Como-Pickton SkillsUSA Competes in District 5, Qualifies for State
Como-Pickton SkillsUSA members competed in the District 5 competition at TSTC Waco, February 8-9th.
CP SkillUSA members Katie Morgan and Summer Gilbreath competed in the Construction Trades Tool Identification contest, with Summer received a gold metal, placing 1st and Katie placed 4th overall. Both will advance to the state contest. (Pictured Summer Gilbreath.)
Katie and Summer also exhibited an Epoxy River End Table and received a blue ribbon and score of 93/100. They will be advancing to state. (pictured; Summer Gilbreath and Katie Morgan)
Jesus Gonzalez and Maci Wright competed in the Construction Materials Identification identification contest as a team and received a silver metal, placing 2nd overall and will advance to the state competition. (Pictured; Maci Wright receiving the team’s Silver Medal.)
Maci Wright aslo exhibited an Art Deco Coffee Table, which received a score of 95/100 and a blue ribbon. Maci will Advance to state.
(Pictured: Maci Wright and her Art Deco Coffee Table)
Sydnee Neal and Chloe Romero competed in the Prepared Public Speaking Contest. Chloe brought home 4th place and Sydnee received a Gold Medal placing 1st in the contest. Sydnee Neal will advance to state. (pictured; Sydnee Neal, 1st place, Prepared Speech.)
Jackson Monk, Nolan Brown, Sydnee Neal, and Chloe Romero exhibited an epoxy dining table and chairs at the district 5 contest. The table received 97/100 points in addition to a blue ribbon and “Best of Show” in its division. They will advance to state. (Pictured L-R; Sydnee Neal, Nolan Brown, Jackson Monk, & Chloe Romero.)
Garbiel Garcia, Nolan Brown, and Jackson Monk competed in the Metal Fabrication Team contest and placed 9th.
Jesus Gonzalez and Gabriel Garcia exhibited an Epoxy River End table and received a score of 92/100, in addition to a blue ribbon. They will advance to state.
(Pictured: Jesus and Gabriel with their Epoxy River End Table)
SSISD Board Tours Career Technology Classrooms; Hear Reports on Schools, Legislative Funding and Policies; Set March 11-15 as Public School Week; Make Personnel Changes
February is Career and Technology Education Month. Sulphur Spring School Board celebrated the event with a tour of the career and technology courses taught at Sulphur Springs High School as well as conducting the regular business of hearing reports and taking action on various items.
Jenny Arledge, Career and Technology Director, introduced various technology classes and introduced students who spoke regarding their related field of study. Increases in student enrollment in each area and accomplishments at regional competitions were noted. Among those areas represented: Business and Professionals of America; Family, career and Community Leaders of America; Future Farmers of America; Health Occupation programs; Skills USA which includes Culinary Arts, Robotics, and Construction; and Texas Association of Future Educators.
The annual report of Education Performance required by the Texas Education Code was presented to the board by Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams. The seven elements that provide the requirements for rating each school system and the results of the report can be found on the SSISD website (ssisd.net/accountability). The school district did receive a higher rating in the area of special education and is above state average in a number of areas including math. The local school drop out rate is lower than the state average and graduation rate is higher than state numbers. Other items are noted on the website report.
A legislative update presented by Williams noted that 41 legal policies are being reviewed and 15 new policies will be voted on by the board in their March session. The new policies will update local policy to reflect state mandates. Policies include training Freshmen students how to interact with law enforcement, the requirements for credit by examination, and grievance policies for parents when asked to leave campus.
Superintendent Michael Lamb reported on Commission of Public School Finance. Lamb stated that an optimistic attitude toward increased funding for public schools seemed to highlight the attitude of members of the commission. He stated that the commission is a good mix of legislators, school personnel, and the public sector. He observed that the biggest concern for educators is basing financial considerations for teachers based on test scores or merit pay.
Public School Week, March 11-15, 2019. The Schedule for Open House for SSISD schools includes: Monday, March 11 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Sulphur Springs Elementary School Grades 4 – 5 Sulphur Springs Middle School Grades 6 – 8 Tuesday, March 12 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Bowie Primary Kindergarten (K) – Grade 3 Bush Primary Kindergarten (K) – Grade 3 Lamar Primary Kindergarten (K) – Grade 3 Travis Primary Kindergarten (K) – Grade 3 Thursday, March 14 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Douglass ECLC Head Start 3, Head Start 4, and Pre-K Sulphur Springs High School Grades 9 – 12.
Assistant Superintendent Kristin Monk presented the Elementary Education Summary for the previous month. Activities at various schools include:
Douglass ECLC: Latino Literacy Night saw over 100 participants · Head Start Self-Assessment team meetings have been happening and include parents, community members and district personnel · Celebrating Black History Month
Bowie Primary · Served 500+ donuts for Donuts with Dad · Celebrated 100th day of school with lots of fun activities
Bush Primary: Donuts with Dads was a success; great turnout · Beginning Jump Rope for Heart · Wrapping up all MOY testing · Kinder and 1 st grade went to the planetarium at TAMU-Commerce to view the Sun, Moon, Stars; have been learning about this in science classes · 100th day of school fun counting and creating to 100 · Growing readers; mastering Bubble Gum Words and moving up reading levels · Lots of teaching and learning
Lamar Primary: First Grade has been prepping for our PTO Program, Bugs. · Second grade has begun exploring classical music through the musical fairy tale “Peter and the Wolf” · Black History is observed each morning during morning announcements and carries over with activities in the classrooms · This year instead of Muffins with Mom or Donuts with Dad, we are having “Pastries with Parents”. Each year some children are sad because they didn’t have a mom or dad come eat with them. Having Pastries with Parents will open the door for either or both parents/ guardians to come and enjoy this time with their children · Preparing for an educational night with our families as we have our Math and Literacy Night on Feb. 19th. What a fun night of learning we are planning! · Finalists are preparing for UIL. · Read Across America during Dr. Seuss Week. (Week of Feb. 25th)
Travis Primary · Celebrated 100th Day of School–We are 100 days smarter! Kinder held a fashion show for their 100- day shirts, students had to use 100 items on them somehow. Very creative group! · Looking forward to UIL meet next Friday · Excited to see reading levels moving up in all grade levels · Teachers are conducting mid-year parent conferences · Planning for Family Math Night February 19th
Sulphur Springs Elementary School · We just completed the 5th grade STAAR Math and Reading Simulation – When comparing the 4th grade STAAR to the 5th grade simulation for each child, the 5th grade simulation shows growth in approaches, meets and masters in both grade levels!! · Student Council is selling Valentine Candy Grams and is having great success. Kids are in charge of selling and they love it. · KLTV Meteorologist will be presenting to both grade levels on Monday, February 11. · Valentine Parties – Feb. 14 · UIL – Feb. 15 – lots of practice sessions before and after school.
Williams presented the Secondary Education summary including:
Sulphur Springs High School Girls Basketball, 3 rd Place Finish in District; Boys Basketball, Back-to-Back DISTRICT CHAMPIONS, 1 st Round Playoff Game February 19th (Tentative); Boys and Girls Soccer – District Begins; Softball and Baseball – Scrimmages Have Begun; Boys and Girls Golf – Tournaments Have Begun; Band – Hosted Regional Contest at SSFBC; Choir – Area Auditions; Blue Blazes – Drill Clinic and Spring Show Preparation; UIL Academics o Continue to Participate Successfully in Practice Meets – Lindale, Mount Pleasant, Hallsville, SSHS Team WON the Mount Pleasant Meet, SSHS to Host Invitational – February 23; FCCLA – Attended Competition in Waco; Assessment o TSI administered on SSHS Campus, SAT and ACT Administered
Sulphur Springs Middle School: Girls Basketball – District Co-Champions; Powerlifting – Every Lifter Placed at Last Meet; UIL – 2nd Place Sweepstakes at District Meet; Science Fair at Region 8, 6 Groups Attended, 3 Groups Earned 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Overall; Family History Night – Coming in 2 Weeks, “Are You Smarter than a Middle Schooler?”
Austin Academic Center Program Overview: Discipline Setting 16 SEARCH / Reach 28 AAC has recently expanded its computer labs to accommodate growing numbers of at-risk students in need of credit recovery / graduation intervention; Graduation Watch for 2018 – 2019: AAC is anticipating 6 new graduates within the next month.
Personnel changes include:
Retirement Notices
Patricia Fields Music Teacher Barbara Bush Primary
Karen McCormack Librarian Middle School
Gene McKelroy Science Teacher Middle School
Gwen Panter ELAR/SpEd Teacher Middle School
Resignations
Lisa Wax Science Teacher Middle School
Melissa Evart Ag Science Teacher High School
Mary Jenkins Counselor High School
Personnel Change New Assignment/Campus Former Assignment/Campus
Misti Clark SpEd Aide/High School SpEd Aide/Douglass ECLC
Kiwanis Club Annual Fundraising Pancake Day is Saturday February 16, 2019
Perry Altenbaumer, a 20-year member of the Sulphur Springs Kiwanis Club is inviting everyone who likes pancakes to attend the annual fundraising all-you-can-eat on Saturday February 16, 2019 at the Civic Center! In addition to stacks of piping hot, fresh pancakes, Perry and his fellow Kiwanians will also have bacon, sausage, coffee, milk and juice for all diners who attend. Cost is $7 per person, and there is no charge for children under age 6. Tickets can be purchased from any Kiwanis member or at the door on Saturday. Pancakes will be served from 7am til 2pm and there will be plenty of room for dining and visiting with friends you may meet there.
The Kiwanis Club puts on the annual Pancake Day to raise money for good causes in the community. Among local organizations which benefit from Kiwanis Club support are Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the Help a Child Benefit, Shadow Ranch Equine Center, Li’l 4’s Club, Relay for Life, Bright Star Basketball, Special Olympics, the Sulphur Springs Soccer Association, Hopkins County Girls Softball and Boys Baseball Associations and others. They annually provide backpacks for the CANHelp Back to School Drive, provide and cook hot dogs for the annual Easter Egg Hunt in Buford Park, and assist in the Spirit of Christmas Food Drive through the local Brookshire’s store. During graduation time in May, the Kiwanis Club sponsors two $1500 scholarships for graduating seniors from schools within Hopkins County. Earlier this month, the club provided and cooked hot dogs for the Kids Fishing Day at Peavine Pinion Pool, put on by the Wild Turkey Federation. So, within a 12-month period, the Sulphur Springs Kiwanis Club helps a lot of individuals!
Another fundraising effort by the club is their American Flag Display sponsorship. If you have seen the eye-catching display of American flags lining the major roadways in Sulphur Springs on 5 major flag-display holidays through the year, you have the Kiwanis Club and their flag display sponsors to thank. Sponsors pay $35 per year and the Kiwanis Club does the rest. Some of the display sponsors pay for ten or more flags to be displayed, assuring there is good coverage through town. Any individual or business along the display route can be part of this. Just contact any Kiwanis member, or Perry Altenbaumer at 903-885-9168 or leave a message at the Appliance Hospital at 903-885-1256.
Members are also needed in the Sulphur Springs Kiwanis Club. If you are interested in membership, you can attend one of their weekly meetings held at noon on Wednesdays in the Fellowship Hall of League Street Church of Christ to find out more!
Emergency Sirens to be Tested Today
Emergency Sirens will be tested in Sulphur Springs today (Tuesday, February 12, 2019), by the Sulphur Springs Emergency Management office. The test will be conducted at noon.
The test is to gauge the reliability of the emergency warning system and is conducted to find any potential flaws in the system. Recent tests have shown the emergency sires to be a ready source of warning in case of emergencies such as weather or other threats to safety.
Lady Cat Basketball Season Ends in Bi-District Loss
The Lady Cats’ basketball team had their season end in a bi-district loss to Jacksonville, 57-46 in Winona Monday night (February 11). A bad third quarter proved to be the difference in the game as the Maidens outscored the Lady Cats, 18-7 in the quarter.
Both teams seemed to start slowly in the game and the score was 11-11 after one quarter. Jacksonville opened a slight lead in the second quarter and was up 26-23 at halftime. After the tough third period, the Lady Cats trailed, 44-30. The Lady Cats outscored the Maidens in the fourth quarter but never got closer than six points.
Sadavia Porter had a fine final game as a Lady Cats pouring in 26 points. She hit 4 three-pointers and made both of her free throw attempts. Kate Womack scored 6 points off the bench. Danielle Godbolt and Autumn Tanton each scored 5 points. Nylah Lindley scored 4 points.
Jacksonville had four players in double figures. Again they were led by their sophomore guards. Alexis Calderon scored 20 points for Jacksonville and Grace Abercrombie had 15 points. Jacksonville usually makes a ton of three pointers but had to settle for 4 against the Lady Cats. Calderon and Abercrombie had 2 each. Inside players Tyshera Gipson and Tamia Tucker scored 10 points each.
Jacksonville improves to 29-6 for the season. They will play the winner of Tuesday night’s Mesquite Poteet and Midlothian game later this week in the Area round.
The Lady Cats end with a final season record of 24-8. Six players off the roster will be eligible next season:
Kerie Wright,
Aliyah Abron,
Kate Womack,
Nylah Lindley,
Latavia Smith and
Colbria Harrison.
The seniors who played their last Lady Cats’ basketball game Monday are
Sadavia Porter,
Te’Arria Rose,
Danielle Godbolt,
Autumn Tanton and
Tarayla Kelley.
Lady Cat Basketball Bi-District on KSST
KSST will broadcast tonight’s (Monday, February 11, 2019) Lady Cat bi-district play-off game live on radio and the KSST YouTube Channel. The replay of the game will also be available on the YouTube Channel and Suddenlink Cable Channel 18 at a later time.
The Lady Cats are their district’s #3 seed. The Lady Cats ended district play with a 6-4 record and their season mark is 24-7. The Jacksonville Lady Indians finished in second place in their district with a 12-2 record. They are 28-6 for the season.
Don Julien will once again do play-by-play for the game that begins at 7 p.m. in Winona.
Soccer: District Starts Tuesday at Home for Wildcats and Lady Cats
Wildcats Soccer Coach Alexi Upton Feels His Team is Ready for District Play Tuesday
The Wildcats’ soccer team seems to be playing good soccer at the right time. District play begins for the Wildcats Tuesday night (February 12) at home against Greenville. The Lions swept the Wildcats in two district contests last season. Wildcats Soccer Coach Alexi Upton says the Lions appear to be a carbon copy of the Wildcats. He says they are aggressive and like to score a lot of goals. Coach Upton says their program has advanced to the point where talented players step up after good players graduate. He sees the Lions and Mount Pleasant as major threats for the Wildcats in district. The Wildcats tuned up for Greenville with an impressive 4-0 win over Melissa Friday night at The Prim. Coach Upton says the Wildcats played well against a talented Melissa team. He says the Wildcats were great on the attack, kept the ball and made few mistakes. In the Wildcats last four games they have three wins and a tie against a strong Lovejoy team on the road.
Lady Cats Soccer Coach Joel Bailey Grateful For 0-0 Record Reset as District Play Begins Tuesday
Lady Cats Soccer Coach Joel Bailey talks about using a giant eraser to wipe out the non-district portion of a tough season so far for the Lady Lions. 1-10-3 becomes 0-0 as all district teams begin play Tuesday (February 12) with the same record. Coach Bailey says this is when the games really count. He says erase the past but learn from earlier mistakes and remember things that worked out well. The Lady Cats open district play Tuesday at Greenville. Coach Bailey says he has not seen them but he notes that lately the Lady Cats seem to have the Lady Lions’ number. He says the Lady Lions lost two of the best impact players from last season to graduation. Coach Bailey says the Lady Cats will not be underestimating anyone. They are getting healthier after lots of early season illness and injuries. One player, Erika VanBenthem, is battling an ankle problem. The Lady Cats lost their last non-district game to Melissa last Friday, 6-0 at Prim Stadium.
Lady Lions Win Playoff Warm Up; Begin Area Thursday
The #20 ranked Saltillo Lady Lions’ basketball team handily won a playoff warm up game against #23 ranked Iredell, 62-23 on Saturday (February 9). The Lady Lions jumped out to a 17-5 lead after one quarter and added to the lead throughout the game.
Anna Reeder led the Lady Lions with 28 points. Maddy Smith had 11 points. Chandler Bain had 9 points. Jocelyn Ochoa scored 7 points. Brittney Peeples had 2 points. The Lady Lions had a good day at the free throw line hitting 12 of 14 for 86%.
The Lady Lions improved their season record to 27-8. The Lady Lions, as district champion, get a bye in bi-district playoff action. They will play next in the Area round on February 14 against either Bryson or Saint Jo.
THESA Softball Pitcher Courtney “Corrie” Gaddis Signs With Enterprise State, Alabama
David Carrillo, Chis Voorheese, Traci Harrison, Courtney “Corrie” Gaddis (seated), Kevin Ward, Jake Williams.
Sulphur Springs’ senior softball player Courtney “Corrie” Gaddis, who plays with THESA, Texas Homeschool Educators Sports Association, and with the Texas Blaze traveling team, signed a letter of intent to play college softball at Enterprise State Community College’s Boll Weevils in Enterprise, Alabama.
A signing event took place Sunday afternoon at The ROC of First Baptist Church of Sulphur Springs. Gaddis is in her fourth year as a player for THESA. The signing event was attended by Lady Cats Softball Coach David Carrillo, THESA Coach Chris Voorheese, Texas Blaze Head Coach Kevin Ward, Texas Blaze Assistant Coach Jake Williams and Enterprise State Community College Head Coach Traci Harrison.
Corrie is the daughter of John Robert “Bobby” and Anita Littrell Gaddis.
