholar

Lynn Nguyen 11 (Current 12) AP Scholar

Angelica Ontiveros 11 (Current 12) AP Scholar

Daniel Ortiz 11 (Current 12) AP Scholar

Aubrey Slaton 11 (Current 12) AP Scholar

Hailey Spears 11 (Current 12) AP Scholar

Michelle Springer 11 (Current 12) AP Scholar

Ariel Thompson 11 (Current 12) AP Scholar

Amey Willis 11 (Current 12) AP Scholar

Kira Boznango 12 (Graduate) AP Scholar

Victor Salinas 12 (Graduate) AP Scholar

Joseph Sommer 12 (Graduate) AP Scholar

Ivan Toledo 12 (Graduate) AP Scholar

Alexis Torres 12 (Graduate) AP Scholar

Liz Olvera 10 (Current 11) AP Scholar with Honor

David Lara 11 (Current 12) AP Scholar with Honor

Lauranh Nguyen 11 (Current 12) AP Scholar with Honor

Sean Sommer 11 (Current 12) AP Scholar with Honor

Brooklyn Waller 11 (Current 12) AP Scholar with Honor

Jacob Joji 12 (Graduate) AP Scholar with Honor

Awards and Criteria

AP Scholar – Student scores 3 or higher on three or more AP exams.

AP Scholar w/ Honor – Student scores average of at least 3.25 on all AP exams & scores of 3 or higher on four or more exams

AP Scholar w/ Distinction – Student scores average of at least 3.5 on all AP exams, and scores 3 or higher on five or more of these exams

AP Seminar and Research – Student completes rigorous AP Seminar and Research courses, including an extensive study on a topic approved by La Porte ISD Institutional Review Board, and must score of 3 or higher in both classes.

Jenna Leslie 12 (Graduate) AP Scholar with Distinction

Jorge Venegas 12 (Graduate) AP Scholar with Distinction

Ender Burris 11 (Current 12) AP Seminar and Research Certificate

Ava Espinosa 11 (Current 12) AP Seminar and Research Certificate

Annalise Owen 11 (Current 12) AP Seminar and Research Certificate

Amey Willis 11 (Current 12) AP Seminar and Research Certificate

Jorge Venegas 12 (Graduate) AP Capstone Diploma

AP Capstone Diploma – Student earns scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research and on 4 additional AP Exams.

La Porte High School Musical

2024: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella

This year, the La Porte High School Theater and Music Departments presented Rodgers & Hammerstein’s version of Cinderella.

The team of Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote a version of the beloved tale of Cinderella for television, which aired in 1957, starring Julie Andrews. It was remade twice for television, but in 2008, Ted Chapin of the R & H Organization desired a new Broadway-worthy version of Cinderella and brought up the idea to producer Robyn Goodman. She loved it. While they wanted to use much of the original music, their idea was to develop a fleshedout version of the script, in which the characters would take charge of their own lives and destinies. And magic... of course there would be magic. Goodman chose the writer, Douglas Carter Beane, to bring the fresh Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella to life. With the go-ahead from the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, Beane’s version featured new characters, unexpected twists, messages of kindness and forgiveness, and much of the original music with a few added songs that had been cut from some other Rodgers and Hammerstein shows, like South Pacific and Me and Juliet. This new version of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella made its Broadway debut in 2013 and was nominated for nine Tony Awards, winning one for costume design.

“Rodgers and Hammerstein have a way of giving you a lift. They have a way of making you think the world can be a good place and that mankind and civilization will sort it out if we all just be better.” -Douglas

Carter Beane

Q&A with LPHS’ Newest Theater Teacher, Mr. Jonah Gallington

Q. Can you give us some background about yourself?

A. I grew up in La Porte and attended La Porte ISD schools at all levels – Bayshore Elementary, Baker Sixth, La Porte Junior High and then La Porte High School. I saw my first La Porte High School musical when I was young, I believe it was Sweet Charity that year, but the one that hooked me was during my 8th grade performance, seeing Music Man.

Q. When did you realize that you wanted to be a drama teacher?

A. I didn’t know I wanted to be a drama instructor until college. One of my greatest influences in high school was Mrs. Manning, my chemistry teacher. She made me

love teaching, and I knew I was going to be a chemistry teacher just like her! Once I got to college I realized my love for chemistry started and stopped at La Porte High School. From there I decided to follow my passion for theater, and I loved it. One thing I realized in college is that I loved the collaboration and community building of theater that I had learned at La Porte High School. And that’s when I knew I had to find my way home.

Q. Who are your mentors?

A. In high school, Mr. Nelson and Mrs. Regan were my directors, but also my mentors. Mr. Nelson was the first person to teach me how to tie a tie! But since returning, Andrea Angelo has welcomed me with open arms and truly taken on the role of mentor. She has the compassion to let me make my own mistakes first, then help me learn from them through active collaboration. She continues to challenge me to work and think outside the box, and I can safely say she has also taken on the role of friend in my life.

Q. What is your favorite musical comedy?

A. It’s really difficult to try and choose my favorite musical comedy! I’m very partial to The Wiz since it was my senior year show, but one of the most amazing productions I have seen was in college at Texas State. They put on the musical Legally Blonde, and it was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen.

2023 Bond Updates

A New Chapter: Board and Superintendent Break Ground at Bulldog Stadium Site

The La Porte ISD Board of Trustees on Jan. 13 marked a momentous occasion with a groundbreaking ceremony held at the site of Bulldog Stadium and Bulldog Development Center.

The event, attended by Board members, the superintendent of schools, district administrators, and residents symbolized a significant step forward in the district’s commitment to enhancing facilities for students and the community. Former Board member Chris Murdock, who was among the trustees that approved placing the bond proposal on the ballot, also participated in the ceremony.

Voters in May 2023 overwhelmingly supported a $235M bond proposal, which included the replacement of Bulldog Stadium and the addition of the Bulldog Development Center, a multipurpose facility that will include professional development space for 500 people.

“Today marks a new chapter for La Porte ISD and the La Porte community as a whole,” said Board President Danny Hanks. “Bulldog Stadium will lend itself available to every student, every day, and will be truly utilized as an outside classroom by several hundred students a week.”

The new Bulldog Stadium, which will sit on the site of the previous facility, will include enhanced accessibility features, an eight-lane track, and an observation deck, among other upgrades. The expanded track will enable La Porte ISD to host UIL-sanctioned track meets; the observation deck will be used for marching band contests.

“As stewards of education in La Porte ISD, we recognize

the importance of investing in our facilities to create an environment where students can thrive academically and athletically,” said Superintendent Dr. Walter Jackson. “The groundbreaking ceremony marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing efforts to provide the best possible resources for our students and community.”

For more information on the bond projects, visit the official LP Bond 2023 website.

In the past couple months, our first elementary schools have received their new playgrounds, thanks to the 2023 Bond. Students at College Park Elementary, Leo A. Rizzuto Elementary, and La Porte Elementary are now enjoying their new playgrounds installed at each of their campuses.

Proposition A, encompassing safety and security enhancements along with facility upgrades, furniture, fixtures, and other essential items, has significantly contributed to advancing projects crucial for LPISD. As we approach spring and summer breaks, we eagerly anticipate witnessing further upgrades and progress across all our campuses.

Project LAUNCH

Fifth and Sixth Graders launching off at UH-Clear Lake!

It is not unusual for high schoolers to enroll in dual credit classes these days. In fact, since 2017, about 170 La Porte High School students have earned an associate degree from San Jacinto College along with their high school diploma.

But fifth- and sixth-grade Gifted and Talented students taking courses from college professors? Not so common.

Enter Project Launch, a new collaboration between La Porte ISD and the University of Houston-Clear Lake, which enables about 125 students the opportunity to take courses of their choosing one Friday a month on the university campus. The offerings, which are taught by UH-CL professors and graduate students, go way beyond the typical fifth- and sixth-grade curriculum offerings.

“We are excited about Project Launch because our students are delving deeply into subject areas such as animation, [computer] coding, and graphic novels,” said Julie Abram, La Porte ISD’s executive director of teaching and learning. “These courses not only promote creativity and help develop critical thinking skills but also encourage collaboration and foster an interest in STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics].”

Students in the program spent several Fridays last semester taking classes at the university. They chose a different course to take in the second semester, which began in January.

U of H Clear Lake

Check out some of the amazing classes our Project Launch participants may choose from:

Game Design Explorations

Launch into the exciting world of game design with Intro to Game Design! Students will learn the fundamentals of creating their own 2-D games with Sploder, and become familiarized with game mechanics, computer programming, design, and GUI interfaces. But, most importantly, students will have fun games that they can continue to customize after the camp has ended!

Graphic Novels

Who said writing has to be boring? Enter the world of graphic novel creation, learning the basic components of graphic novels and comics. During this course students will learn how this non-traditional form of writing uses words and pictures to capture reader’s attention. We will emerge ourselves in graphic literature each day, and most importantly, we will be creating our own comics! Students will have the opportunity to use Pixton, a digital software to help bring their stories to life. By the end of this course students will have completed a comic that just might turn into a series!

Science Explorations

Have you wondered what animals live in your neighborhood and backyard or in your city parks? Do you see a bird and wonder what it could be or where it might live? Why do soils support some types of plants, but not others? How about our many aquatic ecosystems such as bayous and wetlands and the variety of plant and animal life diversity? Interested in learning more about environmental career opportunities, such as a wildlife biologist or a forester? Students will keep a nature journal during this course and explore the wonders of the outdoors with us!

Animation Explorations

Digital animation is the perfect way to bring stories and characters to life, and now you can, too. In Intro to Animation, campers will be able to create animations on their home computer while learning the fundamentals and techniques that animators have been implementing for over 100 years. If you have a creative student with an eye for detail, this is the perfect class for them.

Artistic Explorations

Throughout Artistic Explorations we will look to create “Artist Habits of Mind.” In addition to creating engaging art projects, we aim to create a type of student: the artist. Everything we do will center around developing one of these key characteristics

Coding Explorations with Python

Come on... Get with the program! In this class you will learn how to create your own computer code using Python programming. Learn to think like a computer. Python is an object-oriented programming language that is easy to learn and fun to use. Programming can help with problem-solving, creativity, and communication skills. Students will learn the essential building blocks of programming through fun, engaging activities and even use Python to create their very own games.

Fall Athletics Wrap-Up

Football Wins District Title

This past season, the 2023 Varsity Football team won its first district title in seven years with a record of 7-1 in district play and a 8-3 record overall.

The 2023 Bulldogs suffered only one loss in district play while playing their home games in Barbers Hill ISD’s Eagle Stadium. Along the way, Head Coach Kevin Berneathy was honored as the Houston Texans Coach of the Week, and Assistant Keith Whitely was named Dave Campbell’s Offensive Coordinator of the Week.

The Bulldogs had 23 members of the 2023 8-5A All-District Football team, and Berneathy was named the district’s Coach of the Year.

Junior Tyresse Barnes was named the District Offensive MVP, senior Nathan Wolbrecht received the Offensive Lineman of the Year, senior Landon Kay was honored as the Special Teams Player of the Year, and sophomore Ashton Ruffin was named the Defensive Newcomer of the Year.

Volleyball Wraps Up Season in the Playoffs

Following an outstanding season that had the Lady Bulldogs in the playoffs for the first time in four years, La Porte High School had eight All-District honors, including three players who were named to 18-5A’s First Team.

Kera Arrington, Sophie Sandel and Bailey Upshaw garnered First Team recognition; Kynlee Arechiga and Camila Vela grabbed spots on 18-5A’s Second Team.

Honorable mention honors went to Angelina Goynes, Natalie Munoz and MaKenzie Traylor. The Lady Dawgs’ head coach is Miranda Thornton.

The 2023 Academic All-District team included Angelina Goynes, Natalie Munoz, MaKenzie Traylor, Bailey Upshaw, Kynlee Arechiga, Kera Arrington, Hannah Cole, Sophie Sandel, and Nina Tristan.

Water Polo Finishes Strong

Nine Bulldogs Water Polo players have been named to the 2023 9-6A All-District Teams. Leading the list of first teamers are Aidan Parrish, who was also named as the district’s boys MVP, and Gabriella Kirk and Lillian Woolard, who made the Girls All-District Team. Woolard was additionally named as the Goalie of the Year.

Second-team boys honorees are Coby Chauvette and Riley Koonce; Alyssa Crump and Adilyn Smith are on the girls second-team. Camden Kelly and Sarah Cody were named as Honorable Mention All-District for the boys and girls teams, respectively.

Other individual awards include Koonce as the Boys Goalie of the Year and Newcomer of the Year Devon Mendoza.

“I always say, ‘start strong and finish stronger,’ and these young student-athletes went beyond that,” said Head Coach Joseph Stewart. “I could not be prouder of these two teams. We are building a legacy of excellence in our water polo program.”

Cross Country Runner Qualifies For State

This past fall, La Porte High School standout senior Penelope Rios had a historic cross country season. Penelope competed and advanced all the way to the UIL State Cross Country Championships in Round Rock, Texas.

At the meet, Rios finished with a career best 19:21, good for 43rd out of 151 in the 5A girls division. This time put her with the second fastest 5K time in school history.

Lomax 8th Grade Football Has Perfect Season

The 8A Lobos Football team from Lomax Junior High had a perfect 9-0 season, making them the Bay Area League District Champions.

Lomax was guided by running back Season Simon, who led the district in rushing yards and touchdowns. He was accompanied on offense by quarterback Josh Wells and wide receiver Peyton Smith, who also led the district in touchdown passes and touchdown receptions. The Lobo offensive line was a smart physical group that pushed the way for all those positive yards.

Defensively, the Lobos had a very productive year with five shutouts. The defensive production was energized by linebacker Hovan Colunga, defensive back Kylen Carter, and defensive end Logan Woodman. Lastly, standout kicker Truman Mikulin was the most reliable kicker in the district.

UIL Realignment Changes for 2024-2026

La Porte High School will compete in Districts 115A and 20-5A beginning with the 2024-25 school year, according to realignment information released Feb. 1 by the University Interscholastic League.

Realignment is initially tentative, as schools may appeal their assignments. Districts are finalized on Feb. 21, after all possible appeals are heard.

UIL realignments and reclassifications take place every other year and are in effect for two school years.

The classifications are based on UIL Snapshot Day enrollment figures, which was Oct. 27, 2023.

Fine Arts

Students Earn Rodeo Art Honors

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Art Show’s Hayloft Gallery at NRG Arena will feature eight works of art by La Porte ISD students in 2024.

Students from La Porte High School, La Porte Junior High School and Leo A. Rizzuto Elementary School earned Best of Show awards for their respective age categories in the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Art Show. Artists from La Porte High School, La Porte Junior High and Jennie Reid Elementary are represented in the Gold Medal category. La Porte High School was additionally recognized with a Special Merit ribbon.

Each January, schools across the Greater Houston area compete in the Rodeo School Art Program, with judging taking place at the district level. All work is eligible for the show’s School Art Auction, according to the Rodeo Houston website.

Mighty Bulldog Band Keeps Tradition of Excellence Heading Into Spring

All-Region & All-Area

Thirteen La Porte High School Band members this school year were named to the All-Region Band, after successful auditions in early December. Seven band students additionally advanced to the Texas Music Educators Association Area competition.

2023 Freshman All-Region included Eric Barela – Bb Clarinet, Merari Caceres – Bb Clarinet, Jose Coj – Tenor Saxophone, Victor Velasquez - Trumpet

2023 High School All-Region included Francesco Bitetto – Bb Clarinet*, Sean Sommer – Contrabass Clarinet*, Julian Guia – Trumpet*, Nate Ortegan – Trumpet*, Evan Halbardier – French Horn*, Bentley Baack – Euphonium, Tristan Chavez –Tuba*, Santiago Ballesteros – Percussion*, Josue Martinez - Percussion (*- Area qualifier)

Marching contests

The Mighty Bulldog Marching Band earned numerous honors during the fall competition season, including the coveted Sweepstakes Award at the Region 19 UIL Marching contest. The ‘Superior’ rating ensured the band a spot in the UIL Area Marching Contest.

Drumline

The La Porte Indoor Drumline regularly makes appearances at school and community events, including the ribbon-cutting ceremony of district partner Walk-Ons, the La Porte Education Foundation’s Dollar Patrol, and at several send-offs for their fellow students who advanced in various competitions.

Perhaps those appearances were excellent warm-ups for the 2024 competition season, which the group kicked off in February with a bronze award at the Texas Color Guard Circuit Indoor Drumline Competition.

Partners in Education

Volunteers Start Chess Club at College Park

Mitsubishi Chemical-SoarnoL engineers Reggie Delaney and Jerry Curtis can hardly wait for Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. That’s when they can share their love of chess with students at La Porte ISD’s College Park Elementary School, where the company is the campus’s Partner in Education.

Delaney, manager of process technology at Mitsubishi Chemical, is joined by his friend and colleague Jerry Curtis, director of engineering, in teaching the students about chess. Each Thursday, they arrive with an armload of snacks and a planned lesson to help students develop their knowledge and love for the game. Fourth-grade teacher Brandon Gonzalez is the club sponsor.

Twelve chessboards are centered on tables throughout the classroom, where the club members excitedly gather after the dismissal bell rings. Curtis claps his hands in a rhythm that signals the children that it’s time to listen, and the children clap in the same rhythm in response. The room becomes quiet, and Delaney delivers a quick lesson before the students begin their practice games. The children talk quietly with their opponents in between moves, getting up only to grab a quick snack from a table

at the front of the room. Delaney and Curtis make their way around the room, responding to raised hands and answering questions that students have about their next moves.

“Chess is not only entertaining, but it helps provide life skills,” said Curtis, noting that chess sharpens the logic used in considering that actions result in consequences. Delaney and Curtis also emphasize that the etiquette required in chess can also be applied to all areas of life.

“Mitsubishi Chemical - SoarnoL actively champions education by supporting teachers and students at College Park Elementary through the Partners in Education program,” Kinkopf said. “Our commitment extends beyond financial contributions, as we inspire our employees to volunteer, creating a collaborative and impactful partnership that enhances the educational experience for both teachers and students.”

Some of the students have shared their love for the new pastime at home, and for at least one family, playing a game of chess has become a before-bedtime ritual. That’s exactly what their chess teachers like to hear. As Delaney said, “We hope that we are generating fond memories for these students as well as teaching them valuable life skills.”

“Our greatest opportunity is to develop and sustain a world-class school district that will attract young families to join La Porte ISD.”

- Dr. Jackson

La Porte ISD uses the Anonymous Alerts system, which empowers students, parents, and community members to submit critical concerns related to incidents such as bullying, cyberbullying, drugs/alcohol, fighting, weapons on campus and other important or time-sensitive concerns directly to school administrators.