Hays HS Swim Team Shines At Competition, Education Foundation Awards Grants To Three Campuses

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 over 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 28 thru January 31. 

On January 31, Negley Elementary School’s Navigators are celebrating their latest accolades, standout 1st-Grade teachers Brandi Snead and Christy Thomason having been honored with the “Genius Educator Award” by the HCISD Digital Learning Team.

The team, bearing official certificates, balloons, and the coveted (and always evolving) Genius trophy, joined Negley Principal, Melody Crowther, for a surprise walk-in appearance in front of Snead’s and Thomason’s combined classes. The appreciative Navigators audience learned of the significance of the award (it recognizes exceptional creativity and use of technology in the classroom) and ended up happily posing with their award-winning teachers! 

Early Thursday, the District were informed by the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association that Buda Elementary School’s Assistant Principal, Ginger Bordeau, has been selected as the Region 13 Assistant Principal of the Year.

The official announcement was made at the Region 13 winter meeting at La Frontera in Round Rock. She will also be honored at the awards reception at the TEPSA Summer Conference where she will officially receive her award.

The Hays Highsteppers and Lehman Star Strutters released information about tryouts Thursday.

The tryout information for the dance team at Johnson High School is still being worked out, but it will be happening in April. For more information, please contact the director of the organization in which you have an interest.

Hays High School’s Rebel Swim Team again rocked at its District meet last weekend at the University of Texas, qualifying the hard-working group for this coming weekend’s (Friday-Saturday) Region Meet at the Mansfield ISD Natatorium in Mansfield, Texas!

Barton Middle School’s Katherine Moore-directed Bobcat Choir had a great showing in this year’s All-Region Choir auditions, held last weekend at Dripping Springs Middle School! Ten Bobcats drew honors, leading the way for a great district-wide showing that included honored vocalists at every campus.

The honored Bobcats included Ethne Ferrell and Red Vergara (7th Treble Choir); Bebe Davis, Tyeisha Liles, and Dylan Willingham (8th Treble Choir); Johnny Ford, Tyson Garcia, Magnus Lancaster, Tristan Stewart, Jaylan Jackson (alt.) (Tenor-Bass Choir).

Wallace Middle School’s Ranger Choir rolled to All-Region Choir honors for six of its members this past weekend. The big results launched a continuing celebration back in the WMS Choir Room, with Choir Director Kelly Reyes’ honorees clamoring for their coming spots on the hand-printed “Region Choir Wall of Honor!” The full group includes Caroline Cude, Ava Scheibmeir, Christian Martinez, John Casarez, Eden Taylor, and Hosea Downing.

Five Simon Middle School Wolverine Choir members have received All-Region Choir honors this week, as announced by Simon Choir Director Adrian Reyes! The honorees include (L-R) Erick Hernandez (7th Grade – Tenor Bass Choir), Scarlet Lemus (7th Treble Choir), Leif Bays (Alt.), Kendall Gutierrez (8th Treble Choir), and Jake Laing (8th Grade – Tenor Bass Choir). That’s, of course, the honored Wolverines’ proud director behind them and at the piano.

Three Dahlstrom Middle School 8th-Graders and one 7th-Grader have drawn All-Region Choir honors in the recent auditions for that honor. Mustang Choir Director Maria Slaughter announced the big news this week following weekend auditions that took place last Saturday at Dripping Springs Middle School.

Those Choir members drawing honors included 7th-Grader Sarah Dickerson and 8th-Graders Jessica Constable (Alt.), Natalie Threatt, and Tristen Avant. 

McCormick Middle School 8th-Grader Lily McCord “has won another berth in the All-Region Choir,” her second consecutive year for attaining the honor! Tigers Choir Director Garik Cotton made the announcement this week, bringing a justifiable celebration at McCormick.

The Tiger standout joined students from every HCISD campus and others from all over the region in last weekend’s auditions at Dripping Springs Middle School. Lily will join the Hays High School Choir next year.

Negley Elementary School’s Navigators enjoyed a surprise visit from the Hays CISD Education Foundation on January 29, those visitors bringing a big check for $500.

The grant was the result of Negley’s top-grossing campus item in this year’s Denim & Diamonds extravaganza. Hays High School (Silent Auction) and Kyle Elementary (Heads or Tails Game) also received grants.

Navigator Principal Melody Crowther accepted the check from Foundation Board members Donna Nicholson, Marilyn Van Uum, Aimee Kalmus, and Executive Director Angie Mendez. 

Hays High School was awarded a $500 grant from the Hays CISD Education Foundation, the reward from the Foundation’s Denim & Diamonds competition for highest amount raised in the event’s Silent Auction.

Campuses annually assemble Silent Auction baskets for the big event, with the Foundation awarding grants for top draw in the event, as well as the always fun Live Auction.

On Thursday, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children provided a presentation for parents discussing the apps and websites kids are using, how to identify warning signs of kids engaged in risky behaviors online, and how to discuss appropriate online behavior with kids.

Topics included cyberbullying, sexting, sharing too much information online, online privacy, and abduction prevention.

Unfortunately, the most dangerous environment kids are in is the one right on the computers and phones in their own home; let the experts provide information to help you safeguard your children.

The Texas Association of School Boards has designated the month of January as School Board Recognition Month. As a part of this year’s celebration of the seven members of the Hays CISD Board of Trustees, they were gifted with a concert from the Hays CISD Honor Choir, personalized shirts from the district, flower arrangements from the Lehman High School FFA, and a special gift from the Hays Education Foundation.

In addition, the district continued a tradition of purchasing books for each school’s library that are dedicated in the name of our trustees. This year’s books are about the life of César Chávez, and an age-appropriate version was purchased for each elementary school, middle school, and high school.

Hays CISD said they are grateful to all of their board members for their service to the district and its students.