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THE STAR
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 H
PAGE 15
LCISD's Velasquez Elementary named National Blue Ribbon School Lamar CISD’s Velasquez Elementary joined the ranks of the nation’s elite schools on Friday, receiving official word that the campus is a National Blue Ribbon School. Velasquez is one of only 18 schools in Texas to receive the nation’s highest honor for academic achievement. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recognized 269 schools as 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools based on their overall academic excellence or for
making progress in improving Elementary. a recognition ceremony on Nov. student academic achievement The Department of Education 12-13 in Washington, D.C. levels. will honor approximately 219 The program recognizes “I am so proud of everyone public and 50 private schools at schools in one of two in the Velasquez family,” said Velasquez principal Heather Patterson. “That includes every student, parent, teacher and staff member. We have always stressed that they can be the best and this is the proof.” In addition to Velasquez, Lamar CISD currently has two other Blue Ribbon Schools: Austin Elementary and Ray
performance categories. The first category is “Exemplary High Performing,” in which schools are recognized among their state’s highest performing schools, as measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests. The second category is “Exemplary Improving,” in which schools that have at least 40 percent of
their students from disadvantaged backgrounds demonstrate the most progress in improving student achievement levels as measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests. Velasquez opened in 2006 and has been ranked Exemplary by the Texas Education Agency every year.
All the smiling faces belong to the faculty at Velasquez Elementary.
Meet Mr. 26,000!
Fort Bend ISD to observe Bus Driver Appreciation Week
Meyer Elementary prekindergarten student Marco Billasano is the 26,000th student to enroll in Lamar CISD. Lamar CISD continues to grow, and has added 37 students since Marco enrolled September 6. The District grew by 21.4 percent over the past five years and expects to continue to add students. Demographic projections predict there will be 26,708 students in Lamar CISD by the end of 2013.
Marco Billasno
’S
EK E W S I H T
Fort Bend ISD's Acting Superintendent Mike McKie has declared next week as Bus Driver Appreciation Week in Fort Bend ISD. From now through September 21, students, parents and FBISD employees are encouraged to show their support of our bus drivers through thank you notes or other small tokens of appreciation for all of their hard work and dedication.
Here are a few facts about FBISD's bus drivers, who safely transport their students to and from schools each day: • Number of buses ran daily – 466 • Average miles driven per day – 31,000 • Total daily ridership – 23,600 twice daily • Extracurricular trips per year – 8,000
FORT BEND
community calendar of events
January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January BeApril sure to May thank these businesses sponsoring these2012 community, club and charity weekly2012 happenings 2012 February 2012 March 2012 2012 2012 June 2012 July 2012 for August 2012 September October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 Ma2012 EFFORT IS MADE TO MAKE2012 SURE EVERY2012 NON-PROFIT GETS PUBLISHED WEEK PRIOR TO March YOUR 2012 EVENT April 2012 May 2012 June 2012EVERY July 2012 August 2012 September October November EVENT 2012 December 2012 JanuaryTHE 2012 February 2012 April Email to: starnews@fortbendstar.com or mail: Fort Bend Star • 4655 Techniplex Dr., Stafford, Texas 77477
Editor’s note: Fort Bend Community Calendar are for non-profit events. Deadline is 12 p.m. every Friday. Please keep wording to a minimum. Answer the “5 W’s”: Who, What, When, Where, and Why. e-mail: StarNews@FortBendStar.com or mail to: Fort Bend Star, 4655 Techniplex Dr., Suite 300, Stafford, Texas 77477.
Companion care for Seniors by Seniors. In-home programs of care and caring for seniors. Call Mike for a free assessment 281-261-8107
Back-to-School Teen Health Package www.RediClinic.com
Physical • Acne Consultation Immunization Review
INSIDE The Sugar Land Market at H-E-B
FREE FRESH WATER PEARL STRAND with minimum purchase of $10.00 Must present coupon
Beads • Necklaces • Rocks Beading Classes • 14K & 18K • Fine Jewelry and Estate Jewelry 16230 City Walk Sugar Land Town Square • 281-265-0993 email: gemandbead@yahoo.com
99¢ MIMOSAS
SUNDAY BRUNCH 8502 FM 359 Fulshear, TX 77441
281.533.0099 www.raysgrill.com
9903 South Highway 6 “ You don’t have to Sell your Gold or Silver, use it as collateral” Sugar Land “ Get a Quick Cash Loan here, We charge Less interest!” 281-498-4770 “Selling gold or silver? Get a Free Quote from us before you do!”
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
The pre-show reception is from 7-8 p.m.; followed by the show, at 8 p.m.Tickets are available for advance purchase at SugarLandTownSquare. com. Master Gardeners present Program by Brenda Beust Smith Join the Fort Bend Master Gardeners sponsored by Texas AgriLife Extension Service to hear Brenda Beust Smith speak on “What’s Growing in the Lazy Gardener’s Garden The program will be held Thursday, September 20, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m, Bud O’Shieles Community Center 1330 Band Road, Rosenberg. 281-341-7068 or www.fbmg.com for more information.
$25 Off Birthday Party With This Ad 281-277-0475 • www.greatplay.com/sugarland
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Music in the Plaza Join us for another great evening of Music in the Sugar Land Town Square Plaza, 7:30 p.m. Sarah Golden, former contestant on NBC’s The Voice, will perform her original folk songs live in the Plaza! Free legal advice Fort Bend Lawyers CARE (FBLC) will offer free advice by phone to low-income Fort Bend County residents on Friday, September 21. Call 281-239-0015 to qualify for this service between 10:00 a.m. and noon. Veterans with civil legal questions are especially encouraged to call. The attorney will return calls the following Monday. Lake Olympia Garden Club meeting This club will gather for its first meeting of the 2012-2013 year on Friday, September 21, 9 a.m., Lake Olympia Marina Clubhouse, 180 Island Blvd., Missouri City. A light breakfast will be followed by a short business meeting and speaker Laura Laine will talk about Healthy Body Rhythm. Guests and new members are always welcome. For more info call Jo Ann Keene at 281-438-2174 or keeneja@yahoo.com.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
Take a Swing for History Fort Bend County Museum Association to host 1st Annual Texian All-Star Classic (Vintage baseball) Saturday, September 22, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Constellation Field, Sugar Land. Don’t miss your chance to take a swing for history! Sponsorships, or playing on a team available. Roster space is limited to the first 50 players. For info call Lindsay at 281-342-1256. All proceeds benefits the Fort Bend Co. Museum. Free car show 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Bring the family out to enjoy a free car show, presented by David Taylor Cadillac, Sept. 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a variety of new and classic Cadillacs on display in the Plaza! Parents of Multiples garage sale Parkway United Methodist Church, 5801 New Territory Blvd, Sugar Land, Saturday 22, 8:00 am – 11:00 am. Hosted by Fort Bend Parents of Multiples (FBPOM). For more information, visit: www.fbpom.org 14th Annual Garden art & Plant sale Sugar Land Garden Club is hosting its 14th annual Garden Art & Plant Sale Saturday, September 22,8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Sugar Lakes Clubhouse, 930 Sugar Lakes Drive. For more information visit sugarlandgardenclub. org or call 281-491-9609. Admission is free. Venturing Cycling Crew Event Come ride a fixed gear race bicycle at the Alkek Velodrome, 19008 Saums Rd., Cullen Park, Houston, Saturday Sept. 22,10:00 to noon. Attire: shorts, T-shirt, sneakers, helmet (if you have one) and a water bottle. Race bikes will be provided. Parents will have to sign a waiver. For more info: 713254-2926 or randydtaylor2009@gmail.com; or 713-826-0859 beatbike@ juno.com.
Texas Instruments – Houston Alumni Association All current and former TI employees are welcome to come for our monthly lunch and business meeting on any 3rd Wednesday, beginning 11 a.m. at America Buffett, 12815 Southwest Freeway in Stafford. Learn about upcoming social events and day trips at www.tihaa.org or e-mail: tihaamail@gmail.com or call 832-551-8025. Intro MS Excel class in Spanish The Sienna Branch Library, 8411 Sienna Springs Blvd, Missouri City, will present a free, intro computer class, “Microsoft Excel Survival Basics for Spanish-Speaking Adults,” Wednesday, September 19, 10:00 am, Computer Lab conducted in Spanish. Free and open to the public. Seating is limited, reservations required. To register call 281-238-2952. Culinary book club meets The Culinary Book Club at University Branch Library will meet on Wednesday, September 19, 1:30 pm, Large Conference Room, 14010 University Blvd, Sugar Land, on the UH campus. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call 281-633-5100 or 281341-2677. Fort Bend Exchange Club to hear Duke Sandefur SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 On Sept. 19, noon, Sweetwater Country Club, Sugar Land, the Fort Bend Discussion on Fort Bend Family Promise Exchange Club will host Duke Sandefur, who is the Screenwriter for the This event will be held Sunday, Sept. 23, 9-10 a.m., Thoreau UUC, 3945 new movie “Atlas Shrugged – Part 2” which will be in theatres on Oct. 12. Greenbriar Suite D/E, Stafford. The Thoreau Adult Discussion Group will For more information droberts@classicchevysugarland.com. discuss how Ft Bend’s FP volunteer program unites communities of faith THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 in a collaborative effort to assist homeless families. Host congregations Ft. Bend Friends & Neighbors celebrate provide accommodations and meals for three to five families (up to 14 Fort Bend Friends and Neighbors celebrating their 32nd year, a social people) for one week each two to three months on a rotating schedule Ft and philanthropic organization will be holding their 2012-2013 Fall Bend’s FP volunteer program unites communities of faith in a collaborakick-off luncheon at Sugar Creek Country Club, Thursday, September tive effort to assist homeless families. Open to the public. Visit Website: 20. Members, non-members and new residents of Fort Bend County are tuuc.org, Phone: 281.277.8882 invited to attend. For information email boydsv1@att.net. Deadline for ONGOING reservations or cancellations Thurs., Sept. 13. Visit www.fbfn.org. The Mom’s Club of Sugar Land North Quilt Guild meeting Are you a stay at home mom? We would love to have you join our group. The Coastal Prairie Quilt Guild will have its daytime meeting Thursday, We have playgroups, socials, mom’s night out, book clubs, and many September 20, 10:00 am, First United Methodist Church of Missouri City, more fun things planned! Any age children are welcome, or just come 3900 Lexington Blvd. Winnie Fleming is guest speaker. For more informa- yourself if your children are in school. For more information, please email tion www.cpqg.org. momsclub_sln@yahoo.com. 3rd Annual Catwalk on City Walk Fashion Show will be held Sugar Land Rotary Thursday, September 20 7-9 p.m., for the 3rd Annual Catwalk on City Become a Rotarian! Sugar Land Rotary meets every Wednesday @ 12:00 Walk, benefiting Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Pretty in Pink! Pretty noon, Sweetwater Country Club, 4400 Palm Royale Blvd., Sugar Land. In Pink, on first floor Ballroom at the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square. Contact Bill Griffin 832-724-3323, bill_griffin@bmc.com.
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281-690-4200 • www.fortbendstar.com BNI lunch chapter meets weekly A Business Network International (BNI) lunch time chapter meetings are each Thursday from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Lasagna House, Sugar Land Town Center. Cost $15. For more information, contact Scott Bernstein at 713-787-9500. Telfair Toastmasters Club relocates The Telfair Toastmasters Club announces new meeting location at the Fort Bend University Branch Library, 14010 University Blvd. behind the U of H Sugar Land Branch, just off Highway 59. Telfair Toastmasters meets every Monday night from 7:15 to about 8:15 PM. Membership is open to all area residents. Exchange Club of Fort Bend meets The Exchange Club of Fort Bend meets every Wednesday, noon, Sweetwater Country Club, 4400 Palm Royal Blvd., Sugar Land. For more information call Mike Reichek at 281-575-1145 or mike@reichekfinancial.com. Sugar Land Morning Exchange Club The Sugar Land Morning Exchange Club is an all-volunteer national service organization for men and women who want to serve their community, develop leadership skills, and enjoy new friendships. The club meets every Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m., Sweetwater Country Club, Palm Royale Blvd, Sugar Land. Web site is ECSL.ORG
UPCOMING
Parenting Connections “Parenting Connections” an eight hour parenting course will be offered on Monday, October 1, 8, 15 and 22 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., Texas AgriLife Extension office, 1402 Band Road, Rosenberg. Pre-registration is required by September 18 at $25 per person or late registrations September 19 through September 25, $30 per person by calling Jacque at 281-342-3034. “The Wizard Oz” Broadway Bound will launch its 2012-2013 season with the family favorite, “The Wizard of Oz” the Broadway. Tickets range from $10-$25 and can be purchased at the ticket office, by phone 281-242-1055 or online at bbarstcentre@aol.com. For more information visit www.bbartscentre. com. Morning Exchange Club of Sugar Land meets The Morning Exchange Club of Sugar Land meets every Wed. morning at 7:00 at the Sweetwater County Club, 4400 Palm Royal Blvd. Sugar Land. Visit their web page, ecsl.org for more information.