Hello East Harris County and Crosby ISD families,
March flew by! As we launch into the month of April, Crosby ISD will spend the final two months of the school year celebrating the district’s “Portrait of a Graduate.” Our Portrait represents five key characteristics we hope to instill in each student throughout the student’s 12 years in Crosby ISD. Aside from academic excellence, we aim for our students to be: Effective Communicators, Kind, Emotionally Intelligent, Goal-Oriented, and Service- Minded. This strategic plan will come to life in April and May, as our teachers deliver mini lessons on each character trait. We hope by the end of each week, our students will know each trait by heart and what it means to live out that purpose. Morning announcements will include encouragement and inspirational quotes about what it means to be kind or emotionally intelligent or service-minded, etc. You can read more about our plan here: www.crosbyisd.org/portrait.
The “Portrait of a Graduate” was built with the input of parents, students, teachers, administrators, business leaders, and the Board of Trustees. We all look forward to expanding and enhancing it as we move forward.
Next, I wanted to share some important dates with families and community members. STAAR testing will be conducted on elementary campuses on: April 16, April 24, and April 30; at Crosby Middle School on: April 16, April 17, April 23, April 24, April 30, and May 1; and Crosby High School on: April 9, April 18, and April 25. Visitors are not allowed on campuses on those days, as we want our students focused on doing their very best and limiting distractions. We want to remind families that students do their best when they get plenty of sleep and eat a healthy breakfast. Students should also come to class with their iPads fully charged, since state testing is conducted 100% online. Thank you to our Technology Services team for all their assistance keeping us plugged in during testing time.
Here’s a big date for all of us! Monday, April 8 will be the Total Solar Eclipse over Texas. Crosby / Barrett Station will spend about 4 minutes in 94% darkness, as the moon blocks the Sun from our view here on Earth. Crosby ISD is celebrating this big day with eclipse viewing parties on each of our campuses. We’re also giving every student a free pair of safety viewers, so they can enjoy the experience safely. This will be a remarkable time for our children and us grown-ups as well. This is truly a once in a lifetime experience. Let me explain. Solar eclipses are not all that rare, with a few each year. Total solar eclipses, in particular, happen about once every 18 months or so somewhere on the planet. However, the next time Texas will be in the path of complete darkness will be April 14, 2200. 176 years from now! I can’t wait to celebrate this real life science lesson safely alongside our students. Let’s all hope for clear skies!
Another big milestone is on the horizon. We are two months away from graduation season! The Crosby High School Class of 2024 Commencement Ceremony is scheduled for Friday, May 31 at 7:30pm at Cougar Stadium. We can’t wait to celebrate more than 400 graduating seniors as they walk across the stage and become instant alumni. Last year, more than half of our graduates earned an associate’s degree or industry certification before they graduated from high school. I share that factoid with community members every chance I get!
There is so much happening in Crosby ISD before the summer! Let’s share some high-fives and shout-outs! Our CTE program is flourishing at Crosby High School. In the past few weeks, students have visited CenterPoint Energy’s Gas Operations Training Center. The seniors explored what a career could look like in the natural gas field. Fifteen CHS seniors are moving forward with their interest in Health Sciences. Kaylie Hill, Janivette Torres, Carlee Griffith, Miranda Valdes, Jennifer Estrada, Gabby Hernandez, Litzy Barbosa, Gisel Malpica, Dalanie Hosford, Aidan Guiting, Robert Eggert III, Laney Strang, Bell Land, Julieth Fragozo, and Angelica Medina were all certified this month as EKG Technicians. They completed all the requirements and passed the national certification exam. Crosby ISD has been designated a “Heart Safe District” by Project A.D.A.M., and we are so proud our students are experts at performing tests that can alert patients to a cardiovascular issue.
We are proud of our Theater Coogs, too! They performed the play “Olivia” in the District 17-5A One-Act Play Contest this month. “Olivia” is a special production, because it was co-written by teachers, Mr. Raymond Blanchard and Mr. Chris McAnally. The students performed their hearts out.
On the athletics side, Crosby High School baseball head coach, Ross McMurry, celebrated his 100th career win. We are so happy he celebrated that coaching milestone with us! Congrats to the Crosby High School Bass Club for finishing in second place at the Lake Somerville tournament. It’s also soccer playoff season, and we hope to see everyone cheering our Cougars on the pitch! The CHS Boys’ Varsity Team ended its regular season with Senior Night and a big 5-0 win against Port Arthur Memorial. Woo hoo!
We are Moving Forward! Go Coogs!
Paula Patterson
Superintendent