Points of Pride

Elsik High School’s boys soccer team advanced to the regional quarterfinals by defeating Morton Ranch 3-2 last week. Elsik will play Strake Jesuit on Tuesday, April 9, at Cinco Ranch High School at 7 p.m.

Taylor High School’s student organization Mademoiselles was named the Citywide Chapter of the Year. This is their fifth consecutive year of winning due to excellence in academics, community service and school involvement. The Mademoiselles also received the Community Service Award.

Hastings High School students were spotlighted at the awards ceremony for the 15th Annual Wells Fargo Student Visual Art Contest by the Society for the Performing Arts. Student Kenia Perez won first place in her division, while Shawn King was awarded Artistic Excellence. King was also awarded a $1,500 scholarship.

Chancellor Elementary teacher Shelly Stasney was published on author Donalyn Miller’s website last week. Stasney’s piece, “Lit(erature) Like Christmas” was spotlighted on the “Nerdy Book Club” website. The site aims to help writers like Stasney share their love of reading with others.

Alief ISD Police Department Officer Joel Simpson Jr. was awarded the Academic Recognition Award by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education. Winners must have at least two years of experience, must have graduated from an accredited college or university with at least an associate’s degree and the institute of higher education must be accredited or authorized by specific associations.

Alief ISD schools took the top two spots at the recent T.H.E. Relays. Elsik boys varsity track team came out on top with 158 points, while the Taylor boys team took second place with 96 points.

Alief Early College High School had three proposals selected for presentation at the AVID National Conference this upcoming December. Staff members Kevin Sevin, Tamara Porras, Maura LePori and Wanda Harrell will present on the following topics: AVID Tutorials in the Content Classroom, AVID and Early College a Perfect Match and We are Family: Building AVID School Wide.

SOAR students Lily Portillo, Taylor Edwards, Alazia Clay and Jaylan Gable were awarded full-ride scholarships to the Internship Program of City Catering College. The Culinary Arts On-Site Training Program will work with the students on the weekends and will provide training materials, uniforms and supplies. The students will be given assistance with job placement in a partnering restaurant upon completion of the program.

Two Hastings High School teachers were recently accepted into prestigious professional development seminars. Adrienne Hollander was accepted into the professional development seminar on “Slave Narratives in American Literature” at Yale University this summer. The seminar, sponsored by The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, will be taught by Yale Professor of American History and Gilder Lehrman Center Director Dr. David Blight. Katie Batenhorst was accepted into Goethe-Institut’s seminar and will spend two weeks in Germany in June to learn about the country.

Sneed Elementary students Malcom Marshall, Stephen Coleman and Luz Perez were highlighted by Reliant’s Student Recognition Program. These students, from Crystal Thomas-Hoof’s third grade class, were awarded t-shirts and certificates for their hard work. Marshall and Coleman were nominated for their academic achievement, while Perez was spotlighted for her exceptional citizenship.