Communities in Schools Graduate, Class of 2013

Volume5,Number2,April2014
CommunitiesinSchoolsGraduate,Classof2013:
FutureDentistintheMaking!
Former C.I.S. student, Graciela Campos, was enthusiastic to present to United
WayboardmembersonhowCommunitiesinSchoolschangedherlife.She
emphasized the importance of the CIS program that assisted her with various
aspectsinherlifewhileshewasatUnitedSouthHighSchool.Shementionedthat
CIS continues to assist her with school supplies and providing guidance by C.I.S.
Project Coordinator, Jackie Martinez. At the end of her presentation, she stated
thatifitwasnotforC.I.S.andUnitedWay,shewouldhavenotgraduated.
Currently, she is attending Laredo Community College (South Campus). After
graduatingfromcollege,sheplanstopursueacareerindentistry.
ChristenMiddleSchoolStudentsareGirlsontheRise
Contents
Preparing for College
Page 2
UHS 2nd Annual Fundraiser
LOMS 1st Place District Wide
Page 3
CEVA Logistics hosted a screening of the documentary ““Girl Rising”” at Christen Middle School. ““Girl
Perfect Attendance
Rising””isaglobalcampaignforgirls'educationcompiledofvisionarieswhoknowthateducatinggirlsis
the smartest investment of our time. This documentary took an inͲdepth look of young girls stories Sight for Students
from around the world who overcame poverty, slavery, arranged marriages, and sexual abuse. Despite Bingo Night
all the barriers in their lives, they took a stand and spokeup toget educatedand made a difference in Page 4
theirfamilyandcommunities.Allthesegirlshadgoalstochangethecycleoftheircultures,beliefs,and
upbringings.ThedocumentaryhasinspiredourC.I.S.girlstomakeadifferenceintheirlivesbygoingto
collegeandpursuingadegree.ManagersfromCEVALogisticsspoketothegirlsaboutthe
importance of setting goals and creating a plan to reach those goals and succeed in life no matter how
hardlifetriestobringthemdown.
SpringNewsletter
Page2
Memorial, Lamar, and Christen Middle School
C.I.S.studentsattended"UTExplore" atthe
University of Texas in Austin. Studentsvisitedthe
science and engineering programs where they
participated in a hands on activity and created a
rocket! They also marched with the UT Band
which many students enjoyed! They were excited
andeagertolearninterestingfactsaboutthe
university'sbuildings,libraries,andlarge
Memorial Middle School Project Coordinator: JoAnne Sanchez & C.I.S. Students auditoriumclasses.
J.W. Nixon High School Project Coordinator: Claudia Sanchez & C.I.S. Students
Asseniorsprepareforgraduation,studentsalsohaveto
focusontheirfuturegoalsandstudies.TAMIUhosted
““PreviewDay””whichisdesignedtogivefuturestudentsa
glimpseofwhatTAMIUhastooffer.C.I.S.studentshad
theopportunitytoparticipateinnumerouseventstoobͲ
tainuniversityinformation.TAMIUstudentssharedtheir
experienceintheStudyAbroadprogramsuchas,roomand
board,siteseeing,andeducationalbackground.Duringthe
program,studentsalsohadthebenefittoapplyfor
admissionattheuniversity,financialaid,andtomeetthe
DustDevilmascot.
““ThiswasagreatexperienceforthoseC.I.Sstudentswho
areinterestedinattending.““
ͲProjectCoordinator,ClaudiaSanchez
C.I.S.StudentsatCigarroaH.S.Jumpintoit!
Communities in Schools Project Coordinator, Terry Cano assists Seniors
at Cigarroa High School prepare and submit their FASFA. C.I.S. Seniors
are assisted with financial aid throughout the school year. Terry encourͲ
agesstudenttostarttheirFASFAasearlyaspossible,aswellasapplying
for scholarships. Communities in Schools Seniors are constantly monitored by Terry to
makesuretheyarepreparedtostartcollegeinFall2014.
L.B.J.SeniorsareGettingaHeadStarttoPrepareforLife!
LyndonB.JohnsonHighSchoolSiteCoordinator,RolandoFlores,assistsSeniorswith
collegepreparationduringtheirelectiveclasses,beforeschool,andafterschool.
Rolando also assists Seniors to fill out their scholarship applications and submit them in
a timely manner. Announcements are made every day to make services available to
Seniorstoensuretheyarewellontheirwayforcollegelife!
SpringNewsletter
Page3
United High School Project Coordinator: Veronica Garcia & C.I.S. Students
UnitedHighSchoolCommunitiesinSchoolshadasuccessful2ndAnnual““BeaSweetHeart””fundraiser.C.I.S.seniorscametoͲ
gethertoraisemoniesforcap&gowns.Studentstookpreordersforchocolatecoveredstrawberriesandlollipopcandygramsto
besoldonthebigday,Valentine’’sDay.Seniorsdiligentlyworkedtogetherforonecauseinmind,lendahelpinghandtosomeone
inneed.DonorswhomadethiseventpossiblewereHͲEͲB,CommunitiesinSchools,andProjectCoordinatorVeronicaGarcia.
AdministratorsjoinedinandapprovedforC.I.S.tosellgoodiesattheirLongHornStoreduringlunchtotryandmatchmonies
raised.ProfitsmadeattheLonghornStoreforthisparticulardayweredonatedforcapandgownsaswell.TenCommunitiesin
SchoolsSeniorstookpartattheUHSLonghornStoretosell,sell,sell!Seniorstookabreatherattheendofdayandwererewarded
forcomingthroughasateamwithapizzapartywheretheyenjoyedyummypizza,coldwaters,andcokes!
IntheendProjectCoordinator,VeronicaGarcia,wasexcitedtoannouncethatthroughtheirhardworkandefforts,theywereable
toraise$930.00dollarsthroughbothfundraisers.Twentyfiveseniorsnowhaveacapandgownsforgraduation!
LosObisposMiddleSchoolTomorrow'sTeachersClub
CommunitiesinSchoolsStudentswin1stPlace
LosObisposMiddleSchoolTomorrow’’sTeachersClubisaplacewherestudentsenjoystudying,learntohelpone
another,andbethemselves.““It’’sanawesomeclubandwehavealotoffuntogether.It’’samazingtobelievethatlater
inthefuturewewillbelikeourteachers,helpteachchildrenjustliketheydo.””KarelyVeloz,ClubPresidentexpresses.
LOMSTomorrow’’sTeachersiscomposedof8CISmembers.TheyattendedtheTomorrow'sTeachersU.I.S.DMini
conferenceandworkedtogetherinactivitieswithotherstudentsfromelementary,middleandhighschool.TheycomͲ
petedintwoareas,storytellingandbestproject.KarelyVeloz(picturedleft)participatedintheStoryTellingContest
andplaced1stplacedistrictwide.Shereadthebook““WheretheWildThingsAre””,herfavoritechildhoodbook.Karely
didanoutstandingjob!!Herhighestpointsintherubricweregiventoherforthedifferentcharactervoicesandeye
contacttotheaudience.Sheisaverybrightstudentandherpassionforreadingbookshavehelpedherdevelopawild
imagination.““SteppingStonestoSuccess””wasasuccess!Studentsbroughttheircreativemindstogetherinorderto
indicatehowweshouldtakestepstoreachourgoals.TheywereexcitedtohavewonFirstPlaceDistrictWideandwere
thentreatedoutfordeliciousmealatCiCi’’sPizza.
Page4
SpringNewsletter
UnitedSouthHighSchool1stNineWeeks&2ndNineWeeks
PerfectAttendance:23C.I.S.Students
CISProjectCoordinator,JackieMartinez,wasveryproudtorecognize23CommunitiesinSchools
studentsatUnitedSouthHighSchoolfortheirperfectattendance.Forthe1stnineweeks,11
wereC.I.Sstudentsoutof630and12wereCISstudentsforthe2ndnineweeksoutof606.Each
C.I.Sstudentwaspresentedwithacertificate.Aseachstudentreceivedtheircertificate,they
expressedasenseofachievementformaintainingperfectattendance.Throughouttheyear,
Jackiemonitorsattendancetomakesurestudentsareattendingschoolonadailybasis.Great
JobC.I.SStudents!!
HelpingstudentsSeeaBrighterFuture
Wearingglassesandseeingbetterhasproventoincreaseschoolperformanceand
achild’’sselfͲesteem.CommunitiesinSchoolshaspartneredwithSightforStudents
toprovidestudentswhoareinneed.C.I.S.studentsfromL.B.J.felthappyandvery
gratefultohavebeenassistedwithvouchersforaneyeexamandpurchaseglasses.
Theynowcanseetheboardmoreclearlyandcanreadwithoutgettingaheadache.
““ThankyouC.I.S.forhelpingoutmystudentstoSEEaclearerandbrighterfuture.””
ͲJudithVentura,ProjectCoordinatoratL.B.J.HighSchool.
C.I.S.HostsBingoNightatF.S.LaraAcademy
F.S.LarahelditsSecondAnnualTeenageAntiͲDepressionBingoNight
inDecember.Itisoneoftheirmostbuzzedaboutparent
involvementevents.The33parentsenjoyedwinningover$700.00
inprizeswhilelearningthesymptomsofdepression.Prizesincluded
embroideredfleecethrows,2JuicyCouturepurses,toolsets,
Academygiftcard,andothermiscellaneousprizes.Project
Coordinator,SandraVillarrealandschoolcounselorsexplained
eachsymptomandprovidedexampleswhileotherstaffassisted
parentswiththeirbingocardsandpassingoutrefreshments.
ParentswerelookingforwardtonextyearsBingoNight!
2114E.Saunders
Laredo,TX78040
Office:956.791.2199
Fax:956.725.1022
www.cislaredo.org