Hello East Harris County and Crosby ISD families,
I want to wish you and your families a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Holidays. Our Crosby ISD students and staff members are beginning their Winter Break, and we hope they enjoy the next two weeks making memories with their families. The Crosby ISD Winter Break runs from December 22 to January 4. Staff members return for development days on January 5 and January 6. We’ll welcome students back to class on Monday, January 9.
Our campuses just wrapped up what’s been a busy month of holiday performances. In all, there were more than 20 different concerts over the last two weeks. Thank you to the parents, adult volunteers, and community members who spent their evenings cheering our Cougars, from pre-kindergarten little ones to seniors starring in “The Little Mermaid” musical at Crosby High School. On December 13, I had a wonderful time narrating the poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” by Clement Clarke Moore, as the Crosby High School Band performed a wonderful accompaniment. It’s an annual tradition for me to read “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” in the District. Hearing the wonderful music in time with the poetic lyrics capped a beautiful evening.
There is a lot to celebrate this December. This month, the Board of Trustees honored students for fall semester achievements. From Cross Country runners who showed up for 5am practices to the Crosby High School volleyball players who earned District 17-5A Academic All-District spots. Three tennis players, Daisy Palacios, Jarleen Torres, and Hailie Sauceda, earned spots on the Academic All- District Tennis Team with grades of 90% or above in all their classes this fall. The CHS football team received honorable mentions for five players who made the Academic All-State Team: Dan Thomas, Christian Sims, Haden Moidel, Kristian Roberson, and Ryan Murrin. Additionally, 13 players were named to the 1st Team, 2nd Team, or Honorable Mention on the All-District Team list voted by the 5A-D1 coach- es. The Crosby High School Band also received a round of applause for their 10th year of Division 1 ratings at the UIL Marching Band Contest.
The Board also applaud- ed the achievements of FFA students. CHS senior, Shelby Kouba, made it all the way to the State Competition in the Senior Creed Speaking category. Students have to recite the FFA creed by heart and then answer questions from a panel of judges. Shelby finished in first- place in District, second- place in Area, and eighth-place in State. Shel- by is the president of the Crosby chapter of the FFA. She is also a member of the Superintendent’s CougarCouncil, and I can attest Shelby is an outstanding example of a student-lead- er. Shoutouts as well go to the FFA Greenhand Quiz team for a 4th place finish at District, and the Ag Advocacy and Greenhand Skills teams for 5th place finishes in District.
Our JROTC cadets are also doing great things. Members of the marksmanship team won three second-place finishes and three third-place finishes overall this semester. Cadet Private First Class Samantha Diaz achieved first place with a National High Score and earned the award of Best Shooter for the School Year 22-23. She is a true JROTC superstar! Congratulations as well to Cadet Second Lieutenant Jimena Olguin who was named an exceptional leader and the Model Cadet for the other 145 CISD cadets.
Congratulations to six Crosby Middle School choir students who were selected for the Region 33 Choir. Hailee Moore, Valeria Huicab, Amanda Delgado, Xavier Vargas, Eduardo Paloma, and Toller Spear. We’ll make sure we pass along performance dates as soon as they’re scheduled.
Our elementary schools are busy engaged in a fun focus on literacy. Third graders at Drew, Barrett, Crosby, and Newport elementary schools have read more than 1.7 million minutes since November 7th. 1,730,808 minutes to be precise! They’ve been challenged in the “Read To The Final Four” bracket-style competition. We’ll know in a few weeks if one or more of our schools makes it into the Round of 68 against elementary schools across the Houston area.
Behind these big successes are big sacrifices by parents. Thank you for the late nights, long drives, homework help, and bedtime stories.
The holiday season is upon us. We in Crosby and Barrett Station are blessed with amazing educators and support staff. I am thankful and hopeful for what’s to come in 2023. May we all end 2022 surrounded by those we love.
We are Better Together! Go Coogs!