Frisco ISD has once again won the Medical City Children’s Hospital Kids Teaching Kids 21-day Challenge Award in an annual contest pitting Frisco ISD against a nearby school district. This year FISD defeated Lewisville ISD in the contest.

Ryan Eason, Community Outreach Manager for HCA North Texas, brought the award to the May PTA Council meeting, along with several small trophies for individual FISD elementary campuses.

Eason congratulated the PTA, campus principals, nurses and physical education teachers for encouraging students and their families to participate in a 21-day healthy eating challenge.

Frisco ISD culinary students from Centennial High School participated in creating snacks that went into the annual 21-Day Challenge recipe book, FISD graphic design student Rachel Goodman designed the cover of the North Texas Recipe Book for the challenge and individual staff members from FISD schools were honored for their superb support of the program.

Eason noted that what began six years ago in Frisco ISD has grown to include many North Texas school districts. He praised the PTA and District.

“You are making a difference in North Texas and hopefully a difference that will eventually spread across Texas,” Eason said. 

The 21-day challenge in Frisco ISD urges families to make changes for that time period and has them reduce the number of chips, cookies and soda they consume and use the recipe book for healthy snack options.

In Frisco ISD, pre challenge only 48.1 percent of the students involved ate fruits and vegetables 5-7 days a week. Post-challenge that number increased to 60.8 percent.

Just fewer than 10,000 students in Frisco ISD participated. The numbers of participants have quadrupled in three years, Eason said. Frisco ISD data shows that 72.1 percent of District students tried a new fruit or vegetable during the program.

Students who participated in creating snack concepts in the 2016 recipe book, Sedra Jamal, Jude Jamal, Bryce Voss, Skylar Darrell, and Ellen Mason, were on hand with their teacher Sheila Hooten at the PTA council meeting. 

Plans for the next healthy recipe snacks are already underway. Four teams from the Frisco ISD Career and Technology Education Center Culinary Department presented four child-friendly healthy options this month for a group of judges. The judges’ comments and the nutritional content of the recipes will be used for the final recipe book selection.

Jill Elliott, registered dietitian nutritionist with Medical City Children’s Hospital, and Sheila Gardner, FISD’s Director of Coordinated School Health, were on hand to see the tasty treats. They asked questions about measurements, caloric content, etc. Without giving away the student’s recipes, readers can know that the snack ingredients included simple healthy foods such as rice cakes, whole wheat bagels, fruits, kale, low-fat yogurts, low-fat whipped cream, hummus and fresh chopped vegetables.  

Next year’s goal? Continue to win the trophy and have even more FISD families adopt a healthy eating lifestyle.

Students, teachers and administrators lined the hallways of Ashley Elementary with cheers and noisemakers while more than 50 seniors from Independence High School, dressed in caps and gowns, paraded down the halls on Wednesday, June 1.

The graduating seniors weaved through the crowd of purple shirts not only to celebrate and reflect on their own journeys, but in an effort to inspire younger students to further their education.

“It’s very important for our elementary kids to see what they are working towards,” said Wendi Vaughn, principal of Ashley Elementary. “A lot of times in elementary schools, they don’t understand what graduation is, where they are going and where they are headed.”

The elementary students congratulated and high-fived the graduating seniors as they made their rounds through the pods and hallways they used to have classes in.

“There’s a lot of mixed emotions because I haven’t been here in a while,” said graduating senior from Independence High School Jonathan O’Quinn. “I am remembering a lot of things that happened here. It’s pretty cool.”

After the parade, fourth and fifth grade students gathered in the cafeteria to question the panel of graduating seniors about middle school, where to attend college, how career interests change and their favorite memories from high school.

“Stick with what you are doing, continue to fight, work hard and achieve your goals,” said O’Quinn.

Many of the graduating seniors attended Ashley Elementary, starting as second grade students in 2005-2006, the first year the school opened. They got the opportunity to reunite with several of their former teachers.

“It’s really hard to explain the emotions because in our eyes, they are still little fourth graders or fifth graders, but we are so proud to see the young men and women that they have become,” said Judy Olsen, former fourth grade teacher who now teaches fifth grade at Ashley. “You’re proud that you were able to share part of their lives for just a short period of time. You hope that somewhere along the way, maybe they will remember you again, because in our hearts, they are always going to be there.”

The soon-to-be Independence graduates also visited Comstock, Elliott, Norris and Ogle elementary schools.

Graduating IHS seniors plan to attend colleges and universities in Texas and throughout the U.S. such as Texas Christian University, University of North Carolina, University of North Texas, The University of Texas at Dallas and The University of Texas at Austin.

“Fifth graders think they’ve achieved everything,” said Olsen. “Now they are seeing kids who are going off, going to college far away, contributing to society and doing wonderful things."

Independence hopes to make the visits an annual tradition. Members of the Class of 2016 are the school’s first-ever graduates.

Frisco ISD voters will decide in August whether to raise property taxes to fund day-to-day operations of the school district.

During a special meeting, School Board members voted unanimously to set the maintenance and operations tax rate at $1.17 per $100 of tax valuation, an increase of 13 cents from last year’s rate.

The interest and sinking (I&S) tax rate will remain the same, at 42 cents, for a total combined tax rate of $1.59.

The higher rate automatically triggers a Tax Ratification Election or TRE, which is tentatively set for Saturday, August 27. Early voting is anticipated between August 10 and 23.

“What we are asking you… to decide for us is something that Plano asked its residents in 2013, McKinney in 2013, Allen in 2011, Celina in 2010, Prosper back in 2007,” said Trustee John Classe. “We’re looking for you to give us some direction.”

If ratified by voters, the new rate will provide FISD with funding per student that is in line with the state average, allowing the District to stem the tide on rising class sizes, add support staff to address growth and catch up to area districts in offering competitive teacher salaries.

By the end of the 2016-17 school year, FISD will have lost $125 million due to legislative cuts to a special fund called Additional State Aid for Tax Reduction or ASATR. In 2017-18, ASATR completely goes away.

“You have entrusted us to look at the big picture, to decide what’s best for all the children of this district and the teachers and staff who work in those buildings,” said Trustee Renée Ehmke. “And that’s what we’ve been trying to do. That’s not something we take lightly at all.”

Prior to the vote, there was an opportunity for public comment and a presentation by Chief Financial Officer Kimberly Pickens.

Pickens provided historical information about the District’s finances, showing how FISD is receiving and spending less money per student than 10 years ago, when you factor out inflation. 

Since 2009-10, the average assessed value of a home in FISD has increased 44 percent. But the District does not retain any of the extra money from increasing values for operations due to the way Texas funds public education. During that same time frame, student enrollment has climbed 58 percent.

“Your tax dollar is not going as far today as it did in 2009-10 because our enrollment has outpaced our property value growth,” Pickens explained.

Pickens also shared data regarding general administrative and maintenance and operations costs. The District falls in the bottom 25 percent of area districts in these areas and spending has decreased as a portion of the budget.

In 2009-10, general administrative costs accounted for 2.4 percent of the operating budget. In 2015-16, the figure was 2 percent.

In 2009-10, expenditures for plant maintenance and operations was 10.1 percent of the budget. In 2015-16, the percentage dropped to 8.7 percent.

“We are spending very conservatively at the central level and putting as much money as we can into the campuses,” Pickens said. “We are constantly looking for ways to create efficiencies and run as lean as possible.”

The proposed 2016-17 budget includes an additional $42.4 million in expenditures. More than $24.5 million would go toward payroll for new staff to address growth, while almost $17 million would support boosting employee salaries and benefits to help FISD attract and keep the best teachers.

The School Board will vote on the proposed budget during the next regular meeting on June 20. That meeting will include a public hearing as well.

View the presentation or watch video of the special meeting. 

The Frisco High School softball team’s magical season came to an end Saturday as the Lady Raccoons fell to Birdville High School, 10-1, in the state semifinals in Austin.

Frisco High (31-3) got on the board early when Right Fielder Emma Ortiz singled in the bottom of the first inning and Pitcher Maddie MacGrandle smashed a triple off the wall in left field, bringing Ortiz home. But Birdville answered with two runs in the top of the second inning, two more in the top of the third, and then broke the game open with six runs in the top of the fifth.

“Today just wasn’t our day,” said Frisco High head softball coach Tiffany Sullivan. “We couldn’t string anything together and Birdville just played better than us today. It’s tough.”

Offensively, the Lady Raccoons were led by MacGrandle, who went two-for-three with a triple and an RBI. Second Baseman Cailyn Cunningham added a double and a single, and Ortiz had three singles and a stolen base. On the mound, MacGrandle pitched a complete game and had eight strikeouts.

Despite the loss, the Lady Raccoons had one of the best softball seasons in school history, going undefeated in the regular season and advancing through five rounds of the playoffs to play in the state tournament.

“This is a very special group,” said Sullivan after the game. “I couldn’t be more proud of what they have done this season. It’s always sad to lose, but it was a big goal for us to get here and I’m proud of the journey we’ve had to be one of the last four teams playing.”

Congratulations to the Lady Raccoons for a tremendous season!

Thousands gathered June 3 and 4 at Dr Pepper Arena to celebrate new graduates from seven Frisco ISD high schools.

More than 2,900 graduating seniors crossed the stage and accepted diplomas to the applause of family, friends, educators and classmates.

“We did our part to get here but we did not do it alone,” said Lone Star High School Salutatorian Callie Angell, who took time during her speech to thank her parents and staff at Lone Star for their guidance and support. “We have gotten through each and every challenge thrown at us and have come out stronger, more adept and we have the means to succeed in the future.”

The ceremonies were a time for each graduate to reflect on their journey over the last 13 years, as well as their plans moving forward.   

“Remember that you get what you put in,” Frisco High School Valedictorian Hailey Jenkins told her fellow graduates. “It is all up to you and the choices you make.”

It was the first-ever graduation for Independence High School, which opened in 2014 with juniors, sophomores and freshmen.

“We have all used our talents to make our mark on Independence. We as a class have accomplished so much in just two short years,” said Valedictorian Sruthi Boddu, as she acknowledged students who have defined what it means to be a Knight. “All of us came to Independence and created a culture and traditions where they didn’t exist before.”

Wakeland High School Salutatorian Ryan Monson took the opportunity to talk about the importance of relationships.

“We all have things that make us happy, but if we reflect back on those things, the accomplishments or the moments, you will see as I did, that the happiness stems from the people we have shared the moment or experience with,” he said. “So as we depart and follow our individual paths, let’s remember the relationships we have enjoyed when we are simply with people, experiencing happiness and joy and let us realize that those relationships make us the best versions of ourselves.”

Frisco ISD salutes the Class of 2016 and wishes each graduate the best of luck in their future endeavors.

Read profiles of FISD graduates to see how the District's mission and philosophy have helped guide them on their academic journey.

The 2015-2016 Project SEARCH graduation ceremony was a proud moment for 12 very hard working Frisco ISD students who entered the internship program as students and have graduated as employed adults who contribute their talents to the community.

The event was held at the John Q. Hammons Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center in Frisco on Thursday, June 2.

Project SEARCH is a national program designed to provide training that hopefully leads to employment for older students who have physical or mental disabilities. Twelve students from Frisco ISD who had been through the District’s special education program were selected to take part in the first year of the Project SEARCH.

Eight of the interns now work at the hotel and three have jobs in Child Nutrition at Frisco ISD campuses.

FISD Director of Special Education Marcia Shannon says the initial phone call she received from Nicole Buvari of Embassy Suites asking if the District was interested in partnering in Project SEARCH was the best phone call of her career. Each of the FISD special education faculty who worked with this program described this past year and the accomplishments of the inaugural interns as the high point of their career as educators.

Shannon recounted that when the initial interviews to select the first class were held, many of the students were nervous, quiet and shy.

“Six weeks into the program I saw 12 students transformed into confident adults," she said. "They were doing things they had never dreamed of doing.”

The success of the students in learning the varied tasks of hotel operations taught their instructors “not to coddle them, to have high expectations,” Shannon observed.

FISD instructor Michael Titus, who spent most of the year at the Embassy Suites with the students, invited graduates Meagan and Kendyl to the podium to read letters he had asked them to write at the beginning of the project. Their assignment then was to write a letter describing how they imagined their life would be at the end of the project. Both had predicted they would end up working in the banquet department. Meagan explained that she is now employed in the kitchens with the hotel chef and is very happy with her job. Kendyl announced that she is indeed working in the banquet department and also has a second job at Dollar Tree as a cashier.

Guests also got to see a video of graduate Melanie explaining her experiences in Project SEARCH. Melanie is now working in banquet set-up, but she also trained in several other areas of the hotel, including mastering the tasks in the laundry.

The program was a collaborative effort between the hotel, FISD, LifePath Systems and the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services. Job coaches worked alongside the interns, helping them navigate challenges and develop solutions to completing tasks. There will continue to be support for the interns if they have questions about their current jobs or jobs in the future.

“Getting a job can be very complicated,” said graduate David, adding that he and his friends had all become stronger in the past year as they learned to work in the real world. He provided the musical portion of the graduation ceremony, performing an excellent rendition of “Stand” by Rascal Flatts that had his classmates cheering and clapping.

D.J. Laskaris of the Frisco ISD Special Education Department shed some tears throughout the night, as did many others.

“You’ve stopped being kids,” she told the graduates. “You are now employed adults.”

Seventeen Frisco ISD high school students participated in the State Academic University Interscholastic League (UIL) Competition at The University of Texas at Austin on May 23-25.

As a whole, Frisco ISD walked away with two team championships, several medal winners and top-ten finishes in the subject areas of journalism, science, social studies, writing, speech, debate and computer science.

A team from Heritage High School won the state championship in computer science and a team from Liberty High School won the state championship in science.

The UIL provides high school students with an opportunity to compete in more than 29 different extracurricular contests from academics to athletics.

To qualify for the state competition, students had to qualify at the district meet and the regional meet, which was held at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches in April.

Congratulations to the following participants:

Centennial High School

Laura Nicolescu: 2nd Place News Writing
Gary Frankel: 2nd Place Informative Speaking
Yogita Manikandan: Spelling and Vocabulary 

Heritage High School

1st Place Team in Computer Science

Shivam Dutt: 1st Place Individual
Vyas Nellutla: 2nd Place Individual
Antonio Mendiola: 7th Place Individual
Devon Callan

Liberty High School

Katherine Xiong: 10th Place Mathematics 

1st Place Team in Science

Bill Wang: 5th Place Individual
Yash Kadakia: 7th Place Individual
George Zeng: 8th Place Individual
Jane Zhang

Lone Star High School

Daniel Szczechowski: Lincoln Douglas Debate

Wakeland High School

3rd Place Team in Social Studies

Gautam Sarathy: 3rd Place Individual
Benjamin Hsu
Kevin Tuttle
Matthew Geiger 

A team of students from Centennial High School brought home first place and the coveted DaVinci Award for their outstanding creativity at Destination Imagination's (DI) Global Finals held in Knoxville, Tennessee in May.

The winning team, made up of Dilan Patel, Barrett Senn and Emma Bittner, competed in the service learning challenge’s “Meme Event,” where they used train cars to show how music from different time periods takes Alzheimer’s disease patients down memory lane. The DaVinci Award recognizes their creativity, originality and courage in solving the challenge. 

Teams from Smith Elementary, Clark Middle School and Riddle Elementary also received top 10 awards in fine arts and scientific challenges. In addition, the Clark team won a Renaissance Award for outstanding design, engineering, execution and performance. 

Destination Imagination is an educational program in which student teams solve open-ended challenges and present their solutions at tournaments. They require students to apply science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills, in addition to their talents in improvisation, theater arts, writing, project management, communication, innovation, teamwork, community service and social entrepreneurship.

A total of seven teams from FISD qualified for the Global Finals event where more than 1,400 teams from 14 countries participated in tournaments, workshops, international events and more, all while teaching students the creative process and skills needed to succeed in the world.

“Frisco ISD teams did extremely well this year,” said Julie Martin, secondary coordinator of Gifted and Talented. “Competition is fierce at Global Finals, so to even place – much less get in the top 10 – is truly a feat. The creativity I observed at this competition was remarkable and amazing.”

Participating teams advanced through regional and state competitions. Congratulations to all the teams who represented Frisco ISD at the DI Global Finals:

Elementary Level

Riddle Elementary School

10th Place - "In Plain Sight" (scientific challenge)
Team Members: Neha Suresh Nayak, Harsha Nag Gadiraju, Gauri K Binup, Neeraj Y Kulkarni and Soham S Lahiri

Robertson/Newman Elementary School

11th Place - "Get a Clue" (fine arts challenge)
Team Members: Sam Blankenship, Haden Clifford, Jack Clifford, Ryan Evitt and Jonah Weiler

Smith Elementary School

2nd Place - "Get a Clue" (fine arts challenge)
Team Members: Saraya Patel, Abigail Dutra, Reed Davidson, Max Hodes and Nathaniel Crossman

Middle Level

Clark Middle School

3rd Place/Renaissance Award - "Get a Clue" (fine arts challenge)
Team Members: Deven Patel, Caden Senn, Kyle Bowser, Maggie McGrath and Genevieve Dutra

Secondary/University Level

Centennial High School

1st Place/DaVinci Award - "The Meme Event" (service learning challenge)
Team Members: Dilan Patel, Emma Bittner and Barrett Senn

Liberty High School/Fowler Middle School 

15th Place - "Musical Mash up" (structural challenge)
Team Members: Deepti Aravapalli, Sonika Rao, Aarti Aravapalli, Arianna Bohara, Vedant Nair and Nitish Harpavat

Reedy High School/Pearson Middle School

33rd Place - "Get a Clue" (fine arts challenge)
Team Members: Thomas Sanders, Caleb Biddulph, Sierra Biddulph and Noelle Saul

Frisco ISD invites families to enroll new students for the 2016-17 school year during centralized registration this summer.

The District will enroll qualifying Pre-Kindergarten and Head Start students starting Tuesday, July 5 through Friday, July 8.

Enrollment for students entering grades K-12 will be held the weeks of July 11-15 and July 18-22.

Appointments are available each day between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at Vandeventer Middle School, 6075 Independence Parkway in Frisco.

If families have a student who qualifies for Pre-K or Head Start, they also may enroll their older K-12 students at the same time as their younger student.

To participate, families should:

• Reserve an appointment for Pre-K/Head Start registration or K-12 registration. Appointments are required. 
  
  Please note: appointments are intended to help FISD stagger the arrival of families. Efforts will be made to accommodate each family at the registered time, but there may be delays so please schedule your appointment accordingly. Also, if a parent cannot provide all the required documents, or if the child is missing required vaccinations, the family will be asked to return at a later date or time with the missing documentation and/or updated immunization records. Families in this situation do not receive special consideration on their second visit in regard to wait or process time, so please review all the requirements before your appointment.

• Complete the online registration form in English or Spanish

• Gather required documents, ensuring your child’s immunization records are complete and reflect all the requirements of the state of Texas, which may vary from other states/countries. FISD will also host summer immunization clinics in conjunction with summer registration for those missing required vaccines. 
  
  
  •  

    Certified Copy of Birth Certificate (Birth Certificate Requirement Form)

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    Social Security Card

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    Immunization Records (View requirements)

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    Proof of Residency (View acceptable documents) Please note: if you cannot yet produce a current utility bill, a contract on a home or apartment lease will suffice until you can provide a current utility bill (required before starting school).

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    Last Report Card / Unofficial Transcript (high school)

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    Driver's License of Enrolling Parent

• Attend summer registration. Please bring originals and copies of required documents.

Summer registration is comprehensive for incoming K-8 students. High school students will need to meet with their school guidance counselor following summer registration for course selection.

If a language other than English is spoken most of the time in your home and by your child, an oral language proficiency test will be administered during registration to determine your student's eligibility for the appropriate language program: bilingual education or English as a Second Language (ESL). 

If families are unable to attend summer registration, they may also register at their child’s school after it re-opens in August. Schools may list specific days and times for registration on their campus websites or ask parents to schedule an appointment to determine the best time to visit campus.

Learn more about new K-12 registration or Pre-K registration.

The results are in – teams of students from Frisco ISD swept the top three places in Lone Star Challenge (LSC), a statewide academic competition for elementary students.

The state champion team is from Anderson Elementary, with teams from Borchardt Elementary and Taylor Elementary taking second and third place, respectively.

Also finishing in the top 15 statewide were teams from Riddle, Comstock, Sem, Gunstream, Isbell, Bledsoe, Spears and McSpedden elementary schools. Many other FISD schools posted exceptional scores as well.  

Lone Star Challenge mirrors Texas Academic Decathlon with questions in reading, writing, math and science.

Fourth and fifth grade students form teams to participate in curriculum-based exams on the fundamentals of the STAAR testing program. Questions are taken from a study guide provided by the Texas Academic Decathlon and LSC test writers.

Each team from participating campuses received exams the week of April 26 and a District-wide super quiz took place at Lone Star High School on April 30. The results were then submitted to the state to be compared to those from other participating districts.

Medals were awarded in May to the top three scores in the competition areas of essay, math/science, social studies/reading, super quiz and overall competition score.

The state champion team from Anderson Elementary included students Ashwin Javvaji, Giselle Menezes, Lavik Jain, Maanya Singh, Satvik Duddukuru, Sachit Kapoor, Andrew Carnline, Aalia Ahmed, Akanksha Mehta, Rohan Singhal and Shrey Joshi. Coaches were David Perry and Courtney Harrison.

Frisco ISD continues to fill several key positions for the 2016-17 school year.

This spring, trustees received staff recommendations during regular and special School Board meetings and formally approved new hires for open administrative positions at the District and campus level. 

In addition to administrative positions, the District expects to hire more than 600 new teachers to meet the needs of student growth and open four new campuses, including Lebanon Trail High School, Nelson Middle School and Miller and Vaughn elementary schools.

Please welcome the following administrative hires:

June 2016

Amanda Dalton, previously an art teacher in Allen ISD, was named assistant principal at Anderson Elementary. Her bachelor’s degree is from the University of North Texas and her master’s degree is from Texas A&M-Commerce. She began her career in education in 1999 and has experience administering testing programs, writing curriculum and facilitating professional development.

Jacye Jamar, previously an elementary ELAR coordinator in FISD, was named assistant principal at Fisher Elementary. Her bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees in public school administration and school counseling are from East Central University in Oklahoma. Her doctorate in educational leadership is from the University of North Texas. She has previous experience as an elementary and high school teacher and also served as assistant principal at Sem Elementary.   

Paige Dawkins, previously a fourth grade teacher in Wylie ISD, was named assistant principal at Pink Elementary. Her bachelor’s degree is from The University of Texas at Arlington and her master’s degree is from Texas A&M-Commerce. She has worked in education since 2006 as a teacher in Farmersville and Wylie.

Sallye Norris, previously an instructional coach in McKinney ISD, was named assistant principal at McSpedden Elementary. Her bachelor’s and master’s degrees are from Austin College. She has more than 15 years of experience as an elementary teacher, team leader and instructional coach.

Whitney Briggs, previously a teacher at Mooneyham Elementary, was named assistant principal at Early Childhood School. Her bachelor’s degree is from the University of North Texas and her master’s degree is from Texas A&M-Commerce. She began her teaching career in 2007 and has served as team leader, Lone Star Challenge coach and as a member of the campus improvement team.

Melissa Bahnmiller, previously assistant principal at Christie Elementary, will now be assistant principal at Purefoy Elementary.

June 2016 - Regular Meeting

Kranti Singh, currently an assistant principal at McSpedden Elementary, has been named principal of McSpedden. Singh joined FISD in 2007 as a Pre-AP science and robotics teacher at Fowler Middle School. In 2012, she was named assistant principal of Vandeventer Middle School. In 2014, she was named assistant principal at McSpedden. Prior to her time in FISD, Singh taught science at The Rice School, a technology magnet school in Houston ISD. She received her bachelor of science in interdisciplinary studies from The University of Houston and her master’s of education in educational leadership from Southern Methodist University.

Kena Robertson, currently assistant principal at Fisher Elementary, has been named principal of Purefoy Elementary. Robertson was assistant principal at Boals Elementary from 2012 to 2014. Prior to her time in FISD, Robertson served as a first grade teacher, third grade teacher and assistant principal in Mesquite ISD. Her bachelor of science in education is from Stephen F. Austin State University and her master’s in education administration is from Texas A&M-Commerce.

Alex Mira, most recently principal of Casa Loma Elementary School in Bakersfield, California, has been named principal of Sem Elementary. He had previously been named assistant principal at Pink Elementary. Prior to Casa Loma Elementary, Mira served as a vice principal, dean of students and elementary school teacher at three schools in Bakersfield City School District with a total of 17 years of experience. His bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees are from California State University, Bakersfield.

Kelly Cutler, previously ESL instructional facilitator in FISD, has been named assistant principal at Christie Elementary. Her bachelor’s degree is from University of New Orleans and her master’s degree is from Lamar University.

Natasha McDonald, previously assistant principal in Grand Prairie ISD, has been named assistant principal at Centennial High School. She previously worked as a dean of instruction and literary strategist. Her bachelor’s degree is from the University of North Texas and her master’s degree is from the University of Phoenix.

Anabel Ruiz, previously a principal fellow in Dallas ISD, has been named assistant principal at Nichols Elementary. Her bachelor’s degree is from The University of Texas at Arlington. She has master’s degrees in educational leadership and curriculum and instruction from UTA and Tarleton State University, respectively. 

May 2016 - Special Meeting

Katie Babb, currently an elementary principal in Plano ISD, has been named principal of Christie Elementary, replacing Angie Doak who is moving to Colorado. Babb has been an administrator in PISD since 2005, serving as an assistant principal, a coordinator in student services and as principal since 2011. Her background and experience includes working at bilingual and Title I campuses. Her bachelor’s degree is from the University of Delaware and her master’s is from Wilmington College. She is currently pursuing her doctorate at The University of North Texas and has completed the superintendent certification program.

Jennifer Redden, currently associate principal at Heritage High School, has been named principal of Memorial High School, which is scheduled to open in 2017 with grades 9-10. Redden joined Frisco ISD in 2005 as a math teacher at Centennial High School. She had previously taught and coached in Highland Park ISD. Redden helped open Heritage High School in 2009 and served as the math department chair and instructional coach before becoming assistant principal in 2011 and associate in 2013. Her bachelor’s degree is from Texas A&M University and she has master’s degrees in mathematics and educational leadership from The University of Texas at Dallas and Dallas Baptist University, respectively. During the 2016-17 school year, Redden will be working to assist in the final phases of construction and planning for the successful opening of Memorial in 2017. 

Donna Edge, currently associate principal at Wakeland High School, has been named principal of Wakeland High, replacing Chris Mogan who has been named principal of Sherman High School. During the past 20 years, Edge has served students as a counselor, assistant principal and associate principal in Frisco, McKinney and Wylie ISDs, with more than half of those years as a campus administrator. Her bachelor’s degree is from The University of Texas at Arlington, her master’s degree is from Texas Woman’s University, and her doctoral degree is from The University of North Texas.

Alicia Maphies, currently assistant principal at Centennial High School, has been named principal of Centennial High, replacing Randy Spain who is retiring after 18 years in FISD and 36 years in education. Maphies joined the Centennial High administrative team in 2008. Prior to that, she served students in Allen ISD as a teacher and as coordinator of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and foreign language programs. She began her career in education in 2000 as a teacher in Desert Hot Springs, California. Her bachelor’s degree is from Michigan State University. She holds two master’s degrees from California State University and The University of North Texas. She holds a doctoral degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce and has completed her superintendent’s certification.

May 2016 - Regular Meeting

Mary Webb, currently principal at Purefoy Elementary, was named elementary director for curriculum and instruction. Webb first joined FISD in 2007 as an assistant principal at Ogle Elementary. She has been principal of Purefoy since 2010. She began her career in education in 1997 and has experience as a teacher, librarian and administrator. Her bachelor’s degree is from the University of Oklahoma and her master’s degree is from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Kandra Martinez, currently assistant principal at Rosemont Elementary in Fort Worth ISD, was named assistant principal at Robertson Elementary.  Her bachelor’s degree is from The University of North Texas and her master’s degree is from Tartleton State University. She began her career in education in 1991 and has worked as a teacher, counselor and assistant principal in Waxahachie, Granbury and Fort Worth ISDs.

Jeremy Greenway, currently an assistant principal at Sanger High School, was named assistant principal at Nelson Middle School. His bachelor’s degree is from Stephen F. Austin University and his master’s degree is from The University of North Texas. He has worked in education since 2000 as a science teacher and coach. 

April 2016 - Special Meeting

The Frisco ISD Board of Trustees held a special meeting on Thursday, April 21 to meet with state legislators on educational issues and approve the hiring of key personnel.

Chris Moore, currently executive director of communications in Garland ISD, will replace outgoing Executive Director of Communications and Community Relations Shana Wortham.

Wortham, who has led the communications effort in Frisco ISD for the past 18 years, will move into a special projects role until her retirement early next year. She will support communications activities this fall regarding attendance zones and rezoning, as well as other initiatives, while working with Moore to ensure a smooth transition.

“Shana’s expertise and experience will be utilized to fill critical needs for the District as we continue our rapid growth,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jeremy Lyon. “She built the Communications Department from the ground up, beginning at a time when we had less than 4,000 students. The value of her deep understanding of our community and the relationships she has with not only staff, but also the generational families of Frisco, is immeasurable.”

Moore has led the Garland ISD Communications Department for the past five years. The District is similar in size to Frisco ISD, serving 57,000 plus students, though enrollment there is more stable. He oversees the District’s Print Shop, television program, Education Foundation and Partners in Education program, much like the structure in FISD.

Prior to leading the department, Moore was the communications coordinator for four years. He was hired in Garland in 2007 from Kilgore College, where he served as public and sports information director. His career in communications began in 1995 working at theLongview News Journal. His bachelor's degree in journalism is from The University of Texas and his master's degree is from Lamar University.

"We are pleased that Chris has chosen to join the FISD team," Dr. Lyon said. "Chris comes from a partner district that has the same deep commitment to student success and opportunity. He understands the importance of maintaining a small-town feel of relationships and connections within a growing and evolving community.”

Moore rose to the top from a pool of 130 candidates.

"My experiences have led me to and prepared me for this job," Moore said. "Garland ISD is a great district because of the people and their dedication to their students and their community. I am indebted to that experience and I am honored to now become a part of the Frisco ISD family and its mission to know every student by name and need."

Moore will assume his new role May 2.

Other new hires and personnel changes include:

Carrie Dellinger, currently elementary mathematics coordinator in FISD, was named assistant principal at Bright Elementary. Her bachelor’s degree is from Southern Illinois University and her master’s degree is from Lamar University. She has 16 years of experience as an educator.

Cami Patzkowski, currently assistant principal at Bright, will now be an assistant principal at the Early Childhood School, replacing assistant principal Rusty Watson, who is retiring.

Tina Nixon, currently digital learning coach at Pink and Phillips elementary schools, was named assistant principal at Carroll Elementary. Her bachelor’s degree is from Oklahoma State University, her master’s degree is from Concordia University and her doctoral degree is from the University of Phoenix. She has worked in education since 2004.

Melanie Davis, currently assistant principal at Carroll Elementary, will now be an assistant principal at the Early Childhood School, replacing Catherine Young, who will now be assistant principal at the new Vaughn Elementary.

Dejon Conley, currently a fourth grade teacher at Ogle Elementary, was named assistant principal at Corbell Elementary. Her bachelor’s degree is from Texas Women’s University and her master’s degree is from The University of North Texas. She has worked in education since 1996.

Laura Flynn, currently assistant principal at Corbell, will now be assistant principal at Nichols Elementary, replacing Chastity Johnson, who has been named principal of Allen Elementary.

Alex Mira, currently principal of Casa Loma Elementary School in Bakersfield, California, has been named assistant principal at Pink Elementary. His bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees are from California State University, Bakersfield. He has worked in education since 1999.

Cari Owens, currently assistant principal at Pink, has been named assistant principal at the new Nelson Middle School.

Susie Koyle, currently instructional coach at Fisher Elementary, has been named assistant principal at Sem Elementary, replacing Ashley Miller, who was named principal of the new Miller Elementary. Her bachelor’s degree is from Baylor University and her master’s degree is from Lamar University. She has worked in education since 1996 and previously taught at Boals and Purefoy elementary schools.  

Jenny McGowan, currently assistant principal at Rogers Elementary, will now be assistant principal at the new Miller Elementary.

JoBina Grace, currently assistant principal at Robertson Elementary, will now be assistant principal at Rogers Elementary.

Vince Dawes, currently principal of Oak Cliff Elementary in Dallas, has been named assistant principal at Sparks Elementary, replacing Kardel Miller, who has been named principal in Prosper ISD. His bachelor’s degree is from Florida A&M University and his two master’s degrees are from Nova Southeastern University. He has worked in education since 2001.

April 2016 - Regular Meeting

Amanda Campbell was named secondary director for curriculum and instruction during the regular April Board meeting. She is currently serving as interim director. For the past six years, Campbell has been the secondary English Language Arts facilitator and coordinator. She first joined FISD in 2000 as a teacher, working with students at every secondary grade level and with students from three campuses. She taught within the areas of special education, ESL/sheltered, GT and Pre-AP. Her bachelor’s degree is from The University of Texas at Arlington and her master’s degree is from Lamar University.

The new principal for Cobb Middle School will be Kecia Theodore. She replaces Phil Evans who has been named an area director for secondary instruction. Theodore is currently principal of the Lewisville Learning Center in Lewisville ISD. She began her career in education in 1998 as a socials studies teacher in Richardson ISD and also taught in Plano ISD, where she became an assistant principal in 2009 at Shepton High School and then at Williams High School. She has also served as an administrative intern and summer school principal. Her bachelor’s degree is from Grambling University and her master’s degree is from Texas Women’s University.

The new principal for Bright Elementary will be Sarika Pride. Pride replaces Susie Graham who is opening the new Vaughn Elementary. Pride is currently principal at Memorial Elementary School in Plano ISD where she has proudly served since 2010. She has 13 years of experience as a campus administrator, with eight of those as principal. She has experience in Wisconsin and North Carolina in addition to Plano ISD. Her education career began as a teacher in Milwaukee Public Schools in 1999. She has taught history, sociology and special education. Her bachelor’s degree is from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and her master’s degree is from Cardinal Stritch University.

Chastity Johnson was named as the new principal for Allen Elementary, replacing Teresa Wilkinson who is retiring. Johnson is currently the assistant principal at Nichols Elementary. She has also served as assistant principal at Elliott Elementary. Johnson first joined FISD in 2002 as a teacher at Fisher Elementary, where she taught third and fourth grades and also served as team leader. She began her education career in 1998 at Galveston ISD as a first grade teacher and she has also taught second and third grades in Irving ISD. Her bachelor’s degree is from the University of Central Oklahoma and her master’s degree is from Lamar University.

The personnel report at the April meeting also included several associate and assistant principal positions as well as other administrative hires. 

Eric Green was named associate principal at Independence High School. He is currently assistant principal at Independence and has 21 years of experience. His bachelor’s degree is from Texas A&M University and his master’s degree is from Lamar University.

Jesse Chavoya, currently an assistant principal in Wylie ISD, was named assistant principal at Lone Star High School. His bachelor’s and master’s degrees are from Texas A&M University-Commerce. He has been an educator for 14 years.

Tai Davis, currently a seventh grade social studies teacher at Trent Middle School, was named assistant principal at Frisco High School. Her bachelor’s degree is from Texas A&M University and her master’s degree is from Lamar University. She has six years of experience as an educator.

Allison Ginn was named assistant principal at Independence High School. She is currently a Spanish teacher at Independence and has nine years of experience. She has also served as the Languages Other Than English (LOTE) lead for the District. Her bachelor’s degree is from the University of Kansas and her master’s degree is from The University of North Texas.

David Westhora was named assistant principal at Reedy High School. He is currently an administrative intern at Reedy and has three years of experience. His bachelor’s degree is from Portland State University and his master’s degree is from George Fox University in Oregon.

Stacey Whaling was named assistant principal at Liberty High School. She is currently an English teacher at Liberty and has four years of experience. Her bachelor’s degree is from the University of Texas at Dallas and her master’s degree is from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Cari Owens was named assistant principal at Nelson Middle School. She is currently an assistant principal at Pink Elementary and has 16 years of experience. Her bachelor’s degree is from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and her master’s degree is from Concordia University.

Tracee Wysinger was named assistant principal at Trent Middle School. She is currently a high school assistant principal in Richardson ISD. She has 16 years of experience and her bachelor’s and master’s degrees are from Prairie View A&M University.

Rebecca Gaharan was named special education coordinator. She is currently serving as a diagnostician and has 23 years of experience in education. Her bachelor’s and master’s degrees are from Baylor University.

Melanie Schroeder, currently director of finance for International Leadership of Texas, was named payroll director. She has 16 years of experience.

Matt Webb, currently serving as football offensive coordinator at Centennial High School, was named campus athletic coordinator and head football coach at Centennial. Webb has 25 years of coaching and teaching experience in North Central Texas, including 13 years of playoff experience in Lancaster, Waxahachie and Colleyville Heritage. In addition, he has been a head baseball coach and coached track and girls’ soccer teams. His bachelor’s degree is from The University of Texas at Arlington and his master’s degree is from Lamar University.

The Board also approved contract extensions for associate principals, assistant principals, coordinators, managers, facilitators, teachers, counselors, librarians and nurses.

In addition, they approved a revision of DC (LOCAL): Employment of Contractual Personnel Item that allows the Board to delegate to the Superintendent the authority to employ contractual personnel in positions up to and including assistant principal during the period following the June Board meeting and prior to the August Board meeting. The Superintendent will inform the Board of anyone offered a contract under this authority prior to hiring the individual.

March 2016 - Regular Meeting

In March, the Board approved contract extensions for the superintendent, instructional support team, chief financial officer, principals, area directors, directors, assistant directors and campus athletic coordinators.

The Board also approved the hiring of principals for three new schools opening this fall:

Susie Graham, currently principal at Bright Elementary, will open Vaughn Elementary. Graham has been principal of Bright for 10 years. She began her career in Frisco ISD in 1994 as a first grade teacher. She became an assistant principal in 2000 and helped open Bright in this leadership role in 2001. She also served as a principal in Jasper ISD for three years before returning to FISD. Her bachelor’s and master’s degrees are from Stephen F. Austin University.

Ashley Miller, currently assistant principal at Sem Elementary, has been named principal of Miller Elementary. Miller has more than a decade of teaching and administrative experience in Richardson, Lewisville and Frisco ISDs. Her bachelor’s degree is from the University of North Texas and her master’s degree is from Concordia University. She was named Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA) Region 10 Assistant Principal of the Year in spring 2015.

Mitzi Garner, currently assistant principal at Trent Middle School, has been named principal of Nelson Middle School. Garner joined Frisco ISD in 2014 as an assistant principal at Wester Middle School. She previously worked in McKinney ISD as a middle school math teacher and department chair/instructional specialist, secondary math curriculum coordinator for the district and high school assistant principal. Her bachelor’s degree is from San Diego State University and she has two master’s degrees – one in Curriculum and Instruction from California State University Dominguez Hills and one in Educational Administration from Concordia University.

February 2016 - Regular Meeting

At the February regular meeting of the Frisco ISD Board of Trustees, members approved the hiring of Phil Evans as secondary area director for curriculum and instruction. Evans is currently the principal at Cobb Middle School. He joined the District in 2008 as an assistant principal at Liberty High School. He was named to open Cobb Middle School in 2010. Evans has 20 years of experience as a professional educator, having taught and coached and served as an administrator in Plano and McKinney ISDs at the middle school and high school levels. His bachelor's degree is from Baylor University and his master's degree is from the University of North Texas.

Also named was the campus athletic coordinator and head football coach for Lebanon Trail High School, which opens in August 2016.Sadd Jackson is currently the athletic director in Manor ISD, a position he has held for six years. His coaching career began at the college level, working as an assistant at Texas Christian University, where he also played, and at Valdosta State University in Georgia. He began his public education and coaching career in 1998 in Austin and he has also taught and coached in Lancaster ISD. His bachelor's degree is from Texas Christian University and his master's degree is from the University of Texas at Arlington.

January 2016 - Regular Meeting

In January, the Board approved the hiring of Kimberly Pickens as chief financial officer, replacing Dr. Rick Bankston who retired. Pickens joined FISD from Richardson ISD where she was serving as executive director of financial services. Her background includes work as an audit manager for Deloitte, specializing in the public sector. She also serves as an adjunct instructor for the University of Texas at Dallas. Pickens holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Texas A&M University. She is also a certified public accountant.

Hunt, Pioneer Heritage and Scoggins middle schools were honored by the Frisco City Council in May for their efforts to raise a combined $32,000 for City House. Frisco Mayor Maher Maso declared May 17, 2016 as "Frisco Thon" day in Frisco.

Frisco Thon is a six-hour dance-a-thon to raise money and awareness for City House, a non-profit that supports youth at-risk for abuse, neglect and homelessness in Collin County. Each school hosted the event in April, complete with fun activities and contests for students.

Current City House clients Mario and Christina, who are residents in the organization’s Transitional Living Program, came to all three schools to talk with the students and thank them for their efforts.

“It’s your dedication to give back and participate in an evening like this that makes a huge difference,” Mario told the students at Hunt. “City House has done so much for me. I can focus on what is next for me instead of where I am going to sleep tonight. Thank you all so much for raising money for City House.”

Read more from City House about the events and the impact on students.

Frisco High School softball player Maddie MacGrandle was honored as the 2015-2016 Gatorade Texas Softball Player of the Year.

Gatorade cited MacGrandle’s athletic excellence, high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the field in selecting her as Texas’s best high school softball player.

As a 5-foot-11 junior left handed pitcher, MacGrandle led the Lady Raccoons to a 31-2 record and a spot in the Class 5A state tournament and semifinals against Birdville High where the Raccoon’s season ended with a final score of 10-1.

“Maddie MacGrandle has been better than good this year, she has been nothing but short of stellar,” said Christina Gwyn-Barton, head coach of Little Elm High. “What makes Maddie so dangerous is that she is not just a top-notch pitcher, but she is an exemplary athlete who is as lethal at the plate as she is on the mound.”

MacGrandle has made a verbal commitment to play softball on an athletic scholarship at Texas A&M University beginning in the fall of 2017.

To learn more about Gatorade Player of the Year program, please visit this website.

Frisco ISD is working to ensure all students are up-to-date on immunizations for the 2016-17 school year.

Passport Health/North Texas Flu Shots is conducting immunization clinics at Vandeventer Middle School on July 5-8, 15 and 22, during new student registration. The clinics are open between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. each day.

State law requires students be immunized against certain vaccine-preventable diseases to attend school or provide a valid medical or conscientious exemption. Frisco ISD requires this documentation to participate in Elementary Meet the Teacher Night or middle and high school class schedule pick-up.

Vaccines and the number of doses required may vary in Texas from other states or countries. Your child is most likely to need additional shots if he or she has never attended a school in Texas or is entering kindergarten or seventh grade, though other grade levels may be impacted as well. View required K-12 immunizations or Pre-K immunizations.

If your child is in need of one or more immunizations, you may attend the FISD immunization clinics or visit any doctor's office or clinic.

Please bring a current shot record. Accepted forms of payment include cash, check and some insurance plans.

• Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna (except Local Plus plans), Humana, United HeathCare and Aetna (except Gold, Silver or Bronze plans) PPO plans will be accepted. You must bring a photo copy of your insurance card and primary insured’s drivers license.
• We are not able to accept HMO plans with the exception of Baylor Scott & White HMO.
• Medicaid (bring a photo copy of your insurance card)
• Children 18 and younger who don't have ANY insurance: $10 per vaccine

If you have an insurance plan that we do not accept, we will provide you with a receipt that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement of anything your plan covers.

Click here for more information on the vaccination clinics.

(Frisco, TX—July 8, 2016) The Frisco Family YMCA is hosting a STEM Summer Camp for K-6th grades. Kids interested in robotics, coding and game design will be taught the Harvard/MIT Creative Coding Method to: design video games like Pong, PacMan and Shark Attack, code animations and interactive musical stories, and program robots for moves, mazes and dance sequences. Laptops, iPADs & Robots are provided for shared use.

Coding Fun 4 STEM Camp offers beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert level classes in computer programing fundamentals for students. Students will learn skills they can apply to any aspect of life, such as critical thinking, creative expression, group problem solving, communication, and resilience. But best of all, they get to work with real robots.

Within each difficulty level based on age and experience, each child will create interactive animations and games, learn about problem solving and debugging, and program real droids, drones and bots.

Founder of Coding Fun 4 STEM and “Coding Coach” Sunny Kumar said he has found children respond positively and creatively when presented with a challenge.

“It’s amazing how focused and engaged the kids can be if the activity they are doing is authentically challenging and relevant to their interests,” Kumar said. 

Kumar explained Coding Fun 4 STEM was designed in alignment with the YMCA philosophy of active and group-based learning. The model used is called “Tangible Coding” and allows kids of all ages to code dozens of different types of robots, droids and drones using a mixture of onboard buttons, iPads and laptops.

Coding Fun 4 STEM uses Harvard’s Creative Coding teaching methodology emphasizing “paired programming,” which rewards kids when they work together in pairs. This encourages collaboration, group problem solving, and brainstorming. Kumar said most of the coding tools and curriculum he uses are from prestigious institutions like MIT, Tufts, Harvard and Google. The fun and tactile nature of the tools coupled with the digital games on the iPads and laptops help break down the barriers between the kids and the complicated concepts they can learn.

“This is the only effective way we found to keep kids of all ages fully engaged, as we playfully trick them into learning the arcane art of coding,” Kumar said.

The next summer session of Coding Fun 4 STEM at the Frisco YMCA is a four-day session beginning on Monday, July 11. The final four-day session for the summer begins on Monday, July 25.

Since 1991, the Frisco Family YMCA has changed the lives of youth and families in Frisco and surrounding communities, benefiting more than 11,000 people annually. Throughout our community the Frisco Family YMCA gives youth a safe, supportive environment in values-based programs. Your support will continue the Y’s tradition to improve lives and expand services to even more youth and families.

To register for a camp, visit codingfun4stem.com or contact Sunny Kumar at 646-266-6922.

For more information, contact Nikki Golding, Membership and Wellness Director, at 214-297-9622 or email ngolding@ymcadallas.org.

Frisco Family YMCA

3415 W. Main St

Frisco, TX 75034

(P) 214 297 9622

www.ymcadallas.org/locations/frisco

Free day of training for parents and teachers of young children

FRISCO, TEXAS (July 12, 2016) — You can make early literacy feel like child’s play!  Frisco Public Library is hosting a full day of free early learning workshops on August 13th from 9am-5pm.  Local librarians and guests from across the country will lead seminars throughout the day.  Parents, caregivers, and early learning professionals will learn how to make the most of everything from story time to nap time.

The Frisco Library is committed to early learning and is proud to provide free resources like this for the community.  With this in mind, Youth Services Librarians will join a prestigious panel of experts in sharing techniques and resources designed to help the smallest learners achieve their biggest dreams.  Attendees can earn up to six hours of Continuing Education Credit.

“We are thrilled that so many talented early learning professionals are coming to share their expertise,” says Early Literacy Librarian Bonnie Barber.  “It will be a richly rewarding day for all who attend and benefit the children they care for.”

The day will start at 9am with a two hour session about the power of play, led by Marisa Conner of the Baltimore County Public Library, Storyville.  Other topics covered include:  STEM for young learners; ways to make story time memorable; and, how to enhance children’s oral language skills, as taught by Al Stewart of the Collin County Association for the Education of Young Children.  A 3pm class focused on classroom management will be followed by open mic resource sharing from 4-5pm.

Come ready to learn and share your ideas and experiences. Refreshments will be served.  This event is free and registration is not required.  Find more information about presenters and topics covered at friscolibrary.com/earlyliteracyday.

                                                              Marisa Conner                             Al Stewart

                                                            Baltimore Public Library          Collin County Association

    For the Education of

     Young Children

The Frisco Family YMCA has been busy this summer. From activities for the kids to new group exercise classes for mom and dad, the Frisco Y is keeping the community updated with the latest Y news.

$0 Joiner Fee

Summer is the perfect time to get the whole family active, healthy, and involved! From youth sports, swim lessons, day camp, and resident camp for the kids, to group exercise classes and personal training for mom and dad—the Y is where Dallas area families spend their summers.  

Join the Y in July and pay a $0 joiner fee!

Learn more: http://bit.ly/29HShDG

Parents’ Night Out

Let the kids enjoy some crazy games, fun times, movies and pizza while parents enjoy a date night. The Frisco Y is offering Parents Night Out from 6 to 10pm Saturday, July 30th.

PNO is open to ages 6 weeks to 12 years old. The kids play games, have adventures, make crafts, watch a movie and more in a safe and fun environment. Drinks and dinner are included.

Register before Tuesday, July 26th. Spaces are limited. For more information, call 214-297-9622.

CPR and Babysitting Classes

CPR Class is a Heartsaver course geared towards the general public and is not for nurses or other people who may need a Healthcare provider class. Students will learn basic First Aid and CPR for infants, children, and adults.

The Frisco Y’s Babysitting Training Class can also be scheduled for Girl Scout Troops and youth groups for personal sessions. First Aid and CPR basics will be covered, but not certified.

 First Aid and Babysitting classes are held the third Saturday of every month.* Our next First Aid/CPR course is Saturday, August 20th from 1 to 4:30pm.*Note: The babysitting classes for July and August are full. Please register for September if interested.

Register here: http://bit.ly/29Kk1WL

Summer Camp

Every summer the Frisco Family YMCA offers new experiences and create day camp activities for hundreds of youth. From traditional summer camps that encourage kids to explore new adventures, to preschool camps where campers participate in themed weeks and hands-on learning, the Y provides kids and youth with opportunity to learn, thrive, grow and of course have fun!

Camp Caddo in Frisco runs through Aug. 5th. Camp Lobos in Little Elm, Camp on the Ridge in McKinney and Camp on the Lake in Lewsiville run through Aug. 15th.

Learn more and register: http://bit.ly/1VKQb74

Youth Sports

The YMCA Youth Sports philosophy is to allow kids to participate in a noncompetitive program with an emphasis on fun, development of character, and fair play. The youth sports programs helps families and individuals grow personally, clarify values, improve relationships, appreciate diversity, develop leadership skills and most of all, have fun.

Registration is currently underway for Flag Football and Soccer. Learn more: http://bit.ly/29kYMsk

The Frisco Y also offers Small Fry Clinics. These are scheduled 45 minute classes on Saturdays for boys and girls ages 3-5. The goal of this program will be to teach the basics of team sports such as T-Ball, Soccer, Flag Football, Basketball and much more. YMCA Coaches will teach these classes and will be a building block for kids to then join the league format games.

Learn more: http://bit.ly/29QzwPN

For more information, contact Zachary Bergquist, Sports Director, at 214-297-9622 or email zbergquist@ymcadallas.org.

Adventure Guides & Princesses

The Adventure Guide and Princess programs for Grades K-3 aims to strengthen the bond between fathers and their children through activities that allow them to spend quality time together. The program involves community, nature, family and fun. The Guide and Princess program builds memories that will last a lifetime.

Circles for the upcoming year are starting now. Join an existing circle in your area or create your own circle with friends. The first step to experiencing all that Adventure Guides has to offer is to sign up for 2016-2017. Registration for the upcoming year is underway!

For more information, contact Mark Hull, Adventure Guides Coordinator, at 214 297 9622 or email mhull@ymcadallas.org.

Register: http://bit.ly/29Co4pN

Personal Training

Personal training is a great way to meet personal fitness and wellness goals. Sign up today for a free 1-hour consultation with one of the Y’s amazing personal trainers. (Register at the Member Services desk).

Don’t forget about the Frisco Y’s Introductory Personal Training Package -three 1-hour sessions for only $129!

If you have any questions, ask at our Welcome Center or connect withNicole Golding, Membership Director, at 214-297-9622 or email ngolding@ymcadallas.org. 

Group Classes

With a YMCA membership, the Frisco Family YMCA offers a variety of free, group exercise classes to help members reach their fitness goals. Here's a link to our currentGroup Exercise Schedule: http://bit.ly/29qbsRz

Questions? Contact Nikki Golding, Membership and Wellness Director, at 214-297-9622 orngolding@ymcadallas.org. 

Livestrong

If you are someone you love has been affected by cancer and is looking to work with a certified personal trainer to gain strength, flexibility and mobility, let the Frisco Family YMCA help.

The Frisco Y offers a 12 week cancer recovery program for all ages. It is tailored to the specific needs of the cancer patient. This free 12 week program meets twice a week for 1 hour in a friendly group setting.

Learn more: http://bit.ly/29DEhdG

Employment Opportunities

The Frisco Y is seeking Nationally Certified Personal Trainers, Child Watch Attendants, and a Member Services Representative to join the Y Family! Qualified applicants must be sharp, have a kind heart, smiling face, positive attitude, and a genuine desire to help people and connect with the community. The Y offers a flexible work schedule and fun atmosphere.

Contact Nikki Golding, ngolding@ymcadallas.org, 214-297-9622.

Frisco Family YMCA

3415 W. Main St

Frisco, TX 75034
(P) 214 297 9622

www.ymcadallas.org/locations/frisco

Frisco ISD invites families to enroll new students for the 2016-17 school year during centralized registration this summer.

Enrollment for students entering grades K-12 is underway now through Friday, July 22 at Vandeventer Middle School, Independence Parkway in Frisco.

Appointments are still available between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. To participate, families should:

• Reserve an appointment for K-12 registration. Appointments are required. 
  
  Please note: appointments are intended to help FISD stagger the arrival of families. Efforts will be made to accommodate each family at the registered time, but there may be delays so please schedule your appointment accordingly. Also, if a parent cannot provide all the required documents, or if the child is missing required vaccinations, the family will be asked to return at a later date or time with the missing documentation and/or updated immunization records. Families in this situation do not receive special consideration on their second visit in regard to wait or process time, so please review all the requirements before your appointment.

• Complete the online registration form in English or Spanish

• Gather required documents, ensuring your child’s immunization records are complete and reflect all the requirements of the state of Texas, which may vary from other states/countries. FISD will also host summer immunization clinics in conjunction with summer registration for those missing required vaccines. 
  
  
  •  

    Certified Copy of Birth Certificate (Birth Certificate Requirement Form)

  •  

    Social Security Card

  •  

    Immunization Records (View requirements)

  •  

    Proof of Residency (View acceptable documents) Please note: if you cannot yet produce a current utility bill, a contract on a home or apartment lease will suffice until you can provide a current utility bill (required before starting school).

  •  

    Last Report Card / Unofficial Transcript (high school)

  •  

    Driver's License of Enrolling Parent

• Attend summer registration. Please bring originals and copies of required documents.

Summer registration is comprehensive for incoming K-8 students. High school students will need to meet with their school guidance counselor following summer registration for course selection.

If a language other than English is spoken most of the time in your home and by your child, an oral language proficiency test will be administered during registration to determine your student's eligibility for the appropriate language program: bilingual education or English as a Second Language (ESL). 

If families are unable to attend summer registration, they may also register at their child’s school after it re-opens in August. Schools may list specific days and times for registration on their campus websites or ask parents to schedule an appointment to determine the best time to visit campus.

Learn more about new K-12 registration or Pre-K registration.

Curious fifth grade student Ailey Shollenberger from Corbell Elementary took her Quest independent study project to the District’s Child Nutrition Department and explored the possibility of adding a new item to the lunch menu in May.

Ailey, District Dietician Melissa Duce and the Corbell cafeteria staff cooked up a healthy helping of Fiesta Mac for fellow fifth grade students to taste-test.

Her healthy-meal initiative was sparked by noticing an increase in overweight and obese children in the U.S. with conditions like Type II Diabetes.

To act on this, Ailey reached out to Ms. Duce to discuss adding a healthy chili mac recipe she found online to the school’s menu.

The duo agreed on Fiesta Mac, an entrée that is both nutritional and easy to make with the ingredients approved and on-hand at the cafeteria.

Ailey passed out samples of the dish and surveys to get feedback on the recipe one day during lunch.

Through this project, Ailey learned that all recipes must meet federal nutrition guidelines and that many ingredients have substitutes that provide health benefits to all students.

Frisco ISD-TV attended the Texas Rangers baseball game on Monday, May 23, at Globe Life Park, for winning first place in the Greatest Save Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest for a video entry called “Bruises Have No Benefits.”

The winning PSA producers, Natasha Burklow, Tyson Clendening, Oscar Mijangos and Michael Ramirez, received a plaque for the school and individual certificates during the pre-game awards ceremony.

Thirty-second submissions were to raise awareness about sexual exploitation, date rape, human trafficking, bullying, abduction, internet risks and other personal safety issues facing teens.

“Bruises Have No Benefits” is included in the national The Greatest Save Teen PSA Best of the Best DVD that was distributed to participating schools nationwide in June.

The video was also entered in a national competition among other Major League cities with the winner announced during the MLB All-Star Game Festivities in San Diego, California later this month.