Dec. 7 — Dec. 13: A Week With Hays CISD Students At A Glance

Hays Consolidated Independent School District has nearly 20,000 students enrolled between its 24 campuses according to the district’s website.

By, Terra Rivers, Managing Editor

Hays Consolidated Independent School District strives to “nurture students to become extraordinary citizens through unique, personal educational experiences through an innovative community of learners while celebrating our diversity and legacy.”

Hays CISD is home to two four-year high schools, six middle schools (6-8 grade), fourteen elementary schools, an alternative high school of choice and disciplinary center.

Here is a quick look at what Hays CISD students and staff were up to the week of December 7 thru December 13.

Hays High School athletic program had big news these week as two of their female athletes signed their National Letter of Intent to play for a college team

Lady Reb Volleyball Standout and Team Captain, Catherine Croft, a four-year Varsity start, signed her letter of intent to play for the University of Texas at Dallas on Tuesday in the Bales Gym Trophy Room.

This past season Croft was 1st Team All-District, Academic All-District, and Academic All-STATE. As a junior, she was on the TGCA All-Star Red Team as an alternate, 1st Team All-District, Academic All-District, and Hays Free Press 1st Team Outside Hitter.

As a sophomore, she was 2nd Team All-District and Academic All-District, and as a freshman she was 2nd Team All-District, Academic All-District, and Aspire Athlete of the Week. This year she had six double/doubles, 394 kills (1,073 career), 360 digs (798 career), 42 aces (108 career), and 18 blocks (106 career), and her season high matches saw her rack up 18 kills against both Rouse and New Braunfels Canyon (playoff game).

Croft was joined by her family and a host of cheering friends in a joint signing Ceremony with Hays High School Soccer player, Jenna Sheely.

Sheely, whose passion for soccer led her to start playing with the Hays Youth Soccer Association at age four, signed her National Letter of Intent to play for the Oklahoma Sooners Tuesday.

Currently, Sheely plays for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, the highest level of girls soccer, which doesn’t allow UIL competition. As a Lady Rebs freshman, she was a 2^nd-Team All-District pick, and she was an unanimous First Team All-District Pick as a sophomore.

Her interests and accomplishments led her to Academic All-District in her freshman and sophomore years, and consecutive bids to compete in Junior Olympics Volleyball, according to Hays CISD.

Deciding OU was her “best fit” of several recruiting universities, Jenna (and her sister) carry on a family athletic tradition, their mom and aunt both HHS athletes and grads who competed in basketball and track for the Lady Rebs in the 1980s!

Sheely’s parents, grandparents and aunt were present for the signing ceremony as well as a number of cheering friends.

In other district news, Science Hall Elementary School teacher, Linda Sedillo, was the recipient of a $5,000 Hay CISD Education Foundation Innovative Teaching Grant Monday morning. Sedillo and her class enjoyed a visit from one of the Foundation’s two prize patrols making the rounds of the district.

Sedillo’s grant, “Canciones y Cuentos Kits,” was one of 31 funded district-wide, the Foundation distributing a total of over $51,000 in this year’s competition.

Keeping with the holiday spirit, Sabrina Casarez showed off her $4,200 “Math Games We Can Count On” grant with her class, Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright, Foundation President Rob Dahse and Foundation Board members Marilyn van Uum, Donna Nicholson, Patti Haverda and Pam Kaye.

“Congratulations to Hays CISD’s grant winners and outstanding athletes!”