Education and Schools

By Richard Zowie

The Highlander

Marble Falls Independent School District earned high marks from both the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) and from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) accountability ratings for 2016-2017.

This and the district’s campus improvement plans were also discussed at the Sept. 18 school board regular meeting, highlighting what they’re doing to help students become better learners.

District, campus improvement plans

Wes Cunningham, PhD, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, and the various campus principles presented their campus improvement plans for this year.

For 2017-2018, MFISD has 4,142 students (an increase in 1.89 percent) with its type of families described as “lower to middle class.”

Faith Academy earned the No. 1 seed from the TAPPS Class 4, District 4 tournament after sweeping the district unbeaten.

Faith Academy defeated San Juan Diego on Friday 66-20, with Blair Hattie scoring 20 points and Addison Floyd 16 points.

Eight Lady Flames scored in the team’s 29^th win of the season.

Faith Academy went 7-0 in the round robin part of our district tournament and will draw a bye in the first round. Faith Academy will plays the winner of John Paul II-Boerne Geneva in the Lady Flames first game.

Here is now the seeding goes: 1 vs.8 and 4 vs.5 are on Faith Academy’s half of the bracket and 2 vs.7 and 3 vs. 6 on the other half. Faith Academy will play Thursday in the San Marcos Academy Gym. Time has not been determined. Then the Tournament Championship and third place will be played on Friday night also at San Marcos Academy.

The following students exemplified the ability to focus on "Putting First Things First."
Pre-Kindergarten: Jayden Rodriguez and Mayah Sanchez.
Kindergarten: Katya Barrientos, David Flores, Alexis Lundgren, Octavio Mendiola, Jayden Patlan and Savannah Rutland.
First grade: Scarlett Bueso, Brianna Gee, Colton Milam, Daniel Molina and Armonie Rios.
Second grade: Raul Avalos, Daniel Dominguez, Kallen Moehlmann, Emily Ramirez and Carmen Turland.
Third grade: Megan Bernabe, Ashley Gonzales, Caityln Johnson, Mauricio Patino and Oswaldo Sanchez.
Fourth grade: Kaeli Blair, Stephanie Bolanos, Raul Ramirez, Alizabeth Stanphill and Bryan Vasquez.
Fifth grade: Reagan Bethune, Tucker Boswell, Linett Fonseca and Avah Jimenez.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

The Highlander

“It’s okay to ooh and aah,” said the astronomy educator to the group of 8th-grade Marble Falls Middle School students who couldn’t help but react upon seeing the entire universe above and around them. Students reclined in the Discovery Dome, watching as day turned to a brilliant night sky brimming with stars and planets.

Over the course of two days, MFMS students got a 10-minute tour of the universe followed by “2 Small Pieces of Glass,” a program about the invention and evolution of the telescope, all while nestled in the black bubble of the inflatable planetarium in the library.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

The Highlander

Representatives from business and organizations in the region networked with the workforce of the future during Career Day at Marble Falls High School on Thursday, April 7.

“Many of the representatives are from local businesses, which is remarkable,” said Wes Cunningham, Ph.D., assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Colt Elementary fourth and fifth grade students decided the fate of Goldilocks for her crime of “Criminal Mischief with Damages” at a mock trial at Marble Falls Teen Court last month. (Last year, members of the C3--Colt Character Crew--threw the virtual book at the Big Bad Wolf for speeding.)

C3 students, called Master Leaders, do community service projects and leadership development exercises such as the mock trial.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Theater students, on both technical and thespian sides, are used to challenges; in addition to keeping theater fun, challenges can mean greater rewards.

Marble Falls High School (MFHS) theater teacher Jon Clark knew any Arthur Miller drama would be a good learning experience for students.

"It's been challenging from an acting standpoint, and from the technical side, so it's been really intense in a short amount of time,” Clark said. “I hope what we’re doing is something pretty cool and good theater."

Marble Falls Middle School (MFMS) 7th and 8th grade choirs came from a University Interscholastic League (UIL) competition at the Georgetown High School Performing Arts Center on Monday, March 7, clutching plenty of trophies.

“All four choirs were honored, so me and Mrs. Angela Williamson (MFMS assistant director of choirs) are really proud,” said Megan Goodman, MFMS director of choirs. “It’s the sixth year in a row MFMS choirs have taken home Sweepstakes and Superior honors at UIL contest.”

The Varsity Women's Choir, Varsity Men's Choir and the Varsity Mixed choir (Cantare) all received straight 1’s in Stage and Sight Reading, earning them the coveted Sweepstakes trophy.

“It’s the best you can get,” Goodman said.

The Marble Falls Independent School District (MFISD) Board of Trustees at their meeting Monday, Feb. 15, authorized district leaders to proceed with the refinancing of a portion of the Series 2006 bonds and the remaining outstanding Series 2007A bonds in an effort to take advance of lower interest rates and savings to taxpayers.

“The refinancing of outstanding bonds is similar to a homeowner refinancing the original interest rate on their mortgage to reduce their house payment,” said Lisa LeMon, MFISD executive director of finance. “This authorization represents the third phase of a refunding program that MFISD began in 2014 to achieve interest cost savings.”  

For more on this story, see The Highlander on Friday, Feb. 19. 

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Colt Elementary fourth-graders and Marble Falls High School (MFHS) construction trades students will be teaming up this year on a Colt tradition: the year-end soapbox race. May 20 will mark at least the 6th year Colt students will race down 688 feet of Manzano Mile near the school.

Previously, school employees, parents and community members were the primary sources of help on the annual project.

Sponsorships and donations are still needed, but several Marble Falls businesses already have contributed to the project. Foxworth-Galbraith Lumber & Building Materials donated all the lumber, and Ford & Crew Home and Hardware contributed all the hardware.