What's Inside - Channelview Independent School District

ChannelViews
Highlighting the students, people and programs of Channelview Independent School District
Honoring a Hero
Channelview High earns College
Readiness Award
See
Story
page 6
What’s Inside
Super
Spelling
students!
FFA Livestock
Show and
Parade
highlights
May 2011
The great
debaters
of CHS
5 7 8

2
CHS graduation set for June 5
Channelview High School graduation is scheduled
for 4 p.m., June 5 at the M.O. Campbell Center.
The Campbell Center is located at 1865
Aldine Bender in Houston.
In traveling to the Campbell Center, take Beltway 8 west
and exit Aldine Westfield Road. Drivers will take a left onto
Aldine Westfield, take a right at Aldine Bender Rd and the
Campbell Center will be on the right about a half-block away.
For more information, call the high school at 281-452-1450.
Student, staff bad weather
make-up day scheduled
for Monday, May 30
Students in the Channelview Independent School
District will be required to attend school on Monday,
May 30 to make up for the missed instructional day
on February 4, 2011 that was caused by icy weather.
Under State Law, the district must make up for the
missed day that was caused by bad weather. If you
have questions, please contact your child’s campus.
Congratulations to our Students of the Month!
FEBRUARY STUDENTS OF THE MONTH: Students
who were recognized include, front row, from left, Deysi
Martinez (Crenshaw Elementary), Amy Gonzalez (Hamblen
Elementary), Kelly Lejeune (McMullan Elementary),
Michelle Castro (Harvey Brown Elementary) and Khya King
(Schochler Elementary). Pictured in back row, from left,
Priscilla Salinas (Endeavor High School), Aolani Williams
(Cobb Sixth Grade Campus), Sonserae Matthews (Alice
Johnson Junior High), Alexus Collier (Channelview High
School) and Javier Faustino (Kolarik Ninth Grade Campus).
MARCH STUDENTS OF THE MONTH: Students
who were recognized include, front row, from left,
Gabrielle Contreras (Alice Johnson Junior High), Edgar
Garcia (McMullan Elementary), Rachel Clark (Kolarik
Ninth Grade Campus), Rubi Arredondo (Cobb Sixth
Grade Campus) and Khadijah Williams (Endeavor
High School). Pictured in front row are, from left,
Kristian Elizondo (Brown Elementary), Ethan Valma
(Crenshaw Elementary), Wilson Batiste (De Zavala
Elementary), Aalijah Lopez (Hamblen Elementary)
and Madeline Salazar (Schochler Elementary). Not
pictured is Diana Chau of Channelview High School.
APRIL STUDENTS OF THE MONTH: Students who
were recognized include, front row, from left, Jordan
Zepeda (Cobb Sixth Grade Campus), Coriama
Alvarado (Endeavor High School), Paola Garnica
(Kolarik Ninth Grade Campus. Pictured in front row
are, from left, Diojani Valle (McMullan Elementary),
Gelsey Fragoso (De Zavala Elementary), Alize
Carrizales (Schochler Elementary), David
Pineda (Crenshaw Elementary) and Madison
Garcia (Hamblen Elementary). Not pictured are
Cory Ann Neil of Channelview High School and
Tristen Duree of Alice Johnson Junior High.
Channelview Independent School District
Actively Engaged in the Future
of Our Community
ChannelViews is
published four times a year for
the Channelview ISD
community by the district’s Office
of Public Relations. Suggestions
for articles should be sent to
Mark Kramer, Public Relations
Officer, at marcus.kramer@
channelview.isd.esc4.net.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Greg Ollis
CHANNELVIEW ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Willie Hodson, President
Rolando Ramirez, Vice President
E.B. Garcia, Secretary
J. Kyle Campbell, Parliamentarian
Steven Dennis, Member
Patrick Lacy, Member
Keith Liggett, Member
OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
Mark Kramer, Public Relations Officer
Raquel Gonzalez, Administrative Assistant for Public
Relations
Follow us on the web!
www.channelview.isd.esc4.net

3
An update of the school budget picture
At the time of writing this
column, students in the district
have just completed the latest
round of TAKS tests. I know all
of our teachers and staff put a
great deal of effort and focus in
preparing our students to succeed. It
may sound cliché, but our educators
prove day in and day out that they
have a true heart for children.
While testing is on the front
burner this time of year, I know
our employees and the community
are wondering the impact that the
state’s budget shortfall will have
on the Channelview Independent
School District. It’s no doubt you’ve
seen the headlines in the newspaper
and stories on television about how
many districts in our area are having
to make some tough decisions to
brace for the shortfall in funding.
I know these headlines are
alarming, but I want to assure you
that at this time, Channelview
ISD’s plans do not include laying
off employees or enacting any
type of reduction in force – which
unfortunately has occurred in many
Houston area districts and statewide.
We certainly want to do everything
we can to avoid reducing staff.
The majority of the shortfall was
From the
Superintendent
Greg Ollis
created when the state overhauled the
business tax structure and the school
finance system in 2006. The new tax
structure does not generate enough
funding to offset state-mandated
decreases in school property tax rates,
creating a $10 billion budget hole in
the budget cycle until the Legislature
taxes action to fix the problem.
When the State Legislature
convened in January, the initial
reports were that the state’s shortfall
could fall anywhere between $8
to $25 million, which would leave
districts to forfeit between 5 and 15
percent of funding in the next two
years. With those figures in mind, the
Board of Trustees and administration
have taken the following steps:
• Reducing staff through
attrition and implementing a
hiring freeze. Approximately 85
percent of the district’s budget is
utilized for salaries and benefits.
• Reducing campus
and department material
and supply budgets.
• The reorganization of some
course offerings and programs.
In mid-April, the Texas House of
Representatives adopted a proposed
budget that included about $7.8
billion in cuts to public education
over the next two years. However,
new reports from Austin could
provide more promising news for
Channelview ISD and other districts.
Senate Bill 22, filed by Sen.
Florence Shapiro, is an attempt to
provide equity in school funding
for districts over a period of years.
House Bill 2485, filed by Rep. Scott
Hochberg stresses full equity for
districts immediately. Both bills are
very similar in regards to the loss of
revenue for Channelview ISD. The
projected revenue loss for both bills
ranges from approximately $2.4
million to $2.8 million a year for two
years. The bills will probably be
assigned to a Conference Committee
to come up with a compromise.
In addition, there may be more
room to be cautiously optimistic.
Various bills are being discussed in
the House and Senate that are seeking
to generate new and additional
revenue. At this time, there is one
bill that is seeking to withdraw more
money from the State’s Rainy Day
Fund to offset the cuts to school
districts. Recently, Gov. Rick Perry
agreed to accept the $830 million
dollars from the Federal government
for Texas schools. However, the
guidelines in distributing the funds
to districts remain up in the air.
Still, as of this writing, no final
decisions have been made by our
state legislature in regard to the
funding issue. Several state leaders
have said that there is a good chance
the final outcome will be decided
during a Special Session in July.
For those of you who have
followed the budget situation
statewide, you know that it can
change almost daily. It is our
hope that the Legislature comes
to a resolution soon for the future
of public schools in Texas.
I appreciate your patience
and your input regarding our
budget issues. Your suggestions
are very important to us. You can
continue to make a difference by
voicing your concerns regarding
the state’s school funding system
to our state-elected leaders.
Rest assured, we will always
continue to focus on providing the
best educational opportunities for all
of our students in Channelview ISD.
Financial Facts
Comparison of state funding per student
Under SB1, per pupil funding
is locked in at 2005-06 rates as
mandated by the state.
Sheldon - $6,640
Deer Park - $6,121
Goose Creek - $5,900
North Forest - $5,695
Galena Park - $5,555
Huffman - $5,279
Pasadena - $5,161
Channelview - $5,123
A glimpse of Harris County school district tax rates
In a comparison of other school districts in Harris County,
Channelview ISD’s tax rate ranks as the fourth lowest in the area.
Stafford MSD $1.1100
Houston ISD $1.1567
Dayton ISD $1.2080
Channelview ISD $1.2937
Goose Creek ISD $1.3021
Sheldon ISD $1.4300
Crosby ISD $1.4400
Huffman ISD $1.4700
Galena Park ISD $1.5134
Humble ISD $1.5200
Katy ISD $1.5266
New Caney ISD $1.5400

4
Cobb receives national recognition
National Center for Educational Achievement names campus ‘higher performing school’
Viola Cobb Sixth Grade Campus
in Channelview ISD has been
named as a “higher performing”
school by the National Center of
Educational Achievement for its
continued student success rates.
“We are extremely excited
about receiving this honor,”
said Blake Smith, Cobb principal.
“Our teachers and staff are very
dedicated and devote themselves to
ensuring that every child that enters
their classroom is successful.”
Cobb received the national honors
for continued increases on the Texas
“Our teachers and staff devote
themselves to ensuring that every child that
enters their classroom is successful.”
Assessment of Knowledge and
Skills test, especially in the areas
of math and science. According
to the NCEA, more than 90
percent of Cobb students showed
mastery in math and reading.
At the beginning of the
Blake Smith, Cobb Sixth Grade Principal
2010-2011 school year, Cobb was
named the first-ever exemplary
campus in Channelview ISD by
the Texas Education Agency.
In November, Cobb received
comparable improvement ratings in
math and reading as part of the state’s
Gold Performance Acknowledgement
awards. Schools named to the
NCEA’s higher performing list
were selected for consistently
outperforming their peers that
serve similar student populations.
Campuses on the list are identified by
the academic growth of the students
or the achievement of students
using the Commended Performance
Level of the TAKS assessment.
“I am proud of the performance
of our students,” Smith said. “The
concepts that they are learning now
will guide them in the future.”
Schochler event
puts fun spin
on geography
When it comes to geography,
Schochler Elementary in
Channelview ISD is mapping
out plans for student success.
Students in Schochler’s
Geography Club hold meetings after
school , discovering all about maps,
countries, capitals, landforms and
other aspects of geography. The
students who participated in the club
put their knowledge to work during
the school’s first-ever Geography Bee.
Bomomey Chorsovann captured
first place in the Geography Bee. In
addition, Caprice Moreno took second
place in the Geography Bee, while
Michael Lopez earned a third place
award. The Schochler Geography
Club is sponsored by teacher Paul
Touchstone. “Our students learned so
much and had a great time through
this learning experience,” said
Ann Garza, Schochler principal.
Superintendent’s
Student Advisory
Council member
Alexus Galvan
reads to
kindergarten
students at
Schochler
Elementary School.
Galvan attends
Kolarik Ninth
Grade Campus.
SSAC members mentor to elementary students
The Superintendent’s Student Advisory
Council (SSAC) were able to
lend a helping hand to students at
Crenshaw and Schochler elementary schools.
SSAC students served as mentors to
children in various grades at the two schools.
Committee members from Alice Johnson Junior
High mentored to Crenshaw students, while
Channelview High School and Kolarik students
were mentors to children at Schochler.
The older students helped the elementary
students with their classwork and played educational
games. In addition, the SSAC members read to
groups of younger students in the library.
SSAC members from CHS and Kolarik
include Ashton Crowther, Areyly Acosta, Taylor
Fabriguze, Krystal Kotal, Kenneth Jones, Jessica
Brown, Matthew Mosley and Alexus Galvan.
Alice Johnson committee members are Erika
Richey-Carson, Gavin Cooper, Alyssa Deason,
Ismael Granados, Ripken Wisdom, Johnny
Kim, Lesly Cruz and Bianca Vazques.

5
Alice Johnson Junior High student Jesus Diaz proudly displays
his District Spelling Bee first place trophy that was presented to
him by Willie Hodson, President of the Channelview ISD Board of
Trustees.
Super Spellers
Alice Johnson’s Jesus Diaz not short on
words in claiming district title, regional spot
Alice Johnson Junior High student Jesus
Diaz was among the area’s top spellers that
competed in the HoustonPBS Spelling Bee.
The spelling bee was broadcast
live on KUHT Channel 8 from the
University of Houston Main Campus.
Diaz advanced to the Houston bee
after winning the Channelview ISD
spelling bee in early February. Diaz
lasted 15 rounds at the district event
before being crowned as champion.
Diaz was among the top 55 spellers
from 1,070 schools in 42 counties statewide
that competed for a chance to participate
in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the
nation’s highest-profile academic event.
The winner of the 2011 HoustonPBS
Spelling Bee received an all-expensespaid
trip for two to Washington, D.C.
to represent the Houston area at the
Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Last year’s national champion won over
$35,000 in cash and prizes. The purpose
of the Spelling Bee is to help students
improve spelling, increase vocabularies and
develop correct English usage that will help
them all of their lives. Bee participation
also provides valuable experience in
developing poise, a necessary skill for public
speaking, performing arts, and athletics.
Crenshaw student overcomes language barrier to earn bronze medal
When Deysi
Martinez moved
to Channelview
with her family last spring, she
could not speak English. For the
past several months, the Crenshaw
Elementary fourth grade student
spent much of her time and
efforts learning the language.
In a very short time and through
a lot of hard work, Martinez is
fluent in English – but that’s only
the beginning of the story.
Martinez qualified for the
Channelview ISD district
spelling bee by earning a third
place finish in her school-wide
spelling competition. It was an
accomplishment that did not surprise
Martinez’s principal, Audry Lane.
“Deysi is one of the most
focused students that I have seen,”
Lane said. “For a student to come
in and become fluent and grasp the
English language in such a short
amount of time is incredible. She
was very determined to be able to
communicate with her peers. I can
certainly attest that when she sets her
mind on accomplishing something,
she does it with flying colors.”
Martinez learned English
through working extensively
with her teachers, classmates
and through the Rosetta Stone
computer program. Inspired by
her daughter, Martinez’s mother
is also learning English through
a program offered at Crenshaw.
“I really wanted to learn English
and I knew that I had to work really
hard,” she said. “My teachers and
my friends helped me a lot. They
gave me a lot of confidence.”
That same confidence inspired
Martinez to participate in this
year’s Crenshaw spelling bee.
See Martinez, page 8
Crenshaw Elementary fourth grade student Deysi Martinez proudly displays her
Student of the Month medal as she stands next to her principal, Audry Lane.
Martinez, who did not speak English when she came to Channelview last year,
is now fluent in the language.

6
Lance Cpl. Anthony Aguirre, USMC
“Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Salute to a Hero
New junior high
groundbreaking
honors life, sacrifice
of hometown Marine
By Mark Kramer
At an early age, Anthony Aguirre
had hopes of one day serving
his country as a United States
Marine. He followed his dreams with courage,
dedication and heart – and eventually gave the
ultimate sacrifice to save his fellow Marines.
And, in turn, the Channelview Independent
School District honored the fallen Marine
with a ceremony fit for a hero.
The district held a ceremonial groundbreaking
for Lance Cpl. Anthony Aguirre Junior High with
more than 100 people in attendance, including
family members, school officials, veterans,
Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Jack
Morman, a representative from U.S. Rep. Gene
Green’s office and other dignitaries. Aguirre was
a 2004 Channelview High School graduate, who
attended Alice Johnson Junior High, as well as
Hamblen and Crenshaw elementary schools.
Aguirre was an active leader in the CHS
ROTC program and the Leadership Officer
Training Corps (LOTC) in junior high. Shortly
after high school graduation, he joined the
United States Marine Corps. He was first
stationed in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, then was
deployed to Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
See Aguirre, page 12
TOP: Family members and digitaries scoop
ceremonial shovels of dirt at the groundbreaking
for Lance Cpl. Anthony Aguirre Junior High.
LEFT: Christina Castillo, Anthony’s
sister, displays a patriotic print, which
she is donating to the new school.
RIGHT: For his act of heroism, Anthony was
posthumously awarded with the Purple Heart.

7
2011 Channelview FFA Livestock Show and Parade
Grand Champion Steer
Madison Hall
Grand Champion Rabbit
Megan Waller
Grand Champion Lamb
Sydnee Beach
Grand Champion Broilers
Sydnee Beach
A Blue Ribbon Event!
48th annual show brings in large crowds,
generous buyers as sales top $116,000
Horse drawn wagons and classic cars turned some heads at the annual Channelview
FFA Parade.
Channelview FFA students were
in the spotlight at the district’s
48th annual FFA Livestock Show
at the Allen Hall Fairgrounds.
During the five-day event,
livestock sales netted over $116,000.
Tutor Security was the top buyer
at the event, spending $15,800.
“The students spend many
months preparing for this event,”
said Dominic Mazoch, Channelview
FFA sponsor. “This event is an
exciting time for the kids, the
business and individuals that support
them and also our community.”
Students walked away with
many awards after months
of raising different livestock
exhibits for the show.
Madison Hall walked away
happy as her steer was crowned
as Grand Champion Steer, while
Emily Hunt’s steer was named
Reserve Grand Champion.
In the market hogs category,
Sydnee Beach’s showing earned
Grand Champion Honors and
Jacqueline Beach captured Reserve
Grand Champion. Jacqueline
Beach also won top honors in
the meat goats competition, with
Madison Hall showing the Reserve
Grand Champion exhibit.
The Beach family had even
more reasons to be excited as
Sydnee Beach’s market lamb was
selected as Grand Champion,
while sister Madisyn’s lamb was
named Reserve Grand Champion.
Megan Waller’s showing
of her meat pen rabbit earned
her Grand Champion. Brittany
Bannan’s rabbit received Reserve
Grand Champion honors.
The Broilers category featured
Sydnee Beach’s entry as Grand
Champion, with Kirsten Dominy
earning Reserve Grand Champion.

8
Channelview High
School Speech
and Debate Team
members proudly
display their medals
they earned at the
district competition.
Pictured from left
are Jordan Settles,
Nik Morgan, Amanda
Hernandez, Summer
Stanforth, Ulysses
Soto, Alex Tran,
Rachel Clark and
Alexis Holland.
No room for argument
CHS Speech and Debate Team earns plenty of medals, trip to regionals
Channelview High School’s Speech
and Debate Team is heading to the regional
competition after medal-winning performances
by several team members at the district contest.
“I am so proud of our kids,” said Lindsay
McGill, CHS speech and debate team sponsor.
“They put in so many long hours to prepare for
each contest and I believe it is their work ethic and
drive that makes them so successful. They are fine
representatives of Channelview High School.”
McGill also said she hopes a little history
repeats itself this year, as students qualified for the
state debate tournament. At the district competition,
every member of the CHS debate team placed in
the top three spots of every event, with two students
being named district champions in their categories.
Summer Stanforth took the top spots in prose
interpretation and in informative extemporaneous
speaking. Amanada Hernandez earned gold
medal honors in poetry interpretation and finished
second in informative extemporaneous speaking.
In addition, Nikolas Morgan captured second
place in Lincoln-Douglas debate and Alex Tran
was second in persuasive extemporaneous
speaking. Jordan Settles took third place in
poetry interpretation, while Alex Tran finished
third in persuasive extemporaneous speaking.
Martinez
Continued from page 4
“My mom and dad were very proud of me
when I told them I was in the spelling bee,”
she said. “It made me feel good and I wanted
to do my best and make them proud.”
As she did when she learned the English
language, Martinez devoted her time to
preparing for the spelling bee. “I would
practice at least one hour a day – and also
worked on homework too,” she said.
When the day arrived for the school-wide
spelling bee, Martinez’s friends were there
cheering her on. “It made me smile,” she said.
And as the soft-spoken fourth grader
spoke, people listened. Martinez then left her
campus that day with her third place medal
and a place in the district spelling bee.
“It’s been very exciting. I’m ready
to do it again,” Martinez said.
Lane said Martinez’s story serves
as an inspiration of how goals can be
accomplished through dedication.
“I tell our kids if they work hard
and do their best, great things will
happen. This is a perfect example.”
In addition to her spelling bee honors,
Martinez was also named Crenshaw’s February
Student of the Month. She was selected
because of her good grades and citizenship.
“She has told me she wants to go to
college and become a doctor,” Lane said. “I
can see that happening in her future because
of her values and work ethic. I believe she
will be successful at whatever she does.”
Channelview ISD Child
Find program information
Do you know of an infant, child or
adolescent who does not learn easily
Make a difference for them! Anyone can
start the process: A parent, doctor, relative
or friend. Channelview Independent School
District is responsible for identifying,
locating, and evaluating all children (ages
3-21) with disabilities who are in need of
special education and related services within
the school district’s boundaries, even if
not currently attending CISD schools.
For more information, please call The
Office of Special Services at 281- 452-8006.

STAAR accountability
tests to launch next year
In Channelview ISD and other
public school districts statewide, the
2011-2012 academic year begins a
transition period to a new system of
testing and evaluating students.
The State of Texas Assessments of
Academic Readiness (STAAR) will take
the place of the Texas Assessment of
Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). During
the 2011-2012 academic year, students in
grades 3-8 will take the STAAR version of
tests in reading, math, science and social
studies. For students in high school, only
those students who are first-time freshmen
in 2011-2012 will take the STAAR end-ofcourse
tests. Those students in high school in
2010-2011 taking TAKS tests will continue
to take TAKS tests through their graduation.
According to Carla Voelkel, Channelview
ISD’s assistant superintendent for
curriculum and instruction, the district
has been involved in staff development
trainings for the past year to map out
instructional methods to help students
best succeed on the new assessment.
Under STAAR, students in grades
3-8 will take tests in subjects exactly
as they did under TAKS. In grades 3-8,
there is a STAAR test in reading and in
mathematics each year. In grades 4 and
7, students take a STAAR test in writing.
In grade 5 and 8, students take a STAAR
test in science. In grade 8, students
take a STAAR test in social studies.
The tests in reading and mathematics
will be linked from grade to grade to
performance expectations that a student must
demonstrate on the English III and Algebra
II end-of-course test in high school. The tests
in science focus more on content that better
prepares students for high-school biology,
chemistry and physics courses. The tests
in writing require students to write both a
first-person essay and an expository piece.
STAAR end-of-course tests in highschool
cover four disciplines: English
Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and
Social Studies. Each discipline contains
three (3) tests: English Language Arts
– English I, English II and English III;
Mathematics – Algebra I, Geometry, and
Algebra II; Science – Biology, Chemistry,
and Physics; and Social Studies – World
Geography, World History, and U.S. History.
In a normal progression through high
school, TAKS tests are given to students
based on what year they were in (freshman,
sophomore, or junior). Students will take
each STAAR end-of-course test when they
complete the course that the test covers.
The test design for English I, II and
III will require students to write two
essays rather than the one that TAKS
required. In reading, greater emphasis
will be given to critical analysis
rather than literal understanding.
“Overall, the STAAR end-of-course
tests will be more rigorous than the
TAKS high-school tests,” Voelkel said.
“They also will place a greater emphasis
on assessing a student’s college-and
career readiness in the tested subject.” In
addition, TEA mandates STAAR end-ofcourse
test scores count for 15 percent of
the course grade in the tested subject.
STAAR performance standards at all
levels will be set so that they require a
higher level of student performance that is
required on the current TAKS assessments.
Performance levels on STAAR end-ofcourse
assessments will not be linked to a
student’s graduation plan. Different levels
of performance will be required on the EOC
assessments in English III and Algebra II
for each of the three graduation plans –
minimum, recommended and distinguished.
For more information on STAAR, go to
the district website at www.channelview.
isd.esc4.net or to the Texas Education
Agency wesbsite at www.tea.state.tx.us.
Summer School offerings
scheduled for all grades
The Channelview Independent School District has
announced its plans for Summer School classes.
High school credit recovery and initial limited
credit courses for grades 9-11 will be held from 8
a.m.-2 p.m., Monday through Thursday, June 8-30 at
the Kolarik Ninth Grade Campus, 1120 Sheldon Rd.
Registration fees are $150 for in-district students, $100
for in-district students that qualify for free and reduced
meal plans and $250 for out-of district students.
Junior high credit recovery for grades 6-8 will be
held from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 12-3:30 p.m., Monday
through Thursday, June 8-30 at the Viola Cobb Sixth
Grade Campus, 915 Dell Dale Rd. Registration fees are
$100 for in-district students, $75 for free and reduced
eligible students and $200 for out-of district students.
Elementary camps for enrichment to help reinforce
concepts learned in the classroom will be held for
kindergarten through fifth grade students. The camp is
offered through invitation only and those letters will
be sent to select parents in May. The fee for the camp
is $25 per student. Hours for the classes are from 8
a.m.-2 p.m. and will be held for kindergarten and first
grade, June 20-23 and second and third grades on June
13-16. Classes for grades 4-5 will be held June 27-30.
The camps will be held at De Zavala Elementary, 16150
Second St. and Schochler Elementary, 910 Deer Pass.
A TAKS Academy for students in fifth and eighth
grades that are required to retake the TAKS test
will be held from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. for fifth grade and
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., June 8-July 1 for eighth grade,
Monday through Thursday. Fifth grades students will
attend classes at Harvey Brown Elementary, 16550
Wallisville Rd., while eighth grade students will attend
courses at Viola Cobb Sixth Grade Campus. No fee
is required for students to attend the academy.
TAKS-M and ELL Academy for identified special
education or Limited English Proficient students is
scheduled June 7-30 from 8-11:30 a.m. for elementary
students and 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. for secondary students.
The classes will be held for third through fifth grade at
Harvey Brown Elementary, sixth through eighth grade at
Cobb Sixth Grade Campus and ninth through 11th grades
at Kolarik Ninth Grade Campus. No fee is required.
Bilingual Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten
camp will be held from 7:30 a.m.-3:05 p.m., June
8-30 at the district’s Pre-Kindergarten campus,
828 Sheldon Rd. Student registration will be sent
home to parents, which is offered free of charge.
9

10
A new wireless world of learning
Technology brings
‘real world’ lessons
to life for students
The digital age is opening up new and
innovative worlds of learning for students
at Alice Johnson Junior High in the
Channelview Independent School District.
With the upgrade of the wireless system at
the school, Principal Peter Griffiths saw a perfect
learning opportunity that would keep students
engaged in learning and incorporate the use of
technology. In January, Alice Johnson launched
its school-wide wireless initiative, where students
were allowed to bring their laptops, IPads or similar
devices to help them with classroom projects.
Upon walking into the school library – a
place where someone would normally see
students digging into books for research – teams
of students are now huddled around laptops,
gathering information for a variety of projects.
As a guest walked through the library, students
in Tracey Thomas’ English classes were conducting
research through internet sources for a major
project. The students had read the novel, “Children
of the River,” which is a story about the challenges
children face in Cambodia.
Thomas asked the class to
compare and contrast the
issues in the story to life
in the United States, using
a combination of internet
and library resources.
“Giving our students
the opportunity to use this
technology has not only
heightened their interest,
but it is also making
learning more relevant to
the real world,” Thomas
said. “With the expansion of technology, our
students are truly living in a digital society – and
allowing them to use these types of resources on
a regular basis is preparing them for their future
in high school, college and beyond. When we
provide them with these technical skills, we are
also giving them an advantage in the real world.”
“Allowing students to use
these types of resources on
a regular basis is preparing
them for high school,
college and beyond.”
Tracey Thomas,
Alice Johnson Junior High teacher
Students in Tracey Thomas’ English classes at Alice Johnson Junior High School in Channelview ISD work
as a group to research topics for a project on their laptops. With the upgrade in wireless technology at the
campus, students are now allowed to bring their digital devices to school to use for classroom work.
What students are producing through the
technology are not just your regular written
reports with a display board. Students are
incorporating their written materials with
PowerPoint presentations, online posters, video
links and even digitally
animated presentations.
“Our students are really
getting creative with the
technology,” Thomas said.
“It has opened their eyes
and minds to a whole
new way of learning.”
Eighth grade student
Christina Grueso is using a
program called Glockster
to create on online poster
to help illustrate her
written report. “It gives
us a chance to think outside of the box, and
it actually makes learning fun,” she said.
While Thomas encourages creativity in the
students’ projects, she also educates them on
how to properly research internet resources. She
does not allow the students to use encyclopedias
or the site Wikipedia as references, “because
the information is vague and not as in-depth.”
Thomas and other Alice Johnson teachers
encourage students to use search engines to find
online newspapers, magazines and periodicals
that will provide them expanded information on
the topic they are researching. “We also teach
them to go beyond keyword searches,” Thomas
said. “When they are doing a search, we instruct
them to be as specific as possible so that they
can narrow down what they are looking for.”
Griffiths likes the results he is seeing
from the school’s wireless initiative.
“By the use of technology, it sparks student
interest and allows them to become more
involved in finding answers and creating work
that is multi-dimensional in scope,” he said.
With more students bringing their wireless
devices to school for use in the classroom, Griffiths
said he plans more staff development training
for teachers so they can better help students use
technology to its greatest potential. “It’s our job
to prepare our students for the future,” he said.
“Technology is at the forefront of our world and
especially the job market. The time is now to
prepare our students for those challenges and set
them on a positive direction toward future success.”

Falcon sports
playoff quests
take flight
It has been a banner winter and spring sports
season for the Channelview High School Falcons.
The boys basketball team captured the District
21-5A championship with a 9-1 record. The
Falcons won their first round game, but lost in
the area round to state-ranked Clear Springs.
The girls basketball team advanced to
the playoffs as the District 21-5A runnerup
by posting a 8-2 record in league
play. The Lady Falcons easily disposed
of Sam Rayburn in the bi-district round,
before falling in the area bracket.
Channelview’s boys soccer team kept the
playoff momentum going finishing second in
district with a 7-2 record. The Falcons defeated
Pasadena High School in the first round and
dropped their area match-up to Dickinson.
CHS powerlifters also enjoyed success.
Brothers Dustin and Justin Hicks both were state
finalists in powerlifting, while Josue Toledo
and Daryl Palaganas were regional qualifiers.
As of press time for ChannelViews, the
Falcon baseball team had earned a playoff
berth as the third-place team in District 21-
5A. The time, site and their playoff opponent
were yet to be determined. The results of the
baseball team’s playoff run will be published
in the June edition of ChannelViews.
11
Signing on the dotted line...
Three Channelview High School Falcon football players signed letters of intent to play college football at
West Texas A&M University in the fall. Defensive end Randy George, left, defensive lineman Jonathan Ho
and offensive lineman Josue Toledo all declared their college selections on National Signing Day on Feb. 1.
Joining the players at the signing were, top row, left, Channelview ISD Athletic Director William Jennings and
CHS head football coach Averion Hurts.
Stories of Success
Boys Basketball
District 21-5A Champions
Bi-District Champions
Powerlifting
Two state finalists, four
regional qualifiers
Girls Basketball
District 21-5A Runner-Up
Bi-District Champions
Baseball
Earned third playoff
spot in District 21-5A
Boys Soccer
District 21-5A Runner-Up
Bi-District Champions
Channelview High School athletes Hillary Richard and Cody Stamm signed letters of intent to continue their
academic and athletic endeavors. Richard will play tennis at Southwestern University, while Stamm will
compete in cross country at West Point. Pictured with Hillary and Cody are, from left to right, CHS Principal
Cindi Ollis, Tennis Coach Leslie Ballew, Cross Country Coach Alva Brown and Athletic Director William
Jennings.

12
Aguirre
Continued from page 6
On February 26, 2007, Anthony and
his fellow Marines were conducting a
routine sweep of their patrol area, when
he took a footstep onto an IED. Knowing
that releasing his foot would set off the
explosive device, he waited until all of his
Marine brothers had passed out of harm’s
way before removing his foot from the
device. By giving the ultimate sacrifice, he
saved 25 of his fellow Marines that day.
Construction of the school is being
funded as part of a $111 million bond
package approved by voters in November
2009. The district’s Board of Trustees
unanimously approved naming the
school in honor of Aguirre last year.
A sister’s love
Anthony and his sister, Christina
Castillo, were closely knit growing
up. “He was my little brother and I
took care of him,” she recalls. “He
was always so happy and always
had a big smile on his face.”
At the age of three, Castillo remembers
Anthony finding a small brown jacket
with a Marine emblem. “It was his prized
possession,” she said. “From that day
forward all he talked about was becoming
a Marine. His dream was to serve his
country…and he did, very valiantly.”
Not long after Aguirre’s death, Castillo
and her family attended a memorial service
for fallen Marines in Hawaii. While there,
she met one of the men that served with
Anthony. “As he was holding his newborn
baby in his arms, the man said, ‘it’s
because of your brother that I am here and
that I am able to be holding my newborn
daughter…he unselfishly gave his life for
myself and 25 other Marines..’ Castillo
continued by saying, “It was Anthony’s
sole purpose to be a Marine. He was put
there that day to save his Marine brothers.
He was always thinking of others.”
And it was that ultimate act
of bravery that posthumously
earned him the Purple Heart.
‘A great kid’
Channelview ISD Superintendent
Greg Ollis has fond memories of
Anthony. He was Aguirre’s principal
at Hamblen Elementary in the mid-
1990s and followed his success all
through high school and beyond.
Much like Aguirre’s sister recalled,
Ollis remembers Anthony’s trademark
grin. “He was such a great kid,” Ollis
said. “He was very well-mannered and
very focused about what he wanted to
do in life. Even in elementary school, he
talked about serving his country – and
he continued to stay on that path.”
Shortly before Aguirre’s passing,
the hometown Marine stopped by
Channelview High School while he was on
leave to visit some of his former teachers.
“I happened to be (at the high school)
that day and we spotted each other right
away…and he still had that same grin
on his face,” Ollis said. “We hugged
and he told me about everything that
was going on in his life and how he
was going back to Iraq in a few days.
He said he was living his dream.”
As the two said “so long,” Ollis
left Aguirre with three brief words.
“Take care, Anthony.”
More than bricks and mortar
When August 2012 approaches on
the school calendar, students will walk
through the doors of Lance Cpl. Anthony
Aguirre Junior High for the first time.
Castillo sees the school as a lasting tribute
and an inspiration to other young people.
“These students and those after
them will know the story of my brother
and the sacrifice he gave,” she said.
“They will also know about the type
of person he was and hopefully that
will inspire those students to follow
their dreams – just as my brother did.
“He loved this community and
we all miss him terribly, but I know
he’s looking down on us smiling.”
With his same wellknown
grin, no doubt.
Channelview Independent School District
1403 Sheldon Road
Channelview, TX 77530
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Channelview, TX
PERMIT NO. 027
The Channelview Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national
origin, sex, or disability in providing education services, activities, and programs, including vocational programs,
in accordance with the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments
of 1972; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitational Act of 1973, as amended. If you feel that your child has
received discriminatory treatment, you should first attempt to resolve the problem with the teacher involved.
The following staff members have been designated to handle specific complaints and to coordinate compliance
with these requirements.
Title IX Coordinator and Liaison for Homeless Children and Youths: Robert Worthy (281) 452-8010
Section 504 Coordinator: Gloria Roach (281) 452-8006
Phone: (281) 452-8002 | Fax: (281) 457-9073 | www.channelview.isd.esc4.net