The Friendswood Communication Department believes everyone has a story and we love sharing these beautiful stories. We pride ourselves on capturing the hearts of our community and sharing them through stories, videos, social media posts, and in pictures. We hope you enjoy looking back over the 2021 - 2022 year.
"Legacy is not what I did for myself. It's what I'm doing for the next generation. " -Vitor Belfort
We entered the 2021-2022 school year with a call into a new legacy. Walking in the footsteps that paved the way before us, we built upon the pillars that have always been such a strong part of the Friendswood community - a look back and a look forward. We did not fear change but embraced it. We did not cower in the face of challenges but overcame them. We did not run from innovation, rather, we ran towards it. From breaking ground on our first bond projects to listening to second-graders own their own learning, I am proud of the many great things we accomplished this year as we moved towards our new legacy. I am confident that we will only continue to leave our mark as we continue to march forward in pursuit of a better unknown.
- FISD Superintendent Thad J Roher
Standard Based Teaching and Learning Pilot
Standards-Based teaching and evaluation of student learning greatly benefit students by clearly measuring their proficiency on defined essential standards in each core content area and a Learner Profile (social development, formerly conduct) and fine arts. Instead of getting a grade on an assignment and moving on to the next project, students are able to continue working on things they have a harder time learning in order to master the skill and truly learn. Essentially, SBL gives students ownership over their own learning and teaches them self-awareness. It is awesome to watch this in action!
Meet Dottie! Dottie shared some of her standard-based learning work with us back in the fall. Isn't this great?
Mustang Senior Citizens
We realized there was a very important group in our community we were not meeting with or involving and that was the grandparents or senior citizens in and around the Friendswood area so we decided to do something about it. In two meetings this school year - one in the Fall and one in the Spring - we met with over 100 "Mustang Seniors" over coffee and donuts to discuss all of the awesome things happening in our District and showed them how they can get involved. It was easily one of our favorite parts of the year!
Day of Service
FISD held its first Day of Service on April 18, 2022, and it was a HUGE success. Hundreds of students and faculty painted the town blue as they were out in the community serving their neighbors by building tiny libraries, collecting shoes for the needy, picking up trash, cleaning historical sites and much more. This day came as a part of FISD's Strategic Plan that emphasized the importance of community service. We cannot wait to watch this day grow more and more each year!
Throughout the year, we were honored to help tell the stories of eight amazing individuals who are living out incredible legacies in FISD. Each of them has left an incredible mark on FISD. Read their awesome stories:
What do you believe?
In February, we were honored to share a few, brave students' stories for their "This I Believe" projects as a part of the FHS History-English Class. Students were asked to come up with a belief statement and tell a personal story explaining why they believe what they believe. These stories are highly personal and convey an immense amount of emotion. We could not be more proud of them and their #Legacy in FISD.
A New Legacy begins at the 2021-22 FISD Convocation
Convocation 2021 kicks the year off for our staff! The excitement is in the air with the sounds of teachers coming back into the building and saying hello to one another after a summer break. A New #Legacy begins for FISD!
Our amazing teachers started the year with an inspirational video that reminded them of the impact they have on their students each and every day. Watch below!
Under the Oaks '21
New Employee Luncheon
FEF's New Teacher Luncheon was held at the Flight Museum and was a beautiful backdrop for celebrating our new teachers
#ChallengeAccepted
Over the past few years, we had fun watching Superintendent Roher take on students in various challenges but it was time to shake things up. So, this year, we decided to showcase our teachers as the challengers and they did not disappoint! #ChallengeAccepted
We would love to hear what you think we should do in 2022-2023. Let us know on social media!
Our hearts were full reading these Chicken Soup Stories. The response has been incredible and we hope you get an insight into our educators hearts and what makes them tick.
- Carla Burris
- Sarah Paulk
- Christina Holt
- Kelsey Newcomb
- Paul Tucker
- Kathy McVey
- Ann Moetteli
- Rebecca Hillenburg
- Carolyn Lowe
- Claire Ford
- Monika Whitsett
- Milton Brock
- Thomas Landfried
- Barbara Pastalaniec
- Brittany Jumper
- Joel Estrada
- Jennifer Massar
- Tess James
- Yvette Camarillo
- Celeste Romell
- Jalna Westerfeld
- Maegan Millet
- Jennifer Barmore
- Madeleine LeBoeuf
- Elizabeth Walsh
- Blake Warren
- Shelbie Darilek
- Lauren Malone
- Thad J Roher
Celebration of Excellence
FISD Strategic Plan Goal 2: We will redefine the measure of student success based on our beliefs and call to action.
The Friendswood ISD Board of Trustees and Superintendent Roher recognize hundreds of students each year at the Celebration of Excellence portion of the meeting. The students recognized are those who compete at the State and/or National Level in UIL competition, display outstanding character, strong leadership skills and/or show academic growth and progress. We love all of our students!
Friendswood ISD Education Foundation awarded over 500 grants totaling a record-breaking $342,000+ across Friendswood ISD!!! SurPrize Patrol was such a special celebration of the grants funded at each campus, the teachers that dreamed them up and the students they will impact. This day was also a celebration of community and a powerful display of how much the Friendswood community believes in and rallies around FISD students and teachers. To learn more about the Friendswood Education Foundation go to https://fef.myfisd.com/
Click here to view all photos from SurPrize Patrol.
Everyone ate up Mr. Brock's #ChickenSoup
Who couldn't love that sweet face? Milton Brock's impact was made obvious when his story became our most popular Instagram post with 802 likes and 38 comments full of praise for this beloved substitute teacher!
So you think you can dance?
For the very first #ChallengeAccepted competition of the year, FHS Baseball Coach Cory Benavides along with a few of his "dawgs" faced off against the FHS Wranglerettes. This fun video was our most popular post on Twitter with more than 4,000 engagements!
End of Year Celebration
School's out for summer! FISD staff gathered on Friday, May 27 to celebrate the end of the 2021-22 school year! FISD recognized years of service, retirees and paras/teachers of the year. We also gave out some awesome prizes! It was a great way to end the year!
Friendswood High School Graduates 491 Students in the Class of 2022
On Saturday, May 28, 491 graduates from the Friendswood High School class of 2022 walked the stage of Grace Community Church.
The graduating seniors selected the class motto, “We are put on this Earth to love.” – Kendrick Lamar. The class colors are silver and light blue with the space oddity hibiscus as the class flower. “Tongue Tied” by Grouplove was chosen as the class song.
The graduating class Valedictorian is Audrey Nguyen with Salutatorian Christian La Rue. Class officers include President Erica Howard, Vice President Grant Newmann, Secretary Jonathan Sims and Treasurer Kelli Mulloy.
Elaina Chong and Balint Kidd received the American Legion Girl/Boy administrative awards for possessing high qualities of courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship and service. Abigail Nelson and Jacob Rogers received girl and boy outstanding athlete. Connor Gibson, Maris Morgan, Paige Patton and Marshall Prince received the I Dare You Award: I Dare You To Be A Leader: Think Tall, Stand Tall, Smile Tall and Live Tall. Friendswood High School Representatives were Lily Hall, TASSP Teens Serving Texas, and Emily Thomas, TASSP All-State Academic and Scholastic Excellence.
Twelve students from this senior class will be joining the military next year. Joining the United States Army is Mario Gutierrez, Aislinn Jaramillo, Cayden Lytle, Keaton McCallay-Doyle, Colby Nelson and Jonathan Ohm. Daniel Morgan will be attending The United States Military Academy at West Point and Lydia Rubio will attend the United States Naval Academy. James Baker and Bradyn Elmer will be joining the United States Marines. Dawson Cordle and Gavin Ngo will be joining the United States Navy.
This senior class was offered more than $9 million in scholarship funds, $4 million of which was accepted.
Congratulations, FHS Class of 2022!
Credits:
Created with an image by denisismagilov - "Woman with phone and laptop, social media"Dayna Owen and Kelsey Golz