Posted on Aug 19, 2011 | Tagged in: Cypress , Charity
A child diagnosed with autism can put a great emotional and financial strain on a family. Because of the great costs associated with educating an autistic child, some families simply have no place to turn.
The Foundation for Autism Care, Education and Services (FACES), headquartered in Cypress, is doing their part to change this.
Posted on Aug 15, 2011 | Tagged in: Realtors
On August 3rd, Cypress Creek Lakes held a Realtor VIP Preview of the community's August "Smart Move Sales Event" for area Real Estate Agents. Over 100 agents attended the event, touring model homes by Perry Homes and Coventry Homes, enjoying a catered lunch, and finding out more about this special event and incentives for home buyers.
Ren'e Walker-Sanchez with Texas Legacy Real Estate was the grand prize event drawing winner of an Apple iPad 2. Marlene Johnson with Coldwell Banker United, Realtors, won a $250 Best Buy gift card, courtesy of EnTouch.
The Smart Move Sales Event runs through August 31, 2011 and the public can register for another Apple iPad 2 drawing and another drawing for a $500 back-to-school shopping spree when they visit. No purchase necessary to win either drawing.
Posted on Aug 12, 2011 | Tagged in: People , Health and Wellness , Cy-Fair ISD
Cypress Ranch Key Club, a service organization for high school students, is inviting all pre-existing and potential new Ranch students to their annual Back-to-School Social on Tuesday, August 16 from 7:30 to 8:30 pm in the Cy-Ranch Commons.
The Key Club social is a great way for students to kick off the new school year, meet new classmates and come together for common philanthropic causes. This year’s event will include music, food, drinks and icebreakers to introduce younger and older club members.
Posted on Aug 11, 2011 | Tagged in: Promotions and Offers , Perry Homes
For a Limited Time – Free $12,000 in Design Center Upgrades Plus a $13,000 Buyer Bonus on Homes to Build in Cypress Creek Lakes 80’ and Free $10,000 in Design Center Upgrades Plus a $10,000 Buyer Bonus on Homes to Build in Cypress Creek Lakes 60’! See a Perry Homes Sales Professional today for more information and Build Your Dream Home Today!
See Sales Offices for details. Open daily.
Posted on Aug 10, 2011 | Tagged in: Events , Education , Cy-Fair
Just in time for Cy-Fair families getting ready for back to school and hectic new schedules, Williams-Sonoma at Willowbrook Mall is offering three cooking classes filled with creative ideas for simplified meals.
Williams-Sonoma will be offering these informative how-to classes each Sunday in August. Make sure to mark your calendars for the following events:
Posted on Aug 09, 2011 | Tagged in: Cy-Fair ISD
New standards provide more accurate assessment
By Andrew Erben, published in 8-7-11 Houston Chronicle
Erben is president of the Texas Institute for Education Reform
Last week, the Texas Education Agency released the 2010-2011 accountability ratings for Texas’ schools and school districts. The number of districts rated as exemplary dropped from 241 to 61 and the number of campuses earning this distinction fell from 2,637 to 1,224. More districts and campuses were academically unacceptable as well, with the number of districts up from 37 to 88 and the number of campuses up from 104 to 569.
At first glance, it would appear that our students and schools performed worse in 2010-11, but that is not the case. Instead, Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott took bold steps to realign the ratings to reflect a new emphasis on rating districts and schools based on their students’ progress toward post-secondary readiness. At the Texas Institute for Education Reform, we applaud Commissioner Scott on taking these important steps.
The changes in ratings were the result of several key improvements: requiring districts and schools to meet goals for students who are on track to graduate at the postsecondary readiness level; discontinuing use of the Texas Projection Measure (TPM); and requiring more students to pass math and science assessments.
First, and for the first time, districts and schools had to meet postsecondary readiness goals in order to each the recognized or exemplary designations. To be recognized, 15 percent or more of economically disadvantaged students had to score at the commended level on the English and math assessments. To be rated exemplary, 25 percent of each group had to reach the commended level on these two assessments. The commended level – which is significantly higher than the passing standard – is a good indicator that a student is on pace to graduate with the knowledge and skills to succeed in college, community college, industry certification or other job training programs. The Texas Institute for Education Reform (TIER) was a strong proponent of this change, and we believe this was an important first step in aligning the accountability system with postsecondary readiness.
Next, the 2010-11 ratings were calculated without using the TPM. Under the TPM, students who failed an assessment could be counted as passing if – based on a statistical model – they were projected to pass in future years. Ultimately, the use of TPM boosted district and school ratings because failing students were counted as passing.
Last year, approximately 70 percent of districts and schools were rated as recognized or exemplary based in large part on the TPM. This year, 39 percent of districts and 48 percent of campuses earned these ratings, and we feel this is a much more accurate reflection of academic performance. TIER opposed the TPM’s role in the accountability system for several reasons.
First, by counting failing students as passing, it overestimated the progress that our students were making. Secondly, by artificially reducing the number of academically unacceptable districts and schools, it prevented the state from providing extra resources and oversight that students in unacceptable schools desperately needed. Finally, the TPM was not based on individual student growth toward postsecondary readiness. TIER supports including student growth and value added measures to the accountability system and will work with the Texas Education Agency as they consider future improvements.
Finally, the ratings reflected stronger math and science expectations for our students. Both standards were raised by 5 percent over the preceding year. As the state implements the new STAAR exams, which better measure progress to postsecondary readiness, academic standards will continue to become more rigorous in the future.
Posted on Aug 03, 2011 | Tagged in: Cy-Fair ISD , Cy-Fair
Once again the CFISD transportation and Partners in Education (PIE) departments have come together with the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce to offer students the Bus Buddies program.
The Bus Buddies program disperses volunteers to Cy-Fair schools to ride along on the buses with student for the first three days of classes from 2:45 to 4:45 to help insure children are delivered to their proper drop-off points.
Join Cy-Fair Hospital and Cy-Fair Women's Imaging Center in the battle against breast cancer. The groups are working hard to educate women in the community about the importance of regular screenings for breast cancer, a vital step to help diagnose and treat cancer at an earlier stage when treatments are most effective. Breast cancer touches the lives of many Cy-Fair neighbors and the groups are doing their part to help raise awareness of the disease.
You can join the fight too! Put on your creative thinking caps and create a decorative piece of bra art that represents what the fight against breast cancer means to you.
Bras for a Cause Showcase and Silent Auction
Saturday, September 10, 2011
9 am to 5 pm
Shop Til You Drop Marketplace, Berry Center, 8877 Barker Cypress, Booth 6A/6B
Posted on Aug 01, 2011 | Tagged in: Untagged
From August 1st through August 31st, Cypress Creek Lakes is holding the Smart Move Sales Event. A master-planned community located in Northwest Houston, Cypress Creek Lakes offers homebuyers truly outstanding value that truly makes a move to this community a very smart decision. During the sales event, homebuyers will receive $5,000 in free upgrades when they purchase a new home from Coventry Homes or Perry Homes. See builder sales counselors for details and restrictions.
Visitors can also register to win an Apple iPad 2 and a $500 back-to-school shopping spree. No purchase necessary for these drawings.
This sales event’s school theme was chosen because schools are one of the community’s strongest selling features. The community is located in the Texas Education Agency Recognized Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District and all schools are located within the community.
