Education and Schools

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Eight Marble Falls Middle School Choir students won recognition for their talents by being named to the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-Region Choir following tryouts this past weekend.

In all there were 21 MFMS singers who made the trip on Saturday, Oct. 25, to Cedar Park to audition amid a field of hundreds of other students in the region.

Making the final cut were: Allie Packer, 1st chair Soprano 1, 8th grade women's choir; Alicia Marchand, 2nd chair Soprano 1, 7th grade women's choir; Taylor Wright, 3rd chair Soprano 2, 8th grade women's choir; McKayla Campbell, 6th chair Soprano 1, 8th grade women's choir; Ben Anderson, 8th chair Tenor 1, 7th and 8th grade men's choir; Emily Moomaw, 13th chair Soprano 1, 7th grade women's choir; Shelby Miller, 15th chair Soprano 2, 7th grade women's choir; Kyle Hanshaw, 17th chair Bass, 7th and 8th grade men's choir.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

The Marble Falls Independent School District Board of Trustees discussed at length Monday, Oct. 20, expenditures for the maintenance, technology, and career and technology education (CTE) departments.

Bond expenditure update

Many of the bid proposals, but not all, involved using bond money.

Of the $6.5 million bond passed by voters in May, administration has used $1.3 million as of Sept. 30, according to the spreadsheet prepared by the finance department and posted on the MFISD website.

Most of the expenditures, $477,000, have gone toward technological infrastructure, with another $426,000 toward the CTE program.

The remaining $5.2 million is earmarked to be spent on CTE programs ($1.9 million), maintenance and transportation ($1.8 million), technology ($923,000), band instruments ($65,200), and athletic field improvements ($450,000).

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

A group of Spicewood Elementary School students met Ruger, one of the ten Texas Parks & Wildlife Department search and rescue dogs, in action Tuesday, Oct. 21. An early morning chill permeated the air and fog hovered over the grass.

“This is my first presentation to kids this age,” said Christy Vales, K-9 game warden with TPWD. She said she is used to getting dirty and is not bothered at all by dog hair in her truck.

The pre-kindergartners, kindergartners, first and second-graders could hardly contain their excitement, and many were not shy about asking questions and telling the game wardens about their dogs at home.

Vales and Keith Gerth, assistant chief game warden, were at the school not only to show off Ruger’s search and rescue abilities, but to teach kids what to do if they get lost in the woods.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

The Marble Falls High School marching band, color guard and Starlette Dance Team have been working together since December to prepare for the University Interscholastic League (UIL) regional competition Saturday, Oct. 18, in Round Rock. Riding a high after their performance at the Gatesville Marching Festival Saturday, Oct. 11, students and leaders are preparing to face more judges with score cards in hand.

“The students will have butterflies because it’s UIL,” which is a bigger performance than the one on Saturday, said Brad Behrens, MFHS head band director, Tuesday.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Sweaty T-shirts and dirty work gloves were in ample supply at the Transition House garden Tuesday, Sept. 30. Eight Falls Career High School students joined their English teacher Michael Saenz and Transition House students to move dirt, plant trees and harvest tomatoes. “I hope all this work will make them enjoy being in English class more,” Saenz said with a smile. “I think they’re enjoying a good, hard day of work, plus helping the community is a good way to spend the day. These are good people out here.”

Several students used the word “rewarding” to describe their experience Tuesday, despite the heat and mosquitos.

Falls Career students have earned the respect of the Master Gardeners who help run the garden days at Transition House. “They’re always hard workers,” said Donna Maier, president of the Highland Lakes Master Gardeners Association.