Frisco ISD's Smith Elementary School honored veterans in the community at its annual Veterans Day Remembrance on November 11 at three ceremonies throughout the day and evening. Smith Principal Matt Kimball recognized all visiting veterans, city officials, Frisco ISD administration and school board members by name. 

After Smith Cub Scouts from Troop #282 presented the colors, the Smith Treblemakers Choir sang “God Bless America” under the leadership of Janis Dahl, Smith’s music teacher. The choir sang “America the Beautiful” and “American Tears” later during the program. 

Smith students shared letters, poems and essays they wrote about what veterans mean to them. Fifth grader Olivia Hankins thanked the veterans by quoting Abraham Lincoln: “Honor to the soldier, and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause.”

Frisco City Council member Major Timothy Nelson, USAR, was keynote speaker. Major Nelson spoke on the children’s level by using the example of doing without their favorite toys or games, or having to be without their family as he shared what sacrifices men and women have made on our behalf over the years. He spoke to the veterans about how difficult a day like today can sometimes be as they remember the days of their service. Major Nelson invited his own children, Jonathan and Claire, who are Smith students, to the podium to show his appreciation for family and the sacrifices they have to make when Daddy goes away to serve our country.

A reception honoring veterans and guests followed the morning ceremonies in the school’s library, where veterans from several generations shared stories of their years of service in the different branches of the military.

Congratulations to student athletes from Heritage, Liberty and Wakeland high schools who represented Frisco ISD at the Cross Country State Championships this past Saturday, November 9 in Round Rock.

Heritage sophomore Carter Blunt is the overall 4A boys state champion, finishing the 5K race with a time of 15:48.30. He is the first Frisco ISD state champion in boys cross country.

In team competition, the Wakeland boys team finished third in the state, tying the best finish by a boys cross country team in FISD history. Liberty placed third in 2009.

Team members include sophomore Justin King, freshman Cameron King, sophomore Cutter Oglesby, sophomore Noa Cuellar, senior Turner Pool, freshman Tristan Byram and freshman Carson Cornett. They are led by coach Davis Tidwell.

The girls team from Heritage made their first-ever trip to state, placing seventh.

Members include junior Jennifer Huckaby, junior Natalie McLaurin, sophomore Emmy-Kate Rogers, senior Brittany Duhart, sophomore Megan Allen, sophomore Natasha Longhurst and junior Cheyenne Allison. They are led by coaches Carly Littlefield and Eric Davis.

In overall girls competition, junior Kim Endo of Liberty placed 15^th in the state, posting a time of 19:09.18 in the 3200 meters. 

All the student athletes were recognized by the FISD Board of Trustees on Monday, November 11 during the regular Board meeting.

Two national independent credit rating agencies recently praised Frisco ISD for a history of sound financial practices and prudent management of rapid enrollment growth.

Moody’s Investors Service assigned a Aa1 underlying rating and Aaa enhanced rating to the District’s $95 million Unlimited Tax School Building Bonds, Series 2013, and affirmed a Aa1 rating on existing debt.

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services assigned a AA+ school issuer credit rating and AAA long term rating, with the same ratings given on existing debt.

These are the second highest and highest ratings each agency awards.

Of the Texas school districts that have a Moody’s rating, 2 percent have a higher credit quality rating than FISD, 3 percent have the same rating and 95 percent have a lower rating.

Of the Texas school districts that have a Standard & Poor’s rating, none have a higher credit quality rating than FISD. Three percent have the same rating and 97 percent have a lower rating.

The high ratings enable the District to get the best market price available at the time of a bond sale, in much the same way a higher credit rating or FICO score benefits individuals.

Standard & Poor’s praised the District’s general creditworthiness, including its:

• Participation in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex’s deep economy;
• Very strong wealth and income;
• Rapid economic growth, resulting in increasing property values and enrollment;
• Very strong finances;
• Good financial management policies.

Moody’s also cited a large and diverse tax base, in addition to conservative budgeting.

“The district has an adopted fund balance policy that guides district general fund reserves to no less than 15% of annual expenses,” Moody’s wrote. “The district has consistently managed their financial operations to remain within this policy despite rapid enrollment growth and state funding reductions.”

In addition to the bond ratings, the agencies assigned a stable rating outlook for FISD’s November 5 sale of the 2013 series bonds. The series is part of the $798 million bond package approved by voters in 2006 to take the District to 52,000 students.

“The outlook reflects the district’s sizable and growing tax base and enrollment, healthy financial operations and high yet steady debt burdens,” Moody’s wrote.

Frisco ISD has maintained the Aa1 and AA+ underlying ratings since July 2010.

The enhanced ratings of Aaa and AAA reflect the Texas Permanent School Fund (PSF), which guarantees principal and interest repayment for school districts state-wide.

The District’s ability to maintain very high underlying credit ratings during a period of significant growth and uncertain economic conditions has made Frisco ISD bond issues very sought after in the investment community.

Cobb Middle School collected nearly 1,900 pounds of food to donate to Frisco Family Services as part of a drive associated with the school’s Zombie Apocalypse Book Fair.

Nicknamed “Feed Frisco, Not Zombies,” the effort challenged students to collect canned goods and other items.

The grade level who collected the most food won the right to choose which teachers were transformed into zombies to promote the Book Fair during a recent pep rally.

Since sixth graders won, they chose Patrick Mullins, Lamont Finley, Robert Ward, John Gaulden, Martha Ball and LaCrisha Benjamin, who graciously agreed to participate. Theatre students practiced makeup skills in class under the direction of teacher Richard Dennis in order to transform the teachers into zombies at the pep rally in under 10 minutes!

The excitement continued the week of Halloween for the Zombie Apocalypse Book Fair, coordinated by Cobb library staff, the Cobb PTA and book fair chairs Melinda Wemhoff and Adina Doan.

Librarian Mary Virginia Meeks auditioned students and staff to create a Zombie Talent Lounge for the “Night of the Living Dead” Community Open House on October 30 featuring jugglers, singers, poetry readers, musicians and even a hula hooper. Grandparents and area neighbors joined the Cobb community to attend the standing room only event.

"The middle school years are critical years for keeping students connected to reading and libraries," Meeks said. “By creating positive, fun library experiences, more students stay connected to books. Studies show that students who continue to read for pleasure and knowledge outside the classroom on into the high school years simply perform better in school.”

Staff members also dressed up on October 31 to promote the Book Fair. Students voted on their favorite book characters and authors in the costume contest.

Taking first place was Tabitha Still and Tessa Knickerbocker as Duck Dynasty; second place, Amy Wages as Skippyjon Jones; and third place, Lisa Kalka, Hannah Gestes, Sarah Van Alstyne, Ashley Luhrs and Erin Troupe as Team Dauntless.

Frisco Independent School District is among only 14 school districts in Texas honored by the College Board with placement on its 4th Annual AP District Honor Roll.

The Honor Roll recognizes districts for making significant gains in student performance and access to Advanced Placement courses.

Since 2011, Frisco ISD has increased the number of students participating in AP Exams by 17 percent while improving the percentage of students earning scores of three or higher by three percent.

“We applaud the extraordinary efforts of the devoted teachers and administrators who are offering more students the opportunity to engage in rigorous college-level course work,” said Trevor Packer, the College Board’s senior vice president of AP and Instruction. “These outcomes are a powerful testament to educators’ belief that a more diverse population of students is ready for the sort of rigor that will prepare them for success in college.”

Roughly 4,900 Frisco ISD students are currently enrolled in nearly 10,850 AP courses. That includes nearly 53 percent of current juniors and seniors who are taking at least one AP course.

In May 2013, nearly 72 percent of all FISD students who took an AP Exam scored a three or better. 

In most cases, a student who scores a four or five will receive college credit for the course, ultimately saving students and their families hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in college tuition.

“AP courses have helped create an environment at our schools where students can persevere, work hard and test their abilities in a safe and comfortable setting,” said Director of Guidance and Counseling Brenda Russell. “They learn great study habits, build confidence and develop skills to prepare them for the challenges of college and career.”

Inclusion on the 4th Annual AP District Honor Roll is based on the examination of three years of AP data, from 2011 to 2013, for the following criteria. Districts must:

• Increase participation/access to AP by at least four percent in large districts, at least six percent in medium districts, and at least 11 percent in small districts;
• Increase or maintain the percentage of exams taken by African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native students, and;
• Improve performance levels when comparing the percentage of students in 2013 scoring a three or higher to those in 2011, unless the district has already attained a performance level at which more than 70 percent of its AP students are scoring a three or higher.

Reaching these goals indicates that a district is successfully identifying motivated, academically prepared students who are likely to benefit from rigorous AP course work.

A total of 477 school districts in the U.S. and Canada made the list.

Learn more about the College Board and AP Honor Roll.