From Competitions To Good Old Spelling Bees, A Week At Hays CISD Schools At A Glance

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.

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

Here is a quick look at what Hays CISD students and staff were up to the week of January 15 thru January 19. 

Lobo spirit and pride is high at Lehman High School this week, the mood of celebration brought on by Lobo Choir member David Garcia-Suarez being named to the TMEA State Choir.

On January 15, LHS Choir Director Thomas Duebner announced the great news following this past weekend’s auditions.

David will perform with the All-State Mixed Choir at next month’s Texas Music Educators Association Clinic and Convention in San Antonio at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center.

And Hays CISD announced the winners of the KES Spelling Bee 2019. Panther 5th-Graders Emma Campos, James Manco, and Alex Rios rolled to a great 1-2-3 finish in last week’s 2019 Kyle Elementary School Spelling Bee.

Emma’s win was a successful campus title defense, having won the 2018 KES Bee!

She closed out her win with a championship round spelling of “homily.” This year, she’s in Michelle Zuniga’s class; James is in Rachel Greengold’s room, and Alex is in Robin Kolmodin’s room.

Thirty-nine contestants, representing Grades 1–5, battled it out before a supportive, encouraging crowd that included HCISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright, KES Principal Karen Lucita (who also emceed), and AP Andy Chewning.

Instructional Coaches Melissa Ivicic and Robin Burr coordinated the fair, with judging by HCISD School Board Trustees Esperanza Orosco and Teresa Tobias. Panther Counselor Judith Martinez served as the bee’s pronouncer.

And LSSP Kelli Ault provided (costumed) “bee” duties.

In addition to the bee’s top three, the full group of Panthers qualifying to compete included Evelynn Arredondo, Julian Alvarez, Laxton Larson, Rane Saed, Amir Chadfi, Alejandro Campos, Adan Campos, Allyson Rea, Elena Romero, Gavin Graham, Hazel Wilson, Michael Martinez, Trusten Murphy, Angel Arias, Dailynn Keller, Gwen Kimple, Payden Crisp, Ava Carrell, Hadley Lathers, Eli Ortuno, Gabriela Garcia, Dax Hageman, Jayden Williams, Calvin “Cain” Cockerham, Noa Siller, Taylor Shaver, Savannah Browning, Levi Larson, Raece Watson, Arianna Romero, Lorena Walters, Josiah Espinoza, Lailah Walters, Kayla Sanchez, and Spencer Schaefer.

On January 16, the school district announced Hays CISD Director of Digital Learning was named a TCEA Making IT Happen Award recipient.

“We are proud to announce that Jeannine Freeman, Hays CISD’s Director of Digital Learning, has been named the winner of the Texas Computer Education Association’s (in affiliation with the International Society for Technology in Education) Making IT Happen Award,” Hays CISD said on Facebook. “Jeannine will officially be presented her award at the TCEA conference in February.”

The Making IT Happen award honors outstanding educators and leaders who demonstrate extraordinary commitment, leadership, courage and persistence in improving digital learning opportunities for students. Since its inception in 1995, more than 600 educators from around the world have received the award.

The spirit of the Making IT Happen award supports our vision of a world in which all learners thrive, achieve and contribute.

Rebel spirit and pride is glowing again. On January 16, Hays CISD announced Hays High School Choral Department standout Sarah Gianotti, a member of the Reb Class of 2019, had been named to the TMEA State Choir.

Sarah and others participated in auditions over the past weekend at San Antonio Reagan High School and she earned a place in the All-State Treble Choir.

She’ll perform with the group on February 16 at the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic and Convention in San Antonio at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center.

On the 16th, Dahlstrom Middle School 8th-Grader Lauren Townsend claimed the Mustangs 2019 Spelling Bee title last week, finally outdueling DMS 7th-Grader Thomas Heaton in the 22nd round of competition.

The two sparred eye-to-eye through the bee’s final three rounds. Ava Swanson reached the 19th round; Fox Madden reached the 16th, and Annabella Abeln reached the 12th round, heading the efforts of eighteen total entries.

The full group of Mustangs qualifying through earlier class bees included, in addition to those already mentioned, Ryan Sheely, Jayden Barnes, Hyrum Barksdale, Breanna Pilney, Daxhiel Perugorria, Natalie Threatt, Geraldine Quintana, Julia Grayson, Rian Ahrens, Brandon Melendez, Hannah Baker, Adam Flores, and Samantha Johnson.

Dahlstrom Library Specialist Ana Garcia coordinated the smooth-running bee, including serving as pronouncer, with judging help from HCISD School Board Trustee Vanessa Petrea and Digital Learning staffers Stefanie Dougherty and Mito Benavides. DMS Counselor Jessica Leinen managed the on-stage flow of students to the waiting microphone.

On January 17, Barton Middle School’s 8th-Grade Bobcats started their day with a stroll through the almost countless offering of professionals on-site to answer questions about their careers at the Careers on Wheels (COW) Day.

The Hays CISD CTE Department once again sponsored the annual event, with Internship Coordinator Marco A. Pizana, Jr., coordinating the show. Almost 80 Hays High School and Lehman High School CTE students took part, as well, assisting with booths and broadening their own awareness of career paths.

One of the members of the Hays CISD Board of Trustees recently purchased three frames for each secondary campus in Hays CISD. These frames will be used by the art teachers to get student artwork out into the community.

Wallace Middle School art teacher, Adrienne Simes, partnered with local business La Ola Pop. She created a competition for her students to create artwork specific for La Ola Pop.

The top three designs ( voted on by faculty), were framed and delivered to La Ola Pop, and they will be displayed prominently on the walls of the shop.

As a reward for their work, the owners of La Ola Pop provided two free popsicles for each winner. In a few weeks, another similar competition will be done to create additional artwork for the store.

The three winners are:

• Lia Luna 8th grade
• Payton Ratliff 8th grade
• Kobie Talavera 7th grade

One of Simon Middle School’s true prides–Mariachi los Camperos de Simon–renewed their proud tradition last weekend, rolling to a 1st Division showing at the TAME (Texas Association of Mariachi Educators) Central Area Mariachi Contest! The Frank De Leon-directed standouts performed “Tema – Rogaciano Huapanegro” and “El Balaju” for an enthusiastic crowd of families, friends, and supporters at the Hays CISD Performing Arts Center. An equally enthusiastic BRAVO goes out to ALL of these dedicated, hard-working young musicians. 

Performing in the spectacular, moving way that they’ve come to be widely known for, Mariachi Los Lobos, directed by Joseph Baird, rocked their cheering audience–and three judges–last week at the Hays CISD PAC to earn a 1st Division and a trip to STATE competition.

The setting was last weekend’s Central Area Mariachi Contest, locally hosted for the Texas Association of Mariachi Educators, and the high-flying Lobos will join some of the state’s finest mariachis Feb. 9 at South Grand Prairie High School for the TAME State Contest. Lehman’s standout musicians performed “Tema Y La Samba,” “Nunca Jamas,” and “La Espiga” on the way to their 1st Division.

The full group includes violinists Angel Becerra, Susannah Campbell. Alexandra Dorantes, Breah Ford, Mia Gonzalez, Sonny Hunkin, Arianna Juarez, Iliana Richardson, Jizelle Rodriguez; trumpets, Raul Hermosillo, Isaiah Mata; guitarron Aviannab Parra; armonia, Sofia Gonzalez (Vih.), Natalie Silva (Vih.), Kimberley Huerta (Gtr.), Cynthia Salinas (Gtr.).