Mustang News
October 2020
Celebrations
Friendswood ISD has been ranked by Niche, a data analysis website, as the number one school district in the Houston area for the 2020-2021 school year. The District also ranks in the Top 10 Best School Districts in Texas.
According to its website, Niche “combines rigorous analysis with authentic reviews to highlight the best schools, companies and neighborhoods.” These reviews are gathered from student, parent and community ratings in order to gain first-hand insight to how those directly involved with the district feel.
Based on Niche’s data findings, the district is given grade scores in each of the following categories: academics, diversity, teachers, college prep, clubs and activities, and health and safety. FISD scored an A+ in three of the six categories, including academics, teachers, and college prep. FISD Superintendent Thad Roher said he is pleased with these results.
“FISD continues to be rated highly in many categories,” Roher said. “This rating is special because it considers feedback from surveys of parents and community members.”
Roher added he believes the accolade is credited to everyone involved with the District.
“We strive to communicate the great things happening in FISD to those in our community and across Houston,” he said. “It is a team effort from students, teachers, administrators, parents and community members who provide an education for our students that will allow them to go out and make an impact on the future they choose. Congratulations FISD.”
National Merit Commended Students
Congratulations to our 2021 National Merit Commended Students from Friendswood High School:
- Annisha Abbaraju
- Adam L Boehnke
- Kacie L Bridwell
- Nicholas L Cipolla
- Michael D Diamond
- Troy H Dutton
- Michell Litvinov
- Pumarie A Madden
- Caitlyn N Moore
- Megina A Panchebhavi
- Gabriel A Perry
- Quinn R Radtke
- Connor J Thurman
- Kenneth T Webb
- Mara E White
In addition, under special consideration, Sophia Anne Hammerle was named to the National Merit Semi-finalist!
Academic Decathlon
“The FHS Academic Decathlon team participated in their first meet of the season competing with 12 6A state ranked schools in the Katy Virtual meet on Saturday. We placed second of the 12 teams with Dulles HS taking first, the 2019 state champions. We masked up with a positive attitude and tested at our school. With many of the students being new to the program, we really didn’t know what to expect. We were very pleased. They won 33 individual honors with Brodie and Banks placing 5th and 4th in the individual overalls respectively. We are very proud of them. Please take the time to congratulate them and encourage them toward a state championship. Thanks again to my awesome cohorts, Elizabeth, Adam, and Ray, in this amazing effort,” said Coach Renae Simons.
Team Members
HONORS
- Megna Panchbhavi (12) ***3rd place Science, 3rd place Math, 3rd place Economics
- Adam Boehnke (12) ***3rd place Science, 3rd place Literature, 4t place Math, 3rd place Economics
- Luke Lipeska (12)***4th place Math, 4th place Economics
- Emily Thomas (11)
- Daniel Chen (10)*** 5th place Science, 3rd place Math, 3rd place Music, 2nd place Economics
- Noelani Tanita (12)***5th place Math
SCHOLASTIC
- Morgan Creel (12)
- Emily Chapman (11)*** 3rd place Literature, 5th place Economics
- Jude Kehres ( 12)*** 5th place Art
- Gerald Musyimi (12)
VARSITY
- Jayden Gross ( 12)
- Banks Brashier (12)***4th place Science, 4th place Literature, first place Art, 3rd place Art, 3rd place Music, First place Economics, 3rd place Social Science
- Brodie Lynch ( 10)*** 3rd place Literature, 5th place Art, 2nd place Economics
- Joel Sanchez (11)***4th place Literature, 4th place Art, 4th place Social Science, 4th place Social Science
- Jude Peters ( 10)***5th place Literature, 2nd place Art, 3rd place Social Science”
Renae Simons, Elizabeth Woodley and Adam Brown are the FHS AD coaches.
Speech and Debate
The Atascocita Speech and Debate Tournament
The Speech and Debate Team competed virtually at the Atascocita Speech and Debate Tournament on Friday and Saturday. The results are as follows:
Informative Speaking:
Meghan Flanagan: 3rd place
Emma Heintz: 4th place
Prose/Poetry:
Balint Kidd: tied for 7th
Chase Donovan: tied for 7th
Kennedy Freyer: tied for 7th
Domestic Extemp:
Meghan Flanagan: 2nd place
Christine Chacko: 3rd place
Grace Etzel: tied for 7th
International Extemp:
Liliana Molis: 1st place
Austin Tran: 2nd place
Matthew Wilson: tied for 7th
Sebastian Garcia: tied for 7th
Novice Extemp:
Chloe Crew: 2nd place
McKayla Hudson: 3rd place
Makade McGinley: 5th place
Ryan Houting: 7th place
The team did an outstanding job and will have a tournament again on October 30-31st.
Friendswood High School Recognized by Balfour for Yearbook Excellence
Due to production delays stemming from Covid, we were a bit delayed in receiving this good news: We just found out that the FHS annual publication from 18-19 (the one with the "Hello, Goodbye" theme) was featured in two different award categories in Balfour's 2020 edition of The Yearbook Yearbook!
This marks our second year in a row to receive this distinction, and the first time in program history that we have been recognized in multiple categories! Balfour is a huge producer of recognition products worldwide, and they honor fewer than 5% of yearbook programs with this distinction.
“Congratulations on creating a book that documents the history of your school while telling the
unique stories of your students,” Mark Goshgarian, General Manager of Publishing and Digital
Assets said. “Your inclusion in this 34th edition of The Yearbook Yearbook allows your
outstanding work to serve as inspiration for staffs across the nation.” Yearbooks published by Balfour for the 2018-19 school year were evaluated in one or more of the following areas: theme development, layout design, photo content, secondary packages and cover design. The 2020 Yearbook Yearbook showcases 2019 yearbooks. Friendswood High School’s inclusion in the 2020 Yearbook Yearbook reflects their commitment to journalism excellence and creativity. Balfour honors fewer than 5 percent of yearbook staffs with this distinction.
Congratulations to our Yearbook teacher, Mr. Pete Wise, and his Yearbook students.
College Board National Recognition Program
Congratulations to these scholars!
Administration
Introducing the Stang Radio
Mustang Talk
Safety
Counseling Center
Character Counts
September: RESPECT. "The true measure of an individual is how he treats a person who can do him absolutely no good." -- Ann Landers
October: RESPONSIBILITY. "The value of life is not in the length of days, but in the use we make of them." -- Michel de Montaigne
Red Ribbon Week
FHS Upcoming Events
Homecoming--- “FHS Takes on the World ”
Homecoming week this year is October 19th – 23rd, 2020, with the parade taking place on Thursday, October 22nd, 2020. The Student Council would like to announce the Homecoming Theme for 2020: FHS Takes on the World!
All participants must wear masks this year and you must do what you can to social distance when possible. You may NOT throw anything from your float, including candy, beads, etc. And drivers of floats or cars must be at least 18 years of age.
PARADE INFORMATION:
• Parade: Thursday, October 22nd, 2020
Friendswood Drive – Begins at 6:30.
• Parade Rules
• Parade Map
$100 awards will be given in each of the following categories:
- Most Creative
- Most Spirited
- Best Use of Theme
- Best Class Float
Dress up days during the week are a follows: Please note: no masks or weapons are allowed on these days.
- Wednesday = “Watch Me” Wednesday (movie theme)
- Thursday = “Take on the World” Thursday (your chosen country)
- Friday = Spirit Day Friday
*If you have questions about anything, please contact Sponsors Laura Peter or Kristen Balch, or Student Council President Meghan Flanagan. We will be honoring the class of 2001.
FHS Theatre Department to Host Drive-Thru Haunted House
The Friendswood High School Theatre Department announced its 11th Annual Haunted House will be presented as a drive-thru experience on Oct. 31. On Halloween night, the FHS Purveyors of Panic move their popular haunted house from the back of the auditorium and transform the bus lane at the front of the school into a haunted highway.
Zombies attack, madmen run wild, clowns creep, but unlike a traditional haunted house where customers can flee if frightened, customers are confined to their cars and cannot escape the horrors of the Haunted Highway.
The show runs from 7pm -11pm for one night only in parking lot “B” at FHS. Tickets are $5 per person. Only accept cash and exact change can be accepted at this time.
Dual Credit Enrollment Information
Spring 2021 Dual Credit Enrollment Forms Available on Monday, November 2, 2020:
- Face to Face students will pick up enrollment forms from their counselors during 3rd period extension when the announcement is made for Spring dual credit students to report to the cafeteria.
- Virtual dual credit students will pick up enrollment forms from the FHS Front Visitors Desk with Mrs. Franks.
Deadline to return SIGNED enrollment form is by 4pm, Friday, November 6, 2020:
- Face to Face students will return a signed enrollment forms to the FHS Counseling Center Desk.
- Virtual students will return their signed enrollment forms to the FHS Front Visitors Desk with Mrs. Franks or email it to Mrs. Deckard at tdeckard@fisdk12.net.
Please confirm that the information and classes on the enrollment form are correct before signing and returning. If changes need to be made, see/email your counselor right away for an updated enrollment form for you and your parent/guardian to sign and return. (Forms with missing signatures cannot be processed for registration of classes at College of the Mainland.) Check emails from tdeckard@fisdk12.net for more information.
Kelly Cawthorn (A-Eq): kcawthorn@fisdk12.net
Shelby Wright (Er-La): swright@fisdk12.net
Toni Batiste (Le-Rh): lbatiste@fisdk12.net
Melissa Hickman (Ri-Z): mhickman@fisdk12.net
AP Registration Information
Academics
FHS English III Teachers Implement A New Grading System
Last school year, a group of Friendswood High School English III teachers came together to implement a new form of non-punitive grading into their classrooms. The way it works is most assignments are considered “formatives,” or a way to practice a new skill. The students receive a score and feedback on the assignments, but the grade does not count for credit in the grade book. This gives students an opportunity to be self-starters, receive and apply feedback, and work on mastering a skill. Once the teacher believes the students have mastered the skill, then they are given an assignment that does count for credit.
“We all know that saying ‘the learning happens in the struggle,’ and our current grading system
seems to penalize students while they are in that struggle,” teacher Monica Whitsett said. “Our pilot program is designed to allow students to practice and eventually master the skills we present; they are only graded on the final assessment. We attempt to take to focus off the grade and redirect students to the skill.”
According to Whitsett, a common criticism that is initially made is that students will not take tasks seriously unless they are for a grade. To respond, she quoted an article from Education Weekly titled Should Formative Assessments Be Graded? that argued if a student is engaged, they will learn.
“Students who want to pass the driving test to get their initial license generally don’t need grades or scores to motivate them to learn the material,” she quoted. “Formative assessment, if it helps them improve their chances of passing the driving test, is useful to students, and a grade is not necessary.”
Teacher Jenna Crosson, who is a part of the team, said she has seen the benefits of this learning within her own classroom. “I can honestly say that I have seen growth in my students; current and past,” Crosson stated. “My seniors who were my last year juniors are independent, self-directed, and know how to own their mistakes, fix them, and try again. I feel confident graduating kids with those skills.”
Whitsett agreed. “Our students are now taking ownership of their learning, taking risks, reflecting on their process and becoming self-advocates,” she said. “Students have a lot going on in their lives so for them to be able to get class time to learn skills without the fear of failure on a grade is so important.”
Students who participated in the pilot program last year said they are advocates for the new grading policy.
Fine Arts
Jazz Band
Last week was the annual region jazz auditions, this year done by submitted recordings; the jazz participants were the first auditioning group in the TMEA process this year. Please congratulate the following kids for a job well done, in an extremely professional manner and extenuating circumstances we are all facing this year.
Here are the results of the Region 17 All-Region jazz band(s):
- Michael Nguyen- alto saxophone, 1st chair, Jazz Band 1
- Emma Boek- guitar, 1st chair, Jazz Band 1
- Keshav Ramchandran- drum set, 2nd chair, Jazz Band 1
- Christopher Lancaster- alto saxophone, 1stchair, Jazz Band 2
- Dylan Dreyfus- trumpet, 4th chair, Jazz Band 2
“I’m very proud of these kids for their tenacity and ability to adapt to a new process for the TMEA jazz audition this year. They will all receive a members patch and the students selected for Jazz Band 1 may still be able to compete at the State level pending TMEA ruling,” Julio Sanchez FHS Jazz Band Director.
L-R: Keshav Ramchandran- drum set, Dylan Dreyfus- trumpet, Michael Nguyen- alto saxophone, Emma Boek- guitar, Not pictured (virtual student), Christopher Lancaster, alto saxophone.
Choir
District Audition Results
Congratulations to all the FHS Choir students who auditioned in the District Audition, the first round of All-Region and All-State Choir auditions via our first (and hopefully last) year of virtual audition. Sixty-nine students worked hard and prepared for this challenge; 61 advance to the Region audition round, to be held after Thanksgiving Break in November.
Many students began preparing for this audition during the summer. Students have also worked both before and after school for the past six weeks.
Advancing singers are:
• Soprano 1: Mallory Migl (12), Sydney Skinner (14), Alli Daly (16), Maris Morgan (21), Reagan Beaver (23), Ashley Campbell (28), Bella Vozzo (32), Rylee Lambert (35), Katelyn Glass (40), Madison Reyes (46), Rebecca Throop (48)
• Soprano 2: Meagan Wolf (10), Molly Ellard (11), Ainsley Whittington (12), Taylor Cottrell (13), Greta Kehres (19), Ella Murray (26), Veronica Haas (31), Hannah McCord (33), Lindsey Soltis (41), Emily Camacho (43), McKenna Fritts (47)
• Alto 1: Gabi McGregor (6), Elena Hosseinmardi (13), Julia Houting (20), Anicka Hranitzky (24), Aubrey Smith (30), Claire Mayfield (41), Emma Wright (42), Haley Clausen (43)
• Alto 2: Kacie Bridwell (2), Mia Killian (7), Jenna Tuggle (16), Promise Galloway (17), Sarah Saintelus (21), Ava Black (23), Miriam Ghaly (26), Elly Gamero (27), Jai Foster (28), Zoe Sharp (32), Tori McGill (35)
• Tenor 1: Ross Hall (4), Nelson Thornton (7)
• Tenor 2: Tristan Hobratschk (13), Skyler Cloyd (14), Ronan O’Donnell (22), Jimmy Perry (25), Andrew Koester (27), JP Caldwell (28), Hunter Hovorka (30)
• Bass 1: Zachary Sharp (1), Coleson Dorsett (3), Jake Cipolla (10), Ashton Whittington (11), Blake Carlisle (15), Jacob Mayfield (31),
• Bass 2: Connor Adams (5), Dagan Ray (9), Jeremy McDowell (10), Jon Sims (14), Dechlan Stopher (17)
Congratulations to these fine singers and to Mr. Tyer and Mrs, Smith for their outstanding accomplishments!
Wranglerettes
Athletics
Cross Country
Congratulations to the boys and girls cross country teams on their final regular season meet. They traveled to Deer Park and competed in the most competitive meet yet this season.
The boys had fantastic results continuing their progress winning the 6th consecutive meet defeating a very good Clear Lake squad as well as the rest of the field. Also, this week the Cross Country Coaches in Texas have voted them the 6th ranked 5A squad in the state. Individual results here.
The varsity girls ran extremely well this past week as well. They managed a 3rd place finish in a very loaded field. They have shows some great progress through the season!
Results here.
There were no official JV results reported this week.
The Boys and Girls Cross Country team will be running the district meet at La Porte October 28th.
Zach Johnson is the head Cross Country Coach at FHS.
Golf
After never beating Clear Springs in match play, the boys finally beat them in the 1st Annual Magnolia Creek Cup Match Play. Although Burke and I lost to the Springs coach and his partner, the other two Friendswood teams won easily. Joe Reyes/Bryce Brazzel won 3 & 2, and Adam Genzer (who went -1 in the match)/Vincent Leggio won quickly, beating the Charges pair 4 & 3.
Casey Devers is the Head Boys Golf Coach at Friendswood High School.
Tennis
Friendswood Varsity Team Tennis completed its sweep with a 19-0 win at GCM Tuesday. This brings our overall record to 11 wins, 2 losses, with a few more matches before we begin playoffs the week of October 26. We will be home Friday against Tomball, away Saturday at George Ranch, and back home next Tuesday and Friday (Clear Lake and Clear Falls) in matches designed to get us ready for playoff competition.
David Cook is the Head FHS Tennis Coach.
Cross Country
Congratulations to the Cross Country teams on some great performances yesterday at the Texas City Invitational.
The Boys Varsity Squad continued their winning ways, winning their 5th consecutive meet of the season against their district competition La Porte. Also, for the 5th consecutive meet they placed all 5 scoring runners in the top 10.
Individual results are as follows:
- 2nd- Seth Thompson
- 4th- Daniel Armstrong
- 5th- Zade Kayyali
- 6th- Eli Karg
- 7th- Carlos Henriquez
- 9th- Ronan O’Donnell
- 11th- Alex Amaya
- 12th- Brycen Jones
- 22nd- Dean Galloway
The Varsity Girls team competed in a very tough and competitive meet finishing 3rd overall to a really tough Pearland team and La Porte team. These girls are working through a lot of injury issues and let me tell you they are some tough kids and don’t have a bit of quit in them!
We do not have complete team or individual results for them yet but the competitors in order were as follows:
- Grace Etzel
- Kyla Zalit
- Alex Linden
- Kaitlyn Jones
- Isabella Palermo
- Jenny Chen
The JV Boys finished a great race as well coming away with the win overall. Individual finishers were:
- 1st- Evan Standely
- 2nd- Evan Oakley
- 4th- Zach Otto
- 7th- Bryce Miller
- 8th- Ryan Dealameida
- 11th- Robert Scully
- 13th- Ethan Cullen
- 15th Connor Adams
- 16th Jason Enochs
- 17th- Raymond McGowan
The JV Girls also finished 3rd overall, individual finishers:
- 7th- Carleigh Williams
- 12th- Audrey Henson
- 16th- Isabella Feaster
- 21- Jocelyn Green
- 29th- Megan Jeffers
Finishing up the day was the freshman boys, in a dominating performance they very nearly came away with a perfect score. Individual results:
- 1st- Wesley Pacifico
- 2nd- Diego Henriquez
- 3rd- Carson Camp
- 4th- Cody Montgomery
- 8th- Teddy Fudge
- 10th- Jacob Mayfield
- 11th- Daniel Rodriguez
- 13th- Daniel Abebe
- 17th- Jake Trammel
- 18th- Kade Anderson
Zachary Johnson is the FHS Cross Country Coach.
Volleyball
Football
Athletic Trainers
Library
Library Hours: Due to COVID security measures the library will not be open for students to come in. However, the library is not closed. Students will have online access to all books and media. Materials that are requested will be delivered to the ELA classroom. Students will pick up their books from their ELA teacher. Books will be returned to the book drop in the hallway outside the library.
Alumni News
Congratulations to FHS Alum, Yarden Borshevsky-Barr for being named to the Spring 2020 Dean's List at the University of Hartford.
The Dean's List honors students who have earned a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.